CN1727189A - Ink cartridge for inkjet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

An ink box detachably connected with a recording head has a plurality of ink storage cavities 11(including a third ink storage cavity 17) for containing ink with different concentration gradient, and an ink flowing path 18 which communicates the ink storage cavities. The ink flowing path 18 is built into an ink flowing path capable of enabling the ink in a high concentration ink layer formed in the lower area of the ink storage cavities 11 and the ink in a low concentration ink layer b formed in the upper area of the ink storage cavities 11 to flow and join together when the ink is supplied to the recording head.

Description

Ink cartridge for inkjet recording device

This application is a divisional application of Chinese Patent Application No. 02130394.0 filed on May 17, 2002, entitled "Ink Cartridge and Inkjet Recording Device Using the Ink Cartridge".

technical field

The present invention relates to an ink cartridge for supplying ink to a recording head and an inkjet recording apparatus using the same.

Background technique

An inkjet recording apparatus generally includes a recording head mounted on a carriage and moving in a recording paper width direction, and a paper conveying device for relatively moving the recording paper in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the recording head.

Such an inkjet recording apparatus performs printing on recording paper by ejecting ink droplets from a recording head according to printing data.

For example, a recording head capable of ejecting black ink, yellow ink, cyan ink, and magenta ink is mounted on a carriage, and in addition to text printing in black ink, color printing can be realized by changing the ink ejection percentage.

Therefore, ink cartridges for supplying black ink, yellow ink, cyan ink, and magenta ink to the recording head are accommodated in the main body part of the apparatus.

In a general inkjet recording apparatus, ink cartridges for supplying black ink, yellow ink, cyan ink, and magenta ink are mounted on a carriage and move together with the carriage.

On the other hand, in such a recording device for office or business use, for example, in order to handle a relatively large amount of printing, a large-capacity ink cartridge storing each ink is mounted not on the carriage but in the main body part of the device .

There is also a recording apparatus in which a main container as an ink cartridge is mounted in an apparatus main body portion (ink cartridge holder), and a sub-tank is mounted on an ink container on which a recording head is mounted. Ink is respectively supplied from the main tank to the sub tanks using ink supply tubes, and ink is further supplied from the sub tanks to the recording head.

In such a recording head, in order to improve the yield, there is required a function of replenishing the ink from the main tank to the sub tank after the ink is stably supplied from the sub tank to the recording head when printing is performed.

By the way, currently, with increasing demands for high-precision printing quality, for example, there is the use of inks containing pigments (pigment inks) as printing inks.

Compared with the ink containing dye (dye ink), this pigment ink has a larger molecular diameter of the color material, and the pigment is easy to concentrate and accumulate in the bottom of the ink cartridge (ink storage chamber), so it is easy to be absorbed in the ink in the ink cartridge. Aggregate distribution (inhomogeneity in concentration) occurs.

Therefore, there arises a technical problem that the ink in the ink cartridge is not sufficiently mixed during use and uniform printing density and quality cannot be obtained.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an ink cartridge which is capable of sufficiently mixing the inks in the cartridge when in use and thus having uniform print density and quality. Another object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus using the ink cartridge.

Contents of the invention

To this end, according to the present invention, there is provided an ink cartridge detachably connected to a recording head of a recording device, the ink cartridge comprising a plurality of ink storage chambers for containing inks producing concentration gradients and communicating the ink storage chambers with each other. ink flow channels. in the cartridge. The ink flow channel is an ink flow channel capable of making the ink in the high-concentration ink layer formed in the lower area in the ink storage chamber The inks in the low-concentration ink layer in the upper region in the storage chamber flow and merge with each other.

Since the ink cartridge is thus constituted, when the ink is supplied to the recording head of the recording apparatus, the ink in the high-concentration ink layer in the ink storage chamber and the ink in the low-concentration ink layer in the ink storage chamber are The ink flows in the flow channels and merges together.

Therefore, the ink in the high-concentration ink layer and the ink in the low-concentration ink layer are mixed to be supplied to the recording head of the recording apparatus, so that uniform printing density and quality can be obtained.

Here, the ink storage chamber preferably includes a plurality of upper ink storage chambers with a recording head connection ink storage chamber capable of being connected to the recording head of the recording device and an atmosphere leading to the atmosphere in a state of being connected to the recording head of the recording device. Open the lower ink storage chamber.

Since the ink cartridge is so constituted, ink is supplied to the recording head of the recording apparatus by causing the ink to flow from the lower ink storage chamber to the upper ink storage chamber.

The ink flow channel is preferably formed with a second communication port leading to the interior of the high-concentration ink layer and a first communication port leading to the interior of the low-concentration ink layer.

Since the ink cartridge is constructed in this way, when ink is supplied to the recording head of the recording device, the ink in the high-concentration ink layer flows into the ink flow channel through the second communication port, and the ink in the low-concentration ink layer flows into the ink flow channel through the first communication port. The ports flow into the ink flow channel, and the ink in the high-concentration ink layer and the ink in the low-concentration ink layer merge in the ink flow channel.

In addition, the second communication port is preferably provided at the lowermost position in the ink storage chamber along the direction of gravity.

Since the ink cartridge is thus constituted, the ink at the lowermost position in the ink storage chamber in the direction of gravity flows into the ink flow path through the second communication port.

In addition, the flow rate ratio a:b between the ink flow rate a through the second communication port and the ink flow rate b through the first communication port is set within a range of 1:1 to 1:3.

Since the ink cartridge is constructed in this way, it is possible to avoid a situation where the flow resistance of the second communication port is too large compared with the flow resistance of the first communication port (the flow resistance ratio becomes insufficient), and the flow through The flow rate of the second communication port decreases.

A partition with the two communicating ports is provided in the upper ink storage chamber.

Since the ink cartridge is constructed in this way, in the upper ink storage chamber, when the ink is supplied to the recording head of the recording device, the ink in the high-concentration ink layer flows into the ink flow channel through the second communication port, and the ink in the low-concentration ink layer The ink in the ink layer flows into the ink flow channel through the first communication port, and the ink in the high-concentration ink layer and the ink in the low-concentration ink layer are combined in the ink flow channel.

An ink guide passage for allowing ink to flow from an upper portion of the storage chamber to a lower portion of the storage chamber in an ink supply state may also be provided in the upper ink storage chamber.

Since the ink cartridge is constructed in this way, in the upper ink storage chamber, when the ink is supplied to the recording head of the recording device, when the ink flows into the ink guide passage, the ink flows from the lower part of the storage chamber to the storage chamber. The top part is mixed at the same time.

On the other hand, according to the present invention, there is provided an inkjet recording apparatus using any one of the above-mentioned ink cartridges, which includes a carriage for mounting a recording head, which can be positioned between a printing area and a non-printing area back and forth motion.

According to this structure, when the ink is supplied to the recording head of the recording apparatus, the ink in the high-concentration ink layer and the ink in the low-concentration ink layer in the ink storage chamber flow in the ink flow channel and merge together.

Therefore, the ink in the high-concentration ink layer and the ink in the low-concentration ink layer are mixed to be supplied to the recording head of the recording device, so that an inkjet recording device capable of uniform printing density and quality can be provided.

Specifically, the present invention proposes an ink cartridge for a recording device, comprising a container having a plurality of ink chambers adjacent to each other, and an ink flow channel for communicating the ink chambers with each other, characterized in in:

The ink flow channel has an ink flow channel such that ink in a lower region of one of the plurality of ink chambers and ink in an upper region of one of the plurality of ink chambers can flow and merge with each other .

Also includes: an ink supply port; a filter located in the upstream side with respect to the ink supply port in the ink flow direction; a partition wall separating adjacent ink chambers from each other and located in the ink flow direction with respect to the filter In the upstream side; the ink flow channel has first and second communication ports formed through the partition wall, the first and second communication ports are respectively located at upper and lower positions in the direction of gravity when the ink cartridge is mounted on the recording apparatus.

The container has upper ink storage chambers communicating with each other, and a lower ink storage chamber communicating with one of the upper ink storage chambers through a communication flow port; wherein the ink chamber is connected to the upper ink storage chamber Corresponding.

The container has an upper ink storage chamber and a lower ink storage chamber communicating with the upper ink storage chamber through a communicating flow passage, the partition dividing the lower ink storage chamber into first and second ink chambers , wherein the communication flow channel opening is provided in the first ink chamber, and the second ink chamber communicates with the communication flow channel through the first and second communication ports and the first ink chamber.

The present invention also proposes an ink cartridge for a recording device, comprising: a container having an ink chamber and an ink supply port adjacent to each other; a filter located in the upstream side with respect to the ink supply port along the ink flow direction; a partition wall, The adjacent ink tanks are separated from each other and located in the upstream side with respect to the filter in the ink flow direction; first and second communication ports formed through the partition wall, which are respectively in the direction of gravity when the ink cartridge is mounted on the recording apparatus Located at the upper and lower positions, the adjacent ink chambers communicate through the first and second communication ports respectively.

Also propose a kind of ink cartridge that is used for recording equipment, comprising: an ink supply port; A chamber that contains pigment ink in a, this chamber is at least partly defined by a film member; A flow channel, the said ink contained in the chamber pigmented ink flows into the ink supply port via the flow channel; a rigid member, the membrane member is connected to the rigid member, the rigid member has a rigid wall separating the chamber from the flow channel, the rigid The wall has a first through hole and a second through hole, the first and second through holes pass through the rigid wall and are respectively located at upper and lower positions along the direction of gravity when the ink cartridge is mounted on the recording device, the second through hole Each of the first and second through-holes serves as an inlet for pigmented ink from the chamber to the flow channel.

The present invention also proposes an ink cartridge for a recording device, comprising: an ink supply port; a chamber containing pigmented ink; a flow channel for communication between the chamber and the ink supply port; a rigid member, the The thin film member is connected to a rigid part, and the rigid part has a rigid wall; wherein the flow channel has first and second communication ports, and the first and second communication ports pass through the rigid wall, so that in the cavity Ink in the lower area of the chamber and ink in the upper area in the same said chamber can flow and merge with each other.

It also includes: the rigid wall separates the chamber from the flow channel; when the ink cartridge is mounted on the recording device, the first and second communication ports are respectively located at upper and lower positions along the direction of gravity. .

The present invention relates to the subject matter contained in Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2001-148296 (filed May 17, 2001) and 2001-205163 (filed July 5, 2001), which are incorporated herein by reference.

Description of drawings

In the attached picture:

1 is a perspective view showing the outline of a basic structure of an inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2(a) and 2(b) are perspective views of the appearance of an ink cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a perspective view of the internal structure of the ink cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention viewed from above in an oblique direction;

4 is a perspective view of the internal structure of the ink cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention viewed from below along an oblique direction;

5 is a front view of the internal structure of the ink cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

6 is a rear view of the internal structure of the ink cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

7 is an enlarged sectional view of a storage chamber of a negative pressure generating system of an ink cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a valve storage chamber of an ink cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

9 is a front view of the connection state of the ink cartridge on the ink cartridge holder according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

10 (a) and 10 (b) are cross-sectional views of the internal structure of the ink cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention, used to illustrate the ink flow path in the ink cartridge;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view roughly showing the internal structure of the ink cartridge according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view roughly showing the internal structure of an ink cartridge according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view roughly showing the internal structure of an ink cartridge according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed ways

Referring now to the drawings, preferred embodiments of an ink cartridge and an ink jet recording apparatus using the ink cartridge incorporating the present invention will be described.

First, an inkjet recording apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. 1 . FIG. 1 is an outline of the overall structure of an inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1 , a carriage indicated by reference numeral 101 can move back and forth along the axial direction of the platen roller 105 while being guided by a guide member 104 by means of a timing belt 103 driven by a carriage motor 102 .

The guide member 104 is supported on two left and right frames 131 and 132 facing each other. The frames 131 and 132 are connected by a rear plate 133 and a bottom plate 134 .

The inkjet recording head 112 is mounted on the lower surface portion of the carriage 101 so that it faces the recording paper 106 . On the upper surface portion of the carriage 101, a black ink tank 107 and a color ink tank 108 for supplying ink to the recording head 112 are detachably fixed.

A cap system 109 having a cap part 109 a is provided in a non-printing area (home position) in the movable area of the carriage 101 . When the recording head 112 is moved just above the capping system 109 , the capping system 109 may move up, thereby sealing the nozzle forming surface of the recording head 112 . A tube pump 110 as a pumping unit for applying a negative pressure to the inner space of the cap member 109 a is provided below the cap system 109 .

The capping system 109 functions as a cap for preventing the nozzle openings of the recording head 112 from drying out during non-operation of the inkjet recording apparatus. The system also has a function of serving as an ink receiver during a flushing operation in which a driving signal not involved in printing is supplied to the recording head 112 to eject ink droplets uselessly, and as a negative pressure from the tube pump 110. A cleaning system that acts on the recording head 112 to suck ink.

A wiper system 111 including a rubber elastic plate or the like is provided in the vicinity of the side of the printing area of the cap system 109 so that it can advance and retreat in the horizontal direction. As the ink cartridge 101 moves back and forth on the side of the capping system 109 , the wiper system 111 can be advanced into the travel path of the recording head 112 .

Next, an ink cartridge for use with the above-described inkjet recording apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 10 . 2(a) and 2(b) are perspective views of the appearance of the ink cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 3 and 4 are perspective views of the internal structure of the ink cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention viewed from above and below in oblique directions. 5 and 6 are front and rear views of the internal structure of the ink cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 7 and 8 are enlarged sectional views of the negative pressure generating system storage chamber and the valve storage chamber of the ink cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 9 is a front view of the connection state of the ink cartridge on the ink cartridge holder according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 10(a) and 10(b) are cross-sectional views of the internal structure of the ink cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention, for illustrating ink flow passages in the ink cartridge.

Ink cartridge 1 (black ink cartridge 107, color ink cartridge 108 in FIG. 1 ) shown in FIGS. One side also has a lid body 3 for sealing the opening of the container body 2 .

The container main body 2 is formed in a lower portion with an ink supply port 4 which can be connected to the ink supply needle 72 of the recording head 112 (both are shown in FIG. 9 ). On the upper side of the container body 2 are integrally provided fixing parts 5 and 6 which can be connected to and detached from the carriage bracket. The memory device 7 is arranged under one fixed part 5 and the valve storage chamber 8 is arranged under the other fixed part 6 .

The ink supply port 4 stores therein a valve body (not shown) that opens and closes when the ink supply needle is inserted and removed.

As shown in FIG. 8, the valve storage chamber 8 has an inner space leading to the carriage insertion side (lower side), so that the identification member 73 (shown in FIG. 9) and the valve on the recording device matched with the ink cartridge 1 The joystick 70 can move forward and backward in the interior space. The upper part of the internal space contains the manipulation arm 66 that rotates as the valve lever 70 advances and retreats, and the identification protrusion 68 for determining whether the ink cartridge matches a given recording device is formed in the lower part of the internal space. The identification protrusion 68 is provided at such a position that before the ink supply needle 72 is communicated with the ink supply port 4 (before the opening of the atmosphere opening valve described later) is completed by passing through the ink cartridge holder 71 (shown in FIG. 9 ). ) The confirmation of the valve lever 79 (identification part 73).

As shown in FIG. 8 , in the chamber wall 8 a of the valve storage chamber 8 is formed a through hole 60 which is opened and closed by the opening and closing operation of the atmospheric opening valve 601 . The manipulation arm 66 is provided on one opening side of the through hole 60 , and the atmospheric opening valve 601 is provided on the other opening side of the through hole 60 . The manipulation arm 66 has a manipulation portion 66b for pressing the pressurizing member 61, and is provided to protrude into the inlet passage of the valve manipulation lever 70 in an upwardly inclined direction, and is fixed to the container main body 2 by a rotational support point 66a.

A pressing member 61 is attached to the chamber wall 8a so as to close the through hole 60, and the entire pressing member 61 is formed of an elastic member such as rubber. The inner space formed between the pressurizing member 61 and the open peripheral area of the through hole 60 leads to a through hole 67 communicating with the first ink storage chamber 11 (both are shown in FIG. 5 ).

The atmospheric opening valve 601 as shown in FIG. 8 has the valve body 65 constantly pressed against the opening peripheral area of the through hole 60 . This valve body 65 has an elastic member 62 , the movement of which is adjusted by means of a protrusion 64 , which is fixed at the lower end of the container body 2 by means of a protrusion 63 .

Next, the internal space of the container main body 2 (inside of the ink cartridge) will be described. The interior of the ink cartridge is mainly composed of the ink flow channel system and the air flow channel system, so the ink flow channel system and the air flow channel system will be described separately. The main part of the present invention relates to an ink flow channel having a complicated structure in which ink in a high-concentration ink layer and ink in a low-concentration ink layer flows and merges (a channel in which ink flows in an ink cartridge) , so the ink flow channel system will be described in detail separately. The ink flow channel will be described below in terms of "ink flow operation" and "structure of ink flow channel".

[Ink flow channel system]

[Ink flow operation]

When the ink was started to be supplied to the recording head 112 (shown in FIGS. 1 and 9), the ink in the high-concentration ink layer a in the first ink storage chamber 11 passed through the communication port 18a from the communication port 19a (shown in FIGS. 5) flows into the communication flow channel 18 (the flow channel connecting the first storage chamber 11 and the second ink storage chamber 16). On the other hand, the ink in the low-concentration ink layer b in the first ink storage chamber 11 flows into the communication flow channel 18 from the communication port 19b through the communication port 18a. The ink in the high-concentration ink layer a and the ink in the low-concentration ink layer b flowing into the through flow channel 18 merge and move further upward in the through flow channel 18 to flow toward the second ink storage chamber 16 .

In this case, the communication ports 19a and 18a are provided at the same height position so that the ink in the first ink storage chamber 11 is introduced into the second ink storage chamber 16 along the communication flow path 18 without remaining.

In FIGS. 10 to 13 (FIG. 11 shows the second embodiment, FIG. 12 shows the third embodiment, and FIG. 13 shows the fourth embodiment), the communication port 18a is not shown.

Next, as shown by the arrows in FIG. The ink in the high-concentration ink layer a is merged and also flows through the communication port 15 a of the vertical wall 15 , into the third ink storage chamber 17 and through the communication port 26 a of the partition wall 26 . The ink flowing through the communication port 26a of the partition wall 26 as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 10(a) flows through the communication port 27a of the partition wall 27, and further moves upward in the ink flow channel 28, and flows into the filter through the communication port 24a. chamber 34.

After that, the ink flows through the through hole 25a of the partition wall 25 and flows into the differential pressure regulating valve storage chamber 33, and when the differential pressure regulating valve (thin film 52 shown in FIG. 7) is opened, the ink flows through the through hole 52c and The ink supply port 4 is reached through the groove portion 35, as shown in FIG. 10(b).

[Structure of Ink Flow Channel]

The ink cartridge 1 is formed with an inner space by attaching the cap body 3 to the container main body 2 and also attaching an air shielding film to the tail of the container main body 2 . The internal space is divided into upper and lower portions by a partition wall 10 extending slightly downward toward the ink supply port side opposite to the recording head 112, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 . The lower area of the inner space provides the first ink storage chamber 11 which is open to the atmosphere in a state connected with the recording head 112 . On the other hand, the upper area of the inner space is defined by a frame 14 having a partition wall 10 as a bottom. The inner space of the frame 14 is divided into left and right parts by a vertical wall 15 having a communication port 15a. One of the areas into which the inner space is divided forms the second ink storage chamber 16 , and the other area forms the third storage chamber 17 .

The communication flow channel 18 communicating with the first storage chamber 11 is connected with the second ink storage chamber 16 . The communication flow passage 18 has communication ports 18a and 18b at upper and lower positions, and is formed by a vertically extending groove portion 18c (shown in FIG. 6 ) leading to the tail of the container main body 2 and a groove portion 18c for closing and sealing. The openings are defined by the gas barrier film. A partition wall 19 having upper and lower communication ports 19 a and 19 b communicating with the inside of the first ink storage chamber 11 is provided upstream of the communication flow path 18 . A communication port (second communication port) 19a is provided at a position leading to the inside of the high-concentration ink layer a (shown in FIG. 10( a )) formed in the lower region in the first ink storage chamber 11 . A communication port (first communication port) 19b is provided at a position leading to the inside of the low-concentration ink layer b (shown in FIG. 10( a )) formed in the upper region in the first ink storage chamber 11 . Accordingly, an ink flow path (chamber) is formed in which the ink flowing from the first ink storage chamber 11 through the communication ports 19a and 19b flows into the lower communication port 18a of the communication ports 18a and 18b.

On the other hand, the third ink storage chamber 17 is formed with a differential pressure regulating valve storage chamber 33 (shown in FIG. shown) and the filter chamber 34 (shown in FIG. 5 ) for storing the filter 55 (shown in FIG. 7 ). The partition wall 25 is formed with a through hole 25 a for introducing the ink (pigment) flowing through the filter 55 from the filter chamber 34 into the differential pressure regulating valve storage chamber 33 .

The partition wall 24 is formed at the lower portion with a partition wall 26 having a communication port 26a between the partition wall 24 and the partition wall 10, and is formed on one side of a partition wall 27 having a communication port 27a between the partition wall 24 and the frame 14. A communication passage 28 communicating with the communication port 27 a and extending in the vertical direction is provided between the partition wall 27 and the frame 14 . A through hole 29 communicating with the filter chamber 34 through the communication port 24 a and the region 31 is defined to continue to the upper portion of the communication passage 28 .

The through hole 29 is formed by a partition wall (annular wall) 30 in contact with the partition wall 27 .

Region 31 is formed by partition walls 24 and 30 and partition wall 30a (shown in FIG. 6 ). The area is formed deeper at the container body 2 (portion communicating with the through hole 29 ) and formed shallower at the opposite end (portion communicating with the filter chamber 34 ).

As shown in FIG. 7, the differential pressure regulating valve storage chamber 33 stores a spring 50 implemented as a helical compression spring and a diaphragm valve 52 as a differential pressure regulating valve, which may be elastically deformable such as elastic body and has a through hole 52c. The membrane valve 52 has an outer peripheral region fixed to the container main body 2 by an annular thick portion 52a. The spring 50 is supported at one end by the spring bracket portion 52b of the membrane valve 52 and at the opposite end by the spring bracket portion 53a of the cap body 53 .

Reference numeral 54 denotes a frame integrally formed with the thick portion 52 a of the membrane valve 52 . Reference numerals 56 and 57 denote gas barrier films provided on the front and rear of the container main body 2 .

As shown in FIG. 7 , a filter 55 for allowing ink to pass through and trapping dust and the like is provided in the filter chamber 34 . The openings of the filter chamber 34 and the differential pressure regulating valve storage chamber 33 are sealed by a liquid (ink, gas) shielding film 56 . Therefore, when the pressure in the ink supply port 4 decreases, the diaphragm valve 52 is separated from the valve seat portion 25b by the urging force of the coil compression spring 50 . Therefore, the ink flowing through the filter 55 flows through the through hole 52 c and flows into the ink supply port 4 through the flow passage formed by the groove portion 35 . When the ink pressure in the ink supply port 4 rises to a predetermined value, the membrane valve 52 is seated on the valve seat portion 25b by the urging force of the helical compression spring 50, thereby cutting off the ink flow. This operation is repeated, thereby supplying ink to the ink supply port 4 while maintaining a constant negative pressure.

[Airflow channel system]

As shown in FIG. 6, the container main body 2 is formed on a tail portion having curved grooves 36 for improving flow passage resistance, wide grooves 37 leading to the atmosphere, and groove portions 38 almost rectangular in plan view. (space portion), the groove portion is adjacent to the second ink storage chamber 16 through the partition wall 602 . The groove portion 38 has a frame 39 and ribs 40, on which a breathable film 84 is laid and fixed, thereby forming a ventilating chamber. In the bottom (wall portion) of the groove portion 38 is formed a through hole 41 communicating with an elongated region 43 defined by a partition wall 42 (shown in FIG. 5 ) of the second ink storage chamber 16 . This region 43 has a through hole 44 and communicates with the atmosphere opening chamber 501 (shown in FIG. 8 ) through the communication groove 45 defined by the partition wall 603 and the through hole 46 leading to the communication groove 45 .

According to this structure, when the ink cartridge 1 is installed on the ink cartridge holder 71 as shown in FIG. ) to the body side. Therefore, the valve body 65 is separated from the open surrounding area of the through hole 60, so that the first ink storage chamber 11 shown in FIG. The holes 41 and the like lead to the groove portion 38 (atmosphere) shown in FIG. 6 . A valve body (not shown) in the ink supply port 4 is opened by inserting the ink supply needle 72 .

When the valve body in the ink supply port 4 is opened and the ink (pigment ink) is consumed by the recording head 112, the pressure of the ink supply port 4 drops below a prescribed value. Therefore, the diaphragm valve 52 in the differential pressure regulating valve storage chamber 33 shown in FIG. 7 is opened (if the pressure of the ink supply port 4 rises above a predetermined value, the diaphragm valve 52 is closed), The ink in the storage chamber 33 of the differential pressure regulating valve flows into the recording head 112 through the ink supply port 4 .

In addition, as the recording head 112 continues to consume ink, the ink in the first ink storage chamber 11, that is, the lower ink storage chamber, flows into the second ink storage chamber 16 through the through-flow flow channel 18 shown in FIG.

In this case, ink flows through the communication port 19a (shown in FIG. 5 ) in the high-concentration ink layer a (shown in FIG. Into the communication flow channel 18 (shown in FIG. 6 ), the ink passes through the communication port in the low-concentration ink layer b (shown in FIG. 10( a)) provided in the upper region of the first ink storage chamber 11. 19b flows into the communication flow channel 18 so that the ink in the high-concentration ink layer a and the ink in the low-concentration ink layer b merge in the communication flow channel 18 .

On the other hand, when the ink is consumed, air flows in through the atmosphere-communicating through hole 67 (shown in FIG. 5 ), and the ink level in the first ink storage chamber 11 drops. As the ink is further consumed, the ink level reaches the communication port 19a, and the ink from the first ink storage chamber 11 (which is opened to the atmosphere through the through hole 67 at the moment of ink supply) flows into the buffer through the communication flow channel 18 together with the air. Chamber 16. Since the air bubbles move upward under the action of buoyancy, only ink flows into the third storage chamber 17 through the communication port 15a in the lower part of the vertical wall 15, and from the third storage chamber 17 through the communication port of the partition wall 26. 26a, moves upward in the communication channel 28, and flows from the communication channel 28 into the upper part of the filter chamber 34 through the region 31 and the flow port 24a.

After that, the ink in the filter chamber 34 flows through the filter 55 shown in FIG. 7, flows into the differential pressure regulating valve storage chamber 33 from the through hole 25a, and also flows through the membrane separated from the valve seat portion 25b. The through hole 52 c of the valve 52 then moves downward in the groove portion 35 shown in FIG. 6 and flows into the ink supply port 4 .

Ink is thus supplied from the ink cartridge to the recording head.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the ink in the high-concentration ink layer a and the ink in the low-concentration ink layer b are mixed to be supplied to the recording head 112, so that variations in ink density can be suppressed, and uniform printing density can be obtained. and quality.

If different kinds of ink cartridges 1 are installed in the ink cartridge holder 71, before the ink supply port 4 reaches the ink supply needle 72, the identification protrusion 68 (shown in FIG. 8) abuts the identification member 73 ( shown in FIG. 9 ), thereby blocking the entry of the valve lever 70 . Therefore, it is possible to prevent a problem that different kinds of ink cartridges are set. In this state, the valve lever 70 does not reach either of the manipulation arms 66 and thus the valve body 65 remains in the closed valve state, thereby preventing the ink solvent in the ink storage chamber 11 from evaporating when it is not in use.

On the other hand, if the ink cartridge 1 is detached from the installed position in the ink cartridge holder 71, the operating arm 66 elastically recovers because it is no longer supported by the operating lever 70, and thus the valve body 65 elastically recovers, thereby closing the passageway. The hole 60 cuts off the communication between the groove portion 38 and the first ink storage chamber 11 .

The ink flow channel in this embodiment has been described as an ink flow channel in which the ink in the high-concentration ink layer a and the ink in the low-concentration ink layer b in the first ink chamber 11 The ink flows momentarily and merges in the communication flow channel 18, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The ink flow path may be the one shown in FIG. 11 (second embodiment) or the one shown in FIG. 12 (third embodiment). In this case, the ink in the high-concentration ink layer and the ink in the low-concentration ink layer may be mixed several times and the ink mixing percentage may be increased corresponding to the increase in the number of mixing times.

second embodiment

As shown in FIG. 11, in the third ink storage chamber 17, the vertical wall 15 is formed with a (second) communication port 15a leading to the inside of the high-concentration ink layer a and a (second) communication port 15a leading to the inside of the low-concentration ink layer b. 1) Communication port 15b (opening area is about three times that of communication port 15a). The communication port 15a is provided at the lowermost portion in the second ink storage chamber 16 along the gravity direction.

Therefore, when ink is supplied to the recording head 112, as shown by the arrow in FIG. The ink in the high-concentration ink layer a in 16 merges together to flow through the communication port 15a, and also merges with the ink in the low-concentration ink layer b to flow through the communication port 15b. The ink flowing through the communication ports 15 a and 15 b merges in the lower area of the third ink storage chamber 17 (high-concentration ink layer a) to flow toward the communication port 26 a of the partition wall 26 .

In this embodiment, it has been described that the flow rate ratio between the ink flow rate a flowing through the communication port 15a and the ink flow rate b flowing through the communication port 15b is set to 1:3 (the area of the communication port 15b is approximately 15a), but the present invention is not limited thereto and the flow rate ratio a:b may be set in the range of 1:1 to 1:3. In this case, if the flow rate ratio a:b is set out of the range of 1:1 to 1:3, the flow resistance of the communication port 15a becomes too large compared with the resistance of the communication port 15b (flow through The resistance ratio becomes insufficient), and the flow rate of ink flowing through the communication port 15a decreases.

third embodiment

As shown in FIG. 12, in the third ink storage chamber 17, between the partition walls 24 and 27, there is provided a communication port 51a which leads to the inside of the high-concentration ink layer a and the inside of which leads to the low-concentration ink layer b. The partition wall 51 of the communicating port 51b.

Therefore, the ink flowing through the communication port 26a of the partition wall 26 in the lower area (high-concentration ink layer a) of the third ink storage chamber 17 merges with the ink in the high-concentration ink layer a on the left side of the partition wall 26 so as to flow through the communication port 26a. The opening 51a, and also merges with the ink in the low-concentration ink layer b on the left side of the partition wall 24 to flow through the communication opening 51b, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 12 . The ink flowing through the communication ports 51 a and 51 b merges in the lower area between the partition walls 27 and 51 to flow toward the communication port 27 a of the partition wall 27 .

Therefore, in each of the first to third embodiments, the case where the partition wall is formed with a communication port to mix ink has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and in the filter chamber 34 may be set as shown in FIG. Ink guide channel 161 (fourth embodiment) is shown to mix the ink.

As shown in FIG. 13 , the ink guide passage 161 is formed so as to extend along the inner peripheral surface of the partition wall 24 and open to the inside of the area 31 (shown in FIG. 5 ) and the filter chamber 34 . In the filter chamber 34, when ink is supplied, the ink from the area 31 (communication port 24a) is caused to flow from the upper part to the lower part.

Therefore, when ink is supplied to the recording head 112, the ink flowing through the region 31 is guided to the lower part of the filter chamber along the ink guide path 161 and flows from the lower part of the filter chamber to the through hole 25a (in the filter chamber). holes made in the upper part of the chamber) while mixing the ink, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 13 .

As can be seen from the above description, according to the ink cartridge and the inkjet recording apparatus using the ink cartridge according to the present invention, the ink in the ink cartridge can be sufficiently mixed during use, so that uniform printing density and quality can be obtained.

Claims (3)

1. A cartridge for recording equipment, comprising: an ink supply port; a chamber containing pigmented ink, the chamber being at least partially defined by a membrane member; a flow channel through which the pigmented ink contained in the chamber flows into the ink supply port; a rigid member, the membrane member is connected to a rigid member having a rigid wall separating the chamber from the flow channel, the rigid wall having a first through hole and a second through hole , the first and second through holes pass through the rigid wall and are respectively located at upper and lower positions along the direction of gravity when the ink cartridge is mounted on the recording apparatus, each of the first and second through holes serves as a pigment ink Inlet from the chamber to the flow channel. 2. A cartridge for recording equipment, comprising: an ink supply port; a chamber containing pigmented ink; a flow channel for the chamber to communicate with the ink supply port; a rigid part, the membrane is connected to the rigid part, the rigid part has a rigid wall; Wherein the flow channel has first and second communication ports, the first and second communication ports both pass through the rigid wall, so that the ink in the lower area in the chamber and the ink in the same chamber The inks in the upper area of the can flow and merge with each other. 3. The ink cartridge according to claim 2, further comprising: the rigid wall separates the chamber from the flow channel; When the ink cartridge is mounted on the recording device, the first and second communication ports are located at upper and lower positions, respectively, along the direction of gravity.

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