JP2003334965A - Ink tank, inkjet head cartridge, and ink jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink tank without an ink drip by preventing a deformation of the ink tank to be brought about by pressing of a user. <P>SOLUTION: The ink tank has an ink supply port 5. A plurality of projections 10 are formed at a side face of an ink tank housing. When the user holds the ink tank 1 at the time of replacing the ink tank or the like, if the user presses the ink tank by not smaller than required, the formed projections can reduce the pressing force of the user. The ink tank is thus prevented from being deformed, and eventually pressuring to the inside of the ink tank is eliminated, whereby the ink drip from the ink supply port is prevented. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus for ejecting ink to perform recording, and more particularly to an ink jet head cartridge having a mechanism for mounting and fixing an ink tank on an ink jet head, and an ink jet recording apparatus having the cartridge. It is a thing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an ink tank (integrated with a recording head or a replaceable ink tank alone) used in the field of ink jet recording is an ink for a recording head for ejecting ink. A structure for adjusting the holding force of the ink stored in the ink tank is provided for good supply. This holding force is called "negative pressure" because it makes the pressure of the ink ejection portion of the recording head negative with respect to the atmosphere.

As one of the methods for generating such a negative pressure, there is a method in which an ink absorber such as urethane foam or felt is provided in the ink tank and the capillary force of the ink absorber is utilized. . Further, as the above-mentioned ink absorber, urethane foam may generate an eluate depending on the type of ink to deteriorate the printing quality. The present applicant has proposed an ink tank using a fiber made of an olefin resin having plasticity.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a conventional ink tank using a negative pressure generating member. The ink tank 1 contains a negative pressure generating member 2 impregnated with ink. The wavy line portion visible in the figure indicates the ink interface. A supply port 5 having an ink lead-out member 4 is formed in the lower part of the ink tank, and the ink is guided from this supply port to a head unit (not shown). A filter (not shown) is formed on the head portion so as to come into contact with the ink lead-out member 4, and thus has a structure for preventing foreign matter such as dust from entering from the outside. Further, in this conventional example, the lid member 7 is joined to the ink tank housing on the upper portion of the ink tank. As a joining method, heat welding,
Ultrasonic welding is possible. Further, ribs 6 are formed on the lid member 7, whereby a buffer space is formed between the negative pressure generating member 2 and the lid member 7. As a result, it is possible to prevent ink from jumping out of the atmosphere communication port 3 to the outside due to a change in pressure due to a change in temperature of the surrounding environment. The claw of the latch lever 8 engages with the hole of the holder member (not shown), and the mounting of the ink tank is completed.

In this conventional example, polypropylene, polyethylene or the like is used as the material of the ink tank casing.
Of course, there is no problem if other resin materials are used, but when selecting the material, a material with ink resistance and impact resistance,
In addition, it should be comprehensively judged in terms of gas permeability and cost.

[0006] The attendees are disclosed in JP-A-7-125232.
In order to improve the volumetric efficiency of the ink in the ink tank, the chamber containing the negative pressure generating member and the chamber containing the ink directly are configured in parallel with each other in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-40043 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-40043. Proposing an ink tank.

[0007]

When a user uses the above-described ink tank, when the user presses the ink tank container, ink may occasionally drool from the supply port. This is because the negative pressure generating member inside the ink tank container is compressed by the pressure of the user,
The ink inside becomes pressurized and the ink drips from the supply port. When the ink drips outside, it stains the user's hands and clothes, or the interior of the room. In order to prevent such a situation, conventional products have taken measures such as giving a certain thickness to the wall of the ink tank container.

In the present invention, from the viewpoint completely different from the above measures for increasing the wall thickness, the ink tank is provided with a structure for preventing ink dripping.

The purpose of this is to prevent the ink from dripping from the supply port due to the deformation of the ink tank by the pressure of the user in the ink tank of the ink jet recording apparatus having the ink supply port for supplying the ink. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink tank, an inkjet head cartridge, and an inkjet recording device that can be used.

[0010]

Therefore, in the present invention, the ink tank of any one of the following items (1) to (8) and the ink jet head cartridge of (9),
AND INKJET RECORDER USING THEM (10)
Is intended to achieve the above object.

(1) In an ink tank of an ink jet recording apparatus having an ink supply port for supplying ink, the ink tank has a structure for preventing the deformation of the ink tank due to the pressure of a user.

(2) The ink tank according to item (1), wherein the ink tank contains a negative pressure generating member and is provided with an atmosphere communicating portion for establishing communication with the atmosphere.

According to the above configuration (1), since the ink tank user is prevented from pressing the ink tank, the deformation of the ink tank due to the pressing is eliminated, and the ink in the inside is removed. It is possible to prevent dripping from the ink supply port. As a result, it is possible to provide an ink tank in which the clothes of the user are not contaminated by dripping ink.

Further, the ink tank having the negative pressure generating member as in the above-mentioned structure (2) has the same effect, and the ink tank having no ink dripping can be provided.

(3) As a structure for preventing the ink tank from being deformed by being pressed by the user, an outer wall of the ink tank is provided with
The ink tank according to (1) or (2) above, wherein a plurality of protrusions are formed.

(4) The ink tank according to the above item 3), wherein each of the protrusions is surrounded by a plane that is higher than the protrusion.

According to the above configuration (3), when the user strongly presses the ink tank, the repulsive force due to the protrusions is applied to the user's finger or the like, so that the user does not try to apply a force beyond a certain level. Accordingly, it is possible to provide an ink tank that prevents the user from pressing the ink tank, suppresses the deformation of the ink tank, and prevents ink dripping.

Further, according to the above configuration (4), since the protrusion is normally surrounded by the flat surface portion, when the user normally holds the ink tank, the protrusion does not touch the user's hand. However, when the user tries to strongly press the ink tank, the finger is pushed inward from the flat portion and hits the protrusion, so that the pressing is stopped further.

(5) As a structure for preventing deformation of the ink tank by being pressed by the user, ribs which are substantially orthogonal to each other are formed on the inner walls of the ink tank which face each other, and the above-mentioned (1) to (2) are provided. ) Ink tank described in.

(6) The ribs are formed on the lid member of the ink tank casing, and by joining the lid member to the ink tank casing, the ribs are respectively formed on the inner walls of the ink tank that face each other. The ink tank according to item (5), which functions as a rib that is substantially orthogonal to the above.

According to the above configuration (5), since the rib is formed and the rigidity of the ink tank against pressing is increased, it is possible to prevent the ink from dripping due to the deformation of the ink tank. On the contrary, it also has an effect of preventing the ink tank from swelling due to the pressure drop of the external environment and the temperature change.

The above (6) has the same function as (5), but by forming the rib on the lid member, the assembly of the ink tank is facilitated and the mold structure of the ink tank housing is simplified. it can.

(7) As a structure for preventing the ink tank from being deformed by a user's pressing force, ribs that are substantially orthogonal to each other are formed on the inner walls of the ink tank, which face each other, and the ribs are formed on the negative pressure generating member. Before being inserted into the tank housing, the ribs are located inside the negative pressure generating member, and after the negative pressure generating section is inserted into the ink tank housing, the ribs are provided on the inner walls of the ink tank facing each other. The ink tank according to item (2), which functions as a substantially orthogonal column.

(8) The ink tank according to item (7), wherein the rib has a cross-shaped cross section.

According to the above configurations (7) and (8), since the rib is provided inside the negative pressure generating member in advance, the mold structure of the ink tank housing can be easily made.

(9) An ink tank according to any one of the above items (1) to (8), and an ejection head unit capable of ejecting ink contained in the ink tank. Inkjet head cartridge.

(10) The ink tank according to any one of the above items (1) to (8), an ejection head portion capable of ejecting ink contained in the ink tank, and a mounting portion for the ink tank. An inkjet recording apparatus comprising:

According to the configurations (9) and (10) described above, it is possible to prevent the ink tank from being deformed by the pressure of the user as in any one of the configurations (1) to (8) and thus the ink from dripping. It is possible to provide an ink jet head cartridge and an ink jet recording apparatus that include a possible ink tank.

[0029]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings based on a plurality of embodiments.

(First Embodiment) The ink tank 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has the same structure as that of the conventional example shown in FIG. 7 except for a part, and accommodates a negative pressure generating member (not shown) inside. There is. An ink supply port 5 having an ink lead-out member 4 is formed in the lower part of the ink tank, and ink is supplied from this supply port.
It is guided to a head unit (not shown). A filter (not shown) is formed on the head portion so as to come into contact with the ink lead-out member 4, and thus has a structure for preventing foreign matter such as dust from entering from the outside. Further, in the present embodiment, the lid member 7 is joined to the ink tank housing by ultrasonic welding on the upper portion of the ink tank. A rib (not shown) is formed on the lid member 7, whereby a buffer space is formed between the negative pressure generating member and the lid member 7. Further, the lid member is provided with an atmosphere communication port (not shown), and as ink is consumed, external air flows into the middle part of the ink tank through the atmosphere communication port to maintain a proper negative pressure. Has become.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a latch lever, and the claw of the latch lever engages with a hole of a holder (not shown) to complete the mounting of the ink tank. At the time of this mounting, the positional relationship between the ink tank and the holder is made normal by the positioning rib 9.

Polypropylene, which is a resin material, is used for the ink tank housing and lid member of this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of protrusions 10 are formed on the side surface of the ink tank housing. Although the protrusion 10 has a conical shape, the conical node points are rounded. Although a plurality of protrusions are provided, the region where the protrusions are formed is a fixed region at the center of the side surface of the ink tank 1. No protrusion is formed on the peripheral portion of the side surface.

When the user holds the ink tank 1 when exchanging the ink tank or the like, it may be considered that the user first has the surface on which the projections are formed for easy gripping and holding.

Even if the user holds the projection forming area, if the normal holding force is applied, the protrusion point R is R.
There is no sign of pain. However, if the user applies more pressing force than necessary, the protrusion will be caught in the user's hand and the user will feel pain. Therefore, the user stops applying more pressing force, thereby preventing the deformation of the ink tank and the deformation of the internal negative pressure generating member.
No pressure is applied and ink does not drip outside.

Next, when the user holds a portion other than the projection forming region, since the peripheral portion of the side surface portion is adjacent to another surface substantially orthogonal thereto, it is compared with the central portion of the side surface. Have rigidity. Therefore, it is possible to withstand the pressing force that can be applied by the user.

FIG. 2 is a modified example of the ink tank of FIG. 1, and a warning message is written near the protrusion on the side surface of the ink tank to alert the user.

It is necessary to comprehensively judge the size of the ink tank, the wall thickness, the rigidity of the material itself, etc. at the location of the projection forming region of the ink tank in FIGS. The same applies to the shape and number of protrusions.

Of course, it is not necessary for the protrusion to stick only to the conical shape.

(Second Embodiment) The ink tank shown in FIG.
Similar to the first embodiment in that the protrusion 10 is formed on the side surface of the ink tank, the protrusion is formed one step deeper than the side surface, and the apex of the protrusion is larger than the surrounding flat surface portion. Does not jump out. Normally, even if the user holds this protrusion area, the protrusion does not come into contact with the user's finger. However, when the user applies pressure, the finger falls into the back of the flat portion and touches the protrusion, so that the first embodiment Has the same effect as.

(Third Embodiment) The ink tank of FIG.
The configuration is similar to that of the conventional example shown in FIG. 7 except for a part, but a rib 40 shown by a broken line in the figure is formed inside the ink tank. The ribs are joined to opposite surfaces of the inner wall of the ink tank.

With this structure, the rigidity of the central portion of the side surface, which was low in the conventional example, is increased. As a result, the ink tank does not deform even when pressed by the user, and as a result,
It is possible to prevent ink dripping.

In this embodiment, the lower portion of the ink tank is also made a lid member, and the negative pressure generating member is inserted from the opening of the ink tank housing before the lid member is joined. At that time, the negative pressure generating member is notched by the rib, and a notch having a necessary length is formed in a portion of the negative pressure generating member corresponding to the rib (not shown).

The cross-sectional shape of the rib 40 is, in this embodiment,
It is circular or elliptical, but it is not necessary to be particular about this, and other polygons, crosses, rectangles, T-shapes,
Etc. are possible. The formation position, cross-sectional shape, size and number of ribs are determined by the ease of manufacturing the mold of the ink tank housing, the moldability, and the rigidity of the ink tank (determined by the size, material, wall thickness, etc.). It is necessary to make a comprehensive decision.

It is also necessary to take into consideration the insertability of the above-mentioned negative pressure generating member.

(Fourth Embodiment) The ink tank of FIG. 5 has a structure in which the rib 50 is joined to the lid member on the upper portion of the ink tank, as compared with the third embodiment. The rib 50 is longer than a rib for forming a buffer space, which is usually formed in the lid member, and extends to the vicinity of the central portion of the ink tank. The ribs increase the rigidity of the central portion of the side surface of the ink tank, as in the third embodiment.

Further, since the lid member and the rib are joined together, the mold structure of the ink tank housing can be simplified.

In the method of assembling the ink tank in the fourth embodiment, first, the negative pressure generating member is inserted into the ink tank housing, but the negative pressure generating member has a slit for engaging with the rib in advance. After that, the rib of the lid member is inserted into the notch of the negative pressure generating member, the lid member is welded, and the assembly is completed. The number of ribs standing on the lid member changes depending on the size of the ink tank and the like.

(Fifth Embodiment) In the ink tank of FIG. 6, both the ink tank housing and the lid member are the same as those of the conventional ink tank, but as shown in the figure, the negative pressure generating member 61 before insertion is previously attached. The rib 60 is incorporated. Here, the cross-sectional shape of the rib is cruciform, and the negative pressure generating member is notched accordingly. Then, a combination of the negative pressure generating member and the rib is inserted into the ink tank housing, the lid member is joined, and the assembly is completed. The incorporated rib 60 has the same effect as the third and fourth embodiments.

In the fifth embodiment, both the ink tank housing and the lid member may have the same construction as in the conventional example, so that there is an effect of simplifying the die structure.

(Other Embodiments) The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but other embodiments applicable to each embodiment will be described. In addition,
The following description is applicable to each embodiment unless otherwise specified.

(Inkjet Head Cartridge) Next, an inkjet cartridge to which the ink tank of the present invention can be applied will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 8, 116 is the ink tank 10.
It is a lever member integrally formed on the outer side of 0 so as to be elastically deformable, and a locking projection is formed at an intermediate portion thereof.

Reference numeral 200 is a head cartridge in which the above-mentioned ink tank 100 is mounted. In the present embodiment,
For example, the ink tanks 100 (100C, 100M, 100Y) of cyan C, magenta M, and yellow Y are stored. A color inkjet head 22 is integrally provided below the head cartridge 200.
The color inkjet head 22 has a plurality of ejection ports formed downward. Note that these recording heads include means (for example, an electrothermal converter) that generates thermal energy as soil energy used for ejecting ink among the inkjet recording methods, and the thermal energy of the ink By using a method that causes a state change, high density and high detail recording have been realized.

The ink tank 100 is shown in FIG.
From the state shown in (A) to the head cartridge 200,
The ink supply cylinder 114 engages with an ink supply cylinder receiving portion (not shown) of the color inkjet head 220, and
The ink passage cylinder of the color inkjet head 220 is pushed so as to enter the ink supply cylinder 114. Then, the locking projection 116A of the lever member 116 engages the head with a projection (not shown) formed at a predetermined position of the head cartridge 200, and a normal mounting state shown in FIG. 8B is obtained. The head cartridge 200 in which the ink tank 100 is mounted is further mounted in a carriage of an inkjet recording apparatus described later to be in a printable state.

In the above description, the ink tank is separable from the head cartridge, but it goes without saying that it may be integrated.

(Inkjet Recording Device) Finally, an example of an inkjet recording device in which the above ink tank or inkjet head cartridge can be mounted will be described with reference to FIG.

In the recording apparatus shown in FIG. 9, reference numeral 95 denotes a carriage 9 on which the liquid container 100 (or the ink jet head cartridge described above) can be detachably mounted, and 9
Reference numeral 6 is a head recovery unit in which a head cap for preventing ink from drying out from a plurality of orifices of the head and a suction pump for sucking ink from the plurality of orifices when the head malfunctions are incorporated, and 97 is a recording medium. Is a sheet feeding surface on which the recording sheet is conveyed.

The carriage 95 has a home position at the position on the recovery unit 96, and printing is started by starting scanning in the left direction in the drawing.

[0060]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the deformation of the ink tank caused by the user pressing the ink tank, and to provide an ink tank without ink dripping. can do.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ink tank showing a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an ink tank showing a modified example of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an ink tank showing a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an ink tank showing a third embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an ink tank showing a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an ink tank showing a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an example of a conventional ink tank.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an example of a conventional inkjet head cartridge.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a conventional general inkjet recording apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ink tank 2,61 Negative pressure generating member 3 atmosphere communication port 4 Ink lead-out member 5 Ink supply port 6, 50 Ribs for lid members 7 Lid member 8 Latch lever 9 Positioning rib 10 protrusions 20 Warning display 30 Flat area around protrusion 40, 60 ribs

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Kyota Miyazaki             Kyano, 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo             Within the corporation (72) Inventor Osamu Morita             Kyano, 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo             Within the corporation F term (reference) 2C056 EA22 FA03 KB27 KC09 KC10                       KC16

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An ink tank of an ink jet recording apparatus having an ink supply port for supplying ink, wherein the ink tank has a structure for preventing deformation of the ink tank due to pressing by a user. 2. The ink tank according to claim 1, wherein the ink tank houses a negative pressure generating member and is provided with an atmosphere communicating portion for establishing communication with the atmosphere. 3. The ink tank according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of protrusions are formed on an outer wall of the ink tank as a structure for preventing deformation of the ink tank by being pressed by a user. 4. The ink tank according to claim 3, wherein each of the protrusions is surrounded by a plane that is higher than the protrusion. 5. The rib according to claim 1 or 2, wherein substantially perpendicular ribs are formed on each of the inner walls facing each other inside the ink tank, as a structure for preventing deformation of the ink tank by being pressed by the user. Ink tank. 6. The rib is formed on a lid member of an ink tank housing, and by joining the lid member to the ink tank housing, the rib is provided on each of the inner walls facing each other inside the ink tank. The ink tank according to claim 5, which functions as a substantially orthogonal rib. 7. A structure for preventing deformation of the ink tank by being pressed by a user, wherein ribs that are substantially orthogonal to each other are formed on respective inner walls of the ink tank that face each other, and the rib forms the negative pressure generating member in the ink tank. Before being inserted into the housing, the ribs are located inside the negative pressure generating member, and after the negative pressure generating member is inserted into the ink tank housing, the ribs are substantially orthogonal to the inner walls facing each other inside the ink tank. The ink tank according to claim 2, wherein the ink tank functions as a rib. 8. The tank according to claim 7, wherein the rib has a cross-shaped cross section. 9. An ink jet head cartridge comprising: the ink tank according to claim 1; and an ejection head unit capable of ejecting ink contained in the ink tank. . 10. An ink tank according to claim 1, an ejection head unit capable of ejecting ink contained in the ink tank, and a mounting unit for the ink tank. An ink jet recording apparatus characterized by the above.