JPH05162326A - Ink cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the flying-out of ink or the mixing of the ink with air by making the pressure in the air chamber provided in an ink cartridge same to atmospheric pressure by incorporating a mechanism releasing an atmosphere communication port at first when the package protecting the ink cartridge is opened and subsequently releasing an ink supply port in the package. CONSTITUTION:When a package is opened, a user raises the projection 13 unified with a second package 3 in the direction shown by an arrow. When the projection is further raised in the same direction, the connection part 4 of first and second packages 2, 3 is separated. At this time, both packages are broken at the connection part 4 because a notch 14 is provided to the second package 3 and temporarily prevented from separation. At this time, the pin- shaped sealing member 10 closing an atmosphere communication port 7 is detached and the pressure of air in an ink cartridge 1 equals the atmospheric pressure.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer of an information processing apparatus such as a word processor, a personal computer, an electronic typewriter, etc., and in particular, an ink cartridge which can be attached to and detached from the printer by using liquid ink as a printing element. The present invention relates to a package for protecting an ink cartridge of a printing device and an ink cartridge before use, which supply ink.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Inkjet printers have advantages such as high print speed, quiet print noise, low running cost, and compact size. Therefore, they replace conventional wire dot printers and thermal transfer printers. As a result, the demand has increased significantly.

Since the ink jet printing apparatus uses a liquid ink as a printing medium, it has been said that the ink supply method and the cleaning of the head are weak points. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the head 52 and the ink cartridge 51 are integrally disposed as a disposable measure. However, as a measure for improving the durability of the head and further reducing the running cost, as shown in FIG. There is an attempt to replace only the ink cartridge 61 that supplies ink other than 62.
Reference numeral 65 is an ink cartridge side connecting member, and 66 is a head side connecting member.

The ink cartridge in this method is
Two holes are required: an ink supply port 64 for supplying the ink to the head portion, and an atmosphere communication port 63 for introducing the atmosphere into the space inside the ink cartridge after supplying the ink to the main body.

As shown in FIG. 9, the ink cartridge in the physical distribution is wrapped with packages 71 and 72 on its outer side to protect the ink cartridge from temperature, humidity, etc., and the ink supply port 64 has a head. In order to prevent air from being mixed into the ink path of the part, a sponge 73 filled with ink is filled up to just before the supply port, and the atmosphere communication port 63 is connected to the atmosphere communication port 74 from the ink communication part 74 so that ink does not leak from there. A long path (air chamber) 75 is formed up to 63 and is filled with gas (air). The two holes are sealed when the ink cartridge is inside the package.

In order to replace the ink cartridge by the user of the printing apparatus, when opening the ink cartridge package, if the location is higher than the temperature when the ink cartridge was created or the atmospheric pressure is low, the inside of the air communication port of the ink cartridge will be The atmospheric pressure of the air becomes higher than the atmospheric pressure, and when the sealing member is removed from the ink supply port side, the ink is ejected and the surroundings are contaminated.

On the other hand, if the location where the ink cartridge package is opened is lower than the temperature when the ink cartridge is created or the atmospheric pressure is high, the atmospheric pressure in the ink cartridge becomes lower than the external atmospheric pressure, and the ink is sealed from the ink supply port side. When the member was removed, air entered through the ink supply port, and printing could not be performed.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, and an object of the present invention is to remove ink from the package when there is a pressure difference between the inside of the ink cartridge and the outside air. When removing the cartridge, make the atmospheric pressure in the ink cartridge the same as the external atmospheric pressure to prevent ink from splashing out of the ink supply port or air from entering, and the printer user or printer is contaminated with ink, or printing is not possible. The purpose is to prevent becoming.

[0009]

In order to solve the above problems, at the time of opening a package that protects an ink cartridge before use, the air communication port is opened before the ink supply port to open the air pressure inside the ink cartridge. Is the same as the outside air, and then the ink supply port is opened to prevent the ink from splashing out and the air from being mixed.

That is, the ink cartridge and its protective package of the present invention have the following features.

In a printing apparatus using a liquid ink as a printing element of the printing mechanism, the ink to be supplied to the printing mechanism is contained in an ink cartridge in a closed case, and the ink cartridge can be exchanged from the printing apparatus. In the ink cartridge, the ink cartridge has at least two communication ports with the outside, and the ink cartridge has a first package containing the ink cartridge before use and a state in which the ink cartridge is placed in the first package. A second package enclosing the first package, protected by at least two packages, wherein the communication port of the ink cartridge is sealed with either the first package or the second package, When using, when opening the first or second package, Contact port of the cartridges is always characterized in that it is opened with a time difference in a predetermined order.

[0012]

EXAMPLES Examples will be described below.

FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing the appearance of an information processing apparatus 604 incorporating the recording apparatus according to this embodiment.

In FIG. 10, 601 is the above-mentioned printer unit, 602 is a keyboard unit having keys for inputting characters, numbers and other characters, keys for giving various commands, and 603 is a display unit. It is a display unit provided.

In addition, there is a power supply unit for supplying electric power to the above electric circuit, for example, a rechargeable battery, a disposable dry battery, or a main body of the information processing apparatus when it is fixed and used. There is an AC power supply exchanger.

[Embodiment 1] FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1A is a sectional view of the entire ink cartridge and package.

FIG. 3B is a perspective view showing the cartridge and the external communication port.

FIG. 3C is a perspective view showing the first package and the cartridge pressing member.

(D) is a perspective view of the joint surface of the second package, respectively.

1 is an ink cartridge, 2 is a first package, 3 is a second package, and the first package 2
The second package 3 and the second package 3 are separably bonded and sealed at the joint portion 4. 5 is a holding member for supplying ink,
A porous sponge or the like is used. 6 is a supply port for supplying ink to the head, 7 is an atmosphere communication port for introducing the atmosphere into the space after ink is supplied, and the atmosphere communication port 7 has an air chamber 8.

The second package 3 has pin-shaped sealing members 9 and 10 for sealing the above two holes. When the first package 2 is sealed by the second package, each hole is sealed. It is like this. There is a notch 14 between the two pin-shaped sealing members 9 and 10, and this portion is easily broken.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a pressing member for pressing the ink cartridge, which holds the ink cartridge 1 on the seat 12 so as not to rattle. The pressing member 11 and the seat 12 are integrally formed with the first package 2.

Both the first package 2 and the second package 3 are made of an elastic material such as plastic.

Reference numeral 13 is a protrusion integral with the second package 3, and when the first package 2 is sealed with the second package 3, only this portion protrudes.

Distribution is performed in this state.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a procedure for the printer user to open the package.

As shown in (a), when the user opens the package, the protrusion 13 integral with the second package 3 is formed.
In the direction of the arrow.

Since there is no place for holding the second package other than the protrusion 13, no matter who opens it, the opening will be from this part.

Next, as shown in (b), when further lifted in the direction of the arrow, the first package 2 and the second package 3 are
The joint portion 4 is separated. At this time, since the second package 3 has a notch 14, the second package 3 folds at this portion and the separation temporarily stops.

At this time, the pin-shaped sealing member 10 that closes the atmosphere communication port 7 is removed, and the air in the ink cartridge 1 becomes equal to the external atmospheric pressure.

Further, as shown in (c), when it is lifted in the direction of the arrow, the remaining joint portion 4 is separated, and the first package 2 and the second package 3 are completely separated. At this time, the pin-shaped sealing member 9 closing the ink supply port 6 also comes off,
Both holes of the ink cartridge 1 are released. At this time, since the pressing member 11 presses the ink cartridge 1 with a force larger than the force when the sealing member is removed from each hole, the ink cartridge 1 does not accidentally come off from the first package 2.

With this structure, the air communication port 7 that is always filled with air and the ink supply port 6 that is filled with ink can be opened with a time lag, and the air pressure inside the ink cartridge 1 can be increased. Even if there is a difference in the outside air pressure, the air pressure inside the ink cartridge 1 can be made equal to the outside air pressure,
Ink does not fly out and air does not enter the ink supply port 6.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.

In this case, as shown in (a), the sealing member 32 for closing the atmosphere communication port is directly connected to the second package 31, but the sealing member 33 for closing the ink supply port is provided with the elastic member 34. Combined with the second package. Therefore, as shown in (b), when the protrusion 35 of the second package is lifted in the direction of the arrow and opened as in the first embodiment, the sealing member on the atmosphere communication port side directly attached to the second package. Although 32 is removed from the atmosphere communication port together with the second package, the sealing member 33 on the ink supply port side cannot be removed until the elastic force of the elastic member 34 exceeds the sealing force of the sealing member.

With this mechanism, the opening order of each hole is always in the order of the atmosphere communication port and the ink supply port, and the atmospheric pressure in the ink cartridge can be made equal to the external atmospheric pressure.

[Embodiment 3] FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in (a), the sealing member is not connected to the second package, and the elastic member 36 is connected to the second package. A sealing member that closes each hole in the elastic member 36 is connected to the atmosphere communication port sealing member 32 and the ink supply port sealing member 33 in order from the second package side to seal each hole.

As shown in (b), when the projecting portion 35 of the second package is lifted in the direction of the arrow and opened, as in the first embodiment, the elastic member 36 joined to the second package.
Is pulled by the second package, and first, the sealing member 32 on the atmosphere communication port side is removed. When the second package is further lifted, the elastic member 36 is further pulled and the sealing member 33 that seals the ink supply port is removed.

With this mechanism, the opening order of each hole is always the order of the air communication port and the ink supply port, and the atmospheric pressure in the ink cartridge can be made the same as the external atmospheric pressure.

[Fourth Embodiment] FIG. 5 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, as shown in (a), the air communication port of the ink cartridge is located on the opposite side of the first package, with the ink cartridge of the second package sandwiched, and the air communication port is sealed. The member 37 is on the first package side. The ink supply port is on the side of the second package, and the sealing member 38 that closes the ink supply port is also connected to the second package. The ink cartridge is sealed in the package by being sandwiched between the sealing members of the holes. The force required to separate the member that seals each hole from each hole is the atmosphere communication port side <ink supply port side.

Similar to the first embodiment, when the protrusion 35 of the second package is lifted in the direction of the arrow and opened as shown in (b), the sealing member of each hole tries to separate from each hole. Since the force required for separation has a relationship of the side of the air communication port <the side of the ink supply port, first the sealing member of the air communication port on the first package side comes off. At this time, since the sealing member of the ink supply port on the second package side is not removed, the ink cartridge is attached to the second package.

After that, the connecting member of the ink cartridge and the second package connected to the ink cartridge is removed.

With this mechanism, the opening order of each hole is always in the order of the air communication port and the ink supply port, and the atmospheric pressure in the ink cartridge can be made equal to the external atmospheric pressure.

[Embodiment 5] FIG. 6 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

This embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment, and instead of the pin-shaped sealing members 9 and 10 for sealing the ink supply port 6 and the atmosphere communication port 7 in the first embodiment, The tape-like elastic members 39 and 40 are used for sealing. The procedure for the printer user to open the package is the same as in the first embodiment.

[0048]

As described above, when the package for protecting the ink cartridge before use is opened, the mechanism for opening the atmosphere communication port first and then opening the ink supply port is incorporated into the package, whereby the ink cartridge is opened. By making the air pressure inside the air chamber the same as outside air, it is possible to prevent ink from splashing out and air from entering.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention. (A) is sectional drawing which shows the ink cartridge and the whole package. FIG. 3B is a perspective view showing a cartridge and an external communication port. FIG. 6C is a perspective view showing the first package and the cartridge pressing member. FIG. 6D is a perspective view of a joint surface of the second package.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an opening procedure in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows the connection condition of a 2nd package, an elastic member, and a sealing member. (B) is explanatory drawing which shows the opening condition.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows the connection condition of a package, an elastic member, and a sealing member. (B) is explanatory drawing which shows the opening condition.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows the positional relationship of a package, a sealing member, and an external connection port. (B) is explanatory drawing which shows the opening condition.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a conventional ink cartridge integrated ink jet head.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of an ink cartridge separation type inkjet head.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a combined state of an ink cartridge and a package during distribution.

FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of an information processing apparatus incorporating a recording apparatus according to this embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,51,61 Ink cartridge 2,71 First package 3,31,72 Second package 4 Joining part 5 Holding member 6,64 Ink supply port 7,63 Atmosphere communication port 8,75 Air chamber 9,10,32, 33,37,38 Sealing member 11 Holding member 12 Seat 13,35 Protrusion 14 Notch 34,36 Elastic member 39,40 Tape-shaped elastic material 52,62 Ink head

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A printing apparatus using liquid ink as a printing element of a printing mechanism, wherein ink supplied to the printing mechanism is contained in an ink cartridge in a hermetically sealed case, and the ink cartridge can be exchanged together with the printing apparatus. In the ink cartridge of the device, the ink cartridge has at least two communication ports with the outside.
Before use, the ink cartridge has at least a first package that contains the ink cartridge and a second package that seals the first package with the ink cartridge in the first package. The ink cartridge is protected by two packages, the communication port of the ink cartridge is sealed by either the first package or the second package, and the cartridge is opened when the first or second package is opened during use. The ink cartridge and the ink cartridge package are characterized in that the communication ports are always opened in a predetermined order with a time lag.