JPH0872258A - Ink jet cartridge and ink tank - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide an ink jet cartridge and ink tank capable of being reduced in size and with an enhanced volume efficiency. CONSTITUTION: Each of ink tanks 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d is provided with a plurality of main tanks In a row. Respective tanks 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d are provided with a plurality of sub-tanks for retaining ink through capillary forces in an excess portion except the main tanks 30. The lower ends of the plurality of main tanks 30 and sub-tanks 31 communicate with each other. The upper portion of each main tank 30 and sub-tank 31 is stuck with a tape 35.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet cartridge and an ink tank used in an ink jet recording type printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as the form of a computer has been reduced from a desktop type to a laptop type and a notebook size type, a printer is required to have good portability and small size. Against this background, disposable inkjet cartridges or ink tanks are said to be optimal for printers for laptop and notebook computers because they are easy to use and easy to downsize. It is getting attention. Here, the ink jet cartridge is a unit in which the ink ejection means, the electrical connection means, and the ink storage means (ink tank) are integrated.

The general structure of the ink jet cartridge will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional inkjet cartridge.

In FIG. 5, the head substrate 1 comprises a nozzle plate and electrical connecting means. The nozzle plate includes an ink ejection unit and an ejection nozzle. The discharge nozzle 2 is shown in FIG. The electrical connection means exchanges electrical energy with the printer. The head substrate 1 is supported by the cavity 3. Ink containing means 4 made of a porous material is housed in the cavity 3. On the front surface of the cavity 3, an ink supply hole 5 for guiding the ink from the ink containing means 4 to the head substrate 1 is provided. Further, the ink containing means 4 is provided with a filter 6 for removing bubbles and dust in the ink supplied to the head substrate 1. A back cover 7 for sealing and positioning the ink containing means 5 is fitted in the cavity 3.

Next, the mechanism of the ink jet cartridge configured as described above will be briefly described. In FIG. 5, a porous material such as polyurethane foam is used as the ink containing means 4, and the ink is retained in the fine space of the porous material by utilizing the surface energy of the ink. The ink holding force in the ink containing means 4 depends on the size of the minute space, and (capillary force of the discharge nozzle 2)> (ink holding force of the ink containing means 4)> (ink applied to the end surface of the discharge nozzle 2). The porous material is selected so as to have a water head pressure).

By thus maintaining the mechanical equilibrium with respect to the ink, it is possible to prevent unnecessary ink leakage from the ejection nozzle 2 and the like, and it is possible to stably supply the ink to the ink ejection means and the ejection nozzle 2. . Further, the inside of the cavity 3 has a communication hole (not shown) provided in the back cover 7.
Since it is in communication with the atmosphere, unnecessary ink leakage can be prevented even when the environment changes such as a certain range of temperature and atmospheric pressure.

However, in the ink jet cartridge having the structure as shown in FIG. 5, the back pressure at the discharge nozzle 2 gradually increases as the ink is consumed, and a large amount of ink cannot be used and remains in the ink containing means 4, There is a problem that the volume efficiency (= effective ink amount / container volume) is not good.

Therefore, Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-76429 discloses an ink tank that solves the problem of volume efficiency as described above. FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a conventional ink tank disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-76429.

In FIG. 6, ink is stored in the tank cavity 11. A movable wall 12 is slidably provided in the tank cavity 11. O on the movable wall 12
A ring 13 is incorporated. Further, an ink supply hole 14 is provided on the side wall of the tank cavity 11.

In the ink tank constructed as described above, the ink filled in the tank cavity 11 is
It is sealed by the movable wall 12, and an O-ring 13 incorporated in the movable wall 12 prevents the outflow of ink to the outside of the tank cavity 11 and the mixing of air from the outside of the tank cavity 11. Tank cavity 1
The cross section of No. 1 is formed in a circular shape in consideration of the slidability with the movable wall 12, and the inner wall of the tank cavity 11 has a cylindrical shape.

By driving a print head (not shown), the ink in the tank cavity 11 is introduced into the print head through the ink supply hole 14. As the ink is consumed, one surface of the movable wall 12 comes into contact with the ink,
And with the other surface in contact with the atmosphere, arrow E in the figure
Move in the direction of.

[0012]

When considering the colorization of an ink jet printer, the ink jet cartridge and the ink tank for each color are arranged in parallel. In order to reduce the size of the printer, it is conceivable that the inkjet cartridge and the ink tank have a flat shape. However, in the conventional configuration shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the inkjet cartridge and the ink tank have a flat shape. It is difficult, and even if a flat shape can be realized, an ink jet cartridge and an ink tank having poor volume efficiency will be obtained.

An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet cartridge and an ink tank which can be miniaturized and have high volume efficiency.

[0014]

An ink jet cartridge according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises an ink ejecting means for ejecting ink from an ejecting nozzle, and an electrical connecting means for exchanging electric energy required for the ink ejecting means from a printer body. An ink-jet cartridge including an ink storage unit that stores ink to be supplied to the ink ejection unit, wherein the ink storage unit includes a plurality of ink storage units arranged in parallel, and each of the plurality of ink storage units consumes ink. Accordingly, the ink container has a movable wall that moves in a direction in which the capacity of the ink container decreases, and the adjacent ink containers are in communication with each other.

The ink jet cartridge according to the second aspect of the present invention supplies the ink ejecting means for ejecting the ink from the ejecting nozzles, the electrical connecting means for exchanging the electric energy necessary for the ink ejecting means from the printer body, and the ink ejecting means. And an ink containing means for containing the ink, the ink containing means includes a plurality of main ink containing parts, and a capillary-type auxiliary sub-unit is provided in an excess part of the ink containing means excluding the plurality of main ink containing parts. An ink containing portion is provided, and a plurality of main ink containing portions and sub ink containing portions communicate with each other.

Particularly, it is preferable that a seal member is attached to the opening of the sub ink containing portion.

An ink tank according to a third aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of ink containing sections arranged in parallel, and each of the plurality of ink containing sections moves in a direction in which the capacity of the ink containing section decreases in accordance with ink consumption. That is, the adjacent ink containing portions are in communication with each other.

An ink tank according to a fourth aspect of the invention includes a plurality of main ink accommodating portions, and a capillary type sub ink accommodating portion is provided in an excess portion excluding the plurality of main ink accommodating portions, and a plurality of main ink accommodating portions The section and the sub ink containing section communicate with each other.

It is particularly preferable that a seal member is attached to the opening of the sub ink containing portion.

[0020]

In the ink jet cartridge according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the plurality of ink containing portions are arranged in parallel and the adjacent ink containing portions communicate with each other, the flat ink containing means is realized. In addition, in each ink storage unit, the movable wall moves in a direction in which the capacity of the ink storage unit decreases in accordance with the consumption of ink, so that the usable ink amount is large and the ink leakage resistance is high.

In this ink jet cartridge, the ink supply pressure supplied to the ejection nozzle and the ink ejection means is controlled by the frictional force at the sliding portion between the movable wall and the inner wall of the ink containing portion.

In the ink jet cartridge according to the second aspect of the present invention, a capillary type sub ink containing portion is provided in an excess portion of the ink containing means excluding the plurality of main ink containing portions, and the plurality of main ink containing portions and the sub ink containing portions are provided. Since the ink containing portions communicate with each other, the volume efficiency is high. Further, by sticking a seal member to the opening of the sub ink containing portion, the ink leak resistance is improved.

In the ink tank according to the third aspect of the present invention, since the plurality of ink containing portions are arranged in parallel and the adjacent ink containing portions communicate with each other, a flat shape is realized. In addition, in each ink storage unit, the movable wall moves in a direction in which the capacity of the ink storage unit decreases in accordance with the consumption of ink, so that the usable ink amount is large and the ink leakage resistance is high.

In the ink tank according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a capillary type sub ink containing portion is provided in the excess portion excluding the plurality of main ink containing portions, and the plurality of main ink containing portions and the sub ink containing portions are provided. Since they communicate with each other, they have high volume efficiency. Further, by sticking a seal member to the opening of the sub ink containing portion, the ink leak resistance is improved.

[0025]

1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of an ink jet printer equipped with an ink jet cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a carriage 21 is provided with a head block 22 on which a print head is mounted and a plurality of ink tanks 23a, 23b, 23c and 23d.
The carriage 21 is supported by a carriage shaft 24 so as to be movable in the sub-scanning direction (direction indicated by arrow X). On the other hand, the recording paper 25 is conveyed in the main scanning direction (direction indicated by arrow Y).

When a print signal is sent to the ink jet printer of FIG. 1, while the carriage 21 is moved in the sub-scanning direction, the ink is ejected onto the recording paper 25 at a proper time, and after the printing of the specified print width is completed, the recording is performed. The paper 25 is conveyed by a width designated by a platen (not shown) or the like to prepare for printing of the next print width.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an ink jet cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the ink jet cartridge of FIG. 2, a plurality of ink tanks 23a, 23b, 23c and 23d and a head block 22 are provided.
And can be freely contacted and separated on the carriage 21 (see FIG. 1).

A plurality of head chips 26a, 26b, 26c and 26d are mounted on the head block 22 with high precision using a mounting machine such as a die bonder. In order to supply electrical energy to the ink ejection means (not shown) patterned on the head chips 26a to 26d,
Electrode pads (not shown) on the head chips 26a to 26d are electrically coupled to an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) 27 using a technique such as wire bonding or inner lead bonding. On the FPC 27, a plurality of pads 28 are provided on the end portion on the opposite side of the coupling portion with the head chips 26a to 26d. The plurality of pads 28 are configured to bond with an electrical bonding means (not shown) on the carriage 21 when the head block 22 is mounted on the carriage 21 (see FIG. 1).

Discharge nozzles 29 are provided on the nozzle plate so as to face the ink discharge means on the head chip 26.
Ink is filled from the joint ends with the ink tanks 23a to 23d to the ejection nozzle 29. An ink flow path between the discharge nozzle 29 and the ink tanks 23a to 23d is a pressure chamber having an ink discharge means, a head flow path for supplying ink to the pressure chamber, a common ink chamber connecting all the head flow paths, and It is configured by an ink supply flow path that connects the ink tanks 23a to 23d and the common ink chamber. A filter or the like is provided at the end of the ink supply flow path on the side of the joint with the ink tanks 23a to 23d, and traps air bubbles, dust, etc. mixed in the ink.

Head block 2 constructed as described above
In 2, when a print signal is applied from the printer body through the electrical connection means, a voltage is applied to the ink ejection means in accordance with the print signal. As a result, a rapid pressure change is generated in the head chips 26a to 26d, and the pressure change is used as the ejection energy to eject the ink. After ejection, the ink has a reaction of pressure fluctuation and ejection nozzle 2
The end face of the discharge nozzle 29 is sequentially filled by the capillary force of 9. Ink tanks 23a to 2 are consumed.
It will be sequentially supplied from 3d.

The ink tanks 23a to 23d are containers for containing ink to be supplied to the head block 22. In each of the ink tanks 23a to 23d, an ink supply hole 20 is provided at a position facing the end of the ink supply flow path of the head block 22. Each of the ink tanks 23a to 23d includes a plurality of columnar main tanks 30 and a plurality of columnar subtanks 31.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an ink tank of an ink jet cartridge in one embodiment of the present invention,
(A) shows a state where the movable wall is located at the upper part, and (b) shows a state where the movable wall is located at the lowermost part.

As shown in FIG. 3A, a movable wall 32 is fitted in the upper opening of each main tank 30. As shown in FIG. 3B, the movable wall 32 descends along the main tank inner wall 37 as the ink is consumed. An O-ring 33 is incorporated in the outer peripheral portion of the movable wall 32. The O-ring 33 seals between the movable wall 32 and the main tank inner wall 37. If the movable wall 32 is made of an elastic material such as silicone rubber, the O-ring 33 may be omitted. However, the movable wall 3 is made of only silicone rubber.
In order to secure the rigidity required for No. 2, the thickness has to be increased, and the ink volume decreases as the thickness increases.
Therefore, the configuration shown in FIG. 3 is desirable. In addition,
In order to stabilize the sliding movement of the movable wall 32, a plurality of movable walls 3
Two may be stacked.

The lower end of each main tank 30 communicates with the adjacent main tank 30. Adjacent main tank 3
The gap A for communicating 0 should be smaller than the height B from the lower end of the movable wall 32 to the contact portion between the O-ring 33 and the main tank inner wall 37. This allows
Residual ink can be minimized. Further, the porous member 3 is provided between the main tank 30 and the ink supply hole 20.
4 is provided to prevent mixing of dust and prevent unnecessary ink leakage.

FIG. 4A is a plan view of an ink tank of an ink jet cartridge in one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4B is a plan view of the ink jet cartridge in one embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line CC of the ink tank in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the plurality of sub-tanks 31 are composed of a plurality of thin tubes provided in the surplus space of the main tank 30 in the ink tank. The lower ends of the plurality of sub tanks 31, like the main tank 30,
Main tank 30 and sub tank 3 that are adjacent to each other
It communicates with 1. The sub-tank 31 holds the ink by a wetting angle determined by the ink and the material of the tank, a capillary force dominated by the surface tension of the ink, and the like. Although FIG. 4 shows the cylindrical sub-tank 31 having a circular cross section, the shape of the sub-tank 31 may be a polygonal prism shape in consideration of processing and space.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the sub tank 3
A tape 35 is attached to the upper portion of the ink cartridge 1 after the ink is filled. By attaching the tape 35, the reliability against ink leakage from the sub tank 31 can be significantly improved.

Since ink cannot be consumed when the tape 35 is attached, a mark is drawn on the tape 35 at a position corresponding to the cross section of the sub tank 31. The user penetrates the mark portion of the tape 35 when the remaining ink in the main tank 30 is low. As shown in FIG. 4A, the upper ends of the main tanks 30 are connected to each other by communication grooves 36. At least one end portion of the communication groove 36 is out of the attachment range of the tape 35 so that the atmosphere is introduced into the main tank 30 even if the tape 35 is attached (see FIG. 2).

In the ink tank configured as described above, as shown in FIG. 3A, the ink filled in the main tank 30 is sealed by the movable wall 32 and is incorporated in the movable wall 32. The O ring 33 prevents the outflow of ink to the outside of the main tank 30 and the mixing of air from the outside of the main tank 30. By driving the print head, the ink in the main tank 30 is introduced to the head block 22 (see FIG. 2) side through the porous member 34 and the ink supply hole 20. As the ink is consumed, the movable wall 32 moves in the direction of arrow Z, with one surface in contact with the ink and the other surface in contact with the outside air, as shown in FIG. Then, it moves to the bottom of the main tank 30. By breaking through the mark on the tape 35 before this, the user can
The ink in the sub tank 31 is also consumed.

By performing such an operation by the user, the awareness of the ink shortage can be increased and the ink tank or the ink jet cartridge can be replaced in a timely manner without providing a warning device for the ink shortage.

In the above embodiment, the ink tanks 23a-2a are
3d and the head block 22 on which the print head is mounted are separable from each other, the present invention is also applicable to an ink jet cartridge in which the ink tank and the head block 22 are integrally formed. it can.

In the above embodiment, an example in which a plurality of head chips 26a to 26d are mounted on one head block 22 is shown, but the present invention is one head block for one head chip. It can also be applied to an ink jet cartridge having a form in which 22 is prepared.

[0044]

According to the first and third aspects of the present invention, the flat ink containing means is realized while ensuring high volume efficiency and ink leakage resistance. Therefore, an inkjet cartridge and an ink tank that are thin, compact, and have high reliability are provided. As a result, downsizing and high reliability of the printer are realized.

According to the second and fourth inventions, an ink jet cartridge and an ink tank having improved volume efficiency are provided. As a result, the cost required for printing (running cost) can be reduced. Also,
By sticking the seal member to the opening of the sub ink containing portion, the ink leak resistance is significantly improved, and the user can timely recognize the ink shortage.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of an inkjet printer equipped with an inkjet cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an inkjet cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the ink tank of the ink jet cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention in which the movable wall is located at the upper portion. FIG. Sectional view in the state of being located at the bottom

4A is a plan view of an ink tank of an inkjet cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4B is a sectional view taken along the line CC of the ink tank of FIG. 4A of the inkjet cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional inkjet cartridge.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a conventional ink tank.

[Explanation of symbols]

 20 Ink Supply Hole 21 Carriage 22 Head Block 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d Ink Tank 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d Head Chip 28 Pad 29 Discharge Nozzle 30 Main Tank 31 Sub Tank 32 Movable Wall 33 O Ring 34 Porous Member 35 Tape 36 Communication groove

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yasuhide Sonoda 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An ink ejecting means for ejecting ink from an ejecting nozzle, an electrical connecting means for exchanging electric energy required for the ink ejecting means from a printer body, and an ink containing ink to be supplied to the ink ejecting means. An ink jet cartridge including a containing means, wherein the ink containing means includes a plurality of ink containing sections arranged in parallel, and each of the plurality of ink containing sections has a capacity of the ink containing section according to ink consumption. An ink jet cartridge having a movable wall that moves in a decreasing direction, and adjacent ink containing portions communicate with each other. 2. An ink ejecting means for ejecting ink from an ejecting nozzle, an electrical connecting means for exchanging electric energy required for the ink ejecting means from a printer main body, and an ink containing ink to be supplied to the ink ejecting means. An ink jet cartridge including a storage unit, wherein the ink storage unit includes a plurality of main ink storage units, and a capillary-type sub-ink storage unit in an excess portion of the ink storage unit excluding the plurality of main ink storage units. And a plurality of main ink containing portions and the sub ink containing portions communicate with each other. 3. The ink jet cartridge according to claim 2, wherein a seal member is attached to the opening of the sub ink containing portion. 4. A plurality of ink containing portions arranged in parallel, each of the plurality of ink containing portions having a movable wall that moves in a direction in which the capacity of the ink containing portion decreases in accordance with ink consumption. An ink tank characterized in that adjacent ink storage portions communicate with each other. 5. A capillarity type sub ink containing portion is provided in a surplus portion excluding the plurality of main ink containing portions, and the plurality of main ink containing portions and the sub ink containing portions are provided. An ink tank characterized in that the parts communicate with each other. 6. The ink tank according to claim 5, wherein a seal member is attached to the opening of the sub ink containing portion.