JPS639545A - Ink-supplying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate fitting an ink cartridge part to a head or an ink-supplying system leading to the head and prevent leakage of an ink from occurring at the time of fitting or replacing the ink cartridge part, by providing a connecting member guiding in a communicating pipe to supply the ink to an ink treating part, and a porous member attached to a predetermined part of the connecting member. CONSTITUTION:An ink cartridge part 12 comprises a joint cover part 14 to be fitted to an ink-supplying pipe 20 projected on a printing head part, and a tank part incorporating an ink-reserving bag 16. A spongy elastic ink absorber 10 is adhered or fitted to an inner wall surface of an ink-supplying pipe receiving part 40. As the ink-supplying pipe 20 is inserted, the ink absorber 10 is compressed, thereby functioning to prevent an ink 36 from leaking out. When the ink cartridge part 12 is drawn out, the ink adhered to the outer peripheral surface of the pipe 20 is wiped off by the ink adsorber 10. Accordingly, the ink can be prevented from dropping from the outer peripheral surface of the pipe 20.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an ink supply device, and more particularly to an ink supply device suitable for use in inkjet printers that use ink as a recording material.

[Prior Art] Conventional inkjet printers include a head that ejects ink onto a recording medium and an ink supply device that serves as an ink supply source for the head, which are separately provided at separate locations, with a gap between them. Some are connected via an ink supply system including a communication member such as a supply pipe.

However, such inkjet printers generally require long supply pipes, which not only creates complications in piping, but also tends to cause ink vapor deposition and air infiltration.

In contrast, the present applicant has disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 80-91236 an ink jet printer in which a head and an ink supply source are formed as an integral member. This Japanese Patent Application No. 60-91236 not only eliminates the above-mentioned problems such as ink evaporation and air entrainment, but also makes it easy to handle the ink supply system including the head and ink supply source since no piping is required. On the other hand, when ink consumption progresses and the amount of ink remaining in the ink supply source becomes small or empty, the head, which is more expensive than the components that make up the ink supply source such as the ink storage bag, may Since they were replaced at the same time, there was a cost problem.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Therefore, the ink supply source can be attached to the head so that an integrated assembly is formed in the attached state, and only the ink supply source is connected when the ink is consumed. It may be possible to make them exchangeable. However, in such cases, when connecting the head and the ink supply source, the ease of installation, the ink a(
9. It is necessary to ensure reliable ink communication during mounting vapor deposition, etc. These are various points that need to be ensured even when the ink supply system and the ink supply source are connected in a printer in which the ink supply source and the head are separately provided at separate positions.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is designed to be easily installed in a head or an ink supply system leading to the head, prevent ink leakage during installation or replacement, and ensure reliable ink communication when installed. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink supply device that can obtain the status.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an ink supply device that can reduce the running cost of an inkjet printer.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an ink supply device that supplies ink to an ink processing section via a communication pipe, in which the ink is supplied by guiding the communication pipe into the ink processing unit. The apparatus includes a coupling member that supplies ink to the processing section, and a porous member attached to a predetermined portion of the coupling member.

- [Function] When this ink co-feeding device is attached to the ink processing section, the porous member acts as a member for preventing ink leakage.

Further, when the present ink supply device is removed, the porous member functions to wipe off ink adhering to the outer circumferential surface of the communication tube (ink supply tube) and clean the outer circumferential surface.

[Example] FIG. 1 is an external view showing the entire ink ejection section of an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

In this figure, 2 is a head plate including a plurality of ink ejection ports 4, and 6 is a substrate on which the head plate 2 is placed. Reference numeral 8 designates the entire printing head section including the head plate 2 and the like, which is fixed to the main body of the recording apparatus (not shown) using bolts.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a replacement ink cartridge section, which is configured to be detachable from the print head section 8 described above. This cartridge section 12 includes a joint cover part 14 configured to fit with an ink supply pipe 20 (explained in FIG. 2) protruding from the print head section 8, and an ink storage bag body 1B.
(indicated by a broken line).

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a separated state of the ink ejection section shown in FIG. 1. The cartridge section 12 can be replaced by inserting or removing the replacement ink cartridge section 12 in the direction indicated by the arrow in this figure. Note that 20 shown in this figure is the above-mentioned ink supply pipe, which acts as a communication pipe for supplying the ink stored in the ink storage bag 16 to the head plate 2.

Further, IO is a sponge-like (poroelastic body) annular member described in detail below, and is attached to the inner wall surface of the ink supply tube receiving portion 4o so as to be in close contact with the outer circumference of the ink supply tube 20. .

FIG. 3 shows the ink cartridge section 12 and the print head section 8.
FIG. In this figure, 30 is a polyethylene thin film and 32 is an aluminum thin film, which together form a flexible laminated film 34. This flexible laminated film 34 not only prevents the ink 36 from leaking, but also functions as a sealing film that prevents atmospheric gases from getting mixed into the ink.

That is, in order to reinforce the strength of the aluminum thin film 32 and increase its corrosion resistance while taking advantage of the airtightness and flexibility of the aluminum thin film 32, a resin film 30 such as polyethylene is coated.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the ink storage bag 16 is held between the back case 35 and the joint cover 14, and the inside of the bag 16 is always kept negative and positive.

Further, the joint surfaces of the polyethylene thin film 30 and the joint cover 14 are kept in close contact with each other by adhesive or welding.

As described above, since the sponge-like elastic ink absorber is attached and fitted to the inner wall surface of the ink supply tube receiving portion 40, it is compressed as the ink supply tube 20 is inserted, and the ink 36 is prevented from leaking out. Performs the function of preventing.

Note that even if a simple porous body (such as tissue vapor) is attached instead of the sponge-like annular member 10, exactly the same function can be achieved.

FIG. 4 shows the flow from the print head section 8 to the ink cartridge section 1.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the state when pulling out the holder. As is clear from this figure, when the ink cartridge section 12 is pulled out, the ink adhering to the outer peripheral surface of the ink supply tube 20 is wiped off. Therefore, ink can be prevented from dripping from the outer peripheral surface of the ink supply pipe 20.

In this example, a laminate of aluminum and polyethylene was used as the sealing film provided in the cartridge part, but the laminate of aluminum and polyethylene is not limited to this example. Of course, any material can be selected as long as it is a sealing film that can maintain corrosion resistance and airtightness.

Furthermore, in the above section, a case was described in which the present invention is applied to an ink supply source that is directly coupled to a head, but an ink supply source that is coupled to an ink supply system that includes a supply pipe etc. leading to a head is also applicable. It goes without saying that the present invention is extremely effective and easy to apply even when used.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, it is easy to install the head or the ink supply system leading to the head, and there is no ink leakage at the time of installation or replacement. In some cases, it is possible to realize an ink supply device that can ensure a reliable ink communication state.

Furthermore, when the present invention is directly coupled to a head, there is no need to replace the head, so the running cost of the inkjet printer can be reduced.

That is, by carrying out the present invention, (1) the porous member functions as an ink leakage prevention member under the ink supply state;

When the ink supply device is removed, the porous member functions to wipe off ink adhering to the outer periphery of the communication pipe.

(2) When the ink supply device is attached to a predetermined main unit (ink processing section), the porous member serves as a guide and a damper.

You can get extraordinary effects like this.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is an external view showing the entire ink ejection group of an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, Fig. 2 is a view showing the divided state of the ink ejection section shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is an illustration of the ink cartridge section. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the state when the ink cartridge is attached to the print head section. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the state when the ink cartridge section is pulled out from the print head section. 2... Head plate, 4... Ink discharge port, 6... Substrate, 8... Print head section, 10... Sponge-like (elastic porous body) annular member, l2
...Replacement ink cartridge part, 16... Ink storage bag, 18... Tank part, 20... Ink supply pipe, 30... Polyethylene film, 32... Aluminum film, 34. ... Sealing film, 35... Back case. Purity of drawings! (No change in content) Figure 1 Figure 3 20-in-7 Haiku Figure 4 Procedural amendment (method) % formula % 1. Indication of the incident Patent Application No. 131-152767 2. Name of the invention Ink supply device 3. Relationship with the case of the person making the amendment Patent applicant (100) Canon Co., Ltd. 4, Agent address: 3rd floor 5, Seiko Building 6, 5-1-31 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107 Date of amendment order Showa September 3, 1981 (Shipping date: September 30, 1986) 6. Full text of the specification subject to amendment and drawing plans 7. Contents of amendment

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An ink supply device that supplies ink to an ink processing section via a communication pipe, comprising: a coupling member that supplies ink to the ink processing section by guiding the communication pipe; An ink supply device comprising: a porous member attached to a predetermined portion.