KR200184690Y1 - An ink cartridge for use in ink jet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an ink cartridge for an inkjet printer, comprising: a container body having an opening formed on an upper surface thereof, an ink discharge portion provided on a lower surface thereof, and storing ink of a predetermined color; An ink injection unit and an air inlet unit, and a cover member sealingly coupled to the opening of the container body; And one end is in communication with the ink discharge part, at least one part is in contact with the cover member, and the other end is close to the bottom surface of the container body to discharge a predetermined amount of ink stored in the container body through the ink discharge part. And an ink discharge tubule having a cross-sectional area.

Description

Ink cartridge for inkjet printers {An ink cartridge for use in ink jet printer}

The present invention relates to an ink jet (Ink Jet) printer, in detail, the main body and the cover is combined, for the ink jet printer is improved in the structure so that the constant discharge of the ink while constantly flowing air by the hose or customs structure An ink cartridge.

Conventional inkjet printers have ink reservoirs carried by a carriage mounted to a print head. The ink storage container employs a structure that drops ink droplets by pressurizing the ink in a pressure generating chamber located therein. However, if the carriage is shaken or moved during the printing process, ink bubbles are generated inside the reservoir due to the movement of the ink reservoir. Therefore, the generation of such bubbles can lead to a change in the head pressure, which can lower the print quality. In particular, if the ink contains bubbles, the ink pressure during ink supply is lowered, and the ability to eject ink droplets is reduced.

In order to solve the above problems, according to the prior art disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,875,615, 5,633,667, 4,771,295, 5,36429, and 5,892,527, a porous body such as a sponge inside an ink cartridge ) Is installed to have a constant pressure, and then the ink is injected into the ink cartridge and the ink outlet and air inlet are sealed with a film. In addition, the cover upper surface of the ink cartridge is formed to form a random air groove of a predetermined shape to control the amount of air flowing into the air inlet constant.

However, since the porous body employed in the prior arts is accommodated with the ink inside the cartridge, the porous body is manufactured for a special use so as not to be chemically reacted with the ink, and the price of the cartridge is increased because it is manufactured in a separate clean room. In addition, when the ink is filled in the ink cartridge, there may be a case in which the absorbency or the dischargeability is poor depending on the structure or type of the porous body, and the manufacturing process is complicated because it is necessary to keep the inside of the ink cartridge in a predetermined vacuum state in advance. . In addition, since the dust or fragments of the porous body or the ink powder is generated by the ink injection needle inside the ink cartridge, a filter must be installed around the ink discharge port, so that the structure of the ink cartridge is complicated and the price is increased.

The present invention was conceived in view of the above problems, and instead of a conventional porous structure compressed to contain ink in the ink cartridge, a rubber hose or plastic tubule is communicated to an ink outlet or air inlet so that a predetermined amount of It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink cartridge for an ink jet printer improved in a customs structure so that ink can be discharged constantly and stably without the generation of bubbles, and the amount of air can be continuously introduced.

1 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing an ink cartridge for an inkjet printer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a cross sectional view of the ink cartridge shown in FIG. 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the bottom portion of the container body shown in FIG.

4a and 4b are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view schematically showing another embodiment of the cover member according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of use of the ink cartridge for an inkjet printer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

6A and 6B are views for explaining the operation of the ink cartridge for an ink jet printer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

7 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing an ink cartridge for an inkjet printer according to another embodiment of the present invention.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

10.Basic base 11 ... opening 12 ... bottom

13 Ink outlet 14 Front wall 15 Rear wall

16 Side wall 20 Cover element 21 Air inlet

22 Ink injection 23 Air injection path 24 Shock absorber

30 Ink discharge customs ... 35 Tab member 36 ... Rubber nozzle

40 Air intake customs 50 Printer head 52 Ink supply needle

54 ... packing member 55 ... cutout 56 ... barrier member

60.Film member 62 ... Handle

The present invention for achieving the above object is, an opening is formed in the upper surface, the ink discharge portion is provided on the bottom surface, the container body which can store the ink of a predetermined color; An ink injection unit and an air inlet unit, and a cover member sealingly coupled to the opening of the container body; And one end is in communication with the ink discharge part, at least one part is in contact with the cover member, and the other end is close to the bottom surface of the container body to discharge a predetermined amount of ink stored in the container body through the ink discharge part. It is provided, and has an ink discharge tubing having a predetermined cross-sectional area.

The present invention further includes a rubber valve installed at one end of the ink discharge tubule communicating with the ink discharge unit and selectively interlocked with the operation of the suction pump installed in the printer head to selectively discharge the ink.

Here, the other end of the ink discharge customs disposed to be close to the bottom surface of the container body is preferably disposed parallel to the bottom surface.

In addition, the container body is press-fitted and fixed to the ink discharge unit, a cross-shaped (+) shaped incision is formed so as to communicate with the ink supply unit installed in the printer head, the packing member that can be press-fit fixed to the ink discharge unit It is further provided.

The container body according to the present invention is divided into three spaces by partitions for storing ink of yellow, magenta, and cyan, respectively, and an ink outlet is formed at the bottom of each space. Become; The ink discharge customs are preferably installed in the three spaces so as to communicate with the corresponding ink discharge port.

Hereinafter, an ink cartridge for an inkjet printer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing an ink cartridge for an inkjet printer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a combined cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge shown in FIG.

1 and 2, the ink cartridge 100 according to the present embodiment is welded to the container body 10 substantially close to the rectangular parallelepiped and the opening 11 of the container body 10. The ink ejecting portion 13 for discharging a predetermined amount of the ink 2 stored in the container body 10 and the cover member 20 sealingly coupled through the ink discharge portion 13 formed on the bottom surface 12. The ink discharge tubule 30 located inside the container body 10 so as to be in communication with the container body 10, and when the ink 2 stored in the container body 10 is discharged through the ink discharge unit 13, external air is discharged through the container body ( 10) is provided with an air inlet pipe 40 is in communication with the air inlet 21 formed through the cover member 20 to be introduced into the container body 10.

The container body 10 is preferably manufactured by injection molding a polymer such as polypropylene, polyethylene or polystyrene. By doing so, it is possible to easily heat weld the other members to the container body (10).

The container body 10 includes a bottom surface 12, a front wall 14 and a rear wall 15 extending upwardly from the bottom surface 12, and a front wall 14 and a rear wall 15, respectively. It has a side wall 16 positioned in between. The distance between the side walls 16 and the distance from the front wall 14 to the rear wall 15 so that the area of the opening 11 is larger than the area of the bottom surface 12 are the bottom surface 12 of the container body 10. Gradually increasing toward the opening 11 from

The bottom surface 12 is provided with an ink discharge portion 13 through which the ink 2 of a predetermined color stored in the container body 10 can be discharged. The ink discharge part 13 has a shape and a structure in which the ink supply needle 52 of the printer head (50 of FIG. 3A) can be accommodated. In addition, the ink supply needle 52 is inserted into the packing member 54 press-fitted to the ink discharge portion 13. The packing member 54 is preferably formed with a cut cross 55 having a cross shape (+) to be in communication with the ink supply needle (52). The cutout 55 may be formed under the packing member 54, but the container body (the container body) may be used to prevent a problem caused by the air filling the inner space of the ink supply needle 52 and the packing member 54. It is preferable to be located on the upper side rather than the lower side of the bottom surface 12 of 10). In addition, the packing member 54 preferably has a structure in which the ink discharge portion 13 does not easily come out of the ink supply needle 52. Further, around the end portion of the ink discharge portion 13, the ink supply needle 52 is torn by the insertion of the ink supply needle 52, and the blocking film member 56 made of polyethylene film or the like is thermally bonded.

The ink discharge tubule 30 preferably has a predetermined amount. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the ink discharge customs tube 30 has one end 31 of the ink discharge customs tube 30 in communication with the ink discharge unit 13. In addition, the tip member 35 is installed on the bottom surface 12 of the container body 10, and the nozzle member 36 is press-fitted and fixed inside the lower end of the tip member 35. The outer peripheral surface of the tip member 35 is inserted to surround one end 31 of the ink discharge tubule 30. The nozzle member 36 is opened by the operation of the suction pump to be described later to discharge the ink stored in the container body 10 and to stop the discharge of ink by sealing the ink discharge customs 30 when the operation of the suction pump is stopped. It is preferred that a conventional rubber nozzle structure is employed.

The other end 32 of the ink discharge tubule 30 is disposed to be close to the bottom surface 12 of the container body 10. Positioning the other end 32 of the ink discharge tubule 30 close to the bottom surface 12 is to discharge almost all of the ink 2 stored in the container body 10. The other end 32 of the ink discharge tubule 30 is preferably arranged to be substantially parallel to the bottom surface 12, and may form an inclined surface that is inclined at a predetermined angle if necessary. By arranging in parallel as described above, the distance between the other end 32 and the bottom surface 12 of the ink discharge customs pipe 30 can be minimized.

At least one portion of the ink discharge tubule 30 preferably has a contact portion 34 disposed to contact the cover member 20. This is because by disposing the contact portion 34 higher than the liquid level of the ink 2 stored in the ink cartridge 100, the discharge speed of the ink can be slowed down. That is, when the top of the ink discharge customs is positioned lower than the liquid level of the ink, the ink is discharged more rapidly by the law of inertia and the pressure of the ink acting on the liquid surface. The length of the ink discharge tubule 30 is preferably set appropriately according to the capacity of the container body 10. If the length of the ink discharge tubule 30 is long, there is an advantage that can maintain a constant ink discharge. In addition, one end 31 of the ink discharge tubule 30 connected to the ink discharge portion 13 is preferably injection molded integrally with the container body (10). This is because, when the ink discharge customs 30 separately manufactured is connected to the ink discharge portion 13, the ink may leak through the connection portion. Therefore, if the container body 10 and the ink discharge customs 30 are integrally manufactured, such a possibility can be eliminated.

The cover member 20 is injection molded using a multimer such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, etc., which is the same material as the container body 10, to facilitate thermal welding. In addition to the air inlet 21, the cover member 20 is formed with an ink injection portion 22 therethrough. In order to supply external air into the ink cartridge 100 in a predetermined amount, an air injection path 23 having a groove shape is formed on the upper surface of the cover member 20. The air injection path 23 is configured randomly. On this air injection path 23, a buffer portion 24 is drawn in to the surface of the cover member 20. The buffer part 24 is to prepare for the case where the ink 2 stored in the container body 10 is inevitably flowed back, and is a space for buffering and storing the back flowed ink 2.

The ink injecting part 22 is a hole for supplying ink into the sealed and hollow ink cartridge 100, and the air inlet part 21 includes ink 2 stored in the ink cartridge 100. 50, a hole for introducing air into the ink cartridge 100.

The upper surface of the cover member 20 is detachably heat-bonded film member 60 made of polyethylene resin. The film member 60 is for blocking the ink injection unit 22, the air inlet unit 21, the buffer unit 24, and the air injection path 23 from the surrounding air. The film member 60 has a handle portion 62 protruding from the user can be easily gripped. When the user detaches the handle 62, the sealing between the film member 60 and the cover member 20 is released. Therefore, the air injection path 23 and the surrounding air communicate with each other, and the air injected through the air injection path 23 is supplied into the container body 10 through the air inlet 21.

As shown in Figures 4a and 4b schematically showing another embodiment of the cover member according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the upper surface of the cover member 20 'is configured to be flat, the film member 60' The air injection path 23 'can be formed by adhering the by a special thermal bonding method. In detail, the film member 60 'is a heat-adhesive portion bonded by being heated to the upper surface of the flat cover member 20', and the cover member 20 'is not adhered to the cover member 20' by not being heated. ) Is formed of a non-heated portion which is raised from a predetermined shape and becomes an air injection path 23 '.

In the above embodiments, the air injection paths 23, 23 ′ and the buffer parts 24, 24 ′ are formed on the upper surfaces of the cover members 20, 20 ′, and the film members 60, 60 ′ are formed thereon. Although it is described as being bonded, when the length of the air inlet tubular 40 is sufficiently long, the air injection paths 23, 23 'and the buffer parts 24, 24', and the film member 60 ) 60 'does not need to exist. However, a separate member capable of sealing the ink injection unit 22 after the ink is stored is essential.

One end 42 of the air inlet tubular 40 is connected to the air inlet 21. Air inlet customs 40 is installed so that the other end 44 is close to the cover member (20). At least one portion of the air inlet pipe 40 is disposed to contact the bottom surface 12 of the container body 10. Air inlet customs 40 has a predetermined cross-sectional area.

In addition to the function of introducing air into the ink cartridge 100, the air inlet customs 40, as shown in Figure 5, the ink cartridge 100 in the process of transporting or using the ink cartridge 100 is shaken upside down Even in this case, the ink 2 stored in the container body 10 has a function of preventing backflow through the air inlet pipe 40. Because the contact portion 46 of the air inlet customs 40 in contact with the bottom surface 12 is located at a position higher than the liquid level of the ink 2 when the ink cartridge 40 is turned over, the ink cartridge 100 Ink stored therein cannot be easily flowed back into the air inlet tube 40.

Referring to the process of manufacturing an ink cartridge for an inkjet printer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention configured as described above are as follows.

First, the container body 10 is manufactured by the injection molding method. In this case, the ink discharge tubule 30 is preferably molded integrally with the container body 10 in a predetermined shape. In addition, the packing member 60 is inserted into the ink discharge part 13 using a jig (not shown), and the blocking film member 56 is adhered to the end of the ink discharge part 13. Next, the cover member 20 to which the air inlet pipe 40 is attached is molded. Subsequently, the cover member 20 is welded and sealed to the opening 11 of the container body 10 to be coupled. Then, the empty ink cartridge 100 is formed. In this state, the ink cartridge 100 is placed on a pallet or the like and filled with ink through the ink injection unit 22. After that, the film member 60 is attached to the cover member 20. Then, as shown in Fig. 6A, an ink cartridge 100 filled with ink 2 is produced. On the other hand, in the process of attaching the film member 60, the inside of the ink cartridge 100 is preferably such that a predetermined vacuum is formed.

An operation of supplying ink by mounting an ink cartridge for an inkjet printer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B. In the illustrated embodiment, the ink injection path 23 is formed on the upper surface of the cover member 20 so as to communicate with the air inlet 21, and the film member 60 is attached to the surface of the cover member 20. to be. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, that is, only the air inlet may be formed on the upper surface of the cover member 20 without providing the ink injection path and the film member.

First, as shown in FIG. 6A, in the ink cartridge 100 filled with the ink 2, the handle 62 of the film member 60 is torn off. Then, the ambient air is supplied to the air inlet 21 through the air injection path 23 while the sound is slightly generated by a predetermined vacuum inside the ink cartridge 100, and the supplied air is supplied to the ink cartridge 100. ) Flows inside. Here, when the air injection path 23 is not formed on the upper surface of the cover member 20, it is sufficient to simply open the air inlet 21.

Then, as shown in FIG. 6B, the ink cartridge 100 is inserted into the mounting portion 57 of the print head 50. Then, the ink supply needle 52 is inserted into the packing member 54 while tearing the blocking film member 56, and cuts the cut cross portion 55 having a cross shape. Therefore, the ink discharge portion 13 formed in the container body 10 of the ink cartridge 100 is in communication with the ink supply needle 52, the ink 2 in the ink cartridge 100 is the ink discharge customs (30) And it is discharged to the printer head 50 side through the ink discharge portion (13). The lower portion of the ink supply needle 52 is provided with a pump (not shown) for sucking only a certain amount of ink.

7 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing an ink cartridge for an inkjet printer according to another embodiment of the present invention.

This embodiment describes a case where three inks of yellow, magenta, and cyan are stored in one cartridge 200 having a partitioned space.

As shown in the drawing, the container body 110 is composed of three ink storage spaces 112, 114, and 116, which respectively store inks of yellow, magenta, and cyan. The three spaces 112, 114, 116 are partitioned by partitions 118, 119. Ink discharge portions 122, 124, and 126 are formed at the bottom of each space 112, 114, and 116, and a barrier film member 132 is formed at the end of the ink discharge portions 122, 124, and 126. 134 and 136 are bonded.

The ink discharge customs 142, 144 and 146 are respectively installed in three spaces 112, 114 and 116 so as to communicate with the corresponding ink discharge portions 122, 124 and 126. The cover member 150 has an upper partition wall (not shown) protruding downward from the bottom thereof so as to be coupled to the corresponding three spaces 112, 114, 116. Ink inlets 152, 154, 156 and air inlets 153, 155, 157 are respectively formed in the individually partitioned spaces of the cover member 150.

The air inlet customs 162, 164 and 166 are respectively installed to be accommodated in three spaces 112, 114 and 116 so as to communicate with the corresponding air inlets 153, 155 and 157. Reference numeral 170 denotes a film member.

Since the manufacturing process and ink ejection operation of the ink cartridge corresponding to the full color according to the present embodiment are almost the same as those of the electric monochrome ink cartridge, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, the ink cartridge for an inkjet printer according to the present invention has the following effects.

First, the ink can be stably discharged while simplifying the structure of the cartridge by the ink discharge tubule or the air inlet tubule having a tubular structure implemented at a low price instead of the structure for supplying ink by the conventional porous body.

Second, ink and air can be supplied and introduced stably and continuously by adhering at least a portion of the ink discharge customs and the air inlet customs to the bottom surface of the cover member and the container body, so that the ink flows back through the air inlet. Can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to solve the problem of contamination on the outside of the cartridge caused by the back flow of ink.

Claims (5)

An opening formed in an upper surface thereof, an ink discharge portion provided in a lower surface thereof, and a container body capable of storing ink of a predetermined color; An ink injection unit and an air inlet unit, and a cover member sealingly coupled to the opening of the container body; And In order to discharge a predetermined amount of ink stored in the container body through the ink discharge part, one end is communicated with the ink discharge part, at least one part is in contact with the cover member, and the other end is installed close to the bottom surface of the container body. And an ink discharge customs tube having a predetermined cross-sectional area. The method of claim 1, An inkjet printer, which is installed at one end of the ink discharge tubular communicating with the ink discharge unit, is further linked to the operation of the suction pump installed in the printer head, and further comprises a rubber valve for selectively discharging the ink. Ink cartridges. The method according to claim 1 or 2, And the other end of the ink discharge customs member disposed to be close to the bottom surface of the container body is disposed to be parallel to the bottom surface. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The container body is press-fitted and fixed to the ink discharge part, and a cross-shaped cutout is formed to be in communication with the ink supply part installed in the printer head, and a packing member which can be press-fitted and fixed to the ink discharge part is further formed. An ink cartridge for an ink jet printer, comprising: The method according to claim 1 or 2, The container body is partitioned into three spaces by partitions for storing yellow, magenta, and cyan ink, respectively, and an ink outlet is formed at the bottom of each space; Wherein the ink discharge customs are respectively installed in the three spaces so as to communicate with the corresponding ink discharge ports.