JP4196221B2 - ink cartridge - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink cartridge for supplying ink to a head for a recording apparatus.

  An ink jet recording apparatus generally includes a recording head that is mounted on a carriage and moves in the width direction of the recording paper, and a paper feeding unit that relatively moves the recording paper in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the recording head. ing.

  In such an ink jet recording apparatus, printing on a recording sheet is performed by ejecting ink droplets from a recording head based on print data.

  A recording head capable of ejecting, for example, black, yellow, cyan, and magenta inks is mounted on the carriage, enabling full color printing by changing not only text printing with black ink but also the ejection ratio of each ink. Yes.

  For this reason, an ink cartridge for supplying each ink to the recording head is disposed in the apparatus main body.

  In a normal ink jet recording apparatus, each ink cartridge storing the black, yellow, cyan, and magenta inks is placed on a carriage and moves together with the carriage.

  In recent recording apparatuses, the carriage is moved at a high speed for the purpose of improving the recording speed.

  In such a recording apparatus, the ink supply tube undergoes pressure fluctuation due to expansion / bending of the ink supply tube accompanying the acceleration / deceleration of the carriage, making the ejection of ink droplets from the recording head unstable.

  For this reason, a lower ink storage chamber (ink tank chamber) opened to the atmosphere side and a head connection upper ink storage chamber (ink end chamber) connected to the lower ink storage chamber via an ink flow path are provided. There has been proposed an ink cartridge in which a differential pressure valve is arranged in the middle of a path connecting the upper ink storage chamber and the ink supply port.

  According to this, a negative pressure is generated on the head side by the negative pressure generating means, and the differential pressure valve is opened accordingly, and ink is supplied to the recording head. The ink can be supplied to the recording head with an optimum water head difference.

Although an ink cartridge using a differential pressure valve is described in Patent Document 1, it is a head-integrated type in which a recording head is attached to an ink cartridge, and there is one ink storage chamber, which includes a lower ink storage chamber and a lower ink storage chamber. There is no description of an ink cartridge including an upper ink storage chamber for connecting a head connected to the lower ink storage chamber via an ink flow path.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 62-231759

  As described above, in the ink cartridge including the lower ink storage chamber and the upper ink storage chamber for connecting the head to the lower ink storage chamber via the ink flow path, the upper ink storage chamber has no air. Is required. On the other hand, the lower ink storage chamber is required to have an ink amount in which air exists.

  Therefore, it is necessary to inject ink into different ink storage chambers under different conditions.

  In particular, when ink is injected into the cartridge under the ink injection (atmospheric injection) conditions required for the lower ink storage chamber (ink tank chamber) with respect to the upper ink storage chamber (ink end chamber), In addition, air also enters the upper ink storage chamber. As a result, there is a problem that bubbles are mixed in the ink supplied to the recording head when the ink is used, and the stability in printing cannot be ensured.

  In addition, the lower ink storage chamber has an air flow path system provided to open the lower ink storage chamber of the ink cartridge to the atmosphere and introduce the atmosphere as the ink is consumed. When the ink is injected, if the ink is injected in the same condition as the upper ink storage chamber, that is, the atmosphere does not exist, when the ink is injected, the carriage moves at high speed or the ink cartridge is moved to the recording head. When connecting to the ink, the ink flows into the air flow path system, the introduction of the atmosphere due to the consumption of the ink becomes insufficient, and there is a problem that the stability on printing cannot be ensured.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a technical problem. In an ink cartridge having an upper ink storage chamber and a lower ink storage chamber, air bubbles are mixed into ink supplied to the head when ink is used. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an ink cartridge that can prevent printing, and thus can ensure stability in printing.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a technical problem. In an ink cartridge in which an upper ink storage chamber is disposed above and a lower ink storage chamber is disposed below, the head is supplied to the head when ink is used. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink cartridge that can prevent air bubbles from being mixed into the ink, and thus can ensure stability in printing.

  The ink cartridge of the present invention has an upper ink storage chamber and a lower ink storage chamber partitioned by a partition wall, and is connected to an ink supply needle of a cartridge holder to supply ink to a recording head. The lower ink storage chamber has a communication channel connecting the lower portion of the lower ink storage chamber and the lower portion of the upper ink storage chamber, and an air vent chamber with a breathable film stretched therein. An air flow path system having an opening that opens to the top, a valve provided in the air flow path system, and a differential pressure valve disposed in the middle of the flow path connecting the upper ink storage chamber and the ink supply port. The ink in the upper ink storage chamber is discharged from the ink supply port via the differential pressure valve, and the ink in the lower ink storage chamber is discharged as the ink consumption in the upper ink storage chamber progresses. The partition wall is configured to move ink to the upper ink storage chamber via the communication channel, and the ink supply port side is downward, and the opening side of the lower ink storage chamber of the air channel system is In the ink cartridge configured to extend obliquely so as to be upward and to be opened when the ink cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder, the upper ink storage chamber has a volume substantially equal to that of the ink cartridge. The ink is filled with 100% ink, and the lower ink storage chamber is filled with ink so that air exists.

  With this configuration, ink is injected into the lower ink storage chamber under the condition that air exists, and the upper ink storage chamber is filled with ink at almost 100%, so that substantially the air The ink is filled under the condition where no ink is present.

  It is desirable to provide an air communication port for discharging the air in the lower ink storage chamber when ink is injected, and a suction port for suctioning the upper ink storage chamber under reduced pressure.

  With this configuration, ink can be injected into the lower ink storage chamber from the first opening under atmospheric injection conditions, while the upper ink storage chamber can be decompressed from the second opening. Ink can be injected under the injection conditions. In other words, ink is injected into the lower ink storage chamber while discharging air from the air communication port, and ink is injected into the upper ink storage chamber while suctioning from the suction port.

  The suction port is preferably an ink supply port for supplying ink to the head.

  With this configuration, the ink supply port for supplying ink to the head for the recording apparatus can be used as a suction port for sucking the upper ink storage chamber when ink is injected.

  Further, in the above configuration, the differential pressure valve is arranged between the upper ink storage chamber and the ink supply port, so that the ink can be opened with the differential pressure valve opened to control the flow of ink discharged from the ink supply port. Can be filled up to the ink supply port.

  Further, the lower ink storage chamber and the upper ink storage chamber are connected by a flow path, and the second opening can be formed at a position of the flow path facing the lower ink storage chamber side communication port.

  If comprised in this way, the ink can be efficiently filled also into the flow path which connects the said lower ink storage chamber and the said upper ink storage chamber.

  Further, the atmosphere communication port can be formed in the vicinity of the second opening.

  With this configuration, the second opening can be sealed at the same time as sealing after ink injection.

  As is apparent from the above description, according to the ink cartridge of the present invention, ink can be smoothly supplied from the lower ink storage chamber to the upper ink storage chamber, and stability in printing can be ensured. .

  Hereinafter, an ink cartridge to which the present invention is applied and an ink injection method thereof will be described based on an embodiment shown in the drawings.

  First, the ink cartridge will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an entire ink cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2A and 2B are perspective views showing the appearance of the ink cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention. 3 and 4 are perspective views of the internal structure of the ink cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed obliquely from above and obliquely from below. 5 and 6 are a front view and a rear view showing the internal structure of the ink cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention. 7 and 8 are enlarged cross-sectional views showing the negative pressure generating means accommodation chamber and the valve accommodation chamber of the ink cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a front view showing a connection state of the ink cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention with respect to the cartridge holder. FIGS. 10A and 10B are a cross-sectional view schematically showing the internal structure and a bottom view showing the ink injection holes in order to explain the ink injection flow path of the ink cartridge according to the present embodiment.

  An ink cartridge 1 shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b) includes a flat, substantially rectangular container body (lower case) 2 that opens to one side, and a lid (upper part) that seals the opening of the container body 2. Case) 3, and the interior is generally constituted by an ink flow path system and an air flow path system (both described later).

  In the lower part of the container main body 2, an ink supply port 4 that can be connected to the ink supply needle 72 (both shown in FIG. 9) of the recording head 112 and a first opening (open) side by side with the ink supply port 4 are provided. Hole) 85 and a second opening 86 (both shown in FIGS. 4 and 5). The ink supply port 4 is in communication with a differential pressure valve storage chamber formed in an upper ink storage chamber described later, and the first opening 85 is in communication with the lower ink storage chamber 11.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a substantially cylindrical seal member 200 made of rubber or the like is mounted in the ink supply port 4. A through hole 200 a that opens in the axial direction is provided at the center of the seal member 200. Further, a spring receiver (valve element) 201 that opens and closes the through hole 200 a by inserting and removing the ink supply needle 72 is disposed in the ink supply port 4, and further, a compression coil that urges the spring receiver 201 to the seal member 200. A spring 202 is mounted.

  As shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the second opening 86 communicates with the lower ink storage chamber 11 through the atmosphere communication port 86a, and the upper ink storage chamber (through the ink injection port 86b). Upper first ink storage chamber 16, upper second ink storage chamber 17, etc.).

  Locking members 5 and 6 detachably attached to the cartridge holder are integrally provided on the upper side of the container body 2. As shown in FIG. 2 (a), a circuit board (IC substrate) 7 is disposed at the lower part of one locking member 5, and the lower part of the other locking member 6 is shown in FIG. And as shown to (b), the valve | bulb accommodation chamber 8 is arrange | positioned.

  The circuit board 7 has a storage element that stores information data relating to ink, such as data such as color type, pigment / dye ink type, remaining ink amount, serial number, expiration date, and target model, in a writable manner. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the valve housing chamber 8 has an internal space that opens to the cartridge insertion side (lower side), and the recording device side identification piece 73 (FIG. 9) that fits the ink cartridge 1 in the internal space. And the valve operating rod 70 are advanced and retracted. In the upper part of the internal space, an operation arm 66 of an identification block 87 that is rotated by the advancement / retraction of the valve operating rod 70 is accommodated. In addition, an identification convex portion 68 for determining suitability for the recording apparatus is provided in the lower portion of the internal space. The identification convex portion 68 is formed in the cartridge holder 71 before the ink supply needle 72 (illustrated in FIG. 9) on the recording apparatus side communicates with the ink supply port 4 (before an air release valve described later is opened). The valve action rod 70 (shown in FIG. 9) is arranged at a position that enables determination.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, a through hole 60 is formed in the chamber wall 8 a of the valve storage chamber 8 (atmosphere release chamber 501) as an atmosphere conduction hole that opens and closes by opening and closing operation of the atmosphere release valve 601. An operation arm 66 is disposed on one opening side of the through hole 60, and an air release valve 601 is disposed on the other opening side. The operation arm 66 has an operation portion 66b that presses the pressure film (stretchable film) 61, is disposed to project obliquely upward in the course of the valve operating rod 70, and the container body 2 via the rotation fulcrum 66a. It is fixed to.

  The pressurizing film 61 is attached to the chamber wall 8a so as to close the through hole 60, and is entirely formed of an elastic seal member such as rubber. An internal space formed between the pressure film 61 and the peripheral edge of the through hole 60 is opened to a through hole 67 (both shown in FIG. 5) communicating with the lower ink storage chamber 11.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the air release valve 601 includes a valve body 65 that opens and closes the through hole 60 and an elastic member (plate spring) 62 that constantly urges the valve body 65 toward the opening periphery of the through hole 60. Yes. Of these, a through hole 62 b is provided at the upper end of the elastic member 62, and a protrusion 64 is inserted into the through hole 62 b, and movement restriction (guide) is performed by the protrusion 64. On the other hand, the lower end portion is fixed on the container body 2 via a protrusion 63.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 88 denotes an identification label attached to the upper surface of the container body 2 in correspondence with the block 87, 89 denotes a film for sealing the ink supply port 4 (through hole 200a), 90 Is a film for sealing the first opening 85 and the second opening 86. Reference numeral 91 denotes a decompression pack for wrapping the ink cartridge 1 filled with ink.

  Next, the “ink channel system” and “air channel system” in the container body 2 will be described with reference to FIGS.

"Ink channel system"
As shown in FIG. 1, the ink cartridge 1 is joined to the front side of the container body 2 through inner films (air-tight films) 56 and 502, and the back side of the container body 2. The inner space is formed by joining the protective label 83 via the outer film (air-shielding film) 57. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the internal space is divided into upper and lower portions by a partition wall 10 extending obliquely so that the ink supply port side with respect to the recording head 112 (shown in FIG. 9) is slightly below. Yes. A lower region of the internal space is a lower ink storage chamber 11 that opens to the atmosphere when the recording head 112 is connected.

  In the lower ink storage chamber 11, two intermediate walls 300 and 301 having different height positions are disposed. One intermediate wall 300 is disposed at a predetermined distance from one side surface of the lower ink storage chamber 11. The other intermediate wall 301 faces the bottom surface of the lower ink storage chamber 11 and is disposed on the ink supply port side of the intermediate wall 300. The intermediate wall 301 divides the lower ink storage chamber 11 into two space portions 11a and 11b arranged in parallel in the ink injection direction (up and down). Further, the intermediate wall 301 is provided with a through hole 301 a having the same axis as the axis of the first opening 85.

  The upper region of the internal space is partitioned by a frame portion 14 having the partition wall 10 as a bottom surface portion. The inner space of the frame portion 14 constitutes an upper ink storage chamber (part) connected to the recording head 112, and the front side of the upper ink storage chamber is divided into left and right by a vertical wall 15 having a communication port 15a. . One side region of the divided internal space is an upper first ink storage chamber 16, and the other side region is an upper second ink storage chamber 17.

  A communication flow path 18 that communicates with the lower ink storage chamber 11 is connected to the upper first ink storage chamber 16. The communication channel 18 has communication ports 18a and 18b at the upper and lower positions. The communication flow path 18 includes a recess 18c (shown in FIG. 6) that opens on the back surface of the container body 2 and extends in the vertical direction, and an air-tight film (outside) that closes and seals the opening of the recess 18c. Film 57). A partition wall 19 having two upper and lower communication ports 19 a and 19 b communicating with the lower ink storage chamber 11 is provided on the upstream side of the communication channel 18. One communication port 19 a is disposed at a position that opens to a lower region in the lower ink storage chamber 11. The other communication port 19 b is disposed at a position that opens to an upper region in the lower ink storage chamber 11.

  On the other hand, in the upper second ink storage chamber 17, a differential pressure valve storage chamber 33 (shown in FIG. 6) that stores the differential pressure valve 52 (membrane valve) shown in FIG. 7 by the horizontally long partition wall 22 and the annular partition wall 24. And the filter chamber 34 (illustrated in FIG. 5) which accommodates the filter 55 (nonwoven fabric filter) similarly shown in FIG. 7 is formed. The partition wall 25 is provided with a through hole 25 a that guides the ink that has passed through the filter 55 from the filter chamber 34 to the differential pressure valve storage chamber 33.

  A partition wall 26 having a communication port 26 a between the partition wall 10 and the partition wall 10 is provided at a lower portion of the partition wall 24, and a partition wall 27 having a communication port 27 a between the frame portion 14 and the side wall 14. . And between the partition wall 27 and the frame part 14, the communicating path 28 connected to the communicating port 27a and extended in the up-down direction is provided. A through hole 29 that communicates with the filter chamber 34 via the communication port 24 a and the region 31 is connected to the upper portion of the communication path 28.

  The through hole 29 is formed by a partition wall (annular wall) 30 that is continuous with the partition wall 27.

  The region 31 is formed by the partition walls 22, 24, 30 and the partition wall 30a (shown in FIG. 6). The region 31 is formed such that one end (portion communicating with the through hole 29) of the container body 2 is deep and the other end (portion communicating with the filter chamber 34) is shallow.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the differential pressure valve housing chamber 33 accommodates a membrane valve 52 as a differential pressure valve that can be elastically deformed, such as an elastomer. The membrane valve 52 has a through hole 52c, is urged toward the filter chamber by the compression coil spring 50, and its outer peripheral edge is fixed to the container body 2 by ultrasonic welding via an annular thick portion 52a. ing. The compression coil spring 50 is supported at one end by a spring receiver 52 b of the membrane valve 52 and at the other end by a spring receiver 203 in the differential pressure valve housing chamber 33. The positional accuracy of the compression coil spring 50 and the membrane valve 52 is an important factor when the differential pressure is controlled by the differential pressure valve, and as shown in FIG. Therefore, it is necessary to arrange the convex portion of the membrane valve 52.

  Note that reference numeral 54 in the drawing denotes a frame portion formed integrally with the thick portion 52 a of the membrane valve 52.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the filter chamber 34 is provided with a filter 55 that allows ink to pass therethrough and captures dust and the like. The opening of the filter chamber 34 is sealed with an inner film 56, and the opening of the differential pressure valve housing chamber 33 is sealed with an outer film 57. When the pressure in the ink supply port 4 decreases, the membrane valve 52 moves away from the valve seat portion 25b against the urging force of the compression coil spring 50 (the through hole 52c opens). Is configured to pass through the through hole 52c and flow into the ink supply port 4 through the flow path formed by the recess 35. Further, when the ink pressure in the ink supply port 4 rises to a predetermined value, the membrane valve 52 is seated on the valve seat portion 25b by the urging force of the compression coil spring 50, thereby blocking the ink flow. . By repeating such an operation, ink is supplied to the ink supply port 4 while maintaining a constant negative pressure.

  The lower area of the internal space has the partition wall 10 as an upper surface portion, and the lower ink storage chamber 11 is configured by the internal space. An opening from a through hole 67 (shown in FIG. 5) communicating with the upper portion of the lower ink storage chamber 11 is open above the lower surface of the partition wall 10 extending obliquely. Therefore, the opening from the through hole 67 is filled with the air present in the lower ink storage chamber when the ink cartridge is mounted, so that the ink does not easily flow into the air flow path system.

"Air channel system"
As shown in FIG. 6, the back surface of the container body 2 has a meandering groove 36 for increasing the flow resistance and a wide concave groove 37 (hatched portion) opened to the atmosphere, and further a lower ink containing chamber 11 ( A concave portion 38 (space portion) having a substantially rectangular shape extending to the plane (shown in FIG. 5) is provided. A frame portion 39 and a rib 40 are provided in the recess 38, and an air permeable chamber 84 is stretched over these to form an air vent chamber. A through hole 41 is provided in the bottom surface (wall) of the recess 38 and communicates with an elongated region 43 defined by a partition wall 42 (shown in FIG. 5) of the upper first ink storage chamber 16. This region 43 has a through hole 44, and communicates with the atmosphere release chamber 501 (illustrated in FIG. 8) through a communication groove 45 defined by the partition wall 603 and a through hole 46 opened to the communication groove 45. . The opening of the air release chamber 501 is sealed with an inner film (air-shielding film) 502 shown in FIG.

  With the above configuration, when the ink cartridge 1 is mounted in the cartridge holder 71 as shown in FIG. 9, the valve operating rod 70 of the cartridge holder 71 contacts the operation arm 66 shown in FIG. The film 61) is moved to the valve body side. As a result, the valve body 65 is separated from the opening periphery of the through hole 60, and the lower ink storage chamber 11 shown in FIG. 5 moves through the through hole 67, the through hole 60, the through hole 46, the groove 45, the through hole 44, the region 43, and the through hole. It opens to the recess 38 (in the atmosphere) shown in FIG. 6 through the hole 41 or the like. Further, the valve body 201 in the ink supply port 4 is opened by the insertion of the ink supply needle 72.

  When the valve body 201 in the ink supply port 4 is opened and ink is consumed by the recording head 112, the pressure of the ink supply port 4 decreases below a specified value. The membrane valve 52 in the valve 33 is opened (the membrane valve 52 is closed when the pressure of the ink supply port 4 rises above a specified value), and the ink in the differential pressure valve housing chamber 33 passes through the ink supply port 4. It flows into the recording head 112.

  Further, when the consumption of ink in the recording head 112 proceeds, the ink in the lower ink storage chamber 11 flows into the upper first ink storage chamber 16 via the communication channel 18 shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, as ink is consumed, air flows from a through hole 67 (shown in FIG. 5) communicating with the atmosphere, and the ink level in the lower ink storage chamber 11 is lowered. Further, when the ink is consumed and the ink liquid level reaches the communication port 19a, the ink from the lower ink storage chamber 11 (opened to the atmosphere via the through hole 67 when ink is supplied) in the upper first ink storage chamber 16. Flows along with the air via the communication channel 18. Since the bubbles rise due to buoyancy, only ink flows into the negative pressure generating means accommodating chamber 17 through the communicating port 15a at the lower part of the vertical wall 15, and the communicating port 26a of the partition wall 26 is passed through the upper second ink accommodating chamber 17 from this. It passes through the communication passage 28 and rises from the communication passage 28 into the upper portion of the filter chamber 34 via the region 31 and the communication port 24a.

  After that, the ink in the filter chamber 34 passes through the filter 55 shown in FIG. 7 and flows into the differential pressure valve accommodating chamber 33 from the through hole 25a, and further passes through the through hole 52c of the membrane valve 52 spaced from the valve seat portion 25b. After that, it descends in the recess 35 shown in FIG. 6 and flows into the ink supply port 4.

  In this way, ink is supplied from the ink cartridge 1 to the recording head 112.

  When different types of ink cartridges 1 are mounted on the cartridge holder 71, before the ink supply port 4 reaches the ink supply needle 72, the identification convex portion 68 (shown in FIG. 7) Abutting on the identification piece 73 (shown in FIG. 9), the valve action rod 70 is prevented from entering. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of problems due to the mounting of different types of ink cartridges. Further, in this state, the valve operating rod 70 does not reach the operation arm 66, so that the valve body 65 is maintained in a closed state, and evaporation of the ink solvent in the lower ink storage chamber 11 due to being left is prevented.

  On the other hand, when the ink cartridge 1 is pulled out from the mounting position of the cartridge holder 71, the operation arm 66 loses its support by the operating rod 70 and elastically returns, and accordingly, the valve body 65 elastically recovers and the through hole 60 is restored. Therefore, the communication between the recess 38 and the lower ink storage chamber 11 is blocked.

  Next, an ink injection method for the ink cartridge 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 5, 10, and 11. FIG. 11 is a schematic view for explaining the ink cartridge injection method according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The ink injection method of the ink cartridge in this embodiment is characterized in that ink can be filled in the lower ink storage chamber 11 and the upper ink storage chamber under different ink filling conditions.

  That is, the lower ink storage chamber 11 can be filled with ink in a state of being filled with air, and the upper ink storage chamber can be filled with ink of almost 100% of its volume so that no air exists. There is.

  Therefore, an ink injector 100 as shown in FIG. 11 is used. In this ink injector 100, ink is injected into the nozzle 100 b for injecting ink into the lower ink storage chamber 11 and the upper ink storage chamber (upper first ink storage chamber 16, upper second ink storage chamber 17, etc.). And a nozzle 100a for performing vacuum suction (vacuum suction) in order to discharge the air in the upper ink storage chamber. The nozzle 100 a is connected to the ink supply port 4, the nozzle 100 b is connected to the first opening 85, and the nozzle 100 c is connected to the second opening 86.

  Here, it is preferable that the nozzle 100b is inserted and arranged inside the cartridge rather than the through hole 301a of the intermediate wall 301 shown in FIGS. In this manner, the nozzle 100b is inserted through the first opening 85 and the through hole 301a, and the ink injection position is arranged behind the through hole 301a (in the back of the cartridge), thereby causing the foaming of ink during ink injection. Occurrence can be prevented. That is, since the difference in height between the ink injection port of the nozzle 100b and the ink liquid level is small at the beginning of ink injection, foaming is small. Further, as the ink injection proceeds, when the ink liquid level rises, the ink injection port of the nozzle 100b is immersed in the injected ink, and no air entrainment occurs, so that no bubbling occurs. Even if ink bubbling occurs during ink injection, the intermediate wall 301 prevents the ink from rising, and ink bubbling does not occur between the intermediate wall 301 and the first opening 85.

  Therefore, if the ink cartridge 1 is turned upside down (in the state shown in FIG. 5) after ink injection, the foaming of the ink moves to the upper part of the ink cartridge 1.

  As a result, ink without bubbles can be supplied to the communication channel 18 via the communication ports 19 a and 19 b and finally supplied to the ink supply port 4.

  Further, when ink is supplied from the first opening 85 to the lower ink storage chamber 11 as indicated by an arrow (solid line) in FIG. 10, the downward ink is supplied from the atmosphere communication port 86a as indicated by an arrow (dashed line) in FIG. By releasing the atmosphere in the storage chamber 11, ink can be supplied from the nozzle 100b. That is, the lower ink storage chamber 11 communicates with the atmosphere release valve 601 through the through hole 67, but the atmosphere release valve 601 is closed when the ink cartridge 1 is not attached to the cartridge holder 71. Yes. For this reason, an air communication port 86a is provided in order to let the air (air) in the lower ink storage chamber 11 escape during ink injection.

  The atmosphere communication port 86a is opened facing the second opening 86 together with the ink injection port 86b. Therefore, the air communication port 86a and the ink injection port 86b can be sealed by sealing the second opening 86 with the film 90 after ink injection.

  Next, ink injection into the upper ink storage chamber by the nozzle 100c will be described with reference to FIG.

  A differential pressure valve 52 is disposed between the ink inlet 86b and the ink supply port 4 of the second opening 86 to which the nozzle 100c is connected. Therefore, the ink cannot be filled up to the ink supply port 4 unless the pressure on the ink supply port 4 side is low.

  Further, it is necessary to prevent air from entering the upper ink storage chamber. Therefore, the ink is supplied from the nozzle 100c, and at the same time, vacuum suction is performed by the nozzle 100a from the ink supply port 4 side.

  Further, since the communication port 18a is provided in the vicinity of the ink injection port 86b of the second opening 86, the ink supplied from the nozzle 100c is connected to the communication port 18a, the communication channel 18, and the upper first ink storage chamber 16. , Ink that is not mixed with air (atmosphere) is filled up to the ink supply port 4 through the negative pressure generating means accommodating chamber 17.

  Next, the ink injection operation in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As the ink cartridge, the ink cartridge 1 before the ink supply port 4 is sealed by the film 89 and the first opening 85 and the second opening 86 are sealed (sealed) by the film 90 is prepared.

  As shown in the drawing, after the nozzles 100a to 100c of the ink injector 100 are connected to the ink supply port 4, the first opening 85, and the second opening 86 (ink injection port 86b), the first opening 85 is provided. Ink is injected into the lower ink storage chamber 11 from the upper side and the ink is injected into the upper ink storage chamber (the upper first ink storage chamber 16, the upper second ink storage chamber 17, etc.) from the ink injection port 86b. At this time, ink is injected into the lower ink storage chamber 11 while discharging the air in the lower ink storage chamber 11 from the air communication port 86a (shown in FIG. 10).

  Since the ink injection by the ink nozzle 100b is completed when the ink of about 50% of the volume of the lower ink storage chamber 11 is filled, air exists in the lower ink storage chamber 11. Further, ink is injected into the upper ink storage chamber while being sucked through the ink supply port 4 (vacuum degree is 100%). In this case, it is desirable to inject ink that is approximately 100% of the volume of the upper ink storage chamber in order to prevent bubbles remaining and air from entering. Note that the excessively injected ink may be discharged from the ink supply port 4.

  After ink injection by the nozzles 100a, 100b, and 100c, the ink injection operation is completed by sealing the first opening 85 and the second opening 86 and the ink supply port 4.

  As described above, in this embodiment, ink can be injected under the ink injection conditions required for the lower ink storage chamber and the upper ink storage chamber. It is possible to prevent air bubbles from being mixed in and to ensure the stability on printing.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the atmospheric filling rate of the lower ink containing chamber 11 is set to 50% has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be appropriately changed according to the amount of injected ink. is there.

1 is an exploded perspective view showing an entire ink cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention. (A) And (b) is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the ink cartridge which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is the perspective view which looked at the internal structure of the ink cartridge which concerns on embodiment of this invention from diagonally upward. It is the perspective view which looked at the internal structure of the ink cartridge which concerns on embodiment of this invention from diagonally downward. It is a front view showing an internal structure of an ink cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a rear view which shows the internal structure of the ink cartridge which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which expands and shows the negative pressure generation means accommodation chamber of the ink cartridge which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which expands and shows the valve storage chamber of the ink cartridge which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 5 is a front view showing a connection state of the ink cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention with respect to the cartridge holder. (A) And (b) is sectional drawing which shows the internal structure typically, and the bottom view which shows an ink injection port, in order to demonstrate the ink injection flow path of the ink cartridge which concerns on this embodiment. It is the schematic shown in order to demonstrate the injection | pouring method of the ink cartridge which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ink cartridge 2 Container body 3 Cover body 4 Ink supply port 8 Valve storage chamber 11 Lower ink storage chamber 15 Vertical wall 15a Communication port 16 Buffer chamber 17 Negative pressure generation means storage chamber 18 Communication flow path 18a, 18b Communication port 18c Recessed part 19 Partition wall 19a, 19b Communication port 25 Partition wall 25a Through hole 25b Valve seat portion 26 Partition wall 26a Communication port 28 Communication channel 29 Through hole 31 Region 33 Differential pressure valve storage chamber 34 Filter chamber 35, 38 Recessed portion 52 Membrane valve 51 Through hole 55 Filter 56 inner film 57 outer film 85 first opening 86 second opening 86a air communication port 86b ink injection port 100 ink injection device 100a to 100c nozzle

Claims (1)

  An upper ink storage chamber and a lower ink storage chamber partitioned by a partition wall; an ink supply port connected to an ink supply needle of the cartridge holder for supplying ink to the recording head; a lower portion of the lower ink storage chamber; A communication channel connecting the lower portion of the upper ink storage chamber, an air vent chamber with a breathable film stretched, and an opening communicating with the air vent chamber and opening at the upper portion of the lower ink storage chamber An air flow path system, a valve provided in the air flow path system, and a differential pressure valve disposed in the middle of the flow path connecting the upper ink storage chamber and the ink supply port. Ink is discharged from the ink supply port through the differential pressure valve, and the upper ink storage chamber is discharged from the lower ink storage chamber through the communication channel as the ink consumption progresses. The partition wall extends obliquely so that the ink supply port side is downward and the opening side of the lower ink storage chamber of the air channel system is upward. In the ink cartridge configured to be opened when the ink cartridge is mounted in the cartridge holder, the upper ink storage chamber is filled with ink of almost 100% of its volume. The ink cartridge is characterized in that ink is injected into the lower ink storage chamber so that air exists.

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