WO2005051666A1 - Ink cartridge - Google Patents
Ink cartridge Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2005051666A1 WO2005051666A1 PCT/JP2004/017896 JP2004017896W WO2005051666A1 WO 2005051666 A1 WO2005051666 A1 WO 2005051666A1 JP 2004017896 W JP2004017896 W JP 2004017896W WO 2005051666 A1 WO2005051666 A1 WO 2005051666A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- valve
- ink
- ink cartridge
- opening
- chamber
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
- B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
- B41J2/17503—Ink cartridges
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
- B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
- B41J2/17503—Ink cartridges
- B41J2/17553—Outer structure
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
- B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
- B41J2/17503—Ink cartridges
- B41J2/17513—Inner structure
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
- B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
- B41J2/17503—Ink cartridges
- B41J2/1752—Mounting within the printer
- B41J2/17523—Ink connection
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
- B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
- B41J2/17503—Ink cartridges
- B41J2/17556—Means for regulating the pressure in the cartridge
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
- B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
- B41J2/17596—Ink pumps, ink valves
Definitions
- INK CARTRIDGE Technical Field This invention relates to an ink cartridge and an inkjet recording apparatus equipped with the ink cartridge.
- Background Art An ink cartridge is typically loaded into an inkjet recording apparatus by mounting the ink cartridge into the inkjet recording apparatus.
- a rubber stopper is attached to the ink cartridge and prevents air, ink or any other material from entering or exiting the ink cartridge.
- the inkjet recording apparatus includes a hollow needle with an acuminate tip. When the ink cartridge is pushed and loaded into the inkjet recording apparatus, the hollow needle penetrates the stopper plug so that an inside of the ink cartridge is in communication with the hollow needle in order to supply ink to the inkjet recording apparatus.
- the acuminate tip of the hollow needle is formed with the acuminate tip projecting toward the user.
- an inkjet recording apparatus is equipped with a protection device that protects the user from the hollow needle when the hollow needle is exposed.
- the protection device has a protection plate installed between the hollow needle and a side in which the ink cartridge is inserted in order to cover the hollow needle.
- ink cartridges that prevent ink from leaking from the cartridges when the cartridges are removed from inkjet recording devices.
- Such ink cartridges are provided with an ink chamber that stores ink, an ink supply port that externally supplies ink stored in the ink chamber, and an ink guidance chamber formed between the ink chamber and the ink supply port.
- the ink guidance chamber houses a valve unit, and a cylindrical packing is inserted into the ink supply port.
- the valve unit is urged by a compression spring in a direction elastically contacting the cylindrical packing in order to obstruct the ink flow path, and the valve unit prevents ink from leaking from the ink chamber side.
- the ink cartridge is structured such that, when attached to an inkjet recording device, an ink supply needle penetrates the cylindrical packing and opposes the urging force of the compression spring to press the valve unit toward the ink chamber. An ink flow path is thereby formed in order to supply ink.
- ink cartridges for example, in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 9-20018, in which the color of ink stored in the ink cartridge is easily recognized.
- Such ink cartridges include container bodies including porous materials into which ink is absorbed, and cover members that cover top openings of the containers.
- the cover members are formed of materials that are the same color as the ink absorbed by the porous materials. Therefore, even when ink cartridges of multiple colors are installed, because installation can be performed by recognizing the color of cover members of those ink cartridges, misinstallation of ink cartridges of different colors can be prevented.
- ink cartridges formed from transparent or semi-transparent materials are also known.
- ink cartridges for example, in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 11-58775, to which a deaerating processing has been performed in order to store deaerated ink.
- the ink cartridge is included within a packaging body and the packaging body is held in a pressure- reduced- state.
- the packaging body is held in a pressure- reduced state in order to suppress the deterioration of the deaerated ink while the ink cartridge is transported.
- the inside of the ink cartridge is also divided into two spaces by a partition wall. Within the two spaces divided by the partition wall, one space is used as an ink supply chamber that temporarily stores ink that is supplied from an ink supply hole, and another space is used as an ink chamber that is filled by a porous member that can store ink. In order to store a large amount of ink, the ink chamber requires more space than the ink supply chamber.
- the partition wall is arranged at a position that is significantly closer to an opposite end wall of the ink supply chamber. Disclosure of the Invention In the ink cartridge in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. 2001-113723, for example, where the leakage of ink is prevented as described above, there is provided a switching valve unit which opens and obstructs the ink flow path and a compression spring which urges the valve unit.
- a switching valve unit which opens and obstructs the ink flow path
- a compression spring which urges the valve unit.
- an ink guidance chamber is required in order to attach the valve unit.
- the compression spring must be formed between the ink supply port and the ink chamber. The structure for forming an ink flow path thus becomes complex. Because the valve unit and the compression spring are attached within the ink guidance chamber, the attachment operation becomes difficult, requiring further manufacturing steps.
- a compression spring made from metal is used.
- a metal compression spring cannot be discarded together with the ink cartridge which is constructed from resin materials.
- the use of a metal compression spring entails problems in that the complexity of discarding an ink cartridge is increased, and disposal costs also become high.
- the present invention allows, among other things, a reduction in manufacturing costs and a reduction in disposal costs.
- an ink cartridge includes an ink chamber; a communication chamber that is capable of communicating with the ink chamber; a valve that is movable; a support disposed within the communication chamber, the support including a valve seat and an opening exposing a bottom of the valve at an approximately central portion, wherein the valve seat is adjacent to the valve at an outer periphery of the opening; and an urging device that extends from the valve seat, the urging device directly contacting the valve and urging the valve toward the valve seat, wherein the valve separates from the valve seat when a predetermined force is applied to the valve and the support and the urging device are formed as a one-piece member.
- a valve device in exemplary embodiments, includes a valve that is movable; and a one-piece support.
- the one- piece support includes a valve seat with an opening exposing a bottom of the valve at an approximately central portion, wherein the valve seat is adjacent to the valve at an outer periphery of the opening, and an urging device that extends from the valve seat, the urging device directly contacting the valve and urging the valve toward the valve seat, wherein the valve separates from the valve seat when a predetermined force is applied to the valve.
- an ink cartridge includes an ink chamber that can store ink; a communication chamber with a first opening that communicates with the ink chamber and a second opening that can receive an extract component; a valve that is positioned between the first opening and the second opening; and a support that supports a bottom surface of the valve and urges a top surface of the valve toward the second opening.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary ink cartridge according to the present invention and an exemplary inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention on which the ink cartridge is mounted;
- FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary ink cartridge according to the present invention and an exemplary inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention on which the ink cartridge is mounted;
- FIG. 2 is a sectional diagram showing the structure of an exemplary ink cartridge according to the present invention before the ink cartridge is loaded into an inkjet recording apparatus;
- FIG. 3 is an oblique perspective view of an exemplary valve member according to the present invention;
- FIG. 4 is an oblique perspective view of a tip part of an exemplary ink extract tube according to the present invention;
- FIG. 5A is a sectional view of an exemplary ink extract tube according to the present invention before the ink extract tube enters into a guide path and contacts ' an exemplary valve member according to the present invention;
- FIG. 5B is a cross-section view of an exemplary ink extract tube according to the present invention contacting an exemplary valve member according to the present invention and pushing the valve member toward an ink chamber;
- FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C are side views depicting rupture of a film member by an exemplary valve member according to the present invention
- FIGS. 6D, 6E and 6F are top views corresponding to FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C, respectively
- FIG. 7 is a sectional diagram showing the structure of an exemplary ink cartridge according to the present invention before the ink cartridge is loaded ⁇ into an inkjet recording apparatus
- FIGS. 9A and 9B depict an exemplary valve member according to the present invention: FIG. 9A is a plan view and FIG. 9B is a side view; FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a holding member of an exemplary valve member according to the present invention; FIGS. 11A and 11B are sectional views of an exemplary ink cartridge according to. the present invention: FIG. 11A depicts a state prior to installation and FIG. 11B depicts a state after installation; FIGS. 12A-12C depict the valve member of FIGS. 11A and 11B: FIG. 12A is a plan view, FIG. 12B is a sectional view and FIG. 12C is a bottom view; FIG.
- FIG. 13 is a sectional diagram showing the structure of an exemplary ink cartridge according to the present invention before the ink cartridge is loaded into an inkjet recording apparatus;
- FIG. 14A is a perspective view of an exemplary ink cartridge according to the, present invention from an upper direction;
- FIG. 14B is a perspective view of an exemplary ink cartridge according to the present invention from a lower direction;
- FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along a line III-
- FIG. 16 is a sectional view of the ink chamber of FIG. 15 during a state when the ink cartridge is packaged;
- FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken along a line IV- IV of FIG. 15;
- FIG. 18 is a sectional diagram of an exemplary ink cartridge according to the present invention;
- FIG. 19A is an enlarged diagram showing an inner wall surface of an exemplary ink cartridge according to the present invention;
- FIG. 19B is an enlarged cross-sectional diagram showing part D in FIG. 18;
- FIGS. 20A-20D are diagrams showing various exemplary dispersing grooves according to the present invention.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an ink cartridge 1 according to an embodiment of this invention and an inkjet recording apparatus 2 to which the ink cartridge 1 mounts.
- the ink cartridge 1 is formed so as to be detachable with respect to the inkjet recording apparatus 2 that is provided with a recording head 7 which ejects ink I.
- the ink cartridge 1 stores the ink I to be supplied to the recording head 7.
- One of a plurality of ink colors, such as cyan, magenta, yellow, black, or the like, is filled in the ink cartridge 1 as ink I, and a plurality of ink cartridges 1 that are filled with different ink colors are mounted to the inkjet recording apparatus 2. Color printing is thus made possible.
- the inkjet recording apparatus 2 is provided with a mounting part 3 which detachably mounts the ink cartridge 1, a tank 5 which stores the ink I supplied from the ink cartridge 1 via an ink supply tube 4, the recording head 7 which emits the ink I stored in the tank 5 to recording paper ⁇ , a carriage 8 in which the tank 5 and the recording head 7 are mounted and which is movable in two linear directions, a carriage shaft 9 which is a guide by which the carriage 8 moves in the two linear directions, a transport mechanism 10 which transports the recording paper ⁇ , and a purge device 11.
- the mounting part 3 is composed of a base part 3a that is sandwiched by a guide part 3b which is set on both sides of the base part 3a.
- a hollow ink extracting tube 12 extracts the ink I stored in the ink cartridge 1 and a hollow outside air intake tube 13 introduces outside air to the ink cartridge 1.
- the ink extracting tube 12 and the air intake tube 13 are examples of extract components.
- the ink supply tube 4 is connected with one end side of the ink extracting tube 12, and the ink extracting tube 12 is connected to the tank 5 via the ink supply tube 4.
- the outside air intake tube 15 is connected to one end side of the air intake tube 13, and the outside air intake tube 13 is connected to outside air via the outside air intake tube 15.
- the ink cartridge 1 is mounted from a direction
- the ink extracting tube 12 and the air intake tube 13 contact a valve member 32 (see FIG. 2) of the respective valve devices 18, 19 which is provided inside of the ink cartridge 1, push the respective valve members 32 up toward an ink chamber 16, and communicate with the inside of ink chamber 16.
- a plurality of nozzle holes are provided in the recording head 7 on a surface to be opposite the recording paper 6.
- the recording head 7 is arranged above the mounting part 3.
- a negative pressure (back pressure) is thus given to the ink I within the nozzle holes due to the pressure head difference between the ink cartridge 1 mounted in the mounting part 3 and the nozzle holes.
- a purge device 11 is outside the recording area and arranged so as to face the recording head 7.
- the purge device 11 is provided with a purge cap 11a which covers a nozzle hole formation surface of the recording head 7, a waste ink tube lib which communicates with the purge cap 11a, and a pump lie which intakes ink from the nozzle holes via the waste ink tube lib.
- the carriage 8 When the purge processing is performed, the carriage 8 is moved to a purge processing executing position, and the nozzle hole formation surface of the recording head 7 is covered by the purge cap 11a. In this state, by driving the pump lie, poor ink that includes bubbles, dust or the like remaining inside the recording head 7 is vacuumed. The poor ink is then stored in an undepicted waste ink tank via the waste ink tube lib.
- the recording operation and the purge process are controlled under a central processing unit (CPU) (not shown) mounted on the inkjet recording apparatus 2.
- the ink cartridge 1 includes a container wall la in which the upper/lower end surfaces are open, and a lid lb which is fixed in order to cover and seal the opening on the top surface of the container wall la.
- FIG. 2 is a sectional diagram showing the structure of the ink cartridge before the ink cartridge is loaded into the inkjet recording apparatus and
- FIG. 3 is an oblique perspective view that illustrates the enlarged valve member.
- a partition wall lc divides the inside of the ink cartridge 1 into two spaces and is formed integrally with the container wall la.
- the space between the partition wall lc and the top opening covered by the lid lb (i.e., the top half) is formed as the ink chamber 16 which stores ink
- the space between the partition wall lc and the lower opening (i.e., the bottom half) is formed as a second chamber 17.
- An ink supply port 21 for communicating with the ink chamber 16 and the second chamber 17 is formed in the partition wall lc.
- a thin film member 31, which can be broken when the ink supply port 21 is closed, is formed of a resin material integrated with the container wall la at the lower end portion of a cylindrical, wall 22 which extends from the partition wall lc and surrounds the ink supply port 21.
- an air intake opening 26 for communicating with the ink chamber 16 and the second chamber 17 is formed in the partition wall lc, and a thin film member 51 which can be broken when the air intake opening 26 is closed is formed of a resin material integrated to the container wall la at the lower end portion of a cylindrical wall 24 which depends from the partition wall lc and surrounds the air intake opening 26.
- a barrel member 25 is arranged so as to protrude into the ink chamber 16 from the air intake opening 26.
- a barrel-shaped body 30 as an example of a communication chamber, which extends toward the opening of the second chamber 17, is connected and formed so as to protrude into the second chamber 17 from the partition wall lc and surround the cylindrical wall 22.
- a second barrel- shaped body 50 as an example of a communication chamber, which extends toward the opening of the second chamber 17, is connected and formed so as to protrude into the second chamber 17 from the partition wall lc and surround the cylindrical wall 24.
- the cylindrical walls 22 and 24 are formed such that the amount that the cylindrical wall 24 extends from the partition wall lc is larger than the amount that the cylindrical wall 22 extends from the partition wall lc.
- the valve device 18 is fixed inside the barrel- shaped body 30 and the valve device 19 is fixed inside the second barrel-shaped body 50.
- the valve devices 18, 19 can selectively communicate between the inside and the outside of the ink chamber 16 and cut off communication between the inside and the outside of the ink chamber 16.
- the valve device 19, which is fixed to the second barrel-shaped body 50 has the same shape as the valve device 18.
- the valve device 18 is provided with a support member 46 which is integrally manufactured by a rubber elastic member and the valve member 32 composed of a resin material.
- the support member 46 has a substantially cylindrical shape and is integrally molded and includes a valve seat part 46a in the intermediate part in the axial direction, an urging part 46b that is closer to the ink chamber 16 than the valve seat part 46a, a cylindrical part 35 which extends from the valve seat part 46a toward a side opposite the urging part 46b, and an outer circumferential wall 33 which extends parallel to, and is spaced from, the outer circumference of the cylindrical part 35.
- valve seat part 46a and the urging part 46b are integrally formed as a one-piece member.
- the valve member 32 is housed within the urging part 46b, and is urged by the urging part 46b toward the valve seat part 46a.
- the valve device 18 has a positioning part 33a which protrudes from the outer circumferential wall 33 to an outer circumferential external direction towards the barrel- shaped body 30.
- the barrel-shaped body 30 is formed so that a part of the barrel-shaped body 30 has a smaller external diameter than that of the positioning part 33a. A step- shape is thus formed in the barrel-shaped body 30 that contacts the positioning part 33a. As shown in the enlarged diagram in FIG.
- the barrel-shaped body 30 has a surface 44 with the diameter becoming larger in tiers outwardly in order to contain the positioning part 33a.
- a projection 43 is formed on the surface 44 and is above the positioning part 33a.
- a holding wall 42 is also provided and projects inwardly around the opening of the barrel- shaped body 30 of the container wall la. When the valve device 18 is inserted into the barrel-shaped body 30, the holding wall 42 holds and presses the positioning part 33a into the projection 43 while being deformed and bent by heat. The combination of the holding wall 42 and the projection 43 thus fixes and seals the valve device 18 relative to the barrel-shaped body 30.
- the valve seat part 46a has an opening 41 which goes through the center in the axial direction.
- the cylindrical part 35 seals the ink extracting tube 25 inserted therein.
- the cylindrical part 35 is provided with an introducing path 40 in which the ink extracting tube 12, which is protruding from the inkjet recording apparatus 2, is inserted.
- the cylindrical part 35 as an example of an inner peripheral wall, is integrally connected with the valve seat part 46a in a state in which the introducing path 40 is connected to the opening 41.
- the valve member 32 contacting the valve seat part 46a is exposed to the outside through the opening 41 and the introducing path 40, and faces the ink extracting tube 12 inserted therein.
- the introducing path 40 is formed smaller than the outer diameter of the ink extracting tube 12 so as to closely fit to the inserted ink extracting tube 12.
- the opening 41 is formed larger than the outer diameter of the ink extracting tube 12.
- An end of the introducing path 40, from which the ink extracting tube 12 is inserted, is formed in a tapered shape in which the diameter increases towards the outside.
- the cylindrical part 35 and the outer circumferential wall 33 are separated by a predetermined distance by a ring-shaped groove 34.
- the cylindrical part 35 is made elastically deformable in a plane perpendicular to the direction of the center axis of the introducing path 40 with respect to the outer circumferential wall 33. As a result, it is easy to expand the cylindrical part 35 in accordance (in the Y direction in FIG. 5) with the insertion of the ink extracting tube 12 into the introducing path 40, such that the fit between the introducing path 40 and the ink extracting tube 12 is improved. Leakage of the ' ink is thereby prevented. In addition, even if the ink extracting tube 12 is inserted diagonally or offset to the introducing path 40, the ink extracting tube 12 can be inserted to the introducing path 40 due to the deformation of the cylindrical part 35.
- the inner wall part of the introducing path 40 is slightly pushed toward the valve member 32 and thus elastically deforms.
- such deformation is absorbed in the space in the opening 41 having a large diameter, and thus, the valve member 32 is not pushed.
- the cylindrical part 35 is formed with a length that cannot reach the lower edge of the outer circumferential wall 33. In other words, the edge of the ink extract tube 12 is inserted.
- the remaining ink in the cylindrical part 35 does not soil the surface of a flat surface when the valve device 18 is placed on that flat surface.
- the urging part 46b is formed by a side wall part 36 which stands out in a cylindrical shape on the ink chamber 16 side from the outer circumference of the valve seat part 46a and a projection part 37 which extends from the side wall part 36 and extends inward so as to contact the ink chamber 16 side of the valve member 32.
- the urging part 46b is also provided with an opening 37a in the center of the projection part 37.
- the urging part 46b urges the valve member 32 based on the elasticity of the side wall part 36 and the projection part 37. In a normal state before the ink cartridge 1 is mounted to the inkjet recording apparatus 2, the valve member 32 contacts the valve seat part 46a.
- the ink extracting tube 12 enters the introducing path 40 and pushes the valve member 32 up toward the ink chamber 16 so that the side wall part 36 is extended, the projection part 37 is inclined, and a gap for an ink flow path is formed between the valve member 32 and the valve seat part 46a.
- the radial thickness tl (see FIG. 5A) of the side wall part 36 (perpendicular to the axial direction mentioned above) is formed thinner than the thickness t2 (see FIG. 5A) of the valve seat part 46a in the intruding direction of the ink extracting tube 12 to the introducing path 40 and the radial thickness of the outer circumferential wall 33.
- valve member 32 is pushed up by the ink extracting tube 12, the urging part 46b allows for a larger elastic deformation as compared to the valve seat part 46a and the outer circumferential wall 33, which forms a clearance between the valve member 32 and the valve seat part 46a.
- the valve member 32 in FIG. 3 is explained next.
- the valve member 32 is provided with a bottom part 70 which contacts the valve seat part 46a of the support member 46, a valve side wall part 71' which extends in a cylindrical shape toward the ink chamber 16 from the outer circumference of the bottom part 70, and a pointed part 72, which projects toward the ink chamber- 16 in the substantially center part of the bottom part 70, and on which the tip end on the ink chamber 16 side is formed in a pointed shape (e.g., an acuminate shape) .
- the pointed part 72 projects closer to the ink chamber 16 than the valve side wall part 71 extends.
- the bottom part 70 has a projecting component 39 (see FIG. 2) which projects toward the valve seat part 46a and is formed circularly on a surface edge set up against the valve seat part 46a.
- the projecting component 39 is also located inside the valve side wall part 71 and outside the introducing path 40. While the valve member 32 is contained in the support member 46, the valve side wall part 71 closely contacts the lower surface of the projection part 37 of the urging part 46b and is pressed. Due to such pressing, the projecting component 39 deforms the valve seat part 46a elastically and closely contacts the upper surface of the valve seat part 46a.
- a plurality of communication paths 38 are formed which communicate with the ink chamber 16 side of the valve member 32 and the valve seat part of the valve member 32.
- the pointed part 72 consists of four plate components 73a-73d' which are positioned in the approximate center of the bottom part 70 and are combined in the form of an approximate cross.
- the plate components 73a-73d form grooves 77 extending in parallel and along the axial line between the plate components 73a-73d located next to each other.
- Each of the plate components 73a-73d are, in the direction to the bottom part 70 from the tip 76, equipped with first slope units 74a-74d which slope at a first angle (for example, approximately "45 degrees” in this example) against the central axial line extending in the same direction and second slope units 75a-75d, next to the first slope units 74a-74d, which have a second angle (for example, approximately ⁇ X 10 degrees" in this example) , which is more acute compared to the first angle, in the direction to the bottom part 70 from the first slope units 74a-74d.
- the pointed part 72 projects through the opening 37a of the projection part 37 and is positioned opposite the film member 31 with the tip 76 spaced at an interval from the film member 31.
- FIG. 4 is an oblique perspective figure that illustrates the configuration of the neighboring area of the tip part on the side of the ink extract tube 12..
- the ink extract tube 12 and the air intake tube 13 are structured in the same configuration and dimensions, and therefore, the explanations are made' about the ink extract tube 12 and the explanations about the air intake tube 13 are omitted.
- the edge of the tip of the ink extract tube 12 on the side of the valve member 32 is open, and a contact section with the valve member 32 consists of end sections 80a-80d formed on the approximate plane.
- the communicating passages 81a-81d are formed in the shape of grooves cut on the external wall of the ink extract tube 12. These communicating passages 81a-81d are formed at approximately even intervals on the external wall of the ink extract tube 12. Note that in this example, four communicating passages 81a-81d are formed however, any number can be formed.
- the ink extract tube 12 has the end sections
- the communicating passages 81a-81d are cut and are formed such that even if the ink extract tube 12 is in contact with the valve member 32, the passage of the ink through the communicating passages 81a-81d can be reliably obtained. Furthermore, since the tip of the ink extract tube 12 is formed on the approximate plane, even if the ink extract tube 12 is installed in a projected state from the installation unit 3, the user will not be hurt by touching the ink extract tube 12 because the tip is no longer formed in an acuminate shape as before.
- Each part of the air intake tube 12 is in a similar dimensional relationship to that of the air intake tube 13, and therefore, detailed explanations are omitted.
- the motion of the valve device 18, when the ink cartridge 1 is loaded into the inkjet recording apparatus 2 is explained by referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B.
- the ink extract tube 12 intrudes into the introducing path 40 (FIG. 5A) , and closely contacts the inside of the introducing path 40 in a state that blocks the outflow of the ink.
- valve member 32 When the ink extract tube 12 and the valve member 32 contact each other and the valve member 32 is pushed towards the ink chamber 16 (FIG. 5B) , the valve member 32 is separated from the valve seat part 46a by resisting the elasticity of the urging part 46b. In addition, when the valve member 32 is pushed up, the tip 76 of the pointed part 72 contacts the film member 31 and ruptures the film member 31.
- the ink in the ink chamber 16 is supplied to the barrel-shaped body 30, when the ink enters into the opening 37a at the top end of the valve device 18, passes through the communication paths 38 of the valve member 32, between the lower surface of the valve member 32 and the upper surface of the valve seat part 46a, into the communicating passages 81a-81d of the ink extract tube 12 (the ink passage B) , and is supplied to the recording head 7.
- the motion of the pointed part 72 to rupture the film member 31 further explanations are given below.
- the air intake tube 13 enters into the valve device 19 on the side of second barrel-shaped body 50 and pushes up the valve member 32.
- the thin film 51 is ruptured first as compared to the film member 31 on the side of the ink extract tube 12.
- the ink cartridge 1 is packed in a decompressed state in order to keep the ink in the ink cartridge 1 in a deaerated state and the ink chamber 16 under a reduced pressure as well.
- the film member 31 on the side of the ink extract tube 12 is ruptured after the air is led to the upper part of the ink chamber 16 through the barrel member 25.
- FIGS. 6A - 6F show how the film member 31 is ruptured by the pointed part 72 .
- FIG. 6A shows the state where the pointed part 72 is pushed up together with the valve member 32 towards the ink chamber 16 and the tip 76 closely contacts with the film member 31. In this state, the film member 31 is not ruptured yet (the state of FIG. 6D) .
- FIG. 6B shows the state where the pointed part 72 is pushed up further and the film member 31 is ruptured by the first slope units 74a-74d. The film member 31 thus only contacts the first slope units 74a-74d of the pointed part 72.
- FIG. 6C shows the ink cartridge 1 completely loaded into the inkjet recording apparatus 2, and the film member 31 is pushed and widened by the second slope units 75a-75d of the pointed part 72. Because of this, as shown in FIG. 6F, the groove 77 between each plate component 73a-73d is released and the ink passage C connecting the ink chamber 16 and the ink extract tube 12 is formed. The ink passage C is also formed at approximately even intervals around the circumference of the pointed part 72. It is thus possible to supply the ink to the ink extract tube 12 almost evenly.
- the curving angle of the ruptured part of the film member 31 changes and the ruptured part is separated from the groove 77 between the plate components 73a-73d, and the ink passage is formed as mentioned above. Furthermore, since the amount of contact between the film member 31 and the plate components 73a-73d becomes lower,, when the ink cartridge 1 is removed, the pointed part 72 and the film member 31 are reliably separated by the biasing of the urging part 46b.
- the valve member 32 which has a pointed part 72 with the tip formed in an acuminate shape to rupture the film member 31 is retained by the support member 46, and such support member 46 is fixed in the barrel-shaped body 30. Because of this, when the ink cartridge 1 is loaded into the inkjet recording apparatus 2, the valve member 32 is pushed up towards the ink chamber 16 by the ink extract tube 12. At the same time, the film member 31 is ruptured and the ink passages B and C, which connect the ink chamber 16 and the ink extract tube 12, are formed. Therefore, it is not necessary to form the tip of the ink extract tube 12 in an acuminate shape, which can prevent the user from being hurt by the ink extract tube 12 and thus, can further improve the safety.
- the communicating passages 81a-81d are formed by cutting the ink extract tube 12 and the air intake tube 13 including the tip on the side of the ink chamber 16.
- the communicating passages 81a-81d communicating with the inside and the outside on the side wall of the ink extract tube 12 and the air intake tube 13.
- the valve member 32 is formed as a unit with the pointed part 72 with the tip formed in an acuminate shape, the bottom part 70 and the valve side wall part 71.
- FIG. 7 illustrates an ink cartridge according to a second embodiment of the invention. It is noted that elements similar to or identical with those in the first embodiment are designated by similar numerals, and thus the description thereof can be omitted for the sake of brevity.
- the ink cartridge 1 of the second embodiment includes the ink chamber 16 with an open top, the container wall la, and a cover If that covers the floor area le.
- the ink cartridge 1 also includes two walls lg and Ih that form the barrel-shaped bodies 30 and 50 which are open downward.
- the valve device 18 is placed in the barrel-shaped body 30 and the valve device 19 is placed in the barrel-shaped body 50.
- the valve device 18 and the valve device 19 are identical and when they are attached to the inkjet recording device, the ink extracting tube 12 is inserted into the barrel-shaped body 30 and the air intake tube 13 is inserted into the barrel-shaped body 50.
- the valve device 18 and 19 have the support member 46 made of rubber-like flexible part material and the valve member 32 is made of resin.
- the support member 46 has basically the same structure as the support member 46 of the first embodiment, but the outer circumferential wall 33 does not extend as far as the cylindrical part 35 in the first embodiment.
- the outer circumferential wall 33 and positioning part 33a are both formed almost at the same level as the valve seat part 46a.
- the positioning part 33a is fixed at the lower end of cylinder shape walls lg and lh, between the surface 44 that is formed as a part of the barrel-shaped bodies 30 and 50 and cover If. With this arrangement, the valve devices 18 and 19 are .fixed on the container wall la.
- FIGS. 8A-8E show the details of the valve member 32.
- the valve member 32 consists of the bottom part 70 and the valve side wall part 71 which extends vertically from the external circumference of the bottom part 70.
- the communication paths 38 are formed in the external circumference of the bottom part 70 and in the valve side wall part 71 contiguously at a plurality of positions.
- a protruding part 59 with a substantially rectangular shape rises at a right angle out of the bottom part 70 with one side of the protruding part 59 touching the valve side wall part 71.
- the opening part of the communications paths 38 has a round shape, the round shape prevents smooth ink flow because the round shape tends to form a meniscus due to the surface tension of the ink. In order to avoid the formation of meniscus, the opening part may not have a round shape.
- Another effective method is to use multiple surfaces for the opening areas.
- the ridge line of the communication paths 38 as shown in FIG. 8C is formed in an arc shape and also covers two surfaces that cross at a right angle with the bottom part 70 and the valve side wall part 71.
- the rectangular projection part 59 is formed along one of the ridge lines of the communication paths 38, rising vertically out of the opening part of the linked communication paths 38. Therefore the opening part of the communication paths 38 consists of the surface formed of the protruding part 59, the surface formed by the bottom part 70, and the surface formed by the valve side wall part 71. With this structure, the opening part becomes complex and thus prevents the formation of a meniscus.
- the projecting component 39 is formed in a ring-shape at an area closer to the center of the bottom part 70 than the communication paths 38 but external to the opening 41. When the valve member 32 is closed, the valve member 32 presses against the valve seat part 46a.
- the air intake opening 26 includes a tapered portion above the barrel-shaped body 50.
- a barrel member 25 extends from the tapered portion at the floor le toward an upper end of the cartridge 1.
- the barrel member 25 includes an opening 91 at an upper end.
- the opening 91 is positioned above the ink surface level in the ink chamber 16.
- an upper face 95 of the barrel member 25, including the opening 91 is inclined or slanted with respect to horizontal.
- the upper face 95 has a stepped configuration, such that the upper face 95 includes multiple surfaces, the surfaces defining at least two different planes.
- a cross sectional area of the opening 91 of the barrel member 25 taken at the slanted or inclined upper face 95 is greater than a horizontal cross sectional area of an interior portion 93 of the barrel member 25.
- a horizontal diameter of the interior portion 93 of the barrel member 25 is preferably at least about 0.8 mm.
- the barrel member 25 is formed integrally with the remainder of the ink chamber 16. Such an integral structure obviates the necessity for multiple manufacturing steps to form and join the ink chamber 16 and the barrel member 25. Accordingly, the time and cost necessary to manufacture cartridges, such as disclosed herein, are reduced.
- the ink supply port 21 at the ink supply side has the anti-counter flow valve 60.
- the anti-counter flow valve 60 consists of an umbrella shaped flexible membrane part 60b that faces the lower surface of the ink supply port 21 and a spindle part 60c that supports one end of the membrane part 60b. Both the membrane part 60b and the spindle part 60c are formed into one shape using synthesized resin material. The spindle part 60c is inserted through the ink supply port 21 so that the flow valve 60 can slide up and down. Normally, the membrane part 60b is positioned at a distance from the ink supply port 21, and an extended part 60a touches the top surface of the floor wall le. Ink is thus allowed to smoothly flow from the ink chamber 16 toward the valve device 18.
- the membrane 60b When ink starts to flow from the ink extraction tube 12 toward the ink chamber 16, the membrane 60b will rise and block the ink supply port 21 and thus stop the flow of ink. As described earlier, the ink chamber 16 is packaged at reduced pressure. As such, when the ink cartridge 1 is attached to the inkjet recording device 2, if the valve device 18 is opened before the valve device 19, it is possible that ink already present in the ink extract tube 12 will flow from the ink extract tube 12 toward the ink chamber 16. Such flow of ink toward the ink chamber 16 will also draw ink present in the recording head 7, to which the ink extract tube 12 is connected, toward the ink chamber 16. Drawing ink present in the recording head 7 toward the ink chamber 16 can disrupt ink meniscuses present in nozzle holes of the recording head 7.
- valve device 18 is opened before the valve device 19 when air is present in the ink extract tube 12, • such air may flow from the ink extract tube 12 toward, and possibly into, the ink chamber 16. Such flow of air into the ink chamber 16 will adversely affect the deaerated state of the ink present therein possibly reducing print quality.
- the anti-counter flow valve 60 is used. At the time of attachment, when the ink cartridge 1 is mounted on the mounting part 3, the ink extracting tube 12 is inserted into the introducing path 40 and pushes the valve member 32 upward.
- valve member 32 in turn pushes the projection part 37 of the urging part 46b upward, and subsequently the side wall part 36 extends and the valve member 32 detaches from the valve seat part 46a.
- the ink in the ink chamber 16 is supplied to the ink extracting tube 12 through the communication paths 38 of the valve member 32 and the communicating passages 81a-81d of the ink extract tube 12.
- the air intake tube 13 is connected with barrel-shaped body 50, letting the outside air flow into the ink chamber.
- film members 31, 51 are not used and accordingly a pointed part 72 is not used to rupture the film members 31, 51. As such, when the valve member 32 is pushed up, ink exists in the barrel shaped bodies 30, 50.
- FIGS. 9A and 9B show a variation of the valve member 32 shown in FIG. 8.
- the ink extracting tube 12 and air intake tube 13 push the valve member 32 upward, and the valve member 32 in turn pushes the projection part 37 of the urging part 46b installed in the support member 46.
- the valve member 32 may be pushed up close to the opening 37a of the projection part 37 and may be caught by the opening 37a.
- the valve member 32 is not in contact with the valve seat part 46a, thus causing the ink to leak.
- FIG. 10 shows a ring-shaped projection 37b on the projection part 37 of the support member 46, which is added to achieve the same effect as noted above.
- This ring-shaped projection 37b is attached to circular valve side wall 71 of the valve member 32.
- FIGS. 11A and 11B are cross-sections of the ink cartridge 1 and the mounting part 3 of the third embodiment.
- the valve device 19 and the mounting part 3 of the ink jet recording device 2 differ from the second embodiment shown in FIG. 7. Since the valve device 18 is the same, the explanation of the valve device 18 is omitted.
- the valve device 19 is equipped with the support member 46 and the valve member 32.
- the support member 46 is assembled using a rubber-like elastic material just as the support member 46 in the first and second embodiments, and is equipped with the valve seat part 46a and an urging part 46b on the top part.
- the structures of these parts are identical with the valve seat part 46a and the urging part 46b of the first and second embodiments.
- FIG. 12 shows the detail of the valve member 32.
- the valve member 32 is equipped with a valve 68 consisting of the bottom part 70 and the valve side wall part 71.
- the explanation of the detailed construction including communication paths 38 and projecting part 59 is omitted since they are explained in reference to FIGS. 8A-8E.
- the bottom part 70 is attached with a cylindrical part 66 which stands vertically from the top surface.
- the ink cartridge 1 When the ink cartridge 1 is installed on the mounting part 3 in a normal manner and the valve member 32 is pushed upward from the valve' seat part 46a, the top edge of the cylindrical part 66 is positioned apart from the inside surface of the barrel member 25 and thus the through- pass between the ink chamber 16 and the opening 41 of the valve seat part 46a is secured.
- the bottom part 70 is attached with the operating member 67 which extends vertically from the opening 41 on the side being exposed.
- Several concave portions 67a and convex portions 67b are formed on the outer circumference of the operating member 67, which extend along the direction of the axis.
- This configuration in which the operating member 67 is attached to, or formed integrally with, the valve member 32, provides distinct advantages over arrangements in which the operating member 67 is separate from the valve member 32.
- the operating member in order for an operating member 32 to operate a valve, the operating member must be positioned in cooperation with the valve member 32.
- the position of the operating member 67 with respect to the valve member 32 must be carefully controlled because misalignment of the operating member 67 with respect to the valve member 32 could result in leakage and/or damage to the valve member 32.
- Such control is not necessary in configurations in which the operating member 67 is attached to, or formed integrally with, the valve member 32.
- valves e.g., an ink cartridge with an air valve and an ink valve
- a device e.g., an image forming device
- one or more valves can be provided having a configuration in which an operating member is attached to a valve member and one or more valves can be provided having a configuration in which an operating member is not attached to a valve member.
- the operating member could be attached to the device at a specified location.
- the valves includes an attached operating member, that valve would not be able to communicate with the device at the specified location because two operating members would be present. Such an arrangement will ensure that when the apparatus is installed in the device, each valve properly communicates with a respective region of the device.
- FIG. 11A shows the state prior to the installation of the ink cartridge 1 onto the mounting part 3 of the ink jet recording device 2, and the lower edge of the operating member 67 is made so that it is positioned slightly above the lower edge of the sealing part 63.
- both the valve member 32 of valve device 18 and the valve member 32 of the valve device 19 are pressed against the valve seat part 46a of the support member 46 and thus each valve device is not released.
- the ink extracting tube 12 is projected in the ink supplier part just as the first and second embodiments, and a porous body 3c such as sponge is attached around the ink extracting tube 12 so that the leakage of ink will be absorbed.
- the convex part 3d is formed in such a way that it corresponds to the sealing part 63, and the air intake tube 13 is attached to the bottom surface of the concave part 3d.
- the tip of the ink extracting tube 12 pushes the valve member 32 of the valve device 18 just as in the first and second embodiments, thus releasing the valve device 18.
- the tip of the operating member 67 touches the bottom of the concave part 3d, and the valve seat part 46a is moved downward while the valve member 32 is fixed, releasing the valve device.
- FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the ink cartridge 1 of a fourth embodiment.
- a cover If covers a bottom area of the container wall la of the ink cartridge of FIG. 2.
- the ink cartridge 1 also includes two walls lg and lh similar to the ink cartridge 1 of Fig. 7 that form the barrel-shaped bodies 30 and 50 which are open downward.
- the valve device 18 is placed in the barrel- shaped body 30 and the valve device 19 is ' placed in the barrel-shaped body 50.
- the valve device 18 and the valve device 19 are identical to the valve devices of FIG. 2.
- the cover Located opposite the positioning parts 33a of the valve devices 18 and 19, the cover If includes a cover 63 that covers the valve device 18 and a cover 64 that covers the valve device 19.
- the ink cartridge 1 also includes an opening 86 that is formed in the partition wall lc that allows ink I to be supplied to the ink chamber 16 during manufacturing.
- the ink detection level device 90 includes a support 100 that extends from the partition wall lc, a blocking member 92 attached to an arm 98, a balance member 96 attached to an opposite end of the arm 98 and a pivot 94 attached to the support 100.
- FIGS. 14A and 14B are views of an ink cartridge 1 according to a fifth embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 14A is a perspective view of the ink cartridge 1 from an upper direction, FIG.
- FIG. 14B is a perspective view of the ink cartridge 1 from a lower direction and FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along a line III-III of FIG. 14B.
- the ink stored in the ink cartridge 1 is deaerated ink on which deaeration processing has been performed, and the ink has been sealed in the ink cartridge.
- the ink is deaerated in order to suppress an emitting failure due to the existence of bubbles in ink within the ink chamber 16.
- the ink cartridge 1 includes the container wall la in which the upper/lower end surfaces are open, and the lid lb which is fixed in order to cover the opening on the top surface of the container wall la.
- the lid lb is provided with a gripping part Id which is outwardly protruded in order to improve operability when the ink cartridge 1 is detached from/attached to the inkjet recording apparatus 2. Furthermore, the container wall la and the lid lb are formed of a resin material. As shown in FIG. 15, the partition wall lc divides the inside of the ink cartridge 1 into two spaces and is formed integrally with the container wall la. Within these two spaces, the space between the partition wall lc and the top opening covered by the lid lb (i.e., the top portion) is formed as the ink chamber 16 which stores ink, and the space between the partition wall lc and the lower opening (i.e., the bottom portion) is formed as a second chamber 17.
- the partition wall lc extends perpendicular to the center axis direction of the container wall la at a substantially intermediate position between the top opening and the bottom opening. Because of this, the ink cartridge 1 is supported from the inside by the partition wall lc at the substantially intermediate position of the ink cartridge 1. Thus, pressure resistance against a pressure to be added toward the inside from the outside of the ink cartridge 1 improves, and deformation and damage of the ink cartridge 1 can be suppressed. Additionally, the container wall la forms a substantially rectangular shape in horizontal cross-section, but the four corners are formed with substantially cylindrical curved walls Ik, and the side surfaces between the curved walls Ik are formed as concave parts 11 facing outward.
- the rigidity of the ink cartridge 1 with respect to the above-mentioned pressure is improved.
- the barrel-shaped body 30, which extends toward the opening of the second chamber 17, is connected and formed so as to protrude into the second chamber 17 from the partition wall lc and surround the cylindrical wall 22.
- the second barrel-shaped body 50, which extends toward the opening of the second chamber 17, is connected and formed so as to protrude toward the second chamber 17 from the partition wall lc and surround the cylindrical wall 24.
- the outside surface of the barrel-shaped body 30 and the outside surface of the second barrel-shaped body 50 are connected to a pair of side surfaces of the container wall la, respectively.
- the barrel-shaped body 30 and the second barrel-shaped body 50 are mutually connected to a connecting member lm. Additionally, the connecting member lm is connected to a pair of side surfaces different from the above-mentioned pair of side surfaces by a connecting member In. Because of this, the second chamber 17 is divided into four spaces 10a, 10b, 10c, lOd (see FIG. 14B) by the interconnected barrel-shaped body 30, second barrel-shaped body 50, and connecting members lm, In.
- FIGS. 16 and 17 are sectional views showing a state after a packaging body of the ink cartridge 1 is manufactured.
- the packaging member 82 includes the ink cartridge 1 inside which deaerated ink is stored.
- the packaging member 82 is composed of a cylindrical seal material, and is provided with a shielding layer which suppresses humidity and air penetration.
- the shielding layer has a laminated structure in which a plurality of film sheets are laminated.
- both end parts (hereafter referred to as "fused parts") 83a, 83b of the packaging member 82 are fused together, forming a bag shape.
- the pressure is reduced between the ink cartridge and the packaging member 82.
- the sheet material which constitutes the packaging member 82 includes, for example, laminating, in order, an adhesive layer and a nylon layer (external surface layer) on one side of an aluminum alloy layer,, and an adhesive layer, a polyethylene terepthalate layer, an adhesive layer, and a polypropylene layer (internal surface- layer) on the other side of the aluminum alloy layer.
- laminating in order, an adhesive layer and a nylon layer (external surface layer) on one side of an aluminum alloy layer, and an adhesive layer, a polyethylene terepthalate layer, an adhesive layer, and a polypropylene layer (internal surface- layer) on the other side of the aluminum alloy layer.
- One of the fused parts 83a of the packaging member 82 is thermally fused in advance, and the other fused part 83b is open. Then, the other fused part 83b of the packaging member 82 is thermally fused.
- the fused part 83b is formed and sealed, and the packaging is completed (the states of FIGS. 16 and 17) .
- the ink cartridge 1 is thus sealed in the packaging member 82.
- the partition wall lc is arranged at the substantially intermediate position between the two openings of the container wall la, so that the ink cartridge 1 can tolerate the pressure applied to the ink cartridge 1. Damage and deformation of the ink cartridge 1 can thus be prevented.
- Rigidity of the ink chamber 16 is improved by the partition wall lc, the lid lb fixed to the upper end opening, and the curved walls Ik. Furthermore, with respect to the second chamber 17, the barrel-shaped body 30 and the second barrel-shaped body 50 are connected to a pair of side surfaces of the respective container wall la and are also connected to another pair of side surfaces by the connecting members lm, In. Thus, the pressure resistance of the second chamber 17 of the ink cartridge 1 can be improved. Deformation and damage of the ink cartridge 1 can thus be reliably suppressed.
- FIGS. 18- 19B are views of an ink cartridge 1 according to a sixth embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 18 is a sectional diagram of the ink cartridge 1
- FIG. 19A is an enlarged diagram showing an inner wall surface
- FIG. 19B is an enlarged cross-sectional diagram showing part D in FIG. 18
- the ink cartridge 1 includes the substantially cylindrical container wall la in which the upper/lower end surfaces are open, and a lid lb which is fixed in order to cover and seal the opening on the top surface of the container wall la.
- the lid lb is provided with the gripping part Id which protrudes outwardly in order to improve operability when the ink cartridge 1 is detached from/attached to the inkjet recording apparatus 2.
- the inside of the gripping part Id is formed in a hollow shape, and on the inner wall surface of the lid lb, mesh shaped dispersing grooves 14 are formed to hold the ink I by capillary action in a state where the ink is dispersed in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction (see FIGS. 19A and 19B) . These dispersing grooves 14 will be described later.
- the container wall la and the lid lb are formed of a resin material.
- the ink I to be supplied to the recording head 7 is stored in the ink chamber 16 formed inside the ink cartridge 1.
- the container wall la and the lid lb are formed from a transparent or semi-transparent resin material, and structured to allow the color of the ink I stored in the ink chamber 16 to be recognized.
- the partition wall lc divides the inside of the ink cartridge 1 into two spaces and is formed integrally with the container wall la. Within these two spaces, the space between the partition wall lc and the top opening covered by the lid lb (i.e., the top portion) is formed as the ink chamber 16 which stores ink, and the space between the partition wall lc and the lower opening (i.e., the bottom portion) is formed as a second chamber 17.
- FIGS. 19A and 19B are diagrams showing the structure of the dispersing grooves 14.
- FIG. 19A is an enlarged diagram showing the inner wall surface of the gripping part Id and FIG.
- FIG. 19B is an enlarged cross- sectional diagram showing part D in FIG. 18.
- square-shaped protruding parts are positioned at an equal distance in the first direction and the second direction from each other as shown in FIG. 19A, and grooves are formed between the square-shaped projecting parts. These grooves are laid in the in the first direction and the second direction in a square mesh shape to form the dispersing grooves 14.
- the ink I that adheres on the inner wall surface of the lid lb enters into these dispersing grooves 14 and is held within these grooves in a state such that the ink I is dispersed in the vertical and horizontal directions by capillary action. This stage is shown in FIG. 19B.
- FIG. 19B As shown in FIG.
- ink I in the dispersing grooves 14 is held by capillary action. Ink I is held by capillary action even if the space 20, which does not contain the ink, is formed inside the gripping part Id as a result of the user holding the gripping part Id to install the ink cartridge 1 into the inkjet recording apparatus 2 and the container wall la is on the lower side and the lid lb is on the upper side. In this case, the ink I does not flow out from the dispersing grooves 14.
- the dispersing grooves 14 are formed in a square mesh shape by fine grooves, and ink I is held in these dispersing grooves 14.
- the ink I can be recognized as the ink I forms a thin film that adheres to the inside the lid lb.
- the container wall la is formed by the same transparent or semi-transparent material as the lid lb.
- the color of the ink I darkens and has a blackened color.
- the ink I of cyan or magenta is stored, the color of the ink I becomes almost black.
- the ink I in yellow is stored, the ink I becomes almost a red-black. Therefore, it becomes difficult for the user to accurately determine the color of the ink I.
- the ink cartridge 1 is formed with the space 20, which does not contain the ink I, and the dispersing grooves 14 on the inner wall surface of the lid lb form a part of the space 20, and because the ink I is held in the dispersing grooves 14 in a substantially thin film state, the color of the ink I stored in the ink chamber 16 can be accurately recognized.
- the ink cartridge 1 is formed with the space 20, which does not contain the ink I, and the dispersing grooves 14 on the inner wall surface of the lid lb form a part of the space 20, and because the ink I is held in the dispersing grooves 14 in a substantially thin film state, the color of the ink I stored in the ink chamber 16 can be accurately recognized.
- the lid lb is formed to have some transparency, and the ink I flows into the dispersing grooves 14 formed on the inner wall surface of the gripping part Id in a state that the ink I is dispersed in the vertical and horizontal directions.
- the dispersing grooves 14 are formed in a square mesh shape with fine grooves, and the space 20 that does not contain the ink I is formed inside the gripping part Id. Therefore, the user can accurately recognize the color of the ink I in the ink cartridge 1 without any errors. Therefore, the ink cartridge 1, in which different colors of ink I . are respectively stored, can be prevented from being installed in an incorrect position when installed in the inkjet recording apparatus 2.
- the ink cartridge 1 is formed from a transparent or semi-transparent resin material, it is not necessary, as done conventionally, to manufacture a different cover member for each color of ink I. Therefore, parts for manufacturing the ink cartridge 1 can be shared. As a result, complicated manufacturing processes for manufacturing the ink cartridge .by selecting a lid lb corresponding to the color of ink I can be omitted, and thus, the manufacturing process for manufacturing the ink cartridge 1 can be simplified, resulting in a reduction in the manufacturing cost of the ink cartridge 1.
- Modified examples of the dispersing grooves 14 are described with reference to FIGS. 20A-20D.
- FIGS. 20A-20D are diagrams showing various formations of dispersing grooves 14. The dispersing grooves 14 shown in FIGS.
- the dispersing grooves 14 could spread in the vertical and horizontal directions in a deformed rectangular mesh shape as shown in FIG. 20A, or in a parallelogram mesh shape as shown in FIG. 20B.
- the dispersing groove could spread in the vertical and horizontal directions in a triangular mesh shape as shown in FIG. 20C, or in a substantially circular mesh shape as shown in FIG. 20D in which the dispersing grooves 14. can be formed between many fine protruding parts having a substantially circular shape.
- the ink I adhered on the inner wall surface can be held also in the dispersing grooves 14 shown in FIG. 20A -20D in a state that the ink I is dispersed in each groove.
- the shape thereof is not particularly limited.
- the dispersing grooves 14 are formed on the inner wall surface of the lid lb.
- the dispersing grooves 14 can be formed only on a part of the gripping part Id.
- the dispersing grooves 14 can be formed on only the upper part of the container wall la or on the entire inner wall surface of the container wall la.
- the dispersing grooves 14 can be formed on the inner wall surface of the sidewall of the ink cartridge 1 in an area- visible by the user.
- the ink cartridge 1 having a structure in that the lid lb becomes the upper part in a state that the ink cartridge 1 is installed in the inkjet recording apparatus 2 is employed.
- an ink cartridge having the lid on the sidewall or an ink cartridge formed in a substantially box shape that does not have the lid in a state that the ink cartridge is installed in the inkjet recording apparatus may be used. Therefore, the structure of the ink cartridge ' is not limited.
- the dispersing grooves 14 are formed on the inner wall surface of the sidewall of the ink cartridge that becomes at least the upper part in a state that the ink cartridge 1 is installed in the inkjet recording apparatus 2.
- the container wall la and the lid lb are both formed from a transparent or semi-transparent resin material.
- the lid lb may be formed by the transparent or semi- transparent resin material, or only the gripping part Id may be formed by the transparent or semi-transparent resin material.
- materials through which the ink color can be transparently visible such as materials having a milk-white color, are included in the "transparent or semi-transparent" materials described in this invention.
- the valve member resists the urging force of the urging member (i.e., projecting component).
- the valve member is brought into direct contact with the valve seat by the urging device, and leakage of ink • through the opening is prevented.
- the urging device and valve seat are constructed from a rubber, elastic material in an integrated form in order to serve as a supporting member.
- valve member is held between the supporting member and the device.
- communication and obstruction can be carried out between the ink chamber and the flow path on the inkjet recording device side by disposing the supporting member in the communicating chamber in a state holding the valve member.
- a valve member is brought into direct contact with the valve seat by the urging device, the ink flow path is obstructed reliably.
- an opening of a valve member communicating path is formed non-circularly, with the resulting effect that formation of a meniscus by surface tension of the ink and obstruction of said opening is prevented, and a smooth flow of ink is assured.
- the opening of the communicating path were formed in approximately circular form, a meniscus would form readily, with a risk that ink flow would be obstructed.
- the rising portion of the urging device is readily extended and contracted, facilitating opening/closing operation of the valve member.
- a thickness of a portion of a urging device at the outer periphery of the valve member is formed thinner than the thickness in the direction of penetration of the valve seat hollow member, with the resulting effect that when the valve member moves, deformation of the valve seat is small, and the urging device undergoes great elastic deformation on the ink chamber side, and consequently, communication is brought about reliably between the ink chamber and the flow path on the inkjet recording device side.
- an inner periphery of an edge forming the penetration side of the hollow member of the sealing means is structured such that the diameter is smaller increasingly from the penetration side towards the valve member side, with the resulting effect that a hollow member with an outer diameter formed larger than the inner diameter of the sealing means is made to penetrate smoothly, and crimping is brought about reliably.
- inclination of a sealing member in conjunction with elastic deformation of the inner peripheral surface of the sealing means is prevented, and obstruction of the flow path communicating between the ink chamber and the hollow member is also prevented.
- the valve member in a state in which the valve member is made to contact the valve seat directly by means of the urging device, communication between the ink chamber side and the sealing means side is reliably obstructed by the projecting member. Ink leakage is thus prevented more reliably.
- the valve member when the valve member separates from the valve seat, disconnection of the valve member from the projecting portion of the impeller is prevented by the concavity and convexity.
- the insertion position of the supporting member is determined more reliably by the attachment part and the stepped surface, and operational efficiency during ink cartridge manufacturing is improved.
- the formation of a meniscus by the surface tension of the liquid is prevented, and a smooth flow of the liquid is assured.
- the protection device requires a protection plate, a lock component, and twisted coil spring. As ' such, it is necessary to secure space in the inkjet recording apparatus in order to install each component.
- the inkjet recording apparatus is thus bigger and manufacturing costs increase due to the increased number of components.
- Embodiments of this invention thus provide an ink cartridge that can supply the ink safely without any specific safety device installed at the inkjet recording apparatus.
- An ink cartridge includes an ink chamber that can store ink; a communication chamber with an opening that can receive an extract component; a film component that blocks communication between the communication chamber and the ink chamber; and a breaking component, which is positioned at the communication chamber, that can rupture the film component when the extract component is moved into the communication chamber.
- An ink cartridge includes an ink chamber that can store ink; a communication chamber with a first opening that communicates with the ink chamber and a second opening that can receive an extract component; a valve that is positioned between the first opening and the second opening; and a support that supports a bottom surface of the valve, wherein an ink passage is formed between the valve and the support when an extract component is inserted into the communication chamber.
- a protection device to protect the extract component on the side of the inkjet recording apparatus, which has an effect of reducing production costs.
- work processes that are used to adhere a film component after an ink cartridge is manufactured is shortened. In this regard, there is an effect to improve the efficiency of a manufacturing operation.
- a breaking component is formed in an acuminate form toward a film component, and therefore, there is an effect that it can reliably rupture the film component when it is pushed by an extract component toward the side of the film component.
- grooves are formed to form a passage for ink to flow between a breaking component and a film component. There is thus an effect in that an ink passage that connects the ink chamber and the communicating chamber is reliably formed by the grooves .
- multiple grooves are formed, and such multiple grooves are formed at approximately even intervals on an external wall of a breaking component. It is thus possible to form more ink passages connecting the ink chamber with the communicating chamber. Therefore, there is an effect that the ink can be supplied constantly to the extract component.
- it is possible to widen ink passages connecting an ink chamber and a' connecting chamber further and supply ink constantly.
- a valve component is positioned in a communicating chamber closer to the side of the opening rather than the breaking component and therefore, it is. possible to either communicate or shut off the ink passages by the valve component after the breaking component ruptures the film component and the communication between the ink chamber and the communicating chamber is opened.
- since a valve component and the breaking component are formed as a unit with each other there is an effect to decrease the number of components and thus reduce the production cost.
- the first film component is broken off after the second film component on the side of the air intake component is broken off first so that air is supplied to the ink chamber and the ink is supplied to the recording head smoothly.
- a second valve component which selectively communicates and blocks off the ink passages by the air intake component, is positioned on the opening side rather than the second breaking component side in the air intake chamber, communication and blocking off of the ink passages can be selected by the second valve component once the second film component is broken off and the communication between the ink chamber and the air communicating chamber is opened.
- a tube unit, a biasing unit and a valve seat unit are manufactured by elastic materials like rubber as a unit with each other. Therefore, when an ink cartridge is discarded, for example when it is discarded by incineration, it can be incinerated and it is not necessary to disassemble the ink cartridge to take out a compression spring made of metals, and thus, there is an effect to be able to improve the efficiency of operation and reduce the disposal cost.
- an exemplary aspect of the invention it is possible to open or block off communication between an ink chamber and the outside by positioning a supporting component that is in the state of holding a valve component in the communicating chamber.
- a complicated operating process of installing a biasing means to bias the valve component in the field where the valve component is positioned can be eliminated, and therefore, there is an effect to be able to reduce the manufacturing cost of the ink cartridges.
- the above described ink cartridges in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 9-20018 for example, prevent misinstallation in inkjet recording apparatus by employing cover members formed from materials that are the same color as the ink stored therein.
- Embodiments of the present invention include ink cartridges, in which manufacturing costs are reduced by using fewer parts during manufacture of such ink cartridges, and by which the color of the ink in such cartridges can be accurately recognized.
- Embodiments of the present invention further include inkjet recording apparatus in which ink cartridges can be installed.
- ink cartridges include an ink chamber that can store ink.
- Ink chambers can include an upper part and a lower part with the lower part storing ink and the upper part including a space that does not contain ink.
- At least one part of an upper part is formed of a transparent or semi-transparent material, and grooves can be provided on an inner wall surface of the at least one part, the grooves being designed to hold the ink on the inner wall surface by capillary action such that the ink is dispersed in vertical and horizontal directions.
- ink cartridges include an ink chamber that can store ink, wherein an upper end of the ink chamber is open and a cover covers the upper end.
- a space that does not contain the ink can be present between an inner wall surface of a cover and stored ink, at least one part of the cover being formed from a transparent or semi-transparent material.
- grooves can be provided on the inner wall surface, the grooves being designed to hold ink on the inner wall surface by capillary action such that ink is dispersed in vertical and horizontal directions.
- ink cartridges can include an ink chamber that can store ink and a gripping part projecting outwardly from a cover.
- a space that does not contain ink can be present between an inner wall surface of the gripping part and the ink, at least one part of the gripping part being formed from a transparent or semi-transparent material.
- grooves can be provided on the inner wall surface, the grooves being designed to hold ink on the inner wall surface by capillary action such that the ink is dispersed in vertical and horizontal directions.
- an ink chamber is formed so as to store the ink in a lower part thereof and leave a space that does not contain the ink in an upper part thereof, in a state that the ink cartridge is installed in the inkjet recording apparatus.
- at least one part of the upper part at which the space is formed is formed by a transparent or semi- transparent material.
- mesh-shaped dispersing grooves are provided on the inner wall surface of the transparent or semi-transparent part, which is designed to hold the ink on the inner wall surface by capillary action in a state that the ink is dispersed in vertical .and horizontal directions.
- the ink moves inside the ink chamber and always adheres on the internal surface .on which the dispersing grooves are formed, and is held by the capillary action in the state that ink is dispersed in the vertical and horizontal directions.
- the color of the ink that spread along the dispersing grooves on the inner surface can be accurately recognized.
- the color of the ink can be recognized, and incorrect installation of the ink cartridge in an inkjet recording apparatus can be prevented.
- each color of ink can be respectively stored in commonly manufactured ink cartridges.
- dispersing grooves are formed on an inner wall surface of a lid that is structured to cover the open end at an upper part of the ink cartridge and seal the inside of the ink cartridge. Therefore, the user can recognize the ink by viewing the lid from the top when installing the ink cartridge to the inkjet recording apparatus, and thus, incorrect installation of the ink cartridge is accurately prevented.
- a lid is provided with a gripping part projecting outwardly from the lid for installing the ink cartridge to the inkjet recording apparatus, and the dispersing grooves are formed on an inner wall surface of the gripping part. Because the user installs the ink cartridge by holding the gripping part, the user can accurately recognize the ink in the ink cartridge by viewing the gripping part when installing the ink cartridge. ' As a result, incorrect installation of the ink cartridge is more accurately prevented.
- dispersing grooves are formed in a rectangular mesh shape, a parallelogram mesh shape, or a substantially oval mesh shape.
- the dispersion grooves are formed by arranging projecting parts in a rectangular, parallelogram, or substantially oval shape and by forming grooves in the vertical and horizontal directions between the projecting parts. Therefore, because a rectangular, parallelogram, or substantially oval shape is a simple shape, there is an effect in that formation of the dispersion grooves can be achieved easily.
- an ink cartridge by which the ink color in the ink cartridge can be accurately recognized, is installed in the inkjet recording apparatus. Therefore, incorrect installation of the ink cartridge is accurately prevented.
- a partition wall is arranged at a substantially intermediate position of the side wall, and a cover is fixed to one side wall. The ink cartridge can.
- Application 11-58775 for example, in order to suppress the deterioration of deaerated ink, a cartridge is held in a pressure-reduced state within a packaging body. Pressure is applied to the ink cartridge from the outside toward the inside of the ink cartridge. In order to suppression deterioration of deaerated ink, it is necessary to maintain the inside of the packaging body in a vacuum or in a state which is close to a vacuum. A large pressure is thus applied to the ink cartridge from the outside toward the inside. As described with the above-mentioned ink cartridge, two spaces are formed.
- a plurality of flat parts are thus used to create the two spaces within the ink cartridge, the ink chamber and the ink supply chamber are aligned in the case with their respective top surfaces open, and the ink chamber has a larger space.
- the ink cartridge can easily become deformed due to forces applied at the time of pressure reduction.
- the area of the flat part(s) is small and thus forces applied when the pressure is reduced are tolerated.
- the conventional ink cartridge is large, the ink cartridge cannot tolerate the pressure. If the shape of the ink cartridge is damaged or deformed, ink leaks from the inside of the cartridge to the outside, and the ink cartridge cannot be normally mounted in an image forming apparatus.
- Embodiments of this invention provides for an ink cartridge having a structure that can suppress shape deformation and damage of the ink cartridge in a pressure- reduced state within a packaging body.
- This invention further provides a packaging body of the ink cartridge that includes an ink cartridge.
- an ink cartridge includes a side wall; a partition wall that divides an inside space surrounded by the side wall at a substantially intermediate position between a first opening and a second opening opposite the first opening, wherein an ink chamber that can store ink is formed between the first opening and the partition wall and a second chamber is formed between the second opening and the partition wall; and a cover that covers the first opening and is fixed to an end surface of the side wall.
- an ink cartridge includes a side wall, of which both opposite end surfaces are respectively open; a partition wall that divides an inside space surrounded by the side wall at a substantially intermediate position between a first opening and a second opening opposite the first opening, wherein an ink chamber that can store ink is formed between the first opening and the partition wall and a second chamber is formed between the second opening and the partition wall; a cover that covers the first opening and is fixed to an end surface of the cylindrical side wall; an ink supply port which is formed in the partition wall and enables communication between the ink chamber and the second chamber; and a valve device which is arranged within the second chamber opposite the ink supply port and selectively allows communication between the ink chamber and an area outside the ink chamber.
- an ink cartridge includes a side wall, of which both opposite end surfaces are respectively open; a partition wall which divides an inside space surrounded by the side wall between a first opening and a second opening opposite the first opening, wherein an ink chamber that can store ink is formed between the first opening and the partition wall and a second chamber is formed between the second opening and the partition wall; an ink supply port which is formed in the partition wall and enables communication between the ink chamber and the second chamber, wherein a first cylindrical part extends into the second opening and surrounds the ink supply port; an air intake opening which is formed in the partition wall and enables communication between the ink chamber and the second chamber, wherein a second cylindrical part extends into the second opening and surrounds the air intake opening; and a wall that extends between the first cylindrical part and the second cylindrical part.
- a wall extends in a direction crossing an opening within the second chamber.
- rigidity of the side wall of the second chamber side and in the vicinity of the ink supply port can be improved, and the accuracy of connecting the ink cartridge with a device such as an ink jet head or the like can be improved.
- a valve device which is arranged opposite to the ink supply port within the cylindrical part and selectively allows communication between the ink chamber and an area outside the ink chamber.
- the cylindrical side wall is shaped such that a plurality of substantially partial cylindrical curved walls are arranged in a circumferential direction and concave parts are formed between the curved walls. Therefore, rigidity of the side walls can be improved, and the ink cartridge can tolerate external pressure as described above.
- a side wall, the partition wall, and the wall extending in a crossing direction within the second chamber are integrally molded by a resin material. Thus, an ink cartridge with a high rigidity can be easily molded. According to an exemplary aspect of the invention, even when rigidity of an ink cartridge is improved and pressure-reduced packaging is performed, deformation and damage can be prevented.
- valve device As the valve device is mounted by using the second chamber, the entire device can be made smaller.
- a valve device for air intake can be mounted by using the second chamber, so that the entire device can be made smaller.
- rigidity of the side wall of the second chamber side and in the vicinity of the ink supply port can be improved, and accuracy of connection with a device such as an ink jet head or the like to be connected to the ink supply port can be improved.
- the valve device can be easily mounted with good accuracy by using a cylindrical portion.
- a connecting member which interconnects the two cylindrical bodies is further provided, so that rigidity of the side wall of the second chamber side and .
- a degree of deterioration can be suppressed, and even if the inside is contained in a packaging member in a pressure- reduced state,' deformation and damage of the ink cartridge can be prevented.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (6)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU2004281066A AU2004281066B8 (en) | 2003-11-25 | 2004-11-25 | Ink cartridge |
BRPI0407975-2A BRPI0407975B1 (en) | 2003-11-25 | 2004-11-25 | INK CARTRIDGES, VALVE DEVICE, INK JET RECORDING EQUIPMENT AND INK SUPPLY METHOD |
MXPA05013041A MXPA05013041A (en) | 2003-11-25 | 2004-11-25 | Ink cartridge. |
CA2509792A CA2509792C (en) | 2003-11-25 | 2004-11-25 | Ink cartridge |
DE602004011978T DE602004011978T2 (en) | 2003-11-25 | 2004-11-25 | Valve, ink cartridge with this valve and ink supply method |
EP04799894A EP1687147B1 (en) | 2003-11-25 | 2004-11-25 | Valve device, ink cartridge comprising the valve device and method of supplying ink |
Applications Claiming Priority (20)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2003394324A JP4423940B2 (en) | 2003-11-25 | 2003-11-25 | ink cartridge |
JP2003-394323 | 2003-11-25 | ||
JP2003-394324 | 2003-11-25 | ||
JP2003394323 | 2003-11-25 | ||
JP2003409640A JP4517637B2 (en) | 2003-12-08 | 2003-12-08 | Ink cartridge and ink cartridge package |
JP2003-409640 | 2003-12-08 | ||
JP2003409077A JP4403790B2 (en) | 2003-12-08 | 2003-12-08 | Ink cartridge and ink jet recording apparatus |
JP2003-409077 | 2003-12-08 | ||
JP2004-031712 | 2004-02-09 | ||
JP2004031712A JP4517659B2 (en) | 2003-11-25 | 2004-02-09 | Ink cartridge and valve device |
JP2004-032872 | 2004-02-10 | ||
JP2004032872A JP4479262B2 (en) | 2004-02-10 | 2004-02-10 | ink cartridge |
JP2004-043978 | 2004-02-20 | ||
JP2004043978A JP4492150B2 (en) | 2004-02-20 | 2004-02-20 | Ink cartridge and recording system |
JP2004-047768 | 2004-02-24 | ||
JP2004047768A JP4442250B2 (en) | 2004-02-24 | 2004-02-24 | ink cartridge |
JP2004-053164 | 2004-02-27 | ||
JP2004053164A JP4479280B2 (en) | 2004-02-27 | 2004-02-27 | Inkjet recording device |
JP2004060456A JP4453400B2 (en) | 2004-03-04 | 2004-03-04 | ink cartridge |
JP2004-060456 | 2004-03-04 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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WO2005051666A1 true WO2005051666A1 (en) | 2005-06-09 |
Family
ID=34637523
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/JP2004/017896 WO2005051666A1 (en) | 2003-11-25 | 2004-11-25 | Ink cartridge |
Country Status (12)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (2) | US7334888B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1687147B1 (en) |
KR (1) | KR100714939B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN100581826C (en) |
AT (1) | ATE386641T1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU2004281066B8 (en) |
BR (1) | BRPI0407975B1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2509792C (en) |
DE (1) | DE602004011978T2 (en) |
MX (1) | MXPA05013041A (en) |
TW (1) | TWI266701B (en) |
WO (1) | WO2005051666A1 (en) |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE602004011978D1 (en) | 2008-04-03 |
CN100581826C (en) | 2010-01-20 |
TW200528296A (en) | 2005-09-01 |
EP1687147A4 (en) | 2006-08-09 |
MXPA05013041A (en) | 2006-03-02 |
DE602004011978T2 (en) | 2009-03-26 |
AU2004281066A8 (en) | 2009-01-08 |
CN1621237A (en) | 2005-06-01 |
EP1687147B1 (en) | 2008-02-20 |
ATE386641T1 (en) | 2008-03-15 |
US20050134663A1 (en) | 2005-06-23 |
AU2004281066B8 (en) | 2009-12-24 |
BRPI0407975B1 (en) | 2017-12-19 |
AU2004281066B2 (en) | 2009-09-03 |
US7753506B2 (en) | 2010-07-13 |
CA2509792A1 (en) | 2005-06-09 |
US7334888B2 (en) | 2008-02-26 |
US20070273736A1 (en) | 2007-11-29 |
AU2004281066A1 (en) | 2005-06-23 |
TWI266701B (en) | 2006-11-21 |
CA2509792C (en) | 2011-10-18 |
KR20060024329A (en) | 2006-03-16 |
KR100714939B1 (en) | 2007-05-07 |
EP1687147A1 (en) | 2006-08-09 |
BRPI0407975A (en) | 2006-03-07 |
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