Abstract:
An ink cartridge refill apparatus includes an ink cartridge holder and an ink refill unit which are matched with each other. The ink cartridge holder has an accommodation chamber therein to accommodate an ink cartridge. The ink refill unit includes an ink tank and an ink delivery unit. An air extraction mechanism is provided on the ink cartridge holder to extract air from the ink cartridge. The ink cartridge holder has a passage for the air extraction mechanism to extract air relative to a nozzle of the ink cartridge. Through the air extraction mechanism, the ink cartridge is primed after being filled with ink, so that ink can freely flow to the nozzle of the ink cartridge from the ink tank of the ink cartridge. Compared to the prior art ink cartridge refill apparatus which needs an auxiliary tool to extract air after being refilled, the present invention is convenient for operation and can prevent the ink cartridge from leaking.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to an ink cartridge refill apparatus. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    A conventional ink cartridge for an inkjet printer comprises a nozzle and an ink container which are an integral to one another. The ink cartridge comprises a sponge within the container such that the cartridge can be refilled with ink so that the ink cartridge can be reused. 
         [0005]    This dedicated ink cartridge refill apparatus is designed for refilling this sponge type of ink cartridge. This ink cartridge refill apparatus comprises an ink cartridge holder and an ink refill unit. The ink cartridge holder is used to hold the ink cartridge. The ink refill unit comprises an ink tank and an ink delivery unit. When in use, the ink cartridge is secured in the ink cartridge holder, and then the ink refill unit is coupled to the ink cartridge holder. The ink delivery unit uses a needle to connect the ink cartridge with the ink tank, so that the ink is delivered to the ink cartridge from the ink tank. In this way, the ink cartridge can be refilled with ink. 
         [0006]    Although the aforementioned ink cartridge refill apparatus refills the ink cartridge, there are some shortcomings existing in the ink cartridge refill apparatus. The ink cartridge has a hollow chamber immediately above the nozzle and underneath the filter of the ink cartridge. After the ink cartridge is refilled with ink, the hollow chamber usually remains filled with air. Before the ink cartridge is placed in the printer, the ink cartridge must be primed for the nozzle to effectively draw ink from the ink cartridge. The conventional means of priming uses a needle to extract air from the hollow chamber above the nozzle of the ink cartridge. However, it is inconvenient for the user to operate. Sometimes, the operation is not controlled well, and as a result ink may leak and spoil the user&#39;s clothes, hands and environment. 
         [0007]    The conventional ink cartridge refill apparatus uses a hook on the ink cartridge holder to hook the side edge of the ink cartridge thereby securing the ink cartridges in the refill apparatus. The hook does not secure the ink cartridge effectively. When filling with ink, the ink may leak from the nozzle at the bottom of the ink cartridge. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, the inventor of the present invention has devoted himself based on his many years of practical experiences to solve these problems. 
         [0009]    The ink refill unit has an ink cartridge holder with a plate on the top that holds the cartridge down securely. Further more, the nozzles are sealed in a chamber which communicates directly with the priming device and thus already in a position to be primed. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The primary object of the present invention is to provide an ink cartridge refill apparatus to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and to solve the problem that the ink cartridge cannot be removed from the ink refill apparatus and used immediately after being filled with ink. 
         [0011]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an ink cartridge refill apparatus, which can secure the ink cartridge effectively and can prevent the ink cartridge from leakage. 
         [0012]    A further object of the present invention is to provide an ink cartridge refill apparatus, which can provide a robust connection between the ink refill unit and the ink cartridge holder. 
         [0013]    In order to achieve the abovementioned objectives, the invention discloses an ink cartridge refill apparatus comprising an ink cartridge holder and an ink refill unit which are connected together when in use. The ink cartridge holder has an accommodation chamber therein to accept an ink cartridge. The ink refill unit includes an ink tank and an ink delivery unit. The ink delivery unit is used to deliver ink from the ink tank to the ink cartridge in the ink cartridge holder. An air extraction mechanism is provided in the ink cartridge holder to extract air from the ink cartridge. The ink refill unit has a plate on the top that holds the cartridge down securely. Further more, the nozzles are sealed in a chamber which communicates directly with the priming device and thus already in a position to be primed. The ink cartridge holder has a passage for the air extraction mechanism to extract air relative from chamber above the nozzle of the ink cartridge. Through the air extraction mechanism, the ink cartridge is primed after being filled with ink, so that air is removed from the nozzle of the ink cartridge and the chamber behind the nozzle of the ink cartridge. Compared to the prior art cartridge refill apparatus which needs an auxiliary tool to extract air after being taken out, the present invention is convenient and can prevent the leakage of ink. 
         [0014]    By encompassing the air extraction mechanism in the ink cartridge holder, no extra step is necessary after refilling. When the ink refill unit is coupled to the ink cartridge holder, the air extraction mechanism is in a state waiting to prime. When the ink refill unit is detached from the ink cartridge holder, the air extraction mechanism primes the cartridge to extract air. This allows for the ink cartridge to be removed from the refill unit having already been primed so as to simplify the process of refilling ink. 
         [0015]    The locking member covers the top surface of the ink cartridge to replace the conventional hook to hook the side edge of the ink cartridge, such that the ink cartridge can be pressed tightly to prevent the leakage from the ink cartridge. 
         [0016]    A click-and-lock mechanism is employed between the ink cartridge holder and the ink refill unit. The connection between the ink refill unit and the ink cartridge of the present invention is secure and stable to ensure a smooth ink refill procedure. 
         [0017]    The air extraction mechanism exhausts air out of the cartridge and prevents air from reentering the ink cartridge through the combination of an air extraction passage and an air exhaust passage in conjunction with a first one-way valve and a second one-way valve. The ink cartridge can be primed smoothly and effectively to remove air from the chamber and passages between the nozzle and the ink tank. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a partial exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged view showing the preferred embodiment of the ink refill unit of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of the ink cartridge holder of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention provided with the ink cartridge; 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is another cross sectional view of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a bottom view of the ink cartridge holder of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  is a schematic view showing the ink cartridge holder and the ink cartridge of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0028]    Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 10 , the ink cartridge refill apparatus of the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises an ink cartridge holder  10  and an ink refill unit  20  which are matched with each other. 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 6 , the ink cartridge holder  10  accommodates an ink cartridge  30 . The ink cartridge holder  10  has an accommodation chamber  11  therein. The accommodation chamber  11  is used to hold the ink cartridge  30 . An air extraction mechanism  40  is provided on the ink cartridge holder  10 . The air extraction mechanism  40  is used to extract air from the ink cartridge  30 . In this embodiment, the air extraction mechanism  40  is located in the accommodation chamber  11 . The air extraction mechanism  40  comprises an air cylinder  41 , a piston  42  and a return spring  43 . The air cylinder  41  extends upward from an inner bottom surface of the accommodation chamber  11 . The air cylinder  41  has a bottom formed with an air extraction hole  401  and an air exhaust hole  402 . Both the air extraction hole  401  and the air exhaust hole  402  communicate with the inside of the air cylinder  41 . The piston  42  is movably disposed of in the air cylinder  41 . The distal end of the piston  42  extends out of the air cylinder  41 . The ends of the return spring  43  rest against the inner bottom surfaces of the piston  42  and the accommodation chamber  11  respectively. The return spring  43  acts on the piston  42  to provide an upward return force to the piston  42 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 7  shows the ink cartridge holder  10  comprises a bottom plate  12  which is detachedly connected to the bottom of the ink cartridge holder  10 .  FIG. 9  shows the bottom of the ink cartridge holder  10  which has a first groove  101  and a second groove  102 . The bottom plate  12  and the first groove  101  as well as the second groove  102  respectively define an air extraction passage  103  and an air exhaust passage (not shown in the drawings). The air extraction passage  103  is used to extract air for the ink cartridge  30 . The air extraction passage  103  has an air inlet end provided with a rubber seal  104 . The ink cartridge  30  has a nozzle  31  which presses against the seal  104  to connect with the air extraction passage  103 . The air extraction passage  103  has an air outlet end which interconnects with the air extraction hole  401  of the air extraction mechanism  40 . The bottom of the ink cartridge holder  10  has a recess  105 . The air exhaust passage connects with the recess  105  and the air exhaust hole  402  of the air extraction mechanism  40 . The air exhaust passage is used to exhaust the air in the air extraction mechanism  40 . The recess  105  may be provided with a fitting (such as a sponge) to draw ink, preventing the ink cartridge  30  from leaking. The air extraction passage  103  is provided with a first one-way valve  106 . When the air extraction mechanism  40  is in an air extraction state, the first one-way valve  106  will be opened to allow nozzle  31  to communicate with the air extraction hole  401 . The air exhaust passage is provided with a second one-way valve  107 . When the air extraction mechanism  40  is in an air pumping state, the second one-way valve  107  will be opened for the air exhaust hole  402  to communicate with the recess  105 . The first one-way valve  106  is disposed at the air inlet end of the air extraction passage  103 . The second one-way valve  107  is disposed at the air exhaust hole  402  of the air exhaust passage, as shown in  FIG. 9 . The position of the first one-way valve  106  and the second one-way valve  107  is not limited to the preferred embodiment. 
         [0032]    As shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 6 , a cartridge detection mechanism  50  is provided in the accommodation chamber  11  of the ink cartridge holder  10 . This mechanism  50  is used to detect the existence of the ink cartridge  30 . The mechanism  50  is located on the piston  42  of the air extraction mechanism  40  and moves up and down along with movement of the piston  42 . The mechanism  50  comprises a fastening block  51  and an elastic member  52 . The fastening block  51  is transversely moveable relative to the piston  42 . The elastic member  52  acts on the fastening block  51 , so that the fastening block  51  extends transversely to fasten the ink cartridge  30 . The fastening block  51  further has a limit post  53 . The limit post  53  is longitudinally disposed in the accommodation chamber  11 . The inner wall of the accommodation chamber  11  has a pair of limit troughs  108  corresponding to two ends of the limit post  53 . The limit troughs  108  extend vertically. The two ends of the limit post  53  can be moved vertically and transversely and confined in the limit troughs  108 . Two sides of the ink cartridge holder  10  have a pair of upright engaging grooves  109 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the engaging grooves  109  respectively communicate with the limit troughs  108  ( FIG. 5 ). In an initial state, the two ends of the limit post  53  are not in the pair of engaging grooves  109 . When the ink cartridge  30  is placed in the accommodation chamber  11 , the ink cartridge  30  will push the limit post  53  to move transversely, so that the two ends of the limit post  53  are moved to the pair of engaging grooves  109 . The ink refill unit  20  has engaging ribs  205  corresponding to the engaging grooves  109 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . When the ink refill unit  20  is coupled to the ink cartridge holder  10 , the engaging ribs  205  engage with the engaging grooves  109  and urge the limit post  53  to move downward. The downward movement of the limit post  53  brings the piston  42  to move downward so as to engage the air extraction mechanism  40 . The way to engage the air extraction mechanism  40  is not limited to the preferred embodiment of the engaging ribs  205  pressing the limit post  53  to move the piston  42  downward. The air extraction mechanism  40  may be engaged by a switch, button or other method. One end of the fastening block  51  is fixedly connected to the limit post  53 , and another end of the fastening block  51  has an inclined guide surface  511 . The guide surface  511  guides the ink cartridge  30  to be placed in the accommodation chamber  11 . The fastening block  51  further has a guide groove  512  which is a dovetail groove. An upper end of the piston  42  has a guide block  421 . The guide block  421  is engaged in the guide groove  512 , such that the fastening block  51  is moved in the direction of the guide block  421  relative to the piston  42 . Further, the side of the fastening block  51  has a first protrusion  513 , and the piston  42  has a corresponding second protrusion  422 . The elastic member  52  is a spring. Two ends of the spring are fitted on the first protrusion  513  and the second protrusion  422 . 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 7 , the ink cartridge holder  10  further comprises a locking member  60 . The locking member  60  is used to secure the ink cartridge  30 . The locking member  60  applies pressure to the ink cartridge  30  to tightly secure the ink cartridge  30 . In this embodiment, one end of the locking member  60  has a pivot portion  61 , and another end of the locking member  60  has a locking portion  62 . The pivot portion  61  and the locking portion  62  are located outside two opposing sides of the ink cartridge  30 , so that the press portion of the locking member  60  is located above the nozzle  31  of the ink cartridge  30 . The pivot portion  61  is pivotally connected to the ink cartridge holder  10 . The ink cartridge holder  10  has a locking slot  13  corresponding to the locking portion  62 . The locking portion  62  is buckled to the locking slot  13 . The inner side of the locking member  60  has a positioning recess  63 . The ink cartridge  30  has a protrusion  32  thereon. The protrusion  32  is engaged in the positioning recess  63  to provide a positioning effect. 
         [0034]    The ink refill unit  20  comprises an ink tank  21  and an ink delivery unit  22 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the ink tank  21  is used to store ink. The ink tank  21  has at least one ink chamber  201  therein. Each ink chamber  201  is provided with a bottom board which has an ink outlet  202  and a ventilated post  203 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the ink delivery unit  22  is used to deliver the ink from the ink tank  21  to the ink cartridge  30  in the holder  11 . The ink delivery unit  22  comprises an outer casing  221 , an ink needle  222  and a ventilated needle  223 . The ink needle  222  and the ventilated needle  223  are located in the outer casing  221 . The other parts in the ink delivery unit  22  are prior art and won&#39;t be described hereinafter. The ink tank  21  is disposed on top of the outer casing  221 . The ink needle  222  is located corresponding to the ink outlet  202 , and the ventilated needle  223  is located corresponding to the ventilated post  203 . 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , the present invention further comprises a click-and-lock mechanism  70  which is disposed between the ink refill unit  20  and the ink cartridge holder  10 . The locking mechanism  70  is used to connect the ink refill unit  20  and the ink cartridge holder  10  tightly. The locking mechanism  70  is disposed on the ink cartridge holder  10 . The two opposing sides of the ink cartridge holder  10  are each provided with a locking mechanism  70 . The locking mechanism  70  comprises a button  71  and a resilient member  72 . The button  71  is mounted on the ink cartridge holder  10 , and comprises a press portion  711  and a hook portion  712 . The press portion  711  is exposed out of the ink cartridge holder  10 . The outer casing  221  of the ink delivery member  22  has an engaging slot  204  corresponding to hook portion  712 . The hook portion  712  is engaged with the engaging slot  204 , such that the ink refill unit  20  is secured to the ink cartridge holder  10 . The resilient member  72  is a spring. Two ends of the spring are against the ink cartridge holder  10  and the button  71 , respectively. The spring acts on the button  71  to provide a force to the button  71  to be moved outward, such that the hook portion  712  is engaged in the engaging slot  204  so as to tightly connect the ink cartridge holder  10  and the ink refill unit  20 . The ink cartridge holder  10  has an engaging trough  14  thereon. The hook portion  712  of the button  71  extends out from the bottom of the ink cartridge holder  10  into the engaging trough  14 . The button  71  is restrained on the ink cartridge holder  10  by a limit board  15 . The hook portion  712  is sideward moved in the engaging trough  14  back and forth. The edge of the outer casing  221  can be engaged in the engaging trough  14 . 
         [0036]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the ink cartridge  30  to be filled is placed in the accommodation chamber  11  of the ink cartridge holder  10 . The ink cartridge  30  is guided into the accommodation chamber  11  through the inclined guide surface  511 . By the elastic member  52  acting on the fastening block  51 , the fastening block  51  transversely fastens the ink cartridge  30  and the two ends of the limit post  53  are moved in the engaging grooves  109 . The ink cartridge  30  is moved downward until the nozzle  31  of the ink cartridge  30  is against the seal  104 , sealing the nozzle  31  with the air extraction passage  103 . 
         [0037]    After that, the locking member  60  is rotated inward. The protrusion  32  of the ink cartridge  30  is engaged with the positioning recess  63  and the locking portion  62  of the locking member  60  is engaged with the locking slot  13  of the ink cartridge holder  10 , such that the ink cartridge  30  is secured to the ink cartridge holder  10  securely. 
         [0038]    Then, the ink refill unit  20  is coupled on the ink cartridge holder  10 . The ink refill unit  20  is pressed down in place relative to the ink cartridge holder  10 , the engaging ribs  205  of the ink cartridge unit  20  are engaged with the engaging grooves  109  of the ink cartridge holder  10  and urge the limit post  53  to move downward. Because the limit post  53  is moved downward, the piston  42  of the air extraction mechanism  40  is also moved downward to compress the air in the air cylinder  41 . In this way, the first one-way valve  106  is closed and the second one-way valve  107  is opened, and then the air enters the recess  105  through the air exhaust passage. The air in the air cylinder  41  is exhausted, preventing the air in the air cylinder  41  from entering the ink cartridge  30  when in place. When the ink refill unit  20  is pressed down in place relative to the ink cartridge holder  10 , the piston  42  is moved down to a certain distance. The return spring  43  is in a compressed state to engage the air extraction mechanism  40 , so the air extraction mechanism  40  is in a state to prime. 
         [0039]    As shown in  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 , when the ink refill unit  20  is pressed down relative to the ink cartridge holder  10 , the upper end of the ink needle  222  penetrates into the ink chamber  201 , and the lower end of the ink needle  222  extends into the ink cartridge  30 . The ink needle  222  connects the ink chamber  201  and the inside of the ink cartridge  30 . The upper end of the ventilated needle  223  extends into the ventilated post  203 , and the lower end of the ventilated needle  223  extends into the ink cartridge  30 . The ventilated needle  223  connects the ventilated post  203  and the inside of the ink cartridge  30 . The ink in the ink chamber  201  is delivered to the ink cartridge  30  through the ink needle  222 . The air in the ink cartridge  30  is exhausted out through the ventilated needle  223 . 
         [0040]    When the ink refill unit  20  is pressed down in place relative to the ink cartridge holder  10 , the button  71  of locking mechanism  70  is moved outward. With the resilient member  72  to provide a reverse force to the button  71 , the button  71  is moved in a reverse direction. The hook portion  712  of the button  71  engages with the engaging slot  204  of the outer casing  221 , such that the ink refill unit  20  is tightly coupled to the ink cartridge holder  10 . 
         [0041]    After the ink cartridge  30  is filled with ink, the button  71  of the locking mechanism  70  is pressed and the hook portion  712  of the button  71  disengages from the engaging slot  204 . Then, the ink refill unit  20  is detached from the ink cartridge holder  10 . When the ink refill unit  20  is detached from the ink cartridge holder  10 , the limit post  53  is released. By the action of the return spring  43 , the piston  42  is returned up. The air pressure in the air cylinder  41  is decreased, so the first one-way valve  106  is opened and the second one-way valve  107  is closed. The air in the nozzle  31  of the ink cartridge  30  enters the air cylinder  41  through the air extraction passage  103 . 
         [0042]    After the nozzle  31  of the ink cartridge  30  is primed, the locking portion  62  of the locking member  60  is disengaged from the locking slot  13  and the locking member  60  is turned outward to release the ink cartridge  30  from the locking member  60 , so that the ink cartridge  30  can be taken out from the accommodation chamber  11 . Now, the ink cartridge  30  is filled with ink, primed and can be placed in a printer for use. 
         [0043]    It is noted that the air extraction passage  103  and the air exhaust passage in the preferred embodiment of the present invention can be replaced with a single passage performing both functions. The passage connects the air extraction mechanism  40  and the nozzle  31  of the ink cartridge  30 , so the nozzle  31  of the ink cartridge  30  can be primed by the air extraction mechanism  40 . The same passage is used to extract and exhaust air so as to achieve prime of the nozzle  31  of the ink cartridge  30 . The configuration of the aforesaid passages is limited to the recess formed at the bottom of the ink cartridge holder  10  in conjunction with the bottom plate. These passages can be formed by a recess formed on the bottom plate to cooperate with the bottom of the ink cartridge holder  10 . 
         [0044]    Moreover, the air extraction mechanism  40  is not limited to the aforesaid configuration, which can be in another type of air extraction mechanism (such as a button-type air extraction mechanism). The air extraction mechanism can be automatic or manual. The requirement for the air extraction mechanism is that it extract air from the ink cartridge  30  after the ink cartridge  30  is filled with ink. 
         [0045]    Furthermore, the locking member  60  can be in other configurations. As shown in  FIG. 10 , one end of the locking member  60  is pivotally connected to the ink cartridge holder  10  and the other end of the locking member  60  is engaged with the protrusion  32  of the ink cartridge  30 . After the locking member  60  is engaged with the protrusion  32 , the locking member  60  is coupled to the ink cartridge holder  10  and cannot be turned, so that the ink cartridge  30  is secured in the ink cartridge holder  10  and the press portion of the locking member  60  covers the nozzle  31  of the ink cartridge  30 . 
         [0046]    Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.