Ink cartridge for ink jet printer

Abstract: It is described an ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus such as an ink jet printer that is provided with a container (1) having at least a first wall (1a). An ink supply port (2) is formed through the first wall (1a) for supplying ink to the exterior of the container (1). An ink chamber (4) and an ink supply chamber (5) are formed by a membrane valve seat (3) made of an elastic thin membrane and formed with a through hole (6) therethrough. A valve body (8) is positioned opposing the through hole (6) formed in the membrane valve seat (3), the valve body (8) and membrane valve seat (3) adjacent said through hole (6) formed therein being maintained selectively in contact by a pressure difference between said ink chamber (4) and said ink supply chamber (5).

Description: The present invention relates to an ink cartridge. An ink jet recording apparatus such as an ink jet printer comprises an ink jet type recording head carried on a carriage in which pressure is applied to a pressure generating chamber. This chamber is maintained in fluid communication with a common ink tank on one side of the chamber and a nozzle opening on an other. Ink droplets are discharged from the nozzle opening upon the generation of pressure in the chamber. An ink cartridge comprising either the common ink tank or the common ink tank and a plurality of chambers and nozzle openings may be carried on the carriage for supplying the recording head with ink. This ink cartridge is constructed so that ink droplets are discharged onto a recording medium in response to printing data as the carriage is reciprocally moved. Since the nozzle opening of the recording head is located at a position lower than the ink level in the ink cartridge, fluid pressure of the ink acts on the nozzle opening. A porous material is generally contained in the ink cartridge so that surface tension caused by the porous material allows the pressure inside the ink cartridge to be slightly lower than that at the nozzle opening in order to prevent ink from oozing out from the nozzle opening. However, as ink is gradually consumed during printing operations and a smaller amount of ink remains absorbed in the porous material, the surface tension caused by the porous material becomes larger and makes it difficult to supply ink to the recording head. Thus, all ink contained in the cartridge will not be completely consumed. Also, because of the porous material contained in the ink cartridge, the amount of ink stored in the ink cartridge is less than the volume of the ink cartridge by the actual total volume of the porous material. To compensate for the decreased amount of ink in a cartridge employing porous material, a larger ink cartridge is required than would be if the porous material were not employed in order to hold the same amount of ink. To solve the problem mentioned above, an ink cartridge for an ink jet recording head, for example, as shown in United States Patent No. 4,677,447 (based upon JP-A-62231759), has been proposed. This patent shows an ink tank that is separated into two chambers by a wall formed with a through hole in a lower portion thereof. Ink is provided to the recording head from the first chamber. An umbrella check valve is movably arranged in the through hole. When the ink pressure on the ink head is decreased by expulsion of ink from the chamber, the umbrella check valve is opened to discharge the ink from the into to the cavity, and it is then supplied to the recording head from the first chamber into the second chamber, and it is then supplied to the recording head from the second chamber cavity. According to the above-mentioned ink cartridge, a porous material need not be contained in the cartridge, so that a larger amount of ink can be substantially stored in the ink cartridge. However, use of the umbrella check valve raises another problem, since its offset amount is too large to finely adjust the amount of ink to be supplied to the recording head. Thus, fluctuations in the amount of ink supplied are caused and the printing quality is degraded. In addition, since the ink in the first chamber is completely blocked from the recording head when the umbrella check valve is closed, if some change in environmental factors or temperature causes the volume of ink in the second chamber to increase as little as two to five percent, the pressure in the first chamber could increase and break the seal on a connection port which couples the ink cartridge to the recording head. The ink could then leak from the broken seal. Further, when the cartridge is mounted on the recording head, this increased pressure acts on the recording head whereby negative pressure cannot be maintained between the recording head and the ink tank, and thus ink could leak from the recording head. Furthermore, the umbrella check valve is maintained in a closed state with a pressure difference of approximately 50 mmAq in order to ensure a stable supply of ink to the recording head. However, since this valve closing force is small, the umbrella check valve may open in response to a swinging motion of ink in the ink tank due to the movement of the carriage resulting in temporary pressure differences against the valve from the movement. Thus, stable printing may not be provided. Additionally, if air enters a recording head while ink is being supplied thereto, the pressure for discharging ink droplets may be absorbed by the air bubble occurring within an ink passage of the recording head. Thus, defective printing may arise when the ink cartridge is exhausted. This problem may also arise if an ink cartridge is removed from a recording head if the ink is not depleted. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an ink cartridge which is capable of reliably supplying a recording head with ink in response to a minute pressure difference between the recording head and the ink cartridge, while maintaining negative pressure suitable for printing between the recording head and the ink cartridge, without being influenced by any swinging motion of ink contained therein due to the movement of a carriage upon which the recording head is mounted, and is also capable of preventing ink from leaking from an ink supply port of the cartridge leading to the recording head, or leaking from the recording head, due to temperature or other atmospheric changes. Additionally, it is desirable to provide an ink cartridge which can prevent air from being drawn into the recording head at the time ink in the ink cartridge is exhausted, or if the ink cartridge is removed before all of the ink is depleted. The present invention intends to overcome the above problems. The object is solved by the ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to independent claim 1 and by the ink jet recording apparatus according to independent claim 25. Further advantages, features, aspects and details of the invention are evident from the dependent claims, the description and the accompanying drawings. The claims are intended to be understood as a first non-limiting approach of defining the invention in general terms. The present invention relates generally to an ink cartridge and more particularly to an ink cartridge which is suitable for being mounted on a carriage for carrying an ink jet type recording head. Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, an ink container having an ink supply port formed in one of its walls is separated into two portions by a membrane valve seat made of an elastic thin membrane and formed with a through hole in a central portion thereof. The membrane forms an ink chamber in the portion of the ink container not adjacent the ink supply port and an ink supply chamber in the portion of the ink container adjacent the ink supply port. A valve body is arranged at a position opposite the through hole such that the membrane valve seat is urged to abut the valve body by a pressure difference between the ink chamber and the ink supply chamber, thereby selectively sealing the through hole.. The membrane valve seat receives a pressure difference over a wide area thereof to open a passage from the ink chamber to the ink supply chamber in response to the consumption of a small amount of ink from the ink supply chamber. Thus, the ink can be discharged to a recording head without resulting in excessive negative pressure being imparted on the recording head. Also, if the pressure inside the ink supply chamber increases due to a temperature rise, other environmental factors or the like, the membrane valve seat is responsive to this increased pressure in the ink supply chamber and releases an increased portion of ink from the ink supply chamber to the ink chamber, thereby preventing ink from leaking from the recording head. Further, the membrane valve seat is maintained in close contact with the valve body through its own elasticity to reliably prevent the valve member from bouncing or vibrating due to the movement of the carriage. The ink container may be in the form of an ink cartridge removably mounted on the recording head. Still other aspects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specifications and drawings. Additionally, the invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims. For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an ink tank cartridge constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention; FIGS. 2A and 2B respectively are fragmentary cross-sectional views of the ink tank cartridge of FIG. 1 showing how the membrane valve seat and the valve body operate when the ink cartridge is mounted on a recording head; FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view of the ink tank cartridge of FIG. 1 showing the valve body when the ink cartridge is supplied with ink; FIG. 3 is a graph representing the relationship between a discharging amount of ink and the fluid pressure value of the ink cartridge of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of an ink tank cartridge constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention showing the ink supply chamber and its surroundings; FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an ink tank cartridge constructed in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention; FIGS. 6A and 6B respectively are fragmentary cross-sectional views of the ink tank cartridge of FIG. 5 showing how the membrane valve seat and the valve body operate when the ink cartridge is mounted on a recording head; FIG. 6C is also a cross-sectional view of the ink tank cartridge of FIG. 5 showing the valve body when the ink cartridge is supplied with ink; FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of an ink tank cartridge constructed in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention showing the ink supply chamber and its surroundings; FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of an ink tank cartridge constructed in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the invention showing the ink supply chamber and its surroundings; FIG. 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of an ink tank cartridge constructed in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the invention showing the ink supply chamber and its surroundings; FIG. 10 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of an ink tank cartridge constructed in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the invention showing the ink supply chamber and its surroundings; FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing an ink supply port of an ink cartridge constructed in accordance with an eighth embodiment of the invention; and FIGS. 12A and 12B are cross-sectional views showing an ink supply port of an ink cartridge constructed in accordance with a ninth embodiment of the invention, FIG. 12A showing the ink supply port not mounted on a recording head and FIG. 12B showing the ink supply port mounted on a recording head. FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing an ink supply system, which is an essential part of the ink jet type recording apparatus according to the embodiments of the present invention. Fig. 13 is a schematic view showing an ink supply system of an ink-jet type recording apparatus to which the present invention can be applied. A print heat unit 101 of an ink-jet type is connected to an ink tank 103 through a connecting member 102. Ink is supplied from the ink tank 103 to the print head unit 101 through a hollow needle 102a and an ink supply passage 102b of the connecting member 102, so that the print head unit 101 emits ink droplets in accordance with print signals. The apparatus shown in Fig. 13 also includes a cap member 104 disposed at non-printing area, which cap member comes into abutment against the nozzle plate of the print head unit 101 by a drive mechanism (not shown) for preventing the nozzle openings from drying. The cap member 104 is connected through a tube 108 to a suction pump 105 which is operated by a control device 106 to suck ink from the print head unit 101 through the cap member 104. The apparatus shown in Fig. 13 is also provided with an effluent tank 107 connected to an outlet port of the suction pump 105 through a tube 109. The recording head may be of any structure such as described in European Patent Publication Nos. 581,531, 609,863, 584,823 and so on. Referring to FIG. 1, a first embodiment of the invention is depicted wherein a container constituting an ink cartridge body, indicated generally at reference numeral 1 is formed with a first wall 1a with an ink supply port 2 formed therein, into which an ink supply needle of a recording head (not shown) may be inserted. The space inside container 1 is separated into an ink chamber 4 and an ink supply chamber 5 by a membrane valve seat 3, described hereinafter. Membrane valve seat 3 is made of an elastic membrane, such as a rubber membrane, polymeric elastomer membrane or the like, having a resistance to ink, and formed with a membrane through hole 6 in a central portion thereof. Membrane valve seat 3 is placed on a step 7 formed in a lower portion of container 1. Membrane valve seat 3 is maintained in a stretched state by a valve assembly 9 which engages and holds the periphery of membrane valve seat 3 against step 7. A valve body 8 is vertically movably inserted into a valve through hole 10 formed through valve assembly 9. Valve body 8 has a width that ensures the formation of a gap between valve assembly 9 and valve body 8 through which ink flows, and a length slightly larger than the thickness of valve assembly 9. In a normal state, when cartridge 1 is not connected to a recording head undergoing a printing operation, valve body 8 has its lower end placed in elastic contact with membrane valve seat 3 by a valve body support member 11 so as to close the membrane through hole 6 of membrane valve seat 3, The lower end of valve body 8 is formed with a curved periphery to form a better seal with membrane valve seat 3. Valve assembly 9 is formed with an ink passage 15 in the surface thereof facing away from ink supply port 2 and communicating to valve through hole 10 for directing ink thereto. valve body support member 11 is arranged on and secured at its periphery to the surface of valve assembly 9 on the opposed side of valve assembly 9 to membrane valve seat 3, in a stretched state in order to maintain valve body 8 in elastic contact with membrane valve seat 3, as well as to prevent valve body 8 from lowering below a predetermined position. Valve body support member 11 is made of a similar material to that of membrane valve seat 3, and is formed with a support member through hole 12 therein forming ink passage 15. Also, valve body support member 11 supports a top portion 8a of valve body 8 adjacent but spaced from support member through hole 12. In this embodiment, the upper end of valve body 8 is formed with annular peripheral groove 8b for receiving the periphery of a mounting aperture 11a in valve support member 11 and a head 8a shaped both to be forced through mounting aperture 11a by elastic deformation thereof due to its rounded top end, and to retain the valve body on the valve body support membrane when mounted thereon. Preferably, membrane valve seat 3, valve body support member 11, and valve body 8 are assembled with and fixed to valve assembly 9 prior to the final construction of container 1, and are incorporated into container 1 by placing the entire assembly on step 7 of container 1 at one time. Container 1 has its upper end closed by a lid member 13 having an atmosphere communicating hole 14 formed therethrough. On the side of lid member 13 facing the inside of ink chamber 4, lid member 13 is formed with a recess 30 surrounding atmosphere communicating hole 14, a a communicating port 32 positioned a predetermined distance away from recess 30, and a narrow groove 31 constituting a capillary channel for maintaining recess 30 and communicating port 32 in fluid communication. A flexible membrane 33 is arranged over recess 30 and groove 31 in such a loose state that flexible membrane 33 is maintained a small distance away from communicating hole 14 when lid member 13 is placed on container 1, while one wall of the capillary channel of groove 31 is defined by flexible membrane 33. In this embodiment, if container 1 is positioned (for example, tilted or turned upside down) to bring ink in ink chamber 4 into contact with lid member 13, flexible membrane 33 receives the pressure of the ink and is moved towards lid member 13. Flexible membrane 33 then comes into contact with a protrusion 14a defined by recess 30 around atmosphere communicating hole 14, so that atmosphere communicating hole 14 is closed to prevent the ink from leaking therethrough. When ink supply port 2 is penetrated by an ink supply needle of the recording head (not shown) carried on a carriage (the ink supply port being normally sealed by an ink impermeable closure (not shown) pierceable by the needle in a conventional manner), ink supply chamber 5 is placed in fluid communication via this ink supply needle with the recording head. In this state, flexible membrane 33 of lid member 13 is maintained in a hanging position away from lid member 13 so as to open atmosphere communication hole 14 because of gravity or other pressure difference. Thus, ink chamber 4 communicates with the atmosphere through open atmosphere communicating hole 14, recess 30, groove 31, and communicating port 32. As is shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C, in the cartridge constructed in this manner, when printing is started and the recording head discharges ink droplets onto a recording medium or the like, ink in ink supply chamber 5 flows through ink supply port 2 into the recording head, whereby the pressure inside ink supply chamber 5 gradually decreases. In response to the decreased pressure inside ink supply chamber 5, membrane valve seat 3 receives pressure from ink chamber 4 and expands in the direction toward ink supply port 2, by virtue of its elasticity, in the form of an essentially spherical surface having a radius R. At this time, since valve body 8 moves in conjunction with membrane valve seat 3 (FIG. 2A), ink contained in ink chamber 4 is prohibited from flowing into ink supply chamber 5 which in turn prevents the pressure inside ink supply chamber 5 from increasing excessively, while also preventing the pressure inside ink supply chamber 5 from decreasing excessively. In this manner, the pressure on the recording head is maintained at constant negative pressure with respect to the ink chamber 4. As more ink is consumed by the recording head during a printing operation, membrane valve seat 3 is further elastically expanded toward ink supply port 2. Valve body 8 is prevented from lowering below a predetermined position by valve body support member 11, so that valve body 8 is separated from membrane valve seat 3 by a very narrow gap 6a (FIG. 2B). In this state, ink in ink chamber 4 passes through support through hole 12, passage 15, valve through hole 10 and narrow gap 6a formed between valve body 8 and membrane valve seat 3, and flows through membrane through hole 6 into ink supply chamber 5. When the inflow of the ink causes the pressure inside ink supply chamber 5 to slightly increase, membrane valve seat 3 moves back toward valve body 8 by its elasticity and elastically contacts with valve body 8, whereby narrow gap 6a and membrane through hole 6 are closed by the lower surface of valve body 8. This prohibits ink from flowing from ink chamber 4 into ink supply chamber 5. As a result, the pressure at the ink supply port is maintained at a constant level irrespective of the amount of ink contained in ink chamber 4. Each time the pressure inside ink supply chamber 5 slightly decreases because of ink consumption during a printing operation, membrane valve seat 3 slightly expands toward ink supply port 2 to form a gap between membrane valve seat 3 and valve body 8, through which ink from ink chamber 4 flows into ink supply chamber 5. In this manner, membrane valve seat 3, made of an elastic membrane, is brought into contact with and separated from valve body 8 in accordance with the consumption of ink during printing. Thus, by setting the elasticity of membrane valve seat 3 at an appropriate predetermined magnitude, it is possible to remarkably reduce the difference in pressure between the time an ink supply procedure will begin and end, as well as to discharge all ink in ink chamber 4 to the recording head so that none of the ink will be wasted. If the ambient temperature rises while printing is not being performed, the pressure inside ink supply chamber 5 will increase. This increase in pressure may also be caused by changes in a number of other environmental factors. In response to this increased pressure, membrane valve seat 3 moves toward ink chamber 4 which is open to the atmosphere. This prevents the pressure inside ink supply chamber 5 from increasing, thus maintaining appropriate negative pressure between ink chamber 4 and recording head irrespective of temperature rise or pressure increase. It is therefore possible to prevent ink from leaking from the recording head due to an increase in pressure. In a preferred embodiment, membrane valve seat 3 is formed of a rubber membrane having a thickness of 0.04 mm and an effective diameter, i.e., an elastically deformable region of 20 mm. A lower limit position of valve body 8 is designed such that the radius R of the spherical surface is 26 mm immediately before ink flows out, i.e., in a critical state with valve body 8. Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which is a graph which depicts the change in fluid pressure value of the ink cartridge according to the invention. It can be understood from FIG. 3 that even if a large amount of ink, for example, five grams per minute of ink, is supplied, the increase in fluid pressure value is small. Thus, ink can be smoothly supplied to the recording head even if a large amount of ink is consumed by the recording head without imparting excessive negative pressure on the recording head. During the manufacturing and ink filling process, a negative pressure is applied to ink chamber 4 to exhaust air from cartridge 1. With ink supply port 2 being closed by a filling seal 16, ink chamber 4 initially achieves a lower pressure than ink supply chamber 5. Thus, as shown in FIG. 2C, valve body 8 moves toward ink chamber 4 against the elastic force of valve body support member 11 to form a filling gap 12a between membrane valve seat 3 and valve body 8, so that all air can be exhausted from the entire cartridge 1 including ink chamber 4 and ink supply chamber 5, irrespective of the existence of membrane valve seat 3 and valve body 8. This permits the entire cartridge 1, including ink supply chamber 5, to be filled with ink. Reference is now made to FIG. 4 which depicts an ink cartridge 200 constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, like elements being designated by like reference numerals. In this second embodiment, valve body 8 is provided with a flat positioning piece 35 fixed thereto on the side thereof facing valve body support member 11, in the region of valve through hole 10, which abuts the upper peripheral surface of valve body 8 when the lower surface of valve body 8 is brought into contact with membrane valve seat 3. When valve body 8 abuts membrane valve seat 3, positioning piece 35 is maintained in contact with the upper surface of valve assembly 9 and the periphery of valve body 8, and valve body 8 is supported by valve assembly 9 to maintain its posture as vertical as possible. Thus, membrane through hole 6 of membrane valve seat 3 can be reliably closed by valve body 8 even if cartridge 200 suffers from vibrations due to the movement of the carriage or the like. Reference is now made to FIG. 5 which depicts an ink cartridge 300 constructed in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention, like elements being designated by like reference numerals. In this embodiment a valve body 20 is inserted into a valve body accommodating chamber 9a formed in valve assembly 9' with spring 21 positioned to urge valve body 20 toward ink supply port 2. A lower limit position of valve body 20 is defined by a laterally outwardly extending positioning piece 36 formed on the upper end of valve body 20 abutting a laterally inwardly extending protrusion 9b formed in a lower portion of valve body accommodating chamber 9a. Also, as is shown in FIG. 5, ink chamber 4 is selectively maintained in fluid communication with ink supply chamber 5 via through holes 22 and 23, through hole 22 communicating directly between ink chamber 4 and valve body accommodating chamber 9a, which through hole 23 communicates directly between ink chamber 4 and the space between membrane valve seat 3 and has a laterally extending surface groove 23a formed on the side of valve assembly 9' facing said membrane valve seat 3 extending between through hole 23 and valve body accommodating chamber 9a. In this third embodiment, as is shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C, membrane valve seat 3, in response to decreased pressure inside ink supply chamber 5, receives pressure from ink chamber 4 and expands toward supply port 2, by virtue of its elasticity, in the form of an essentially spherical surface having a radius R. Thus, since valve body 20 moves in conjunction with membrane valve seat 3 by the resilient force of spring 21, and positioning piece 36 abuts protrusion 9b to maintain valve body 20 in a vertical posture (FIG. 6A), ink is prohibited from flowing from ink chamber 4 into ink supply chamber 5 while preventing the pressure inside ink supply chamber 5 from decreasing excessively. In this manner, membrane valve seat 3 abuts valve body 20 irrespective of any vibrations or swinging motion of the cartridge due to the movement of the carriage, so that ink pressure on the recording head is maintained at constant negative pressure with respect to ink chamber 4. As more ink is consumed by the recording head during a printing operation, membrane valve seat 3 is further expanded toward ink supply port 2. Valve body 20 is prevented from lowering below a predetermined position by protrusion 9b of valve accommodating chamber 9a, so that valve body 8 is separated from membrane valve seat 3 by very narrow gap 6a (FIG. 6B). In this state, ink in ink chamber 4 passes through narrow gap 6a formed between valve body 20 and membrane valve seat 3 and flows through membrane through hole 6 into ink supply chamber 5. When the inflow of the ink causes the pressure inside ink supply chamber 5 to slightly increase, membrane valve seat 3 moves back toward valve body 20 by its elasticity and elastically contacts with valve body 20, whereby narrow gap 6a and membrane through hole 6 are closed by the lower surface of valve body 20. This prohibits ink from flowing from ink chamber 4 into ink supply chamber 5. As a result, the pressure at ink supply port 2 is maintained at a constant level irrespective of the amount of ink contained in the ink chamber 4. During the manufacturing and ink filling process, a negative pressure is applied to ink chamber 4 to exhaust air from cartridge 300. With ink supply port 2 being closed by filling seal 16, ink chamber 4 achieves a lower pressure than ink supply chamber 5. Thus, as shown in FIG. 6C, valve body 20 moves toward ink chamber 4 against force of spring 21 to form a filling gap 12a between membrane valve seat 3 and valve body 20, so that all air can be exhausted from the entire cartridge 300, irrespective of the existence of membrane valve seat 3 and valve body 20. This permits the entire cartridge 300 including ink supply chamber 5 to be filled with ink. In the foregoing third embodiment, an elastic member (spring 21) for bringing valve body 20 into contact with membrane valve seat 3 is incorporated in valve assembly 9'. Alternatively, in a fourth embodiment, like elements being designated by like reference numerals, an ink cartridge body 400 may be formed with a valve body 37, as shown in FIG. 7, which may be formed in a mushroom shape, such that a cap portion 37a functions as a positioning piece and as a stopper, and a spring 38, mounted at its periphery to the top surface of valve assembly 9", may be used to urge the top of valve body 37 toward membrane valve seat 3. Since valve body 37 and spring 38 can be mounted from the outside of valve assembly 9", the assembling work of the ink tank cartridge can be simplified. A through hole 9c is formed in valve assembly 9" communicating between ink chamber 4 and the space between the lower surface of valve assembly 9" and membrane valve seat 3. Reference is now made to FIG. 8 which depicts an ink cartridge 500 constructed in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the invention, like elements being designated by like reference numerals. While in the foregoing embodiments, the spring is arranged above the valve body, it is apparent that similar effects can be produced when ink cartridge 500 is separated into an ink chamber 42 and an ink supply chamber 43 by a partition 41 formed with a partition through hole 41a. Ink supply chamber 43 houses a membrane valve seat 44 and a valve body 46 comprising an elongated portion 46b extending through a membrane through hole 45 and head portion having a spherically formed lower surface 46a for sealing membrane through hole 45 formed through membrane valve seat 44. Elongated portion 46b extends from and perpendicular to lower surface 46a and penetrating membrane through hole 45 of membrane valve seat 44. Elongated portion 46b extends through and is supported on a spring 47 which always urges elongated portion 46b, and therefore valve body 46, in the direction of an ink supply port 49 and a guide hole 48, which receives the lower end of support member 46b to position valve body 46 in a vertical posture formed in a wall of the cartridge as shown in FIG. 8. Guide hole 48 is defined by an upwardly projecting annular wall 43a formed in a bottom wall 49a of ink cartridge 500. According to this fifth embodiment, since valve body 46 is always urged toward wall 49a, in which ink supply port 49 is formed, by spring 47 to maintain a stable posture, irrespective of any force generated by ink, ink can be stably supplied to the recording head irrespective of any vibrations or swinging motion of ink in cartridge 500 due to the movement of the carriage. In this embodiment, similar to those described above, when the pressure below membrane valve seat 44 is decreased due to ink being consumed during printing, membrane valve seat 44 moves toward ink supply port 49, thereby maintaining the pressure below valve seat 44. When elongated portion 46b engages the bottom of guide hole 48, the movement of valve body 46 is stopped. Thereafter, any additional consumption of ink moves membrane valve seat 44 away from lower surface 46a of support member 46, thereby exposing a membrane through hole 45, and allowing ink to pass therethrough. Reference is now made to FIG. 9 which depicts ink cartridge 600 constructed in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the invention, like elements being designated by like reference numerals. A level stabilizing membrane 50 is made of a soft porous membrane or lattice membrane which can move in conjunction with membrane valve seat 3 is provided. A porous member through hole 51 is formed through a region opposite valve body 8 of stabilizing membrane 50, and a lower end portion of valve body 8 is fit into porous member through hole 51. Stabilizing membrane 50 has its periphery secured to valve assembly 9 and a central portion thereof secured to valve body 8. When the pressure inside ink supply chamber 5 decreases as more ink is consumed during a printing operation, membrane valve seat 3 separates from valve body 8 so that ink in ink chamber 4 flows through porous member through hole 51 of level stabilizing membrane 50 into ink supply chamber 5. After an additional amount of ink has been consumed during printing operations and the level of ink in ink chamber 4 has been reduced to a level lower than the position of valve assembly 9, the ink in ink chamber 4 may violently swing near valve body 8 due to the movement of the carriage. However, since the ink passes through membrane through hole 6 of membrane valve seat 3 after fluctuations in pressure of the ink have been suppressed by level stabilizing membrane 50 as much as possible, the ink pressure on the recording head is maintained at a constant level irrespective of the amount of ink remaining in ink chamber 4. While in a number of the foregoing embodiments, an elastic member (valve body support member 11) is used to elastically maintain contact between the valve body 8 and membrane valve seat 3, the elastic member for elastically contacting valve body a with membrane valve seat 3 may be unnecessary if the elastic force of membrane valve seat-3 is actively utilized. Reference is now made to FIG. 10 which depicts an ink cartridge 700 constructed in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the invention, like elements being designed by like reference numerals. This seventh embodiment does not require an elastic member for elastically urging a valve body to maintain contact with a membrane valve seat. As shown in FIG. 10, a membrane valve seat 24 is formed with a membrane through hole 25 formed therein in a region opposing a valve body 28, hereinafter described, and has its periphery secured by a valve assembly 27. Valve body 28 is unmovably fixed to valve assembly 27 in a position perpendicular thereto. Ink chamber 4 is selectively maintained in fluid communication with ink supply chamber 5 via a communicating hole 29 in the form of a radial slit extending from valve body 28. When a pressure difference between ink chamber 4 and ink supply chamber 5 is equal to or less than a predetermined value, membrane valve seat 24, through its own elasticity, brings membrane through hole 25 into contact with valve body 28 to stop the outflow of ink from ink chamber 4 to ink supply chamber 5. On the other hand, if the pressure inside ink supply chamber 5 decreases, membrane valve seat 24 extends toward ink supply port 2 in the form of a spherical surface, whereby membrane through hole 25 is removed from contact with valve body 28, and accordingly ink flows from ink chamber 4 into ink supply chamber 5 via membrane through hole 25. After a sufficient amount of ink has been supplied to ink supply chamber 5 to raise the pressure inside ink supply chamber 5, membrane valve seat 24 elastically contacts with valve body 28, against the pressure difference between ink chamber 4 and ink supply chamber 5, to stop the outflow of ink from ink chamber 4 to ink supply chamber 5. Reference is now made to FIG. 11 which depicts an ink cartridge constructed in accordance with an eighth embodiment of the invention, like elements being designated by like reference numerals. The ink cartridge of this eighth embodiment prevents air from entering a recording head at the time the recording head has depleted all of the ink in the ink cartridge. In a connecting region between an ink supply port 52 and an ink supply chamber 53, a downwardly tapered conical valve seat 54 is formed. A spherical floating valve 55, which floats by a floating force produced by the buoyancy of spherical floating valve 55, is accommodated in conical valve seat 54. Further, the upper end of the conical valve seat 54 is covered with a valve retention plate 56, made of an ink transmissible material such as a screen, to complete a shielding valve. In FIG. 11, a membrane valve seat 57 is also arranged in selectable contact with a valve body 58 for controlling the flow of ink thereto from an ink chamber (not shown). When the ink cartridge is mounted on the recording head, floating valve 55 floats upward and is retained against valve retention plate 56 by a floating force to open ink supply port 52 through which ink is supplied to the recording head. As ink in the cartridge is consumed during printing operations, the level of ink in the cartridge is reduced in the vicinity of ink supply port 52. Floating valve 55 looses its floating force because of the absence of ink, and therefore comes into contact with valve seat 54 to close ink supply port 52 (as indicated by the broken line in FIG. 11). Even if printing is continued with the almost exhausted cartridge, the closed ink supply port 52 prohibits air from entering the recording head, thus preventing defective printing. Generally, an ink cartridge, once mounted on a recording head, is not removed until ink contained in the ink chamber is depleted. However, the ink cartridge may be removed from the recording head by an erroneous manipulation. If a once mounted cartridge is removed from the recording head, ink supply port 52 is open to the atmosphere and may allow air to enter the ink supply chamber and the ink chamber, which may adversely affect the flow of ink during the recording operation. Reference is now made to FIGS. 12A and 12B which depict an ink tank cartridge constructed in accordance with a ninth embodiment of the present invention, like elements being designated by like reference numerals. As shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the ink cartridge of this ninth embodiment prevents air from entering the cartridge if the ink cartridge is removed before it is depleted. A telescopical valve body 60 is arranged in an ink supply port 61, and is formed with an ink supply needle fitting hole 62 in its lower portion into which an ink supply needle 70 may be removably fitted. Valve body 60 is also formed with a communicating hole 64 for connecting an ink supply chamber 63 with ink supply needle fitting hole 62 when valve body 60 moves to an upward limited position. In this embodiment, before insertion of ink supply needle 70, as shown in FIG. 12A, valve body 60 which is formed with a radially extending, elastic periphery 60a, is maintained in elastic contact with a bottom surface 63a of ink supply chamber 63 by its elasticity to reliably prevent the outflow of ink from ink supply chamber 63. When ink supply needle 70 is inserted into fitting hole 62, valve body 60 is separated from bottom surface 63a of ink supply chamber 63 and extends to the upward limited position, while communicating hole 64 is exposed to ink supply chamber 63 (FIG. 12B). This causes ink supply chamber 63 to be placed in fluid communication with an ink passage 70a of ink supply needle 70 through communicating hole 64, and a needle communicating hole 70b, whereby ink in ink supply chamber 63 flows into ink supply needle 70 and is consequently supplied to the recording head. When the ink cartridge mounted on the recording head is removed, valve body 60 moves toward the bottom 63A of FIG. 12A to close ink supply port 61 and hence ink supply chamber 63. This prevents the outflow of ink from ink supply chamber 63 as well as the entrance of air into ink supply chamber 63. According to the present invention as described above, a container formed with an ink supply port in one of its walls is separated by a membrane valve seat made of an elastic thin membrane and formed with a through hole in the central portion thereof. An ink chamber is formed in the portion of the cartridge not adjacent the ink supply port, and an ink supply chamber is formed in the portion of the cartridge adjacent the ink supply port, and a valve body is positioned in opposition to the through hole. The membrane valve seat receives a pressure difference over a large area thereof because of the consumption of ink and allows ink to flow from the ink chamber in response to a small amount of consumed ink. Thus, the recording head can be supplied with ink without imparting excessive negative pressure on the recording head, and ink in the ink chamber can be discharged to the recording head without waste. Moreover, if the ambient temperature rises greatly or other environmental factors cause the pressure to increase while printing is not being performed, the membrane valve body displaces toward the ink chamber to release the pressure increased by the pressure rise inside the ink supply chamber communicating with the recording head to the ink chamber. It is therefore possible to prevent ink from leaking when the printer is not in use. Also, when the ink cartridge is mounted on the recording head, negative pressure suitable for printing is maintained between the recording head and the ink cartridge to ensure stable printing. Further, since the elasticity of the membrane valve seat ensures an airtight seal between the membrane valve seat and the valve body, the valve function can be reliably performed irrespective of any swinging motion or vibrations of ink in the ink chamber caused by the movement of the carriage, thus making it possible to maintain a pressure difference between the ink cartridge and the recording head irrespective of the movement of the carriage to achieve an improvement in printing quality. It will thus be seen that the aspects set forth above, and those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Claims: An ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: a container (1; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600) having an ink supply port (2) formed through a first wall (1a) of said container (1, 200; 300; 400; 500; 600); a membrane valve seat (3; 44; 24; 57) formed with a through hole (6; 45; 25;) therethrough; said membrane valve seat forming an ink chamber (4; 42) in a first portion of said container not adjacent said ink supply port (2), and an ink supply chamber (5; 43) in a second portion of said container (1; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600) adjacent said ink supply port (2); and a valve body (8; 20; 37; 46; 28; 58) positioned opposing said through hole (6; 45; 25) formed in said membrane valve seat (3; 44; 24; 57). The ink cartridge of claim 1, wherein said membrane valve seat (3; 44; 24; 57) is made of an elastic thin membrane. The ink cartridge of claim 1 or 2, wherein said valve body (8; 20; 37; 46; 28; 58) and said membrane valve seat adjacent said through hole (6; 45; 25) formed therein being maintained selectively in contact by a pressure difference between said ink chamber (4; 42) and said ink supply chamber (5; 43). The ink cartridge of one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said membrane valve seat (3; 44; 57) is expandable toward said ink supply chamber (5; 43) when the pressure inside said ink supply chamber (5; 43) is a predetermined value or more lower than the pressure inside said ink chamber (4; 42) to separate said membrane valve seat from said valve body (8; 20; 37; 46; 28; 58) to open communication between said ink chamber and ink supply chamber through said through hole (6; 45; 25). The ink cartridge of one of the preceding claims, wherein said through hole (6; 45; 25) is positioned in a central portion of said membrane valve seat (3; 44; 24; 57) and being expandable substantially in the form of a spherical surface protruding when said pressure inside said ink supply chamber (5; 43) is said predetermined value or more lower than the pressure inside said ink supply chamber (5; 43) is said predetermined value or more lower than the pressure inside said ink chamber (4; 42). The ink cartridge according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an elastic member is provided for bringing said valve body (8; 20; 37; 46; 28; 85) in contact with said membrane valve seat(3; 44; 24; 57). The ink cartridge according to claim 6, wherein said elastic member comprises an elastic membrane or a spring. The ink cartridge of one of the preceding claims, further comprising a retaining member for limiting the movement of said valve body to a predetermined distance. The ink cartridge of one of the preceding claims, further comprising a positioning piece (35; 36) for positioning said valve body essentially perpendicularly to said membrane valve seat at said through hole. The ink cartridge of one of the preceding claims, further comprising a level stabilizing membrane (50) made of an ink transmissible material which moves in conjunction with said membrane valve seat, said valve body extending therethrough. The ink cartridge of claim 10, wherein said valve body is secured to said level stabilizing membrane. The ink cartridge of one of claims 2 to 11, wherein said elastic thin membrane is formed as a rubber membrane or a polymeric elastomer membrane. The ink cartridge of one of the preceding claims, wherein said valve body (8; 20; 37) is secured to a valve assembly (9; 9' ; 9"). The ink cartridge of one of the preceding claims, further comprising: at least a second wall having an inside surface and an outside surface, said second wall being formed with an atmosphere communicating hole (14) formed therein and/or an elastic membrane (33) fixed to the inside surface of said second wall, said elastic membrane (33) being separated from said communicating hole (14) when ink does not impart pressure on said elastic membrane (33) and being forced into contact with said atmosphere communicating hole (14) when ink in said interior area imparts pressure on said elastic member (33), said elastic membrane (33) closing said communicating hole (14); and/or a capillary channel selectively maintaining fluid communication between said interior area of said container and ambient air. The ink cartridge of claim 14, wherein said capillary channel is formed by a narrow groove (31) formed in the surface of said second wall facing said interior area of said container, and/or said elastic membrane (33) defining a wall of said narrow groove (31) when ink in said interior area imparts pressure on said elastic membrane (33) to engage the surface of said second wall. The ink cartridge of one of the preceding claims, further comprising a sealing valve being positioned within said ink supply port (2), said sealing valve closing said ink supply port (2) when only a minimal amount of ink remains in said container. The ink cartridge of claim 16, wherein said sealing valve further comprises: a conical valve seat (54) having an open and a restricted end, said open end extending toward the interior of said chamber (53); a floating valve positioned in said open end of said conical valve seat (54); and a valve retaining plate (56) positioned adjacent said conical valve seat (54) and retaining said floating valve (55) in said open end of said valve seat (54). The ink cartridge of one of claims 1 to 15, further comprising: a sealing valve retained in said ink supply port (2), said sealing valve being formed with a communicating hole (64) formed therein, said sealing valve being displacable between a first position at which said sealing valve is biased to close said ink supply port (2) and a second position at which said ink supply port is placed in fluid communication with the interior of said container to permit flow of ink from the interior of said container, said sealing valve being positioned to be displacable from said first position to said second position when said ink cartridge is mounted on said ink jet recording apparatus. The ink cartridge of claim 18, wherein said sealing valve is dimensioned to receive an ink supply needle (70) when said ink cartridge is mounted on a recording head. The ink cartridge according to one of claims 1 to 19, further comprising: a valve assembly (9) positioned within said container (1) and positioned between said ink chamber (4) and said ink supply chamber (5), said valve assembly having a first surface and a second surface, said ink supply chamber (5) bounded by at least said first surface and said first wall (1a), said ink chamber (4) bounded by at least said second surface and a second wall (13) of said container (1) opposite from said first wall (1a) ; and an ink passage (10) extending through said valve assembly (9) from said first surface to said second surface. The ink cartridge according to claim 20, further comprising: a valve body support member (11) at least a portion thereof being made of an elastic member attached to said valve assembly (9). The ink cartridge according to claim 21 or 22, wherein said membrane valve seat (3) has distal ends attached to said first surface. The ink cartridge according to claims 21 or 22, wherein said valve body (8) is supported by said valve body support member (11) and extends from said valve body support member (11) to said membrane valve seat (3). The ink cartridge of claim 23, wherein said valve body (8) is movable between at least a first position and a second position while being supported by said valve body support member (11). An ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: a print head (101) for emitting ink droplets in accordance with print signals; an ink supply member engaging with said print head (101) ; and an ink cartridge according to one of claims 1 to 24 connecting to said print head (101) through said ink supply member.

Inventors: IIDA YUJI, IIDA, YUJI
Applicants: SEIKO EPSON CORP, SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Application year: 1995
Main classification: B41J2
IPC codes: B41J2, G05D16, F16K15