Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/JP5099510B2/en
Timestamp: 2019-12-05 17:39:39
Document Index: 761381916

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 30', 'art 30', 'art.\n4', 'art 41', 'art 45', 'art 45', 'art 30', 'art 30', 'art 30', 'art 30', 'art 13', 'art 14', 'art 17', 'art 18', 'art 23', 'art 24', 'art 25', 'art 27', 'art 30', 'art 31', 'art 33', 'art 34', 'art 35', 'art 39', 'art 40', 'art 42', 'art 50', 'art 52', 'art 53', 'art 67', 'art 69', 'art 71', 'art 100']

JP5099510B2 - Ink bag adapter, ink bag with adapter, and printing apparatus - Google Patents
Ink bag adapter, ink bag with adapter, and printing apparatus Download PDF
JP5099510B2
JP5099510B2 JP2008135902A JP2008135902A JP5099510B2 JP 5099510 B2 JP5099510 B2 JP 5099510B2 JP 2008135902 A JP2008135902 A JP 2008135902A JP 2008135902 A JP2008135902 A JP 2008135902A JP 5099510 B2 JP5099510 B2 JP 5099510B2
JP2008135902A
JP2009279876A (en
2008-05-23 Application filed by 株式会社セイコーアイ・インフォテック filed Critical 株式会社セイコーアイ・インフォテック
2008-05-23 Priority to JP2008135902A priority Critical patent/JP5099510B2/en
2009-12-03 Publication of JP2009279876A publication Critical patent/JP2009279876A/en
2012-12-19 Publication of JP5099510B2 publication Critical patent/JP5099510B2/en
The present invention relates to an ink bag adapter, an ink bag with an adapter, and a printing apparatus, for example, an adapter attached to an ink bag for storing ink jet ink.
For example, there is a large-sized inkjet printer that records (prints) characters, images, and the like by discharging ink onto a plastic sheet material or the like such as a department store banner advertisement or a signboard.
In this type of printer, ink is supplied by mounting a removable ink cartridge.
The ink cartridge is configured by storing ink in an ink bag (accommodating bag) made of a flexible sheet material and storing the ink bag in a cartridge case made of a resin hard case.
A recording medium on which information related to ink is recorded is attached to the ink bag, and the printer reads and makes a determination to prevent erroneous ink mounting.
By the way, since it is considered that the ink bag of ink takes various postures in the cartridge case due to gravity or inertia force, as shown in the following Patent Document 1, the position of the storage medium is corrected in the cartridge case. A technique for preventing the displacement of the storage medium is disclosed.
Japanese Patent No. 3838373
In this technology, a storage medium and a substrate for positioning the storage medium are attached to an ink bag, and a positioning hole formed in the substrate is fitted into a pin of the cartridge case, thereby positioning the storage medium with respect to the cartridge case. is there.
Conventionally, in order to fix a storage medium to a flexible ink bag, there is a problem that a strict position correction function is required at an interface portion connected to the storage medium, and the structure and manufacturing process are complicated.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to reliably position a storage medium with simple means.
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, an ink supply port fixing portion fixed to an ink supply port for supplying ink in an ink bag storing ink supplied to an ink discharge head is provided. An ink bag container fixing portion that is fixed to a predetermined portion of an ink bag container that accommodates the ink bag and is attached to the printing apparatus, and a joint that seals the ink bag on the ink supply port side of the ink bag A pressing portion that holds the ink bag by pressing a portion; and a storage medium that stores information about the ink in the fixed ink bag when held in the ink bag container. An ink bag adapter comprising: a medium holding unit.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, it is formed for each ink type of the fixed ink bag, and when the ink bag container is attached to the printing device, it is referred to as an uneven portion formed in the printing device. The ink bag adapter according to claim 1, further comprising an uneven portion.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the shape of the ink bag container fixing portion is formed for each ink type of the ink bag to be fixed, and the ink bag container fixing portion has a predetermined ink conforming to the shape. to provide an ink bag adapter according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that can be fixed to the bag container.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the ink bag container is attached to the printing apparatus, the positioning part is provided with a positioning part that is positioned by fitting with a fitting part formed in the printing apparatus. provides an ink bag adapter according to any one of claims of claims 1, characterized in that the fitting unit and the fitting which is formed in correspondence with the positioning portions to claim 3 .
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink bag storing ink to be supplied to the ink discharge head, and any one of the first to fourth aspects fixed to a predetermined portion of the ink bag. An ink bag with an adapter is provided.
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the ink bag container mounting means for mounting the ink bag container storing the ink bag with the adapter according to the fifth aspect , and the ink bag adapter fixed to the mounted ink bag container Whether or not to use the ink in the ink bag to which the ink bag adapter is fixed using the predetermined information acquisition means for acquiring the predetermined information related to the ink in the ink bag from the stored storage medium; A determination unit configured to determine; and a printing unit configured to discharge the ink stored in the ink bag from the ink discharge head onto a printing medium when printing is performed by the determination unit. A printing apparatus is provided.
According to the present invention, the storage medium can be easily and reliably positioned by fixing the storage medium to the ink bag adapter.
(1) Outline of Embodiment The ink cartridge 8 (FIG. 2B) includes an ink bag unit 20 and a tray 10.
The ink bag unit 20 is configured to be detachable from the tray 10. When the ink runs out, a new ink bag unit 20 can be mounted on the tray 10 and used.
Further, the ink bag unit 20 is configured by attaching an adapter unit 30 to a spout member 28 of the ink bag 21.
The adapter unit 30 holds a storage device that stores data relating to ink. When the adapter unit 30 is inserted into the adapter insertion unit 12 of the tray 10, the position of the storage device in the ink cartridge 8 is clearly determined.
As described above, the ink cartridge 8 can use the tray 10 as the equipment of the printing apparatus many times, and can distribute the ink bag unit 20 as a consumable item.
Since the storage device is attached to the adapter unit 30, when the ink cartridge 8 is attached to the printing device, the connection between the printing device and the storage device can be reliably and easily achieved.
(2) Details of Embodiment FIG. 1 illustrates the appearance of a printing apparatus 1 according to this embodiment.
The printing apparatus 1 is a type of printing apparatus called a so-called inkjet printer, and is used, for example, when printing advertisements or the like on a large plastic sheet.
The printing apparatus 1 includes a guide called a Y rail in the Y axis direction (longitudinal direction), and the carriage 2 moves along the Y rail.
A head (ink discharge head) is housed inside the carriage 2. The head includes a discharge mechanism using a piezoelectric element or the like, and ink can be discharged from the nozzles by driving the discharge mechanism.
The printing apparatus 1 can be loaded with a medium (recording medium) wound in a roll shape. The medium is composed of, for example, a plastic sheet.
Then, the printing apparatus 1 transports the medium onto the platen 3 using the feeding mechanism, and ejects ink of a predetermined color from the head onto the medium while sliding the carriage 2 in the Y-axis direction. Print various characters and pictures.
The media guide 6 has a built-in heater, and the printed medium is heated while sliding on the media guide 6 to solidify the ink.
An ink supply unit 5 is provided at one end of the printing apparatus 1, and a front cover 4 is provided on the front surface thereof so as to be openable and closable.
When the front cover 4 is opened, a slot for inserting an ink cartridge is provided, and ink is supplied to the printing apparatus 1 by inserting the ink cartridge therein.
The printing apparatus 1 includes one that supplies ink from an ink cartridge directly to a head through a pipe, and one that stores ink from an ink cartridge in a sub tank by a pump and supplies ink from the sub tank to the head.
Since the height difference between the ink cartridge and the head increases as the printing apparatus 1 becomes large, a method of appropriately adjusting the head values of the head and ink using a sub tank is generally used.
FIG. 2A is a diagram showing an example of the appearance of the ink cartridge 8.
The ink cartridge 8 is roughly composed of an ink bag unit 20 and a tray 10.
The ink cartridge 8 is inserted in the direction of the arrow A shown in the figure with respect to the ink supply unit 5 (FIG. 1).
A spout member 28 is provided at the center of the end of the ink cartridge 8 in the direction of arrow A (insertion direction).
In the center of the spout member 28, an ink supply port 25 for supplying ink is provided. The ink supply port 25 is sealed when not in use, but when the ink cartridge 8 is inserted into the ink supply unit 5, a needle formed in the ink supply unit 5 is pierced by the seal and breaks the ink. 1 is supplied.
On the other hand, at the end opposite to the direction of arrow A, a handle portion 18 is formed on which the user hands when pulling out the ink cartridge 8 from the ink supply unit 5.
Hereinafter, the side on which the spout member 28 is formed with respect to the ink cartridge 8 is referred to as a front portion, and the side on which the handle portion 18 is formed is referred to as a rear portion.
FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating the ink bag unit 20 removed from the tray 10.
The tray 10 and the ink bag unit 20 are detachable. The tray 10 is provided as a fixture provided in the printing apparatus 1 and repeatedly used. The ink bag unit 20 is provided as a consumable by an ink dealer. .
Conventionally, an ink cartridge in which an ink bag is attached to a tray is generally supplied from an ink vendor as a consumable, but in this embodiment, the ink bag unit 20 and the tray 10 are separated, Since the ink bag unit 20 may be replaced, the cost can be reduced.
The ink bag unit 20 includes an ink bag 21 (liquid storage bag) and an adapter unit 30 and functions as an ink bag with an adapter.
The ink bag 21 has an ink supply port 25 at one end and is a flexible sealed container. When the ink is fully filled, the ink bag 21 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped according to the shape of the tray 10. When it is consumed, it deforms so as to contract accordingly.
Examples of the material of the ink bag 21 include polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, nylon, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl alcohol, and copolymer ethylene vinyl alcohol in order to ensure strength, ink resistance, and gas barrier properties. A flexible sheet material made of at least one kind of resin film is used.
Furthermore, in order to secure stronger gas barrier properties, a metal foil such as aluminum or a metal vapor deposition film may be provided on the intermediate layer.
At the rear end portion of the ink bag 21, a flat-shaped rear end joint portion 26 in which a sheet material is sealed by heat welding or the like is formed. The rear end joint portion 26 has two fixing holes 27. Yes.
On the other hand, an adapter portion 30 is attached to the front end portion of the ink bag 21. The adapter unit 30 functions as an ink bag adapter, and its mounting method and structure will be described in detail later.
The tray 10 is a resin-made ink bag container (hard case) having a recess for storing the ink bag 21 and having rigidity, and supplies ink according to a guide formed in a slot of the ink supply unit 5 (FIG. 1 ). The unit 5 can be inserted.
As described above, the tray 10 functions as an ink bag container that accommodates ink bags and is attached to the printing apparatus, and also functions as a cartridge case.
Two fixing protrusions 11 are formed on the rear end portion of the tray 10 corresponding to the fixing holes 27, and the rear end portion of the ink bag 21 is positioned by engaging with the fixing holes 27 of the ink bag 21. This is to be fixed.
On the other hand, a slot-like adapter insertion portion 12 for inserting and fixing the adapter portion 30 is formed at the front end portion of the tray 10.
When the adapter portion 30 is inserted into the adapter insertion portion 12, the front end portion of the ink bag 21 is positioned and fixed with respect to the tray 10.
A concave portion 16 is formed in the front portion of the tray 10, and when the adapter portion 30 is attached to the adapter insertion portion 12, the spout member 28 is exposed in the insertion direction of the tray 10.
As will be described later, a storage device can be attached to the adapter unit 30, and an electrode hole is formed on the front surface of the tray 10 so that the electrode of the storage device is exposed and contacts the electrode of the printing device 1. 15 is provided.
Thus, since the adapter part 30 is positioned with respect to the tray 10, the electrode 102 is also positioned with respect to the tray 10. FIG.
In addition, when the ink cartridge 8 is inserted into the ink supply unit 5, the tray guide 14 that guides the ink cartridge 8 along the groove of the ink supply unit 5 or the ink cartridge 8 is attached to the tray 10. An abutting convex portion 13 that abuts against the ink supply unit 5, a tray fixing portion 17 that fixes the ink cartridge 8 at the abutting position, and the like are formed.
FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the adapter unit 30.
The front end portion of the ink bag 21 is formed with a flat front end joint portion 22 that is bonded and sealed by heat welding or the like, similarly to the rear end joint portion 26.
Thus, the ink bag 21 is a bag-like sealed container by sealing the front end portion and the rear end portion of the cylindrical sheet material.
A spout member 28 is attached to the center of the front end joint portion 22.
The spout member 28 is a substantially cylindrical tube member formed of resin or the like and having two openings. One opening constitutes the ink supply port 25, and the other opening is inside the ink bag 21. Is formed.
The ink in the ink bag 21 is supplied to the printing apparatus 1 from the ink supply port 25 via the spout member 28.
The front end joining portion 22 is fixed to the spout member 28 by heat welding or the like around the spout member 28, and the fixed portion includes a boat-shaped portion 29 curved into a cylindrical surface along the shape of the spout member 28. Forming.
A boundary portion 23 between the front end joint portion 22 and the boat-shaped portion 29 is a portion where the ink bag 21 is easily broken, and a method of reinforcing this portion will be described in a later modification.
A portion of the spout member 28 that protrudes from the ink bag 21 has a small flange 24 that has a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the spout member 28 and extends in the direction in which the front end joint portion 22 is formed. Yes.
The adapter unit 30 includes a stopper 50 and a collar member 31 that sandwich the spout member 28 in the vertical direction (the side facing the bottom of the ink bag 21 is the lower side).
The eaves member 31 is a substantially rectangular plate-shaped member, and the plate surface is perpendicular to the center line of the spout member 28 and the spout member 28 has a longitudinal direction in the direction in which the front end joint portion 22 is formed. It is attached.
A concave lower spout receiving portion 33 formed in a curved shape matching the outer peripheral surface of the spout member 28 and a small hook 24 inserted into the small hook portion 24 at the center of the hook member 31 are engaged. An insertion portion 39 is formed.
On the other hand, a concave upper spout receiving portion 52 formed in a curve that matches the outer peripheral surface of the spout member 28 also in the stopper 50, and a gavel insertion portion 51 that inserts the gavel portion 24 and engages the gavel portion 24. Is formed.
As shown in FIG. 3B, the stopper fixing claw 53 is formed on the stopper 50, and when the stopper 50 is attached to the flange member 31, the stopper fixing claw 53 engages with a recess (not shown) of the flange member 31. Thus, the stopper 50 is fixed to the flange member 31.
The stopper fixing claw 53 is located behind the collar member 31 and engages with the recess of the collar member 31 behind the collar member 31.
In the ink bag unit 20, the ink bag 21 is located behind the engaging portion, so that it is difficult to remove the stopper 50 by touching this portion. Thereby, unauthorized disassembly of the adapter unit 30 can be suppressed.
When the collar member 31 and the stopper 50 configured as described above are used to fix the collar member 31 from below the spout member 28 and the stopper 50 from above the spout member 28, the lower spout receiving portion 33 is secured. The upper spout receiving portion 52 restricts the movement of the spout member 28 in the direction perpendicular to the center line, and the gavel portion 24 engages with the gavel insertion portion 39 and the gavel insertion portion 51 to cause the center line The movement in the direction is restricted.
Thus, the spout member 28 can be fixed to the collar member 31 using the stopper 50, and the ink bag unit 20 in which the ink bag 21 and the adapter part 30 are integrated is formed.
As described above, in the adapter unit 30, the lower spout receiving unit 33, the upper spout receiving unit 52, the gavel insertion unit 51, and the like are provided at predetermined portions of the ink bag (ink supply port for supplying ink from the ink bag). The ink bag fixing portion functions as a fixed ink bag fixing portion, and the collar member 31 stores the ink bag and is fixed to a predetermined portion (adapter insertion portion 12) of the ink bag container to be mounted on the printing apparatus 1. It functions as a bag container fixing part.
4A shows a perspective view of the eaves member 31 as seen from the front, and FIG. 4B shows a perspective view of the eaves member 31 as seen from the rear.
A lower spout receiving portion 33 for fixing a spout member 28 (not shown) is formed at the upper center of the collar member 31, and ink is supplied from the ink supply port 25 below the lower spout receiving portion 33. An ink receiving portion 34 is formed to receive this when it drips.
A slit 43 is formed on one end side of the collar member 31 upward from the lower end, and thereby, a collar fixing portion 41 is formed on one end of the collar member 31.
The heel fixing part 41 can be in the front-rear direction, and a force to restore the original shape by its own elasticity acts.
When the hook member 31 is attached to the tray 10 (not shown), the fixing claws 42 formed on the front end side of the hook fixing portion 41 are engaged with the recesses of the tray 10 by the restoring force, and thereby the hook member 31 is engaged. Is fixed to the tray 10.
A hook fixing portion 41 is similarly formed on the other end side of the hook member 31, and the hook member 31 engages with the concave portion of the tray 10 on both ends.
Further, a slit 44 is provided on the lower end side of the flange member 31 so as to communicate with the slit 43 and is formed in the longitudinal direction of the flange member 31, and a repelling portion 45 is formed adjacent to the flange fixing portion 41. Yes.
The repulsion part 45 can be made into an up-down direction, and if it becomes so, the force which restores to an original shape will act by own elasticity.
When the eaves member 31 is attached to the tray 10, the repulsion part 45 is on the slit 44 side, and an elastic force acts in a direction to remove the eaves member 31 from the tray 10.
When the user removes the ink bag unit 20 from the tray 10, the removal is facilitated by this elastic force.
A similar repulsion portion is also formed on the other end side of the flange member 31, and a repulsive force acts on the flange member 31 at both ends.
A positioning marker 35a protruding forward from the plate surface of the flange member 31 is formed on one end side of the flange member 31, and a positioning hole 36a is formed in the protrusion direction in the positioning marker 35a.
The positioning hole 36 a is formed in a position and shape that fits with the protrusion on the printing apparatus 1 side when the ink cartridge 8 is inserted into the ink supply unit 5.
Further, a similar positioning marker 35b and positioning hole 36b are formed on the other end side of the collar member 31, and the position / shape of the positioning hole 36b is a position / shape in which the printing apparatus 1 is compatible with this protrusion. Yes.
If the position / shape of the positioning holes 36a, b do not match the position / shape of the protrusion of the printing apparatus 1, the protrusion on the printing apparatus 1 abuts the positioning markers 35a, 35b, and the ink cartridge 8 supplies ink. The unit 5 cannot be mounted.
Here, the positioning markers 35a and 35b are projected in order to prevent the projections from being damaged by forming the projections of the printing apparatus 1 with a short length.
As described above, in the printing apparatus 1, the ink cartridge 8 and the ink supply are made to correspond one-to-one with the position / shape of the positioning holes 36 a, b of the collar member 31 and the position / shape of the protrusion on the printing apparatus 1 side. The slots of the unit 5 are made to correspond one-to-one to prevent the ink cartridge 8 from being erroneously inserted.
Since the collar member 31 is directly attached to the ink bag 21, the kind of ink corresponding to the collar member 31 corresponds to one to one, and this mechanism can prevent erroneous attachment of different types of ink.
Here, the ink type (ink type) means, for example, an attribute for distinguishing the ink to be attached to the printing apparatus 1, and the color of ink such as magenta, UV (ultraviolet) ink, solvent ink, Ink material such as water-based ink corresponds to this.
In the present embodiment, the positions and shapes of the positioning holes 36a and 36b are made to correspond one-to-one with the ink material among the ink types, thereby preventing erroneous insertion due to the difference in the ink material of the ink cartridge 8. .
The ink color is prevented from being erroneously inserted by an ink color identification marker 40 described later.
As described above, the collar member 31 is formed for each ink type by associating the positioning holes 36a and 36b with the ink material and the ink color identification marker 40 with the ink color.
Note that this does not limit the collar member 31 to the positioning holes 36a and 36b corresponding to the ink material and the ink color identification marker 40 corresponding to the ink color, but the positioning holes 36a and 36b to the ink color. Various modifications are possible, such as making the ink color identification marker 40 correspond to the ink material.
The printing apparatus 1 determines the ink type and the like by an IC chip 101 to be described later, and detects erroneous insertion of the ink cartridge 8. However, the printing apparatus 1 detects the erroneous insertion by the IC chip 101 because the needle has already been detected. This is after the ink supply port 25 is stuck.
For this reason, in the present embodiment, the positioning holes 36a and 36b and the ink color identification marker 40 are used to prevent erroneous insertion before the needle pierces the ink supply port 25.
As described above, the printing apparatus 1 includes the fitting portions that are fitted to the positioning holes 36a and 36b, and the positioning holes 36a and 36b of the flange member 31 are provided when the ink bag container is attached to the printing apparatus 1. It functions as a positioning portion that is positioned by fitting with a fitting portion formed in the printing apparatus.
And the said positioning part is comprised so that it may fit with the fitting part formed corresponding to the said positioning part.
Further, since there are two positioning holes 36a and 36b, it is possible to prepare as many scissors members 31 as the number of combinations of these positions and shapes, and the number of ink cartridges 8 increases due to other types of ink. Even in this case, the ink cartridge 8 corresponding to this can be prepared.
Between the lower spout receiving portion 33 and the positioning hole 36b, a storage device mounting portion 32 for mounting the storage device 100 is provided.
The storage device attachment portion 32 is formed by forming a recess from the back side of the collar member 31 (that is, the side to which the ink bag 21 is attached). On the bottom surface of the recess, the electrode 102 of the storage device 100 is the surface of the collar member 31. An opening 38 is formed so as to be exposed to the side.
The storage device 100 is configured by disposing an IC chip 101 and an electrode 102 on a substrate.
The IC chip 101 incorporates a readable / writable storage medium such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable ROM), and stores information about ink in the ink bag 21 to which the collar member 31 is attached.
Information related to the ink includes, for example, information for specifying the ink by the printing apparatus 1 such as the color, type, manufacturer, and date of manufacture of the ink, and the remaining amount of ink to be written as a record by the printing apparatus 1. There is information for managing ink.
When the ink cartridge 8 is installed, the printing apparatus 1 accesses the IC chip 101, determines whether or not the correct ink is installed, and issues a warning if the ink is not correct. It has a function to prevent.
The electrode 102 is connected to the electrode of the IC chip 101 and is in contact with the electrode on the printing apparatus 1 side so that the IC chip 101 and the printing apparatus 1 can transmit and receive electrical signals.
In the case of the method of attaching the storage device 100 to the ink bag 21 as in the prior art, since the position of the storage device 100 is not clearly determined, it is necessary to use a non-contact type IC chip. In this embodiment, since the storage device 100 is fixed to the collar member 31, the position of the electrode 102 with respect to the electrode of the printing device 1 is clearly determined, and the contact electrode 102 can be used.
As described above, when the adapter unit 30 is fixed to the ink bag container, the storage device attachment unit 32 puts the storage medium (storage device 100) that stores information about the ink in the fixed ink bag at a predetermined position. It functions as a storage medium holding unit for holding.
In the case of the non-contact type, it is necessary to provide the printing apparatus 1 with a reader / writer or the like that wirelessly transmits and receives electrical signals. However, in this embodiment, this is not necessary, and thus the cost can be reduced.
In the present embodiment, the contact type electrode 102 connects the IC chip 101 and the printing apparatus 1, but a non-contact type is also possible.
Further, in the case of the method of attaching the storage device 100 to the ink bag 21 as in the prior art, when the ink bag 21 is dropped and collides with the floor from the storage device 100, the weight of the ink bag 21 is the storage device 100. In this embodiment, since the storage device 100 is fixed to the inside of the collar member 31 (the ink bag 21 side), even if it is dropped, the storage device 100 may be damaged. It is possible to prevent the device 100 from being directly impacted.
The IC chip 101 is attached to the storage device attachment portion 32 from the rear side of the flange member 31 and is screwed.
In the ink bag unit 20, the ink bag 21 is positioned behind the storage device attachment portion 32, and thus it is difficult to remove the storage device 100 by removing the screws of the storage device 100. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the alteration that by the replacement of the IC chip 101.
Further, an ink color identification marker 40 including a plurality of protrusions (pins) is formed at the lower end of the collar member 31.
A plurality of (for example, eight) ink color identification markers 40 are formed. In the manufacturing process of the ink bag unit 20, for example, the ink color is first from the left if the ink color is black, and second if the ink color is yellow. The one corresponding to is folded.
By this manufacturing process, the ink bag unit 20 lacking the corresponding ink color identification marker 40 is formed.
The ink color identification marker 40 that is not folded passes through a marker insertion hole (described later) formed on the bottom surface of the tray 10 and protrudes from the bottom surface of the tray 10.
On the other hand, the slot of the ink supply unit 5 provided in the printing apparatus 1 is provided with a protrusion corresponding to the missing ink color identification marker 40 when the ink cartridge 8 is mounted, and the ink cartridge 8 of a different color is provided in the slot. Is inserted so that the convex portion of the slot abuts against the ink color identification marker 40 and cannot be inserted.
In the above, the concave portion is provided in the collar member 31 by folding the ink color identification marker 40, and the convex portion corresponding to this is provided in the slot of the ink supply unit 5, but conversely, the convex portion is provided in the collar member 31. It is also possible to provide a recess that coincides with this on the slot side.
Thus, the adapter unit 30 is formed for each ink type of the ink bag to be fixed by the ink color identification marker 40, and when the ink bag container (tray 10) is attached to the printing device 1, the printing device 1. Are provided with an uneven portion that is referred to as an uneven portion.
FIG. 5A is a view showing the marker insertion hole 19 of the ink cartridge 8 as viewed from the upper surface of the tray 10.
As shown in the figure, a marker insertion hole 19 through which the ink color identification marker 40 penetrates is formed on the bottom surface of the tray 10 corresponding to the ink color identification marker 40 before folding.
When the ink bag unit 20 is attached to the tray 10, the uncolored one of the ink color identification markers 40 protrudes from the bottom surface of the tray 10 as shown in FIG.
For this reason, when an ink cartridge 8 of a different color is inserted into the slot of the ink supply unit 5, the convex portion on the printing apparatus 1 side comes into contact with the protruding ink color identification marker 40. Can not be attached to. Thereby, erroneous mounting of the ink cartridge 8 can be prevented.
In this way, when the marker insertion holes 19 corresponding to the number of the ink color identification markers 40 before folding are formed and the ink color identification markers 40 are penetrated through these holes, the tray 10 is common to all colors. The manufacturing cost of the tray 10 can be reduced. In addition, the user's management effort for the tray 10 can be reduced.
It is also possible to form the marker insertion hole 19 as one hole without forming the marker insertion hole 19 corresponding to each ink color identification marker 40.
As described above, the adapter unit 30 (FIG. 2B) is provided with the ink supply port 25, the positioning markers 35a and 35b, and the electrode 102 of the IC chip 101 on the front surface, and the ink bag 21 on the lower end. There is provided an ink color identification marker 40 that indicates the ink color of the contents.
On the other hand, the tray 10 has an opening corresponding to the configuration provided on the front surface and a position corresponding to the ink color identification marker 40 before folding, and the adapter portion 30 is inserted into the adapter insertion portion 12. When the fixing protrusion 11 is engaged with the fixing hole 27, the ink cartridge 8 is completed.
Next, a modified example of the ink color identification marker 40 will be described.
In the above description, the ink color identification marker 40 is matched with the convex portion formed in the slot of the ink supply unit 5, but in this modification, the marker insertion hole 19 corresponding to the ink color identification marker 40 is formed in the tray 10. Then, the ink bag unit 20 and the tray 10 are made to correspond one-to-one.
In this case, in the manufacturing process of the ink bag unit 20, the ink color identification marker 40 other than the ink color identification marker 40 corresponding to the ink color is folded and removed.
On the other hand, the tray 10 is provided with a marker insertion hole 19 at a position corresponding to the ink color identification marker 40 that is not folded corresponding to the ink color.
Thereby, it is possible to prevent the ink bag unit 20 of different colors from being attached to the tray 10 by the ink color identification marker 40.
In addition, if a concave portion that coincides with the ink color identification marker 40 protruding from the tray 10 is provided on the slot side, it is possible to prevent erroneous mounting of the ink cartridge 8 in the slot.
As described above, the shape of the ink bag container fixing portion (the collar member 31) is formed for each ink type of the ink bag by the ink color identification marker 40, and the ink bag container fixing portion conforms to the shape. Can be fixed to a predetermined ink bag container (tray 10).
The following effects can be obtained by the present embodiment configured as described above.
(1) Since the ink bag unit 20 can be detached from the tray 10, the ink bag unit 20 can be used as a consumable and the tray 10 can be reused, thereby suppressing the price of ink provided to the user. Can do.
(2) Since the storage device 100 is attached to the adapter unit 30, the position of the storage device 100 is clearly determined by the ink cartridge 8. For this reason, a contact-type electrode can be used for the printing apparatus 1.
(3) Since the storage device 100 is attached to the inside of the adapter unit 30 in the ink cartridge 8, the storage device 100 has sufficient resistance against external impacts.
(4) The ink cartridge 8 and the slot are made to correspond to each other in a one-to-one correspondence by providing the adapter section 30 with the ink color identification marker 40 lacking for each color and providing the convex section that matches the ink color identification marker 40 missing in the slot. In this way, erroneous ink mounting can be prevented.
(5) The ink bag unit 20 and the tray 10 are made to correspond to each other one by one by providing the adapter portion 30 with the ink color identification marker 40 protruding for each color and providing the tray 10 with the marker insertion hole 19 that matches this. As a result, erroneous ink mounting can be suppressed.
(6) By providing the positioning markers 35a and 35b on the adapter unit 30, the slot of the ink supply unit 5 and the ink cartridge 8 can be made to correspond one-to-one, thereby preventing erroneous ink mounting. .
The printing apparatus 1 includes an ink bag container mounting means (ink supply unit 5) for mounting an ink bag container storing an ink bag with an adapter, and a storage medium held by an ink bag adapter fixed to the ink bag container. Predetermined information acquisition means for acquiring information related to the ink in the ink bag from the (storage device 100) by the electrode 102, and the ink in the ink bag to which the ink bag adapter is fixed using the predetermined information acquired thereby A determination unit that determines whether or not to use the printer and a printing unit that discharges the ink stored in the ink bag from the ink discharge head onto the print medium when printing is performed by the determination unit. Yes.
For example, if the ink bag 21 is dropped and applied with a large impact, the boundary portion 23 (FIG. 3A), the front end joint portion 22, or the boat-shaped portion 29 may be torn.
In particular, the boundary portion 23 is the weakest portion of these, and how to reinforce these portions is extremely important from the viewpoint of stable supply of the ink bag unit 20.
Therefore, in this modification, the reinforcement is performed by sandwiching these portions.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the ink bag unit 20a according to this modification as viewed obliquely from the rear.
The configuration of the ink bag 21 a is the same as that of the ink bag 21. The ink bag 21a is not formed with the rear end joint portion 26 (FIG. 2B) on the rear side of the bag, but may be configured to form the rear end joint portion 26.
The adapter portion 30a is attached in front of the ink bag 21a, and holds the front end joint portion 22 (FIG. 3A) from above and below with the stopper 50a and the flange member 31a.
Fig.7 (a) is the perspective view which showed the structure of the adapter part 30a, and has shown the place which looked at the adapter part 30a from the front.
The stopper 50a has a shape in which both ends of the stopper 50 (FIG. 3B) are extended in the longitudinal direction of the flange member 31a, and a stopper fixing claw 53b is formed on the front surface.
When the stopper 50a is attached to the flange member 31a, the stopper fixing claw 53b engages with the recess 61 formed in the flange member 31a.
FIG.7 (b) is the perspective view which showed the place which decomposed | disassembled the adapter part 30a, and has shown the place which looked at the adapter part 30a from back.
Stopper fixing claws 53a are formed at both ends of the stopper 50a. When the stopper 50a is attached to the flange member 31a, the stopper fixing claws 53a engage with the jaws 62 at the end of the flange member 31a. ing.
The saddle member 31a is formed in the shape of a boat-shaped portion 29, which is formed in the shape of a joint portion pressing portion 67 that projects rearward from the plate surface of the saddle member 31 and makes surface contact with the front end joint portion 22 (FIG. 3A). A boat-shaped presser 69 that contacts the portion 29 is formed.
On the other hand, a pressing portion 71 having a shape corresponding to the bonding portion pressing portion 67 and the boat-shaped pressing portion 69 is formed at a portion that opposes the bonding portion pressing portion 67 and the boat-shaped pressing portion 69 of the stopper 50a.
When the stopper 50a is fixed to the saddle member 31a, the front end joint portion 22 and the boat-shaped portion 29 of the ink bag 21a are sandwiched and pressed between the joint-portion pressing portion 67, the boat-shaped pressing portion 69, and the pressing portion 71. It has come to be.
As described above, these members function as pressing portions that are clamped by pressing the joint portion that seals the ink bag.
Note that a cushion member such as rubber is provided on the surfaces of the joint pressing portion 67 and the boat-shaped pressing portion 69, and the cushion member is bent by the urging force of the pressing portion 71, so that the entire front end joint portion 22 is spread. It can be clamped with uniform force and has an anti-slip function.
The stopper 50a can be screwed to the flange member 31a in a direction in which the front end joint portion 22 is pressed, and the front end joint portion 22 can be clamped with a sufficient urging force by tightening by this screwing. .
The ink bag 21a sandwiches the entire edge of the ink bag 21a from the boat-shaped portion 29 to the front-end joint portion 22 by the stopper 50a and the collar member 31a, thereby increasing the strength of the boundary portion 23, the front-end joint portion 22 and the boat-shaped portion 29. Can be reinforced.
In particular, the boundary portion 23 at the boundary between the front end joint portion 22 and the boat-shaped portion 29 is the weakest in strength, and the boundary portion 23 can be effectively reinforced by sandwiching the boundary portion 23 and its vicinity.
In addition, about the other function of the collar member 31a and the stopper 50a, it is the same as that of the collar member 31 and the stopper 50 of embodiment described previously.
The following effects can be obtained by the modification described above.
(1) By sandwiching the front end joint portion 22 and the boat-shaped portion 29, even when a large force is applied to these portions due to, for example, dropping, the portions can be prevented from being broken.
(2) Sufficient urging force can be obtained by screwing the stopper 50a to the flange member 31a in the direction in which the front end joint portion 22 is sandwiched.
(3) By sandwiching the front end joint portion 22 via the cushion member, the front end joint portion 22 can be sandwiched with a uniform force, and an anti-slip function can be exhibited.
2 illustrates an appearance of a printing apparatus. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of an ink cartridge. It is the figure which showed the structure etc. of the adapter part. It is the figure which showed the external appearance of the eaves member. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a marker insertion hole of an ink cartridge. It is the figure which showed the ink bag unit which concerns on a modification. It is the figure which showed the structure etc. of the adapter part which concerns on a modification.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printing apparatus 2 Carriage 3 Platen 4 Front cover 5 Ink supply unit 6 Media guide 8 Ink cartridge 10 Tray 11 Fixing protrusion 12 Adapter insertion part 13 Abutting convex part 14 Tray guide 15 Electrode hole 16 Recessed part 17 Tray fixing part 18 Handle part DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 19 Marker insertion hole 20 Ink bag unit 21 Ink bag 22 Front end junction part 23 Boundary part 24 Small collar part 25 Ink supply port 26 Rear end junction part 27 Fixing hole 28 Spout member 29 Boat-shaped part 30 Adapter part 31 Anchor member 32 Storage device attachment Part 33 Lower spout receiving part 34 Ink receiving part 35a, 35b Positioning marker 36a, 36b Positioning hole 38 Opening part 39 Gavel insertion part 40 Ink color identification marker 41 Hail fixing part 42 Fixing claw 43 Slit 44 Slit 45 Repulsion part 50 Stop Pa 51 Gavel insertion part 52 Upper spout receiving part 53a, 53b Stopper fixing claw 61 Recess 62 Jaw part 67 Joint part pressing part 69 Boat-shaped pressing part 71 Holding part 100 Storage device 101 IC chip 102 Electrode
An ink supply port fixed portion to affix the ink supply port for supplying ink in the ink bag that stores ink to be supplied to the ink jet head,
An ink bag container fixing portion that stores the ink bag and is fixed to a predetermined portion of an ink bag container that is mounted on a printing apparatus;
A pressing portion for holding the ink bag by pressing a joint portion that seals the ink bag on the ink supply port side of the ink bag;
A storage medium holding unit that holds, in a predetermined position, a storage medium that stores information about ink in the fixed ink bag when fixed to the ink bag container;
An ink bag adapter comprising:
It is formed for each ink type of the ink bag to be fixed, and when the ink bag container is attached to the printing apparatus, it has an uneven part that is the same as the uneven part formed in the printing apparatus. The ink bag adapter according to claim 1 .
The shape of the ink bag container fixing portion is formed for each ink type of the ink bag to be fixed, and the ink bag container fixing portion can be fixed to a predetermined ink bag container conforming to the shape. The ink bag adapter according to claim 1 or 2 .
When the ink bag container is attached to the printing apparatus, the ink bag container is provided with a positioning part that is positioned by fitting with a fitting part formed in the printing apparatus,
The ink bag adapter according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the positioning portion is fitted with a fitting portion formed corresponding to the positioning portion. .
An ink bag storing ink to be supplied to the ink discharge head;
An ink bag adapter according to any one of claims of claims 1 fixed to a predetermined portion of said ink bag to claim 4,
An ink bag with an adapter, comprising:
Ink bag container mounting means for mounting an ink bag container containing the adapter-equipped ink bag according to claim 5 ;
Predetermined information acquisition means for acquiring predetermined information about ink in the ink bag from a storage medium held in an ink bag adapter fixed to the mounted ink bag container;
Determining means for determining whether to use the ink in the ink bag to which the ink bag adapter is fixed, using the acquired predetermined information;
Printing means for discharging and printing the ink stored in the ink bag from the ink discharge head onto the print medium when the determination means determines that the ink bag is used;
JP2008135902A 2008-05-23 2008-05-23 Ink bag adapter, ink bag with adapter, and printing apparatus Active JP5099510B2 (en)
JP2008135902A JP5099510B2 (en) 2008-05-23 2008-05-23 Ink bag adapter, ink bag with adapter, and printing apparatus
US12/454,572 US8220909B2 (en) 2008-05-23 2009-05-19 Ink bag adapter, adapter-equipped ink bag, and printing apparatus
EP20090160939 EP2127884B1 (en) 2008-05-23 2009-05-22 Ink bag adapter, adapter-equipped ink bag, and printing apparatus
CN 200910142779 CN101585265B (en) 2008-05-23 2009-05-22 Ink bag adapter, adapter-equipped ink bag, and printing apparatus
JP2009279876A JP2009279876A (en) 2009-12-03
JP5099510B2 true JP5099510B2 (en) 2012-12-19
ID=40908650
JP2008135902A Active JP5099510B2 (en) 2008-05-23 2008-05-23 Ink bag adapter, ink bag with adapter, and printing apparatus
US (1) US8220909B2 (en)
EP (1) EP2127884B1 (en)
JP (1) JP5099510B2 (en)
CN (1) CN101585265B (en)
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WO2006072038A1 (en) 2004-12-31 2006-07-06 E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Ink bag assembly
2008-05-23 JP JP2008135902A patent/JP5099510B2/en active Active
2009-05-19 US US12/454,572 patent/US8220909B2/en active Active
2009-05-22 EP EP20090160939 patent/EP2127884B1/en active Active
2009-05-22 CN CN 200910142779 patent/CN101585265B/en active IP Right Grant
EP2127884A2 (en) 2009-12-02
US20090290001A1 (en) 2009-11-26
EP2127884B1 (en) 2013-11-06
CN101585265B (en) 2013-08-14
EP2127884A3 (en) 2010-09-08
JP2009279876A (en) 2009-12-03
US8220909B2 (en) 2012-07-17
CN101585265A (en) 2009-11-25
EP0729836B1 (en) 2002-11-13 Ink cartridge
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