Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7278722?dq=6,240,376
Timestamp: 2014-11-29 04:12:08
Document Index: 461649761

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 2003', 'Application No. 2003', 'Application No. 2003', 'Application No. 2003', 'Application No. 2004', 'Application No. 2004', 'Application No. 2004', 'Application No. 2004', 'Application No. 2004', 'Application No. 2004', 'Application No. 2004', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 60', 'art 60', 'art 60', 'art 60', 'art 60', 'art 60', 'art 60', 'art 46', 'art 46', 'art 46', 'art 46', 'art 46', 'art 46', 'art 46', 'art 46', 'art 46', 'art 33', 'art 33', 'art 33', 'art 33', 'art 46', 'art 46', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 60', 'art 60', 'art 60', 'art 60', 'art 60', 'art 60', 'art 60', 'art 60', 'art 60', 'art 60', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 60', 'art 60', 'art 60', 'art 61', 'art 60', 'art 60', 'art 60', 'art 46', 'art 3', 'art 46', 'art 60', 'Application No. 6']

Patent US7278722 - Ink cartridge - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsAn ink cartridge includes an ink chamber, an air introduction opening that introduces air inside the ink chamber, a first sealing member that is capable of blocking and allowing communication between the air introduction opening and an area outside of the ink cartridge, an ink supply opening that supplies...http://www.google.com/patents/US7278722?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7278722 - Ink cartridgeAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7278722 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 11/052,957Publication dateOct 9, 2007Filing dateFeb 9, 2005Priority dateNov 25, 2003Fee statusPaidAlso published asUS7997700, US20050146579, US20060001717Publication number052957, 11052957, US 7278722 B2, US 7278722B2, US-B2-7278722, US7278722 B2, US7278722B2InventorsToyonori Sasaki, Atsuhiro Takagi, Shingo Hattori, Tomohiro KanbeOriginal AssigneeBrother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (32), Referenced by (38), Classifications (12), Legal Events (2) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetInk cartridgeUS 7278722 B2Abstract An ink cartridge includes an ink chamber, an air introduction opening that introduces air inside the ink chamber, a first sealing member that is capable of blocking and allowing communication between the air introduction opening and an area outside of the ink cartridge, an ink supply opening that supplies ink from the ink chamber, a second sealing member that is capable of blocking and allowing communication between the ink supply opening and the area outside of the ink cartridge, and a check valve provided between the second sealing member and the ink chamber, wherein the check valve blocks a flow of the ink in the ink supply opening from the area outside of the ink supply opening toward the ink chamber.
an air introduction opening for introducing air to an inside of the ink chamber;
a first sealing member that can be operated to obstruct or allow communication between the air introduction opening and an outside of the ink cartridge;
an ink supply opening for supplying ink from the ink chamber to the outside of the ink cartridge;
a second sealing member that can be operated to obstruct or allow communication between the ink supply opening and the outside of the ink cartridge; and
a check valve provided between the second sealing member and the ink chamber, wherein the check valve prevents flow of ink through the ink supply opening toward the ink chamber.
2. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the air introduction opening and the ink supply opening are formed on one side of the ink chamber.
3. The ink cartridge according to claim 2, wherein:
the air introduction opening is in direct communication with a first chamber defined by a first substantially cylindrical wall on a first side of the ink chamber;
the ink supply opening is in direct communication with a second chamber defined by a second substantially cylindrical wall on the first side of the ink chamber; and
the first sealing member is provided in the first chamber to control communication between the air introduction opening and the outside of the ink cartridge, and the second sealing member is provided in the second chamber to control communication between the ink supply opening and the outside of the ink cartridge.
4. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the check valve does not prevent flow of ink through the ink supply opening away from the ink chamber.
5. The ink cartridge according to claim 3, wherein:
the check valve comprises a shaft portion and a film portion, the film portion being positioned to face the ink supply opening at a predetermined distance from the ink supply opening; and
when ink flows from an area outside of the ink chamber toward the ink supply opening, the film portion moves toward and obstructs the ink supply opening.
6. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the first sealing member and the second sealing member are valve systems each comprising a valve seat and a valve movable relative to the valve seat.
7. The ink cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the valve system of the first sealing member further comprises an operation member that extends from the valve toward the outside of the ink cartridge and the operation member can be operated to move the valve relative to the valve seat.
the check valve comprises a shaft portion, a film portion at an end of the shaft portion and a protruding portion;
the protruding portion is located on an ink chamber-side of the ink supply opening; and
the film portion moves toward the ink supply opening when ink flows from an area outside of the ink chamber toward the ink supply opening.
9. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the first sealing member allows communication between the air introduction opening and the outside of the ink cartridge and the second sealing member allows communication between the ink supply opening and the outside of the ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is installed in an inkjet recording apparatus.
10. The ink cartridge according to claim 9, wherein the ink chamber is depressurized before the ink cartridge is installed in the inkjet recording apparatus.
11. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein when a predetermined amount of ink flows from an area outside of the ink chamber toward the ink supply opening, the check valve obstructs the ink supply opening.
This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-394324, filed Nov. 25, 2003, Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-394323, filed Nov. 25, 2003, Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-409077, filed Dec. 8, 2003, Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-409640, filed Dec. 8, 2003, Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-031712, filed Feb. 9, 2004, Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-032872, filed Feb. 10, 2004, Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-043978, filed Feb. 20, 2004, Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-047768, filed Feb. 24, 2004, Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-053164, filed Feb. 27, 2004, Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-060456, filed Mar. 4, 2004, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-063659, filed Mar. 8, 2004, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
This application is a Continuation-in-Part Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/991,852, filed Nov. 19, 2004. The entire disclosure of the prior application is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
BACKGROUND There exists an inkjet recording apparatus, in Japanese Laid Open Patent Application No. H9-85963, that is structured to allow the attachment and detachment of an ink container (hereinafter referred to as an ink cartridge). The ink jet recording apparatus includes two rooms for holding the ink cartridge. Each room is filled with a porous material, and projection portions are formed that project upwardly from an upper end of the two rooms. One of the rooms includes a porous material that is connected to an air introduction opening, and the lower surface of the porous material of the other room is connected to an ink supply opening.
SUMMARY A negative pressure exists inside the ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is in a package. When initialing installing the ink cartridge, if a valve for the ink supply opening opens before a valve for the air introduction opening, the ink reserved on the recording apparatus side reverse flows into the ink cartridge. The ink in the ink cartridge is maintained in a deaeration state, and the state cannot be maintained if the ink that has been discharged is brought back. Moreover, the meniscus of the ink formed inside the nozzles of a recording head is destroyed as the ink is pulled towards the ink cartridge. As a result, there has been a problem that ink cannot be discharged.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the following figures, wherein:
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of this disclosure is described below with reference to the attached drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary ink cartridge 1 according to this disclosure and an exemplary inkjet recording apparatus 2 according to this disclosure on which the ink cartridge 1 is mounted.
The ink cartridge 1 is installed from a direction (arrow X direction) perpendicular to, the installation part 3. At this time, the ink extraction tube 12 opens a later-described valve system 23 provided inside the ink cartridge 1 and communicates with the inside of the ink chamber 16. In addition, the air supply opening 91 communicates with the inside of the ink chamber 16.
The ink cartridge 1 is includes the main body case 1 a with the ink chamber 16, the top 1 b that covers the open upper surface of the main body case 1 b, and a cap member 1 f that covers a bottom wall 1 e of the main body case 1 a. On the cap member 1 f, two exposing holes 1 fa, 1 fb that expose the later-described valve systems 23, 24 on the installation part 3 side are formed. The ink cartridge 1 is formed with the top 1 b and the cap member 1 f being fused with the main body case 1 a. The material for the main body case 1 a, the top 1 b and the cap member 1 f maybe a resin material.
A check valve 60 is positioned in and facing the ink supply opening 21. The check valve 60 is structured by integrally forming an umbrella-shaped elastic film part 60 b facing a lower surface of the ink supply opening 21, and a shaft part 60 c, an end of which holds the film part 60 b, with a synthetic material. The shaft part 60 c is inserted into a shaft hole 1 n in the bottom wall 1 e slidably in the up/down direction. Normally, an protruding part 60 a is in contract with the top surface of the bottom wall 1 e at a position where the film part 60 b is spaced from the ink supply opening 21 to allow the flow of the ink from the ink chamber 16 towards a valve member 32. When the ink flows from the ink extraction tube 12 towards the ink chamber 16, the flow is prevented by raising the film part 60 b and sealing the ink supply opening 21.
The valve system 23 is equipped with a support member 46 produced integrally by a rubber elastic member, and a valve member 32 structured by a resin material. The support member 46 has a substantially cylindrical outer shape and is structured by integrally forming a valve seat part 46 a and an urging part 46 b that is closer to the ink chambers 16 relative to the valve seat part 46 a, and an external wall 33 positioned on a side of the valve seat part 46 a opposite the urging part 46 b. The valve member 32 is urged in a direction toward the valve seat part 46 a by the urging part 46 b and is accommodated in a space between the valve seat part 46 a and the urging part 46 b. The external wall 33 has an attachment part 33 a projecting radially outwardly. The communication chamber 30 has a stepped surface 44 which has a diameter that increases towards the outside to accommodate the attachment part 33 a. Protrusions 43 are formed on a surface of the attachment part 33 a facing the stepped surface 44. By pressing the protrusions 43 onto the stepped surface 44 and placing the attachment part 33 a between the stepped surface 44 and the cap member 1 f while deforming the protrusions 43, the cap member 1 f is fixed to the main body case 1 a. As a result, the ink is prevented from flowing out from the space formed between the external wall 33 of the valve system 23 and the inner wall of the communication chamber 30.
The cylindrical portion 66 has a cylindrical shape raised from the bottom portion 57. When the ink cartridge 1 is correctly installed in the installation portion 3, the cylindrical portion 66 is positioned with a space between the top end of the cylindrical portion 66 and the inner surface of the cylindrical member 25, and secures the communication between the ink chamber 16 and the opening 41 of the valve seat part 46 a, even if the valve member 65 is pushed up from the valve seat part 46 a. The operation member 67 is a protrusion extending vertically and downwardly from the bottom portion 57, and is formed with a circular outer shape 67 a and concaves 67 b that extend in a radially and axial direction. The operation member 67 extends downwardly through the opening 41 of the support member 46 and has the lower end positioned slightly above the lower end of the seal portion 63. The cross-sectional area of the air path between the opening 41 and the concaves 67 b can be made large by the cave-in 67 b. FIGS. 5A-6B show the details of the installation part 3. On the air supply side, an indentation 3 d is positioned on the base portion 3 a of the installation part 3 at a position facing the valve system 24. The indentation 3 d has a side for the seal portion 63 to engage when the ink cartridge 1 is installed. On the bottom of the indentation 3 d, an air supply opening 91 is formed through a wall structuring the base portion 3 a at a position inside the seal portion 63 that does not face the lower end of the operation member 67. The air supply opening 91 may be formed in a slit shape having a smaller width and a longer length than the outer diameter of the operation member 67 or with a plurality of slits assembled in a radial shape.
The ink cartridge 1 is packaged under a reduced pressure. The ink chamber 16 is also depressurized. When the valve system 24 on the air introduction side and the valve system 23 on the ink supply side open substantially at the same time, a flow of ink from the ink extraction tube 12 towards the ink chamber 16 occurs. However, a reverse-flow of the ink remaining in the flow path between the ink extraction tube 12 and the recording head 7 is prevented by the check valve 60. Furthermore, air is able to rapidly flow to the upper part of the ink chamber 16 from the air supply opening 91 through the cylindrical member 25. As a result, even if the ink enters into the cylindrical member 25 due to the falling of the ink cartridge 1 in a package during transportation, the ink is brought back into the ink chamber 16 with the flow of air. Assuming that the ink cartridge 1 is tilted during the installation of the ink cartridge 1 to the installation part 3 and that the valve member 32 on the ink supply side opens earlier than the valve member 65 on the air introduction side, the above-described rapid flow of ink from the ink extraction tube 12 to the ink chamber 16 occurs. However, the check valve 60 raises due to the flow to close the ink supply opening 21 by the film part 60 d, and thus the flow is prevented. Favorably, by appropriately setting the length of the ink extraction tube 12 and the operation member 67 of the valve member 65, the valve system 24 on the air introduction side is made to open earlier than the valve system 23 on the ink supply side, to prevent the rapid reverse-flow of ink from the ink extraction tube 12.
Next, a check valve 60 is further explained with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the check valve 60. The check valve 60 is formed integrally with a resin material having elasticity and has a an umbrella shaped film part 60 b facing the ink supply opening 21 and a shaft part 60 c connected to the film part 60 b. A protruding portion 60 a is formed at the shaft part 60 c. This shaft part 60 c is inserted slidable, to a shaft hole 1 n formed adjacent to the ink supply opening 21. In the normal condition, the protruding portion 60 a falls perpendicularly by engaging the top surface of the bottom wall 1 e due to the weight of the check valve 60 itself, and a condition that the film part 60 b leaves a space with the ink supply opening 21. Therefore, in the normal state, the ink in the ink chamber 1 can flow from the ink supply opening 21 to the communication chamber 30. On the other hand, when the flow from the communication chamber 30 to the ink chamber 16 occurs, the film part 60 b is lifted with the shaft part 60 c, and the film part 60 b closely covers the ink supply opening 21 and prevents the reverse-flow.
As shown in FIG. 10, a protruding portion 34 that protrudes slightly to the outside is formed at a substantially center position of the sidewall portion of the main body case 1 a in the height direction thereof. A light blocking plate 59 of the later-described shadow mechanism 22 is positioned in the space inside the protruding portion 34. In addition, the protruding portion 34 is sandwiched between the light emitting portion and light receiving portion of the sensor 14 provided at the installation part 3 in a state when the ink cartridge 1 is installed in the installation part 3. Moreover, a top 1 b is fused at the top end portion of the main body case 1 a. Therefore, the ink chamber 16 in the main body case is sealed by the top 1 b. An injection hole 17, for injecting the ink in the ink chamber 16 of an empty ink cartridge 1, is formed between the two communication chambers 30, 50. In this injection hole 17, a synthetic rubber plug member 18 is press fit. In addition, the deep end of the injection hole 17 is connected to the ink chamber 16 in the main body case 1 a. An injection needle (not shown) is inserted through the plug member 18 and into the injection hole 17 to fill the ink in the ink chamber 16 through the injection needle.
As shown in FIGS. 8A-10, the cap member 1 f is fixed to the main body case 1 a by a ultrasonic adhesion or the like in a matter covering the lower end of the main body case 1 a. At positions on the bottom portion of the cap member 1 f corresponding respectively to the valve system 23 and the valve system 24, two seal portions 63 protruding downwardly are respectively formed. The seal portions 63 make the ink around the entrance of the ink extraction tube 12 or the air introduction tube 13 difficult to adhere on the surface of a desk when the ink cartridge 1 is place on the desk.
Because the four ink supply openings 70 a-70 d are formed on the plate member 71 provided at the deep portion 72 a, the four ink supply openings 70 a-70 d are positioned at a location slightly higher than the deep portion 72 a. Therefore, even if dust and the like generated when forming the main body case 1 a remains in the ink chamber 16, such dust and the like remain at the deep portion 72 a and is difficult to flow out from the ink supply openings 70 a-70 d positioned higher than the deep portion 72 a. As a result, a filter for filtering the ink discharged from the ink supply openings 70 a-70 d is omitted.
According to the ink cartridge explained above, the curvatures of the edges 76-78 being parts forming the ink chamber 16 are made larger when approaching the ink supply openings 70 a-70 d. Thus, the shape of the edges has a moderate curvature to an acute curvature when approaching the ink supply openings 70 a-70 d, and the capillary force applied to the ink increases at the edge hear the ink supply openings 70 a-70 d. Accordingly, the ink is prevented from being attracted to and separated at the ink supply openings 70 a-70 d. Next, modifications in which various changes are incorporated to the above-described embodiment will be explained. However, for elements having the same structure as those in the above-described embodiment, the same reference numbers are used to omit the description thereof.
Next, the structure of an ink cartridge 1 according to another embodiment of this disclosure will be described in detail. FIG. 21 is a sectional diagram of the ink cartridge 1, and FIG. 22 is a bottom view of a main body case 1 a. The ink cartridge 1 has a ink chamber 16 therein that forms a space for reserving the ink. The ink cartridge 1 is structured from the main body case 1 a that has a bottom wall 1 e and side walls 1 c forming the ink chamber 16, a top 1 b that covers the open top surface of the main body case 1 a, and a cap member 1 f that covers the bottom wall 1 e of the main body case 1 a. Two exposing holes 1 fa, 1 fb that expose the later-described valve systems 23, 24 to the installation part 3 are formed at the cap member 1 f. The ink cartridge 1 is formed by adhering the top 1 b and the cap member 1 f to the main body case 1 a. The top 1 b, the main body case 1 a and the cap member 1 f is structured by a resin material.
On one end of the cap member 1 f (right side in FIG. 21), a plate-shape cap protruding portion 1 d that projects to the main body case 1 a side is formed, and an insertion portion 1 g, to which the cap protruding portion 1 d is inserted, is formed on the main body case 1 a. Therefore, because such a structure provides an orientation for the mounting of the main body case 1 a and the cap member 1 f, mismounting can be prevented, and a generation of defective products can be reduced.
A plurality of ink supply openings 21 are formed in the bottom wall 1 e. The plurality of ink supply openings 21 are in direct communication with a communication chamber 30 for supplying the ink in the ink chamber 16. The communication chamber 30 is formed inside a cylindrical wall 30 a integrally and protrudingly formed from the lower surface of the bottom wall 1 e (one side of the ink chamber 16). In addition, an air introduction opening 26 is formed in the bottom wall 1 e. The air introduction opening 26 is in direct communication with a communication chamber 50 for introducing the air into the ink chamber 16. The communication chamber 50 is formed inside a cylindrical wall 50 a integrally and protrudingly formed from the lower surface of the bottom wall 1 e (one side of the ink chamber 16). When the ink cartridge 1 is installed on the installation part 3, the ink extraction tube 12 and the air introduction tube 13 are inserted into the communication chamber 30 and the communication chamber 50, respectively.
As shown in FIG. 21, the check valve 60 faces the lower surface of the ink supply openings 21 and is structured from an elastic umbrella shaped film part 60 b and a film part 60 c extending substantially from the center position of the film part 60 b to the ink chamber 16 through the shaft hole 1 n. The shaft part 61 c has a substantially spherical protruding part 60 a having a diameter larger than the inner diameter of the shaft hole 1 n and is supported by the shaft hole 1 n slidably in the up/down direction between the film part 60 b and the protruding part 60 a. On the bottom wall 1 e, a hollow cylindrical member 25 in a hollow cylindrical shape is formed integrally with the bottom wall 1 e and extends in a direction toward the open top surface of the main body case 1 a (hereinafter referred to as �first direction�) from the bottom wall 1 e. The upper end opening 25 a of the hollow cylindrical member 25 is open above the surface of the ink in the ink chamber 16. The hollow cylindrical member 25 is formed in a taper shape where both the outer shape and the inner diameter of an internal flow path 25 b are gradually narrowed towards the upper side (direction distant from a later-described blocking member 100). A connecting portion 25 c of the hollow cylindrical portion 25 connecting with the bottom wall 1 e is formed in a shape that expands towards the bottom wall 1 e from the hollow cylindrical member 25. In addition, the cylindrical wall 50 a of the communication chamber 50 is formed in a cylindrical shape integrally with the hollow cylindrical member 25 from the lower end of the connecting portion 25 c and across the bottom wall 1 e. As a result, the communication chamber 50 and the internal flow path 25 b of the hollow cylindrical member 25 are connected smoothly via the air introduction opening 26 and the tapered internal surface of the connecting portion 25 c. That is, one end of the hollow cylindrical member 25 communicates with the air introduction opening 26, and the other end communicates with the ink chamber 16. Therefore, the internal flow path 25 b forms a flow path for introducing the air.
The valve system 24 has a structure similar to that of the valve system 23. Therefore, the same symbols are used for the same parts, and thus their descriptions are omitted. In the valve system 24, the valve member 79 is equipped with a bottom portion 96, a valve side wall portion 97, a valve member protrusion 98, and communication paths 99, which are in the same shape as those of the valve member 32. In addition, a blocking member 100 that protrudes more to the ink chamber 16 side than the valve side wall portion 97 is further equipped at the substantially center portion of the upper surface of the bottom portion 96. The blocking member 100 has an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the opening 37 a of the urging portion 37 and passes through the opening 37 a with a space therebetween. Moreover, for the blocking member 100, the outer diameter D1 at an upper end 100 a opposite from the bottom portion 96 of the valve member 79 is formed slightly smaller than the inner diameter D2 on the lower end side of the internal flow path 25 b of the hollow cylindrical portion 25, and larger than the inner diameter D3 at the upper portion side of the internal flow path 25 b (see FIG. 23A). The internal flow path 25 b is formed to slightly taper from the inner diameter D2 at the lower end to the inner diameter D3 at the upper part. Therefore, when the upper end 100 a of the blocking member 100 engages, the upper end 100 a is frictionally connected to the inner side of the inner flow path 41, and is in a �biting� state. This state is not released by the elastic force of the urging part 46 b that urges the valve member 79. The upper end 100 a of the blocking member 94 substantially tightly closes the internal flow path 25 b and blocks the flow of air. The upper end 100 a of the blocking member 100 is formed in a taper shape in which the outer diameter is decreased in a direction of the internal flow path 25 b. When the ink cartridge 1 is installed on the installation part 3, the ink extraction tube 12 and the air introduction tube 13 are inserted into the respective introduction paths 40, while expanding the diameter of the cylindrical portions 45, and contact the respective valve members 32, 79 at the bottom portions 57, 96. Thereafter, when the ink cartridge 1 is further pushed, each of the valve members 32, 79 is pressed in the direction toward the ink chamber 16 and is separated from the valve seat part 46 a. As a result, an introduction path for introducing the air inside the ink cartridge as well as a supply path for supplying the ink outside from the ink cartridge 1 are formed. Because the ink cartridge 1 is under a reduced pressure when packaged, a flow is created from both of the ink extraction tube 12 and the introduction tube 13 towards the ink chamber 16. However, a reverse-flow of the ink remaining in the flow path between the ink extraction tube 12 and the recording head 7 is prevented by the check valve 60, and therefore, the air is rapidly flown into the upper part of the ink chamber 16 from the air introduction tube 13 through the hollow cylindrical member 25. Thus, even if the ink enters into the hollow cylindrical member 25 or the communication chamber 50 because the ink cartridge 1 falls during transportation, the ink is returned to the ink chamber 16. At this time, because the communication chamber 50 is smoothly connected to the internal flow path 25 b of the hollow cylindrical member 25 via the tapered internal surface of the connecting portion 25 c, the ink quickly flows.
In the normal circumstance, the film part 60 b of the check valve 60 falls by its own weight to a position-remote from the ink supply opening 21. In accordance with the flow of the ink from the ink chamber 16, the air is supplied from the air introduction tube 14 to the upper part of the ink chamber 16.
Unlike the embodiment of FIG. 21, the support member 46 is not equipped with an annular-groove between the cylindrical portion 45 and the circumferential portion 45 a. However, each of other parts has the functions similar to those in the embodiment of FIG. 21 in conjunction with the valve member 32 and the ink extraction tube 12. Therefore, their detailed explanations are omitted.
A circumferential wall 27 of the hollow cylindrical member 25, a topmost end surface 25 d is a substantially plane surface substantially parallel with the bottom wall 1 e. The end surface of the circumferential wall 27, except the topmost end surface 25 d, is formed in an inclination along the circumference of the upper end opening 25 a. The diameter of the upper end opening 25 a in the inclination direction, that is the major axis, is approximately 1 mm and preferably 2 mm or greater. This is because, since the surface tension of the ink used in this embodiment is 30 mN/m-45 mN/m at 25� C., meniscus is hard to generate even if the ink adheres on the upper end opening 25 a and, even if formed, easily breaks in accordance with the introduction of air.
As described above, the main body case 1 a of the above-described ink cartridge 1 has a shape in which the top surface is open. The hollow cylindrical member 25 is formed integrally with the bottom wall 1 e and in a shape expanding from the front end opening 25 a towards the bottom wall 1 e. Therefore, the main body case 1 a can be manufactured easily by tool molding, and thus the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Moreover, because the hollow cylindrical member 25 and the main body case 1 a are formed integrally, assembly processes can be omitted, and the operation efficiency can be increased. Furthermore, adverse effects that air is not correctly introduced, because ink enters into the internal flow path 25 b of the hollow cylindrical member 25 from the connecting portion 25 c between the hollow cylindrical member 25 and the main body case 1 a, can be prevented.
An inkjet recording apparatus, structured such that an ink container (referred to as �ink cartridge�) can be attached to and detached from a holder (installation part), is disclosed in Japanese Laid Open Patent Application No. H9-85963. A projection portion that opens an opening of the ink cartridge is formed at the installation part, and a through hole is provided at the projection portion so that ink can flow from a valve of the ink cartridge. When the ink cartridge is installed on the installation part, the valve is opened by the projection portion, and the ink in the ink cartridge flows through the opening.
In exemplary embodiments, an ink cartridge includes an ink chamber, an air communication chamber that is capable of communicating with the ink chamber and an outside of the ink cartridge, a first valve system disposed within the air communication chamber, an ink communication chamber that is capable of communicating with the ink chamber and an outside of the ink cartridge, and a second valve system disposed within the ink communication chamber, wherein at least one of the first valve system or the second valve system comprises a valve seat, a valve that is capable of moving relative to the valve seat, and an operation member that extends outside at least one of the air communication chamber or the ink communication chamber and is capable of moving the valve from a first position where the valve contacts the valve seat to a second position where the valve is separated from the valve seat.
There exists, in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. H09-85963, an ink container (hereinafter referred to as �an ink cartridge�) that stores ink and is provided with an opening on a bottom portion. An elastic film valve is provided at the opening of the ink cartridge. This ink cartridge can also be mounted to a holder. To the holder, a protruding portion to open the valve is formed at a position facing the opening. A through hole so that ink can flow from the ink cartridge to the outside is provided at the protruding portion. When the ink cartridge is correctly installed to the holder, the valve is pushed and opened in the upward direction by the protruding portion of the holder, and the ink in the ink cartridge flows outside via the through hole and the opening.
There exists, in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. H06-64182, an ink cartridge which is equipped with an air pipe (hereinafter referred to as �air introduction member�) for introducing the air inside a main case of the ink cartridge, a thin film blocking member adhered on the upper end of the air introduction member, and a cooperating member provided inside the air introduction member. For the introduction of air into the ink cartridge, an air introduction needle is inserted through a rubber member provided on a bottom wall of the ink cartridge. The film breaking member is broken by pushing the cooperating member to form an introduction path for the air that passes a narrow hole made by the cooperating member. The narrow hole of the cooperating member extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall of the ink cartridge and is formed in a substantially linear form from a front end opening to the rubber member.
There exists, in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 6-64182, an ink cartridge that is equipped with an air pipe (herein referred to as �air introduction member�) for introducing air into a main case of the ink cartridge. The ink cartridge has a rubber member on a bottom portion through which an ink supply needle and an air introduction needle are inserted. Above the rubber member, an air introduction member is mounted to the main case. The upper end of the air introduction member is formed with a flat surface portion whose diameter is larger than the outer diameter of the air introduction member. The flat surface portion is used to adhere a film blocking member that is used to block the flow of ink. A cooperating member that breaks the film blocking member is arranged inside the air introduction member. To introduce the air inside the ink cartridge, the air introduction needle is inserted through the rubber member and the air introduction needle pushes up the cooperating member. The cooperating member thus breaks the film blocking member to allow the air to be introduced inside the ink cartridge.
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ClassificationB41J2/175C8, B41J2/175C3A, B41J2/175C2Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionMar 23, 2011FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Feb 9, 2005ASAssignmentOwner name: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, JAPANFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:SASAKI, TOYONORI;TAKAGI, ATSUHIRO;HATTORI, SHINGO;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:016259/0498;SIGNING DATES FROM 20050201 TO 20050204RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google