HK1087072B - Ink cartridge - Google Patents

Description

Ink box

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an ink cartridge that can be placed in an inkjet recording apparatus.

Background

An ink cartridge having an air pipe (referred to herein as an "air introduction part") for introducing air into a main chamber (case) of the ink cartridge is disclosed in japanese laid-open patent application No. 6-64182. The ink cartridge has a rubber member at the bottom through which an ink supply needle and an air introduction needle are inserted. Above the rubber member, an air introduction part is installed to the main chamber. The upper end of the air introduction member has a flat surface portion whose diameter is larger than the outer diameter of the air introduction member. The flat surface portion is used for bonding a film barrier for blocking the flow of ink. A co-acting member which breaks through the film barrier is provided inside the air introduction part. To introduce air into the ink cartridge, the air introduction needle is inserted through the rubber member, and the air introduction needle pushes up the cooperating member. Thus, the cooperative member breaks the film barrier to enable air to be introduced into the ink cartridge.

An ink container (hereinafter referred to as "ink cartridge") which holds ink therein and has a hole at the bottom is also disclosed in japanese laid-open patent application No. H09-85963. The elastic film valve is arranged at the opening of the ink box. The ink cartridge is configured to be directly attached to and detached from the holder. As for the retainer, a protruding portion that opens the valve is formed at a position facing the opening. When the ink cartridge is properly mounted to the holder, the valve is pushed by the protruding portion of the holder and opens in an upward direction, and the ink in the ink cartridge flows out through the through-hole and the hole.

Disclosure of Invention

However, in the above-described ink cartridge disclosed in japanese laid-open patent application No. 6-64182, since the cartridge main body chamber and the air introduction member are constructed to be three-dimensional, a process of installing the air introduction member to the main body chamber is necessary. The efficiency of the operation is so low that the manufacturing cost is increased. Also, there is a possibility that air enters the internal flow path of the air introduction part from the connection point between the ink cartridge and the air introduction part. There is a problem in that the air is not properly guided.

Also, in order to manufacture an ink cartridge in which the main chamber and the air introduction part are integrated and the upper end of the air introduction part has a flat surface portion having a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the air introduction part, tool molding (tool molding) for producing the ink cartridge becomes complicated, thereby increasing the manufacturing cost.

The present invention has been made to solve, in particular, the above problems, and provides an ink cartridge that can reduce the manufacturing cost of the ink cartridge and enable air to be correctly introduced into the ink cartridge.

The above-mentioned ink cartridge disclosed in japanese laid-open patent application No. H09-85963 has a structure in which communication between the inside and the outside of the ink cartridge is normally blocked by a valve and the valve can be pushed upward by a protruding portion when the ink cartridge is properly mounted to a holder. However, there is a problem in that if the valve is accidentally pushed up before the ink cartridge is mounted to the holder, ink will leak through the hole.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems and to provide an ink cartridge which minimizes leakage of ink even due to a malfunction before the ink cartridge is mounted to a holder.

The amount of air introduced into the ink cartridge by the air introducing part of the ink cartridge corresponds to the amount of ink supplied from the ink cartridge to the recording head to keep the pressure of ink supplied to the recording head constant. Therefore, it is preferable that the air introduction part is not clogged with, for example, ink introduced thereinto. However, it is inevitable that the ink cartridge is tilted or dropped once it is manufactured before the ink cartridge is mounted on the recording apparatus by the user or after the ink cartridge is detached from the main body of the recording apparatus by the user. Therefore, there is a possibility that ink adheres to the open end of the air introduction part or that ink enters into the air introduction part.

The air introducing part is often clogged due to the ink forming a meniscus on the container side at the open end of the air introducing part or forming a meniscus in the introducing path of the air introducing part when the introducing path is narrow. If ink is supplied in this case, the following situation repeatedly occurs: the pressure in the container chamber sealed by the meniscus is reduced; air breaks through the meniscus and flows into the reservoir chamber; the meniscus formed by the remaining ink reduces the pressure; and air breaks through the meniscus and flows into the reservoir chamber. That is, the ink supply pressure of the recording head fluctuates, and the ink is not uniformly output from the recording head. Therefore, there is a problem in that the recording quality is degraded.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides an ink cartridge which prevents the fluctuation of the ink supply hydraulic force of a recording head and maintains the uniformity of the ink output from the recording head by correctly introducing air into the ink cartridge.

According to an aspect of the present invention, an ink cartridge includes: a chamber having a bottom wall and a side wall forming an ink chamber, a top surface of the chamber being open; an air introduction port formed in a bottom wall of the chamber for introducing air into the ink chamber; and a hollow member directly communicating with the air introduction port, wherein the hollow member is formed integrally with and extends from the bottom wall of the chamber toward the top surface in the first direction, and an upper end of the hollow member is open; an ink supply port is formed in the chamber to supply ink from the ink chamber; the air introduction port directly communicates with an interior of a first cylindrical wall that protrudes from a lower surface of the bottom wall and is integrally formed, the ink supply port directly communicates with an interior of a second cylindrical wall that protrudes from a lower surface of the bottom wall and is integrally formed, and both the interior of the first cylindrical wall and the interior of the second cylindrical wall are sealed by seals provided in the first cylindrical wall and the second cylindrical wall; the seal is a valve system having a valve seat and a valve movable relative to the valve seat; the valve of the seal disposed on at least one of the first cylindrical wall or the second cylindrical wall has a blocking member, communication between the interior and the exterior of the chamber can be closed when the valve contacts the valve seat, communication between the interior and the exterior of the chamber can be established when the valve moves a predetermined distance from the valve seat, and communication between the interior and the exterior of the chamber can be closed when the valve moves more than the predetermined distance from the valve seat.

According to an aspect of the invention, a first portion of the hollow member adjacent the bottom wall may be larger than a second portion of the hollow member adjacent the upper end.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the ink supply port may be formed on the bottom wall.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the first cylindrical wall and the hollow member may be integrally formed through the bottom wall in a continuous cylindrical shape.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the blocking member may have a cylindrical shape protruding toward the hollow part. The outer diameter of the barrier member may be substantially equal to the inner diameter of the hollow member. At least the end of the blocking member can be fitted in the hollow member.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the blocking member and the valve may be integrally formed of a resin material.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the upper end of the hollow member has an opening, and the opening of the upper end of the hollow member may be inclined with respect to the first direction. The opening of the upper end of the hollow member may be inclined towards the bottom wall and towards the side wall adjacent the hollow member.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the upper end of the hollow member may have an opening having an area larger than a sectional area of the inside of the hollow member in a direction perpendicular to the first direction.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the upper end of the hollow member may be formed in two or more planes different from each other.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the upper end of the hollow member may be formed in a non-circular shape.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the hollow member may have an inner diameter of 0.8mm or more.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the upper end of the hollow member may have a stepped surface.

According to an aspect of the invention, the ink cartridge may further include a top covering a top surface of the chamber.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the end of the blocking member may be formed in a tapered shape in which an outer diameter is reduced in a direction toward the hollow member. The interior of the hollow member may be formed in a tapered shape, wherein. The inner diameter of which decreases in a direction away from the barrier.

According to an aspect of the present invention, since the top surface of the chamber is open, and since the hollow member is formed by being integrally raised from the bottom wall toward the open surface, the chamber and the hollow member can be easily molded with resin by tooling or the like. Therefore, since the number of parts is reduced and since the assembly of the chamber and the hollow member becomes unnecessary, the operation efficiency is improved and the manufacturing cost is reduced.

Also, since the chamber and the hollow member are integrally formed, ink is prevented from flowing into the internal flow path of the hollow member from the connecting portion between the chamber and the hollow member. Therefore, there is a function that air is correctly introduced into the ink chamber.

According to an aspect of the invention, since the first portion of the hollow member adjacent to the bottom wall is larger than the second portion of the open hollow member adjacent to the upper end, there is an effect of enhancing the strength at the connection point between the hollow member and the bottom plate, and there is an effect of preventing the deformation of the hollow member due to the influence of environmental changes at the time of molding or thereafter.

According to an aspect of the present invention, if the first cylindrical wall and the second cylindrical wall are integrally molded to the main body chamber by tooling or the like, the inside of the ink cartridge can be in a sealed state by providing the first cylindrical wall and the second cylindrical wall with the sealing member, and thus has an effect that the operation efficiency can be further improved.

According to an aspect of the present invention, even if ink flows into the internal flow path of the hollow member during transportation of the ink cartridge, when the air introduction port is opened, the ink in the internal flow path can be smoothly blown into the ink chamber. Therefore, since the ink in the internal flow path of the hollow member can be prevented from blocking the introduction of air, there is an effect of correctly introducing air.

According to an aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent leakage of ink when the valve contacts the valve seat, and to accurately form the air introduction path and the ink supply path by moving the valve in a direction away from the valve seat.

According to an aspect of the invention, the valve is spaced apart from the valve seat by a predetermined distance so that the ink chamber can communicate with the outside. Further, when the unexpected movement is more than a predetermined distance, the blocking member blocks the flow path, and thus, the possibility of ink leakage to the outside is reduced to a minimum.

According to an aspect of the invention, the blocking member has a cylindrical shape protruding toward the hollow member. The outer diameter of the barrier member is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the hollow member. At least the end portion can be fitted into the hollow member. Therefore, there is an effect of accurately eliminating the ink leakage.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the hollow member is configured such that the upper end is inclined with respect to the first direction, and thus the area of the upper end opening is larger than the cross-sectional area of the inside of the hollow member in the direction perpendicular to the first direction. The upper end may also be formed by two or more mutually different planes. The upper end may also be formed non-circular. Therefore, even if ink adheres to the upper end, the meniscus is difficult to form, and even if the meniscus is formed, it is easily broken by the introduced air. Therefore, since the air introduction fluctuation caused when the meniscus is formed can be eliminated, there is an effect of reducing the fluctuation of the ink supplied to the recording head, and the ink output from the recording head is uniformly maintained.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the effect is easily achieved by setting the inner diameter of the hollow member equal to 0.8mm or more.

According to an aspect of the present invention, since the end portion of the blocking member is configured such that the outer diameter thereof is reduced in a direction toward the hollow member, the end portion of the blocking member is easily inserted into the inside of the hollow member. Thus having the effect of precisely blocking operation.

According to an aspect of the present invention, since the interior of the hollow member is formed in a tapered shape in which the inner diameter is reduced in a direction away from the blocking member, the blocking member can be more easily inserted into the flow path. Thus having the effect of precisely blocking operation.

Drawings

Various exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:

fig. 1 is a schematic view of an ink cartridge according to an example of the present invention and an ink jet recording apparatus according to an example of the present invention on which the ink cartridge is mounted;

fig. 2A and 2B are sectional views showing the structure of an ink cartridge according to an example of the present invention: fig. 2A shows the ink cartridge before it is loaded in the inkjet recording apparatus, and fig. 2B shows the ink cartridge after it is loaded in the inkjet recording apparatus;

3A-3E illustrate an exemplary valve member according to the present invention: FIG. 3A is a top view, FIG. 3B is a side view, FIG. 3C is a sectional view taken along line I-I of FIG. 3A, FIG. 3D is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 3A, and FIG. 3E is a bottom view;

4A-4C illustrate an exemplary valve member according to the present invention: FIG. 4A is a top view, FIG. 4B is a side view, and FIG. 4C is a bottom view;

fig. 5A and 5B illustrate an exemplary mounting member according to the present invention: FIG. 5A is a sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 5B, and FIG. 5B is a bottom view;

fig. 6A and 6B illustrate the exemplary mounting component of fig. 5B: FIG. 6A is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 5B, and FIG. 6B is a sectional view taken along line V-V of FIG. 5B;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a one-way valve according to the present invention;

8A-8C illustrate an exemplary ink cartridge according to the present invention: fig. 8A is a front view, fig. 8B is a side view, and fig. 8C is a bottom view;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the ink cartridge of FIGS. 8A-8C;

fig. 10 is a sectional view showing the structure of an exemplary ink cartridge according to the present invention before it is loaded in the inkjet recording apparatus;

fig. 11A and 11B are cross-sectional views of an exemplary ink outlet tube (extract tube) and an exemplary valve member according to the present invention: FIG. 11A shows the ink outlet tube before it enters the guide path and contacts the valve, while FIG. 11B shows the ink outlet tube contacting the valve member and urging the valve member toward the ink chamber;

FIG. 12 is an oblique perspective view of an exemplary valve member according to the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the inside lower portion of an exemplary cartridge body according to the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along section VI of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along section VII of FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along section VIII of FIG. 13;

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along section IX of FIG. 13;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the inside lower portion of an exemplary cartridge body according to the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the inside lower portion of an exemplary cartridge body according to the present invention;

fig. 20A and 20B are cross-sectional views of fig. 19: FIG. 20A is a cross-sectional view of section X, and FIG. 20B is a cross-sectional view of section XI;

fig. 21 is a sectional view showing the structure of an exemplary ink cartridge according to the present invention before it is loaded in the inkjet recording apparatus;

FIG. 22 is a bottom view of an exemplary body according to the present invention;

fig. 23A and 23B are cross-sectional views of an exemplary ink cartridge according to the present invention, with the valve member removed from the valve seat: fig. 23A shows the ink cartridge correctly mounted in the mounting part, and fig. 23B shows the ink cartridge incorrectly mounted in the mounting part;

fig. 24 is a sectional view showing the structure of an exemplary ink cartridge according to the present invention before it is loaded in the inkjet recording apparatus;

fig. 25A and 25B show an enlarged front end portion of an exemplary air introduction part according to the present invention: FIG. 25A is a sectional view, and FIG. 25B is a top view; and

fig. 26A and 26B show an enlarged front end portion of an exemplary air introduction part according to the present invention: fig. 26A is a sectional view, and fig. 26B is a top view.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a schematic view of an exemplary ink cartridge 1 according to the present invention and an exemplary inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention on which the ink cartridge 1 is mounted.

The ink cartridge 1 is configured so as to be detachable from the inkjet recording apparatus 2 having a recording head 7 that outputs ink. The ink cartridge 1 stores ink to be supplied to the recording head 7.

The ink cartridge 1 has a hollow box-like main body chamber 1a and a top 1b sealing a top surface of the main body chamber 1 a. The ink supplied to the recording head 7 is stored in an ink chamber 16 formed inside the main body chamber 1a (see fig. 2A and 2B). Further, in the inkjet recording apparatus 2, a plurality of ink cartridges, in which blue, magenta, yellow, and black inks are respectively injected, can be mounted. Thus, a color printer can be manufactured.

The inkjet recording apparatus 2 has a mounting part 3 in which the ink cartridge 1 is mounted; a tank 5 for storing ink supplied from the ink cartridge 1 through an ink supply tube 4; a recording head 7 that ejects the ink stored in the tank 5 to the recording paper 6; a carriage 8 on which the container 5 and the recording head 7 are mounted and which is movable in two linear directions; a support shaft 9, which is a guide means through which the support moves in two linear directions; a transport mechanism 10 that transports the recording paper 6; and a cleaning device 11.

The mounting part 3 includes a bottom portion 3a and guide portions 3b provided on both sides of the bottom portion 3 a. A hollow projecting ink outlet tube draws out the ink stored in the ink cartridge 1, and an air supply hole 91 that introduces outside air into the ink cartridge 1 is provided on the bottom portion 3 a.

The end of the ink outlet tube 12 communicates with the ink flow path 94, and communicates with the tank 5 through the ink supply tube 4. The air supply flow path 92 and the air inlet hole 93 communicate with the air supply hole 91 (see fig. 5A and 5B).

The ink cartridge 1 is mounted from a direction (direction of arrow X) perpendicular to the mounting member 3. At the same time, the ink outlet tube 12 opens a valve system 23, which will be described below, provided inside the ink cartridge and communicating with the inside of the ink chamber 16. The air supply hole 91 communicates with the inside of the ink chamber 16.

A plurality of nozzle holes are provided on a surface of the recording head 7 opposite to the recording paper 6. By driving an actuator composed of a piezoelectric element, the ink stored in the reservoir 5 is ejected from the nozzle holes toward the recording paper 6. To start the recording operation, the recording is made on the recording paper 6 while the carriage 8 equipped with the recording head 7 is moved back and forth.

Further, a recording head 7 is disposed above the mounting member 3. Due to a head difference between the ink cartridge 1 mounted in the mounting part 3 and the nozzle hole, a negative pressure (back pressure) is given to the ink in the nozzle hole.

The cleaning device 11 is disposed outside the recording area so as to face the recording head 7. The cleaning device 11 has a cleaning cap 11a that covers the surface of the recording head 7 where nozzle holes are formed, a waste ink pipe 11b that communicates with the cleaning cap 11a, and a pump 11c that sucks ink from the nozzles into the waste ink pipe 11 b.

When the cleaning process is performed, the carriage 8 is moved to the cleaning process performing position, and the surface of the recording head 7 where the nozzle holes are formed is covered with the cleaning cap 11 a. In this state, the pump 11c is driven and sucks and collects the defective ink containing bubbles in the recording head 7. The sucked poor ink is stored in a waste ink tank, not described, through a waste ink pipe 11 b. The recording operation and the cleaning process are controlled by a CPU (central processing unit) (not shown) installed in the inkjet recording apparatus 2.

The structure of the ink cartridge mounted in the inkjet recording apparatus 2, specifically a in fig. 1, is explained below with reference to fig. 2A and 2B. Fig. 2A and 2B are sectional views showing the structure of an exemplary ink cartridge according to the present invention: fig. 2A shows the ink cartridge 1 before it is loaded in the inkjet recording apparatus 2, and fig. 2B shows the ink cartridge 1 after it is loaded in the inkjet recording apparatus 2.

The ink cartridge 1 includes a main body chamber 1a having an ink chamber 16, a top 1b covering an open upper surface of the main body chamber 1a, and a cover member 1f covering a bottom wall 1e of the main body chamber 1 a. Two exposed holes 1fa, 1fb are formed in the cover member 1f, which expose valve systems 23, 24 on the side of the mounting component to be described later. The material for the main body chamber 1a, the ceiling 1b and the cover 1f may be a resin material.

On the bottom wall 1e, an ink supply port 21 is formed, which is opened outward, for supplying ink in the ink chamber 16 outward. The ink supply port 21 directly communicates with a communication chamber 30 provided inside a cylindrical wall 21a formed integrally with and projecting from the lower first surface of the bottom wall 1 e. Further, an air introduction port 26, which is open outward, is formed on the bottom wall 1e for introducing air into the ink chamber 16. The air introduction port 26 is in direct communication with a communication chamber 50 provided inside a cylindrical wall 26a which is formed integrally with and projects from the lower first surface of the bottom wall 1 e. The ink outlet tube 12 is inserted into the communicating chamber 30 when the ink cartridge 1 is mounted on the mounting part 3.

The check valve 60 is provided in the ink supply port 21 and faces the ink supply port. The check valve 60 is integrally constructed of a synthetic material, and forms an umbrella-shaped elastic film portion 60b and a shaft portion 60c, the film portion 60b facing the lower surface of the ink supply port 21, and the end of the shaft portion 60c fixing the film portion 60 b. The shaft portion 60c is slidably inserted into the shaft hole in the bottom wall 1e in the up/down direction. Normally, the projecting portion 60a contacts the top surface of the bottom wall 1e at a position where the thin film portion 60b is spaced from the ink supply port 21 to enable ink to flow from the ink chamber 16 toward the valve member 32. When ink flows from the ink outlet tube 12 to the ink chamber 16, the flow is prevented by raising the thin film portion 60b and sealing the ink supply port 21.

A cylindrical member 25 surrounding the air introduction port 26 is provided on the bottom wall 1e and protrudes inside the ink chamber 16. The cylindrical member 25 is projected such that an air supply from the outside is guided to the upper portion of the ink chamber 16 through a flow path inside the cylindrical member 25. The hole at the upper portion of the air introduction part is disposed higher than the surface of the ink.

The valve systems 23, 24, which are examples of seals, are fixed to the communication chamber 30 on the ink supply side and the communication chamber 50 on the air introduction side, respectively.

The valve system 23 has a support member 46 integrally made of a rubber elastic member and a valve member 32 constructed of a resin material. The support member 46 has a substantially cylindrical outer shape and is integrally configured, forming a valve seat portion 46a and a pushing portion 46b relatively close to the ink chamber 16 with respect to the valve seat portion 46a, and the outer wall 33 provided on the side of the valve seat portion 46a is opposed to the pushing portion 46 b. The valve member 32 is urged in a direction toward the valve seat portion 46a by the urging portion 46b and is received between the valve seat portion 46a and the urging portion 46b in a spaced manner.

The outer wall 33 has a connecting portion 33a projecting radially outward. The communication chamber 30 has a stepped surface 44 whose diameter increases toward the outside to communicate with the connection portion 33 a. A protruding portion 43 is formed on the surface of the connecting portion 33a facing the stepped surface 44. The cover member 1f is fixed to the main body chamber 1a by pressing the protruding portion 43 against the stepped surface 44 and placing the connecting portion 33a between the stepped surface 44 and the cover member 1f while deforming the protruding portion 43. As a result, ink is prevented from flowing to the outside from the space formed between the outer wall 33 of the valve system 23 and the inner wall of the communication chamber 30.

The opening 41 is formed in the valve seat portion 46a in the axial direction through the center of the valve seat 46 a. Further, an introduction path 40 into which the ink extraction tube 12 is inserted is formed on the outer wall 33 in such a manner that the introduction path 40 communicates with the opening 41.

The inner diameter of the introduction path 40 is smaller than the outer diameter of the ink outlet tube 12 so that the outer wall 33 is in close contact with the ink outlet tube 12. The opening 41 is formed larger than the inner diameter of the introduction path 40 and the outer diameter of the ink outlet tube 12. The introduction path 40 is formed in a conical shape at an end of the insertion side of the ink outlet tube, which widens outward.

The pushing portion 46b is formed by a side wall 36, the side wall 36 being cylindrically erected from the valve seat portion 46a around the opening 37a to the ink chamber 16, and an extending (thru) portion 37 connected to the side wall portion 36 projecting inward so as to contact the side of the valve member 32 opposite to the ink chamber 16. The extension portion 37 has an opening 37a at the center thereof.

The urging portion 46b urges the valve member 32 and the extension portion 37 by the elastic force of the side wall portion 36 in a direction to bring the valve member 32 into contact with the valve seat portion 46a, and normally attaches the valve member 32 to the valve seat portion 46 a. Further, by inserting the ink outlet tube 12 into the introduction path 40 to push the valve member 32 toward the ink chamber 16, the side wall portion 36 is stretched and the extended portion 37 is inclined, a gap can be formed so that ink can flow between the valve member 32 and the valve seat portion 46 a.

Fig. 3A-3B show details of the valve member 32. The valve member 32 has a bottom 57 and a valve side wall portion 56 extending perpendicularly from the outer periphery of the bottom 57. A communication path 58 is continuously formed through the bottom portion 57 and the valve side wall portion 56.

The bottom portion 57 has a projecting piece 39 projecting toward the valve seat portion 46a and forming an annular shape at a position from the inside of the communication path and from the outside of the opening 41 on an end surface facing the valve seat portion 46 a. In a state where the valve member 32 is received in the support member 46, the valve side wall portion 56 closely contacts and presses against the extension portion 37 of the pushing portion 46 b. By pressing the projecting member 39 downward, the projecting member 39 elastically deforms the valve seat portion 46a and closely contacts the upper surface of the valve seat portion 46 a.

The valve system 24 on the air introduction side is similar to the valve system 23 and has a support member 46 integrally made of a rubber elastic member and a valve member 65 constructed of a ribbed material.

The support member 46 has a valve seat portion 46a, a pushing portion 46b, and a sealing portion 63. The valve seat portion 46a and the urging portion 46b have the same functions as those of the valve seat portion and the urging portion of the valve system 23.

The opening 41 is formed substantially in the center of the valve seat portion 46 a. A cylindrical seal portion 63 surrounds the opening 41 and is integrally formed at a lower portion of the valve seat portion 46 a.

As shown in fig. 4A to 4C, the valve member 65 has a cylindrical portion 66 at the top, an operating piece 67 at the lower, and a valve portion 68 substantially at the central portion thereof, the valve member 32 being similar to that shown in fig. 3A to 3E, the valve portion 68 having a bottom 57, a valve side wall portion 56 extending perpendicularly from the outer periphery of the bottom 57, and a communication path 58 formed continuously through the bottom 57 and the side wall portion 56. The function of these parts is the same as those of the valve member 32. Therefore, their description is omitted.

The cylindrical portion 66 has a cylindrical shape raised from the bottom portion 57. When the ink cartridge 1 is properly mounted in the mounting part 3, the cylindrical part 66 has a space between the circular part 66 and the inner surface of the cylindrical member 25, and communication between the ink chamber 16 and the opening 41 of the valve seat part 46a is ensured even if the valve member 65 is pushed up from the valve seat part 46 a.

The operating member 67 is a projecting portion that extends vertically downward from the bottom portion 57 and has a circular outer shape 67a and a concave surface 67b that extends in the radial and axial directions. The operating member 67 extends downward through the opening 41 of the support member 46 and has a 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 concave surface 67b can be made relatively large by the concave surface.

Fig. 5A to 6B show details of the mounting part 3, and on the air supply side, a recess 3d is formed in the bottom 3a of the mounting part 3 at a position facing the valve system 24. The recess 3d has a side surface that engages the sealing portion 63 when the ink cartridge 1 is mounted. At the bottom of the recess 3d, an air supply hole 91 is formed by a wall constituting the bottom 3a at a position inside the seal portion 63 which does not face the lower end of the operation member 67. The air supply hole 91 may be formed in a narrow groove shape having a smaller width and a longer length than the outer diameter of the operation member 67, or have a plurality of narrow grooves fitted in a radial shape.

A groove-shaped air flow path 92 is formed on the lower surface of the wall constituting the bottom 3 a. One end of the air supply flow path 92 is connected to the air supply hole 91 due to the increase in the sectional area thereof, and the other end is connected to an air inlet 93 formed through the wall constituting the bottom portion 3a in the up/down direction. A part of the air supply path 92 has a plurality of curved surfaces along the lower surface of the wall to suppress the flow of air and prevent evaporation of components and moisture in the ink when connected to the air introduction port 26 of the ink cartridge 1.

The air inlet 93 is open on the upper surface of the bottom 3a, but has a gap from the bottom surface of the mounted ink cartridge 1, through which air is supplied to the ink cartridge 1 through the air supply flow path 92 and the air supply hole 91. The upper surface of the air inlet 93 may be covered with a porous elastic body 3c, which will be described below, to enable ventilation with the outside air.

On the ink lead-out side, the ink lead-out tube 12 is integrally and protrudingly formed on the upper surface of the wall constituting the bottom portion 3a, and the ink flow path 94 is formed on the lower surface. Both ends 94a of the ink flow path 94 are connected to the lower end of the ink flow path 94 formed in the up/down direction by the ink outlet tube 12, and the end 94b opens upward a part of the upper surface where the bottom portion 3a extends to the outside of the guide portion 3b and is connected to the ink supply tube 4 on the surface.

A communication port 81a for communicating the ink flow path 94 to the outside is formed at the tip of the ink extraction tube 12. By connecting the communication port 81a, communication between the ink flow path 94 and the ink chamber 16 is ensured in such a manner that the tip end contacts the valve member 32. The porous elastic body 3c such as a sponge is provided around the ink outlet tube on the top surface of the bottom portion 3 a. The porous elastic body 3c absorbs ink that may leak from the valve system 23.

The mounting members 3 are provided at a plurality of locations for a plurality of ink cartridges. Each wall surrounding the bottom portion 3a and the guide portion 3b extends integrally in the direction in which the ink cartridge is disposed. The above-described ink outlet tube 12, ink flow path 94, guide portion 3b, air supply hole 91, and air supply flow path 92 are provided for each mounting location. The end 94a, 94B of each ink flow path 94 connected to each corresponding ink supply tube 4 is located transversely to the extension of the bottom 3a, as shown in fig. 5B.

Further, the above-described ink flow path 94 and air supply path 92 are formed by covering the open lower surface of the groove with a cover member such as a resin film 95. The film 95 is fixed by being melted on the lower end surfaces of the ribs 94c, 92c, the ribs 94c, 92c forming the peripheries of the ink flow path 94 and the air supply flow path 92, respectively. The ink flow path 94 and the air supply path 92 of the same mounting portion are covered with a film 95.

Mounting of the ink cartridge 1 on the mounting part 3 of the inkjet recording apparatus 2 will be described below with reference to fig. 2A and 2B. Fig. 2A shows a state where the ink cartridge 1 is not mounted on the mounting part 3 of the ink jet recording apparatus 2. In this state, the valve member 32 on the ink supply side and the valve member 65 to the air introduction side are both pressed against the valve seat portion 46a by the elastic force of the urging portion 46b of the support member 46, and therefore, each valve system 23, 24 is not opened.

As shown in fig. 2B, when the ink cartridge 1 is mounted, the valve system 23 pushes the valve member 32 through the front end of the ink outlet tube 12 on the valve supply side and the side wall portion 36 of the extended support member 46 separates the valve member 32 from the valve seat 46a to be opened. As a result, the ink flow path extends to the ink outlet tube 12 through the ink chamber 16, the ink supply port 21, the opening 37a of the valve system 23, the communication path 58, and the gap between the valve member 32 and the valve seat portion 46 a. And thus ink is supplied to the recording head 7.

On the other hand, on the air supply side, the front end of the operating member 67 contacts the bottom of the recess 3d, which causes the valve member 65 to be lifted upward. Due to the stretching of the side wall portion 36 of the support member 46, the valve portion 68 of the valve member 65 is separated from the valve seat portion 46a, and thus the valve system is opened.

At the same time, the sealing portion 63 closely contacts the recess 3d, which brings the communication between the air introduction port 26 of the ink cartridge 1 and the air supply hole 91 of the mounting part 3 into a state where the communication is blocked from the outside. As a result, an air flow path is formed to the upper portion of the ink chamber 16 through the air inlet 93, the air supply flow path 92 and the air supply hole 91 of the mounting part 3, the opening 41, the gap between the valve member 65 and the valve seat portion 46a of the valve system 24, the communication path 58, the air introduction port 26, and the flow path inside the cylindrical member 25.

In this embodiment, the valve portion of the valve system 23 is adjusted as the ink outlet tube 12 engages the inlet path 40. But unless the air supply hole 91 is blocked, the operation member 67 may contact any portion of the bottom of the recess 3 d. Therefore, the ink cartridge 1 can be manufactured to have a medium-sized gap with respect to the respective positional relationships between the ink supply port 21 and the air introduction port 26, the valve systems 23, 24, the ink outlet tube 12 of the mounting part 3, and the air supply hole 91. Further, the operation of the user to mount the ink cartridge 1 in the mounting part becomes easy.

It will be understood that various modifications may be made. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the valve system 24 on the air supply side has the operation member 67 that projects to the outside of the ink cartridge, and the ink outlet tube 12 of the mounting part 3 projects on the ink outlet side. However, an operation member that protrudes to the outside of the ink cartridge may be provided on the ink lead-out side of the valve system 23.

Further, in this embodiment, a valve system is used to seal the ink supply port 21 and the air introduction port 26. However, the hole on the side may be sealed with rubber without a valve system, and a needle-like ink outlet tube may protrude from the mounting part.

As shown in fig. 2A, the operating member 67 is disposed such that its lower end is located slightly upward of the lowermost end of the seal portion 63. The valve member 65 closely contacts the valve seat portion 46 a. Similarly, on the ink supply side, the valve member 32 closely contacts the valve seat portion 46a by the urging portion 46 b. On the ink supply side, when the ink cartridge 1 has been mounted, the front end of the ink outlet tube 12 pushes up the valve member 32 to open the valve system 23, as shown in fig. 2B.

On the air supply side, the front end of the operation member 67 contacts the bottom of the recess 3d, and the valve seat portion 46a of the support member 46 is relatively moved downward to open the valve system 24.

The ink cartridge is packaged under reduced pressure. The ink chamber 16 is also depressurized. When the valve system 24 on the air introducing side and the valve system 23 on the ink supplying side are opened substantially simultaneously, ink flows from the ink outlet tube 12 to the ink chamber 16. However, the reverse flow in the flow path between the ink outlet tube 12 and the recording head 7 is prevented by the check valve 60. Also, air can flow from the air supply hole 91 to the upper portion of the ink chamber 16 quickly through the cylindrical member 25. As a result, even if ink enters the cylindrical member 25 during transportation due to dropping of the ink cartridge 1 in a packaged state, the ink is brought back to the ink chamber 16 by the flowing air. Assuming that the ink cartridge 1 is tilted when the ink cartridge 1 is mounted to the mounting part 3 and the valve member 32 on the ink supply side is opened earlier than the valve member 65 on the air introduction side, the above-described rapid flow of ink from the ink outlet tube 12 to the ink chamber 16 occurs. But the check valve 60 is raised by the flow-passing film portion 60d closing the ink supply port 21, so that the flow is prevented. Advantageously, by appropriately setting the lengths of the ink outlet tube 12 and the operating 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 ink from rapidly flowing in the reverse direction from the ink outlet tube 12.

In a normal state, the film portion 60b of the check valve falls down to a position away from the ink supply port 21 due to its gravity. Ink is supplied from the ink chamber 16 to the recording head 7 through the ink supply port 21, the communication path 58 of the valve member 32, and the ink lead-out tube 12. According to the flow of ink from the ink chamber 16, air is supplied from the air supply hole 91 to the upper portion of the ink chamber 16 through the cylindrical member 25. Meanwhile, the cylindrical portion 66 of the air introduction-side valve member 65 is provided with a clearance from the inside of the cylindrical member 25 so as to ensure an air flow path.

Further, in the recording operation, the ink in the ink supply tube 4 moves with the movement of the carriage 8 due to inertia, and the pressure in the ink supply tube 4 varies. However, as described above, since the check valve 60 is opened away from the ink supply port 21 in the normal state, a small amount of ink flow between the ink outlet tube 12 and the ink chamber 16 can be allowed. As a result, the pressure variation in the recording head 7 can be reduced, enabling stable ink output.

It will be understood that various modifications may be made. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the check valve 60 is made in the shape of an umbrella formed by an umbrella portion and a shaft portion. However, a structure that fixes one side of the rectangular film and allows the other side to be opened and closed may be used as the check valve.

Also, the air introduction path of the mounting part may be protruded in a hollow cylindrical shape like the ink outlet tube 12, and at the same time, the valve system 24 of the air introduction side may have the same structure as the valve system 23 of the ink supply side. Also, the ink outlet tube 12 may have a shape not protruding from the mounting part, and the valve system 23 on the ink supply side may have the same structure as the valve system 24 on the air communication side.

Further, instead of the valve systems 23, 24, rubber inserts may be engaged with the communication chambers 30, 50, and hollow needle-like ink supply tubes and air introduction tubes protruding from the mounting part are inserted through the rubber inserts.

The check valve 60 is further described below with reference to fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the check valve 60. The check valve 60 is integrally formed of a resin material having elasticity, and has an umbrella-shaped film portion 60b facing the ink supply port 21 and a shaft portion 60c connected to the film portion 60 b. The boss portion 60a is formed on the shaft portion 60 c. The shaft portion 60c is slidably inserted into a shaft hole 1n formed adjacent to the ink supply port 21. Under normal conditions, due to the weight of the check valve itself, by engaging the top surface of the bottom wall 1e, the convex portion 60a falls vertically, and a gap is formed between the thin film portion 60b and the air supply hole 21. Therefore, in a normal state, the ink in the ink chamber 16 can flow from the ink supply port 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 thin film portion 60b is lifted together with the shaft portion 60c, and the thin film portion 60b tightly covers the ink supply port 21 and prevents such a reverse flow.

An ink cartridge 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below.

As shown in fig. 8A to 10, the ink cartridge has a main body chamber 1a, a valve system 23, a valve system 24, a shielding (shadow) mechanism that blocks light emitted from a light emitting portion of a sensor 14 that detects the amount of remaining ink, and a cover member that covers a lower end portion of the subject chamber 1 a.

The main body chamber 1a is made of a synthetic resin having permeability. As shown in fig. 10, a bottom wall 1e extends horizontally in the main body chamber 1a, and the bottom wall 1e partitions the internal space of the main body chamber 1a into an ink chamber 16 on the upper side and two communication chambers 30, 50 on the lower side. A corresponding ink is injected into the ink chamber 16, and the valve system 23 and the valve system 24 are installed in the two communicating chambers 30, 50, respectively. On the bottom surface of the ink chamber 16, four ink supply ports 70a-70d (see fig. 13) for supplying the ink in the ink chamber 16 to the inkjet recording apparatus 2 through the valve system 23 are provided. The internal structure of the ink chamber 16 that introduces ink to the four ink supply ports 70a-70d is described below.

As shown in fig. 10, a protruding portion 34 that protrudes slightly to the outside is formed at a substantially central position of the main body chamber 1a in the height direction thereof. A light blocking plate 59 of the shielding mechanism 22, which will be described later, is provided in the space inside the protruding portion 34. Further, when the ink cartridge 1 is mounted in the mounting part 13, the projecting part 34 is sandwiched between the light emitting part and the light receiving part of the sensor 14, and the sensor 14 is disposed on the mounting part 3 in a state. However, the top 1b is fused at the top end portion of the main body chamber 1 a. The ink chamber 16 in the main body chamber 1a is thus sealed by the top 1 b.

An injection hole 17 for injecting ink into the ink chamber 16 of the empty ink cartridge 1 is formed between the two communicating chambers 30, 50, and in this injection hole 17, an elastomer plug member 18 is press-fitted. Further, the deep end of the injection hole 17 is connected to the ink chamber 16 of the main body chamber 1 a. An injection needle (not shown) is inserted through the stopper 18 and into the injection hole 17 to inject ink into the ink chamber 16 through the injection needle.

A cylindrical portion 38 for communicating with the ink chamber 16 and the communication chamber 30 is integrally formed at a portion of the bottom wall 1 e. At the lower end of the cylindrical portion 38, a thin film portion 42 is provided close to the communicating path of the cylindrical portion 38. On the other hand, two cylindrical portions 47 and 48 for communicating with the ink chamber 17 and the communication chamber 50 are integrally formed at a part of the bottom wall 1 e. At the lower end of the cylindrical portion 48, a thin film portion 49 is provided close to the communication path of the cylindrical portions 47, 48. Further, on the upper side of the cylindrical portion 47, a cylindrical member 25 protruding to the upper end of the ink chamber 16 is provided.

As shown in fig. 10-11B, the valve system 23 has a generally cylindrical support member 46 formed of a resilient synthetic rubber, and the valve system 32 is housed within the support member 46. The support member 46 is integrally constituted by a pushing portion 46b, a valve seat portion 46a, and a link 33a, which are provided so as to form an upper side (ink chamber side) of the support member 46.

The lower surface of the valve member 32 is made to contact the upper surface (end surface on the ink chamber 16 side) of the valve seat portion 46a, and an opening 41 extending in the up-down direction is formed on the central axial line portion of the valve seat portion 46 a. An introduction path 40 communicating with the opening 41 and extending downward is formed in the connection piece 33a, and the introduction path 40 is formed in a tapered shape whose lower portion diameter becomes larger. An annular groove 40a is formed around the introduction path 40. The wall portion forming the introduction path 40 is made to be easily elastically deformable in the direction in which the diameter of the introduction path increases. Therefore, when the ink outlet tube 12 is inserted into the introduction path 40, the introduction path 40 and the ink outlet tube 12 are closer, and leakage of ink is effectively prevented. Further, even when the ink outlet tube 12 is inserted into the introduction path 40 in an inclined or eccentric state, the ink outlet tube 1 will be accurately inserted into the introduction path 40 since the wall portion is deformed in the direction in which the diameter of the introduction path increases.

The urging portion 46b has a cylindrical side wall portion 36 rising from the circumference of the valve seat portion 46a toward the ink chamber 16 side and an extending portion 37 extending from the upper end of the side wall 36 toward the radially inward direction. The lower portion of the extension 37 contacts the valve member 32. The valve member 32 is pushed down due to the elastic force of the side wall portion 36 and the extension portion 37. Further, an opening 37a is formed inside the extension portion 37, so that the side wall portion 36 and the extension portion 37, which are integrally formed, can be elastically deformed.

As shown in fig. 11A to 12, the valve member 32 has a bottom portion 57 that contacts the valve seat portion 46a, a cylindrical valve side wall portion 56 that extends from the circumferential side of the bottom portion 57 to the ink chamber 16 side, and a piercing portion 52 that extends from the central portion of the bottom portion 57 to the ink chamber 16 side beyond the valve side wall portion 56.

A protruding piece 39 protruding to the valve seat portion 46a side is formed on the lower surface of the bottom portion 57. When the valve member 32 is pushed toward the valve seat portion 46a side by the pushing portion 46b, and when the protrusion 39 closely contacts the upper surface of the valve seat portion 46a, the opening 41 of the valve seat portion 46a is closed by the valve member 32, and the ink supply flow path is closed. Further, a plurality of communication paths 53 connecting spaces above and below the valve member 32 are formed at positions equidistant in the circumferential direction of the bottom portion 57 outside the circumference of the projecting member 39 and inside the circumference of the valve side wall portion 56.

As shown in fig. 11A to 12, the piercing part 52 is constituted by four plate members 52a, 52b, 52c and 52d assembled into a cross shape in a plan view and is provided upward at a substantially central portion of the bottom part 57. Further, grooves 54 extending in the up-down direction are formed between the four plate members 52a to 52d, respectively. Also, the piercing portion 52 projects upwardly through the opening 37a in the interior of the valve seat portion 46 b. As shown in fig. 10, the front end of the piercing portion 52 is disposed slightly below the film portion 49.

When the ink cartridge 1 is mounted on the mounting part 3, the ink outlet tube 12 is inserted into the introduction path 40. Then, the valve member 32 is lifted, and the urging force of the urging portion 46b is overcome by the front end of the escape pipe 12. The valve member 32 is moved upward while deforming the pushing portion 46a hardly, and the projection 39 of the valve member 32 is separated from the valve seat portion 46 a. Meanwhile, since the film portion 42 is pierced by the leading end of the piercing portion 52 of the valve member 32 which is moved upward, the ink in the ink chamber 16 flows into the communication chamber 30, as shown in fig. 10 and 11B, and the ink is supplied from the ink outlet tube 12 to the inkjet recording head 2 side through the communication path 53 of the valve member 32.

The valve system 24 has a support member 46 and a valve member 32 housed in the support member 46, and has the same structure as the valve system 23. That is, the valve member 32 is pushed downward by the pushing portion 46b closely attached to the valve seat portion 46a of the support member 46 so as to close the opening 41. Further, when the ink cartridge 1 is mounted on the mounting part 3, the air introduction tube 13 is inserted into the introduction path 40 formed in the support member 46, and the valve member 32 is moved upward similarly to the valve system 23, so that the film portion 49 of the cylindrical portion 48 is pierced by the piercing portion 52. Then, the outside air flows into the communication chamber 50 from the air introducing tube 13 through the communication path 53 of the valve member 32, and the air is introduced into the upper portion of the ink chamber 16 through the inner path of the introducing path 40, the opening 41, and the cylindrical member 25.

As shown in fig. 10, the shutter mechanism 22 is provided in the lower space of the ink chamber 16. The shielding mechanism 22 has a light blocking plate 59 which is partially transparent, a hollow float 61, and a link 62 which connects the light blocking plate 59, the float 61, and a support bracket 64 which is provided on the upper side of the bottom wall 1e and pivotally supports the link 62. The light blocking plate 59 and the float 61 are respectively provided at both ends of the link 62. The link member 62 is pivotably disposed about a pivot point of the support bracket 64 in a vertical plane perpendicular to the bottom wall 1 e.

The light blocking plate 59 is a thin plate member parallel to the vertical plane and having a predetermined area. When the ink cartridge 1 is mounted on the mounting part 3, the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion of the sensor 14 provided on the mounting part are located at the same height as the projecting portion 34 formed on the side wall portion of the main body chamber 1 a. The light blocking plate 59 is made to block the light transmitted from the light emitting portion of the sensor 14 through the wall portion of the main body chamber 1a and the ink of the ink chamber 16 when the light blocking plate 59 is located in the space inside the protruding portion 34. The float 61 is a cylindrical member filled with air therein. The specific gravity of the entire float is made smaller than that of the ink in the ink chamber 16.

Therefore, when the amount of ink remaining in the ink chamber 16 is large and when the entire float 61 provided at the end of the link 62 is located in the ink, the float 61 floats up by the buoyancy, and the light blocking plate 59 provided at the other end blocks the light from the light emitting portion (the position shown by the solid line in fig. 10). However, when the amount of ink remaining in the ink chamber 16 is small and a part of the float 61 is exposed to the ink surface, the buoyancy applied to the float 61 is reduced and the float is lowered. The light-blocking plate 59 is then moved over the protruding portion 34 and to a position where the light-blocking plate 59 does not block the light from the light-emitting portion (the position shown by the chain line in fig. 10). Therefore, the light from the light emitting portion is transmitted along the linear optical path through the protruding portion and received by the light receiving portion. As a result, a state where the amount of ink remaining in the ink chamber 16 is low is indicated by the sensor 14.

As shown in fig. 8A to 10, the cover member 1f is fixed to the main body chamber 1a by ultrasonic welding or the like. At the bottom of the cover 1f, two seal portions 63 are formed, which protrude downward, corresponding to the positions of the valve system 23 and the valve system 24, respectively. When the ink cartridge 1 is placed on a table, ink around the entire ink outlet tube 12 and the air inlet tube 13 is made difficult to adhere to the surface of the table.

The internal structure of the ink chamber 16 for guiding the ink in the ink chamber 16 to the supply holes 70a to 70d will be described below.

As shown in fig. 13, a deep portion 72a slightly lower than the periphery is formed on the upper surface of a bottom wall 1e, the bottom wall 1e being formed on the bottom surface of the ink chamber 16. Further, the plate member 71 is disposed substantially at the center portion of the deep portion 72a in plan view. Four ink supply ports 70a to 70d for supplying the ink in the ink chamber 16 to the inkjet recording apparatus 2 via the valve system 23 are formed on the plate member 71, and among the four ink supply ports 70a to 70d, the ink supply port 70a is circular in plan view and is located substantially at the center portion of the plate member 71, and the remaining three ink supply ports 70b, 70c, and 70d having an oblong shape in plan view are located side by side in the circumferential direction around the circular ink supply port 70 a. The ink chamber 16 and the communication chamber 30 are communicated by the four ink supply ports 70a to 70d, so that the ink output from the ink supply ports 70a to 70d can be supplied to the inkjet recording apparatus 2 via the valve system 23.

Since the four ink supply ports 70a to 70d are formed in the plate member 71 provided to the deep portion 72a, the four ink supply ports 70a to 70d are located at positions slightly higher than the deep portion 72 a. Therefore, even if dust or the like generated at the time of forming the main body chamber 1a remains in the ink chamber 16, the dust or the like remains at the deep portion 72a, and is difficult to flow out from the ink supply ports 70a to 70d located at a position higher than the deep portion 72 a. A filter for filtering the ink output from the ink supply ports 70a to 70d can be omitted.

On the bottom surface of the ink chamber 16, protruding portions 75 (ink front portions) that protrude from the bottom surface 72 and extend from three side surfaces 73, 74 of the ink chamber 16 to the vicinity of the ink supply ports 70a-70d are formed, respectively. The protruding portions 75 are provided so as to be directed toward the ink supply ports 70a to 70d from three directions around the ink supply ports 70a to 70 d. Therefore, even when the amount of ink remaining in the ink chamber 16 becomes low, the ink near the side surface of the ink chamber 16 is guided to the ink supply ports 70a-70d by the three projecting portions 75. Also, the ends of the protruding portions 75 opposite the ink supply ports 70a-70d are connected to the side walls 73, 74. As a result, ink can be accurately directed to the ink supply ports 70a-70d from the edge 77 between the bottom surface 72 and the sidewalls 73, 74 where ink tends to remain when the ink chamber 16 is substantially empty of ink.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view of the sectional portion VI of fig. 13. Fig. 15 is a sectional view of section VII of fig. 13. Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the cross-sectional portion VIII of fig. 13. Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view of section IV of fig. 13. As shown in fig. 14-16, the radius of curvature R1, R2 of the edge 76 between each projection 75 and the bottom surface 72 is less than the radius of curvature R1 of the edge 77 between the side surfaces 73, 74 and the bottom surface 72. In other words, the curvature is large at the edge 76 near the ink supply ports 70a-70d, which causes the edge to have an acute-angled shape. Further, as shown in fig. 14 and 16, at the edge 76 between the protruding portion 75 and the bottom surface 72, the radius of curvature r2 (sectional portion VIII bottom position) at the position 76b near the ink supply ports 70a-70d is smaller than the radius of curvature r1 (sectional portion IV bottom position) at the position 76a away from the ink supply ports 70a-70 d. That is, the curvature of the edge 76 between the protruding portion 75 and the bottom surface 72 becomes larger as approaching the ink supply ports 70a-70d, which causes the edge to have an acute-angled shape. Therefore, the surface tension (capillary force) applied to the ink from the edge near the ink supply ports 70a to 70d is larger than the surface tension applied to the edge at the position away from the ink supply ports 70a to 70 d. Therefore, when the amount of ink in the ink chamber 16 becomes small, the ink on the bottom surface 72 is accurately directed to the ink supply ports 70a-70 d. As a result, when the amount of ink in the ink chamber 16 becomes small, the ink is prevented from being drawn to a position away from the ink supply ports 70a to 70d, which causes the ink to be separated and left at this position.

Also, as shown in fig. 15 and 17, the edge 77 extending horizontally between the side surfaces 73, 74 and the bottom surface 72 has a radius of curvature R1 that is smaller than the radius of curvature R2 of the edge 78 extending up and down between the two side surfaces 73, 74. Thus, the curvature of the edge 77 near the ink supply ports 70a-70d is greater than the curvature of the edge 78 away from the ink supply ports 70a-70 d. Further, the edge 78 extending up and down, the edge 77 extending horizontally, and the edge 76 between the bottom surface 72 and each of the projecting portions 75 are connected together, and the radii of curvature (R1 < R1 < R2) of these three edges 76-78 become smaller (curvature becomes larger) as they approach the ink supply ports 70a-70 d. Thus, as the surface of the ink in the ink chamber 16 decreases due to consumption, the ink is directed from a position higher than the ink supply ports 70a-70d toward the ink supply ports 70a-70d by the edges 76-78 having a varying curvature. Therefore, the ink in the vicinity of the side surfaces 73, 74 of the ink chamber 16 is accurately guided to the ink supply ports 70a-70 d.

An edge formed between both surfaces of the ink chamber 16 (an edge 77 between the side surfaces 73, 74 and the bottom surface 72) and an edge 78 between both the side surfaces 73, 74 are made so as not to change curvature in one edge 77, 78. The curvature is thus variable for each two-surface bond. By changing the curvature of the edge between the two surfaces for each bonding of the two surfaces, a structure in which the curvature of the edge becomes large when approaching the ink supply ports 70a to 70d is easily realized. Further, as shown in fig. 15 and 17, planes 77A, 77B and 78A, 78B are cut at the connecting portions of the two surfaces, and at edges 77, 78 between the two surfaces, manufactured to be parallel to the two surfaces, respectively. Thus, the edges 77, 78 having a predetermined curvature are easily formed between the two surfaces.

According to the ink cartridge described above, the curvature of the edges 76-78 forming part of the ink chamber 16 becomes larger as approaching the ink supply ports 70a-70 d. Therefore, the shape of the edge has a moderate curvature to an acute curvature when approaching the ink supply ports 70a-70d, and the surface tension applied to the ink by the edge in the vicinity of the ink supply ports 70a-70d increases. Therefore, the ink of the ink supply ports 70a to 70d is prevented from being sucked and separated.

Modifications in the above-described embodiments incorporating variations will be described below. However, the description of the elements having the same structures and the same reference numerals as those of the above-described embodiment is omitted.

1) The shape of the protruding portion of the ink guide portion is not limited to the shape of the above-described embodiment, but may be varied as appropriate. For example, as shown in fig. 18, a projection 85 extending from the side surfaces 83, 84 of the ink chamber 81 toward the ink supply port 80 may extend to the ink supply port 80. In this case, the ink on the bottom surface 82 of the ink chamber 81 is accurately guided to the ink supply port 80 via the protruding portion 85. In addition, the number of the protruding portions and the shape of the ink chamber may also be changed as appropriate.

2) The guiding portions that guide the ink toward the ink supply ports are limited to the protruding portions of the above-described embodiments. For example, as shown in fig. 9, the ink guide portion may be constituted by a groove 89 formed in a bottom surface 88 of the ink chamber 87. Here, fig. 20A is a sectional view of a section X of fig. 19, and fig. 20B is a sectional view of a section XI of fig. 19. An edge 90 between the bottom surface 89a and the side surface 89B of the groove 89 is made such that the curvature of the portion 90B close to the ink supply port 90 (fig. 20B) is larger than the curvature of the portion 90A away from the ink supply port 86 (fig. 20A), and therefore, the edge 90 is seated in an acute-angle shape. The ink on the bottom surface 88 is more accurately guided to the ink supply port 86 by the groove 89.

3) The edge forming the internal shape of the ink chamber, instead of the edge formed between the surfaces of the ink chamber and the edge formed between the ink guide portion, such as the protruding portion, and the bottom surface, may be configured such that the curvature becomes larger toward the ink supply port. For example, one edge may be formed by providing additional projections and grooves to increase the curvature of the edge closer to the ink supply port.

The structure of the ink cartridge 1 according to the present invention will be described in detail below. Fig. 21 is a sectional view of the ink cartridge, and fig. 22 is a bottom view of the main body chamber 1 a.

The ink cartridge 1 has an ink chamber 16 therein, the ink chamber 16 forming a space for holding ink. The ink cartridge 1 is constituted by a main body chamber 1a having a bottom wall 1e, a side wall 1c forming the ink chamber 16, a top 1b covering an open top surface of the main body chamber 1a, and a cover member 1f covering the bottom wall 1e of the main body chamber 1 a. Two exposed holes 1fa, 1fb, through which valve systems 23, 24 to be described later are exposed to the mounting part 3, are formed in the cover 1 f. The ink cartridge 1 is configured by fixing a top 1b and a cap 1f to the main body 1 a. The ceiling 1b, the main body chamber 1a, and the cover 1f are constructed of a resin material.

On one end (right side in fig. 21) of the cover member 1f, a plate-shaped cover projecting portion 1d projecting to the main body chamber 1a is formed, and an insertion portion 1g into which the cover projecting portion 1d is inserted is formed on the main body chamber 1a, and therefore, since this structure provides an installation orientation for the main body chamber 1a and the cover member 1f, erroneous installation can be prevented and generation of waste products can be reduced.

A plurality of ink supply ports 21 are formed on the bottom wall 1 e. The plurality of ink supply ports 21 directly communicate with a communication chamber 30 for supplying ink in the ink chamber 16. The communication chamber 30 is formed inside the cylindrical wall 30a integrally and protrudingly from the lower surface (the side of the ink chamber) of the bottom wall 1 e. Further, an air introduction port 26 is formed on the bottom wall 1 e. The air introduction port 26 is in direct communication with a communication chamber 50 that introduces air into the ink chamber 16. The communication chamber 50 is formed inside the cylindrical wall 50a integrally and protrudingly from the lower surface (the side of the ink chamber) of the bottom wall 1 e. When the ink cartridge 1 is mounted on the mounting part 3, the ink outlet tube 12 and the air inlet tube 13 are inserted into the communication chamber 30 and the communication chamber 50, respectively.

In the communication chamber 30, a valve system 23 is provided to block communication between the inside and the outside of the ink cartridge 1. In the communication chamber 30, a valve system 24 is provided to block communication between the inside and the outside of the ink cartridge 1. The valve systems 23, 24 will be described in detail later.

The plurality of ink supply ports 21 allow communication between the communication chamber 30 and the ink chamber 16. The plurality of ink supply ports 21 are formed of three oblong shapes, each of which is arranged to form a substantially triangular shape (see fig. 22). Further, a shaft hole 1n is formed in a central portion of the ink supply port 21. A check valve 60 formed substantially in an umbrella shape is inserted through the shaft hole 1 n. The check valve 60 is made of a resin material having elasticity.

As shown in fig. 21, the check valve 60 faces the lower surface of the ink supply port 21 and is constituted by an elastic umbrella-shaped film portion 60b and a film portion 60c extending from substantially the center portion of the film portion 60b toward the ink chamber 16 through the axial hole 1 n. The thin film portion 60c has a substantially spherical protruding portion 60a, the protruding portion 60a has a diameter larger than that of the shaft hole 1n, and is slidably supported by the shaft hole 1n in the up/down direction between the thin film portion 60b and the protruding portion 60 a.

On the bottom wall 1e, a hollow cylindrical member 25 is formed integrally with the bottom wall 1e, and extends from the bottom wall 1e in a direction (hereinafter referred to as a first direction) toward a top surface opened to the main body chamber 1 a. The upper end opening 25a of the hollow cylindrical member opens above the ink surface in the ink chamber 16. The hollow cylindrical member 25 is formed in a tapered shape in which the outer shape and the diameter of the inner flow path 25b are gradually reduced toward the upper side (away from the locker 100 to be described later). A connecting portion 25c of the hollow cylindrical member 25 to the bottom wall 1e is formed from the hollow cylindrical member 25 in a shape expanding toward the bottom wall 1 e. Further, a cylindrical wall 50a of the communication chamber 50 is formed integrally with the hollow cylindrical member 25 in a cylindrical shape from the lower end of the connecting portion 25c and through the bottom wall 1 e. As a result, the communication chamber 50 and the internal flow path 25b of the hollow cylindrical member are smoothly connected via the air introduction port 26 and the tapered inner surface of the connecting portion 25 c. That is, one end of the hollow cylindrical member 25 communicates with the air introduction port 26, and the other end communicates with the ink chamber 16. Thus, the internal flow path 25b forms a flow path for introducing air.

The opening 25a is inclined with respect to the first direction and is inclined from the central axis of the ink cartridge 1 toward the side wall 1e and toward the bottom wall 1 e. Thus, the opening 25a has a substantially flat surface that is oval-shaped and has an area that is larger than the cross-sectional area of the internal flow path perpendicular to the first direction.

The valve systems 23, 24 provided in the communication chambers 30 and 50 are explained below.

The valve system 23 has a support member 46 formed integrally with a rubber elastic member and a valve member 32 made of a resin material and configured in a contactable and separable manner with a valve seat portion 46 a. The support member 46 has a substantially cylindrical outer shape and is a structure in which a substantially middle portion in the central axis direction thereof is formed integrally with a valve seat portion 46a, a pushing portion 46b on the side closer to the ink chamber 16 than the valve seat portion 46a, a cylindrical portion 45 extending from the valve seat portion 46a to the side opposite to the pushing portion 46b, and a circumferential portion 45a extending in parallel with the circumference of the cylindrical portion 45 with a space therebetween. The valve member 32 is pushed by the pushing portion 46a in a direction to contact the valve seat portion 46a, and the valve member is placed in the pushing portion 46 b.

The circumferential portion 45a has a radially projecting connecting piece 33 a. The communication chamber 30 has a stepped surface 44 in which the diameter is increased outward to receive the connection member 33 a. Also, a protruding portion 43 that protrudes and is formed in a circular shape is formed on the surface of the connection piece 33a, which contacts the stepped surface 44. The main body chamber 1a and the cover member 1f are fixed in a state where the connecting piece 33a is pressed and tightly fixed between the stepped surface 44 and the cover member 1f, thereby preventing ink from leaking between the main body chamber 1a and the valve system 23.

The valve seat portion 46a has an opening 41 in a central portion thereof and is formed to pass through the central axis direction. The cylindrical portion 45 has an introduction path into which the ink outlet tube 12 is inserted when the ink cartridge 1 is mounted on the mounting part and integrally connected with the valve seat portion 46a in such a manner that the introduction path 40 communicates with the opening 41. The inner diameter of the introduction path 40 is smaller than the outer diameter of the ink outlet tube 12 so as to tightly join the circumferential wall 45 with the inserted ink outlet tube 12. The opening 41 is made larger than the inner diameter of the introduction path 40 and the outer diameter of the ink outlet tube 12. The end of the introduction path 40 into which the ink outlet tube 12 is inserted is formed in a tapered shape extending outward.

The annular groove 69 separates the cylindrical portion 45 and the circumferential portion 45a, and deforms the cylindrical portion 45 relative to the circumferential portion 45a in a plane in which the cylindrical portion 45 is orthogonal to the direction of the central axis of the introduction path 40. As a result, it becomes easy to enlarge the diameter of the cylindrical portion 45 in the introduction path 40 as the ink outlet tube 12 is inserted, and the introduction path 40 comes closer to the ink outlet tube 12, thus preventing ink leakage. Also, due to the deformation of the cylindrical portion 45, it is possible to insert the ink outlet tube 12 into the introduction path 40 in an inclined or biased manner.

The urging portion 46b has a cylindrical side wall portion 36 standing from the circumference of the valve seat portion 46a on the ink chamber 16 side, an extension portion 37 connected to the side wall portion and extending inward so as to contact the valve member 32 on the ink chamber side, and an opening 37a at the center of the extension portion 37. The urging portion 46b urges the valve member 32 against the valve seat portion 46a with the elastic force of the side wall portion 36 and the extension portion 37. In a normal state, the valve member 32 and the valve seat portion 46a are attached together. Also, since the ink outlet tube 12 is inserted into the introduction path 40, the valve member 32 is pushed upward. Accordingly, the side wall portion 36 stretches and inclines the extension portion 37 to form a space between the valve member 32 and the valve seat portion 46a for the flowing ink.

The valve member 32 has a bottom portion 57 that contacts the valve seat portion 46a of the support member 46, and a valve-side wall portion 51 that cylindrically extends closer to the ink chamber 16 than the circumference of the bottom portion 57. The bottom portion 57 has a projection 39 formed projecting and annularly projecting toward the valve seat portion 46a, which is located more inside than the opening 41 than a communication path 58 described later. The valve side wall portion 51 is pressed by the lower surface of the extension portion 37 of the pushing portion 46b in a state where the valve seat is seated on the support member 46, and the protrusion piece 39 is closely adhered to the upper surface of the valve seat portion 46a by elastically deforming the valve seat portion 46a by compression. Therefore, when the valve member 32 is seated in the support member 46, ink leakage is prevented from occurring via the opening 41 and the introduction path 40.

A plurality of communication paths 58 spaced in the circumferential direction are formed from the projection 39 of the bottom portion 57 to the position of the valve side wall portion 51, which allow communication between the ink chamber 16 side and the valve seat portion 46a of the valve member 32.

The valve system 24 has a structure similar to that of the valve system 23. Therefore, the same symbols are used for the same components, and thus the description thereof is omitted. In the valve system 24, the valve member 79 has a bottom portion 96, a valve side wall portion 97, a valve member protrusion 98, and a communication path 99, which have the same shape as the valve system 23. Further, a barrier member 100 extending toward the ink chamber 16 more than the side wall portion 97 is provided substantially at the center portion of the upper surface of the bottom portion 96. The blocking member 100 has an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the opening 37a of the push portion 37 and passes through the opening 37a having a space therebetween. Also, with the stopper 100, the outer diameter D1 at the upper end 100a opposite the bottom 96 of the valve member 97 is made slightly smaller than the inner diameter D2 on the lower end side of the internal flow path 25b of the hollow cylindrical portion 25, and larger than the inner diameter D3 on the upper side of the internal flow path 25 b. Thus, when the upper end of the barrier 100 is engaged, the upper end 100a frictionally engages the inside of the internal flow path 41 and is in a "bite" state. This state is not released by the elastic force of the urging portion 46b urging the valve member 97. The upper end 100a of the barrier 100 substantially tightly closes the internal flow path 25b and blocks the flow of air. The upper end 100a of the barrier 100 is formed in a tapered shape in which the outer diameter decreases in the direction of the internal flow path 25 b.

When the ink cartridge 1 is mounted on the mounting part 3, the ink outlet tube 12 and the air inlet tube 13 are inserted into the respective introduction paths 40 while enlarging the diameter of the cylindrical portion 45 and contacting the bottoms 57, 96 of the respective parts 32, 79. Thereafter, when the ink cartridge 1 is further pushed, each valve member 32, 79 is pressed in a direction toward the ink chamber 16 and separated from the valve seat portion 46 a. As a result, an introduction path for introducing air into the inside of the ink cartridge and a supply path for supplying ink from the ink cartridge 1 to the outside are formed. Since the ink cartridge 1 is under reduced pressure when packed, a flow is created from both the ink outlet tube 12 and the (air) inlet tube 13 towards the ink chamber 16. However, the reverse flow of the ink held between the ink outlet tube 12 and the recording head 7 is prevented by the check valve 60, and therefore, air rapidly flows from the orifice air inlet tube 13 into the upper portion of the ink chamber 16 through the hollow cylindrical member 25. Therefore, even if the ink enters the hollow cylindrical member 25 or the communicating chamber 50 due to the dropping of the ink cartridge 1 during transportation, the ink returns to the ink chamber 16. At the same time, since the communication chamber 50 is smoothly connected to the internal flow path 25b of the hollow cylindrical member 25 via the tapered internal surface of the connecting portion 25c, the ink flows rapidly.

It is assumed that when the ink cartridge 1 is mounted on the mounting part 3, since the valve member 32 on the ink supply side is more easily opened than the valve member 79 on the air introducing side due to the inclination of the ink cartridge 1, a rapid reverse flow of ink from the ink outlet tube 12 to the ink chamber 16 is formed. However, due to this flow, the check valve 60 closes the ink supply port 21, and therefore, the flow is blocked. Preferably, by appropriately setting the lengths of the ink outlet tube 12 and the air inlet tube 13, the valve system 24 on the air inlet side can be more easily and accurately opened than the valve system 23 on the ink supply side, thus preventing the rapid reverse flow of ink from the ink outlet tube 12.

Under normal conditions, the thin film portion 60b of the check valve 60 falls to a position away from the ink supply port 21 due to its weight. With the flow of ink from the ink chamber 16, air is supplied from the orifice introducing tube 13 to the upper portion of the ink chamber 16.

The operation of the valve system 79 will now be described with reference to fig. 23A and 23B. Fig. 23A is a schematic view showing a state where the ink cartridge 1 is correctly mounted on the mounting part 3. The valve system 79 is pushed up by the air introduction pipe 3, and as described above, an introduction path of the introduced air is formed. Meanwhile, the distance (amount of movement) by which the valve system 79 is separated from the valve seat portion 46a is substantially constant. Further, the valve system 79 is disposed such that a space is formed between the front end 100a of the blocking member 100 and the internal flow path 25b, so as to secure the flow path of air.

Fig. 23B shows that the valve member 79 is accidentally pushed by the lever member a and moved by a distance greater than the distance that the valve member 79 moves when the ink cartridge 1 is properly mounted (the state of fig. 23A). In this state, the front end 100a of the blocking member 100 of the valve member 79 enters the internal flow path 25b and closes the flow path of the internal flow path 25b, and the blocking member 100 is held in the internal flow path 25b with the frictional connection described above.

As described above, in the above ink cartridge 1, when the valve member 79 accidentally moves beyond the distance that the ink cartridge moves with proper installation, the blocking member 100 closes the internal flow path 25 b. Therefore, even if the communication chamber 50 is opened, air pressure does not act on the ink, and the possibility of ink leakage from the communication chamber 50 is suppressed to a minimum.

Further, if the valve member 79 is further pushed beyond the predetermined distance as described above, the pushing portion 46B of the supporting member 46 extends by a larger amount than when the ink cartridge 1 is properly mounted (see fig. 23B). Therefore, the pushing portion 46b may be damaged, or the valve member 79 is pushed out from the inside of the pushing portion 46 b. But since the amount of movement by the blocking member 100 is limited by the internal flow path 25b, the damage of the push portion 46b or the push-out of the valve member 79 from the push portion 46b is accurately prevented.

Also, the inner flow path 25b is formed in a tapered shape in which an inner diameter thereof becomes smaller toward an upper side of the ink cartridge. The front end 100a of the barrier 100 is also formed in a tapered shape in which the outer diameter thereof becomes smaller toward the inner flow path 25 b. Therefore, even if the inclination occurs in the direction of pushing the valve member 79, the blocking member 100 is accurately inserted into the internal flow path 25 b.

The structure of the ink cartridge 1 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail below. Fig. 24 is a sectional view of the ink cartridge 1. The same symbols are used for the same components as those of the previous embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

Unlike the embodiment of fig. 21, the support member 46 does not have an annular groove between the cylindrical portion 45 and the circumferential portion 45 a. However, each of the other components has a function similar to that of the embodiment of fig. 21, and thus a detailed description thereof is omitted.

In this embodiment, the seal portion 101 is formed annularly around the opening 40 at a position closer to the mounting part 3 than the circumferential wall 45a side. The valve member 79 also has an operating member 102 extending substantially in the shape of a shaft to the side of the mounting member 3 through the hole 40 formed in the bottom portion 96.

Similar to the embodiment of fig. 2A, the mounting part 3 is constituted by a base portion 3a and guide portions 3b standing from both sides of the base portion 3a, and has an ink outlet tube 12 protruding therefrom. A recessed portion 103 is formed on a portion of the base portion 3a to which the ink outlet tube 12 is connected. In this recessed portion 103, a porous member 104 capable of absorbing ink and having flexibility is provided. The size of the porous member 104 is made larger than the size of the exposure hole 1fa of the cover member 1 f. Further, an air introduction path 105 communicating with the atmosphere is formed instead of the introduction pipe 13. In a circumferential portion thereof, the recessed portion 106 is made larger than the size of the exposing hole 1fb of the cover member 1 f.

Like the embodiment of fig. 2A, when the ink cartridge 1 is mounted on the mounting part 3, the ink outlet tube 12 enters the introduction path 40 while enlarging the cylindrical portion 45 and pushing the valve member 32 of the valve system 23 upward toward the ink chamber 16 to form an ink supply path. When the mounting of the ink cartridge 1 on the mounting member 3 is completed, the protruding portion around the exposure hole 1fa contacts the porous member 104. As a result, even if the ink leaks from the valve system 23 or the ink adhering to the ink lead-out tube 12 drops when the ink cartridge 1 is repeatedly attached and detached, the ink can be absorbed by the porous member 104, and thus the possibility of being stained by the ink is kept to a minimum.

Also, at the air introducing side, the seal portion closely contacts the recess portion 106 of the base portion 3a due to contact and elastic deformation. As a result, the inside of the sealing portion 101 forms a seal with the outside. Meanwhile, the operation member 10 contacts the bottom of the recess 106 at a position offset from the air introduction path 105. When the mounting of the ink cartridge 1 is further performed, the valve member 79 is pushed toward the ink chamber 16 to form an air introduction path similar to the embodiment of fig. 2A.

According to this embodiment, in the ink cartridge 1, the structure of the blocking member 100 has the same shape as that of the ink cartridge 1 in the embodiment of fig. 21, providing effects similar to those of the first embodiment.

It will be understood that various modifications may be made. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the blocking member 100 and the valve member 79 are integrally and separately manufactured. The valve member and the blocking member may be separate bodies or may have a structure connecting them or connecting their operations.

Further, the hollow cylindrical member 25 rises from the bottom wall 1e in the first direction and is formed integrally with the bottom wall 1 e. The upper end opening 25a of the hollow cylindrical member 25 opens above the surface of the ink in the ink chamber 16, and the opposite end of the internal flow path 25b is connected to the communication chamber 50.

A contact portion 25c between the hollow cylindrical member 25 and the bottom wall 1e is formed in a shape expanding from the hollow cylindrical member 25 toward the bottom wall 1 e. The contact portion between the hollow cylindrical member 25 and the communication chamber 50 is smoothly formed without any stepped surface.

The upper end opening 25a is inclined with respect to the first direction and is inclined along a central axis from the ink cartridge 1 toward the side wall 1c and toward the bottom wall 1 e. Therefore, since the upper end opening 25a has a substantially elliptical plane, the area of the upper end opening 25a is larger than the cross-sectional area of the internal flow path 25b in the direction perpendicular to the first direction.

The circumferential wall 27, the uppermost end 25d of the hollow cylindrical member 25 is a substantially flat surface substantially parallel to the bottom wall 1 e. The end surface of the circumferential wall 27 except for the topmost end surface 25d is formed in an inclined manner along the circumference of the upper end opening 25 a.

The diameter of the upper end opening 25a in the oblique direction, i.e., the major axis direction, is about 1mm and preferably 2mm or more. This is because since the surface tension of the ink used in this example is 30mN/m to 45mN/m at 25 ℃, a meniscus is difficult to occur even when the ink adheres to the upper end opening 25a, and even if formed, it is easy to break at the time of air introduction.

The inner diameter of the internal flow path 25b is preferably about 0.8mm or greater. This is because if the inner flow path 25b is smaller than 0.8mm, a meniscus can be formed by the ink in a direction close to the inner flow path 25 b. If the inner flow path 25b is about 0.8mm or more, the meniscus is difficult to form and, if formed, is easily broken at the time of air introduction. Also, even if ink adheres along the inner surface of the internal flow path 25b, a flow path having a sufficiently large cross-sectional area ensures no significant increased resistance to the introduction of air.

Since the above hollow cylindrical member 25 is formed integrally with the main body chamber 1a whose top surface is open, the main body chamber 1a is easily produced by molding with a tool, with the result that the manufacturing cost is reduced. Further, the assembly process can be omitted, and thus the operation efficiency is increased. Moreover, since the ink is flowing from the connecting portion 25c along the internal flow path 25b, the adverse effect of the incorrect introduction of air can be avoided.

The ink may adhere to the open end of the hollow cylindrical member 25, or the ink can enter the inside thereof after production due to the ink cartridge 1 being tilted or dropped before the user mounts the ink cartridge in the inkjet recording apparatus 2. But most of the ink in the hollow cylindrical member 25 is returned to the ink chamber 16 due to the air rapidly flowing into the ink cartridge 1 under the reduced pressure as described above. However, if the ink remains in the hollow cylindrical member 25 at this time, or the user removes the ink cartridge 1 from the mounting member 3 after the ink cartridge is tilted or dropped, the internal flow path of the hollow cylindrical member 25 may be blocked. However, the upper end opening 25a of the hollow cylindrical member 25 has an inclination with respect to the first direction and has a cross-sectional area larger than that along a direction perpendicular to the internal flow path. The likelihood of ink meniscus formation at the upper end opening 25a is reduced. And even if a meniscus is formed, it is easily broken when air is introduced. Also, the inner diameter of the inner flow path 25b has a size in which a meniscus is not formed in a direction blocking the inner flow path 25 b. Therefore, the introduction of air is correctly performed without causing fluctuation, and the ink can be smoothly supplied to the recording head 7 so that the ink can be uniformly output.

A modified example of the upper end opening 25A of the hollow cylindrical member 25 will be described below with reference to fig. 25A and 25B.

As shown in fig. 25A and 25B, the upper end portion of the hollow cylindrical member 25 may be formed in a stepped shape. The upper end opening 25a may be formed by semicircular planes 15aa, 25ac substantially parallel to the bottom wall at different heights and a rectangular plane 25ab substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall, and has a non-circular periphery.

As shown in fig. 26A and 26B, the upper end opening 25a of the hollow cylindrical member 25 may have an inclination with respect to the first direction, and a protruding portion 244a may protrude from one side of the front end opening 25a in the first direction. Thus, the front end opening 25a is formed substantially in an oval shape, and the circumference is formed by a plane 245a which is the upper end of the protruding portion 244a, a plane 245b which includes most of the front end opening 25a, and a vertical plane which connects the planes 245a, 245 b.

The inner diameter of the inner flow path 25b of the air introducing member 25 in the above modified example is 0.8mm or more. The air introducing part 25 is formed not only so that the area of the opening 25a is larger than the cross-sectional area of the internal flow path in the direction perpendicular to the first direction, but also so that the surface forming the periphery of the opening is constituted by three mutually different planes. Therefore, the meniscus formed by the ink at the upper end is reduced, and therefore, effects similar to those of the above-described embodiment can be provided.

It is to be understood that various embodiments are possible. The opening of the hollow circular part 25 in the above-described embodiment, for example, may be constituted by two planes which diagonally intersect at different angles with respect to the first direction, or in a non-circular shape, such as a partially cut-out circle.

Further, a hollow cylindrical member 25 which is formed integrally with the bottom wall 1e and rises from the bottom wall 1e toward the open top surface of the main body chamber 1a is formed on the bottom wall 1 e. The front end opening 25a of the air introducing member 25 opens above the surface of the ink in the ink chamber 16. The outer shape of the hollow cylindrical member 25 and the internal flow path 25b are formed in a tapered shape in which the diameter becomes gradually smaller toward the upper side. The connecting portion of the hollow cylindrical portion 25 to the bottom wall 1e is formed in a shape expanding from the top of the hollow cylindrical member 25 toward the bottom wall 1 e. Also, a cylindrical wall 50a of the communication chamber 50 is integrally formed with the hollow cylindrical member 25 in a cylindrical shape sequentially from the lower end of the connecting portion through the bottom wall 1 e. As a result, the communication chamber 50 and the internal flow path 25b of the hollow cylindrical member 25 are smoothly and continuously formed via the tapered inner surface of the connecting portion. Moreover, the strength of the connection point of the hollow cylindrical member 25 with the bottom wall 1e is increased due to the connection portion 25c, and variations in the hollow cylindrical member 25 at the time of molding or due to environmental influences can be prevented.

As described above, the main body chamber 1a of the 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 1e and has a shape expanding from the front end opening 25a toward the bottom wall 1 e. Therefore, the main body chamber 1a is easily manufactured by tool molding, and thus the manufacturing cost is reduced. Further, since the hollow cylindrical member 25 and the main body chamber 1a are integrally formed, an assembling process can be omitted, and the operating efficiency can be improved. Also, since the ink flows into the internal flow path 25b of the hollow cylindrical member 25 from the connecting portion 25c between the hollow cylindrical member 25 and the main body chamber 1a, the adverse effect of incorrectly introducing air can be prevented.

According to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, since the upper surface of the body chamber is open, and since the air introduction part is integrally formed to rise from the bottom wall toward the open surface, the body and the air introduction part can be easily resin-molded by tooling or the like. Therefore, since the number of parts is reduced and since the assembly of the main body chamber and the air introduction part is not required, the operation efficiency is improved and the manufacturing cost is reduced.

Further, since the main body chamber and the air introducing member are integrally formed, the ink is prevented from flowing into the internal flow path of the air introducing member from the connecting portion between the main body chamber and the air introducing member, and therefore, there is an effect of correctly introducing the air into the ink chamber.

According to the exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, since the connection portion where the air introduction part and the bottom wall are connected is formed in a shape expanding from the air introduction part to the bottom wall, there is an effect of enhancing the strength of the connection point, and it is possible to prevent deformation of the air introduction part due to a change in the environment at the time of molding or thereafter.

According to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, if the first cylindrical wall and the second cylindrical wall are integrally molded to the main body chamber by tooling or the like, the inside of the ink cartridge is in a sealed state by providing the sealing members at the first cylindrical wall and the second cylindrical wall. Therefore, the operation efficiency is high, and the assembly can be further improved.

According to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, even if ink flows into the internal flow path of the air introduction part when the ink cartridge is transported, when the air introduction port is opened by mounting the ink cartridge, the ink in the internal flow path can be smoothly flowed into the ink chamber. Therefore, since the ink in the internal flow path of the air introduction means is prevented from blocking the introduction of air, there is an effect of correctly introducing air.

According to an exemplary aspect of the present invention, leakage of ink is prevented when the ink cartridge is not mounted on the inkjet recording apparatus, and the air introduction path and the ink supply path are accurately formed by the valve moving away from the valve seat in a direction when the ink cartridge is mounted on the inkjet recording apparatus.

In japanese laid-open patent application No. H9-85963, an inkjet recording apparatus is disclosed which is configured such that an ink container (called an "ink cartridge") can be attached to and detached from a holder (mounting member). A projection for an opening of the ink cartridge is formed on the holder, and a through hole for ink to flow from the valve to the ink tank is provided on the projection. When the ink cartridge is mounted on the holder, the valve is opened by the protruding portion, and the ink in the ink cartridge flows to the ink container through the hole.

However, when the protruding portion is provided on the mounting part on which the ink cartridge is mounted, and the hole of the ink cartridge is opened by the protruding portion, it is necessary to accurately place the hole at the position of the protruding portion to connect the ink cartridge. Further, if the shape of the protruding portion for measurement is made imprecisely, the ink cartridge may not be smoothly mounted, and/or ink leaks or evaporates.

In particular, with the ink cartridge in japanese laid-open patent application H9-85963 described above, having the ink supply port and the air introduction port, the ink supply port and the flow path on the mounting member side must be sealed and accordingly accurately manufactured so that the ink does not leak. Further, the two projecting portions must accurately correspond to the ink supply port and the air introduction port. Therefore, the ink cartridge must be manufactured with high precision.

In view of the above, embodiments of the present disclosure provide an ink cartridge, a valve system, and an inkjet recording apparatus, by which the ink cartridge is easily mounted to the inkjet recording apparatus and is simple to manufacture.

According to the ink cartridge of the exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the mounting member is mounted on the recording apparatus in an attachable and detachable manner. The ink cartridge has an ink chamber communicating with a flow path provided on a mounting member via a hole, and has a valve member opening and closing the hole to allow the ink chamber to communicate with and block the outside, and an operating member provided so as to project from the valve member to the outside of the ink cartridge. When the ink cartridge is mounted on the mounting member, the valve member opens the hole by contacting an operating member of the mounting member, so that the ink chamber communicates with the flow path via the hole.

The ink cartridge according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure further has a valve seat portion with which the valve member contacts, and urging means that urges the valve member in a direction to contact the valve seat portion. The valve seat portion has a hole substantially in a central portion thereof and contacts the valve member around the hole, and the operating member extends from the valve member to the outside through the hole.

According to the ink cartridge of the exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the urging means is raised from the circumference of the valve seat portion and surrounds the valve member, and is integrally formed with the valve seat portion in an inwardly extending shape with a rubber elastic material so as to contact the valve member on the side opposite to the valve seat portion.

The ink cartridge according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure further has a sealing device surrounding the operation member and closely contacting the mounting member when the ink cartridge is mounted with the mounting member to form a communication path providing communication between the ink chamber and the flow path through the hole.

In the ink cartridge according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, when the ink cartridge is mounted to the mounting member, a sealing means that closely contacts the mounting member and forms a communication path that can communicate between the ink chamber and the flow path through the hole is raised from the valve seat portion on the opposite side from the valve member while surrounding the hole, and is integrally formed with the valve seat portion with a rubber elastic material.

In the ink cartridge according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, an ink chamber for holding ink is provided, and a mounting member of a recording apparatus is mounted in a attachable and detachable manner. The ink cartridge includes an air introduction port, which communicates with the ink chamber and is open, for introducing air into the ink chamber; a first sealing means for sealing the air introduction port in a normal state, the ink supply port being opened when the ink cartridge is mounted in the mounting part; an ink supply port communicating with the ink chamber, for being opened when supplying the ink in the ink chamber to the outside; and a second sealing means that seals the ink supply port in a normal state and opens the ink supply port when the ink cartridge is mounted in the mounting part. At least one of the first and second sealing means is a valve means including a valve seat portion and a valve member movable relative to the valve seat portion, the valve member having an operating member projecting to the outside of the ink cartridge and projecting such that the operating member contacts the mounting member when the ink cartridge is mounted to the mounting member to separate the valve member from the valve seat portion.

In the ink cartridge according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the air introduction port and the ink supply port are formed side by side on one side of the ink chamber, and the first and second sealing members are opened when the ink cartridge is mounted to the mounting part.

In the ink cartridge according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the first sealing means is a valve means including a first valve seat portion and a first valve member movable relative to the first valve seat portion, and the first valve member has an operating member that protrudes to the outside of the ink cartridge, and is configured such that the operating member contacts the mounting member when the ink cartridge is mounted on the mounting member so as to separate the valve member from the valve seat portion. The second sealing means is a means including a second valve seat portion and a second valve member movable relative to the second valve seat portion, and the second valve member has an operating member projecting to the outside of the ink cartridge, and is configured such that the projecting hollow member is provided as a lever mounting member which contacts the second valve member when the ink cartridge is mounted on the mounting member to separate the second valve member from the second valve seat portion.

A valve system according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure has a movably disposed valve member having a valve portion and an operating member, and a support member having a valve seat portion integrally produced with a rubber elastic material, the valve seat portion having a hole located substantially at a center portion and contacting the valve portion around the hole, and an extension portion rising from an outer circumference of the valve seat portion while surrounding a pushing portion of the valve portion and inward so as to contact the valve portion opposite to the valve seat portion and push the valve portion in a direction of contacting the valve seat portion. The operating member of the valve member is arranged to project outwardly through the aperture of the valve seat portion. The valve portion of the valve member is held between the valve seat portion and the urging portion of the support member. When the operating member is operated and the valve portion is moved against the urging of the urging portion, the valve portion is separated from the valve seat portion to open the hole.

In the ink cartridge according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the support member further includes a sealing device around a periphery of the hole and the operation member.

An inkjet recording apparatus according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes a recording head that performs recording by outputting ink, an ink cartridge having an ink chamber for holding the ink, an ink supply port that supplies the ink onto the recording head, an air introduction port that introduces air into the ink chamber, and a mounting member that mounts the ink cartridge in a mountable and a removable manner, the mounting member having a drawing portion that draws the ink from the ink chamber to the recording head, and an air supply portion that supplies the air to the ink chamber. The ink supply port and the air introduction port are located at positions corresponding to the drawing portion and the air supply portion, respectively, when the ink cartridge is mounted to the mounting member. The ink cartridge has first and second sealing means that seal the ink supply port and the air introduction port, respectively, and opens the ink supply port and the air introduction port, respectively, when the ink cartridge is mounted to the mounting part. At least one of the first and second sealing means is a valve means including a valve seat portion and a valve member movable relative to the valve seat portion, the valve member having an operating member that protrudes to the outside of the ink cartridge, and the operating member contacting the mounting member when the ink cartridge is mounted on the mounting member to separate the valve member from the valve seat portion, and the ink supply port and the lead-out portion, or the air introduction port and the air supply portion communicating. A sealing means surrounding the operation member and closing one of the ink supply port and the lead-out portion when the ink cartridge is mounted in the mounting member in a communicating state, and the air introduction port and the air supply portion are provided between the ink cartridge and the mounting member.

In the ink cartridge according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the other of the first and second sealing means is a valve means including a second valve seat portion and a second valve member movable relative to the second valve seat portion. The other of the lead-out portion and the air lead-in portion in a communicating state is provided in the mounting member in an extended state by the hollow member, and the hollow member is inserted into the second valve seat portion to separate the second valve member from the valve seat portion, and therefore, the ink supply portion and the lead-out portion, and the other of the air lead-in port and the air supply portion communicate.

The ink cartridge of the exemplary aspect of the present disclosure has a valve member that opens and closes an orifice so that the ink chamber can communicate with and block the outside. When the ink cartridge is mounted on the mounting member, the valve member opens the hole with the operating member contacting the mounting member, so that the ink chamber and the flow path communicate via the hole.

Further, in the mounting part of the ink jet recording apparatus, it is not necessary to provide a projecting portion for opening the hole of the valve member. Therefore, there is an effect that when the ink cartridge is mounted on the mounting member, it becomes easy to position the ink cartridge and the mounting member.

Further, the ink cartridge according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure further includes a valve seat portion with which the valve member contacts, and urging means that urges the valve member in a direction of contact with the valve seat portion. The valve seat portion has a hole located substantially at a central portion thereof and contacts the valve member at a circumference of the hole, and the operating member protrudes from the valve member to the outside through the hole. Therefore, when the ink cartridge is detached from the ink jet recording apparatus, the valve member contacts the valve seat portion by the urging portion, and prevents the ink from leaving or evaporating through the hole.

Further, when the ink cartridge is mounted in the ink jet recording apparatus, the valve is opened by uniformly lifting the valve member by the operating member and separating the valve member from the valve seat portion.

Further, according to the ink cartridge of the exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the urging means is raised from the circumference of the valve seat portion and surrounds the valve member, and is integrally formed on the valve seat portion in an inwardly extending shape from a rubber elastic material so as to contact the valve member on the side opposite to the valve seat portion. Therefore, a complicated operation process of connecting the urging means for urging the valve member in the region where the valve member is disposed is not required. It has the effect of reducing the manufacturing cost of the ink cartridge.

Further, the ink cartridge of the exemplary aspect of the present disclosure further includes a sealing device surrounding the operation member and closely contacting the mounting member when the ink cartridge is mounted in the inkjet recording setting to form a communication path providing communication between the ink chamber and the flow path through the hole. Thus preventing ink from exiting or evaporating through the orifice.

Further, in the ink cartridge according to the exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the sealing means rises from the valve seat portion on the opposite side to the valve member while surrounding the hole, and is integrally formed with the valve seat portion with a rubber elastic material. Therefore, a complicated operation process of attaching the seal member to the valve seat portion is not required. So it has the effect of reducing the manufacturing cost of the ink cartridge.

The ink cartridge of the exemplary aspect of the present disclosure can open the ink supply port and the air introduction port when the ink cartridge is mounted on the mounting part, and thus can introduce air into the ink cartridge while supplying ink to the recording apparatus. Further, at least one of the first and second sealing means is a valve means comprising a valve seat portion and a valve member movable relative to the valve seat portion. The valve member has an operating member that protrudes outside the ink cartridge and is configured such that the operating member contacts the mounting member to separate the valve member from the valve seat portion when the ink cartridge is mounted to the mounting member. When a mounting part having an operating member that projects in correspondence with the first and second sealing means is provided, the operating member must be sealed to prevent ink leakage and manufactured to accurately maintain the mutual positional relationship between the two projecting operating members and the mutual positional relationship between the ink supply port and the air introduction port. However, the ink cartridge has a function of enabling the mounting of the mounting member to be easily performed, and also is easy to manufacture without requiring high accuracy in positional relation.

Further, in the ink cartridge of the exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the air introduction port and the ink supply port are formed side by side on one side of the ink chamber, and the first and second sealing means are opened when the ink cartridge is mounted on the mounting part. Thus, both sealing means can be opened by simply moving the ink cartridge in the direction of the mounting part, providing better operability.

In the ink cartridge of the exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, in addition to these effects, the first valve member has an operating member that protrudes outside the ink cartridge, and is configured such that the operating member contacts the mounting member when the ink cartridge is mounted on the mounting member so as to separate the valve member from the valve seat portion. The second valve member is configured such that the protruding hollow member is provided to the mounting member, contacting the second valve member to separate the second valve member from the second valve seat portion. When the ink cartridge is mounted on the mounting member, it is necessary to accurately position the valve member at the position of the hollow member provided on the mounting member. However, the position of the first valve device does not have to be accurately positioned, and therefore, there is an effect that the ink cartridge 2 can be easily manufactured, and the mounting of the ink cartridge becomes easy.

According to the valve system of the exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, a valve member that can be movably provided and has a valve portion and an operating member, a valve seat portion that contacts the valve member, and an urging portion that rises from an outer circumference of the valve seat portion while surrounding the valve portion and extends inward so as to contact the valve portion opposite to the valve seat portion and urge the valve portion in a direction of contacting the valve seat portion, is integrally manufactured with a rubber elastic material. Therefore, there is no need for a complicated operation process of connecting the urging means for urging the valve member in the region where the valve member is disposed. It has the effect of reducing the manufacturing cost of the ink cartridge.

Further, the valve member has a hole substantially in a central portion and has a valve portion contacting the valve seat portion on the circumferences of the hole and the operating member. Therefore, there is a case where the valve is uniformly raised by operating the operating member, and the valve is opened by separating the valve portion from the valve seat portion.

Further, in the ink cartridge of the exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the support member includes a sealing device around a periphery of the hole and the operation member. Therefore, there is a function of preventing leakage of the fluid flowing into the valve system.

In the inkjet recording apparatus according to the exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the ink supply port and the air introduction port are opened when the ink cartridge is mounted on the mounting part, and air can be introduced into the ink cartridge while supplying ink to the recording apparatus. Further, at least one of the first and second sealing means is a valve means including a valve member having an operating member that protrudes outside the ink cartridge, and when the ink cartridge is mounted, the operating member contacts the mounting member to separate the valve member from the valve seat portion. There is an effect that the ink cartridge is easily manufactured without requiring high precision in the mutual positional relationship between the ink supply port and the air introduction port, and therefore mounting of the ink cartridge on the mounting member is easily achieved.

Also, a sealing means surrounding the operation member and closing one of the ink supply port and the lead-out portion, and the air introduction port and the air supply portion, which introduce air from the outside when the ink cartridge is mounted in the mounting member in a communicating state, are provided between the ink cartridge and the mounting member. And thus has an effect of preventing the ink from leaking to the outside or the ink from being evaporated.

Further, in the ink cartridge of the exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the other of the first and second sealing means is a valve means including a second valve seat portion and a second valve member movable relative to the second valve seat portion. The other of the lead-out portion and the air introduction portion in a communicated state is provided in the mounting member in an extended state from the hollow member. Therefore, when the ink cartridge is mounted to the mounting member, the hollow member is inserted into the second valve seat portion to separate the valve second valve member from the valve seat portion, and therefore, the ink supply port and the lead-out portion, and the other of the air introduction port and the air supply portion communicate.

Further, when protruding hollow members are provided at both the ink lead-out portion and the air supply portion of the mounting member, a significant gap is required for the distance between these hollow members. However, this problem can be solved by making one of them as a hollow part protruding from the mounting part and by providing the operating member in the other one. Therefore, there is an effect that the manufacturing cost of the ink jet apparatus can be reduced.

In the inkjet recording apparatus of japanese laid-open patent application No. H9-85963, it is configured that an ink container (hereinafter referred to as an ink cartridge) can be attached and detached, and two small chambers are provided on a holder for holding the ink cartridge. Each cell is filled with a porous material and forms an extension from the upper end. One end of one of the porous materials is connected to the air introduction port, and the lower surface of the other porous material is connected to the ink supply port.

The ink cartridge has a through hole that allows insertion of each protruding portion at the bottom. From which a membrane valve capable of opening the valve protrudes. The two chambers communicate with the inside of the ink cartridge by mounting the ink cartridge to the holder.

However, in the package, the inside of the ink cartridge is usually in a negative pressure state. When the ink cartridge is mounted, if the valve of the ink supply port is opened before the valve of the air introduction port, the ink held on the side of the recording apparatus reversely flows into the ink cartridge. The ink in the ink cartridge is kept in a ventilation state, which cannot be maintained if the ink that has been output is returned. However, a meniscus formed inside the nozzle of the recording head is broken when the ink is pulled toward the ink cartridge. As a result, there is a problem that the ink cannot be output well.

In view of the above, embodiments of the present disclosure provide an ink cartridge capable of preventing ink from flowing backward into the ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is mounted, maintaining the ink in a normal state, and maintaining good output of the ink to a recording head.

An ink cartridge of an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure has an ink chamber for storing ink, and is attachably and detachably mounted to a main body of a recording apparatus and in a state of reduced pressure before mounting. The ink cartridge includes an air introduction port formed to communicate with the ink chamber and opened to introduce air into the inside of the ink chamber; a first sealing device that seals the air introduction port before the ink cartridge is mounted on the recording apparatus main body; an ink supply port formed to communicate with the ink chamber and opened for supplying ink inside the ink chamber; a second sealing device that seals the ink supply port before the ink cartridge is mounted on the recording apparatus main body; and a check valve disposed between the second sealing means and the ink chamber, the check valve blocking the flow of ink from outside the ink supply port to inside the ink chamber.

In the ink cartridge according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the air introduction port and the mode-giving hole are formed side by side on one side of the ink chamber, and the first and second sealing means are opened in accordance with mounting of the ink cartridge on the recording apparatus main body.

In the ink cartridge according to the exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the check valve is away from the ink supply port in a normal state, and blocks the flow of ink in the direction only when the ink flows from the outside of the ink supply port to the ink chamber.

In the ink cartridge according to the exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the air introduction port is formed inside a first cylindrical wall formed outward from a side of the ink chamber. A first sealing means is provided inside the cylindrical wall to cover the air introduction port, and a second sealing means is formed inside the second cylindrical wall to cover the ink supply port.

In the ink cartridge according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the check valve is constituted by a rod-shaped portion and a film umbrella-shaped portion. The umbrella-shaped portion is disposed to face the ink supply port, and a space is formed between the ink supply port and the umbrella-shaped portion to allow ink from the ink supply port to flow. When ink flows from the outside of the ink supply port to the ink chamber, the umbrella-shaped portion closely contacts and blocks the ink supply port.

In the ink cartridge according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the first and second sealing means are valve means including a valve seat portion and a valve member movable relative to the valve seat portion. The valve member moves from the valve seat portion to open the valve according to the mounting of the ink cartridge on the main body of the recording apparatus.

According to the ink cartridge of the exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the check valve that prevents the ink from flowing into the ink chamber from outside the ink supply port is provided between the sealing means on the ink supply side and the ink chamber. Therefore, when the air introducing-side sealing means and the ink supplying-side sealing means are opened, ink is prevented from flowing backward into the ink chamber from the ink supplying port, the ink chamber being in a reduced pressure state, on the main body mounting the ink cartridge to the recording apparatus. Further, the deaerated state of the ink is prevented from being deteriorated by the mixing of the ink on the recording apparatus side into the deaerated ink of the ink cartridge. Further, the ink meniscus inside the recording head nozzle is prevented from being damaged, and therefore, defective discharge of ink from the recording head is reduced. Thus, it has an effect of maintaining good recording quality.

According to the ink cartridge of the exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the air introduction port and the ink supply port are formed side by side on one side of the ink chamber, and the first and second sealing means are opened in accordance with the mounting of the ink cartridge on the recording apparatus main body. Therefore, since the two sealing means can be opened by mounting the ink cartridge on the recording apparatus main body from one direction, mounting the ink cartridge on the recording apparatus main body becomes easy. Further, even if the ink cartridge is tilted at the time of mounting or the like, whichever sealing means is first opened has the effect of preventing the reverse flow of ink as described above.

According to the ink cartridge of the exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, in a normal state, the check valve is away from the ink supply port, and the flow of ink in the direction is blocked only when the ink flows from the outside of the ink supply port to the ink chamber. Therefore, there is an effect of allowing a small amount of reverse flow and thus preventing the pressure on the recording head from changing significantly. That is, this structure closes the valve in a normal state and opens only when ink is supplied, when the pressure on the recording side changes and increases due to being moved by a carriage or the like, there is no room for ink to escape, and the distance of the recording side increases, which prevents normal discharge of ink. Therefore, by opening the valve in a normal state, a small amount of reverse flow to the ink chamber is allowed, and this phenomenon is prevented from occurring.

According to the ink cartridge of the exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the air introduction port is formed inside a first cylindrical wall formed outward from a side of the ink chamber. The ink supply port is formed inside a second cylindrical wall formed outward from a side of the ink chamber. A first sealing means is provided inside the first cylindrical wall to cover the air introduction port, and a second sealing means is formed inside the second cylindrical wall to cover the ink supply port. Therefore, the air to be introduced and the ink to be supplied are completely separated, and thus there is an effect that the air is not mixed into the ink to be supplied.

According to the ink cartridge of the exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the check valve is constituted by a rod-shaped portion and a thin-film umbrella-shaped portion. The umbrella-shaped portion is disposed to face the ink supply port, and a space is formed between the ink supply port and the umbrella-shaped portion to allow ink from the ink supply port to flow. When ink flows from the outside of the ink supply port to the ink chamber, the umbrella-shaped portion closely contacts and blocks the ink supply port. Therefore, the check valve is easy to construct and low in cost, has the function of preventing pressure fluctuation on the recording head side as described above, and has the function of accurately preventing reverse flow when reverse flow occurs.

According to the ink cartridge of the exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the first sealing means and the second sealing means are valve means including a valve seat portion and a valve member movable relative to the valve seat portion, and according to the ink cartridge being mounted to the main body of the recording apparatus, the valve member is moved from the valve seat portion to open the valve. Therefore, the sealing device has a function of being formed with a simple structure and a function of easily mounting the ink cartridge to the main body of the recording apparatus.

An ink cartridge has an ink chamber in which ink is filled. When the ink cartridge is mounted in a recording apparatus injected into an inkjet printer, ink is supplied from the ink chamber to the recording apparatus, and the ink partially remains inside the ink chamber according to conditions such as the internal structure of the ink chamber and the viscosity of the ink. Therefore, as an ink cartridge capable of preventing such ink from remaining, an ink cartridge having a groove for discharging ink around a prism for detecting the amount of remaining ink has been proposed, for example, in japanese laid-open patent application No. 2000-72471. In such an ink cartridge, by improving the discharge of ink around the prism by the groove, it is made difficult for ink to remain on the surface of the prism, and erroneous detection of ink can be prevented when only a small amount of ink is in the ink chamber.

However, in the above ink cartridge, if the curvature of the groove formed in the ink chamber for discharging the ink is constant, the magnitude of the surface tension applied from the groove to the ink becomes substantially the same at a position close to the ink supply portion for supplying the ink to the recording apparatus and a position far from the ink supply portion, and therefore, when the amount of ink remaining in the ink chamber becomes small, the ink is pulled away from the ink supply portion, and the ink separates, so that the ink remains in the ink chamber. Thus, the ink in the ink chamber cannot be fully utilized.

The disclosed embodiments of the present invention provide an ink cartridge capable of preventing ink remaining in an ink chamber relatively accurately.

An ink cartridge according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is an ink cartridge including an ink chamber and an ink supply port for supplying ink in the ink chamber to a recording apparatus, wherein a curvature of at least a part of a plurality of edges forming an inner shape of the ink chamber is made larger when being closer to the ink supply port.

In the ink cartridge, ink in the ink chamber is supplied from the ink supply port to the recording apparatus. The curvature of at least a part of the edges forming the internal shape of the ink chamber (i.e., the edges between the surfaces forming the ink chamber, the edges of the portions formed in the protruding or recessed shape in the ink chamber) becomes larger when closer to the ink supply port. That is, when it is relatively close to the ink supply port, the shape of the edge changes from a gentle shape to an acute shape. Therefore, the surface tension applied to the ink from the edge becomes relatively large at a position close to the ink supply port. Therefore, the ink is guided to the ink supply port by the edge of which the curvature is changed. As a result, since the surface tension applied to the ink from the edge is relatively small due to the occasion (occast) where the ink remains far from the ink supply port, the ink in the ink chamber can be fully utilized since the ink can be prevented from being attracted and separated at this position.

The ink cartridge of the exemplary aspect of the present disclosure is such that at least a part of the plurality of edges extends from the edge at a position higher than the ink supply port toward the edge of the ink supply port. Therefore, even when the ink surface becomes low according to the consumption of the ink, the ink is accurately guided to the ink supply port due to the edge extending from a position higher than the ink supply port to the ink supply port and having a larger curvature when being relatively close to the ink supply port. Therefore, ink is prevented from remaining in the vicinity of the side surface of the ink chamber away from the ink supply port.

The ink cartridge of the exemplary aspect of the present disclosure is such that at least a part of the plurality of edges is formed between predetermined two surfaces of the surfaces forming the ink chamber, and a curvature of the edge is different at each connection of the predetermined two surfaces. Due to such a structure that the curvature of the edge between the two surfaces forming the ink chamber is different at each connection of the two surfaces, wherein such a structure that the curvature of the edge is larger when closer to the ink supply port is easily realized.

The ink cartridge of the exemplary aspect of the present disclosure is such that the connection portion of the predetermined two surfaces is a cut surface, and the cut surfaces are parallel to the two predetermined surfaces, respectively. An edge having a predetermined curvature is easily formed between the two surfaces.

An ink cartridge of an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes a cartridge body forming an ink chamber; an ink supply port formed in a lower surface of the ink chamber for supplying ink to the recording apparatus; and an ink guide portion provided on a lower surface of the ink chamber and extending from a side surface of the ink chamber toward the ink supply port. The curvature of an edge between the ink guide portion and the bottom surface is larger than the curvature of an edge between a side surface and the bottom surface of the ink chamber.

In such an ink cartridge, ink in an ink chamber formed in the cartridge main body is supplied to a recording apparatus from an ink supply port via an ink guide portion extending from a side surface of the ink chamber to the ink supply port. The curvature of the edge between the ink guide portion and the bottom surface of the ink chamber is made larger than the curvature between the side surface of the ink chamber and the wall surface, that is, the surface tension applied to the ink at the edge between the ink guide portion near the ink supply port and the bottom surface of the ink chamber is larger than the surface tension at a position away from the side surface of the ink supply port near the ink chamber. Therefore, since the surface tension applied to the ink from the edge is relatively small due to the occasion (occast) where the ink remains far from the ink supply port, the ink in the ink chamber can be fully utilized since the ink can be prevented from being attracted and separated at this position.

The ink cartridge of the exemplary aspect of the present disclosure is such that the curvature of the edge between the ink guide portion and the bottom surface becomes relatively large when being relatively close to the ink supply port. Therefore, even at the edge between the ink guide portion and the bottom surface of the ink chamber, the surface tension applied to the ink becomes relatively large when being relatively close to the ink supply port. Therefore, ink is accurately prevented from remaining at a position away from the ink supply port.

The ink cartridge of the exemplary aspect of the present disclosure is such that the ink guide portion extends to the mode charge hole. Therefore, the ink on the bottom surface of the ink chamber is accurately guided to the ink supply port via the ink filling path portion.

The ink guide portion may be a protruding portion protruding from the bottom surface (eighth invention) or a groove (ninth invention) formed on the bottom surface.

The ink cartridge of an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure is such that a plurality of ink guide portions are provided to gather to an ink supply port from around the ink supply port. Since the plurality of ink guide portions are provided to be gathered to the ink supply port from around the ink supply port, the ink on the bottom surface of the ink chamber is further accurately guided to the ink supply port.

The ink cartridge of the exemplary aspect of the present disclosure is such that an edge of the ink guide portion opposite to the ink supply portion extends to a side surface of the ink chamber. The ink near the side surface of the ink chamber can be accurately guided to the ink supply port via the ink guide portion.

In japanese laid-open patent application No. H09-85963, there is disclosed an ink container (hereinafter referred to as "ink cartridge") that holds ink inside and has a hole at the bottom. An elastic membrane valve is disposed at the aperture of the ink cartridge. Such an ink cartridge is configured to be freely attached to and detached from the holder. For the holder, a protruding portion that opens the valve is formed at a position facing the hole. A through hole for allowing ink in the ink cartridge to flow to the outside is provided on the protruding portion. When the ink cartridge is properly mounted on the holder, the valve is pushed by the protruding portion of the holder and opens in an upward direction, and the ink in the ink cartridge flows to the outside via the through-hole and the hole.

However, the above ink cartridge has a structure in which communication between the inside and outside of the ink cartridge is normally blocked by the valve and the projecting portion is allowed to push the valve upward when the ink cartridge is properly mounted on the holder. However, there is a problem in that if the valve is pushed upward externally before the ink cartridge is mounted in the holder, ink will leak through the hole.

In view of the above, the disclosed embodiments of the present invention provide an ink cartridge that suppresses leakage of ink to a minimum even if an erroneous operation occurs before the ink cartridge is mounted on a holder.

The ink cartridge of an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure is mountable and dismountable to a main body of a recording apparatus and has a container chamber that holds ink. The ink cartridge includes a communication hole formed on a cylindrical wall formed on one side of the container chamber and communicating with an outside of the ink cartridge; a flow path having one end communicating with the communication hole and the other end communicating with the easy chamber; a valve device having a valve seat portion provided in the communication hole and a valve member configured to be attachable and detachable with respect to the valve seat portion, the valve device sealing communication between the inside and outside of the container chamber when the valve member contacts the valve seat portion when the ink cartridge is properly mounted to the main body of the recording apparatus, the valve device allowing connection between the inside and outside of the container chamber when the valve member is separated from the valve seat portion by a predetermined distance; and a blocking member blocking communication between the inside and outside of the container chamber by closing the flow path when the valve member moves beyond a predetermined distance.

In the ink cartridge of the exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the flow path is formed inside a hollow cylindrical member formed upright from the bottom wall toward an upper portion of the ink cartridge. The blocking member is formed by protruding toward the flow path side and protrudes in a substantially cylindrical shape, the outer diameter of which is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the flow path. At least the forward end of the stop is in close contact engagement with the inner diameter of the flow path when the valve member moves beyond the predetermined distance.

In the ink cartridge according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the blocking means is held in a close contact and fitting state.

In the ink cartridge according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the valve member and the stopper are integrally formed with a resin material.

In the ink cartridge according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the flow path is an air introduction path for introducing air into the ink cartridge.

An ink cartridge according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure is detachably mountable to a main body of a recording apparatus and has a container chamber storing ink. The ink cartridge includes a communication hole formed on one side of the ink cartridge to be opened to the outside; a flow path communicating the communication hole to the container chamber; according to the ink cartridge being correctly mounted on the recording apparatus, a stopper is movably disposed in a direction close to the direction in which the flow passes, the stopper having a space with the flow path when correctly mounted, and closing the flow path when moved beyond the amount of movement of the correct mounting.

The ink cartridge according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure further includes a sealing device disposed in the communication hole further outward than the stopper, wherein the sealing device is opened when properly mounted.

In the ink cartridge according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the sealing means is constituted by a valve seat portion and a valve member contactable and separable with respect to the valve seat portion, and the blocking member is connected to the valve member.

The ink cartridge according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure further includes an ink supply port formed on one side of the ink cartridge, and leading to the outside, and supplies the ink in the container chamber to the main body of the recording apparatus.

In the ink cartridge according to the exemplary aspect of the disclosure, the front end of the group of the blocking members is configured such that the outer diameter thereof becomes smaller toward the flow path.

In the ink cartridge according to the exemplary aspect of the disclosure, the flow path is configured such that an inner diameter thereof changes from being an end surface of the stopper to being smaller in a direction away from the stopper.

According to the ink cartridge according to the exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, when the ink cartridge is properly mounted to the main body of the recording apparatus, the valve member is separated from the valve seat portion by a predetermined distance so that the ink container chamber can communicate with the outside. In addition, the blocking member closes the flow passage when the valve member is unexpectedly moved beyond a predetermined distance. Therefore, the possibility of ink leaking outside is suppressed to a minimum.

According to the ink cartridge according to the exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the flow path is formed inside a hollow cylindrical member formed to stand from the bottom wall toward an upper portion of the ink cartridge. The blocking member is formed by protruding toward the flow path, and protrudes in a substantially cylindrical shape, the outer diameter of which is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the flow path. At least the front end portion of the blocking member is fitted by closely contacting the inside of the flow path. And thus has the effect that the leakage of ink is accurately suppressed.

According to the ink cartridge according to the exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the blocking member is held in the close contact and fitting state. Therefore, the ink leakage prevention function is provided.

According to the ink cartridge according to the exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, since the valve member and the stopper are integrally formed with the resin material, there is an effect of reducing the number of parts and thus reducing the manufacturing cost.

According to the ink cartridge according to the exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the flow path is an air introduction path for introducing air into the ink cartridge. Therefore, when the valve member moves beyond a predetermined distance, the air introduction path is blocked by the blocking member, and air pressure is not applied to the ink cartridge even if the ink supply port is opened. And thus has the effect of inhibiting ink leakage.

According to the ink cartridge according to the exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the communication hole is formed on one side of the ink cartridge to be opened to the outside, and communicates with the container chamber through the flow path. The blocking member is movably disposed in the communication hole in a direction approaching the flow path according to when the ink cartridge is properly mounted on the recording apparatus. The stopper has a space with the flow path when the ink cartridge is properly mounted on the recording apparatus, and closes the flow path when an unexpected movement exceeds a predetermined amount. The possibility of ink leakage to the outside is suppressed to a minimum.

The ink cartridge according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure further includes a sealing device provided in the communication hole further outward than the stopper, the sealing device being opened when properly mounted. Therefore, when the ink cartridge is not properly mounted to the main body of the recording apparatus, the communication between the inside and the outside of the ink cartridge is accurately sealed by the sealing means. Further, when the ink cartridge is properly mounted to the recording apparatus main body, the flow path to the outside is accurately formed.

According to the ink cartridge according to the exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the sealing means is constituted by a valve seat portion and a valve member contactable and separable with respect to the valve seat portion, and the blocking member is connected to the valve member. It is therefore not necessary to form a complicated structure in the ink cartridge to provide the blocking member and the valve member, as compared with the case where the blocking member and the valve member are separate units. Thus, the ink cartridge has a simplified structure.

The ink cartridge according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure further includes an ink supply port formed on one side of the ink cartridge, and leading to the outside, and supplies the ink in the container chamber to the main body of the recording apparatus. The communication hole is an air introduction port for introducing air into the container chamber. Therefore, when the blocking member moves more than a predetermined amount of movement, the flow path through which air is introduced is blocked, and air pressure is not applied to the cartridge even if the ink supply port is opened. And thus has the effect of inhibiting ink leakage.

According to the ink cartridge according to the exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, since the front end of the blocking member is configured to become smaller toward the outer diameter of the flow path, the front end of the blocking member can be easily inserted into the flow path. And thus has a function for precisely blocking the operation.

According to the ink cartridge according to the exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the flow path is configured such that the inner diameter thereof changes from the end surface which is the stopper side to be smaller in the direction away from the stopper, and the front end of the stopper can be easily inserted into the flow path. And thus has a function for precisely blocking the operation.

An ink cartridge having an air tube for introducing air into the cartridge main body chamber (hereinafter referred to as "air introducing part") is disclosed in japanese laid-open patent application No. H06-64182; a film barrier member bonded to an upper end of the air introduction part; and a cooperating member provided in the air introduction part. In order to introduce air into the ink cartridge, an air introduction needle is inserted together with a rubber member provided in the air introduction part. The film breaking member is broken by pushing the cooperating member to form an air introduction path through the small hole formed by the cooperating member. The small 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 the leading end hole to the rubber member.

The amount of air introduced into the ink cartridge by the air introducing part of the ink cartridge is determined by the amount of ink supplied from the ink cartridge to the recording head to keep the pressure of ink supplied to the recording head constant. Therefore, it is preferable that the air introduction part is not closed by, for example, ink introduced thereinto. However, it is inevitable that the ink cartridge tilts or falls after being manufactured before the user mounts the ink cartridge to the recording apparatus main body, or after the user detaches the ink cartridge from the recording apparatus main body. Therefore, there is a possibility that ink sticks to the open end of the air introduction part or ink enters the inside of the air introduction part.

When the introduction flow is small, the ink often closes the air introducing part due to the meniscus formed at the open end of the air introducing part on the container chamber side, or due to the meniscus formed inside the air introducing part. If ink is supplied in this case, a pressure drop in the container chamber sealed by the meniscus repeatedly occurs; air breaks the meniscus and flows into the chamber; the meniscus formed by the remaining ink drops in pressure; air breaks through the meniscus and flows into the containment chamber. That is, the ink supply pressure of the recording head fluctuates, and the ink is unevenly discharged from the recording head. There is a problem in that the recording quality is degraded.

In view of the above problems, the disclosed embodiments of the present invention are proposed and provide an ink cartridge that prevents the pressure fluctuation of the ink supply of the recording head and keeps the ink discharged from the recording head uniform by correctly introducing air into the ink cartridge.

An ink cartridge according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure has a container chamber storing ink and includes an air introduction port formed on a bottom wall that is a bottom of the container chamber, the air introduction port introducing air into the container chamber, an ink supply port supplying the ink of the container chamber to the outside, and a hollow cylindrical air introduction member rising from the bottom wall to an upper portion of the container chamber, a lower end of an internal flow path of the air introduction member communicating with the air introduction port, an upper end of the air introduction member opening to the upper portion of the container chamber. The air introduction member is configured such that a portion of the upper end opening is formed diagonally with respect to the first direction, and thus the area of the upper end opening is larger than the cross-sectional area of the internal flow path in the direction perpendicular to the first direction.

An ink cartridge according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure has a container chamber storing ink and includes an air introduction port formed on a bottom wall that is a bottom of the container chamber, the air introduction port introducing air into the container chamber; an ink supply port for supplying the ink in the container chamber to the outside; and a hollow cylindrical air introduction part rising from the bottom wall toward an upper portion of the container chamber, a lower end of an internal flow path of the air introduction part communicating with the air introduction port, an upper end of the air introduction part being opened at the upper portion of the container chamber. The upper end openings of the air introduction part are formed on two or more planes different from each other.

An ink cartridge according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure has a container chamber storing ink and includes an air introduction port formed on a bottom wall that is a bottom of the container chamber, the air introduction port introducing air into the container chamber, an ink supply port supplying the ink of the container chamber to the outside, and a hollow cylindrical air introduction member rising from the bottom wall toward an upper portion of the container chamber, a lower end of an internal flow path of the air introduction member communicating with the air introduction port, an upper end of the air introduction member opening at the upper portion of the container chamber. The upper end of the air introduction part is formed in a non-circular shape.

An ink cartridge according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure has a container chamber storing ink and includes an air introduction port formed on a bottom wall that is a bottom of the container chamber, the air introduction port introducing air into the container chamber, an ink supply port supplying the ink of the container chamber to the outside, and a hollow cylindrical air introduction member rising from the bottom wall toward an upper portion of the container chamber, a lower end of an internal flow path of the air introduction member communicating with the air introduction port, an upper end of the air introduction member opening at the upper portion of the container chamber. The inner diameter of the internal flow path of the air introduction part is made to be a size by which a meniscus is not formed in a direction in which the ink blocks the internal flow path.

In the ink cartridge according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, an inner diameter of the internal flow path of the air introduction part is equal to or greater than 0.8 mm.

The ink cartridge according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure further includes a side wall extending in the first direction from a circumference of the bottom wall that is also a periphery of the container chamber; a main chamber constructed of a bottom wall and a side wall, a top surface chamber of the main chamber being open; and a cover member covering a top surface of the main body chamber. The air introduction part is integrally formed with the bottom wall.

According to the ink cartridge of the exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the air introduction port is formed on the bottom wall that is the bottom of the container chamber and introduces air into the container chamber. The lower end of the flow inner diameter of the air introduction part communicates with the air introduction port. The air introduction part ascends from the bottom wall toward the upper portion of the container chamber and has a hole opened at the upper portion of the container chamber. The air introduction member is configured such that a portion of the upper end opening is formed diagonally with respect to the first direction, and thus the area of the upper end opening is larger than the cross-sectional area of the internal flow path in the direction perpendicular to the first direction. The upper end openings are formed on two or more mutually different planes. The upper end opening may also be formed in a non-circular shape. Thus. Even if ink adheres to the opening, it is difficult to form a meniscus, and even if a meniscus is formed, it is easily broken according to the introduction of air. Therefore, since fluctuation of the introduced air caused when a meniscus is formed on the hole can be suppressed, there is an effect of reducing fluctuation of the ink supplied to the recording head, and the ink discharged from the recording head is kept uniform.

According to the ink cartridge of the exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the air introduction port is formed on the bottom wall that is the bottom of the container chamber and introduces air into the container chamber. The lower end of the flow inner diameter of the air introduction part communicates with the air introduction port. The air introduction part ascends from the bottom wall toward the upper portion of the container chamber and has a hole opened at the upper portion of the container chamber. Since the inner diameter of the internal flow path of the air introduction part is made to be a size by which a meniscus is not formed in a direction in which the ink blocks the internal flow path, the internal flow path is not blocked by a thin film of the ink, that is, it is difficult to form a meniscus even if the ink remains in the flow path. In addition, air is properly introduced into the container chamber. And therefore has the effect of maintaining uniform discharge of ink from the recording head as described above.

According to the ink cartridge of the exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the above-described effect is easily achieved by setting the internal flow path of the air introduction part to 0.8mm or more.

According to an ink cartridge of an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the main chamber is configured by an open top surface, a bottom wall, and a side wall. Further, the air introduction part is integrally formed with the bottom wall. Therefore, since the main body chamber with the air introduction part integrally provided therewith is easily formed by tool molding, the manufacturing cost can be reduced, and the ink flow from the connection ports of the air introduction part and the bottom wall to the internal flow path can be prevented. Thus having the effect of correctly directing air into the container compartment.

While the present invention has been described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments and the examples set forth above, various alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and/or equivalents, whether known or that are or may be presently unforeseen, may become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art. The exemplary embodiments of the invention set forth above are therefore intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The invention therefore includes all known and later developed alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements and/or equivalents.

Industrial applicability

The ink cartridge of the present invention is mounted in an ink jet recording apparatus, which is widely used in homes and offices.

Claims (17)

1. An ink cartridge includes

A chamber having a bottom wall and a side wall forming an ink chamber, a top surface of the chamber being open;

an air introduction port formed in a bottom wall of the chamber for introducing air into the ink chamber; and

a hollow member directly communicating with the air introduction port, wherein the hollow member is formed integrally with the bottom wall of the chamber and extends from the bottom wall of the chamber to the top surface in the first direction, and an upper end of the hollow member is open;

an ink supply port is formed in the chamber to supply ink from the ink chamber;

the air introduction port is in direct communication with the interior of a first cylindrical wall projecting from the lower surface of the bottom wall and formed integrally therewith,

the ink supply port directly communicates with the inside of a second cylindrical wall integrally formed and projecting from the lower surface of the bottom wall, and

the interior of the first cylindrical wall and the interior of the second cylindrical wall are both sealed by seals disposed in the first cylindrical wall and the second cylindrical wall;

the seal is a valve system having a valve seat and a valve movable relative to the valve seat;

the valve of the seal disposed on at least one of the first cylindrical wall or the second cylindrical wall has a barrier,

when the valve contacts the valve seat, the communication between the inside and the outside of the chamber can be closed,

when the valve is moved a predetermined distance from the valve seat, communication can be established between the interior and the exterior of the chamber, and

when the valve is moved more than a predetermined distance from the valve seat, the communication between the interior and the exterior of the chamber can be closed.

2. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a first portion of the hollow member adjacent to the bottom wall is larger than a second portion of the hollow member adjacent to the upper end.

3. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the ink supply port is formed on the bottom wall.

4. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the first cylindrical wall and the hollow member are integrally formed through the bottom wall in a continuous cylindrical shape.

5. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the blocking member has a cylindrical shape protruding toward the hollow member, an outer diameter of the blocking member is substantially equal to an inner diameter of the hollow member, and at least an end portion of the blocking member is capable of fitting into the hollow member.

6. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the stopper and the valve resin material are integrally formed.

7. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein an upper end of the hollow member is inclined with respect to the first direction.

8. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the upper end of the hollow member has an opening, and the opening of the upper end of the hollow member is inclined toward the bottom wall and toward the side wall adjacent to the hollow member.

9. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein an upper end of the hollow member has an opening having an area larger than a cross-sectional area of an inside of the hollow member in a direction perpendicular to the first direction.

10. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the upper end of the hollow member is formed in two or more planes different from each other.

11. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the upper end of the hollow member is formed in a non-circular shape.

12. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the hollow member has an inner diameter of about 0.8mm or more.

13. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the upper end of the hollow member has a stepped surface.

14. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the ink cartridge further comprises a top portion covering a top surface of the chamber.

15. The ink cartridge according to claim 5, wherein an end portion of the stopper is formed in a tapered shape in which the outer diameter decreases in a direction toward the hollow member.

16. The ink cartridge according to claim 15, wherein an inside of the hollow member is formed in a tapered shape in which the inner diameter decreases in a direction away from the stopper.

17. The ink cartridge as in claim 1, wherein the valve system of the seal disposed in the first cylindrical wall further comprises an operating member extending from the valve to an exterior of the ink cartridge, and the operating member is operable to move the valve relative to the valve seat.