JPH0615839A - Ink tank - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To stably supply ink by packing an ink tank with a plurality of fibers so that the density of the fibers become high toward a supply port. CONSTITUTION:An ink tank 11 is packed with a plurality of fibers different in density over the whole of the tank so that a high density fiber 13 and a low density fiber 12 are compressed in this order toward an ink supply port 10. The space 14 in the ink tank 11 is an air layer and, when ink is drawn out, air enters the space 14 from an air intake port 15. The fibers 12, 13 are mutually brought to a pressure contact state in order to prevent the break of ink due to the mixing with air and received in the ink tank 11 in a gap free state. Since the fibers in the ink tank 11 are increased in density toward the ink supply passage 10, the ink gathers to the ink supply passage 10.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink tank structure for an ink jet printer, and more particularly to a structure for storing and supplying ink.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Since an ink jet printer is treated with a liquid ink, the printing performance depends on the printing posture.
It had the drawback that the quality changed drastically. A method considered there is a method in which fibers are put in the ink tank, the flow of ink in the ink tank is corrected by the capillary phenomenon and the surface tension, and the deterioration of the characteristics due to the printing posture is corrected.

A conventional method will be described with reference to FIG. Ink 5 is supplied to the inkjet printer 1 from an ink tank 3 via an ink supply path 2. At this time, the fibers 4 are stored in the ink tank 3, and the air is input from the air intake port 6 into the space 7 in which the ink between the fibers is sucked out. In this case, if the suction force of the inkjet printer 1 is strong, the ink 5 in the ink tank 3
Is sucked toward the ink supply path 2 side. However, when there is no suction force, the surface tension 20 cannot supply ink sufficiently. Also, if the level of the ink 5 in the ink tank 3 is lower than the nozzle of the inkjet printer 1, the ink will run out.

Therefore, in the ink jet printer disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-11152, the ink in the ink tank is collected on the side of the ink supply path so that the ink can be used without any waste and bubbles in the ink tank can be removed. Ink ejection mistakes are eliminated by sending the ink to the inner gap side.

FIG. 5 shows an ink jet printer disclosed in Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 63-11152. The inkjet head 1 has an ink tank 3 through an ink supply path 2.
Have been contacted. The ink tank 3 has an ink supply path 2
The inner diameter becomes smaller as it gets closer to the side. The ink tank 3 is filled with one kind of fiber 4, and since there is no break or joint, the density of the fiber continuously increases as it approaches the ink supply path 2 side, and the ink is collected in one side. Air enters the space 7 into which the ink has been sucked out from the air intake 6, and is covered with a lid 8 when not in use.

[0006]

However, in this conventional structure, when the ink tank is attached to the carriage, it is difficult to design the mounting position with respect to the carriage, and not only the shape is thin but also the fiber is gradually formed. Since it is compressed, the ink does not enter the ink tank, and a sufficient amount of ink cannot be retained in the ink tank. As a result, there is a problem that the ink tank must be made larger.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and provide a structure of an ink tank having a simple shape, capable of storing a sufficient ink capacity, and capable of stably supplying ink to an ink jet head. Is.

[0008]

According to the present invention for achieving the above object, a plurality of fibers are filled in an ink tank so as to have a high density toward an ink supply path.

Specifically, fibers are compressed and filled in an ink tank, the fibers are composed of a plurality of fibers having different densities, and further, the fibers are closely packed with each other without any gap, and The fibers were arranged so that the density of the fibers increased toward the supply path.

[0010]

[Function] By using fibers having a high density so that the ink is directed to the ink supply path, a large amount of the ink is retained in the fibers in the low density portion, and the ink in the high density portion is absorbed by the capillaries due to the difference in fiber density. Can be easily collected. Furthermore, due to the holding force of the fiber and the pressure balance of the head, there is no natural outflow of ink from the head, and since there is a high holding force in the vicinity of the ink supply path, there is a holding force, so it is difficult for air to enter the ink supply path. .

[0011]

EXAMPLE Next, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The inkjet head 9 is connected to an ink tank 11 via an ink supply path 10. In the ink tank 3 shown as a conventional example in FIG. 5, the fiber density is changed by changing the shape of the ink tank, but in the present invention, the ink tank 11 has a box shape. Further, a plurality of fibers having different densities are compressed and packed in the ink tank 11 toward the ink supply path 10 in order of the high density fiber 13 and the low density fiber 12 over the entire tank.

The space 14 in the ink tank 11 is an air layer, and when ink is sucked out, air enters the space 14 through the air intake port 15.

The joints between the fibers are filled in contact with each other with no gap to prevent the ink from being interrupted due to air inclusion. Furthermore, since the density of the fibers in the ink tank 11 increases toward the ink supply path 10, the ink collects in the ink supply path 10.

The high-density fiber 13 has a large number of fibers per unit area and has a strong ink absorbing power. On the contrary, the low-density fiber 12 has a small number of fibers per unit area and has a weak ink absorbing power. Therefore, high-density fiber 13 and low-density fiber 1
The ink in the ink tank, which is packed in the order of 2, collects into highly dense fibers by utilizing the characteristics of the capillaries.
Therefore, the ink in the ink tank 11 can be used without waste. Further, since the fibers near the ink supply path 10 are always filled with the liquid, the low density fiber 12 and the high density fiber 1
It is difficult for the air to reach the ink supply path 10 through the nozzle 3. Further, even if it is in contact with air for a long time, it is difficult for the air to pass through the low density fiber 12 and the high density fiber 13 to the ink supply path 10.

2 and 3 show another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a configuration in which the high-density fiber 13 is arranged only near the inlet of the ink supply path 10. In this configuration, since the low density fiber 12 is used in large amount, a large amount of ink can be retained in the fiber. FIG. 3 shows that the high-density fiber 13 shown in FIG.
This is an example in which the ink is easily absorbed.

The structure and operation of the present invention have been described above. The fiber material of the fiber to be filled in the ink tank is bristle,
Materials such as nylon and polyester are conceivable. When filling the inside of the ink tank, these materials are compressed and made into felt to be filled in the ink tank. Further, it is also effective to subject the fiber material to water absorption treatment. By using this felt, it is possible to select a material having a relatively free density by adjusting the type of fiber material and the compression degree of the fiber, and it is easy to make a material corresponding to the shape of the ink tank.

[0017]

According to the present invention, a plurality of fibers having different densities are compressed and filled in an ink tank, and the density of the filled fibers is increased toward the ink supply path.
The ink can be smoothly moved without interruption in the ink flow path, and the ink collects on the supply path side, so that the ink is always stably supplied to the ink jet head.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional example.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Inkjet Head 2 Ink Supply Channel 3 Ink Tank 4 Fiber 5 Ink 6 Air Inlet 7 Space 8 Lid 9 Inkjet Head 10 Ink Supply Channel 11 Ink Tank 12 Low Density Fiber 13 High Density Fiber 14 Space 15 Air Inlet

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An ink tank for supplying ink from an ink tank via an ink supply path, wherein the ink tank is compressed and filled with fibers, and the fibers are composed of a plurality of fibers having different densities. Further, the ink tank is characterized in that the fibers are closely packed with each other without a gap and arranged so that the density of the fibers becomes higher toward the ink supply path.