JP2000071472A - Ink cartridge and ink level detection mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To improve the workability of an ink cartridge by enabling an ink filling operation and a sticking operation of a seal to a case opening from one side of a case.
The case can be efficiently filled with ink. SOLUTION: An ink filling port 13 connected to a second chamber 10 is provided.
And a pressure reducing port 14 connected to the first chamber 9 are provided on one surface of the case 2, and the two chambers 9 and 10 are connected to the communication hole 15 on the other surface.
To communicate. Since the ink filling port 13 and the pressure reducing port 14 are located on one surface of the case 2, the ink filling device and the pressure reducing device may be brought closer to the case 2 from one side. improves. Further, since the filled ink sequentially passes through the second chamber 10 and the first chamber 9, the ink can be efficiently filled.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink cartridge for storing ink to be supplied to a recording head in an image forming apparatus, and a mechanism for detecting the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus such as an ink jet printer ejects ink droplets from nozzles of a recording head mounted on a carriage to record an image on a recording medium. The ejection is performed by driving an actuator such as an electromechanical transducer or an electrothermal transducer disposed on the recording head to generate a pressure wave. The ink is supplied from an ink cartridge that is exchangeably mounted on the recording head. However, if bubbles are mixed in the ink liquid supplied from the ink cartridge, the ink ejection from the nozzles of the recording head is adversely affected. It is known.

[0003] The ink cartridge has an ink supply port for supplying ink to the recording head and an atmosphere communication hole for communicating with the atmosphere so that air flows in in response to a decrease due to consumption of the ink. Therefore, after the ink is filled in the manufacturing process of the ink cartridge, these openings are all sealed by the sealing member. Further, at the time of shipment, an ink cartridge containing ink is hermetically housed under reduced pressure in a packaging bag (so-called vacuum packing) in order to prevent ink leakage in an unused state and intrusion of air into the case. (See, for example, JP-A-7-132611). Then, when used by the user, the ink cartridge is taken out of the packaging bag, the sealing member is peeled off, the air communication hole is opened, and the ink supply port is connected to the recording head.

[0004]

Generally, in an ink cartridge, it is better that the ink supply port and the air communication hole are separated from each other. For example, air is short-circuited from the air communication hole to the ink supply port. It is considered that it is difficult to use the ink in the case easily without waste,
The ink supply port is provided on the lower surface of the case, and the air communication hole is provided on the upper surface of the case. On the other hand, at the time of ink filling in the manufacturing process, the ink supply port is also used as an ink filling port, and the air communication hole is used as a pressure reducing port for depressurizing the inside of the case. Ink is filled. In this case, in order to fill the ink, the filling device and the pressure reducing device in the manufacturing process need to approach the case from both sides, and after filling the ink, the ink supply port and the air communication hole are sealed. The seal tape needs to be routed from the upper surface to the lower surface of the case (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-70982). However, since the work cannot be performed from one direction, the seal tape must be drawn from the upper surface to the lower surface of the case while rotating the case, and the workability is poor.

In the manufacturing process, the sealing tape is welded to the vicinity of the ink filling port and the ink supply port which is wet with the ink, so that the sealing tape is difficult to be welded and may cause poor welding. In addition, when a large amount of heat is applied during the heat welding, there is a problem that the ink supply port is deformed and the joint with the recording head cannot be satisfactorily performed.

Further, as described above, when the inside of the case is depressurized, the whole case may be deformed, and the case may not be efficiently filled with ink. Further, in the case of a configuration in which a porous material that absorbs ink is accommodated in the case, it is required that the ink be efficiently filled to every corner in the porous material. On the other hand, when used by a user, it is required that the seal tape can be easily peeled off and the ink in the case can be used efficiently.

In this type of ink cartridge,
The remaining amount of ink is constantly or periodically detected, and when it is detected that the remaining amount of ink is low, the user is prompted to replace the ink cartridge. The detection of the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge is generally performed by detecting the ink liquid level. Error detection is likely to occur.

Therefore, conventionally, this liquid level fluctuation (sway)
It is known to provide a rib-shaped member in the cartridge case in order to reduce the cost, but the case structure has been complicated. It is also known to detect the remaining amount of ink at the porous material for filling the ink in the case. Was difficult.

Further, in an ink jet type image forming apparatus, a large amount of ink is sucked from a recording head in order to recover an ink jetting function. Due to this suction, when the ink liquid level in the ink cartridge drops rapidly, not all of the ink that was in contact with the wall surface of the ink cartridge immediately moves to almost the same level as the ink liquid level. Is held for a certain period of time with a small amount of ink attached. This phenomenon tends to become more noticeable as the distance from the corner portion of the outer wall of the ink cartridge, that is, as it approaches the center of the flat wall surface. Therefore, if the detection site is set near the center of the wall surface, the ink liquid level is lowered, and although the ink remaining amount is actually low, it cannot be detected, and an erroneous detection is performed. There is also a problem that occurs.

On the other hand, when the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge is detected by a sensor, particularly a reflected light type sensor,
In order to accurately emit light from the light emitting element to the detection site and ensure that the light receiving element receives the reflected light on the inner surface of the outer wall of the ink cartridge, which is the detection site, the positions of the light emitting element and the light receiving element with respect to the detection site must be adjusted. Must be set correctly. However, since the ink cartridge can be detachably attached to the recording head so that the user can replace it, there is a case where the attachment state of the ink cartridge when the user replaces it is slightly different. At the same time, in the manufacturing stage, the state of attachment of the reflected light sensor to the carriage may vary. In this way, if the distance between the reflected light sensor and the detection site, or the mounting position and angle of the reflected light sensor with respect to the detection site are slightly different, the light receiving element can appropriately receive the reflected light. Therefore, there is a problem that the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge cannot be detected, and the detection accuracy of the remaining amount of ink is significantly reduced.

In this type of ink cartridge, the ink may enter the air communication hole side through the inner wall surface of the ink chamber for storing the ink. If the ink leaks to the outside, or if the case is transparent or translucent even if it does not leak, it will be unsightly if the case is transparent, or it will block the air communication hole and hinder the ink supply to the print head. Become.

Further, in the ink cartridge, a first chamber for accommodating a porous material having absorbed the ink therein, and a second chamber downstream of the first chamber are provided in the case. In some cases, ink is supplied to a recording head through a supply port. In such a configuration, when air bubbles enter the second chamber from the first chamber, if the air bubbles are drawn into the print head from the second chamber, the print head may not be able to eject ink due to the air bubbles. There is.

[0013] In the above vacuum pack,
In order to maintain the inside in a reduced pressure state for a long period of time, a space is required between the ink cartridge and the packing bag, and this space has a higher degree of vacuum than the inside of the ink cartridge. If a substantially rectangular ink cartridge is stored in a packaging bag, and the packaging bag comes into close contact with the cartridge, the outside air that gradually enters through the packaging bag causes the slight gap between the packaging bag and the ink cartridge to move relatively quickly. And it becomes difficult to maintain the reduced pressure state for a long time.

Therefore, in order to secure a predetermined amount of decompression space, the outer shape of the cartridge is not a simple rectangle, but is formed to have a shape in which a part is protruded, and a space is formed beside the protruding portion so that the packaging bag does not adhere. (For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-250)
However, in such a shape, a hole may be formed in the packaging bag at a corner of the cartridge or the like. It is also known to insert another part (spacer), such as corrugated cardboard or urethane foam, which easily permeates air and has a space in the inside of the packaging bag (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 7-132611). Reference).

However, when another part is inserted into the inside of the packaging bag as described above, the number of steps is increased in manufacturing and the cost is increased. Not desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and makes it easier for a filling device for ink filling and a decompression device to approach a case. This facilitates the sticking operation of the seal.

In addition, the ink can be efficiently filled into every corner of the case, and the case can be prevented from being deformed due to the reduced pressure at the time of filling, so that the ink can be more efficiently filled. I do.

In addition, it is possible to detect the remaining amount of ink by utilizing the space for filling the ink in the case. Enables quantity detection. Further, even when the liquid level fluctuates suddenly due to the suction of ink from the recording head or the like, or when there is a variation in the mounting state of the sensor, it is possible to accurately detect the remaining amount.

Further, the intrusion of ink from the ink chamber to the air communication hole side is prevented, and even if there is a slight intrusion, it is prevented from leaking to the outside or closing the air communication hole.

In the ink chamber, the second chamber moves from the first chamber to the second chamber.
When ink is sequentially supplied to the second chamber, even if air bubbles enter the second chamber, the air bubbles are prevented from being directly drawn into the recording head, and the ejection failure of ink due to the air bubbles is eliminated.

Further, the reduced pressure in the packaging bag in which the ink cartridge is hermetically sealed is maintained for a long period of time, and no special parts are required to form a space for the reduced pressure. It is another object of the present invention to provide an ink cartridge which can be easily operated.

[0022]

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is an ink cartridge containing ink to be supplied to a recording head.
A case in which at least one surface is opened, a first chamber which is formed by a partition wall in the case, and which is open to the open surface side of the case and which contains a porous material absorbing ink, and a container which contains ink A second chamber, a cover member covering the open surfaces of the first chamber and the second chamber, and the first chamber formed on one of the open surfaces of the first chamber and the second chamber. An ink filling port for filling the chamber and the second chamber with ink, and depressurizing the first chamber and the second chamber formed on the other open surface of the first chamber or the second chamber. A decompression port that can be connected to a decompression source,
An ink cartridge comprising: a communication hole that connects the first chamber and the second chamber to each other on a side opposite to the open surface side.

According to this configuration, since the ink filling port and the pressure reducing port are on one surface of the case, when filling the ink, if the filling device and the pressure reducing device are brought closer to the case from one side in the manufacturing stage. Good, and then the case may be sealed from one side, so that workability is good. further,
At the time of ink filling, the ink sequentially passes through the second chamber and the first chamber from the ink filling port to the pressure reducing port, so that both chambers can be efficiently filled with ink. In this configuration, it is not necessary to open both upper and lower ends as in a case described later, and it is sufficient that at least one surface of the case is open.
In addition, as described later, not only is the ink supplied from the first chamber to the printhead through the second chamber, but also the ink is supplied from the second chamber to the printhead through the first chamber. You can also.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the ink cartridge according to the first aspect, the case supplies the ink in the first chamber or the second chamber to the recording head on a surface different from the open surface. It has an ink supply port. According to this configuration, since the ink supply port is provided separately from the ink filling port and the decompression port, the ink supply port can be closed with the sealing material before the ink filling, and the ink filling port can be filled as in the related art. Thereafter, the ink does not adhere to the ink supply port and the sticking of the sealing material to the ink supply port is not hindered. Therefore, the ink cartridge can be shipped with the ink supply port securely sealed, and the ink does not leak out when the user mounts the cartridge on the recording head.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the ink cartridge according to the second aspect, the case is also opened on a surface opposite to the open surface, and the ink filling port and the pressure reducing port are respectively formed in the lid member. The ink supply port is formed in a second lid member that covers the opposite open surface. According to this configuration, since the case is open at both ends,
It is easy to form a first chamber and a second chamber,
Further, the case needs to be cleaned so that the physical properties of the ink do not change. However, if the both end surfaces are open, cleaning and drying are easy. Further, since the porous material is inserted into the first chamber and covered with the lid member, assembly is easy. Furthermore, in the process of transporting the ink cartridge in the manufacturing stage, the operation of attaching a sealing material for sealing the ink filling port and the decompression port on one surface and a sealing material for sealing the ink supply port on the other surface is performed by a roller or the like. Easy to do.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the ink cartridge according to the third aspect, the second cover member is provided with the first cover member.
Has an air communication hole communicating with the chamber. According to this configuration, since the air communication hole is located alongside the ink supply port, in the process of transporting in the manufacturing stage, the air supply hole can be sealed at the same time as the ink supply port is sealed with the sealing material.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in an ink cartridge containing ink to be supplied to a recording head, an ink filling port for filling the case with ink is provided on a first surface of a case containing the ink. In order to reduce the pressure inside the case, a decompression port connectable to a decompression source is formed, and an ink supply port for supplying ink to the recording head is formed on a second surface opposite to the decompression source, and the ink filling port is connected to the decompression port. The opening is closed by a first sealing material attached to the first surface, and the ink supply opening is closed by a second sealing material detachably attached to the second surface. In the ink cartridge.

According to this configuration, in the process of transporting the ink cartridge in the manufacturing stage, the first sealing material sealing the ink filling port and the pressure reducing port on one surface, and the first sealing material sealing the ink supply port on the other surface. The operation of attaching the sealing material 2 can be easily performed using a roller or the like. Since the ink supply port is not used at the time of filling the ink, the ink supply port does not get wet with the ink and the sealing property is not deteriorated unlike the related art. Further, when the user mounts the cartridge on the recording head, it is possible to easily peel off only one of the second seal materials and use it for mounting.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the ink cartridge according to the fifth aspect, the second surface further has an atmosphere communication hole communicating between the inside and the outside of the case, and the second seal member is provided with the atmosphere. The communication hole is also closed so that it can be peeled off. According to this configuration, when the user mounts the cartridge on the recording head, the ink supply port and the air communication hole can be opened by peeling off only the second sealant on one surface. It is good to use.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink cartridge for storing ink to be supplied to a recording head, wherein a case having at least one open surface and a partition wall formed in the case are provided, and the open surface side of the case is provided. An ink chamber that is open to the ink chamber for storing ink, and an air chamber that opens to the open surface side of the case and communicates with the air chamber outside at one end and the other end with air outside the case near the side opposite to the open surface. A passage, a cover member for covering at least an open surface of the ink chamber, and an ink supply port formed in the cover member and connected to the ink chamber to supply ink to a recording head. In the ink cartridge.

According to this configuration, the ink is supplied from the ink chamber to the recording head through the ink supply port, and the atmosphere is introduced into the ink chamber from a side far from the ink supply port through the atmosphere communication path. Can be used efficiently. In addition, the ink chamber and the atmosphere communication passage are formed to be open on one surface of the case, and the lid member is mounted on the open surface of the case, thereby closing the ink chamber and connecting the ink supply port to the ink chamber. Therefore, the configuration of this portion is simple and can be easily assembled.
Furthermore, since the ink supply port and the open end of the atmosphere communication path are arranged in one plane, the ink supply port and the atmosphere communication path can be easily covered with one seal material at the time of shipment, and this one seal It can be used simply by peeling it off. In this configuration, it is preferable that the ink chamber be composed of a first chamber and a second chamber, as will be described later. However, the ink chamber may be composed of only one chamber.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the ink cartridge according to the seventh aspect, the cover member covers an open surface of the ink chamber and the atmosphere communication passage, and the atmosphere communicates with the atmosphere communication passage. It has a communication hole. According to this configuration, the ink supply port and the air communication hole can be arranged side by side in one plane only by covering the open surface of the case with the lid member, and the above-described operation and effect can be obtained.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink cartridge for storing ink to be supplied to a recording head, wherein a case having two opposing surfaces opened and a partition wall formed in the case are formed, and the case is opened at both ends. One side of the case, leaving an ink chamber that is open to the surface side and stores ink, an air communication path that communicates the ink chamber with the atmosphere outside the case, and a path that communicates the ink chamber with the air communication path. A first lid member attached to cover the surface, a second lid member attached to the other surface of the case to cover at least the ink chamber, and a second lid member formed on the second lid member. An ink supply port for supplying ink to the recording head in communication with the ink chamber.

According to this configuration, since the two opposing surfaces of the case are open, the formation of the ink chamber and the atmosphere communication passage is easy, and the case is cleaned so that the physical properties of the ink are not changed. Although it is necessary to keep the two surfaces facing each other open, cleaning and drying are easy. Then, by covering both open ends with the first and second lid members, assembling is easy and the same operation and effect as the invention of claim 7 can be obtained.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the ink cartridge according to the ninth aspect, the ink chamber further includes a first chamber containing a porous material having absorbed ink and partitioned by a partition wall. There is a second chamber that does not contain any material, one of the first chamber and the second chamber is covered by the first lid member, and the other is covered by the second lid member. . According to this configuration, the porous material is accommodated in the first chamber, and the first chamber and the second chamber are respectively covered by the lid members. Therefore, the configuration of the case for forming the two chambers is simplified. And can be easily assembled.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the ink cartridge according to the tenth aspect, the first chamber communicates with the atmosphere communication passage, and communicates with the second chamber on a side opposite to the atmosphere communication passage. The second chamber is in communication with the ink supply port. According to this configuration, during the recording operation, the ink is supplied from the ink supply port to the recording head through the second chamber at an appropriate pressure by the absorbing force of the porous material in the first chamber. When the ink in the second chamber flows out of the ink supply port,
Ink is supplied from the porous material in the first chamber to the second chamber, and the atmosphere is introduced into the first chamber from the atmosphere communication passage. As a result, after the ink in the first chamber is consumed, the ink in the second chamber is consumed, and the entire ink is effectively used.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in an ink cartridge for storing ink to be supplied to a recording head, the ink is stored in a case constituting the cartridge by a partition wall formed substantially parallel to one side wall of the case. A first chamber, a second chamber arranged substantially parallel to the side wall, and for filling the first chamber with ink, and a first chamber arranged substantially parallel to the side wall, and Forming an atmosphere communication passage for communicating with the atmosphere, connecting one end of the second chamber to one end of the first chamber, and opening the other end to the outside of the case via an ink filling port. A first end of the air communication passage communicates with an end of the first chamber opposite to a communication portion with the second chamber, and the other end is open to the atmosphere outside the case. In the ink cartridge.

According to this configuration, when the first and second chambers are decompressed when the case is filled with ink, the ink introduced through the second chamber is entirely discharged from one end of the first chamber. It is filled efficiently. Since the atmosphere communication passage and the second chamber are formed substantially parallel to one side wall of the case, the side wall has a substantially double structure, and the strength of the case increases. For this reason, the deformation of the case when the inside of the case is depressurized at the time of filling the ink is reduced, and the first chamber can be efficiently filled with the ink.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the ink cartridge according to the twelfth aspect, the air communication passage and the second chamber are respectively located along opposite side walls of the case. According to this configuration, both side walls of the case can be reinforced,
The deformation of the entire case can be further reduced, and the effect of the twelfth aspect of the invention can be remarkably obtained.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the ink cartridge according to the twelfth aspect, the second chamber is provided with the first chamber.
An ink supply port for supplying ink to the print head in the vicinity of a communication portion with the chamber, and ink in the first chamber passes from the ink supply port to the print head via the second chamber. Supplied. According to this configuration, the second chamber filled with ink also functions substantially as an ink chamber, and can store a large amount of ink as a cartridge. Also,
When air bubbles flow from the first chamber to the second chamber, the air bubbles float above the second chamber and can be less likely to flow into the ink supply port. Can be reduced.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the ink cartridge according to the fourteenth aspect, the first chamber is opened at one end surface perpendicular to the side wall, and the first chamber is opened.
The second chamber is open at the other end face opposite to the one end, and
And the ink supply port is formed in the second cover member. According to this configuration, since the first chamber is open at one end of the case and the second chamber is open at the other end, the case can be easily formed, and the second lid member is attached. by doing,
The ink supply port communicates with the ink filling path, so that a cartridge having the function of the invention according to claim 14 can be easily realized.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink cartridge for storing ink to be supplied to a recording head, wherein a case having upper and lower ends opened and having two opposed side walls;
First and second partition walls extending substantially parallel to the both side walls in the case, and a third partition wall connected to lower ends of the two partition walls and extending substantially parallel to a lower end opening surface of the case. Forming the first and second partition walls, the third
A first chamber located between the partition wall and the upper end open surface of the case, a second chamber located between one side wall and the first partition wall, and another side wall and the second partition wall. And a first lid member fixed to the case so as to cover the first upper open surface and a lower end open surface of the case and a lower end of the second chamber. A second lid member having an ink supply port for supplying ink to the communication recording head, wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are connected to each other by the third
The first chamber and the atmosphere communication passage communicate with each other at a substantially upper end of the first chamber far from the communication hole, and communicate with the atmosphere communication passage through the communication hole formed in the partition wall. An ink cartridge characterized by being open to the atmosphere from the lower end of the case.

According to this configuration, ink is supplied from the second chamber to the recording head through the ink supply port, and the second chamber is supplied with ink from the first chamber. Atmosphere is introduced from the lower end of the case to the first chamber through an atmosphere communication passage from a side far from the communication hole. Therefore, after the ink in the first chamber is consumed, the ink in the second chamber is consumed, and the entire ink is effectively used. In addition, since both ends of the case are open, the case can be easily washed and dried in the manufacturing stage as described above, and does not affect the physical properties of the ink after the ink is filled. In addition, since the ink supply port and the opening end of the atmosphere communication passage are arranged on the lower surface of the case, both can be easily covered with one seal material, and the user can easily use it by peeling off only one seal material. Can be offered.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the ink cartridge according to the sixteenth aspect, the first lid member communicates with the second chamber and fills the first and second chambers with ink. And the second lid member has an air communication hole communicating with the air communication passage. According to this configuration, the first chamber can be filled with the ink from the ink filling port through the second chamber using the second chamber. Since the ink supply port is not used at the time of filling the ink, the ink supply port does not get wet with the ink and the sealing property is not deteriorated unlike the related art.

The invention according to claim 18 is an ink cartridge for storing ink to be supplied to the recording head, wherein the first and second chambers formed by partition walls and containing ink are formed in a case constituting the cartridge. A communication hole that communicates with the first and second chambers at a lower portion and an upper end of the second chamber; and ink from the second ink chamber to the first chamber through the communication hole. An ink filling port for filling, a seal member for closing the ink filling port, an ink supply port formed at a lower end of the second chamber, for supplying ink to a recording head, and an air supply port for the first chamber. And an atmosphere communication hole that communicates with the ink cartridge, and at least a part of the side wall of the second chamber is made transparent or translucent.

According to this configuration, when the ink is supplied from the ink supply port to the recording head, the ink is supplied from the first chamber to the second chamber, and the ink is first reduced from the ink in the first chamber. When there is no ink to be replenished from the first chamber, the air in the second chamber decreases while air flows from the same chamber into the second chamber. That is, since the liquid level in the second chamber falls,
The remaining amount of the ink can be known visually or by detecting the amount with a sensor or the like. Further, the first chamber is filled with ink from the ink filling port through the second chamber and the communication hole,
Since the filling port is closed by the seal member, the second chamber can be initially filled with a predetermined amount of ink without fail, and there is no erroneous detection of the remaining amount of ink.

According to a nineteenth aspect, in the ink cartridge according to the eighteenth aspect, the first chamber is provided with the second chamber.
And a porous material having a larger volume than that of the chamber and absorbing ink. According to this configuration, even when the first chamber is filled with a large amount of ink, a constant amount of ink is supplied to the recording head at an appropriate pressure from the ink supply port by the absorbing force of the porous material. be able to. Further, since the remaining amount of ink is detected in the small-capacity second chamber, the remaining amount of ink when it is determined that there is no remaining amount of ink can be minimized, and the amount of wasted ink is reduced.
There are few erroneous detections due to ink ripples.

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, in the ink cartridge according to the nineteenth aspect, the upper ends of the first chamber and the second chamber are covered with one lid member, and the lid is provided with the ink filling port. Are formed. According to this configuration, the first
The porous material inserted into the chamber is held by the lid member, and a seal member for closing the ink filling port is attached to the lid member, so that the configuration of these parts can be simplified.
In particular, a sheet-shaped sealing member can be used and easily attached to the lid member.

According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, in the ink cartridge according to the eighteenth aspect, the inner surface of the transparent or translucent portion of the side wall of the second chamber has an uneven strip extending vertically. According to this configuration, when a sensor composed of a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit is used as the remaining amount detection sensor, when light emitted from the light emitting unit is reflected on the inner surface of the side wall of the second chamber, the inner surface The light is scattered in the direction perpendicular to the ridges and the reflected light spreads in a plane including the light-emitting part, the light-receiving part, and the detection part of the case body, and proceeds toward the light-receiving part. Even if the distance between the detection site and the sensor slightly changes due to a slight shift in the mounting position of the sensor or the sensor, the light receiving unit can reliably receive the reflected light. Therefore, even if a certain degree of variation occurs in the mounting state of the sensor or the mounting state of the ink cartridge, the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge can be reliably detected.

According to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, in the ink remaining amount detecting mechanism for detecting the ink in the ink cartridge containing the ink to be supplied to the recording head by a sensor, the ink cartridge is partitioned by a partition wall to contain the ink. And a case in which at least a part of a side wall of the second chamber is made transparent or translucent, and the first and second chambers communicate with each other at a lower portion. A communication hole, an ink filling port formed at an upper end of the second chamber, for filling the first chamber with ink from the second ink chamber via the communication hole, and closing the ink filling port; A seal member, an ink supply port formed at a lower end of the second chamber, for supplying ink to a recording head, and an atmosphere communication hole for communicating the first chamber with the atmosphere; In the ink residual quantity detecting mechanism, characterized in that the transparent or face the translucent portion arranged in the side wall of the second compartment.

According to this configuration, similarly to the invention of the eighteenth aspect, by detecting the decrease of the ink in the second chamber used for filling the ink with the sensor, the ink in the first chamber is consumed. In the second chamber, the decrease in the remaining amount of ink can be known. Since the second chamber is surely initially filled with a predetermined amount of ink, there is no erroneous detection of the remaining amount of ink.

According to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention, in the ink remaining amount detecting mechanism according to the twenty-second aspect, the sensor extends in a vertical direction formed by intersecting at least two surfaces forming an inner surface of the second chamber. It was arranged to face the ridge.
Since the capillary action acts on the ridge line, even if there is a sudden change in the ink liquid level, the ink attached to the inner surface of the second chamber immediately moves to the vicinity of the ink liquid level. Can be accurately detected.

According to a twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, in the ink remaining amount detecting mechanism according to the twenty-second aspect, the sensor has a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion, and an inner surface of a transparent or translucent portion of a side wall of the second chamber. Has an uneven strip extending in a direction orthogonal to a plane including a light emitting part and a light receiving part of the sensor and a detection part of the second chamber by the sensor. According to this configuration, the light emitted from the light emitting unit is scattered in a direction orthogonal to the concave and convex strips, and the reflected light travels toward the light receiving unit side while spreading, so that the ink cartridge Even if the mounting position of the sensor or the mounting position of the sensor slightly shifts, the light receiving section can reliably receive the reflected light.

According to a twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink remaining amount detecting mechanism comprising: an ink cartridge having an ink chamber containing ink to be supplied to a recording head therein; and a sensor for detecting ink in the ink chamber. To
A ridge portion extending in a vertical direction formed by intersecting at least two surfaces forming an inner surface of the ink chamber with a detection site of the sensor, which is disposed to face a vertically extending side surface of a case constituting the ink cartridge. In the remaining ink amount detection mechanism.

According to this configuration, the ink attached to the inner surface of the ink chamber is acted on by a capillary action on the ridge portion extending in the vertical direction formed by the intersection of at least two surfaces forming the inner surface of the ink chamber. However, the ink level immediately moves to the vicinity of the ink level as the ink level drops, so that the presence or absence of ink at the detection site is not erroneously detected, and the remaining amount of ink in the ink chamber can be accurately detected. it can. In this configuration, it is preferable that the sensor includes the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit as described above, but another type of sensor such as an electrode may be used.

According to a twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention, in the ink remaining amount detecting mechanism according to the twenty-fifth aspect, the case has a substantially rectangular shape in a plane, and the sensor is provided to face one ridge line thereof. According to this configuration, it is not necessary to separately form a vertically extending ridge portion formed by at least two surfaces intersecting with each other on the ink cartridge itself, and the ink remaining amount can be easily formed without making the ink cartridge itself a complicated structure. Detection accuracy can be improved.

According to a twenty-seventh aspect of the present invention, in the ink remaining amount detecting mechanism according to the twenty-fifth aspect, the side wall of the case at the detection site is made of a transparent or translucent material,
The sensor includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit provided to face the ridge line. According to this configuration, it is not necessary to provide a sensor such as an electrode in the ink cartridge itself that needs to be periodically replaced, and the remaining amount of ink can be accurately detected from outside the ink cartridge. The structure is simplified, and the manufacturing cost of the ink cartridge can be reduced.

According to a twenty-eighth aspect of the present invention, in the ink remaining amount detecting mechanism according to the twenty-fifth aspect, the case contains a porous material that has absorbed ink and is in communication with the atmosphere.
And communicates with the first chamber, containing only ink,
A second ink chamber having an upper part hermetically sealed, wherein the sensor is provided to detect a remaining amount of ink in the second chamber. According to this configuration, after the ink in the first chamber is consumed as described above, by detecting the decrease in the ink in the second chamber, the remaining amount of ink at the time when the ink cartridge should be replaced is minimized. be able to.

According to a twenty-ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink cartridge having an ink chamber containing ink to be supplied to a recording head therein, wherein the reflected light sensor having a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion detects the ink in the ink chamber. The inner surface of the side wall of the ink chamber, which is a detection site of the reflected light sensor, has an uneven stripe extending in a direction orthogonal to a plane including the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit of the reflected light sensor and the detection site. An ink cartridge characterized in that:

According to this structure, the inner surface of the ink chamber, which is a detection site of the reflected light sensor, extends in a direction orthogonal to a plane including the light emitting part and the light receiving part of the reflected light sensor and the detection part of the ink chamber. Since the light emitted from the light emitting unit is reflected on the inner surface of the ink chamber side wall, the light emitted from the light emitting unit is scattered in a direction perpendicular to the uneven surface by the uneven surface on the inner surface, and the reflected light is emitted from the light emitting unit. And spreads in a plane including the light receiving portion and the detection portion, and advances toward the light receiving portion. Therefore, the mounting position of the ink cartridge and the mounting position of the reflection light sensor are slightly shifted, so that the distance between the detection portion and the reflection light sensor is reduced. Even when the interval slightly changes, the light receiving unit can reliably receive the reflected light. Therefore, even if there is some variation in the state of attachment of the reflected light sensor or the state of attachment of the ink cartridge, it is possible to reliably detect the remaining amount of ink in the ink chamber.

According to a thirtieth aspect of the present invention, in the ink cartridge according to the twenty-ninth aspect, the outer surface of the side wall of the ink chamber, which is a detection site of the reflected light sensor, is formed by the light emitting part and the light receiving part of the reflected light sensor and the reflection part. The projections and depressions extend parallel to a plane including the detection site of the optical sensor. According to this configuration, light reflected on the outer surface of the outer wall of the case body is scattered in a direction perpendicular to the uneven stripes by the uneven stripes on the outer surface, and the reflected light is emitted from the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit of the reflected light sensor and the case body. Since the light proceeds to the light receiving portion side while spreading outside the plane including the detection portion, it becomes difficult for the light receiving portion to receive the reflected light from the outer surface of the outer wall which does not contribute to the detection of the remaining ink amount. Therefore, the ratio of the reflected light component from the inner surface of the outer wall that contributes to the detection of the remaining amount of ink in the reflected light received by the light receiving unit is increased, and the detection accuracy of the remaining amount of ink is improved.

According to a thirty-first aspect of the present invention, the presence or absence of ink in an ink chamber for storing ink is detected by a reflected light sensor having a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion provided outside the ink chamber, so that the remaining amount of ink is reduced. In the ink cartridge to be detected, a surface corresponding to an inner surface of a side wall of the ink chamber, which is a detection portion of the reflected light sensor, includes a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion of the reflected light sensor and a detection portion of the case body. Molded using a mold that is polished in a direction perpendicular to the plane that includes it. According to this configuration, the ink cartridge according to the present invention can be easily formed.

According to a thirty-second aspect of the present invention, in the ink cartridge according to the thirty-first aspect, a surface corresponding to an outer surface of a side wall of the ink chamber, which is a detection site of the reflected light sensor, is formed by a light emitting part and a light receiving part of the reflected light sensor. It is formed using a mold polished in parallel with a plane including the portion and the detection site by the reflected light sensor. According to this configuration, the ink cartridge according to claim 30 can be easily formed.

According to a thirty-third aspect of the present invention, in an ink cartridge for storing ink to be supplied to a recording head, a first chamber for storing a porous material absorbing the ink is formed in a case constituting the cartridge. At the same time, the first chamber communicates with an atmosphere communication hole that opens to the atmosphere outside the case via a passage, and an edge of an inner wall surface of the first chamber has a planar portion in the passage and the atmosphere communication hole. An ink cartridge characterized by being interposed and connected.

According to this configuration, the edge of the inner wall surface of the first chamber is connected to the passage and the air communication hole via the planar portion, and is not connected only by the edge. Ink can be prevented from penetrating into the atmosphere communication passage through the partition wall.

According to a thirty-fourth aspect of the present invention, in the ink cartridge according to the thirty-third aspect, a partition wall is formed in the case to form an air communication passage communicating the first chamber with the passage and the air communication hole. And an opening between the first chamber and the atmosphere communication passage is covered by a lid member, and the lid member is located at a position distant from the partition wall and the first chamber higher than the inner surface of the first chamber. While forming a wall that protrudes to the side,
The passage that connects the first chamber and the atmosphere communication passage is provided on a surface of the lid member opposite to the partition wall.

According to this configuration, the opening between the first chamber and the atmosphere communication passage is covered with the lid member, and the lid member has a wall projecting toward the first chamber and a surface opposite to the partition wall. Since the passage is formed in the case, the wall can be provided without undercut in the molding of the case, and it can be easily manufactured. With such a wall, the passage can be formed so as not to have an edge between the passage and the partition wall, and the operation and effect of the invention of claim 33 can be reliably obtained.

According to a thirty-fifth aspect of the present invention, in the ink cartridge according to the thirty-third aspect, the ink cartridge further comprises a lid member that covers the first chamber and has the passage on a surface opposite to the first chamber. A wall protruding from the joint surface between the lid member and the case to the inside of the first chamber at a position distant from an inner surface of the first chamber; An opening for communicating the passage with the first chamber is formed at a position distant from the inner surface of the first chamber, and the porous material is pressed in the first chamber by the wall of the lid member. Housed in. According to this configuration, when the porous material is pressed by the lid member, the ink in the porous material oozes out, but the ink is prevented from leaking to the atmosphere communication hole along the edge of the first chamber. be able to.

According to a thirty-sixth aspect of the present invention, in an ink cartridge for storing ink to be supplied to a recording head, an ink chamber for storing ink in a case constituting the cartridge, and the ink chamber is connected to the atmosphere outside the case. An air communication passage communicating with the ink chamber; and an air communication passage provided with a through hole communicating the ink chamber with the atmosphere, and an ink reservoir provided at a position lower than the ink chamber side opening end of the through hole. An ink cartridge characterized in that:
According to this configuration, the ink leaking from the ink chamber is stored in the ink reservoir, so that the air communication passage is blocked,
Ink does not leak outside.

According to a thirty-seventh aspect of the present invention, in the ink cartridge according to the thirty-sixth aspect, the through hole and the ink reservoir are formed in one wall, and the upper end of the through hole and the ink reservoir are formed with a step. . According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent the ink leaking from the ink chamber from blocking the atmosphere communication passage or leaking to the outside with a simple configuration.

According to a thirty-eighth aspect of the present invention, in an ink cartridge for storing ink to be supplied to a recording head, the ink is stored in a case constituting the cartridge by a partition wall formed substantially parallel to one side wall thereof. An ink chamber and an air communication passage communicating the ink chamber with the atmosphere outside the case are formed, upper and lower ends of the air communication passage are formed in an open state, and an upper end of the case is communicated with the ink chamber and the atmosphere. Covering the lid with a lid member leaving a passage communicating with the passage, forming a through hole communicating the ink chamber and the atmosphere, and an ink reservoir lower than the upper end of the through hole in a wall partitioning the middle of the atmosphere communication passage. An ink cartridge is characterized in that: According to this configuration, the upper and lower ends of the atmosphere communication passage are formed in an open state, and the through-hole and the ink reservoir are formed in the wall partitioning the middle of the atmosphere communication passage. It is possible to form a through hole and ink reservoir at the upper and lower mold separation parts, and to prevent ink leaking from the ink chamber from blocking the air communication passage or leaking outside with a simple configuration Can be.

A thirty-ninth aspect of the present invention is an ink cartridge for storing ink to be supplied to a recording head, wherein an ink chamber for storing ink is provided in a case constituting the cartridge, and the ink chamber is connected to the atmosphere outside the case. A lid member that forms an air communication passage that communicates with the ink supply port that supplies ink in the ink chamber to the recording head and an air communication hole that opens the air communication passage to the atmosphere on the lower surface of the case. And an ink reservoir lower than an upper end of the air communication hole is formed on an upper surface of the lid member. According to this configuration,
Since the ink supply port and the air communication hole are adjacent on the lid member, both ports can be easily closed with one sealing material at the time of shipment, and when the ink cartridge is mounted on the recording head, it can be easily closed. The sealing material can be peeled off.
In addition, since the ink reservoir is formed in the lid member at a position lower than the upper end of the air communication hole, it is easy for the ink leaking from the ink chamber to block the air communication passage or leak to the outside of the case. This can be prevented with a configuration.

According to a forty-ninth aspect of the present invention, in the ink cartridge for storing ink to be supplied to the recording head, a first chamber for storing a porous material absorbing the ink by a partition wall in a case constituting the cartridge. And a second chamber for accommodating ink through a communication hole provided in a lower part of the first chamber, and an ink supply port for supplying ink to the recording head is provided in the second chamber. And a barrier is provided on a shortest path connecting the communication hole and the ink supply port.

According to this configuration, when the recording head draws ink from the second chamber due to the negative pressure due to the ejection of the ink by the recording head, bubbles that try to enter the second chamber from the first chamber are drawn. Can be prevented by a barrier, and bubbles can be caused to float while ink flows around the barrier, so that almost only the ink can be supplied to the recording head, and as a result, the recording head does not eject due to the bubbles. Can be reduced.

The invention according to claim 41 is the ink cartridge according to claim 40, wherein the second chamber is formed so as to be open at one end of the case, and the ink supply is provided to a lid member covering the open surface. An opening is formed, and the barrier is formed on one of the lid member and the partition wall facing the lid member. According to this configuration, since the second chamber is constituted by the case and the lid member, the barrier can be easily formed, and the curved flow path between the communication hole and the ink supply port can be easily assembled. Can be.

The invention according to claim 42 is the ink cartridge according to claim 41, wherein the second chamber is provided with the first chamber.
A first portion located below the first chamber, and a second portion located between a side of the first chamber and a side wall of the case, wherein the communication hole is open to the first portion. , The barrier is located in the first portion. According to this configuration, the air bubbles that have entered the second ink chamber from the first ink chamber bypass the barrier, float at the second portion, and accumulate at the upper portion of the second portion. Therefore, it is possible to remarkably reduce air bubbles from being drawn into the recording head.

The invention according to claim 43 is the ink cartridge according to claim 42, wherein the partition wall between the first and second chambers forms a ceiling surface of the first portion of the second chamber. The portion is sloped to rise toward the second portion. According to this configuration, since the ceiling surface of the first portion is inclined so as to rise toward the second portion, air bubbles can be surely guided to the upper portion of the second portion, and the recording head can be moved. Air bubbles can be significantly reduced from being drawn in.

According to a forty-fourth aspect of the present invention, in the ink cartridge containing ink to be supplied to the recording head, the ink chamber containing the ink is not communicated with the ink chamber in the case constituting the cartridge. And a space communicating with the outside of the case.

According to this configuration, since a space is formed integrally within the cartridge case and communicates with the outside of the case, when the cartridge is hermetically sealed in a packaging bag and the inside of the packaging bag is decompressed, the decompression condition is maintained. An ink cartridge that can be maintained for a long time can be provided. That is, even if the air is decompressed for a long period of time, air gradually enters from the outside. However, the presence of the space enables the decompression to be maintained for a long time. Further, a space for maintaining the reduced pressure state can be secured without requiring another member as in the related art, and the number of manufacturing steps and cost can be reduced.

According to a forty-fourth aspect, in the ink cartridge according to the forty-fourth aspect, the ink chamber is defined by a partition wall in the case, and one end of the case is formed in an open state. A cover member is mounted so as to cover the open end surface of the cover member, and the space is formed by the cover member and the partition wall. The cover member has an opening communicating the space with the outside of the case. According to this configuration, since the space can be integrally formed in the cartridge by attaching the lid member to the case, it can be easily manufactured with a simple configuration.

According to a forty-sixth aspect, in the ink cartridge according to the forty-fourth aspect, the case is hermetically sealed in a packaging bag in a reduced pressure state, and the space is a reduced pressure space for maintaining the reduced pressure state in the packaging bag. Becomes According to this configuration, as described in the forty-seventh aspect, the reduced pressure state in the packaging bag can be easily and reliably maintained, and the degassing state of the ink can be maintained for a long time.

According to a forty-seventh aspect, in the ink cartridge according to the forty-fifth aspect, the ink chamber has a first chamber for accommodating a porous material having absorbed ink, and a communication hole formed between the first chamber and the first chamber. And a second chamber for containing ink that is covered by the lid member and communicates with the lid member, the lid member having an ink supply port for supplying ink from the second chamber to the recording head, The space is formed adjacent to the second chamber.

According to this structure, the space and the second chamber are opened on the open end side of the case, and the space is made independent of the second chamber only by covering them with the lid member. The ink chamber can supply ink to the recording head via an ink supply port. Thus, the space can be easily formed in the cartridge.

According to a forty-eighth aspect of the present invention, in the ink cartridge according to the forty-fifth aspect, in the case, the partition wall connects the ink chamber to the ink chamber at one end and connects the other end to the outside of the case by the partition wall. An atmosphere communication passage communicating with the atmosphere is formed, the lid member has a communication hole for communicating the atmosphere communication passage with the atmosphere, and the space is formed adjacent to the atmosphere communication passage. .

According to this configuration, the space is formed adjacent to the atmosphere communication passage, and the lid is attached to the case, whereby the space and the air communication passage can be made independent.
The ink chamber can communicate with the atmosphere through the atmosphere communication passage.
Thus, the space can be easily formed in the cartridge.

According to a forty-ninth aspect of the present invention, in the ink cartridge according to the forty-fourth aspect, in the case, a partition wall connects the ink chamber to the ink chamber at one end, and connects the other end to the outside of the case by a partition wall. An air communication passage communicating with the atmosphere is formed, one end of the case is formed in an open state, and a lid member is attached so as to cover an open end surface of the case. An ink supply port for supplying ink to a recording head, and an atmosphere communication hole for communicating the atmosphere communication passage with the atmosphere are formed, and the space is formed by the lid member and the partition wall; The ink supply port and the atmosphere communication hole are closed by a peelable seal member, and the case is
The space is hermetically sealed in the packaging bag in a reduced pressure state, and the space serves as a reduced pressure space for maintaining the reduced pressure state in the packaging bag.

According to this configuration, by attaching the lid member to the case, the space can be formed, and the ink supply port and the atmosphere communication hole can communicate with the ink chamber and the atmosphere communication path, respectively. Then, the ink supply port and the air communication hole are closed by a sealing member, and the case is hermetically sealed in a packaging bag in a reduced pressure state. You can keep your mind.

[0088]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a state in which the ink cartridge according to the present embodiment is connected to a recording head, and a head holder 50 supporting a recording head 72 is mounted on a carriage 52 that scans and moves along a recording medium. The ink cartridge 1 is detachably mounted on the head holder 50. In the ink cartridge 1, the ink supply port 17 provided on the lower surface of the ink cartridge 1 is fitted to the joint member 74 on the head holder 50 side, and distributes the ink to many ink ejection channels of the recording head 72 through the manifold member 73. The recording head 72 ejects ink from each ink ejection channel by driving an actuator including a piezoelectric element or a heating element as is well known.

Ink cartridge 1 according to the present embodiment
Is composed of a case 2 made of a transparent or translucent resin material in a rectangular shape, and upper and lower lid members 3 and 4. The case 2 includes a pair of opposing first side walls 2a, 2b and a pair of second side walls 2c, 2d connecting the pair of side walls.
And has a rectangular cylindrical shape with upper and lower end surfaces open. The upper and lower lid members 3 and 4 are heat-welded so as to cover both upper and lower open surfaces of the case 2. In addition, Case 2
Partition walls 5 and 6 extending substantially parallel to the first side walls (the left and right walls in FIG. 3) 2a and 2b, a bottom partition wall 7 connected to the lower ends of both partition walls and extending substantially parallel to the bottom opening surface, and the bottom thereof The interior is defined by partition walls 7a, 7b, 7c extending vertically from the partition wall 7 toward the bottom opening surface. Partition walls 5, 6, bottom partition wall 7, and partition wall 7a,
7b extends in a direction bridging between the second side walls 2c and 2d.

The upper surface of the case 2 is surrounded by the partition walls 5 and 6, the bottom partition wall 7 and the second side walls 2c and 2d.
An open first chamber 9 is formed at the upper end of the housing, and accommodates a porous material 8 such as a polyurethane foam that has absorbed ink. One of the first side walls 2a, the partition wall 5 and the second
Is surrounded by the side walls 2c and 2d of the second chamber 10
Is formed, and an atmosphere communication path 11 is formed in a region surrounded by the other side wall 2b of the first side wall, the partition wall 6, and the second side walls 2c and 2d. Second chamber 10 and atmosphere communication passage 11
Each has an upper end opened at the upper surface of the case 2, a lower end bent along the lower surface of the bottom partition wall 7, and a lower end opened at the lower surface of the case 2.

The upper lid member 3 comprises a first chamber 9 and a second chamber 10
And the upper end of the atmosphere communication passage 11,
a, 2b, 2c, 2d and the upper ends of the partition walls 5, 6 are fixed by thermal welding to make the chambers 9, 10 and the passage 11 independent. The lower lid member 4 covers the lower end of the second chamber 10 and the lower end of the atmosphere communication path 11, respectively, and the side walls 2a, 2b,
2c, 2d and the lower ends of the partition walls 7a, 7b are fixed by heat welding to make the second chamber 10 and the passage 11 independent. As a result, the second chamber 10 and the atmosphere communication passage 11
Is substantially L-shaped from a vertical portion 10a along the side walls 2a, 2b and a horizontal portion 10b, 11b located below the first chamber 9. Note that the vertical portion of the air communication passage 11 and 11
a and the horizontal portion 11b are connected to the communication port 3 provided in the partition wall 7b.
It communicates through 0.

A communication hole 15 for connecting the first chamber 9 and the second chamber 10 is formed in the bottom partition wall 7. The first chamber 9 and the second chamber 10 contain ink respectively, and both chambers form an ink chamber. The second chamber 10 serves as a passage at the time of ink filling, as will be described later, and serves as a relay chamber when ink is supplied from the first chamber 9 to the recording head 72. The first chamber 9 is formed sufficiently larger than the second chamber 10. The atmosphere communication passage 11 replenishes the first chamber 9 with the atmosphere when the ink in the first chamber 9 is consumed. The second chamber 10 and the atmosphere communication path 11 are separated by a partition wall 7a on the lower surface of the bottom partition wall 7. As described above, the partition walls 5 and 6 are provided on both sides of the case 2 substantially in parallel with the side walls 2a and 2B, and the side portions have a substantially double wall structure to increase the case strength. Further, the case 2 having such a shape can be easily molded with a resin using a mold that is separated vertically.

The upper lid member 3 is formed with an ink filling port 13 corresponding to the upper end open surface of the second chamber 10.
A pressure reducing port 14 for reducing the pressure inside the case at the time of filling with ink is formed facing the upper end open surface of the chamber 9. Second
Communication hole 1 for communicating the first chamber 9 with the first chamber 9
Reference numeral 5 denotes an end far from the side where the ink filling port 13 and the pressure reducing port 14 are provided, that is, the side opposite to the same side. Like that.

Further, the first chamber 9 and the atmosphere communication passage 11
The upper lid member 3 communicates with a passage 16 formed so as to straddle the upper end of the partition wall 6. That is, the passage 16
Is formed in a concave shape on the upper surface of the upper lid member 13, one end of which is connected to the first chamber 9 via the pressure reducing port 14, and the other end thereof is connected to the atmosphere communication path 11 via the through hole 16 a. The upper lid member 13 has a wall 27 projecting into the first chamber 9 and abutting on the upper surface of the porous material 8. That is, the upper lid member 3
Is formed thick in a portion corresponding to the first chamber 9 and slightly compresses the ink absorbing material 8. The wall 27 is spaced from the inner surface of the first chamber 9 as described later, and the pressure reducing hole 14 is located inside the first chamber 9 with respect to the outer periphery of the wall 27.

An ink supply port 17 for supplying ink in the second chamber 10 to the recording head is formed in the lower lid member 4 corresponding to the lower end open surface of the second chamber 10. Atmospheric communication holes 18 are respectively formed corresponding to the lower end open surfaces of 11. As shown in FIG. 6, the communication hole 15 and the ink supply port 17 are positioned so as to be displaced from each other when viewed from above, and the second chamber 10 is provided with the communication hole 15 and the ink supply port 1.
A rib-shaped barrier 31 is formed on the shortest path connecting to the barrier rib 7. The barrier 31 is preferably formed integrally with the partition wall 7 of the case 2 by protruding from the partition wall 7 and joined to the inner wall surface of the lower lid member 4. No problem. Lower surface 7d of bottom partition wall 7
(FIG. 3) has an inclined surface so as to rise from the lower end of the communication hole 15 toward the vertical portion of the second chamber 10. One end of the barrier 31 is located on the side of the communication hole 15,
The other end extends close to the vertical portion of the second chamber 10. Accordingly, when the ink is drawn from the second chamber 10 by the negative pressure generated by the ejection of the ink from the recording head 72, the ink flowing out of the communication hole 15 from the first chamber 9 causes the barrier 31 as indicated by an arrow 32. By-passing, it passes through the vertical portion 10a of the second chamber and again enters the horizontal portion 10b of the second chamber to reach the ink supply port 17.

As shown in FIG. 4, after filling the ink, the ink filling port 13 and the pressure reducing port 14 are closed by first sealing materials 21 and 22 attached to the outer surface of the upper lid member 3 by heat welding or the like. . The sealing material 22 secures the passage 16 and covers the upper surface thereof. The ink supply port 17 and the air communication hole 18
Second sealing material 2 that is removably attached by heat welding or the like.
It is closed at 3. Ink filling port 13 and ink supply port 1
7, the second sealant 23 is attached to the ink supply port 17 in advance before filling with ink. This prevents the ink supply port 17 from also being wet with the ink at the time of filling, unlike the conventional ink supply apparatus in which the ink supply port 17 also serves as an ink filling port. However, a sufficient sealing effect can be obtained. Since the seal members 21 and 22 do not need to be peeled off, they may be thermally welded to such an extent that the upper lid member 3 is slightly deformed. Each sealing material 21, 22, 2
3 is made of air-impermeable resin or metal foil or a laminated material thereof.

A stainless steel mesh filter 24 is attached to the surface of the ink supply port 17 on the second chamber 10 side. The filter 24 has such a size that the ink in the second chamber 10 does not leak in a natural state due to surface tension.

As shown in FIG. 10, a partition wall 29 for vertically dividing the air communication passage 11 is formed in the middle of the vertical portion 11a of the air communication passage 11. The partition wall 29
The through hole 28 is formed in the vertical direction of the atmosphere communication passage 11 with a height difference, and a through hole 28 is formed in a high portion thereof. . The partition wall 29 can be formed by a separated portion of a mold that is separated vertically when the case 2 is formed by resin, and does not require any special processing.

The ink reservoir 4a is also formed by projecting the peripheral wall 18a of the air communication hole 18 of the lower lid member 4 upward in a cylindrical shape. As a result, the ink cartridge falls down and the passage 16
The ink that has leaked through the reservoir accumulates in the ink reservoir 29.
Further, even if the ink in the ink reservoir 29 enters the through hole 28 by tilting the ink cartridge or the like, the ink is retained in the ink reservoir 4a below the through hole 28. Therefore,
The air communication passage 11 and the air communication hole 18 are blocked,
The ink does not leak to the outside.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 19, the case 2 includes a second chamber 10 and a horizontal portion 10 of the atmosphere communication passage 11.
A space 33 is formed adjacent to b and 11b. The space 33 is defined by a partition wall 7c bridging between the partition walls 7a and 7b, and the lower surface is covered with the lower lid member 4, and communicates with the second chamber 10, the first chamber 9, and the atmosphere communication passage 11. However, it is communicated with the outside of the case by an opening 34 provided in the lower lid member 4. Ink cartridge 1 filled with ink
At the time of shipping, as shown in FIG. 19, the container is hermetically housed under reduced pressure in a packaging bag 81. Packaging bag 81
In this example, the ink cartridge 1 is housed inside a tubular member, the inside is suctioned with a negative pressure, and both open ends are welded 82. The packaging bag 81 is made of air-impermeable resin or metal foil, or a laminated material thereof. FIG.
The cross section of the ink cartridge 1 shown in FIG.
This corresponds to a cross section taken along line C. The opening 34 is not covered with the second seal material 23. When the inside of the packaging bag 81 is in a depressurized state, the space 33 is also in a depressurized state in the same manner as the space 33, and the volume of the space 33 acts to maintain the decompressed state in the sealed packaging bag 81 for a long period of time. is there. This allows
Prevents air from entering the ink inside the case when not in use.

FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 show the structure of the passage 16 in detail. The configuration shown in FIG. 11 is created as a reference for explaining the problem. In this figure, the passage 16b is formed penetrating the upper lid member 3a, and connects the first chamber 9 and the atmosphere communication passage 11 to each other. Although not shown, the upper surface of the passage 16b is covered with a sealing material 22. In such a case, the edge (ridge line) E1 formed by the partition wall 6 and the side walls 2c and 2d, and the partition wall 6
The ink tends to collect on the edge E2 formed by the upper lid member 3 and the upper lid member 3 due to the capillary phenomenon. In addition, since the edges E1 and E2 are continuous with the edge E3 formed by the inner surface of the passage 16b and the partition wall 6, the ink collected at the edges E1 and E2 loses the edge E3 due to the capillary phenomenon as shown by the arrow R. And further flows out along the edge E4 in the atmosphere communication passage 11. When the ink penetrates from the first chamber 9 into the atmosphere communication path 11, if the case is transparent or translucent,
The first chamber 9 becomes unsightly, leaks out of the case, or blocks the atmosphere communication passage 11, so that ink cannot be supplied from the first chamber 9 to the recording head 11.

As shown in FIG. 12, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the outer periphery of the wall 27 projecting from the upper lid member 3 toward the first chamber 9 is spaced from the inner surface of the first chamber 9 by a distance K. I have it. The decompression port 14 has a cylindrical shape, a rounded rectangle, or the like, has a shape having no edge on the inner surface, and is located at an end of the wall 27 away from the partition wall 6. With this configuration, the inner edge of the partition wall 6 on the first chamber 9 side is connected to the passage 16.
And the atmosphere communication passage 11 is not connected only by the inner edge formed by the two planes. That is, the lower surface of the wall 27, the outer periphery of the wall 27, and the inner surface of the decompression port 14 have a shape having no inner edge formed by two planes, and the inner edge of the partition wall 6 on the side of the first chamber 9 is formed by these surface portions. Through the air communication path 11. Therefore, the wall 27 is made of the porous material 8.
The ink that has oozed out by compressing the ink and the ink collected at the inner edge on the first chamber 9 side are prevented from flowing out to the passage 16 and the atmosphere communication passage 11 due to the capillary phenomenon.
The inner surface of the pressure reducing port 14 in contact with the porous material 8 also has no inner edge, and the pressure reducing port 14 is formed in the thick portion of the upper lid member 3.
Is located and the height of the pressure reducing port 14 is sufficient, so that the ink in the porous material 8 passes through the inner surface of the pressure reducing port 14 and passes through the passage 16.
It is also prevented from invading. Even if the gap between the outer periphery of the wall 27 and the partition wall 6 is small, and the ink may rise in the gap due to the capillary action, the upper end of the partition wall 6 is welded to the lid member 3. The ink does not enter the atmosphere communication path 11.

When the pressure reducing port 14 has a shape with an edge on the inner surface, the same effect can be obtained even when the inner surface of the passage 16 has a cross-section without an edge such as a semi-cylindrical shape or a rounded rectangle. .

FIG. 13 shows a structure in which the passage portion is further improved. In FIG. 12, the pressure reducing port 14 penetrates the wall 27, but is provided between the outer periphery of the wall 27 and the partition wall 6. It is provided without contact. That is, since the inner surface of the decompression port 14 has a space without directly contacting the porous material 8, the ink in the porous material 8 is further prevented from leaking along the inner surface of the decompression port 14. Is done.

The carriage 52 of the ink jet printer is provided with an ink remaining amount detection sensor 60. That is, in the unused state of the ink cartridge 1, the ink is filled without leaving any space in the porous material 8 in the first chamber 9 and the space in the second chamber 10, but the ink is consumed by the recording operation. When the ink in the first chamber 9 runs out, air enters the second chamber 10 from the first chamber 9 due to the pressure at which the recording head 72 sucks the ink, and
A space is formed above the chamber 10 and the ink liquid level is lowered. The remaining ink detection sensor 60 is connected to the second chamber 1.
The presence or absence of remaining ink is detected from the change in light reflection due to the presence or absence of ink on the inner wall surface of the zero.

As shown in FIG. 1, the ink remaining amount sensor 60 emits light to the detection site α where the light emitting element 61 is set at a predetermined height position of the side wall 2 a facing the second chamber 10 of the case 2. The light-emitting element 61 and the light-receiving element 62 are separated from each other by the light-receiving element 62 (FIG. 5) so that the light is emitted and reflected by the light-receiving element 62 (FIG. 5) at the detection site α. 10 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the horizontal direction. For this purpose, the case 2 only needs to be transparent or translucent at least at the detection site α in order to ensure translucency.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the detection portion α is formed in the second chamber 10 of the ink cartridge 1 by the intersection of the inner surface of the side wall 2a and the inner surface of the side wall 2d adjacent thereto. It is set at a ridge portion (corner portion) extending in the up-down direction. When the detection site α is set at the ridge line portion (corner portion) of the second chamber 10 as described above, the height of the ink surface in the second chamber 10 is changed from the level h1 as described later. In the case where the ink L steeply drops to the level h2, as shown in FIG. 14, even if the ink L attached to the inner surface of the side wall 2a is held near the level h1 in the central portion of the side wall 2a, the corner of the inner surface of the side wall 2a is formed. The ink L adhering in the vicinity of the ink portion has the same level h2 as the height of the ink liquid level due to the capillary action of the corner portion.
Since it immediately moves to the vicinity, the second
The presence or absence of ink in the chamber 10 can be accurately detected. As described above, the liquid level rapidly decreases because the ink level h2 fluctuates to h1 due to the scanning movement of the carriage, or a known suction unit is applied to the recording head 72 in order to recover the ejection function of the recording head 72. This is the case where the ink level is rapidly lowered by connecting and sucking a large amount of ink.

A rib protruding from the inner surface of the side wall 2a into the second chamber 10 and extending in the height direction of the second chamber 10 is provided.
Although it is possible to set the detection portion α at the ridge portion formed by the rib and the inner surface of the side wall 2a, as described above, the detection portion α is set at a corner portion existing in a normal ink cartridge. Thus, the detection accuracy of the ink remaining amount sensor 60 can be improved without complicating the structure of the ink cartridge 1.

Further, as described above, after the ink in the first chamber 9 is almost consumed, the remaining amount of ink in the second chamber 10 where the ink level fluctuation finally appears is detected by the remaining ink sensor 60. Thus, the remaining amount of ink at the time when the ink cartridge 10 should be replaced can be minimized, and waste of ink generated when replacing the ink cartridge 10 can be minimized.

Further, as shown in FIG. 15, on the inner surface of the side wall 2a facing the second chamber 10 where the detection site α is set,
A large number of fine ridges 63 are formed extending in a direction perpendicular to a plane including the light emitting element 61 and the light receiving element 62 and the detection site α, that is, in the vertical direction of the ink cartridge 1, and the detection site α is set. On the outer surface of the side wall 2a,
A large number of fine concavo-convex stripes 64 extending in a direction parallel to a plane including the light emitting element 61 and the light receiving element 62 and the detection site α, that is, in the front-rear direction of the ink cartridge 10 are formed.

In a state where the ink is present up to the height of the detection portion α of the second chamber 10, the light emitted from the light emitting element 61 advances into the ink from the refractive index of the side wall 2a and the ink (arrow B). It hardly advances to the light receiving element 62 side. Then, when there is no ink at the detection site α, the light is reflected by the inner surface of the side wall 2a and proceeds toward the light receiving element 62.
At this time, if a large number of fine uneven stripes 63 extending in the vertical direction are formed on the inner surface of the side wall 2a of the case body 11, FIG.
As shown by the solid line in FIG. 5, when the light emitted from the light emitting element 61 is reflected by the inner surface of the side wall 2a of the case body 11, the unevenness 63 causes the light to be emitted in a substantially horizontal direction (the light emitting element 61, the light receiving element 62 and the detecting portion). (the direction parallel to the plane including α) and spread toward the light receiving element 62 while spreading in a plane including the light emitting element 61 and the light receiving element 62 of the sensor 60 and the detection portion α of the case body 11. Side wall 2
The reflected light in the case where no irregularities are formed on the inner surface of a is shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. Therefore, as shown by the solid line and the two-dot chain line in FIG. 16, even when the distance between the sensor 60 and the detection site α slightly changes, the light receiving element 62 can reliably receive the reflected light. That is, even if the mounting position of the sensor 60 with respect to the carriage 52 fluctuates during the manufacturing process of the ink jet printer, or if the mounting position of the ink cartridge 1 is slightly shifted when the user replaces the ink cartridge 1, the remaining amount of the ink can be surely ensured. Can be detected. In the drawing, for convenience of explanation, light is emitted from the light-emitting element 61 in a parallel state, but the same effect can be achieved even if the light is emitted so as to spread.

As described above, when a large number of fine irregularities 64 extending in the front-rear direction are formed on the outer surface of the side wall 2a, as shown in FIG. 17, the light is reflected by the outer surface of the side wall 2a of the case main body 11. Is scattered in the vertical direction by the concave and convex stripes 64, and the reflected light on the outer surface of the side wall 2a is
Since the light-emitting element 61 and the light-receiving element 62 spread toward the light-receiving element 62 side outside the plane including the detection portion α, the light-receiving element 62 does not contribute to the detection of the remaining amount of ink on the outer surface of the side wall 2a. It becomes difficult to receive the reflected light. Therefore, of the reflected light received by the light receiving element 62, the ratio of the reflected light component on the inner surface of the side wall 2a that contributes to the detection of the remaining ink amount increases, and the detection accuracy of the remaining ink amount improves. If the uneven stripes on the inner surface of the side wall 2a extend in the horizontal direction, the light is scattered in the vertical direction, so when the distance between the sensor 60 and the detection site α changes as shown in FIG. The allowable position where the light receiving element 62 can receive the reflected light is
It is significantly limited compared to the above embodiment.

The case 2 configured as described above is molded by a mold, and the mold used is a detection part α.
The mold surface corresponding to the inner surface of the side wall 2a where
The light emitting element 61 and the light receiving element 62 are polished in a direction perpendicular to a plane including the detection site α, and the mold surface corresponding to the outer surface of the side wall 2a on which the detection site α is set is the light emitting element 61 and It is polished in a direction parallel to a plane including the light receiving element 62 and the detection site α, and by applying such polishing to the mold surfaces, fine irregularities extending in a predetermined direction are formed on the respective mold surfaces. Many are formed. Therefore, by using such a mold, as described above, a large number of concave and convex strips 63 extending in a predetermined direction on the inner surface and the outer surface of the side wall 2a where the detection portion α is set, respectively.
The ink cartridge 1 on which the ink cartridge 64 is formed can be easily manufactured.

In this embodiment, the light emitting element 61
Although the light-receiving element 62 and the light-receiving element 62 are arranged in the horizontal direction, the present invention is not limited to this. However, in this case, the directions of the concave and convex strips 63 and 64 formed on the inner and outer surfaces of the side wall 2a must be reversed.

Next, a method for manufacturing the ink cartridge 1 will be described. First, the case 2 is molded with a resin, and the case 2 is washed and dried. At this time, since the upper and lower end surfaces of the case 2 are open, the case 2 can be easily formed by a mold that is separated vertically. The case needs to be washed well so that the physical properties of the ink do not change. However, with the shape of the case, the washing liquid easily reaches the inside and can be easily washed. Drying can also be performed without leaving a cleaning liquid.

Then, as shown in FIG. 4, a porous material 8 is inserted into the first chamber 9 from the upper open end of the case 2, and the porous material 8 is pressed by the upper lid member 3 to be in a compressed state. To accommodate. The upper lid member 3 is thermally welded to the periphery of the upper end opening of the case 2 and the upper ends of the partition walls 5 and 6. In addition, the lower lid member 4 is provided with a peripheral edge of a lower end opening of the case 2 and partition walls 7a, 7b,
7c is fixed to the lower end by heat welding. A seal material 23 is releasably attached to the ink supply port 17 and the air communication hole 18 of the lower lid member 4 so as to cover them. As described above, the upper and lower portions of the case 2 are formed to be substantially open, and the above-described various chambers can be formed by attaching the lid members 3 and 4 to the upper and lower portions. It is. Further, since the ink supply port 17 and the air communication hole 18 are arranged on one surface of the cartridge, it is not necessary to draw the sealing material 23 covering them around the outer periphery of the cartridge as in the conventional case, and it is possible to easily attach the sealing material 23. it can.

Next, the operation of filling the ink into the ink cartridge 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 18, the ink supply port 17 and the air communication hole 18 of the lower lid member 4 are sealed with the upper lid as described above. The ink filling device 101 is provided in the ink filling port 13 of the member 3, and the pressure reducing device 102 is provided in the pressure reducing port 14.
Are performed by operating each device. Since the ink filling port 13 and the pressure reducing port 14 are arranged on one side of the cartridge, all the devices need only be approached from one side of the ink cartridge 1. The air in the first chamber 9 is sucked from the pressure reducing port 14 before filling with ink. As a result, the pressure in the first and second chambers 9 and 10 is reduced, and the ink passes from the ink filling port 13 through the second chamber 10 and from the communication hole 15 to the porous material 8 in the first chamber 9. Will be filled.
At this time, the second chamber 10 becomes an ink filling path, and ink enters the second chamber 10 from one end, passes through a communication hole 15 farthest from the second chamber 10, enters the first chamber 9, and then enters the second chamber 10.
To the decompression port 14 which is the farthest away from the first chamber 9.
In addition, the ink can be efficiently filled. Further, as described above, since the side portion of the case 2 is reinforced by a double wall structure, the case 2 is hardly deformed at the time of depressurization. Ink can be filled well. The pressure in the atmosphere communication passage 11 is also reduced at the same time as the first chamber 9, and is maintained in a reduced pressure even after the sealing material is attached.

[0119] The ink to be filled in the above step is one in which bubbles and air dissolved in the ink are removed as much as possible (so-called degassed ink). This is to prevent bubbles and air from entering the recording head 72 and causing defective ink ejection. Further, the reason why the ink cartridge is sealed under reduced pressure with the packaging bag 8 as described above is to prevent bubbles and air from re-dissolving into the degassed ink.

After ink filling, seal materials 21 and 22 are attached to the ink filling port 13 and the pressure reducing port 14, respectively. Seal material 2
In the first and second embodiments, only one necessary part may be left after attaching one sealing material. Thus, in the manufacturing stage, the filling device 101 and the pressure reducing device 102 need only be brought closer to the case 2 from one side and sealed from the case 2 from one side, so that workability is good.

The ink cartridge 1 manufactured as described above
As described above, is shipped in a state in which it is hermetically housed under reduced pressure in the packaging bag 81.

When the user uses the ink cartridge 1, the user peels off the seal material 23 attached to the ink supply port 17 of the ink cartridge 1 and the air communication hole 18, and connects the ink supply port 17 to the manifold of the recording head 72. 73 is connected via a joint member 74. Then, as is well known, a suction unit is connected to the recording head 72, and the recording head 72 is filled with ink from the ink cartridge 1.

During the recording operation, the porous material 8 in the first chamber 9
The negative pressure is applied to the ink supplied from the second chamber 10 to the recording head by the absorption force of the ink, that is, the capillary phenomenon. The actuator of the recording head 72 performs an ink ejection operation, thereby generating a negative pressure in the ejection direction and sucking ink from the ink cartridge 1. When the ink in the second chamber 10 flows out of the ink supply port 17, the first
The ink is supplied from the porous material 8 in the chamber 9 to the second chamber 10, and the ink in the first chamber 9 is consumed. At 9 the atmosphere is introduced. Since the upper end of the second chamber 10 is sealed with the sealing material 21, the atmospheric pressure does not act on the ink in the second chamber 10 when the second chamber 10 is fully filled with ink. After the ink in the first chamber 9 is almost consumed, the ink in the second chamber 10 is consumed. That is, when the ink in the first chamber 9 runs out, the ink in the second chamber 10 is consumed by the pressure at which the recording head 72 sucks the ink, and the air is discharged from the first chamber 9 to the second chamber. 10 and a vertical portion 1 of the second chamber 10
A gap is formed from the top of the ink droplet 0, and the ink liquid level is lowered.

As described above, the communication hole 1 is formed in the first chamber 9.
Since the air is introduced from the side far from 5, the ink in the first chamber 9 is effectively used, and the entire ink including the ink in the second chamber 10 is effectively used. Also,
Since the second chamber 10 is fully filled from the beginning as an ink filling path, erroneous detection in the remaining amount detection due to insufficient ink filling here does not occur. Furthermore, sealing material 23
Can be easily performed because only one side of the cartridge is used.

Further, as described above, the presence of the barrier 31 between the communication hole 15 and the ink supply port 17 allows the ink to flow from the first chamber 9 by the pressure at which the recording head 72 sucks the ink. When the ink is sucked into the second chamber 10 through the nozzle 15, air bubbles are mixed in the ink, or the ink in the first chamber 9 is consumed as described above, and air is drawn into the second chamber 10. When this happens, the bubbles and air can be prevented from flowing into the recording head 72. That is, as shown by an arrow 32 in FIG. 6, when the ink flow bypasses the barrier 31, air bubbles and air move upward of the vertical portion 10 a by buoyancy at a position corresponding to the vertical portion 10 a of the second chamber 10. Escape, ink supply port 1
Does not reach 7. The ceiling surface of the horizontal portion 10b of the second chamber, that is, the lower surface 7d of the bottom partition wall 7 is inclined so as to rise from the lower end of the communication hole 15 toward the vertical portion 10a of the second chamber 10, Bubbles and air flow above the vertical portion 10a without staying on the lower surface of the bottom partition wall 7. Therefore, it is possible to prevent bubbles or air from entering the recording head 72 and causing ink ejection failure.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a state in which an ink cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a recording head.

FIG. 2 is an external view of an ink cartridge.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge.

FIG. 4 is an exploded sectional view of the ink cartridge.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the case without the lower lid member of the ink cartridge.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the upper lid member of the ink cartridge before a sticker is attached.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the upper lid member of the ink cartridge after a seal is attached.

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the ink cartridge.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 4;

FIG. 11 shows a passage 16b between the first chamber and the atmosphere communication passage.
The perspective view which expands and shows the structure of a part.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged perspective view showing a configuration obtained by improving the passage portion of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged perspective view showing a configuration obtained by further improving the passage portion of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a side view of the ink cartridge.

FIG. 15 is a horizontal sectional view conceptually showing a light reflection state at an ink remaining amount detection portion.

FIG. 16 is a horizontal sectional view conceptually showing a light reflection state at an ink remaining amount detection portion.

FIG. 17 is a vertical sectional view conceptually showing a light reflection state at an ink remaining amount detection portion.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing an ink filling operation of the ink cartridge.

FIG. 19 is a sectional view of a state where the ink cartridge is housed in a packaging bag.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ink cartridge 2 ... Case 3 ... Upper lid member 4 ... Lower lid member 5, 6, 7 ... Partition wall 8 ... Porous material 9 First chamber 10 ... Second chamber 11 ... Atmospheric communication path 13 ... Ink filling port DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 ... Pressure reducing port 15 ... Communication hole 16 ... Passage 17 ... Ink supply port 18 ... Atmospheric communication hole 21, 22 ... First seal material 23 ... Second seal material 29a, 4a ... Ink reservoir 31 ... Barrier 33 ... Space 60 … Ink remaining amount detection sensor 81… Packaging bag

Continued on front page (31) Priority claim number Japanese Patent Application No. 10-94774 (32) Priority date April 7, 1998 (1998.4.7) (33) Priority claim country Japan (JP) (31) Priority claim number Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 10-94775 (32) Priority date April 7, 1998 (1998.4.7) (33) Priority claim country Japan (JP) (31) Priority claim number 10-94776 (32) Priority date April 7, 1998 (1998.4.7) (33) Priority claiming country Japan (JP) (31) Priority claim number Japanese Patent Application No. 10-94777 (32) Priority Date April 7, 1998 (1998.4.7) (33) Priority claiming country Japan (JP) (31) Priority claim number Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 10-94778 (32) Priority date April 7, 1998 Date (1998.4.7) (33) Priority claiming country Japan (JP) (31) Priority claim number Japanese Patent Application No. 10-1446993 (32) Priority date May 28, 1998 (May 28, 1998) (33) Priority claim country Japan (JP) (31) Priority claim number Japanese Patent Application No. 10-166920 (32) Priority date June 15, 1998 (1998.6.15) (33) Priority claim Country day (JP)

Claims (49)

[Claims] 1. An ink cartridge for storing ink to be supplied to a recording head, comprising: a case having at least one open surface; and an ink defined by a partition wall in the case and open to the open surface side of the case. A first chamber for accommodating the porous material that has absorbed the water, a second chamber for accommodating the ink, a lid member for covering the open surfaces of the first chamber and the second chamber, An ink filling port formed on one of the open surfaces of the second chamber for filling the first chamber and the second chamber with ink; and the other of the first chamber and the second chamber In order to decompress the first chamber and the second chamber formed on the open surface of
An ink cartridge comprising: a decompression port that can be connected to a decompression source; and a communication hole that connects the first chamber and the second chamber to each other on a side opposite to the open surface. 2. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the case has an ink supply port on a surface different from the open surface to supply ink in the first chamber or the second chamber to a recording head. An ink cartridge, characterized in that: 3. The ink cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the case is open on a surface opposite to the open surface.
The ink cartridge, wherein the ink filling port and the pressure reducing port are respectively formed in the lid member, and the ink supply port is formed in a second lid member that covers an opposite open surface. 4. The ink cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the second lid member has an air communication hole communicating with the first chamber. 5. An ink cartridge containing ink to be supplied to a recording head, wherein an ink filling port for filling the case with ink is provided on a first surface of a case containing the ink, and the pressure inside the case is reduced. For this purpose, a decompression port connectable to a decompression source is formed, an ink supply port for supplying ink to a recording head is formed on a second surface opposite to the decompression source, and the ink filling port and the decompression port are connected to the first port. An ink cartridge characterized in that the ink supply port is closed with a second seal material that is releasably attached to the second surface, and the ink supply port is closed with a first seal material attached to the second surface. 6. The ink cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the second surface further has an air communication hole communicating between the inside and the outside of the case, and the second seal material also peels off the air communication hole. An ink cartridge which is closed as much as possible. 7. An ink cartridge for storing ink to be supplied to a recording head, wherein a case having at least one open surface and a partition wall formed in the case are provided, and the ink is opened to the open surface side of the case to release the ink. An ink chamber for accommodating, and an atmosphere communication passage that opens to the open surface side of the case and communicates with the air outside the case at one end and the other end to the outside of the case near the side opposite to the open surface. An ink cartridge, comprising: a lid member that covers an open surface of an ink chamber; and an ink supply port formed in the lid member and connected to the ink chamber to supply ink to a recording head. 8. The ink cartridge according to claim 7, wherein the lid member covers an open surface of the ink chamber and the air communication passage, and has an air communication hole communicating with the air communication passage. An ink cartridge characterized by the above-mentioned. 9. An ink cartridge for storing ink to be supplied to a recording head, wherein a case having two open surfaces facing each other, and a partition wall formed in the case, wherein the case is open to both open surfaces of the case. An ink chamber for containing ink, and an air communication passage connecting the ink chamber to the atmosphere outside the case, and a passage covering the ink chamber and the air communication passage, leaving one surface of the case mounted. A first lid member, a second lid member mounted on at least the other surface of the case so as to cover the ink chamber, and communicating with the ink chamber formed on the second lid member. And an ink supply port for supplying ink to the recording head. 10. The ink cartridge according to claim 9, wherein said ink chamber further includes a first chamber containing a porous material absorbing ink, the first chamber being further partitioned by a partition wall, and containing said porous material. A second chamber that is not covered, wherein one of the first chamber and the second chamber is covered by the first lid member, and the other is covered by a second lid member. ink cartridge. 11. The ink cartridge according to claim 10, wherein the first chamber communicates with the atmosphere communication path, and communicates with the second chamber on a side opposite to the atmosphere communication path. An ink cartridge, wherein the chamber communicates with the ink supply port. 12. An ink cartridge for storing ink to be supplied to a recording head, wherein a first chamber for storing ink is formed in a case constituting the cartridge by a partition wall formed substantially parallel to one side wall of the case. A second chamber disposed substantially parallel to the side wall for filling the first chamber with ink, and a second chamber disposed substantially parallel to the side wall for communicating the first chamber with the atmosphere outside the case. An air communication passage, one end of the second chamber communicates with one end of the first chamber, and the other end is opened to the outside of the case via an ink filling port. An end of the first chamber communicating with an end of the first chamber opposite to a communication portion with the second chamber, and the other end being open to the atmosphere outside the case. 13. The ink cartridge according to claim 12, wherein the air communication passage and the second chamber are respectively located along opposite side walls of the case. 14. The ink cartridge according to claim 12, wherein the second chamber has an ink supply port for supplying ink to a recording head near a communication portion with the first chamber. An ink cartridge wherein the ink in the first chamber is supplied to the recording head from the ink supply port through the second chamber. 15. The ink cartridge according to claim 14, wherein the first chamber is open at one end surface perpendicular to the side wall, is covered by a first lid member, and the second chamber is An ink cartridge which is open at the other end surface opposite to the one end and is covered by a second lid member, wherein the ink supply port is formed in the second lid member. . 16. An ink cartridge containing ink to be supplied to a recording head, a case having upper and lower ends opened and two opposing side walls, and a first and a second case extending in the case substantially parallel to the both side walls. A second partition wall and a third partition wall connected to the lower ends of the two partition walls and extending substantially parallel to the lower end opening surface of the case; and the first and second partition walls, A first chamber located between the partition wall and the upper end open surface of the case, a second chamber located between one side wall and the first partition wall, and a second chamber located between the other side wall and the second partition wall. An air communication path located between the first lid member fixed to the case covering the first upper open surface, and a lower open surface of the case;
A second lid member having an ink supply port communicating with a lower end of the second chamber and supplying ink to a recording head, wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are separated by the third partition; The first chamber and the atmosphere communication passage communicate with each other at a substantially upper end of the first chamber far from the communication hole through a communication hole formed in a wall, and the atmosphere communication passage is connected to the case. An ink cartridge characterized by being open to the atmosphere from the lower end of the ink cartridge. 17. The ink cartridge according to claim 16, wherein the first lid member communicates with the second chamber, and has an ink filling port for filling the first and second chambers with ink. The ink cartridge, wherein the second lid member has an air communication hole communicating with the air communication passage. 18. An ink cartridge containing ink to be supplied to a recording head, wherein first and second chambers formed by partition walls and containing ink are formed in a case constituting the cartridge, and the first and second chambers are provided. A communication hole that communicates with the lower portion of the second chamber, and an ink that is formed at an upper end of the second chamber and fills the first chamber with ink from the second ink chamber via the communication hole. A filling port, a seal member for closing the ink filling port, an ink supply port formed at a lower end of the second chamber for supplying ink to a recording head, and an atmosphere communication for communicating the first chamber with the atmosphere. And at least a part of the side wall of the second chamber,
An ink cartridge characterized by being transparent or translucent. 19. The ink cartridge according to claim 18, wherein the first chamber has a larger volume than the second chamber and includes a porous material absorbing ink. . 20. The ink cartridge according to claim 19, wherein upper ends of the first chamber and the second chamber are covered with one lid member, and the lid is formed with the ink filling port. An ink cartridge, characterized in that: 21. The ink cartridge according to claim 18, wherein an inner surface of a transparent or translucent portion of a side wall of the second chamber has an uneven strip extending in a vertical direction. . 22. An ink remaining amount detecting mechanism for detecting, by a sensor, ink in an ink cartridge containing ink to be supplied to a recording head, wherein the ink cartridge is divided into first and second ink compartments by partition walls. A case in which at least a part of a side wall of the second chamber is made transparent or translucent, a communication hole which communicates the first and second chambers at a lower part, An ink filling port formed at an upper end of the second chamber, for filling the first chamber with ink from the second ink chamber via the communication hole, a seal member for closing the ink filling port, An ink supply port formed at a lower end of the second chamber and configured to supply ink to a recording head; and an atmosphere communication hole communicating the first chamber with the atmosphere.
An ink remaining amount detecting mechanism, which is arranged to face a transparent or translucent portion of a side wall of the second chamber. 23. The ink remaining amount detecting mechanism according to claim 22, wherein the sensor is disposed so as to face a ridge portion extending in a vertical direction formed by intersecting at least two surfaces forming an inner surface of the second chamber. A remaining ink amount detection mechanism. 24. The ink remaining amount detecting mechanism according to claim 22, wherein the sensor has a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion, and the inner surface of a transparent or translucent portion of a side wall of the second chamber is provided with the sensor. An ink remaining amount detecting mechanism having an uneven portion extending in a direction perpendicular to a plane including a light emitting portion, a light receiving portion, and a detection portion of the second chamber by the sensor. 25. An ink remaining amount detection mechanism comprising: an ink cartridge having an ink chamber containing ink to be supplied to a recording head therein; and a sensor for detecting ink in the ink chamber, wherein the sensor comprises the ink cartridge And a detection site of the sensor is set to a vertically extending ridge portion formed by intersecting at least two surfaces forming an inner surface of the ink chamber. An ink remaining amount detecting mechanism. 26. The ink remaining amount detecting mechanism according to claim 25, wherein the case has a substantially rectangular shape in a plane, and the sensor is provided so as to face one edge of the case. Remaining amount detection mechanism. 27. The ink remaining amount detecting mechanism according to claim 25, wherein a side wall of the case at the detection portion is made of a transparent or translucent material, and the sensor is provided to face a ridge line portion. And a light receiving unit. 28. The ink remaining amount detecting mechanism according to claim 25, wherein the case contains a porous material that has absorbed ink and is in communication with the atmosphere.
A second ink chamber that communicates with the first chamber, contains only ink, and has an upper part sealed, and the sensor is provided so as to detect the remaining amount of ink in the second chamber. Remaining ink detection mechanism. 29. An ink cartridge having an ink chamber containing ink to be supplied to a recording head therein and detecting the ink in the ink chamber by a reflected light sensor having a light emitting section and a light receiving section. Wherein the inner surface of the side wall of the ink chamber, which is a detection portion, has an uneven stripe extending in a direction orthogonal to a plane including the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion of the reflected light sensor and the detection portion. ink cartridge. 30. The ink cartridge according to claim 29, wherein an outer surface of a side wall of the ink chamber, which is a detection part by the reflected light sensor, is a light emitting part and a light receiving part of the reflected light sensor and a detection part by the reflected light sensor. An ink cartridge characterized by having an uneven strip extending parallel to a plane including: 31. An ink cartridge in which the remaining amount of ink is detected by detecting presence / absence of ink in an ink chamber containing ink by a reflected light sensor having a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit provided outside the ink chamber. Wherein a surface corresponding to an inner surface of a side wall of the ink chamber, which is a detection portion of the reflected light sensor, is orthogonal to a plane including a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion of the reflected light sensor and a detection portion of the case body. An ink cartridge characterized by being molded using a direction-polished mold. 32. The ink cartridge according to claim 31, wherein a surface corresponding to an outer surface of a side wall of the ink chamber, which is a part to be detected by the reflected light sensor, includes a light emitting part and a light receiving part of the reflected light sensor and the reflected light. An ink cartridge formed by using a mold polished in parallel with a plane including a detection part by a sensor. 33. An ink cartridge containing ink to be supplied to a recording head, wherein a first chamber for accommodating a porous material having absorbed ink is formed in a case constituting the cartridge, and Is connected to an atmosphere communication hole that opens to the atmosphere outside the case via a passage, and an edge of an inner wall surface of the first chamber is connected to the passage and the atmosphere communication hole via a planar portion. An ink cartridge. 34. The ink cartridge according to claim 33, wherein a partition wall is formed in the case to form an air communication passage communicating the first chamber, the passage, and the air communication hole, and the air communication passage is formed in the case. An opening between the first chamber and the atmosphere communication passage is covered by a lid member, and the lid member has a wall protruding from the inner surface of the first chamber toward the first chamber from an inner surface of the first chamber at a position away from the partition wall. And an ink passage provided on the surface of the lid member opposite to the partition wall, the passage connecting the first chamber and the atmosphere communication passage. 35. The ink cartridge according to claim 33, further comprising a lid member that covers the first chamber and has the passage on a surface opposite to the first chamber. Is formed at a position apart from the inner surface of the first chamber, a wall projecting inward of the first chamber from a joint surface between the lid member and the case, and from an inner surface of the first chamber. An opening for communicating the passage with the first chamber is formed at a remote position, and the porous material is accommodated in the first chamber in a state where the porous material is pressed by the wall of the lid member. An ink cartridge, characterized in that: 36. In an ink cartridge containing ink to be supplied to a recording head, an ink chamber containing ink inside a case constituting the cartridge, and an atmosphere communication passage communicating the ink chamber with the atmosphere outside the case. And a through hole communicating the ink chamber and the atmosphere is provided in the atmosphere communication path, and an ink reservoir is provided at a position lower than the opening end of the through hole on the ink chamber side. ink cartridge. 37. The ink cartridge according to claim 36, wherein the through hole and the ink reservoir are formed in one wall, and an upper end of the through hole and the ink reservoir are formed with a step. ink cartridge. 38. An ink cartridge containing ink to be supplied to a recording head, wherein an ink chamber containing ink is formed in a case constituting the cartridge by a partition wall formed substantially parallel to one side wall of the cartridge. Forming an ink communication passage with the atmosphere outside the case, forming upper and lower ends of the air communication passage in an open state, and connecting an upper end of the case with the ink chamber and the air communication passage. Covering with a lid member leaving the passage, a through hole communicating the ink chamber and the atmosphere, and an ink reservoir lower than the upper end of the through hole is formed on a wall partitioning the middle of the atmosphere communication passage. Ink cartridge. 39. In an ink cartridge containing ink to be supplied to a recording head, an ink chamber containing ink inside a case forming the cartridge, and an atmosphere communication passage communicating the ink chamber with the atmosphere outside the case. And a lid member having an ink supply port for supplying ink in the ink chamber to the recording head and an air communication hole for opening the air communication passage to the atmosphere is mounted on the lower surface of the case, An ink cartridge, wherein an ink reservoir lower than an upper end of the air communication hole is formed on an upper surface of the lid member. 40. An ink cartridge containing ink to be supplied to a recording head, wherein a first chamber for accommodating a porous material absorbing the ink by a partition wall is provided in a case constituting the cartridge, And a second chamber for accommodating ink through a communication hole provided in a lower portion of the chamber, and an ink supply port for supplying ink to a recording head is provided in the second chamber. An ink cartridge characterized in that a barrier is provided on the shortest path connecting the ink supply port and the ink supply port. 41. The ink cartridge according to claim 40, wherein the second chamber is formed so as to be open at one end of the case, and the ink supply port is formed in a lid member that covers the open surface. An ink cartridge, wherein the barrier is formed on one of the lid member and the partition wall facing the lid member. 42. The ink cartridge according to claim 41, wherein the second chamber has a first portion located below the first chamber, a side of the first chamber, and a side wall of the case. An ink cartridge, wherein the communication hole is opened in the first portion, and the barrier is located in the first portion. 43. The ink cartridge according to claim 42, wherein a part of the partition wall between the first and second chambers, which forms a ceiling surface of the first part of the second chamber, is a second part. An ink cartridge characterized in that the ink cartridge is inclined so as to rise toward a portion. 44. In an ink cartridge containing ink to be supplied to a recording head, an ink chamber containing ink inside a case constituting the cartridge is not communicated with the ink chamber, but is communicated outside the case. An ink cartridge characterized by forming a closed space. 45. The ink cartridge according to claim 44, wherein the ink chamber is defined by a partition wall in the case, one end of the case is formed in an open state, and covers an open end surface of the case. The lid member is mounted as described above, the space is formed by the lid member and the partition wall, and the lid member has an opening communicating the space with the outside of the case. 46. The ink cartridge according to claim 44, wherein the case is sealed in a sealed packaging bag in a reduced pressure state, and the space serves as a reduced pressure space for maintaining the reduced pressure state in the packaging bag. And an ink cartridge. 47. The ink cartridge according to claim 45, wherein the ink chamber communicates with a first chamber accommodating a porous material having absorbed ink through a communication hole with the first chamber. Second containing ink covered by member
The lid member has an ink supply port for supplying ink from the second chamber to the recording head, and the space is formed adjacent to the second chamber. An ink cartridge. 48. The ink cartridge according to claim 45, wherein the partition wall in the case communicates with the ink chamber at one end and the other end communicates with the atmosphere outside the case. A communication path is formed, the lid member has a communication hole for communicating the atmosphere communication path with the atmosphere, and the space is formed adjacent to the atmosphere communication path. ink cartridge. 49. The ink cartridge according to claim 44, wherein a partition wall in the case communicates with the ink chamber at one end and the other end communicates with the atmosphere outside the case by a partition wall. A communication passage is formed,
One end of the case is formed in an open state, and a lid member is attached so as to cover an open end surface of the case. An ink supply port for supplying ink from the ink chamber to the recording head is provided on the lid member. And an atmosphere communication hole for communicating the atmosphere communication path with the atmosphere is formed,
The space is formed by the lid member and the partition wall,
The ink supply port and the air communication hole are closed by a peelable seal member, the case is hermetically sealed in a packaging bag in a reduced pressure state, and the space is a reduced pressure space for maintaining the reduced pressure state in the packaging bag. An ink cartridge, comprising: