JP3697088B2 - Tank holder - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ink jet recording tank holder that performs recording by discharging ink.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A conventional ink jet recording apparatus and an ink jet head cartridge mounted on a carriage will be briefly described.
[0003]
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a general inkjet recording apparatus 100, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an inkjet head cartridge and an ink tank in a carriage.
[0004]
In the ink jet recording apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 8, the carriage 101 is moved in parallel on a lead screw 104 and a guide shaft 105 by a lead screw 104 interlocked with a carriage motor (not shown).
[0005]
Further, as shown in FIG. 9, a head cartridge including an inkjet head 202 is fixed to the carriage 101, and the cartridge includes a black ink tank 111, a yellow ink tank 112, which are detachable along the tank holder 203, A magenta ink tank 113 and a cyan ink tank 114 are mounted, and ink is supplied.
[0006]
The ink ejected from the inkjet head 202 lands on a recording medium facing the inkjet head 202, that is, the recording paper 106 in this embodiment, and forms an image. The recording paper 106 is discharged in conjunction with printing by a paper feed roller 107, a paper discharge roller 108, and a paper pressing plate 109 that are linked with a paper discharge motor (not shown).
[0007]
FIG. 10 is a detailed sectional view of a part of the ink jet head cartridge.
[0008]
The ink jet head cartridge roughly includes an ink jet head 202 and a tank holder 203. In the inkjet head 202, 201 is a silicon substrate that forms a heater related to the inkjet ejection principle, 206 is an ink flow path for supplying ink from the joint 204 to the silicon substrate 201, and 205 is a base plate that supports the silicon substrate 201.
[0009]
The ink flow will be described taking the black ink tank 111 as an example. Ink is supplied into the inkjet head 202 from the ink supply port 211 of the ink tank 111 via the joint 204. Ink is supplied to the silicon substrate 201 through the ink flow path 206, and is ejected onto the recording paper 106 by energy generated by energy elements (not shown) in the silicon substrate 201.
[0010]
In the ink jet recording apparatus, in order to reduce the running cost of printing, it is preferable to replace the ink tank.
[0011]
FIGS. 11A and 11B are perspective views of a conventional ink tank 111, and FIG. 11C is a cross-sectional view.
[0012]
The ink tank 111 has a fixed second claw 132 on its side surface and a first claw 131 formed on a movable lever 130 elastically provided on the opposite side surface of the second claw 132. An ink absorber 136 that holds black ink is accommodated inside, and an ink supply port 211 having a joint member 137 is provided at the bottom.
[0013]
Next, a procedure for setting the conventional ink tank 111 to the tank holder 203 of the inkjet head cartridge 115 will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 (a), 12 (b), and 12 (c).
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 12A, when the ink tank 111 is inserted into the tank holder 203, the second claw 132 of the ink tank 111 is inclined downward and inserted in the direction of arrow A.
[0015]
Next, as shown in FIG. 12 (b), the second ink cartridge 111 is first inserted into the second hole 242 of the tank holder 203 by being inserted along the inclined surface on the right side surface in the tank holder 203. Nail 132 engages.
[0016]
Further, as shown in FIG. 12C, when the ink tank 111 is pushed into the tank holder 203, the movable lever 130 is bent inward, and the first claw 131 is engaged with the first hole 241 of the tank holder 203. As a result, the ink tank 111 is fixed to the tank holder 203.
[0017]
In this state, the ink held by the ink absorber 136 is introduced into the inkjet head 202 via the joint member 137 of the ink supply port 211, and the ejection port is generated by the energy generated by the electrothermal transducer (not shown). (Not shown).
[0018]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional example, depending on the shape of the tank holder, as shown in FIG. 13, when the user attaches the ink tank to the tank holder, the user tries to install the ink tank at a certain angle. In some cases, the corner of the lower surface of the ink tank or the tip of the ink supply port gets into the gap in front of the joint of the tank holder and cannot be mounted properly.
[0019]
The present invention has been made paying attention to the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a tank holder that allows a user to easily guide and attach an ink tank to a tank holder by a simple and inexpensive method. To do.
[0020]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
This invention can solve the said subject by providing the following structure.
[0021]
(1) Removably holding the ink tank, providing a first hole that engages with the first claw of the ink tank, and providing a second hole that engages with the second claw of the ink tank. A tank holder provided on an opposite side surface provided with one hole and having a joint coupled to an ink supply port of the ink tank, the tank holder surrounding the joint of the tank holder , and In a region in front of the ink tank insertion direction, a meniscus rib having an arcuate curved portion that intersects the ink tank insertion direction and has a height higher than the joint along the circumference of the joint; A guide rib for guiding the ink supply port of the ink tank is provided, which is composed of a linear rib coupled to the half-moon-shaped rib at the same height as the half-moon-shaped rib and extending to the opposite side of the joint. Tank holder, characterized in that there.
[0022]
(2) A tank holder as set forth in (1) above, wherein a plurality of types of ink tanks are mounted .
[0023]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0024]
(Example 1)
1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3 (a), (b), (c), (d) is a first embodiment of the present invention.
[0025]
1 is a perspective view of an ink tank and a tank holder, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the tank holder as viewed from above, and FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D are views in FIG. It is sectional drawing shown by the position of arrow A, and is a figure explaining the procedure which attaches an ink tank to the tank holder of this invention.
[0026]
1, 2, 3 (a), 3 (b), 3 (c), and 3 (d), the ink tank 30 has a movable claw 31 on the side surface and a first claw 32 on the opposite side surface. An ink supply port 36 is provided on the bottom surface of the second claw 33. The tank holder 40 is provided with a first hole 41 that engages with the first claw 32 and a second hole 42 that engages with the second claw 33. Next to the joint 43 of the tank holder 40, a half-moon-shaped rib 44 having an arcuate curved surface that intersects with the insertion direction of the tank as a guide rib, and a convex portion of the half-moon-shaped rib engage with the joint. A linear rib 45 located on the opposite side is provided.
[0027]
Here, how the ink tank 30 is attached to the tank holder 40 will be described.
[0028]
As shown in FIG. 3A, when the ink tank 30 is inserted into the tank holder 40, the ink tank 30 is inclined and inserted in the direction of the arrow.
[0029]
Next, as shown in FIG. 3B, the tip of the ink supply port 36 of the ink tank 30 abuts on the tip of the linear rib 45 of the tank holder 40 and further moves in the direction of the arrow. Moves toward the half-moon shaped ribs 44.
[0030]
Next, as shown in FIG. 3C, the ink tank 30 contacts the right side surface of the tank holder 40, and the second claw 33 of the ink tank 30 is engaged with the second hole 42 of the tank holder 40. Further, as shown in FIG. 3 (d), when the ink tank 30 is pushed into the tank holder 40, the movable lever 31 is bent inward, and the first claw 32 is the first hole 41 of the tank holder 40. The ink tank 30 is fixed to the tank holder 40 by being engaged with each other. In this state, the ink supply port 36 is coupled to the joint 43.
[0031]
As a result, the user can easily attach the ink tank to the tank holder.
[0032]
(Example 2)
4, 5 and 6 show a second embodiment of the present invention.
[0033]
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of three color ink tanks and a three-color integrated tank holder.
[0034]
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the three-color integrated tank holder as viewed from above.
[0035]
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the ink tank and the tank holder shown at the position of arrow B in FIG.
[0036]
4, 5, and 6, the color ink tank 50 (50y: yellow, 50m: magenta, 50c: cyan) has a first claw on the movable lever 51 (51y, 51m, 51c) on each side surface. 52 (52y, 52m, 52c) is provided, the second claw 53 (53y, 53m, 53c) is provided on the opposite side surface, and the ink supply port 56 (56y, 56m, 56c) is provided on the bottom surface. .
[0037]
The tank holder 60 has a first hole 61 (61y, 61m, 61c) that engages with the first claw 52, and a second hole 62 (62y, 62c) that engages with the second claw 53 on the opposite side. 62m, 62c).
[0038]
Next to the joint 63 (63y, 63m, 63c) of the tank holder 60, there are provided a half-moon-shaped rib 64 (64y, 64m, 64c) and a straight rib 65 (65y, 65m, 65c) which are guide ribs.
[0039]
In the figure, as in the first embodiment, the ink supply ports 56 (56y, 56m, 56c) of the ink tank 50 (50y, 50m, 50c) are arranged on the half-moon-like ribs 64 (64y, 64m, 64c) of the tank holder 60. ) And the linear rib 65 (65y, 65m, 65c) are guided to the joint 63 (63y, 63m, 63c) of the tank holder 60, and the ink tank 50 (50y, 50m, 50c) is smoothly transferred to the tank holder 60. It is attached to.
[0040]
As a result, the user can easily attach the ink tank to the tank holder.
[0041]
(Example 3)
FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.
[0042]
FIG. 7 is a plan view of a six-color integrated tank holder in which six color ink tanks are mounted.
[0043]
In FIG. 7, the ink tank can be smoothly mounted on the tank holder 70 by the effect of the half-moon-shaped rib and the linear rib provided on the side of the joint 73 of the tank holder 70.
[0044]
Thus, it is also effective in a tank holder in which a plurality of types of multicolor ink tanks are mounted.
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, there is an effect that the user can easily attach the ink tank to the tank holder by a simple and inexpensive method.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ink tank and a tank holder in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a tank holder in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 3 (a), (b), (c) FIG. 4D is a cross-sectional view taken at the position of arrow A in FIG. 2 and is an explanatory view of the procedure for mounting the ink tank on the tank holder. FIG. 4 is a color ink tank and three-color integrated type in Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the three-color integrated tank holder as viewed from above. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the ink tank and the tank holder as shown by the arrow B in FIG. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state of mounting an ink tank. FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of an ink jet head cartridge. FIG. 11 (a), (b) Perspective view of a conventional ink tank, (c) the cross-sectional view and FIG. 12 (a), (b), (c) sectional view showing the state of mounting the ink tank in a conventional tank holder 13 the ink tank Sectional view showing the state where the conventional tank holder cannot be mounted successfully [Explanation of symbols]
30 Ink Tank 31 Movable Lever 32 First Claw 33 Second Claw 36 Ink Supply Port 40 Tank Holder 41 First Hole 42 Second Hole 43 Joint 44 Half Moon Rib 45 Linear Rib 50 Ink Tank 50y Yellow Ink Tank 50m Magenta ink tank 50c Cyan ink tank 51 Movable lever (51y, 51m, 51c)
52 1st nail (52y, 52m, 52c)
53 2nd nail (53y, 53m, 53c)
60 Tank holder 61 1st hole (61y, 61m, 61c)
62 2nd hole (62y, 62m, 62c)
63 Joint (63y, 63m, 63c)
64 semilunar ribs (64y, 64m, 64c)
65 linear rib (65y, 65m, 65c)
70 Six-color integrated tank holder 71 First hole 72 Second hole 73 Joint 74 Half-moon rib 75 Linear rib 100 Inkjet recording apparatus 101 Carriage 104 Lead screw 105 Guide shaft 106 Recording paper 107 Paper feed roller 108 Paper discharge roller 109 Paper Holding Plate 111 Black Ink Tank 112 Yellow Ink Tank 113 Magenta Ink Tank 114 Cyan Ink Tank 115 Inkjet Head Cartridge 130 Movable Lever 131 First Claw 132 Second Claw 136 Ink Absorber 137 Joint Member 201 Silicon Substrate 202 Inkjet Head 203 Tank holder 204 Joint 205 Base plate 206 Ink flow path 211 Ink supply port 241 1st hole 242 2nd hole

Claims (2)

The ink tank is detachably held, a first hole that engages with the first claw of the ink tank is provided, and a second hole that engages with the second claw of the ink tank is provided in the first hole. A tank holder provided on an opposite side surface of the ink tank and having a joint coupled to the ink supply port of the ink tank, the tank holder being around the joint of the tank holder and of the ink tank. A half-moon-shaped rib having an arcuate curved surface portion that intersects with the insertion direction of the ink tank and is higher in height than the joint along the circumference of the joint, and a half-moon-shaped rib guide ribs for guiding a linear rib extending on the opposite side, in the ink supply port formed said ink tank is provided with the joint bound to the semicircular rib at the same height as the Tank holder, characterized and.   2. The tank holder according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of types of ink tanks are mounted.

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