JPH11207989A - Method for supplementing ink and ink supplement jig used for execution of the method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To supplement supplementary ink well to an ink cartridge particularly of a type in which felt is filled by supplementing the ink from an ink container while a pressure in the interior of the ink cartridge is reduced by a pressure reduction means. SOLUTION: An ink supplement jig 1 is connected to an ink cartridge 2 by pressing a packing 12a into a hole 20 to maintain airtightness when a pressure is reduced. Then, while the ink supplement jig 1 is held almost vertically, a piston 11 is pulled up from a cylinder 10 as indicated by a white arrow. In consequence, the air in the cartridge 2 is sucked, passing through an injection member 12, rising as air bubbles in an ink I and stored in an upper area than a liquid level of the ink I which is separated by the ink I from a space in the ink cartridge 2. The interior of the cartridge 2 is brought in a state in which the pressure is reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink supply method for supplying ink to an ink cartridge or the like for an ink jet printer, and an ink supply device suitably used for carrying out the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, ink jet printers have become widespread. This type of ink jet printer is equipped with a detachable ink cartridge filled with ink, and supplies ink to the print head from this ink cartridge.

[0003] The actual situation is that the ink cartridge is basically disposable when the filled ink is used up. However, ink cartridges are quite expensive, and frequent replacement of such expensive ink cartridges is an economic burden for the user. In addition, since the act against the recent movement of resource conservation and environmental protection is performed, the user may feel useless guilt.

In particular, a full-color ink cartridge separates multicolor inks of three colors, for example, cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y), or more recently, into one ink cartridge. And the amount of ink for each color is small,
Since the consumption amount of each color is inevitably varied, there is a case where the ink needs to be replaced even though the ink consumption amount is still small, and the above feeling is further enhanced.

[0005] In addition, the ink cartridge is one in which the stored ink is simply depleted, and the ink cartridge itself is still usable. Therefore, it has been considered to replenish ink cartridges that have been used and to reuse the ink cartridges. For example, some ink supply tools 9 shown in FIG. 5 are commercially available.

The ink replenishing device 9 is attached to a lower portion of a bellows-like and elastic ink container 91 made of synthetic resin.
The injection member 92 in the form of a needle is inserted into the hole 20 for ink filling at the time of manufacture, which is provided in the upper part of the ink cartridge 2.
In this state, the ink container 91 is pressed with a finger as shown by a white arrow in the figure, and the ink is injected into the ink cartridge 2 in a state where the ink container 91 is inserted into a cartridge (usually closed with a film or the like). .

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION During printing, the amount of ink supplied from an ink cartridge to a print head is adjusted, or free movement of ink (waves, etc.) and ink leakage in the ink cartridge are suppressed. For example, there is an ink cartridge of a type in which a felt 3 impregnated with ink is packed in the ink cartridge 2 as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG.

When an attempt is made to supply ink to the ink cartridge 2 by using the ink supply tool 9 shown in FIG.
In particular, when the felt 3 is highly compressed, the supplied ink is disturbed by the air in the felt 3,
There is a possibility that a sufficient amount of ink cannot be replenished because the felt 3 cannot sufficiently penetrate into the felt 3 and overflows thereover.

In addition, since air remains in the lower part of the felt 3, that is, in the ink cartridge 2 that is closer to the ink outlet 21, ink is not immediately discharged from the outlet 21. At the initial stage when the ink cartridge 2 is mounted again on the ink jet printer and the use is resumed, there is a possibility that a problem may occur that the printing may not be performed correctly due to a lack of ink or the like.

[0010] Insufficiency of running out of ink is eliminated by repeating the cleaning of the head about two or three times. However, cleaning is mainly performed by discharging a large amount of ink. There is also a problem that the consumption of the head and the ink becomes severe and the life of the head becomes shorter than usual. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a new ink replenishing method capable of satisfactorily replenishing ink for replenishment, particularly to a type of ink cartridge filled with felt, and a new ink replenishing method suitably used for carrying out the method. To provide tools.

[0011]

According to the present invention, there is provided an ink replenishing method for replenishing ink from an ink container filled with replenishing ink while the pressure in the ink cartridge is reduced by a pressure reducing means. It is characterized by replenishment. According to the ink replenishing method of the present invention, for example, even when a highly compressed felt is packed in the ink cartridge, most of the air in the ink cartridge, including the inside of the felt, is removed by decompression by the decompression means. In this state, the ink is replenished from the ink container, so that a sufficient amount of the ink can be promptly permeated throughout the felt.

Therefore, according to the present invention, a sufficient amount of ink can be satisfactorily replenished at the initial stage when the use of the ink cartridge is restarted so as not to cause a defect such as running out of ink. Further, the ink replenishing device of the present invention for performing the ink replenishing method of the present invention includes a cylinder and a piston that can be inserted into and removed from the cylinder, and a predetermined amount of replenishing ink is stored in the cylinder. Connected to the ink cartridge in a filled state, the ink cartridge functions as an ink container for replenishing the ink cartridge, and in the above-described state, the piston is pulled out of the cylinder to suck air in the ink cartridge, and The ink cartridge is characterized by functioning as a decompression means for decompressing the inside of the ink cartridge by containing it in a region above the liquid level of the ink, which is separated from the space inside the ink cartridge by the ink.

The ink replenishing tool of the present invention has a simple structure and is easy to operate because it serves as both an ink container and a pressure reducing means as described above, and is suitable for implementing the ink replenishing method of the present invention. Can be.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. As shown in these drawings, the ink supply device 1 of this example is formed in a syringe shape having a cylinder 10 and a piston 11 that can be inserted into and removed from the cylinder 10.

The cylinder 10 and the piston 11 are both formed of a synthetic resin or the like. At the tip of the piston 11, a packing 11a made of a flexible material such as rubber, which can slide inside the cylinder 10 while maintaining airtightness with the cylinder 10, is provided.

An injection member 12 made of, for example, a metal pipe is connected to the tip of the cylinder 10. A packing 12a formed of a flexible material such as rubber and attached to the end of the injection member 12 is provided. The cylinder 10 is connected to the ink cartridge 2 while maintaining airtightness when depressurized by press-fitting into a hole 20 for ink filling at the time of manufacture provided on the upper surface of the ink cartridge 2.

In the case of the example shown in the figure, the injection member 12 is formed so as to be inserted into the felt 3 in the ink cartridge 2 and to reach near the bottom of the ink cartridge 2. If the length of the injection member 12 is increased in this way,
The replenishing ink I can be more favorably replenished to the bottom of the ink cartridge 2, and as described above, the occurrence of ink shortage or the like at the initial stage when the use of the ink cartridge 2 is resumed as described above Can be more reliably prevented.

The capacity of the cylinder 10 of the ink replenishing tool 1 is not particularly limited.
It is preferable to have a capacity capable of accommodating air 1 to 20 times the volume of the ink I, which is sucked from the inside of the ink cartridge 2 by pulling out the piston 11 from the cylinder 10. If the capacity of the cylinder 10 is less than the above range, that is, a predetermined amount of the replenishing ink I
If there is only a capacity that can accommodate air less than one time the volume of the ink I, the pressure inside the ink cartridge 2 cannot be sufficiently reduced. In addition, there is a possibility that the ink for replenishment cannot be satisfactorily replenished. Conversely, when the capacity of the cylinder 10 exceeds the above range, that is, when a predetermined amount of the replenishing ink I and the volume of the ink I
If the ink replenishing tool 1 has a capacity capable of accommodating more than twice as much air, the size of the ink replenishing tool 1 may be too large, which may be inconvenient for storage and carrying.

Other dimensions and shapes are not particularly limited. For example, in the case of a cylinder 10 having the same capacity, the length can be shortened as the diameter increases,
When the piston 11 is pulled out of the cylinder 10 to suck air, a large force is required. Conversely, as the diameter becomes smaller, the force at which the air is sucked decreases, but the length of the cylinder 10 becomes longer. The dimensions and shapes should be set in consideration of these factors.

In order to supply ink to the ink cartridge 2 filled with the felt 3 of high compression as shown in the drawing by using the above-described ink supply tool 1, first, an ink outlet 21 is provided.
With a seal or the like, and a hole 20 for ink filling at the time of manufacture, which is provided on the upper surface of the ink cartridge 2 as described above, is opened in a film (not shown) attached to close the hole. Alternatively, the film is exposed by peeling only the portion of the hole 20.

The main body of the ink cartridge 2 is usually
The upper and lower separate parts are formed by filling the inside with a felt 3 and then welding or the like. If the welding is incomplete, air enters from the interface 22 and the inside of the cartridge 2 is removed. There is a possibility that the pressure cannot be reduced sufficiently. Therefore, if air enters through the interface 22 by, for example, slightly suctioning using the ink replenishing tool 1, the interface 22 may be closed with a seal tape or the like.

Next, an ink replenishing tool 1 in which a predetermined amount of ink I for replenishment is filled in the cylinder 10 is prepared.
A predetermined amount of the ink I may be filled in the cylinder 10 in advance. However, if the ink supply tool 1 is stored in an unused state while the ink is leaked,
In order to prevent the packing 11a at the tip of the first unit from deteriorating, a separately prepared ink container (not shown) is used.
It is preferable to fill the cylinder 10 with a predetermined amount of ink I each time it is used.

In order to fill the cylinder 10 with a predetermined amount of ink I, the tip of the injection member 12 of the ink replenishing tool 1 in which the piston 11 is pushed to the bottom of the cylinder 10 is replaced with an ink container in the same manner as a syringe. The ink may be immersed below the liquid level of the ink inside, then the piston 11 may be pulled out, and the ink may be sucked into the cylinder 10. At the time of ink suction, care should be taken so that air does not enter the cylinder 10 as much as possible. If there is a little amount of air, there is no problem.
This is because the amount of air that can be sucked from the inside of the ink cartridge 2 is reduced by pulling out 1 from the cylinder 10 and the degree of pressure reduction is reduced.

Further, in order to allow anyone to fill a substantially constant amount of the ink I into the cylinder 10, a marked line is provided on the outer surface of the cylinder 10 as a guideline for a position at which the piston 11 is pulled up when sucking ink. It is preferable to provide it. Next, the ink supply tool 1 is connected to the ink cartridge 2 by press-fitting the packing 12a into the hole 20 as described above so that airtightness at the time of decompression can be maintained.
Then, with the ink supply tool 1 standing almost vertically, FIG.
2A, the piston 11 is pulled out of the cylinder 10 upward.

Then, the air in the cartridge 2 is sucked, passes through the injecting member 12, and then rises as a bubble B in the ink I, so that the ink I in the cylinder 10 and the space in the ink cartridge 2 It is accommodated in the partitioned area above the liquid level of the ink I (FIG. 2B).
). Thus, the pressure in the cartridge 2 is reduced.

In order to make it possible for anyone to suck a substantially constant amount of air, as in the case of the ink,
It is preferable to provide a mark on the outer surface of the cylinder 10 as a guideline for a position at which the piston 11 is pulled up during air suction. Next, when the hand is released from the piston 11 in this state, the piston 11 is pushed downward as shown by the black arrow in FIG. Accordingly, the ink I in the cylinder 10 is pressed through the air A stored in a region above the liquid level of the ink I, and the injection member 1
2, the ink is supplied into the ink cartridge 2 in a reduced pressure state.

Further, even if the piston 11 pulled up to suck air is completely removed from the cylinder 10,
The ink I can be supplied into the ink cartridge 2 by the pressure difference between the inside and the outside in the same manner as described above. In this case, there is a possibility that the ink I can be replenished more smoothly because the resistance due to friction when the piston 11 descends is eliminated. There is a risk of splattering and caution is required.

Therefore, it is conceivable that the same effect as described above can be obtained without removing the piston 11 by providing a hole for venting the piston 11 at a position where the cylinder 10 is pulled up to some extent. The replenished ink I is in a reduced pressure state in the ink cartridge 2, so that even if the felt 3 is a highly compressed felt 3, it is not disturbed by air, In particular, the ink quickly penetrates to the vicinity of the outlet 21 of the ink I of the ink cartridge 2.

After a predetermined amount of ink I has been replenished, the ink replenishing tool 1 is removed from the ink cartridge 2, and a separately prepared seal (not shown) is inserted into the ink cartridge 2 so as to cover the hole 20. 2 may be attached to the upper surface. As described above, according to the ink replenishing method of the example shown in the figure, the piston 11 of the ink replenishing tool 1 previously filled with the predetermined amount of ink I is simply pulled up and separated by a predetermined amount, or pressed down after being pulled up. Only with this, the ink I can be satisfactorily supplied into the ink cartridge 2.

Therefore, by using the ink cartridge 2 replenished with the ink I, it is possible to perform good printing without causing ink shortage or the like from the initial stage when the use is resumed. The outline of the apparatus for carrying out the ink supply method of the present invention is not limited to that shown in FIG. 1, and a large-scale apparatus using a pump such as an electric pump may be used.

For example, the ink supply device 4 shown in FIG.
Ink supply pipe 40 connected to ink cartridge 2
And a pump 41 of an electric type or the like as a pressure reducing means, an ink tank 42 as an ink container, and a switching valve 43 provided between them, in the form of a suction trap, sealed from the outside air. The supply pipe 40 is provided with a packing 40a at the tip thereof as in the previous case, and is press-fitted into the hole 20 to be connected to the ink cartridge 2 while maintaining airtightness.

The switching valve 43 is connected to the ink cartridge 2
When the pressure inside the ink cartridge 2 is reduced, the pump 41 is connected to the ink tank 42. When the ink is supplied into the ink cartridge 2, the ink tank 42 is connected to the outside air suction pipe 44.
It is a valve that can be switched to connect to In order to replenish the ink cartridge 2 with the ink using the device 4, first, as in the previous case, the ink outlet 21 is closed with a seal or the like, and the hole 20 is attached to close the hole. A hole is formed in a film (not shown), or the film is exposed by peeling off only the hole 20 and, if necessary, if air enters from the interface 22, the interface 22 is sealed with a sealing tape. I will close it with.

Next, the supply pipe 40 is connected to the ink cartridge 2 by press-fitting the packing 40a into the hole 20 as described above so that airtightness at the time of pressure reduction can be maintained. Next, the switching valve 4 is operated while the pump 41 is operated.
3 is operated to connect the pump 41 and the ink tank 42. Then, the air in the ink tank 42 is sucked, and accordingly, the air in the ink cartridge 2 is sucked through the supply pipe 40 and the ink cartridge 2 is sucked.
The inside is decompressed. How much inside the ink cartridge 2
The pressure may be reduced by referring to an index of a pressure gauge (not shown).

Next, when the pressure in the ink cartridge 2 is reduced to a predetermined pressure, the switching valve 43 is operated to connect the ink tank 42 with the outside air suction pipe 44 to introduce outside air into the ink tank 42. I do. Then, due to the pressure difference between the inside and the outside, the liquid level of the ink I in the ink tank 42 is pushed down, and the ink I corresponding thereto is supplied to the supply pipe 4.
0, the ink is supplied into the decompressed ink cartridge 2. The ink supply amount is, for example, the ink tank 42
The index may be determined by referring to an index of a liquid level meter provided in the apparatus or an index of a flow meter (neither is shown) provided in the middle of the supply pipe 40.

Next, when a predetermined amount of the ink I is supplied into the ink cartridge 2, the switching valve 43 is operated to close the ink tank 42 from the outside air, and the flow of the ink I is stopped. One ink supply operation is completed. The operation of the switching valve 43 when the pressure in the ink cartridge 2 is reduced to a predetermined pressure, or the switching valve 4 when a predetermined amount of ink is supplied.
The operation can be simplified by automatically performing the operation 3 by an electric signal or the like by using an electromagnetic valve or the like as the switching valve 43, for example.

Further, the degree of pressure reduction in the ink cartridge 2 may be adjusted so that the pressure difference between the inside and the outside is eliminated and the supply of ink is stopped naturally. In this case, the operation can be simplified. Next, the ink supply device 5 shown in FIG. 4 will be described. The illustrated device 5 is provided with a switching valve 52 between an ink supply pipe 50 connected to the ink cartridge 2 and an electric pump 51 as a pressure reducing means. An ink tank 53 as an ink container opened to the outside air is provided.

The supply pipe 50 is provided with a packing 50a at the tip thereof as in the previous case, and is press-fitted into the hole 20 to be connected to the ink cartridge 2 while maintaining airtightness. The switching valve 52 connects the supply pipe 50 to the pump 51 when depressurizing the inside of the ink cartridge 2, and connects the supply pipe 50 to the ink tank 53 when supplying ink into the depressurized ink cartridge 2.
It is a valve that can be switched to connect to

In order to supply ink to the ink cartridge 2 using the device 5, first, as in the previous case,
The ink outlet 21 is closed with a seal or the like, and the hole 20 is exposed by making a hole in a film (not shown) stuck to close the hole, or exposing the film by peeling only the portion of the hole 20. Further, if air enters from the interface 22, if necessary, the interface 22 is closed with a seal tape or the like.

Next, the supply pipe 50 is connected to the ink cartridge 2 by press-fitting the packing 50a into the hole 20 as described above so that airtightness at the time of pressure reduction can be maintained. Next, the switching valve 5 is operated while the pump 51 is operated.
2 is operated to connect the supply pipe 50 and the pump 51.
Then, the air in the ink cartridge 2 is supplied to the supply pipe 5.
0, the pressure inside the ink cartridge 2 is reduced.

Next, at the stage when the pressure inside the ink cartridge 2 is reduced to a predetermined pressure, the switching valve 52 is operated to connect the supply pipe 50 and the ink tank 53. The liquid level of the ink I in the ink cartridge 2 is pushed down, and the ink I is supplied to the decompressed ink cartridge 2 through the supply pipe 50.

Next, when a predetermined amount of the ink I is replenished into the ink cartridge 2, the switching valve 52 is operated to close the connection between the supply pipe 50 and the ink tank 53. Stops, and one ink supply operation ends. The switching timing of the switching valve 52 may be manually performed with reference to a pressure gauge, a liquid level gauge, and an index of a flow meter (not shown) as in the above case. Then, it may be performed automatically.

It should be noted that reference numeral 54 in FIG.
After the first ink supply operation is completed, when the supply valve 50 is connected to the pump 51 by operating the switching valve 52 to perform the ink supply operation again, the ink remaining in the supply tube 50 is transferred to the pump 51. This is a trap for preventing the flow-in and failure. As an apparatus other than the above, for example, an apparatus having a closed pressure reducing chamber (a simple airtight structure may be used) for accommodating the entire ink cartridge can be employed.

In short, various changes can be made without changing the gist of the present invention.

[0044]

The present invention will be described below based on examples and comparative examples. Embodiment The ink supply device 1 (capacity 60 of the cylinder 10) shown in FIG.
ml), 10.0 g of black ink for replenishment (product number RI-EP700, manufactured by General Co., Ltd.) was inhaled and filled.

The used ink cartridge 2
The ink outlet 21 of [Seiko Epson Corp. product number MJIC7] is closed with a seal (not shown). A hole was made in a film (not shown) stuck to close the film, and the film was exposed.

The ink replenishing device 1 is inserted into the hole 20.
Press-fit the packing 12a at the tip of the injection member 12,
In order to maintain airtightness during decompression, the ink supply tool 1
Was connected to the ink cartridge 2. Next, with the ink supply tool 1 standing almost vertically, the piston 11 is moved upward from the cylinder 10, specifically, upward from the mark line corresponding to the ink level by the volume in the cylinder by 45 ml. By pulling out to the position of the provided marked line, the air in the cartridge 2 was sucked through the injection member 12 onto the liquid surface of the ink I in the cylinder 10, and the pressure in the cartridge 2 was reduced. It was 150 hPa when the pressure in a cartridge was measured with the vacuum gauge.

When the hand is released from the piston 11 in this state, the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the cartridge 2 causes
When the piston 11 is pushed downward, the cylinder 10
Of the ink I was supplied into the ink cartridge 2 through the injection member 12. The amount of the ink I supplied in the cartridge 2 was calculated to be about 9.8 g based on the amount of the ink remaining in the cylinder 10.

When the ink cartridge 2 having been replenished with the ink is mounted on an ink jet printer (trade name: PM-700C manufactured by Seiko Epson Corporation) and printing is performed, good printing is performed immediately after the start. Was completed. Comparative Example A black ink for replenishment [manufactured by General Co., Ltd.] was used for the same used ink cartridge 2 [product number MJIC7 manufactured by Seiko Epson Corp.] using the conventional ink replenishing tool 9 shown in FIG. No. RI-EP700!] 10.0 g was replenished, but the refill work was stopped because the felt 3 overflowed during the replenishment.

The amount of ink replenished in the cartridge 2 was calculated from the amount of ink remaining in the ink replenisher 9 to be about 3.4 g. Further, the ink cartridge 2 having been supplied with the ink is replaced with an ink jet printer [trade name: PM-7 manufactured by Seiko Epson Corporation].
00C], printing was performed. Immediately after the start, some dots were not printed.

In order to eliminate such a defect,
It was necessary to perform cleaning about three times.

[0051]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
In particular, it is possible to provide a novel ink replenishing method capable of satisfactorily replenishing a refilling ink into an ink cartridge of a type packed with felt, and a novel ink replenishing device suitably used for carrying out the method. This produces a unique effect.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view showing one step of an ink replenishing method of the present invention using an example of an ink replenishing tool of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are partially cutaway front views each showing a main part of a next step of the ink supply method.

FIG. 3 is a schematic front view showing an example of another apparatus for performing the ink supply method of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic front view showing another example of another apparatus for carrying out the ink supply method of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing an example of a conventional ink supply method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ink supply tool 10 Cylinder 11 Piston 2 Ink cartridge 41, 51 Pump (decompression means) 42, 53 Ink tank (ink container) I Ink A Air

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A method for replenishing ink to an ink cartridge, wherein the ink is replenished from an ink container filled with replenishing ink while the pressure in the ink cartridge is reduced by a pressure reducing means. How to refill ink. 2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising a cylinder and a piston which can be inserted into and removed from the cylinder. The cylinder is connected to the ink cartridge in a state where a predetermined amount of replenishing ink is filled in the cylinder. The ink liquid which functions as an ink container to be replenished, and in which the piston is drawn out of the cylinder in the above-described state, sucks air in the ink cartridge and is separated from the space in the ink cartridge in the cylinder by the ink in the cylinder. An ink replenishing device that functions as a pressure reducing unit that reduces the pressure in the ink cartridge by being accommodated in a region above the surface. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cylinder comprises a predetermined amount of replenishing ink;
When the piston is pulled out of the cylinder, the volume of the ink is 1 to 1 which is sucked from the ink cartridge.
3. The battery according to claim 2, which has a capacity capable of containing 20 times as much air.
The ink replenishing tool as described. 4. The ink replenishing device according to claim 2, wherein an injecting member having a length reaching up to the vicinity of the bottom of the ink cartridge is connected to a tip of the cylinder.