Incremental printing of symbolic information – Ink jet – Fluid or fluid source handling means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-12
2001-02-27
Le, N. (Department: 2861)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Ink jet
Fluid or fluid source handling means
Reexamination Certificate
active
06193362
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an inkjet printer for recording on a recording medium by ejecting ink from an inkjet head, and more specifically relates to a connection unit for connecting an inkjet head with a reservoir, whereby ink is supplied to the inkjet head.
2. Description of the Related Art
One method of connecting an ink supply passage to an inkjet head is to bond the inkjet head to a part of the supply passage with adhesive to form the ink supply passage through which ink is supplied to the inkjet head. For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (kokai) H9-57997 (1997-57997), the present inventors have previously disclosed a method for bonding an inkjet head to a case member having an ink supply opening. This method uses a recessed member to form a space, which is later filled with adhesive, between the inkjet head and case member, and provides an opening to this space. Adhesive is then injected through the opening to fill the space purposely formed between the head component and case member, and thus assemble the head component and case member.
This method simultaneously fixes the head to the case, and seals the ink supply passage connection. It is thus an extremely effective means of improving the efficiency of assembling units with an inkjet head. However, it also leaves for improvement the following problems.
First, it is necessary to strictly control the amount of injected adhesive so that the space is filled with the right amount. This is to prevent the adhesive from overflowing into the ink passage as a result of injecting too much adhesive, and to prevent any gap from forming at the bonding surface between the head component and case member as a result of injecting not enough adhesive.
Second, it is necessary to use a relatively high adhesive injection pressure in order to sufficiently fill the space purposely formed between the head component and case member with adhesive.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned problems.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a connection unit for an inkjet head whereby managing the amount of the adhesive fill is simplified, adhesive injection is possible at a relatively low pressure, and a high reliability connection unit free of ink ejection defects and ink leakage can be achieved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A connection unit for an inkjet head according to the present invention comprises a first component, a second component, and adhesive for fixing the first component to the second component. The first component has a first passage, a first surface in which is formed a first opening in communication with the first passage, and a second surface provided surrounding the first surface. The second component has a second passage, a third surface in which is formed a second opening in communication with the second passage, and a fourth surface provided surrounding the third surface. The first component is positioned to the second component so that the first surface abuts the third surface, the first opening is aligned with the second opening, and a space (gap) is formed between the second surface and fourth surface. A third opening for injecting adhesive to said space, and a fourth opening for bleeding air from inside said space, are further disposed to the first component or the second component.
When adhesive is injected from the third opening to the space, air in the space is expelled from the fourth opening. With the fourth opening thus functioning as an air vent hole, adhesive can be injected using relatively low pressure to fill the space with adhesive. Furthermore, even when adhesive is injected at relatively low pressure, seal defects will not occur in the connection as a result of air remaining in the space.
It is also easy to confirm when the space has been filled with an appropriate amount of adhesive because it is sufficient to simply keep injecting adhesive until the adhesive flows to the fourth opening. By using this as a guide to how much adhesive has been injected, it is also easy to control how much adhesive is filled to the space.
The space in a connection unit according to the present invention is preferably formed to have an annular shape such that the annulus is divided into two segments in communication with the third opening and fourth opening, and the fourth opening is positioned relative to the third opening so that the lengths of two segments are substantially equal.
In this case, adhesive injected from the third opening passes through two paths formed by the space, and reaches the fourth opening at substantially the same time. As a result, there is no chance of air remaining in the space.
It will also be obvious that a connection unit according to the present invention can be variously comprised without departing from the intended scope of the invention.
For example, in a further connection unit according to the present invention the first component has a first passage, and a first surface in which is formed a first opening in connection with the first passage. The second component has a second passage, a second surface in which is formed a second opening in connection with the second passage, and a third surface provided surrounding the second surface. In this case, the first component is positioned to the second component so that the first surface abuts the second surface, the first opening is aligned with the second opening, and a space(gap) is formed between the third surface and first surface.
Further alternatively, a positioning means is provided for positioning the first component in a specific position relative to the second component so that the first opening is aligned with the second opening.
The present invention further provides an inkjet cartridge having a reservoir connected to either the first or the second component of the connection unit.
Yet further, the present invention provides an inkjet printer comprising an inkjet head having a reservoir in connection with the second component of the connection unit, and an inkjet head having one or more nozzles in connection with the first passage of said connection unit.
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Hanaoka Yukihiro
Nakata Toshio
Nishioka Atsushi
Sato Kazuhiko
Yamazaki Tsutomu
Le N.
Seiko Epson Corporation
Vo Anh T. N.
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