Incremental printing of symbolic information – Ink jet – Fluid or fluid source handling means
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-12
2001-11-06
Le, N. (Department: 2861)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Ink jet
Fluid or fluid source handling means
Reexamination Certificate
active
06312115
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to an ink tank cartridge such as one that can be used with an ink-jet type recording apparatus and a method for manufacturing such an ink cartridge.
A conventional ink jet printer includes an ink container carried by a carriage equipped with an ink jet recording head. Ink droplets are produced by pressurizing the ink within a pressure generation chamber located within the ink container. However, when the carriage is pivoted, reciprocated, shaken or caused to travel during printing, the movement can cause the ink to become frothy or foamy. This, in turn, may result in a change in head pressure or otherwise cause print failures. Specifically, if ink contains gas bubbles, the pressure of the ink in the container can drop, thereby decreasing the ability of the printer to squirt or jet ink droplets onto a recording media. For this reason, dissolved air should be eliminated from the ink.
A prior art ink jet printer in which an ink-containing unit and an ink jet recording head are mounted on a carriage, is disclosed in European Patent Publication No. 581,531. In the disclosed printer, to prevent printing failures caused by fluctuation of ink head pressure or air bubbles, due to movement of the ink cartridge caused by the movement of the carriage, the ink container is divided into two regions. A first region of the container adjacent the recording head houses ink impregnated in a porous member, and a second region contains liquid ink without a porous member. This structure enables the ink to be conducted to the recording head via the porous member so that the problems resulting from movement of the ink in the cartridge are prevented from occurring to a certain extent.
To manufacture a container body with a porous material, one can seal the container body with a cover, fill the container with degassed ink, and package the ink container such that the quality of the ink cartridge is maintained during distribution. However, to these ends, the manufacturing steps become complicated, thereby resulting in a decrease in productivity.
To maintain an airtight and secure connection at the ink supply port between the ink cartridge and a recording head, a packing member composed of an elastic material can be inserted into the ink supply port. However, if even a minute gap exists between the packing, member and the ink supply port, air may exist in this gap and expand during the pressure drop which occurs during printing. The air can then enter the recording head, and prevent ink from being jetted from the recording head properly.
In addition, once an ink cartridge has been manufactured, it must be maintained in an airtight condition so that air cannot seep into the ink tank, as this can lead to the generation of foam in the ink prior to installation of the ink cartridge to the recording head.
Accordingly, it is desirable to develop an ink tank cartridge for use with an ink jet recorder and a method for manufacturing an ink cartridge for use in an ink jet recorder, that overcomes disadvantages and limitations of existing products and methods.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An ink tank cartridge for use in an ink jet recorder which is convenient to manufacture, assemble, store and connect, which helps prevent the formation of bubbles in the ink is provided. The cartridge can include a container body having exterior walls, a porous member stored in the container, an ink supply port that extends through one of the exterior walls of the body to supply ink to the exterior of the cartridge, and a packing member, disposed within the ink supply port and having an opening therethrough and a rib formed on a upper surface is provided. A pressing member may be provided to bias the packing member against an inner surface of the ink supply port. The ink cartridge for the ink jet recording apparatus can be constructed to exhaust air retained within the ink supply port. The ink tank cartridge can also be constructed to efficiently prevent air from entering into the ink cartridge through the ink supply port.
The present invention also provides a method of manufacturing an ink cartridge for use in an ink jet recorder, which can include the steps of: setting on a pallet a substantially rectangular container body, having an opening, so that the bottom surface of the container body faces upward, the container body including porous members formed from resilient material for absorbing ink, foam chambers for incorporating the porous members therein, and ink supply ports formed in the bottom surface of the foam chambers; inserting a packing member into each of the ink supply ports and heat-welding sealing film to the ink supply port openings; resetting the container body on the pallet by turning it upside down to its upright position; affixing filter material to the entrance side of the ink supply port; pressing the compressed porous member into each of the foam chambers; forming the container by bonding a cover to the opening of the container body; filling a specified quantity of ink into each of the foam chambers while the container is held in a vacuum environment; and bonding a seal to the surface of the cover.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an ink cartridge and method of manufacture which overcomes drawbacks in the prior art.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a manufacturing method for efficiently manufacturing an ink cartridge and the cartridge which results, which avoids the problems associated with air bubbles in the ink.
The present invention has been contrived in view of drawbacks in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a manufacturing method that enables efficient and more simple manufacture of an ink cartridge for use in an ink jet recorder.
The invention accordingly comprises the several steps and the relation of one or more of such steps with respect to each of the others, and the apparatus embodying features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts which are adapted to effect such steps, all as exemplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.
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Hara Kazuhiko
Kobayashi Takao
Toba Kouichi
Usui Minoru
Le N.
Seiko Epson Corporation
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP
Vo Anh T. N.
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