Incremental printing of symbolic information – Ink jet – Fluid or fluid source handling means
Reexamination Certificate
1995-06-07
2001-08-28
Barlow, John (Department: 2853)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Ink jet
Fluid or fluid source handling means
Reexamination Certificate
active
06280024
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to an ink cartridge for use with an ink-jet type recording apparatus and, more particularly, to an ink cartridge for use with an ink-jet type recording apparatus which compensates for misalignment of the ink supply port and ink supply needle to stop any ink from leaking.
Ink-jet type recording apparatuses use liquid ink to print recording data. Particularly, an ink-jet type recording apparatus employs an ink cartridge that supplies ink contained therein to the recording head. The ink cartridge is directly connected to the recording head through the use of an ink supply needle mounted on the recording head. Ink is delivered by utilizing a pressure difference between the ink in the recording head and the ink in the ink cartridge, and by capillary forces.
As a result of this construction, the ink cartridge is required to have a structure for connecting the ink cartridge to the ink supply needle. This structure is disposed either on the lower surface of the ink cartridge or below the ink cartridge itself. This arrangement of the connecting structure in turn requires that an appropriate measure be taken to contain leakage of ink from the ink cartridge when the cartridge is connected to the ink supply needle. As has already been disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 50-74341, one method of dealing with the leaking of ink which is widely used is to employ a packing having a through-hole and a seal that allows the ink supply needle to be hermetically fitted into this through-hole at the ink supply port of the ink cartridge. With this structure, the ink cartridge can be positioned and retained in contact with the recording head without allowing any ink to leak by inserting the ink supply needle into the through-hole of the packing so as to pierce the seal.
In order to prevent any ink from leaking, the ink supply port provided on the ink cartridge must have a minimal diameter. This design further requires a minimal diameter for the through-hole in the packing that is disposed in the ink supply port. However, if the ink supply needle is not positioned precisely coaxial with the through-hole in the packing disposed in the ink supply port, or if the ink supply needle is not perfectly perpendicular with respect to the packing disposed in the ink supply port, then the ink supply needle will not be centered upon insertion into the through-hole of the packing. As a result, the ink supply needle will be in contact with only a portion of the packing, whereas the remaining portion of the packing will not come in contact with the ink supply needle. Thus, ink will leak from between the ink supply needle and the packing where the ink supply needle does not contact the packing.
This problem of leaking ink also arises from inconsistent positioning tolerances among the multiple ink supply needles in a recording head for a color printer using more than one ink supply needle to supply color inks to a recording head from a plurality of color ink tanks. In many cases, the plurality of color ink tanks is provided as a plurality of compartments in a single tank, so that the spacing between the connecting structures of the ink tank compartment and between the respective ink supply needles is fixed, aggravating the tolerance problem.
In addition, an ink tank must be ventilated in order to equalize pressure differences for the printer to work properly. However, ventilation of an ink cartridge often results in some of the ink evaporating during use, especially if the ink cartridge is used infrequently.
Accordingly, the present invention provides an ink tank with a seal which compensates for inconsistent positioning of ink-supply needles, or inconsistent inclines of ink-supply needles and keeps ink from leaking from the ink supply tank while in use. The present invention also provides an ink tank which is ventilated, but protects against the evaporation of the ink contained therein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Generally speaking, in accordance with the present invention, a novel ink cartridge is provided which is capable of compensating for any displacement of the ink supply needle with respect to the ink supply port at the time the ink supply needle is connected to the ink supply port. The needle and port can be connected without allowing the ink to leak.
The ink cartridge of the present invention comprises a self-aligning ring operatively coupled to the ink supply port of the ink cartridge on the outlet or recording head side. In operation, the ink supply port is coupled with an ink supply needle emanating from the recording head through the self aligning ring. The self-aligning ring includes: a first annular seal member whose inner diameter is slightly smaller than an outer diameter of the ink supply needle; a second annular seal member whose outer diameter is slightly larger than an inner diameter of the ink supply port; and a thin connecting member for connecting the two seal members. When coupled, even if the ink supply needle is not located precisely coaxial with the ink supply port, the ink supply needle can be connected to the ink supply port hermetically by flexing the thin connecting member, thereby eliminating any leaking of the ink.
The ink cartridge of the present invention also comprises an ink cartridge main body having a plurality of walls and having an ink supply port disposed in a wall of the ink cartridge main body and communicating from the interior to the exterior of the ink cartridge for the flow of ink therethrough. A cover seals the ink cartridge main body. An ambient air vent is formed in the cover for permitting ambient air into the ink cartridge. A circuitous groove is formed in the cover. A groove seal member is fixed to the inside surface of the cover, sealing the groove so as to form the grooves into channels which are in fluid communication with the ambient air vent. A second air vent is also formed in the cover and is also in fluid communication with the circuitous groove so that the interior of the ink cartridge main body is placed in fluid communication with ambient air through the circuitous groove. Thus, the ink cartridge is ventilated, and ink contained in the ink tank main body is kept from evaporating.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved ink transfer mechanism for transferring ink between an ink cartridge and a recording head.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved ink transfer mechanism capable of compensating for any misalignment of the ink supply needle with respect to the ink supply port during use.
A further object of the invention is to provide an improved ink transfer mechanism wherein a self-aligning ring permits a hermetic seal between an ink cartridge and a recording head regardless of misalignment of the ink supply needle with respect to the ink supply port during use.
It is yet a further object of the invention to provide an ink cartridge which is properly ventilated yet protects against the evaporation of ink therefrom.
Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification and drawings.
The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4400102 (1983-08-01), Shiurila et al.
patent: 4447820 (1984-05-01), Terasawa
patent: 4506277 (1985-03-01), Terasawa
patent: 4591875 (1986-05-01), McCann
patent: 4628333 (1986-12-01), Terasawa
patent: 4658273 (1987-04-01), Yuki et al.
patent: 5025271 (1991-06-01), Baker et al.
patent: 5156470 (1992-10-01), Suzuki et al.
patent: 5156473 (1992-10-01), Suzuki et al.
patent: 5280299 (1994-01-01), Saikawa et al.
patent: 5526030 (1996-06-01), Baldwin et al.
patent: 5537134 (1996-07-01), Baldwin et al.
patent: 5600358 (1997-02-01), Baldwin et al.
patent: 2709730A1 (1978-09-01), None
patent: 2916472 (1980-11-01),
Kanaya Munehide
Miyazawa Hisashi
Mochizuki Seiji
Barlow John
Brooke Michael S.
Seiko Epson Corporation
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP
LandOfFree
Ink cartridge for printer does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Ink cartridge for printer, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Ink cartridge for printer will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2524516