Incremental printing of symbolic information – Ink jet – Fluid or fluid source handling means
Reexamination Certificate
1995-06-07
2001-06-19
Moses, Richard (Department: 2852)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Ink jet
Fluid or fluid source handling means
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247803
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to an ink-supplied printer head being supplied with ink from an ink supply tank and more particularly to an ink supply tank which allows for the continuous supply of ink to the printer head while avoiding adverse effects from temperature, atmospheric changes or vibrations. The present invention allows for a larger volume of ink in the ink supply tank and allows for a greater percentage of the ink in the tank to be transferred to the printer head. Also, the present invention comprises a tank with transparent sides so the user is able to easily determine the remaining quantity of ink, and also means for dampening of the unwanted movement of ink within the ink supply tank.
In addition, the invention relates generally to an ink tank cartridge for an ink jet printer, and more particularly, to a replenishable ink tank cartridge which supplies ink to a recording head of an ink jet recording apparatus or the like, a replenishment pack, a replenishment tool, an ink injection device, a replenishment set, and a method of replenishing an ink tank with ink.
Ink supply systems for a wire dot matrix printer are known in which no ink ribbon is used, but ink is supplied from an ink tank to the distal ends of the wire and transferred from the wires directly to a sheet of print paper. Portions of these ink supply systems, including the supply tanks thereof, are also adaptable to be used in ink jet type printers.
In the parent applications to this application, improved ink storage and delivery was achieved by providing a porous member in an ink tank that essentially filled the tank and carried essentially the entire supply of ink. It was found that while this construction offered substantial improvement over the prior art, the use of the full porous member limited the quantity of ink which would be stored in an ink tank of a given size, increasing the frequency of ink tank replacement.
Various kinds of ink tanks for ink jet printers are known from the prior art. For example, Japanese Patent Publication (Kokai) No. SHO63-87,242 discloses an ink tank in which ink absorbing members made of a porous material are respectively housed in a plurality of chambers. Japanese Patent Publication (Kokai) No. HEI6-40,043 discloses an ink tank in which a sealed container is divided by a partition so that a chamber housing an ink absorbing member, and an ink chamber storing only ink are juxtaposed.
In the ink tanks of above-mentioned prior art examples, the ink tanks can store a large quantity of ink so that ink may be supplied to a recording head for a long print head life. When the previously charged ink is consumed, however, such an ink tank must be replaced with a fresh one. Replacement of the cartridge is cumbersome and has the additional disadvantage that the replacement process may cause the user's hands or the like to be soiled with ink. Furthermore, the disposal of depleted ink tanks involves large costs and causes environmental pollution.
Accordingly, it is desired provide an ink tank cartridge for an ink jet printer which may be reused, refilled quickly and cleanly upon depletion of ink from the ink tank and which overcomes the other limitations of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Generally speaking, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided an ink-supplied printer head. Ink is supplied to the printer head by an ink supply system, including an ink tank having an ink supply port and a pair of side walls. An ink absorbing member is contained therein adjacent the ink supply port which occupies less than the total volume of the ink tank. A plurality of support members extend within the ink tank between the opposed side walls, positioned to locate the ink absorbing member against the ink supply port and for dampening movement of the ink in the portion of the ink supply tank not occupied by the ink absorbing member. The walls of the ink supply tank may be transparent so the user can more easily determine the amount of ink remaining in the ink supply tank.
An ink receiving and transferring member terminating in an ink port may extend into the ink tank, in which case the ink absorbing member abuts and is locally compressed by the ink receiving and transmitting member. The ink receiving and transmitting member has a capillary ink path communicating with the printer head and is supplied with ink from the ink absorbing member.
In addition, generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, an ink tank for an ink jet printer which may be refilled quickly and cleanly, and thereafter be reused by the user and a method for refilling the tank is provided. The ink tank is constructed with its interior divided by one or more partitions into a plurality of chambers where at least one of these chambers houses an ink absorbing member. The ink tank is also formed with a lid, a portion of which may be opened at least above the chambers the ink absorbing member.
In another embodiment, an ink supply hole is formed in the lid of the tank to allow for refill of the tank through the use of an ink injection device. In a preferred embodiment the partition detachably attaches to the container.
An ink replenishment pack houses an ink absorbing member, the ink absorbing member absorbing ink and being in a compressed state within the pack. The pack includes at least a top wall and bottom wall and has a first through hole formed in the top wall and second through hole formed in the bottom wall. A respective replenishment pack may contain an absorbing member of different color ink than another replenishment pack, the replenishment pack being detachably attached within a chamber. The ink absorbing member has a larger volume than the capacity of the chamber.
At least one of the chambers within the container does not house an ink absorbing member. A openable replenishment hole is formed in the lid in a portion corresponding to the empty chamber. An ink supply port member having a through hole is disposed at the bottom of the chamber and protrudes into the chamber housing the ink absorbing member. The ink absorbing member is resiliently pressed by the ink supply port member to partially increase the compressibility of a portion of the absorbing member in the vicinity of an ink supply port. A projection extends from the lid and presses the ink absorbing member toward the ink supply port.
An ink injection device has a container for holding ink to be injected into an ink tank. The container allows for visible observation of the ink. A scale indicative of a quantity of consumed ink is formed on the container portion. A needle is coupled to the container. A scale indicating penetration depth of the needle is formed on the needle. The ink jet injection device, when combined with a replenishment pack or ink absorbing member, forms an ink replenishment set for recording apparatus.
The ink cartridge is replenished by opening the lid and removing the ink absorbing member. The container is rotated so that the ink absorbing member containing chamber is positioned above a second chamber. An ink absorbing member is loaded in the first chamber and ink is supplied to the ink absorbing member. The lid uses the ink injection device and the first chamber is then closed.
In a preferred embodiment there may be a plurality of chambers having ink absorbing members and the ink absorbing members have a larger volume than the capacity of the chamber.
In a preferred embodiment, the supply needle of the replenishment tool is passed through an air vent hole of the lid of a first chamber of an ink tank, the ink tank having a plurality of chambers divided by a partition and the chambers partially communicate with each other via a communicating hole. The needle of the ink injection device pierces the ink absorbing member, a releasable seal is removed to open an air supply hole, the ink absorbing member being replenished with the ink from the chamber. The empty chamber, without the absorption member, may also be replenished by the injection device through a replenishment fo
Kanaya Munehide
Kobayashi Takao
Miyazawa Yoshinori
Usui Kiyofumi
Yanagida Eiko
Moses Richard
Seiko Epson Corporation
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP
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