Incremental printing of symbolic information – Ink jet – Fluid or fluid source handling means
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-17
2001-07-10
Le, N. (Department: 2861)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Ink jet
Fluid or fluid source handling means
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257710
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a package for ink cartridges used in, for example, ink-jet printers, and a method for manufacturing such as package.
2. Description of the Related Art
Ink cartridges used in ink-jet printers are packaged at the end of the manufacturing process. Generally, ink cartridges are vacuum-packed in a series of packaging bags. The packaging bags include an ink-cartridge package. Each packaging bag sticks to the ink cartridge contained therein.
However, because the conventional packaging bag sticks to the outer surface of the ink cartridge, external vibration easily propagates to the ink cartridge. For example, if the ink-cartridge package is dropped or moved violently during shipping or transportation, the ink cartridges that are packed in the package are likely to crack or break, and the packaging bag itself may tear.
In order to protect the ink cartridge and the packaging bag from an impact, a shock absorbing material is inserted between the ink cartridge and the packaging bag. However, inserting the shock absorbing material creates extra costs and steps, which increases the manufacturing cost as a whole.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a package for an ink cartridge, which can directly package the ink cartridge while protecting the ink cartridge from impacts or vibrations. It is another object of the invention to provide a method for manufacturing such an ink-cartridge package without increasing the manufacturing cost.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, an ink-cartridge package comprises a packaging bag for packaging an ink cartridge. The ink cartridge includes a cartridge case and ink contained in the cartridge case. As the feature of this package, the maximum packaging volume of the packaging bag is set to be less than or equal to 200% of the volume of the ink cartridge to be packed. When the ink cartridge is packed in the packaging bag, the packaging bag contains air. The volume of the air is 10% or more of the volume of the ink cartridge.
Unlike the conventional vacuum packing, the invention includes the air layer having a volume of 10% or more of the volume of the ink cartridge. The air layer is formed between the packaging bag and the ink cartridge. The air layer operates as an air cushion to protect the ink cartridge from impacts to prevent the ink cartridge from cracking or breaking. This structure obviates the insertion of an extra shock absorber in the packaging bag.
If the volume of the air contained in the packaging bag is less than 10% of the volume of the ink cartridge, the packaged state approaches vacuum packing, and the air layer does not operate as an air cushion. Preferably, the maximum packaging volume of the packaging bag is 140% to 160% of the volume of the ink cartridge, and air having a volume of between 10% to 30% of the volume of the ink cartridge is contained in the packaging bag when the ink cartridge is packed.
If the maximum packaging volume is below 140% of the volume of the ink cartridge, the packaging bag cannot contain a sufficient amount of air to absorb shocks after the ink cartridge is packed. If the maximum packaging volume exceeds 160% of the volume of the ink cartridge, the packaging volume is too large as compared with the volume of the ink cartridge to be packed, and the surface of the packaging bag may lose tension and thus be unable to form an appropriate air layer between the ink cartridge and the packaging bag.
If the volume of air contained in the packaging bag exceeds 30% of the volume of the ink cartridge, the ink cartridge is apt to move within the packaging bag. In this case, the shock absorbing ability cannot be satisfactorily achieved, and the packaging bag may burst due to impact.
In addition, the excessive amount of air may cause the ink contained in the ink cartridge to deteriorate. In general, ink cartridges are shipped after they are packed in a series of packaging bags, as shown in FIG.
6
. If the air contained in each packaging bag is excessive, the packaging bags cannot be folded at their respective boundaries, which causes problems in shipping and transportation.
As discussed above, the preferred amount of air contained in the packaging bag is 10% to 30% of the volume of the ink cartridge. In this range, the series of packaging bags that contain the ink cartridges can be folded and accommodated in a box for shipping and transportation.
The packaging bag is made of, for example, aluminum laminate. Alternatively, the packaging bag does not have to be made of aluminum. Basically, the packaging bag can be made of any suitable resin. The shape of the packaging bag is, for example, a flat bag having edges that are thermally sealed, a cylindrical pillow case, and a gusset bag having a gore.
The ink cartridge that is packed in this package is used, for example, in ink-jet printers.
A notch may be formed in the thermally sealed edge of the packaging bag in order to allow the user to easily open the packaging bag.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an ink-cartridge package comprises a packaging bag for packaging an ink cartridge. The packaging bag is thermally sealed in a thermal-sealing box under the following condition:
10≦[(
Vr/Vi
)−1]×(
Pr/Po
)×100≦30,
where Vr is the packaging volume of the packaging bag, Vi is the volume of the ink cartridge to be packed in the packaging bag, Pr is the pressure within the thermal-sealing box, and Po is the atmospheric pressure.
In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, a method for manufacturing an ink-cartridge package is provided. In this method, a packaging bag is formed by aligning two rectangular sheets and thermally sealing three edges of the aligned rectangular sheets, while leaving one edge unsealed in order to form an open edge. Then, an ink-cartridge is inserted into the packaging bag from the open edge of the packaging bag. The open edge of the packaging bag is inserted in a thermal-sealing box, and is thermally sealed up. The pressure in the thermal-sealing box is adjusted so as to satisfy the following condition:
10≦[(
Vr/Vi
)−1]×(
Pr/Po
)×100≦30.
This method may further comprise the step of forming an opening notch in the packaging bag.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5701995 (1997-12-01), Higuma et al.
patent: 5857571 (1999-01-01), Tschantz et al.
patent: 5953030 (1999-09-01), Ishinaga et al.
Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Le N.
Nghiem Michael
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
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