Special receptacle or package – Holder for a removable electrical component – Including component positioning means
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-12
2003-01-07
Foster, Jim (Department: 3728)
Special receptacle or package
Holder for a removable electrical component
Including component positioning means
C206S461000, C206S722000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06502701
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a package of an ink cartridge for an ink jet printing apparatus and a method for packing the cartridge.
A typical ink jet printing apparatus has a printing head, which includes nozzles for ejecting ink droplets, and an ink cartridge, which stores ink to be supplied to the printing head. The printing head has an ink ejection mechanism including a piezoelectric element or a heating element. The ejection mechanism is driven by a drive signal that corresponds to printing data, and the ink is ejected from the nozzles.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-328709 discloses a package for packing an ink cartridge. The package is used for packing a unit that includes a printing head integrated with an ink cartridge. The package includes a container, which accommodates the unit, and a lid for closing an opening of the container.
FIG. 5
illustrates a package for a single unit ink cartridge
31
. The ink cartridge
31
, which is made of material that has a low permeability, has a ventilation hole (not shown). The ventilation hole in a new cartridge
31
is sealed with a gas impermeable film
32
. Accordingly, air is prevented from entering the cartridge
31
. The impermeable film
32
is removed before using the cartridge
32
.
The package includes a gas impermeable bag
33
and a paper box
34
. Each new cartridge
31
is hermetically sealed in the bag
33
in a depressurized environment and is accommodated in the paper box
34
. Air in the cartridge
31
passes through a wall, which is made of material that has low permeability, to the bag
33
, the internal pressure of which is low. Therefore, when the cartridge
31
is packed, the depressurized condition in the cartridge
31
is maintained. Depressurization of the cartridge improves the initial printing performance. When the depressurized cartridge
31
is installed in the printing apparatus, air is restricted from entering a passage (not shown) between an ink supply port and a printing head.
However, the conventional packing method, which is described above, has the following disadvantages.
After being packed, the cartridge
31
in the bag
33
is not visible. Accordingly, when purchasing a new ink cartridge, purchasers have difficulty determining whether the new cartridge matches the old one. To facilitate identification of the packed cartridge
31
type, the cartridge model number or an illustration may be printed on the outside of the bag
33
. However, it is impossible to clearly describe characteristics of the cartridge
31
.
After an ink cartridge is taken out of a bag, the bag is unnecessary and immediately disposed of after being opened, consequently it is desired to provide products in consideration of environmental issues that have been raised recently.
Before the ink in an ink cartridge is depleted, the cartridge may be taken out of an ink jet printing apparatus. In this case, a bag may be used for temporarily storing the cartridge. However, a conventional bag is not designed to store a cartridge that contains ink.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to make a packed ink cartridge visible through a package.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a package that minimizes adverse effects on environment.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a package that is capable of appropriately storing a used ink cartridge that contains ink.
To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a package for an ink cartridge. The package includes a holder that holds the cartridge, a container that accommodates the holder, and a cover. The container is made of a gas impermeable material and has a transparent portion and an opening. The cover is attached to the container such that the opening of the container is hermetically sealed.
The present invention further provides a method for packing an ink cartridge. The cartridge is placed in a holder, which is placed in a container. A cover is attached to the container in a depressurized environment. An opening of the container is hermetically sealed to the cover.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5131539 (1992-07-01), Karita et al.
patent: 5231416 (1993-07-01), Terasawa et al.
patent: 5262802 (1993-11-01), Karita et al.
patent: 5279410 (1994-01-01), Arashima et al.
patent: 5831652 (1998-11-01), Hinami et al.
patent: 5887717 (1999-03-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 5934475 (1999-08-01), Hikake et al.
patent: 6047816 (2000-04-01), Moghadam et al.
patent: 6247598 (2001-06-01), Hosaka et al.
patent: 6283587 (2001-09-01), Umemura
patent: 6286946 (2001-09-01), Umemura et al.
patent: 0 626 264 (1994-11-01), None
Foster Jim
Seiko Epson Corporation
Sughrue & Mion, PLLC
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