Incremental printing of symbolic information – Ink jet – Fluid or fluid source handling means
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-15
2001-09-04
Le, N. (Department: 2861)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Ink jet
Fluid or fluid source handling means
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283585
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a printer and an ink cartridge to be widely used in POS, factory automation (FA), physical distribution (PD) and so forth, for example, and an ink cartridge to be employed in such printer. More specifically, the invention relates to a printer employing an ink-jet printing system and an ink cartridge to be used with such printer.
2. Description of the Related Art
Up to now, a label printer utilizing an ink-jet printing system has not been put into practical use. In general sense, advantages of an ink-jet printing are quietness in operation for not contacting with a printing medium, high printing speed, capability of high density printing, easiness of color printing, compactness in overall apparatus and so forth.
A paper, such as label, to be used in the label printer is smaller in size in comparison with normal paper, such as A4 paper and so forth, typically used in the office. Therefore, a full-line type printing head can be easily employed as a printing head for the label printer.
When the full-line type ink-jet head is employed, special construction different from the case where a normal serial type ink-jet head is employed, in ink recirculation for recovery of ejection, ink supply and so forth. Also, in such ink supply system, when a tube pump is employed as a driving source, derivative problem may be encountered in simplification of drive control.
On the other hard, in the ink-jet type label printer, it becomes necessary to appropriately manage ink to be used, including management of ink leakage in the apparatus and so forth. As a system which provides various advantages in ink management or ink supply management, an ink cartridge has been known. Namely, by making an individual cartridge storing the ink detachable with respect to the apparatus by inserting and removing an ink supply needle, the ink cartridge can be replaced with new one when the ink therein is spent out.
However, associating with the above-mentioned ink cartridge, problems may encountered in the label printer in management of waste ink and ink leakage upon detaching of the ink cartridge. Also, due to interference between the ink cartridge and the label printer body upon loading of the ink cartridge, a seal formed by an electrically resistant member provided on the ink cartridge for identification and so forth can be damaged.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer which can solve various problem derived in an ink supply system as set forth above, and particularly to provide a label printer which can solve the problems in the case where a tube pump is employed.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an ink cartridge which is employed in the label printer set forth above and permits appropriate management of waste ink.
According to one aspect of the invention, a printer having an ink-jet head ejecting an ink for performing printing on a printing medium, comprises an ink cartridge storing the ink to be supplied to the ink-jet head, ink storage means for temporarily storing the ink to be supplied from the ink cartridge to the ink-jet head, having an atmosphere communication opening and having an ink path for returning an excess amount of ink to the ink cartridge, buffer means connected to the ink cartridge via an ink path having an one-way valve permitting only flow of the ink from the ink cartridge, connected to the ink storage means via an ink path having a tube pump and connected to the ink-jet head via an ink passage having an one-way valve permitting only flow of the ink toward head ink-jet head, for maintaining the ink amount at a predetermined amount, and opening and closing means for opening and closing the atmosphere communication opening of the ink storage means.
Here, the printer may further comprise second buffer means connected to the ink-jet head via an ink path and connected to the ink storage chamber via an ink path having a second tube pump, for maintaining the ink amount at the predetermined amount.
On the other hand, the tube pump may guide a tube at portions other than a portion where a depression roller of the tube pump acts on the tube.
Also, the ink path for returning the excess amount of ink in the ink storage means to the ink cartridge may include a needle unit having a needle communicated with the inside of the ink cartridge associating with loading operation of the ink cartridge, the needle unit having a valve for establishing communication between the inside of the ink cartridge and the needle by loading operation of the ink cartridge.
Furthermore, a positional relationship between the ink cartridge and the needle unit upon loading of the ink cartridge may be that a communication opening of the needle penetrates within the ink cartridge and subsequently the valve is opened.
Also, the ink path connecting the ink cartridge and the buffer means may include a needle unit having a needle to be communicated with the inside of the ink cartridge associating with loading of the ink cartridge, the needle unit having a valve establishing communication between the ink cartridge and the needle by a suction pressure transmitted via the buffer means by driving of the tube pump.
The printer may further comprise means for manually opening and closing the atmosphere communication opening of the ink storage means.
Furthermore, the ink cartridge may include an ink storage chamber for storing the ink to be supplied to the ink-jet head and a waste ink storage chamber having an absorbing member for holding and storing the ink discharged from the printer, and the ink storage chamber and the waste ink storage chamber are formed integrally, and the waste ink storage chamber has two stage construction.
Also, the printer may further comprise a cartridge receptacle chamber, to which the ink cartridge is detachably loaded, and having a shutter member pivotably provided at an insertion opening for the ink cartridge and engaging with the outer surface of the ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is inserted for loading, the ink cartridge being provided with a resistant member depending upon information relating the ink cartridge, on the outer surface thereof, and the shutter member is formed into a configuration having a cut-out portion so as not to interfere with the resistant member upon engagement with the outer surface of the ink cartridge,
It should be noted that the ink-jet head may eject the ink by generating a bubble of the ink utilizing a thermal energy and ejecting the ink by generation of the bubble.
According to the second aspect of the invention, an ink cartridge to be employed in a printer performing printing on a printing medium, comprises an ink storage chamber for storing an ink to be supplied to the printer, a waste ink storage chamber storing the ink discharged from the printer and having an absorbing member holding the ink, the ink storage chamber and the waste ink storage chamber being formed integrally and the waste ink storage chamber has two stage structure.
The waste ink storage chamber may be provided with a detection sensor for detecting presence of the ink.
Also, the detection sensor may be located at an upper stage of the two stage structure and defines by a given height of wall, in which the absorbing member is not present.
Furthermore, an ink inlet portion of the waste ink storage chamber may be provided at the lower stage of the two stage structure.
Also, ink supply for the printer and introduction of discharge of ink from the printer may be performed a supply needle inserted within the ink cartridge, and an absorbing member is provided at least at the portion where the supply needle is inserted.
According to the third aspect of the invention, an ink cartridge for storing an ink to be used by a printer for performing printing on a printing medium, characterized in that ink supply for the printer and introduction of discharge of ink from the printer is performed a supply needle inserted within the ink cartridge, and an absorbin
Fujimoto Hitoshi
Ikkatai Masatoshi
Mikoshiba Tsuyoshi
Canon Aptex Inc.
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
Le N.
Nguyen Judy
LandOfFree
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