EP0560729A2 - Ink cartridge for a printhead of an ink jet printer - Google Patents

Ink cartridge for a printhead of an ink jet printer Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0560729A2
EP0560729A2 EP93810169A EP93810169A EP0560729A2 EP 0560729 A2 EP0560729 A2 EP 0560729A2 EP 93810169 A EP93810169 A EP 93810169A EP 93810169 A EP93810169 A EP 93810169A EP 0560729 A2 EP0560729 A2 EP 0560729A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ink cartridge
housing
cartridge according
ink
end wall
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP93810169A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0560729A3 (en
EP0560729B1 (en
Inventor
Jürg Geissmann
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Pelikan Produktions AG
Original Assignee
Pelikan Produktions AG
Franz Buettner AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from DE9203206U external-priority patent/DE9203206U1/de
Priority claimed from DE9300132U external-priority patent/DE9300132U1/de
Application filed by Pelikan Produktions AG, Franz Buettner AG filed Critical Pelikan Produktions AG
Publication of EP0560729A2 publication Critical patent/EP0560729A2/en
Publication of EP0560729A3 publication Critical patent/EP0560729A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0560729B1 publication Critical patent/EP0560729B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B41J2/17503—Ink cartridges
    • B41J2/17513—Inner structure

Definitions

  • EP-A-408 241 describes a print head for an ink jet printer with an exchangeable ink cartridge: on a base plate of the print head, the nozzle plate is arranged on one side and a holder for the ink cartridge on the opposite side.
  • the cartridge contains a foam body soaked in ink.
  • the bottom of the cartridge housing On the side facing the base plate, the bottom of the cartridge housing has a cavity which is closed off from the outside by a rubber plug and is delimited from the foam body by a sieve.
  • a needle protrudes from the base plate, the capillary of which communicates with the ink channels of the nozzle plate via cavities. The rubber plug is pierced with the needle when inserting the cartridge. Its tip then protrudes into the cavity.
  • the cover on the opposite side of the housing has a ventilation opening that opens into another cavity.
  • the present invention has for its object to design an ink cartridge of the type mentioned in such a way that the ink supply can be better used.
  • the ink cartridge according to the invention for a print head of an ink jet printer comprises a housing which is closed on all sides and has an end wall which has an opening for receiving a tubular nozzle of the print head.
  • the housing contains a foam body soaked in ink. It has snap-in elements for snapping into the snap-in means of the print head and a second, smaller opening for the air supply.
  • the print head 1 is only indicated schematically. It consists of a rectangular base plate 2, from which a projection 3 protrudes along a narrow side. A nozzle plate 5 is installed in the end face 4 of this projection 3.
  • the nozzle plate 5 contains a series of narrow ink channels. The pressure in these channels can be increased piezoelectrically or thermoelectrically, so that an ink droplet is ejected from the nozzle in question. The surface tension at the nozzle mouth then sucks the ejected ink volume out of an interior space 6 of a tubular nozzle 7 communicating with the nozzle channels.
  • the flat end face 8 of the nozzle 7 is covered with a close-meshed sieve 9 and projects beyond the rear side 10 of the base plate 2.
  • a prismatic tube with four side walls 11 protrudes from the base plate 2, into which an ink cartridge 20 is inserted.
  • a sealing ring 12, shown in more detail in FIG. 5, is placed on the section of the connecting piece 7 projecting beyond the rear.
  • the elastomeric sealing ring 12, for example made of silicone rubber, is tubular and has a flat front face 13 and a circumferential sealing bead 15 on the cylindrical outer circumference 14.
  • the end face 13 supports the protruding edge of the screen 9 and protects it from tearing when the cartridge 20 is pulled out
  • the sealing bead 15 seals the nozzle 7 against the cartridge housing. In operation, the end face 4 is directed downward and the interior 6 is full of ink.
  • two opposite side walls 11 of the printhead 1 have coaxial bores 16.
  • the ink cartridge 20 has a plastic housing 22 consisting of a hollow body 24 which is open at the bottom in the illustration according to FIG. 2 and is closed off by a cover 26 which is sealed or glued on.
  • An end wall 28 of the housing 22 has an opening 30 with a cylindrical wall 32 for receiving the nozzle 7.
  • the sealing bead 15 seals against the wall 32.
  • the housing 22 is largely filled with an ink-soaked foam body 34.
  • Two side walls 36 of the housing 22 have spherical cap-shaped projections 38 for snapping into the holes in the side walls 11 of the print head 1.
  • a cavity 40 is formed between the foam body 34 and the housing 22, which can be filled with air or ink.
  • a pumping element 42 projects into this cavity 40, in the embodiment according to FIG. 2 in the form of a piston pump.
  • a cylindrical tube 44, in which a piston 46 is guided, is formed on the cover 26. The piston 46 is loaded by a spring 48 into the basic position shown in FIG. 2, in which a piston shaft 50 projects beyond the housing 22.
  • the piston 46 is shown enlarged in FIG. 3. It consists of a piston crown 52 and the stem 50 snapped onto it. An O-ring 54 is inserted between two end faces of the stem 50 and the bottom 52 and seals against the cylindrical inner wall of the tube 44. The interior of the shaft 50 is connected to the atmosphere via openings 56.
  • the piston crown 52 contains a check valve 58.
  • a pin 64 molded onto a rotationally symmetrical membrane 62 is inserted into a central bore 60.
  • the membrane 62 consists of an elastomer, for example of silicone rubber. On the periphery, it has a projecting, thin-walled, thoracic segment-shaped sealing bead 66 which seals against a flat end face 68 of the piston crown 52.
  • the check valve 58 has a very low opening or closing pressure of a few m bar, for example at most 20 m bar.
  • An opening 70 connects the outside of the membrane 62 to the interior of the shaft 50.
  • the shaft 50 of the pumping goose 42 is pressed in until ink emerges from the nozzle plate 5.
  • the print head 1 is expediently held with the nozzle plate 5 upward so that the air can escape from the space 6.
  • the interior 6 is then filled with ink and the print head 1 is ready for operation.
  • the shaft 50 is released, there is then a negative pressure of a few m bar inside the housing 22, so that no more ink can drip from the nozzle plate 5.
  • the stroke volume of the piston 46 is preferably somewhat larger than the volume of the interior 6. This space 6 can be filled with a single push in of the piston 46. However, the check valve 58 also makes it possible to repeat the pumping process if a single push-in is not sufficient.
  • FIGS. 6-8 differ from those according to FIGS. 2-4 only in the design of the pumping goose 42, so that the parts identical to the embodiment according to FIGS. 2-4 are partially omitted in the illustration according to FIGS. 6-8. Analog parts have the same reference numerals, so that a detailed description of these parts is unnecessary.
  • the pump element 42 is designed as a bellows pump.
  • the pumping element 42 according to FIG. 6 has a dome-shaped, elastomeric bellows 76 with a flange 78 which is clamped between a sleeve 80 pressed into the tube 44 and an end wall 82 of the tube 44.
  • the wall 82 has an opening 84.
  • the check valve 58 which can be designed, for example, in the same way as that according to FIGS. 3 and 4, is inserted here into the end wall 86 of the housing 22 opposite the end wall 28.
  • the bellows 76 is a bellows which is pushed onto a tubular extension 88 of the wall 82.
  • the check valve 58 is mounted here in the wall 82.
  • FIG. 8 differs from that according to FIGS. 2-4 in that the spring 48 and the check valve 58 are missing.
  • the piston 46 is pressed in two stages into the depressed position which is also shown. In a first stage, the piston is pushed in so that the O-ring 54 is still on the side of the radial opening 90 in the tube 44 facing the cover 26. This position can be determined by a locking stop (not shown) or by the outer end face 92 of the piston skirt 50 being flush with the outer face of the cover 26.
  • the opening 90 can also be formed, for example, in the end wall 86 and can be closed in the delivery state, for example by an adhesive tape.
  • the "two-phase movement" consists in pressing in the piston 46 and then detaching the adhesive tape.
  • the opening 30 of the housing 22 is also sealed by an adhesive film which is removed before the ink cartridge 20 is inserted into the print head 1.
  • the print head 1 has the same design as that according to FIG. 1, except that the sealing ring 12 is missing.
  • the cartridge 120 of the embodiment according to FIG. 9 consists of a housing 121 with a prismatic hollow body 122 which is open on one side and has four side walls 123 and a rear wall 124 made of thermoplastic material and which is sealed on the free end edge of the hollow body 121, e.g. cover 125 welded on with ultrasound.
  • Cover 125 engages with a circumferential rim 126 in a form-fitting manner in the inside of side walls 123.
  • Adjacent to one narrow side, the cover 125 has a bore 127 in which the socket 7 fits.
  • Adjacent to the opposite narrow side, the cover 125 has a small ventilation hole 128 which is aligned with a channel 130 formed by closely adjacent inner ribs 129 on the one side wall 123.
  • the channel 130 opens out on the rear wall 124 into a ventilation cavity 132, likewise formed by ribs 131.
  • An open-pore foam body 135 is inserted into the housing 121 with some compression.
  • the foam is suitable e.g. "Melamine” foam (registered trademark) or polyurethane foam.
  • Body 135 is soaked in ink.
  • an elastomeric sealing film 136 e.g. made of silicone rubber, which has the size of the inner contour of the hollow body 122 at the free edge.
  • the sealing film 136 has a circular hole 137 of smaller diameter coaxial to the bore 127. With the edge region adjacent to this hole 137, the film 136 seals the interior of the housing 121 against the end face 8 of the connector 7. In the area of the vent hole 128, the film 136 has a further recess.
  • Two opposite side walls 123 of the hollow body 122 each have a spherical cap-shaped locking projection 139.
  • the projections 139 snap into corresponding bores in the side walls 11 of the print head 1.
  • two opposite side walls 123 of the housing 121 have molded-on grip cams 140, which make it easier for the cartridge 120 to be pulled out of the print head 1.
  • the bore 127 and the ventilation hole 128 are closed with an adhesive strip or a sealing film 141 for transport and storage. This ensures clean handling of the cartridge 120.
  • the film 141 closes both openings at the same time, it is avoided that the ventilation hole 128 could remain closed due to incorrect operation when inserting the cartridge 120, as a result of which a reliable operation of the print head 1 would not be possible. For this reason, the arrangement of the ventilation hole 128 in the cover 125 is advantageous.
  • the channels 130, 132 formed by the ribs 129, 131 nevertheless ensure that the foam body 135 is exposed to atmospheric pressure, as desired from the opposite side of the bore 127.
  • the nozzle 7 compresses the foam body 135 locally and therefore at the same time presses an ink supply into the interior 6 of the nozzle 7. This ensures reliable operation of the print head 1 immediately after the cartridge 20 is inserted. Because the relatively large-area sieve 9 of the nozzle 7 presses directly onto the foam body 135, the ink supply is guaranteed until the end of the ink supply. The contact pressure of the foam body 135 against the screen 9 of the nozzle 7 can be ensured by a positive engagement of the locking cams 139 in the locking holes of the print head 1.

Abstract

The ink cartridge comprises a housing (26) which is closed on all sides and has a front wall (28) which has an aperture (30) for receiving a tubular nozzle of the print head. The housing (26) contains a foam body (34) soaked in ink. It has engagement elements for engaging in engagement means of the print head and a second, smaller aperture for the air supply. A pumping member (42) can be installed in the housing (26) in order to facilitate start-up of the cartridge. <IMAGE>

Description

Hintergrund der ErfindungBackground of the Invention

In der EP-A-408 241 ist ein Druckkopf für einen Ink-Jet-Printer mit einer auswechselbaren Tintenpatrone beschrieben: Auf einer Grundplatte des Druckkopfs ist auf der einen Seite die Düsenplatte und auf der gegenüberliegenden Seite ein Halterfür die Tintenpatrone angeordnet. Die Patrone enthält einen mit Tinte getränkten Schaumkörper. Auf der der Grundplatte zugewandten Seite hat der Boden des Patronengehäuses einen Hohlraum, der gegen aussen durch einen Gummipfropfen abgeschlossen und gegen den Schaumkörper durch ein Sieb abgegrenzt ist. Von der Grundplatte steht eine Nadel ab, deren Kapillare über Hohlräume mit den Tintenkanälen der Düsenplatte kommuniziert. Mit der Nadel wird der Gummipfropfen beim Einsetzen der Patrone durchstochen. Ihre Spitze ragt dann in den Hohlraum. Der Deckel auf der gegenüberliegenden Seite des Gehäuses hat eine Belüftungsöffnung, die in einen weiteren Hohlraum mündet. Diese Lösung setzt für einen einwandfreien Betrieb voraus, dass der erstgenannte Hohlraum immer mit Tinte gefüllt bleibt, was insbesondere gegen das Ende des Tintenvorrates nicht garantiert werden kann.EP-A-408 241 describes a print head for an ink jet printer with an exchangeable ink cartridge: on a base plate of the print head, the nozzle plate is arranged on one side and a holder for the ink cartridge on the opposite side. The cartridge contains a foam body soaked in ink. On the side facing the base plate, the bottom of the cartridge housing has a cavity which is closed off from the outside by a rubber plug and is delimited from the foam body by a sieve. A needle protrudes from the base plate, the capillary of which communicates with the ink channels of the nozzle plate via cavities. The rubber plug is pierced with the needle when inserting the cartridge. Its tip then protrudes into the cavity. The cover on the opposite side of the housing has a ventilation opening that opens into another cavity. For a problem-free operation, this solution presupposes that the first-mentioned cavity always remains filled with ink, which cannot be guaranteed, in particular, towards the end of the ink supply.

Zusammenfassung der ErfindungSummary of the invention

Der vorliegenden Erfindung liegt die Aufgabe zugrunde, eine Tintenpatrone der eingangs genannten Art derart auszubilden, dass der Tintenvorrat besser ausgenützt werden kann.The present invention has for its object to design an ink cartridge of the type mentioned in such a way that the ink supply can be better used.

Die erfindungsgemässe Tintenpatrone für einen Druckkopf eines Ink-Jet-Printers umfasst ein allseits geschlossenes Gehäuse mit einer Stirnwand, die eine Oeffnung zur Aufnahme eines rohrförmigen Stutzens des Druckkopfs aufweist. Das Gehäuse enthält einen mit Tinte getränkten Schaumkörper. Es hat Rastelemente zum Einrasten in Rastmittel des Druckkopfs sowie eine zweite, kleinere Oeffnung für die Luftzufuhr.The ink cartridge according to the invention for a print head of an ink jet printer comprises a housing which is closed on all sides and has an end wall which has an opening for receiving a tubular nozzle of the print head. The housing contains a foam body soaked in ink. It has snap-in elements for snapping into the snap-in means of the print head and a second, smaller opening for the air supply.

Kurzbeschreibung der ZeichnungenBrief description of the drawings

Nachfolgend werden Ausführungsbeispiele der Erfindung anhand der Zeichnung erläutert. Darin zeigt:

  • Figur 1 einen Längsschnitt durch einen Druckkopf mit Tintenpatrone,
  • Figur 2 einen Längsschnitt durch die Patrone nach Figur 1
  • Figur 3 einen vergrösserten Axialschnitt durch den Kolben,
  • Figur 4 einen Axialschnitt durch eine Dichtung,
  • Figur 5 einen Axialschnitt durch eine weitere Dichtung,
  • Figuren 6-8 Varianten der Ausführungsform nach Figuren 2-4,
  • Figur 9 einen Längsschnitt durch einen DruckkopfmiteingesetzterTintenpatroneeinerweiterenAusführungsform,
  • Figur 10 eine Stirnansicht der Patrone der Ausführungsform nach Figur 9,
  • Figur 11 eine Stirnansicht eines Gehäuseteils, und
  • Figur 12 eine Ansicht einer Dichtfolie.
Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to the drawing. It shows:
  • FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section through a printhead with an ink cartridge,
  • FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section through the cartridge according to FIG. 1
  • FIG. 3 shows an enlarged axial section through the piston,
  • FIG. 4 shows an axial section through a seal,
  • FIG. 5 shows an axial section through a further seal,
  • FIGS. 6-8 variants of the embodiment according to FIGS. 2-4,
  • FIG. 9 shows a longitudinal section through a printhead with an ink cartridge of another embodiment,
  • FIG. 10 shows an end view of the cartridge of the embodiment according to FIG. 9,
  • Figure 11 is an end view of a housing part, and
  • Figure 12 is a view of a sealing film.

Beschreibung der AusführungsbeispieleDescription of the embodiments

In Figur 1 ist der Druckkopf 1 nur schematisch angedeutet. Er besteht aus einer rechteckigen Grundplatte 2, von der längs einer Schmalseite ein Vorsprung 3 vorsteht. In der Stirnfläche 4 dieses Vorsprungs 3 ist eine Düsenplatte 5 eingebaut. Die Düsenplatte 5 enthält eine Reihe enger Tintenkanäle. Der Druck in diesen Kanälen kann impulsartig piezoelektrisch oder thermoelektrisch erhöht werden, sodass aus der betreffenden Düse ein Tintentröpfchen ausgestossen wird. Die Oberflächenspannung an der Düsenmündung saugt anschliessend das ausgestossene Tintenvolumen aus einem mit den Düsenkanälen kommunizierenden Innenraum 6 eines rohrförmigen Stutzens 7 an. Die ebene Stirnfläche 8 des Stutzens 7 ist mit einem engmaschigen Sieb 9 abgedeckt und überragt die Rückseite 10 der Grundplatte 2. Von der Grundplatte 2 steht auf der Rückseite ein prismatisches Rohr mit vier Seitenwänden 11 ab, in welches eine Tintenpatrone 20 eingesteckt ist. Auf den die Rückseite überragenden Abschnitt des Stutzens 7 ist ein in Figur 5 detaillierter dargestellter Dichtring 12 aufgesetzt. Der elastomere Dichtring 12, zum Beispiel aus Silikongummi, ist rohrförmig und hat vorn eine ebene Stirnfläche 13 und am zylindrischen Aussenumfang 14 einen umlaufenden Dichtwulst 15. Die Stirnfläche 13 stützt den überstehenden Rand des Siebes 9 und schützt ihn vor dem Abreissen beim Ausziehen der Patrone 20. Der Dichtwulst 15 dichtet den Stutzen 7 gegen das Patronengehäuse ab. Im Betrieb ist die Stirnfläche 4 nach unten gerichtet und der Innenraum 6 voll Tinte. Zum Einrasten der Patrone 20 haben zwei gegenüberliegende Seitenwände 11 des Druckkopfs 1 koaxiale Bohrungen 16.In Figure 1, the print head 1 is only indicated schematically. It consists of a rectangular base plate 2, from which a projection 3 protrudes along a narrow side. A nozzle plate 5 is installed in the end face 4 of this projection 3. The nozzle plate 5 contains a series of narrow ink channels. The pressure in these channels can be increased piezoelectrically or thermoelectrically, so that an ink droplet is ejected from the nozzle in question. The surface tension at the nozzle mouth then sucks the ejected ink volume out of an interior space 6 of a tubular nozzle 7 communicating with the nozzle channels. The flat end face 8 of the nozzle 7 is covered with a close-meshed sieve 9 and projects beyond the rear side 10 of the base plate 2. A prismatic tube with four side walls 11 protrudes from the base plate 2, into which an ink cartridge 20 is inserted. A sealing ring 12, shown in more detail in FIG. 5, is placed on the section of the connecting piece 7 projecting beyond the rear. The elastomeric sealing ring 12, for example made of silicone rubber, is tubular and has a flat front face 13 and a circumferential sealing bead 15 on the cylindrical outer circumference 14. The end face 13 supports the protruding edge of the screen 9 and protects it from tearing when the cartridge 20 is pulled out The sealing bead 15 seals the nozzle 7 against the cartridge housing. In operation, the end face 4 is directed downward and the interior 6 is full of ink. To engage the cartridge 20, two opposite side walls 11 of the printhead 1 have coaxial bores 16.

Die Tintenpatrone 20 hat ein Kunststoffgehäuse 22 bestehend aus einem in der Darstellung nach Figur 2 unten offenen Hohlkörper 24, der durch einen aufgesiegelten oder aufgeklebten Deckel 26 abgeschlossen ist. Eine Stirnwand 28 des Gehäuses 22 hat eine Oeffnung 30 mit einer zylindrischen Wand 32 zur Aufnahme des Stutzens 7. Der Dichtwulst 15 dichtet gegen die Wand 32 ab. Das Gehäuse 22 ist grösstenteils mit einem tintengetränkten Schaumkörper 34 gefüllt. Zwei Seitenwände 36 des Gehäuses 22 haben kugelkalottenförmige Vorsprünge 38 zum Einrasten in die Bohrungen der Seitenwände 11 des Druckkopfs 1.The ink cartridge 20 has a plastic housing 22 consisting of a hollow body 24 which is open at the bottom in the illustration according to FIG. 2 and is closed off by a cover 26 which is sealed or glued on. An end wall 28 of the housing 22 has an opening 30 with a cylindrical wall 32 for receiving the nozzle 7. The sealing bead 15 seals against the wall 32. The housing 22 is largely filled with an ink-soaked foam body 34. Two side walls 36 of the housing 22 have spherical cap-shaped projections 38 for snapping into the holes in the side walls 11 of the print head 1.

An der der Stirnwand 28 gegenüberliegenden Seite ist zwischen dem Schaumkörper 34 und dem Gehäuse 22 ein Hohlraum 40 gebildet, der mit Luft oder Tinte gefüllt sein kann. In diesen Hohlraum 40 ragt ein Pumporgan 42, bei derAusführungsform nach Figur2 in Form einer Kolbenpumpe. Am Deckel 26 ist ein zylindrisches Rohr 44 angeformt, in welchem ein Kolben 46 geführt ist. Der Kolben 46 ist durch eine Feder 48 in die in Figur 2 dargestellte Grundstellung belastet, in welcher ein Kolbenschaft 50 über das Gehäuse 22 vorsteht.On the side opposite the end wall 28, a cavity 40 is formed between the foam body 34 and the housing 22, which can be filled with air or ink. A pumping element 42 projects into this cavity 40, in the embodiment according to FIG. 2 in the form of a piston pump. A cylindrical tube 44, in which a piston 46 is guided, is formed on the cover 26. The piston 46 is loaded by a spring 48 into the basic position shown in FIG. 2, in which a piston shaft 50 projects beyond the housing 22.

Der Kolben 46 ist in Figur 3 vergrössert dargestellt. Er besteht aus einem Kolbenboden 52 und dem darauf aufgeschnappten Schaft 50. Zwischen zwei Stirnflächen von Schaft 50 und Boden 52 ist ein O-Ring 54 eingesetzt, der gegen die zylindrische Innenwand des Rohres 44 abdichtet. Der Innenraum des Schaftes 50 ist über Oeffnungen 56 mit der Atmosphäre verbunden. Der Kolbenboden 52 enthält ein Rückschlagventil 58. In eine zentrische Bohrung 60 ist ein an eine rotationssymmetrische Membran 62 angeformter Zapfen 64 eingesteckt. Die Membran 62 besteht aus einem Elastomer, zum Beispiel aus Silikongummi. An der Peripherie hat sie einen vorstehenden, dünnwandigen, thorussegmentförmigen Dichtwulst 66, der gegen eine ebene Stirnfläche 68 des Kolbenbodens 52 abdichtet. Das Rückschlagventil 58 hat einen sehr geringen Oeffnungs- oder Schliessdruckdruck von einigen m bar, zum Bei-spiel höchstens 20 m bar. Eine Oeffnung 70 verbindet die Aussenseite der Membran 62 mit dem Innenraum des Schaftes 50.The piston 46 is shown enlarged in FIG. 3. It consists of a piston crown 52 and the stem 50 snapped onto it. An O-ring 54 is inserted between two end faces of the stem 50 and the bottom 52 and seals against the cylindrical inner wall of the tube 44. The interior of the shaft 50 is connected to the atmosphere via openings 56. The piston crown 52 contains a check valve 58. A pin 64 molded onto a rotationally symmetrical membrane 62 is inserted into a central bore 60. The membrane 62 consists of an elastomer, for example of silicone rubber. On the periphery, it has a projecting, thin-walled, thoracic segment-shaped sealing bead 66 which seals against a flat end face 68 of the piston crown 52. The check valve 58 has a very low opening or closing pressure of a few m bar, for example at most 20 m bar. An opening 70 connects the outside of the membrane 62 to the interior of the shaft 50.

Nach dem Einsetzen der Patrone 20 in den Druckkopf 1 wird der Schaft 50 des Pumporgans 42 eingedrückt, bis Tinte aus der Düsenplatte 5 austritt. Zweckmässig wird dabei der Druckkopf 1 mit der Düsenplatte 5 nach oben gehalten, damit die Luft aus dem Raum 6 entweichen kann. Dann ist der Innenraum 6 mit Tinte gefüllt und der Druckkopf 1 betriebsbereit. Beim Loslassen des Schaftes 50 herrscht anschliessend im Innern des Gehäuses 22 ein Unterdruck von wenigen m bar, sodass aus der Düsenplatte 5 keine Tinte mehr tropfen kann. Durch die beschriebene Ausbildung der Tintenpatrone wird damit eine einfache und sichere Inbetriebnahme erreicht.After the cartridge 20 has been inserted into the print head 1, the shaft 50 of the pumping goose 42 is pressed in until ink emerges from the nozzle plate 5. The print head 1 is expediently held with the nozzle plate 5 upward so that the air can escape from the space 6. The interior 6 is then filled with ink and the print head 1 is ready for operation. When the shaft 50 is released, there is then a negative pressure of a few m bar inside the housing 22, so that no more ink can drip from the nozzle plate 5. The described design of the ink cartridge enables simple and safe commissioning.

Das Hubvolumen des Kolbens 46 ist vorzugsweise etwas grösser als das Volumen des Innenraums 6. Dadurch kann mit einem einzigen Eindrücken des Kolbens 46 dieser Raum 6 gefüllt werden. Es ist jedoch durch das Rückschlagventil 58 auch möglich, den Pumpvorgang zu wiederholen, wenn ein einmaliges Eindrücken nicht ausreichen sollte.The stroke volume of the piston 46 is preferably somewhat larger than the volume of the interior 6. This space 6 can be filled with a single push in of the piston 46. However, the check valve 58 also makes it possible to repeat the pumping process if a single push-in is not sufficient.

Die Ausführungsformen nach Figuren 6-8 unterscheiden sich von jener nach Figuren 2-4 nur durch die Ausbildung des Pumporgans 42, sodass die mit der Ausführungsform nach Figuren 2-4 identischen Teile in der Darstellung nach Figuren 6-8 teilweise weggelassen sind. Analoge Teile tragen gleiche Bezugszeichen, sodass sich eine detaillierte Beschreibung dieser Teile erübrigt.The embodiments according to FIGS. 6-8 differ from those according to FIGS. 2-4 only in the design of the pumping goose 42, so that the parts identical to the embodiment according to FIGS. 2-4 are partially omitted in the illustration according to FIGS. 6-8. Analog parts have the same reference numerals, so that a detailed description of these parts is unnecessary.

Bei der Ausführungsform nach Figuren 6 und 7 ist das Pumporgan 42 als Balgpumpe ausgebildet. Das Pumporgan 42 nach Figur 6 hat einen domförmigen, elastomeren Balg 76 mit einem Flansch 78, der zwischen einer ins Rohr 44 eingepressten Hülse 80 und einer Stirnwand 82 des Rohres 44 eingeklemmt ist. Die Wand 82 hat eine Oeffnung 84. Das Rückschlagventil 58, das zum Beispiel gleich ausgebildet sein kann wie jenes nach Figuren 3 und 4, ist hier in die der Stirnwand 28 gegenüberliegende Stirnwand 86 des Gehäuses 22 eingesetzt.In the embodiment according to FIGS. 6 and 7, the pump element 42 is designed as a bellows pump. The pumping element 42 according to FIG. 6 has a dome-shaped, elastomeric bellows 76 with a flange 78 which is clamped between a sleeve 80 pressed into the tube 44 and an end wall 82 of the tube 44. The wall 82 has an opening 84. The check valve 58, which can be designed, for example, in the same way as that according to FIGS. 3 and 4, is inserted here into the end wall 86 of the housing 22 opposite the end wall 28.

Bei der Variante nach Figur 7 ist der Balg 76 ein Faltenbalg, der auf einen rohrförmigen Ansatz 88 der Wand 82 aufgeschoben ist. Das Rückschlagventil 58 ist hier in der Wand 82 montiert.In the variant according to FIG. 7, the bellows 76 is a bellows which is pushed onto a tubular extension 88 of the wall 82. The check valve 58 is mounted here in the wall 82.

Die Ausführungsform nach Figur 8 unterscheidet sich von jener nach Figuren 2-4 dadurch, dass die Feder 48 und das Rückschlagventil 58 fehlen. Hier wird der Kolben 46 nach dem Einsetzen der Patrone 20 in den Druckkopf 1 in zwei Stufen in die ebenfalls dargestellte, eingedrückte Stellung gedrückt. In einer ersten Stufe wird der Kolben so eingeschoben, dass der O-Ring 54 noch auf der dem Deckel 26 zugewandten Seite einer radialen Oeffnung 90 im Rohr 44 ist. Diese Stellung kann durch einen nicht dargestellten Rastanschlag oder dadurch bestimmt sein, dass die äussere Stirnfläche 92 des Kolbenschaftes 50 mit der Aussenfläche des Deckels 26 bündig ist. In dieser Stellung wird abgewartet, bis Tinte aus der Düsenplatte 5 austritt und anschliessend der Kolben 46 weitergeschoben, sodass der Raum 40 nunmehr über die Oeffnung 90 mit derAussenatmosphäre kommuniziert, ein verbleibender Ueberdruck im Raum 40 abgebaut und im späteren Betrieb ein Nachfliessen von Luft zum Ersatz des verbrauchten Tintenvolumens ermöglicht ist.The embodiment according to FIG. 8 differs from that according to FIGS. 2-4 in that the spring 48 and the check valve 58 are missing. Here, after the cartridge 20 has been inserted into the print head 1, the piston 46 is pressed in two stages into the depressed position which is also shown. In a first stage, the piston is pushed in so that the O-ring 54 is still on the side of the radial opening 90 in the tube 44 facing the cover 26. This position can be determined by a locking stop (not shown) or by the outer end face 92 of the piston skirt 50 being flush with the outer face of the cover 26. In this position, it is waited until ink emerges from the nozzle plate 5 and then the piston 46 is pushed further, so that the space 40 now communicates with the outside atmosphere via the opening 90, a remaining excess pressure in the space 40 is reduced and, in later operation, an inflow of air for replacement of the used ink volume is made possible.

Abweichend von der Ausführungsform nach Figur 8 kann die Oeffnung 90 auch zum Beispiel in der Stirnwand 86 ausgebildet und im Lieferzustand zum Beispiel durch ein Klebband verschlossen sein. In diesem Fall besteht die "Zweiphasenbewegung" im Eindrücken des Kolbens 46 und anschliessenden Ablösen des Klebbandes.In a departure from the embodiment according to FIG. 8, the opening 90 can also be formed, for example, in the end wall 86 and can be closed in the delivery state, for example by an adhesive tape. In this case, the "two-phase movement" consists in pressing in the piston 46 and then detaching the adhesive tape.

Im Lieferzustand wird auch die Oeffnung 30 des Gehäuses 22 durch eine Klebfolie versiegelt, die vor dem Einsetzen der Tintenpatrone 20 in den Druckkopf 1 entfernt wird.In the delivery state, the opening 30 of the housing 22 is also sealed by an adhesive film which is removed before the ink cartridge 20 is inserted into the print head 1.

Bei der Ausführungsform nach Figur 9 ist der Druckkopf 1 gleich ausgebildet, wie jener nach Figur 1, nur dass der Dichtring 12 fehlt.In the embodiment according to FIG. 9, the print head 1 has the same design as that according to FIG. 1, except that the sealing ring 12 is missing.

Die Patrone 120 der Ausführungsform nach Fig. 9 besteht aus einem Gehäuse 121 mit einem einseitig offenen, prismatischen Hohlkörper 122 mit vier Seitenwänden 123 und einer Rückwand 124 aus thermoplastischem Kunststoff und einem auf dem freien Stirnrand des Hohlkörpers 121 aufgesiegelten, z.B. mit Ultraschall aufgeschweissten Deckel 125. Der Deckel 125 greift mit einem umlaufenden Bord 126 formschlüssig in die Innenseite der Seitenwände 123 ein. Benachbart der einen Schmalseite hatder Deckel 125 eine Bohrung 127, in welche der Stutzen 7 passt. Benachbart der gegenüberliegenden Schmalseite hat der Deckel 125 ein kleines Belüftungsloch 128, das mit einem durch eng benachbarte, innere Rippen 129 an der einen Seitenwand 123 gebildeten Kanal 130 fluchtet. Der Kanal 130 mündet an der Rückwand 124 in einen ebenfalls durch Rippen 131 gebildeten Belüftungshohlraum 132.The cartridge 120 of the embodiment according to FIG. 9 consists of a housing 121 with a prismatic hollow body 122 which is open on one side and has four side walls 123 and a rear wall 124 made of thermoplastic material and which is sealed on the free end edge of the hollow body 121, e.g. cover 125 welded on with ultrasound. Cover 125 engages with a circumferential rim 126 in a form-fitting manner in the inside of side walls 123. Adjacent to one narrow side, the cover 125 has a bore 127 in which the socket 7 fits. Adjacent to the opposite narrow side, the cover 125 has a small ventilation hole 128 which is aligned with a channel 130 formed by closely adjacent inner ribs 129 on the one side wall 123. The channel 130 opens out on the rear wall 124 into a ventilation cavity 132, likewise formed by ribs 131.

In das Gehäuse 121 ist ein offenporiger Schaumkörper 135 unter etwas Kompression eingesetzt. Als Schaumstoff eignet sich z.B. "Melamin"-Schaumstoff (eingetragenes Warenzeichen) oder Polyurethan-Schaumstoff. Der Körper 135 ist mit Tinte getränkt. Zwischen den Schaumkörper 135 und den Deckel 125 ist eine elastomere Dichtfolie 136 z.B. aus Silikongummi eingesetzt, welche die Grösse der Innenkonturdes Hohlkörpers 122 am freien Rand hat. Die Dichtfolie 136 hat koaxial zur Bohrung 127 ein kreisrundes Loch 137 kleineren Durchmessers. Mit dem Randbereich benachbart diesem Loch 137 dichtet die Folie 136 den Innenraum des Gehäuses 121 gegen die Stirnfläche 8 des Stutzens 7 ab. In der Gegend des Belüftungslochs 128 hatdie Folie 136 eine weitere Ausnehmung.An open-pore foam body 135 is inserted into the housing 121 with some compression. The foam is suitable e.g. "Melamine" foam (registered trademark) or polyurethane foam. Body 135 is soaked in ink. Between the foam body 135 and the cover 125 there is an elastomeric sealing film 136 e.g. made of silicone rubber, which has the size of the inner contour of the hollow body 122 at the free edge. The sealing film 136 has a circular hole 137 of smaller diameter coaxial to the bore 127. With the edge region adjacent to this hole 137, the film 136 seals the interior of the housing 121 against the end face 8 of the connector 7. In the area of the vent hole 128, the film 136 has a further recess.

Zwei gegenüberliegende Seitenwände 123 des Hohlkörpers 122 haben je einen kugelkalottenförmigen Rastvorsprung 139. Die Vorsprünge 139 rasten in entsprechende Bohrungen der Seitenwände 11 des Druckkopfs 1 ein. In der in eingesetzter Position des Druckkopfs 1 freien Partie haben zwei gegenüberliegende Seitenwände 123 des Gehäuses 121 angeformte Griffnocken 140, die ein Ausziehen der Patrone 120 aus dem Druckkopf 1 erleichtern. Die Bohrung 127 und das Belüftungsloch 128 sind für Transport und Lagerung mit einem Klebstreifen oder einer Siegelfolie 141 verschlossen. Dadurch wird eine saubere Handhabung der Patrone 120 gewährleistet. Weil die Folie 141 gleichzeitig beide Oeffnungen verschliesst, wird vermieden, dass durch Fehlbedienung beim Einsetzen der Patrone 120 das Belüftungsloch 128 verschlossen bleiben könnte, wodurch ein sicherer Betrieb des Druckkopfs 1 nicht möglich wäre. Aus diesem Grunde ist die Anordnung des Belüftungslochs 128 im Deckel 125 vorteilhaft. Die durch die Rippen 129, 131 gebildeten Kanäle 130, 132 sorgen trotzdem für die von der Gegenseite der Bohrung 127 erwünschte Beaufschlagung des Schaumkörpers 135 mit Atmosphärendruck.Two opposite side walls 123 of the hollow body 122 each have a spherical cap-shaped locking projection 139. The projections 139 snap into corresponding bores in the side walls 11 of the print head 1. In the part free in the inserted position of the print head 1, two opposite side walls 123 of the housing 121 have molded-on grip cams 140, which make it easier for the cartridge 120 to be pulled out of the print head 1. The bore 127 and the ventilation hole 128 are closed with an adhesive strip or a sealing film 141 for transport and storage. This ensures clean handling of the cartridge 120. Because the film 141 closes both openings at the same time, it is avoided that the ventilation hole 128 could remain closed due to incorrect operation when inserting the cartridge 120, as a result of which a reliable operation of the print head 1 would not be possible. For this reason, the arrangement of the ventilation hole 128 in the cover 125 is advantageous. The channels 130, 132 formed by the ribs 129, 131 nevertheless ensure that the foam body 135 is exposed to atmospheric pressure, as desired from the opposite side of the bore 127.

Wenn die Patrone 120 in den Druckkopf 1 eingesetzt wird, komprimiert der Stutzen 7 den Schaumkörper 135 örtlich und presst deshalb zugleich einen Tintenvorrat in den Innenraum 6 des Stutzens 7. Dadurch wird ein zuverlässiger Betrieb des Druckkopfes 1 unmittelbar nach dem Einsetzen der Patrone 20 erreicht. Weil das relativ grossflächige Sieb 9 des Stutzens 7 unmittelbar auf den Schaumkörper 135 presst, ist der Tintennachschub bis ans Ende des Tintenvorrates gewährleistet. Der Anpressdruck des Schaumkörpers 135 gegen das Sieb 9 des Stutzens 7 kann dabei durch einen formschlüssigen Eingriff der Rastnocken 139 in den Rastbohrungen des Druckkopfs 1 sichergestellt werden.When the cartridge 120 is inserted into the print head 1, the nozzle 7 compresses the foam body 135 locally and therefore at the same time presses an ink supply into the interior 6 of the nozzle 7. This ensures reliable operation of the print head 1 immediately after the cartridge 20 is inserted. Because the relatively large-area sieve 9 of the nozzle 7 presses directly onto the foam body 135, the ink supply is guaranteed until the end of the ink supply. The contact pressure of the foam body 135 against the screen 9 of the nozzle 7 can be ensured by a positive engagement of the locking cams 139 in the locking holes of the print head 1.

Claims (17)

1. Tintenpatrone für einen Druckkopf eines Ink-Jet-Printers, umfassend ein allseits geschlossenes Gehäuse (21,121) mit einer Stirnwand (28, 125), die eine erste Oeffnung (30,127) zur Aufnahme eines rohrförmigen Stutzens (7) mit ebener Stirnfläche (8) des Druckkopfs (1) aufweist, wobei das Gehäuse (21, 121) Rastelemente (38, 139) zum Einrasten in Rastmittel des Druckkopfs (1) und eine zweite, kleinere Oeffnung (80, 90,128) für die Luftzufuhr aufweist und einen mit Tinte getränkten Schaumkörper (34, 135) enthält.1. Ink cartridge for a print head of an ink jet printer, comprising a housing (21, 121) closed on all sides with an end wall (28, 125), which has a first opening (30, 127) for receiving a tubular connector (7) with a flat end surface (8 ) of the printhead (1), the housing (21, 121) latching elements (38, 139) for snapping into the latching means of the printhead (1) and a second, smaller opening (80, 90, 128) for air supply and one with ink contains soaked foam body (34, 135). 2. Tintenpatrone nach Anspruch 1, wobei zusätzlich ein Pumporgan (42) vorhanden ist, um an der der Stirnwand (28) gegenüberliegenden Seite des Gehäuses (22) einen Innendruck zu erzeugen.2. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a pump element (42) is additionally provided in order to generate an internal pressure on the side of the housing (22) opposite the end wall (28). 3. Tintenpatrone nach Anspruch 2, wobei das Pumporgan (42) im Gehäuse (22) eingebaut ist.3. The ink cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the pump element (42) is installed in the housing (22). 4. Tintenpatrone nach Anspruch 2, wobei das Pumporgan (42) ein Rückschlagventil (58) umfasst, das einen freien Luftdurchfluss zu einem Hohlraum (40) zwischen dem Schaumkörper (34) und einer der Stirnwand (28) gegenüberliegenden Wand (86) des Gehäuses (22) zulässt aber den Luftdurchfluss in der Gegenrichtung sperrt.The ink cartridge of claim 2, wherein the pump member (42) includes a check valve (58) that allows free air flow to a cavity (40) between the foam body (34) and a wall (86) opposite the end wall (28) of the housing (22) allows the air flow to be blocked in the opposite direction. 5. Tinten patrone nach Anspruch 4, wobei der Oeffnu ngs- oder Schliessdruck des Rückschlagventils (58) weniger als 20 m bar beträgt.5. Ink cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the opening or closing pressure of the check valve (58) is less than 20 m bar. 6. Tintenpatrone nach Anspruch 2, wobei das Pumporgan (42) als Kolbenpumpe ausgebildet ist.6. The ink cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the pump element (42) is designed as a piston pump. 7. Tintenpatrone nach Anspruch 6, wobei der Kolben (46) des Pumporgans (42) durch eine Feder (48) in eine Grundstellung vorbelastet ist, in welcher ein Kolbenschaft (50) über das Gehäuse (22) vorsteht.7. The ink cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the piston (46) of the pumping goose (42) is biased by a spring (48) into a basic position in which a piston shaft (50) protrudes over the housing (22). 8. Tintenpatrone nach Anspruch 6, wobei das Rückschlagventil (58) in den Kolben (46) eingebaut ist.The ink cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the check valve (58) is installed in the piston (46). 9. Tintenpatrone nach einem der Anspruch 2, wobei das Pumporgan (42) einen elastomeren Balg (76) umfasst.9. The ink cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the pumping member (42) comprises an elastomeric bellows (76). 10. Tintenpatrone nach Anspruch 1, wobei am Druckkopf (1) auf den rohrförmigen Stutzen (7) ein elastomerer Dichtring (12) aufgesetzt ist, der gegen eine zylindrische Wand (32) der Oeffnung (30) abdichtet.10. Ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein on the print head (1) on the tubular nozzle (7) an elastomeric sealing ring (12) is placed, which seals against a cylindrical wall (32) of the opening (30). 11. Tintenpatrone nach Anspruch 10, wobei der Dichtring (12) hülsenförmig ausgebildet ist, eine ebene Stirnfläche (13) und an seiner zylindrischen Aussenfläche einen umlaufenden Dichtwulst (15) aufweist.11. The ink cartridge according to claim 10, wherein the sealing ring (12) is sleeve-shaped, has a flat end face (13) and has a circumferential sealing bead (15) on its cylindrical outer surface. 12. Tintenpatrone nach Anspruch 1, wobei das Gehäuse (121) aus einem einseitig offenen, prismatischen Hohlkörper (122) mit vier Seitenwänden (123) besteht, an deren freiem Ende die Stirnwand (125) befestigt ist, wobei zwischen die Stirnwand (125) und den Schaumkörper (135) eine elastomere Folie (136) eingesetzt ist, die koaxial zur ersten Oeffnung (127) ein Loch (137) kleineren Durchmessers hat, wobei bei eingesetzter Patrone (120) der über den Oeffnungsrand ragende Randbereich des Lochs (137) abdichtend am Stutzen (7) anliegt.12. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the housing (121) consists of a prismatic hollow body (122) which is open on one side and has four side walls (123), at the free end of which the end wall (125) is fastened, with the end wall (125) and the foam body (135) is fitted with an elastomeric film (136) which has a hole (137) of smaller diameter coaxial with the first opening (127), the edge region of the hole (137) projecting beyond the opening edge when the cartridge (120) is inserted sealingly rests on the connector (7). 13. Tintenpatrone nach Anspruch 12, wobei die zweite Oeffnung (128) in der Stirnwand (125) angeordnet ist und über einen im Innenraum des Gehäuses (121) angeordneten Kanal (130) mit einem Hohlraum (132) auf der der Stirnwand (125) gegenüberliegenden Seite des Schaumkörpers (135) kommuniziert.13. The ink cartridge according to claim 12, wherein the second opening (128) is arranged in the end wall (125) and via a channel (130) arranged in the interior of the housing (121) with a cavity (132) on the end wall (125). opposite side of the foam body (135) communicates. 14. Tintenpatrone nach Anspruch 13, wobei der Kanal (130) und der Hohlraum (132) durch je zwei einander benachbarte Rippen (129, 131) an der Innenseite des Gehäuses (121) gebildet sind.14. The ink cartridge according to claim 13, wherein the channel (130) and the cavity (132) are each formed by two adjacent ribs (129, 131) on the inside of the housing (121). 15. Tintenpatrone nach Anspruch 1, wobei die beiden Oeffnungen (127, 128) für den Versand mittels eines Klebstreifens oder einer Siegelfolie (141) abgedichtet sind.15. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the two openings (127, 128) for shipping are sealed by means of an adhesive strip or a sealing film (141). 16. Tintenpatrone nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Rastelemente (139) als Vorsprünge an gegenüberliegenden Seitenwänden (123) des Gehäuses (121) ausgebildet sind.16. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the latching elements (139) are designed as projections on opposite side walls (123) of the housing (121). 17. Tintenpatrone nach Anspruch 1, wobei zwei gegenüberliegende Seitenwände (123) des Gehäuses (121) an dem von der Stirnwand (125) entfernten Ende Griffnocken (140) zum Erleichtern des Ausziehens der Patrone (120) aus dem Druckkopf (1) aufweisen.17. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein two opposite side walls (123) of the housing (121) at the end remote from the end wall (125) have grip cams (140) for facilitating the extraction of the cartridge (120) from the printhead (1).
EP93810169A 1992-03-10 1993-03-05 Ink cartridge for a printhead of an ink jet printer Expired - Lifetime EP0560729B1 (en)

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DE9203206U DE9203206U1 (en) 1992-03-10 1992-03-10
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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0560729A3 (en) 1994-06-22
ATE138015T1 (en) 1996-06-15
ES2087698T3 (en) 1996-07-16
EP0560729B1 (en) 1996-05-15
DE59302549D1 (en) 1996-06-20

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