EP0799705A2 - Apparatus for supplying and recovering ink in an ink jet printing head - Google Patents

Apparatus for supplying and recovering ink in an ink jet printing head Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0799705A2
EP0799705A2 EP97104003A EP97104003A EP0799705A2 EP 0799705 A2 EP0799705 A2 EP 0799705A2 EP 97104003 A EP97104003 A EP 97104003A EP 97104003 A EP97104003 A EP 97104003A EP 0799705 A2 EP0799705 A2 EP 0799705A2
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ink
container
coding
housing
trough
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
EP97104003A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0799705B1 (en
EP0799705A3 (en
Inventor
Rolf Martens
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Francotyp Postalia GmbH
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Francotyp Postalia GmbH
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Publication date
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Publication of EP0799705A2 publication Critical patent/EP0799705A2/en
Publication of EP0799705A3 publication Critical patent/EP0799705A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0799705B1 publication Critical patent/EP0799705B1/en
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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
    • B41J2/17553—Outer structure
    • 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
    • B41J2/1721—Collecting waste ink; Collectors therefor
    • 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
    • B41J2/17543—Cartridge presence detection or type identification
    • B41J2/17546—Cartridge presence detection or type identification electronically
    • 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
    • B41J2/1721—Collecting waste ink; Collectors therefor
    • B41J2002/1728—Closed waste ink collector

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an arrangement for ink supply and disposal for an ink print head, which is connected to the same via connecting lines.
  • ink printheads are used both in the usual office printers and in small, fast printers. The latter are part of modern machines for printing addresses or for product labeling and in future also for franking mail.
  • the function should be guaranteed so that there are no pressure point failures. This is not just because of the print image quality in general Significance, but particularly important for security-relevant print image data such as value, date and machine number when franking.
  • reliable, bubble-free ink supply and keeping the nozzles of the ink print head clean are required.
  • An ink supply device for a multicolor ink jet recording device is known, compare DE 33 16 969 C2, in which, on the one hand, the ink tank for the most frequently used type of ink and an element which retains the ink - waste ink receptacle - are combined to form a first interchangeable unit and in which on the other hand, the remaining types of ink are in turn combined into a further interchangeable unit.
  • the ink retaining element is regularly forcibly replaced when the empty ink tank is replaced for the most frequently used ink.
  • the first unit is essentially designed as a flat housing, which is divided into an upper space for receiving and holding an ink tank made of elastic material and a lower space with an adsorbent material for holding and storing the old ink.
  • a pump feeds the waste ink to the adsorber via a pipe.
  • the ink tank is connected to the ink print head by a tube and a needle.
  • the needle serves as an ink outlet and is in a rubber connector used, on the other hand opens into an ink supply section of the ink tank.
  • An ink reservoir for ink printing devices is also known, see DE 41 04 786 C2, which is designed as a disposable container.
  • the ink printing device itself works according to the vacuum principle, in which the ink supply system has a low vacuum compared to the actual writing nozzle.
  • Several ink bags are arranged one above the other in a support housing.
  • Closure devices are welded to the front of the ink bag, which contain a connector which can be snapped into an adapted opening of the support housing.
  • the connector is closed by a seal made of soft rubber or silicone.
  • the support housing is closed by means of ultrasound or gluing so that it is no longer possible to replace ink bags.
  • the entire support housing including assembly is handled as a disposable part.
  • the support housing can be snapped into the printer housing.
  • guides in the form of coding stones are attached to the support housing and interact with corresponding counterparts in the snap-in receptacle. As a result, the connecting pieces of the ink supply containers are always assigned to the nozzles which emit the corresponding colors.
  • an ink container is also known, see WO 90/00 976, in which a flexible film is attached all around, liquid and gas-tight, the size of which is such that it has a sufficient cavity for the ink liquid forms and rests on the bottom of the same when the container is empty. Furthermore, a trough is formed in the bottom of the known container in the region of an ink outlet opening. In addition, two electrodes are fitted into the base at a distance.
  • the purpose of the invention is to improve the service properties and the environmental friendliness.
  • the invention is based on the object of providing an arrangement for supplying and disposing of ink for an ink printhead which is designed as an assembly but manages with a minimum of disposable components.
  • the arrangement is said to have a coding system which is easily adaptable to the ink used in each case, which prevents incorrect assembly and is provided with a reliable ink end detection system.
  • the flat, elongated design of the container ensures that the small differences in level with different fill levels only have an insignificant effect on the hydrostatic pressure of the ink and that the atmospheric ambient pressure mainly affects the ink.
  • the preferably central attachment of an appropriately oversized flexible film allows the container volume to be fully utilized for the Fresh ink filling.
  • the formation of a well with a small volume and the placement of the electrodes outside the same ensure a sufficiently large change in resistance for the ink end detection. These measures are supported by the inclination of the floor towards the trough.
  • the way of coding by blocking certain coding openings, for example three out of five or six out of eight, enables such a large variety of coding that any type of ink can be detected.
  • the mechanical docking of the cassette to the associated receptacle in the printer by means of the combination of two coding holes and two coding pins is very simple.
  • the same number of holes for inserting coding pins are provided in the receptacle as coding holes in the front wall of the housing of the cassette. By inserting the coding pins accordingly, it is easy to convert to country-specific adaptations. Both the cassette as a whole and the containers in detail can be replaced easily and without the risk of contamination by the arrangement according to the invention.
  • An exchangeable cassette consists of a housing 1 with two compartments separated by a central wall 12 for receiving two flat, box-shaped containers 2, 3. Both containers 2, 3 are constructed identically.
  • the container 2 is provided for the ink supply.
  • the container 3 is intended for ink disposal.
  • Each container 2, 3 has a front wall 21, 31, two side walls 22, 32, a rear wall 23, 33, a bottom 24, 34 and a ceiling 25, 35 with a vent hole 251, 351.
  • a flexible film 4 is attached to the vertical walls in a liquid-tight and gas-tight manner.
  • the film 4 is constructed in a manner known per se - polyethylene film as a laminate in at least two layers - in such a way that it is gas-tight.
  • the dimensions of the film 4 are chosen so that the filling volume of the container 2 can be used as fully as possible.
  • the container 2 is placed with the bottom 24 upwards and filled through a hole (not shown) in the depression 241 to approximately the stop. The hole is then welded or otherwise sealed.
  • a rubber-elastic seal 5 is fitted into a bore 211, 311. As already explained at the beginning of the description, this seal 5 is pierced in a known manner by a hollow needle which is part of an ink connecting line.
  • This ink connection line leads from container 2, the fresh ink container, to the ink print head in the printer.
  • An ink connection line leads from container 3, the waste ink container, to a cleaning station.
  • the cleaning station picks up the ink expelled and extracted during the cleaning of the ink print head and pumps the waste ink into the container 3.
  • the front wall 11 of the housing 1 there are five coding bores 111, three of which are closed by means of locking inserts 13.
  • a receptacle 6 provided in the printer for the cassette, associated bores are provided for accommodating coding pins 61.
  • the coding pins 61 are inserted into the bores 62 which lie opposite the free coding bores 111.
  • the cassette can only be inserted if the coding between the cassette and the receptacle in the printer matches.
  • the mechanical coupling takes place by means of the pairing of coding holes 111 and coding pins 61, the fluid coupling by means of hollow needles and the electrical coupling by means of electrodes 242, 342 and associated contacts.

Abstract

The ink supply cassette is push-fitted in the ink jet printer and has a flat housing (1) incorporating 2 identical containers (2,3), respectively used for ink supply and extraction. Each container has a flexible foil covering the ink, which rests against the top of the container when this is full of ink and against the container base when empty, for cooperatio with electrodes (242) providing an empty indication. The front wall of the housing has coding holes (111) selecively fitted with closure elements (13), the open holes receiving coding pins of the printer.

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft eine Anordnung zur Tintenversorgung und Tintenentsorgung für einen Tintendruckkopf, der über Verbindungsleitungen mit derselben verbunden ist.
Derartige Tintendruckköpfe werden sowohl in den üblichen Bürodruckern als auch in kleinen schnellen Druckern eingesetzt.
Letztere sind Bestandteil von modernen Maschinen zum Drucken von Adressen oder zur Produktbeschriftung und zukünftig auch zum Frankieren von Postgut. Für die Druckköpfe soll die Funktion so gewährleistet sein, daß möglichst keine Druckpunktausfälle auftreten.
Das ist nicht nur wegen der Druckbildqualität im allgemeinen von Bedeutung, sondern insbesondere für sicherheitstechnisch relevante Druckbilddaten, wie Wert, Datum und Maschinennummer bei Frankierabdruck wichtig.
Um Druckpunktausfälle zu verhindern, sind unter anderem eine zuverlässige, möglichst blasenfreie Tintenversorgung und eine Reinhaltung der Düsen des Tintendruckkopfes erforderlich.
Zu dem ersten Zweck ist es bekannt, siehe DE 27 09 730 C2, die Tintenverbindungsleitung über eine Hohlnadel an den Tintenbehälter anzudocken, wobei dieser mit einem gummielastischen Verschluß versehen ist, der von der Hohlnadel durchstoßen wird. Damit werden sowohl ein Lufteintritt in die Tintenverbindungsleitung als auch ein ungewollter Tintenaustritt aus dem Tintenbehälter vermieden.
Zur Reinhaltung der Düsen des Tintendruckkopfes werden zyklisch beziehungsweise bedarfsweise Tinte durch alle Düsen ausgestoßen und /oder mittels einer Reinigungsvorrichtung abgesaugt sowie die Düsenfläche des Tintendruckkopfes mittels einer Wischlippe abgewischt, vergleiche DE 38 10 698 C2 und EP 0 285 155 A1. Die bei der Reinigungsprozedur anfallende Tinte - im weiteren Alttinte - ist so zu entsorgen, daß Verschmutzungen des Geräts und dessen Umgebung vermieden werden.The invention relates to an arrangement for ink supply and disposal for an ink print head, which is connected to the same via connecting lines.
Such ink printheads are used both in the usual office printers and in small, fast printers.
The latter are part of modern machines for printing addresses or for product labeling and in future also for franking mail. For the printheads, the function should be guaranteed so that there are no pressure point failures.
This is not just because of the print image quality in general Significance, but particularly important for security-relevant print image data such as value, date and machine number when franking.
In order to prevent pressure point failures, reliable, bubble-free ink supply and keeping the nozzles of the ink print head clean, among other things, are required.
For the first purpose, it is known, see DE 27 09 730 C2, to dock the ink connection line via a hollow needle to the ink container, which is provided with a rubber-elastic closure which is pierced by the hollow needle. This prevents air from entering the ink connection line and unwanted ink from the ink tank.
To keep the nozzles of the ink print head clean, ink is ejected cyclically or, if necessary, through all nozzles and / or sucked off by means of a cleaning device and the nozzle surface of the ink print head is wiped off with a wiper lip, compare DE 38 10 698 C2 and EP 0 285 155 A1. The ink resulting from the cleaning procedure - in the further old ink - must be disposed of in such a way that contamination of the device and its surroundings is avoided.

Es ist eine Tintenversorgungseinrichtung für ein Mehrfarben-Tintenstrahl-Aufzeichnungsgerät bekannt, vergleiche DE 33 16 969 C2, bei dem zum einen der Tintentank für die am häufigsten verwendete Tintenart und ein die Tinte zurückhaltendes Element - Alttintenaufnahme - zu einer ersten auswechselbaren Einheit zusammengefaßt und bei dem zum anderen die verbleibenden Tintenarten ihrerseits zu einer weiteren auswechselbaren Einheit zusammengefaßt sind. Das Tinte zurückhaltende Element wird regelmäßig beim Auswechseln des entleerten Tintentanks für die am häufigsten benötigte Tinte zwangsweise mit ausgewechselt. Die erste Einheit ist im wesentlichen als flaches Gehäuse ausgeführt, das in einen oberen Raum zur Aufnahme und Halterung eines Tintentanks aus elastischem Werkstoff und in einen unteren Raum mit einem adsobierenden Stoff zur Aufnahme und Speicherung der Alttinte unterteilt ist. Eine Pumpe führt über ein Rohr die Alttinte dem Adsorber zu. Der Tintentank ist durch ein Rohr und über eine Nadel mit dem Tintendruckkopf verbunden. Die Nadel dient als Tintenauslaß und ist in ein Anschlußstück aus Gummi eingesetzt, in den andererseits ein Tintenzuführabschnitt des Tintentanks mündet.
Beim Entfernen des leeren Tintentanks und des tintengetränkten Adsorbers sind entsprechende Vorsichtsmaßnahmen erforderlich, um eine Verschmutzung zu vermeiden.
Es ist weiterhin ein Tintenvorratsbehälter für Tintendruckeinrichtungen bekannt, siehe DE 41 04 786 C2, der als Einwegbehälter ausgebildet ist. Die Tintendruckeinrichtung selbst arbeitet nach dem Unterdruckprinzip, bei dem das Tintenversorgungssystem gegenüber der eigentlichen Schreibdüse einen geringen Unterdruck aufweist.
In einem Stützgehäuse sind mehrere Tintenbeutel übereinander angeordnet. An der Frontseite der Tintenbeutel sind Verschlußeinrichtungen eingeschweißt, die ein Anschlußstück enthalten, das in eine angepaßte Öffnung des Stützgehäuses einrastbar ist. Auch hier wird das Anschlußstück über eine Dichtung aus weichem Gummi oder Silikon verschlossen. Nach dem Einlegen der gefüllten Tintenbeutel wird das Stützgehäuse mittels Ultraschall oder Verklebung so verschlossen, daß eine Auswechslung von Tintenbeuteln nicht mehr möglich ist. Bei Tintenende wird demzufolge das gesamte Stützgehäuse einschließlich Bestückung als Wegwerfteil gehandhabt. Das Stützgehäuse ist in das Druckergehäuse einrastbar.
Zur Vermeidung von Fehlanschlüssen sind an dem Stützgehäuse Führungen in Form von Kodiersteinen angebracht, die mit entsprechenden Gegenstücken in der Rastaufnahme zusammenwirken.
Dadurch sind die Anschlußstücke der Tintenvorratsbehälter immer den die entsprechenden Farben ausstoßenden Düsen zugeordnet.
Schließlich ist noch eine Vorrichtung zur Überwachung des Vorrats an elektrisch leitender Schreibflüssigkeit für Tintenschreibeinrichtungen bekannt, siehe DE 27 28 283 C3, bei der zur Tintenendeerkennung der Übergangswiderstand zwischen Elektroden gemessen wird. Am Boden einer Tintenflasche sind zwei durch einen Steg getrennte Mulden eingeformt. In der einen Mulde sind zwei den flüssigkeitsspezifischen Vergleichswiderstand erfassende Elektroden und in der anderen Mulde eine weitere Elektrode angeordnet.An ink supply device for a multicolor ink jet recording device is known, compare DE 33 16 969 C2, in which, on the one hand, the ink tank for the most frequently used type of ink and an element which retains the ink - waste ink receptacle - are combined to form a first interchangeable unit and in which on the other hand, the remaining types of ink are in turn combined into a further interchangeable unit. The ink retaining element is regularly forcibly replaced when the empty ink tank is replaced for the most frequently used ink. The first unit is essentially designed as a flat housing, which is divided into an upper space for receiving and holding an ink tank made of elastic material and a lower space with an adsorbent material for holding and storing the old ink. A pump feeds the waste ink to the adsorber via a pipe. The ink tank is connected to the ink print head by a tube and a needle. The needle serves as an ink outlet and is in a rubber connector used, on the other hand opens into an ink supply section of the ink tank.
When removing the empty ink tank and the ink-soaked adsorber, appropriate precautions must be taken to avoid contamination.
An ink reservoir for ink printing devices is also known, see DE 41 04 786 C2, which is designed as a disposable container. The ink printing device itself works according to the vacuum principle, in which the ink supply system has a low vacuum compared to the actual writing nozzle.
Several ink bags are arranged one above the other in a support housing. Closure devices are welded to the front of the ink bag, which contain a connector which can be snapped into an adapted opening of the support housing. Here, too, the connector is closed by a seal made of soft rubber or silicone. After inserting the filled ink bags, the support housing is closed by means of ultrasound or gluing so that it is no longer possible to replace ink bags. At the end of the ink, the entire support housing including assembly is handled as a disposable part. The support housing can be snapped into the printer housing.
To avoid incorrect connections, guides in the form of coding stones are attached to the support housing and interact with corresponding counterparts in the snap-in receptacle.
As a result, the connecting pieces of the ink supply containers are always assigned to the nozzles which emit the corresponding colors.
Finally, a device for monitoring the supply of electrically conductive writing fluid for ink writing devices is known, see DE 27 28 283 C3, in which the contact resistance between electrodes is measured for the end of ink detection. At the bottom of an ink bottle, two troughs are formed, separated by a web. Two electrodes which measure the liquid-specific reference resistance are arranged in one well and a further electrode is arranged in the other well.

In Ergänzung zur vorgenannten Lösung ist noch ein Tintenbehälter bekannt, siehe WO 90/00 976, bei dem eine flexible Folie umlaufend, flüssigkeits- und gasdicht befestigt ist, deren Größe so bemessen ist, daß diese einen ausreichenden Hohlraum für die Tintenflüssigkeit bildet und bei leerem Behälter am Boden desselben anliegt. Desweiteren ist in dem Boden des bekannten Behälters im Bereich einer Tintenauslaßöffnung eine Mulde eingeformt. Außerdem sind in dem Boden zwei Elektroden distanziert eingepaßt.In addition to the aforementioned solution, an ink container is also known, see WO 90/00 976, in which a flexible film is attached all around, liquid and gas-tight, the size of which is such that it has a sufficient cavity for the ink liquid forms and rests on the bottom of the same when the container is empty. Furthermore, a trough is formed in the bottom of the known container in the region of an ink outlet opening. In addition, two electrodes are fitted into the base at a distance.

Zweck der Erfindung ist eine Verbesserung der Serviceeigenschaften und der Umweltfreundlichkeit.The purpose of the invention is to improve the service properties and the environmental friendliness.

Der Erfindung liegt die Aufgabe zu Grunde, eine Anordnung zur Tintenversorgung und Tintenentsorgung für einen Tintendruckkopf zu schaffen, die als eine Baugruppe ausgeführt ist, jedoch mit einem Minimum an Wegwerfbauteilen auskommt. Die Anordnung soll ein der jeweils eingesetzten Tinte leicht anpaßbares Kodierungssystem aufweisen, das Fehlbestückungen verhindert und mit einem sicheren Tintenende-Erkennungssystem versehen sein.The invention is based on the object of providing an arrangement for supplying and disposing of ink for an ink printhead which is designed as an assembly but manages with a minimum of disposable components. The arrangement is said to have a coding system which is easily adaptable to the ink used in each case, which prevents incorrect assembly and is provided with a reliable ink end detection system.

Erfindungsgemäß wird diese Aufgabe gemäß den Patentansprüchen gelöst.
Auf Grund des identischen Aufbaus des Behälters für die Tintenversorgung - im weiteren Frischtintenbehälter - und des Behälters für die Tintenentsorgung - im weiteren Alttintenbehälter - ergibt sich nicht nur der technologische Vorteil einer wesentlichen Steigerung der Wiederholungsrate. Für die Erstbestückung der Kassette werden ein gefüllter Frischtintenbehälter und ein leerer Alttintenbehälter benötigt. Für die folgenden Bestückungen sind nur noch neue Frischtintenbehälter erforderlich, da die entleerten Frischtintenbehälter als Alttintenbehälter verwendet werden können.
Damit wird die sonst zu entsorgende Anzahl der Behälter halbiert. Da der Alttintenbehälter gleichzeitig mit dem Frischtintenbehälter ausgewechselt wird, ist eine Überfüllung des Alttintenbehälters ausgeschlossen.
Die flache, gestreckte Ausführung des Behälters sichert, daß die geringen Niveauunterschiede bei unterschiedlichem Füllungsstand den hydrostatischen Druck der Tinte nur unwesentlich beeinflussen und überwiegend der atmosphärische Umgebungsdruck auf die Tinte wirkt Die vorzugsweise mittige Befestigung einer entsprechend überdimensionierten flexiblen Folie gestattet eine vollständige Ausnutzung des Behältervolumens für die Frischtintenfüllung.According to the invention, this object is achieved according to the patent claims.
Due to the identical construction of the container for the ink supply - in the further fresh ink container - and the container for the ink disposal - in the further old ink container - there is not only the technological advantage of a substantial increase in the repetition rate. A filled fresh ink container and an empty old ink container are required for the initial loading of the cassette. Only new fresh ink containers are required for the following equipment, because the empty fresh ink containers can be used as old ink containers.
This halves the number of containers that would otherwise have to be disposed of. Since the waste ink container is replaced at the same time as the fresh ink container, overfilling of the waste ink container is impossible.
The flat, elongated design of the container ensures that the small differences in level with different fill levels only have an insignificant effect on the hydrostatic pressure of the ink and that the atmospheric ambient pressure mainly affects the ink.The preferably central attachment of an appropriately oversized flexible film allows the container volume to be fully utilized for the Fresh ink filling.

Die Einformung einer Mulde mit geringem Volumen und die Plazierung der Elektroden außerhalb derselben im Boden sichern eine ausreichend große Widerstandsänderung für die Tintenendeerkennung. Diese Maßnahmen werden noch durch die Neigung des Bodens zur Mulde hin unterstützt.
Die Art und Weise der Kodierung durch Sperrung bestimmter Kodieröffnungen, beispielsweise drei von fünf oder sechs von acht, ermöglicht eine so große Vielfalt von Kodierungen, daß jede beliebige Tintenart erfaßbar ist.
Die mechanische Andockung der Kassette an die zugeordnete Aufnahme im Drucker mittels der Kombination aus zwei Kodierungsbohrungen und zwei Kodierstiften ist denkbar einfach.
Zweckmäßigerweise sind in der Aufnahme die gleiche Anzahl von Bohrungen zum Einsetzen von Kodierstiften vorgesehen, wie Kodierungsbohrungen in der Frontwand des Gehäuses der Kassette.
Durch entspechendes Einsetzen der Kodierstifte ist eine Umrüstung auf länderspezifische Anpassungen leicht möglich.
Sowohl die Kassette als Ganzes als auch die Behälter im einzelnen sind durch die erfindungsgemäße Anordnung leicht und ohne Veschmutzungsgefahr austauschbar.The formation of a well with a small volume and the placement of the electrodes outside the same ensure a sufficiently large change in resistance for the ink end detection. These measures are supported by the inclination of the floor towards the trough.
The way of coding by blocking certain coding openings, for example three out of five or six out of eight, enables such a large variety of coding that any type of ink can be detected.
The mechanical docking of the cassette to the associated receptacle in the printer by means of the combination of two coding holes and two coding pins is very simple.
Advantageously, the same number of holes for inserting coding pins are provided in the receptacle as coding holes in the front wall of the housing of the cassette.
By inserting the coding pins accordingly, it is easy to convert to country-specific adaptations.
Both the cassette as a whole and the containers in detail can be replaced easily and without the risk of contamination by the arrangement according to the invention.

Die Erfindung wird nachstehend am Ausführungsbeispiel näher erläutert.
Es zeigt die
Fig. eine Explosivdarstellung einer Kassette mit Einzelheiten.
Zur Vereinfachung und zum besseren Verständnis ist die Zeichnung teilweise schematisiert ausgeführt.
Eine auswechselbare Kassette besteht aus einem Gehäuse 1 mit zwei durch eine Mittelwand 12 getrennten Fächern zur Aufnahme von zwei flachen, kastenförmigen Behältern 2, 3. Beide Behälter 2, 3 sind identisch aufgebaut. Der Behälter 2 ist für die Tintenversorgung vorgesehen. Der Behälter 3 ist für die Tintenentsorgung vorgesehen.
Jeder Behälter 2, 3 besitzt eine Frontwand 21, 31, zwei Seitenwände 22, 32, eine Rückwand 23, 33, einen Boden 24, 34 sowie eine Decke 25, 35 mit Entlüftungsloch 251, 351. Im Boden 24, 34 ist eine Mulde 241, 341 zur Aufnahme einer Resttintenmenge eingeformt. Außerhalb der Mulde 241, 341 sind in den Boden 24, 34 durchgehend zwei Elektroden 242, 342 eingepaßt, die mit einer hier nicht dargestellten, im Drucker befindlichen Auswerteschaltung kontaktierbar sind. Solange zwischen den Elektroden 242, 342 eine Tinten-Flüssigkeitssäule vorhanden ist, ist der Widerstand wesentlich geringer, als wenn nur noch in der Mulde 241, 341 Tinte steht. Damit die Tinte gut in die Mulde 241, 341 abfließen kann, ist der Boden 24, 34 zur Mulde 241, 341 hin geneigt.
Eine flexible Folie 4 ist mittig umlaufend an den senkrechten Wänden flüssigkeits- und gasdicht befestigt. Die Folie 4 ist in an sich bekannter Weise so aufgebaut - Polyäthylenfolie als Laminat in mindestens zwei Schichten -, daß dieselbe gasdicht ist. Die Abmessungen der Folie 4 sind so gewählt, daß das Füllvolumen des Behälters 2 möglichst voll ausnutzbar ist. Zur Füllung mit Frischtinte wird der Behälter 2 mit dem Boden 24 nach oben gelegt und durch ein nicht dargestelltes Loch in der Mulde 241 bis ungefähr Anschlag gefüllt. Anschließend wird das Loch verschweißt oder anderweitig fest versiegelt.
In der Frontwand 21, 31 der Behälter 2, 3 ist in eine Bohrung 211, 311 eine gummielastische Dichtung 5 eingepaßt. Wie schon eingangs der Beschreibung erläutert, wird diese Dichtung 5 in bekannter Weise von einer Hohlnadel durchstoßen, die Teil einer Tintenverbindungsleitung ist. Vom Behälter 2, dem Frischtintenbehälter, führt diese Tintenverbindungsleitung zu dem Tintendruckkopf im Drucker. Vom Behälter 3, dem Alttintenbehälter, führt eine Tintenverbindungsleitung zu einer Reinigungsstation. Die Reinigungsstation nimmt die bei der Reinigung des Tintendruckkopfes ausgestoßene und abgesaugte Tinte auf und pumpt die Alttinte in den Behälter 3.
In der Frontwand 11 des Gehäuses 1 sind fünf Kodierungsbohrungen 111, von denen drei mittels Sperreinsätze 13 verschlossen sind. In einer im Drucker für die Kassette vorgesehenen Aufnahme 6 sind zugeordnete Bohrungen für die Aufnahme von Kodierstiften 61 vorhanden. In diesem Fall sind die Kodierstifte 61 in die Bohrungen 62 eingesetzt, die den freien Kodierungsbohrungen 111 gegenüber liegen.
Auf die vorstehend beschriebene Weise ist nur bei übereinstimmender Kodierung zwischen Kassette und Aufnahme im Drucker ein Einschub der Kassette möglich. Mit dem Einschub der Kassette in die Aufnahme 6 erfolgt mittels der Paarung Kodierungbohrungen 111 und Kodierstifte 61 die mechanische Ankopplung, mittels Hohlnadeln die fluide Ankopplung und mittels Elektroden 242, 342 und zugeordneten Kontakten die elektrische Ankopplung.The invention is explained in more detail below using the exemplary embodiment.
It shows the
Fig. An exploded view of a cassette with details.
To simplify and for a better understanding, the drawing is partially schematic.
An exchangeable cassette consists of a housing 1 with two compartments separated by a central wall 12 for receiving two flat, box-shaped containers 2, 3. Both containers 2, 3 are constructed identically. The container 2 is provided for the ink supply. The container 3 is intended for ink disposal.
Each container 2, 3 has a front wall 21, 31, two side walls 22, 32, a rear wall 23, 33, a bottom 24, 34 and a ceiling 25, 35 with a vent hole 251, 351. In the bottom 24, 34 there is a depression 241 , 341 molded to accommodate a residual amount of ink. Outside the trough 241, 341, two electrodes 242, 342 are fitted continuously into the bottom 24, 34 and can be contacted with an evaluation circuit, not shown here, located in the printer. As long as If an ink-liquid column is present between the electrodes 242, 342, the resistance is considerably lower than if there is only ink in the trough 241, 341. So that the ink can flow well into the trough 241, 341, the bottom 24, 34 is inclined towards the trough 241, 341.
A flexible film 4 is attached to the vertical walls in a liquid-tight and gas-tight manner. The film 4 is constructed in a manner known per se - polyethylene film as a laminate in at least two layers - in such a way that it is gas-tight. The dimensions of the film 4 are chosen so that the filling volume of the container 2 can be used as fully as possible. For filling with fresh ink, the container 2 is placed with the bottom 24 upwards and filled through a hole (not shown) in the depression 241 to approximately the stop. The hole is then welded or otherwise sealed.
In the front wall 21, 31 of the container 2, 3, a rubber-elastic seal 5 is fitted into a bore 211, 311. As already explained at the beginning of the description, this seal 5 is pierced in a known manner by a hollow needle which is part of an ink connecting line. This ink connection line leads from container 2, the fresh ink container, to the ink print head in the printer. An ink connection line leads from container 3, the waste ink container, to a cleaning station. The cleaning station picks up the ink expelled and extracted during the cleaning of the ink print head and pumps the waste ink into the container 3.
In the front wall 11 of the housing 1 there are five coding bores 111, three of which are closed by means of locking inserts 13. In a receptacle 6 provided in the printer for the cassette, associated bores are provided for accommodating coding pins 61. In this case, the coding pins 61 are inserted into the bores 62 which lie opposite the free coding bores 111.
In the manner described above, the cassette can only be inserted if the coding between the cassette and the receptacle in the printer matches. When the cassette is inserted into the receptacle 6, the mechanical coupling takes place by means of the pairing of coding holes 111 and coding pins 61, the fluid coupling by means of hollow needles and the electrical coupling by means of electrodes 242, 342 and associated contacts.

Verwendete Bezugszeichen:Reference symbols used:

11
Gehäusecasing
1111
Frontwand des Gehäuses 1Front wall of the housing 1
111111
Kodieröffnungen beziehungsweise Kodierungsbohrungen in der Frontwand 11Coding openings or coding holes in the front wall 11
1212th
Mittelwand im Gehäuse 1Middle wall in the housing 1
1313
Sperreinsatz/e in Kodierungsbohrung/en 111Locking insert / s in coding hole / s 111
1414
ZugangsöffnungenAccess openings
22nd
Behälter für die Tintenversorgung, FrischtintenbehälterInk supply containers, fresh ink containers
2121
Frontwand des Behälters 2Front wall of the container 2
211211
Bohrung in der Frontwand 2Hole in the front wall 2
2222
Seitenwand des Behälters 2Side wall of the container 2
2323
Rückwand des Behälters 2Rear wall of the container 2
2424th
Boden des Behälters 2Bottom of the container 2
241241
Mulde im Boden 23Trough in the floor 23
242242
Elektrode/n im Boden 23Electrode (s) in the bottom 23
2525th
Decke des Behälters 2Cover of container 2
251251
Entlüftungsloch in der Decke 25Vent hole in the ceiling 25
33rd
Behälter für die Tintenentsorgung, AlttintenbehälterInk disposal containers, waste ink containers
3131
Frontwand des Behälters 3Front wall of the container 3
311311
Bohrung in der Frontwand 3Hole in the front wall 3
3232
Seitenwand des Behälters 3Side wall of the container 3
3333
Rückwand des Behälters 3Rear wall of the container 3
3434
Boden des Behälters 3Bottom of the container 3
341341
Mulde im Boden 34Trough in the floor 34
342342
Elektrode/n im Boden 34Electrode (s) in the floor 34
3535
Decke des Behälters 3Cover of the container 3
351351
Entlüftungsloch in der Decke 35Vent hole in the ceiling 35
44th
flexible Folieflexible film
55
gummielastische Dichtungrubber elastic seal
66
Aufnahme im DruckerRecording in the printer
6161
KodierstifteCoding pins
6262
Bohrungen für Kodierstifte 61Bores for coding pins 61

Claims (5)

Anordnung zur Tintenversorgung und Tintenentsorgung für einen Tintendruckkopf, in Form einer Kassette, die in einen Drucker einschiebbar ist
dadurch gekennzeichnet • daß die Kassette im wesentlichen aus einem Gehäuse (1) und zwei in dem Gehäuse (1) gelagerten, identisch aufgebauten, flachen kastenförmigen Behältern (2, 3) besteht, von denen der eine Behälter (2) für die Tintenversorgung und der andere Behälter (3) für die Tintenentsorgung vorgesehen ist, • daß eine flexible Folie (4) im Behälter (2, 3) vorzugsweise mittig umlaufend, flüssigkeits- und gasdicht befestigt ist, deren Größe so bemessen ist, daß diese bei voll gefülltem Behälter (2, 3) an der Decke (25, 35) und bei leerem Behälter (2, 3) am Boden (24, 34) desselben anliegt, • daß in den Boden (24, 34) des Behälters (2, 3) eine Mulde (241, 341) eingeformt ist und außerhalb der Mulde (241, 341) zwei Elektroden (242, 342) in den Boden (24, 34) distanziert eingepaßt sind und • daß in der Frontwand (11) des Gehäuses (1) Kodieröffnungen (111) vorgesehen sind, von denen eine bestimmte Anzahl mittels Sperreinsätze (13) geschlossen und die verbleibende Anzahl zur mechanischen Andockung an im Drucker vorhandene Kodierstifte dient und die Art der Kodierung der verwendeten Tinte entspricht und daß außerdem noch Zugangsöffnungen (14) zu den Dichtungen (5) der Behälter (2, 3) eingebracht sind. Arrangement for ink supply and disposal for an ink printhead, in the form of a cartridge that can be inserted into a printer
characterized • That the cartridge consists essentially of a housing (1) and two in the housing (1) mounted, identically constructed, flat box-shaped containers (2, 3), of which one container (2) for the ink supply and the other container (3) is intended for ink disposal, • that a flexible film (4) in the container (2, 3) is preferably attached in the center, liquid and gas-tight, the size of which is such that it is on the ceiling (25, 35) when the container (2, 3) is full ) and is in contact with the bottom (24, 34) of the same when the container (2, 3) is empty, • that a trough (241, 341) is formed in the bottom (24, 34) of the container (2, 3) and two electrodes (242, 342) outside the trough (241, 341) in the bottom (24, 34) are fitted at a distance and • That in the front wall (11) of the housing (1) coding openings (111) are provided, of which a certain number is closed by means of locking inserts (13) and the remaining number is used for mechanical docking on coding pins present in the printer and the type of coding of the used ink and that also access openings (14) to the seals (5) of the container (2, 3) are introduced. Anordnung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß die Behälter (2, 3) in dem Gehäuse (1) wahlweise nebeneinander oder übereinander durch eine Mittelwand (12) getrennt angeordnet sind.Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in
that the containers (2, 3) in the housing (1) are optionally arranged side by side or one above the other by a central wall (12). Anordnung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß der Boden (24, 34) zur Mulde (241, 341) hin geneigt ist.Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in
that the bottom (24, 34) is inclined towards the trough (241, 341). Anordnung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß die Elektroden (242, 342) von einer diese überragenden Wulst umgeben sind.Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in
that the electrodes (242, 342) are surrounded by a protruding bead. Anordnung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß in der Frontwand (21, 31) der Behälter (2, 3) eine gummielastische Dichtung (5) in eine Bohrung (211, 311) zur Aufnahme einer Tintenverbindungsleitung eingepaßt ist.Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in
that in the front wall (21, 31) of the container (2, 3) a rubber-elastic seal (5) is fitted in a bore (211, 311) for receiving an ink connecting line.
EP97104003A 1996-04-06 1997-03-11 Apparatus for supplying and recovering ink in an ink jet printing head Expired - Lifetime EP0799705B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19613944 1996-04-06
DE19613944A DE19613944C1 (en) 1996-04-06 1996-04-06 Ink supply and disposal arrangement for an ink printhead

Publications (3)

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EP0799705A2 true EP0799705A2 (en) 1997-10-08
EP0799705A3 EP0799705A3 (en) 1998-05-20
EP0799705B1 EP0799705B1 (en) 2001-07-18

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ID=7790754

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EP (1) EP0799705B1 (en)
DE (2) DE19613944C1 (en)

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DE19958946B4 (en) * 1999-11-26 2006-11-09 Francotyp-Postalia Gmbh Procedure for piracy protection of a device
DE19958948B4 (en) 1999-11-26 2005-06-02 Francotyp-Postalia Ag & Co. Kg A method of determining the number of prints to be run with an ink residue and apparatus for performing the method
US7452062B2 (en) * 2003-07-18 2008-11-18 Seiko Epson Corporation Liquid container with structure for controlling leaked liquid
US20090066749A1 (en) * 2007-09-06 2009-03-12 Young Paul D Collecting waste ink in a printer system
JP6217082B2 (en) * 2012-12-26 2017-10-25 セイコーエプソン株式会社 Waste ink tank and inkjet printer
JP6623666B2 (en) * 2015-10-14 2019-12-25 セイコーエプソン株式会社 Waste liquid container
JP6972559B2 (en) * 2017-01-13 2021-11-24 セイコーエプソン株式会社 Waste liquid container and attachment of waste liquid container

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE59704057D1 (en) 2001-08-23
US6059402A (en) 2000-05-09
DE19613944C1 (en) 1997-09-11
EP0799705B1 (en) 2001-07-18
EP0799705A3 (en) 1998-05-20

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