ink cartridge

Abstract

The present invention provides an ink cartridge, including an air control valve, the air control valve including: a valve body, a valve membrane, and a valve cover; the valve membrane includes: a fixed portion located at the edge of the valve membrane, an intermediate portion located at the center of the valve membrane, and a first deformation portion located between the fixed portion and the intermediate portion; the intermediate portion includes: an opening and closing portion located on one side of the valve membrane, the opening and closing portion is provided with a valve hole; a force-applying portion located on the other side of the valve membrane, the force-applying portion contacts the valve body and applies pressure to the opening and closing portion; when the air control valve is closed, the opening and closing portion abuts against the valve cover, and external gas cannot enter the ink cavity through the valve hole; when the air control valve is opened, the opening and closing portion is separated from the valve cover, and external gas can enter the ink cavity through the valve hole. It avoids the valve membrane using its own first deformation portion to control the opening and closing of the air control valve alone, thereby reducing the unstable control pressure caused by the process difference of the valve membrane itself, so that the ink cartridge can cooperate well with the ink supply system of the printer.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent utility model application filed with the China Patent Office on December 25, 2019, with application number 201922360004.1 and application name “Ink Cartridge”, the entire contents of which are incorporated into this application by cross-reference. Technical Field

[0002] The invention relates to the technical field of inkjet printers, and in particular to an ink cartridge. Background Art

[0003] Reference Figure 1-3 As shown, the prior art provides an ink cartridge 001, which includes: an adapter 003 and a box body 002, wherein the box body 002 has: a shell 017, an ink chamber 023 located in the shell 017, an air control valve 015, an air control valve membrane 0151, an air guide port 011, an ink injection port 009, an ink outlet 005, and a chamber membrane 020; wherein the air control valve membrane 0151 is a part of the air control valve 015. The adapter 003 has a chip 004, and the box body 002 is mounted on the adapter 003 to form the ink cartridge 001.

[0004] The air control valve 015 further comprises: a valve cover 0152, a valve membrane 0153, and a valve body 0154. The valve body 0154 is a part of the box shell. The first valve cavity 022 and the ink cavity 023 are interconnected. When the ink cartridge 001 is needed, the air guide film 007 blocking the air guide port 011 is torn off, and then the ink cartridge 001 is installed in the installation part of the printer. When the negative pressure in the ink cavity 023 gradually decreases with the consumption of ink to the point where the pressure difference on both sides of the valve membrane 0153 reaches the threshold for the valve membrane 0153 to open, the hole wall of the valve hole 01531 on the valve membrane 0153 leaves the valve cover 0152, and the valve hole 01531 is connected with the second chamber 025. The outside atmosphere enters the ink cavity 023 along the air guide port 011, the air guide channel 021, the connecting port 012, the connecting channel 014, the valve inlet 01542, the second valve cavity 025, the valve hole 01531, and the first valve cavity 022 in turn to replenish the negative pressure in the ink cavity 023. The second valve cavity 025 is arranged between the valve cover 0152 and the valve membrane 0153, the valve hole 01531 is arranged on the valve membrane 0153, the first valve cavity 022 is arranged between the valve body 0154 and the valve membrane 0153, and the chamber membrane 020 and the shell 017 form an ink cavity 023. It should be noted that the first valve cavity 022 and the ink cavity 023 are connected through the valve body hole, and the valve body hole is not Figure 3 It is understood that the valve body hole and Figure 5 The position and function of the middle valve body hole 01543 are consistent. When the pressure difference on both sides of the valve film 0153 is lower than the threshold value of the valve film 0153 opening, the hole wall of the valve hole 01531 is close to the valve cover 0152, preventing the atmosphere from entering the ink chamber 023.

[0005] from Figure 3 It can be seen that the valve membrane 0153 is fixed by fixing the edge of the valve membrane 0153 by the edge of the valve cover 0152 and the edge of the valve body 0154. In this case, the deformation ability of the valve membrane 0153 directly determines the opening threshold of the air control valve 015. Due to the process differences in thickness, material, hardness, etc. of the valve membrane 0153, the threshold of the valve membrane 0153 leaving the valve cover 0152 is different, which leads to a large range of the opening threshold of the air control valve 015, and ultimately leads to the instability of the pressure control ability of the ink cartridge 001. That is, in a batch of ink cartridges, the thresholds between each ink cartridge are different due to the process differences of the valve membrane 0153, which makes the pressure control ability of the air control valve 015 unstable. If the pressure control ability is unstable, when the ink cartridge 001 is installed on the printer, due to the different thresholds, the ink cartridge 001 cannot cooperate well with the ink supply system of the printer, and the ink will not print or drip. Summary of the invention

[0006] An embodiment of the present invention provides an ink cartridge, comprising an air control valve for controlling whether the outside atmosphere can enter the ink chamber of the ink cartridge, wherein the air control valve comprises a valve body, a valve membrane and a valve cover;

[0007] The valve membrane comprises: a fixed portion located at the edge of the valve membrane, a middle portion located at the center of the valve membrane, and a first deformation portion located between the fixed portion and the middle portion;

[0008] The middle portion comprises:

[0009] An opening and closing portion, located at one side of the valve membrane, and provided with a valve hole;

[0010] A force-applying portion, located at the other side of the valve membrane, the force-applying portion contacts the valve body and applies pressure to the opening and closing portion;

[0011] The force-applying portion at least includes a supporting portion and a second deforming portion, wherein the supporting portion is connected to the opening and closing portion and is used to apply force to the opening and closing portion. When the valve membrane is deformed, the second deforming portion is deformed to maintain the pressure of the supporting portion on the opening and closing portion.

[0012] When the air control valve is closed, the opening and closing portion abuts against the valve cover, and the outside air cannot enter the ink chamber through the valve hole;

[0013] When the air control valve is opened, the opening and closing portion is separated from the valve cover, and the outside atmosphere can enter the ink chamber through the valve hole.

[0014] Further, the valve film moves along the W direction, the opening and closing portion abuts against or moves away from the valve cover; when the opening and closing portion abuts against the valve cover, the air control valve is closed, and when the opening and closing portion moves away from the valve cover, the air control valve is opened; the force applying portion applies pressure to the opening and closing portion along the W direction;

[0015] The valve cover, the valve membrane, and the valve body are arranged in sequence along the W direction;

[0016] The W direction is the direction of the axis of the valve membrane.

[0017] Furthermore, the force-applying portion further includes an abutting portion, the abutting portion abuts against the valve body, and the second deformation portion is located between the supporting portion and the abutting portion.

[0018] Further, the axis of the support portion extends along a W direction, and in a V direction perpendicular to the W direction, a diameter of the support portion is larger than a diameter of the abutment portion.

[0019] Further, at least a portion of the second deformation portion extends along a V direction perpendicular to the W direction or extends along a direction inclined to the V direction.

[0020] Furthermore, a gap is provided between the second deformation portion and the bottom surface of the valve body, and when the second deformation portion is deformed, the air control valve can accommodate the deformation of the second deformation portion.

[0021] Further, when the second deformation portion is deformed, the second deformation portion forms a recess, and at least a portion of the abutting portion is located in the recess.

[0022] Furthermore, the ink cartridge also includes:

[0023] A first valve chamber, disposed between the valve membrane and the valve body;

[0024] a second valve chamber, disposed between the valve cover and the valve membrane;

[0025] a third valve chamber, disposed inside the support portion;

[0026] a valve through hole, communicating the third valve cavity with the first valve cavity;

[0027] When the air control valve is opened, the opening and closing portion is separated from the valve cover, and the outside atmosphere can enter the ink chamber through the second valve chamber, the valve hole, the third valve chamber, the valve through hole, and the first valve chamber in sequence.

[0028] Further, the valve through hole is arranged on the second deformation portion, or on the supporting portion, or on the abutting portion.

[0029] Furthermore, the ink cartridge also includes: an air guide port, an air guide channel, and a connecting port; when the air control valve is opened, the outside air will enter the ink chamber through the air guide port, the air guide channel, the connecting port, and the air control valve in sequence.

[0030] After adopting the above technical solution, the beneficial effects are:

[0031] The force-applying part is used to apply a certain pressure to the opening and closing part, thereby avoiding the valve membrane using its own first deformation part alone to control the opening and closing of the air control valve, thereby reducing the unstable control pressure caused by the process differences of the valve membrane itself, so that the ink cartridge can cooperate well with the ink supply system of the printer.

[0032] In the V direction, the diameter of the supporting portion is larger than the diameter of the abutting portion, and the two are connected via the second deformation portion. This arrangement can further prevent the air control valve from experiencing unstable pressure control. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings required for use in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work.

[0034] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of an ink cartridge provided in the prior art;

[0035] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of a part of the structure of the ink cartridge housing provided in the prior art;

[0036] Figure 3 for Figure 2 AA section view in;

[0037] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the structure of a mounting portion provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0038] Figure 5 A disassembly diagram of an ink cartridge provided in Example 1;

[0039] Figure 6 for Figure 5 BB section view in;

[0040] Figure 7 It is a schematic structural diagram of the valve membrane of the first embodiment;

[0041] Figure 8 It is a schematic diagram of the opening and closing of the air control valve of the first embodiment;

[0042] Fig. 9It is a schematic diagram of reducing the influence of process differences on the valve membrane of Example 1;

[0043] Fig.10 It is a schematic diagram of the ink cartridge of the second embodiment;

[0044] Fig.11 This is a schematic diagram of disassembling the ink cartridge of the second embodiment;

[0045] Fig.12 Schematic diagram of the ink cartridge of embodiment 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] In order to better understand the technical solution of the present invention, the embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0047] It should be clear that the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0048] Embodiment 1:

[0049] This embodiment provides an ink cartridge, which can be installed in Figure 4 The mounting portion 100 shown in the figure, wherein the mounting portion 100 may include: a contact needle component 104, an ink supply needle 102, one or more mounting positions, a fixing portion 103, and one or more detection portions 107. The ink supply needle 102 is used to connect with the ink outlet 005 of the ink cartridge 001 to provide the ink in the ink cavity 023 to the print head of the mounting portion 100 to complete the printing task. The mounting portion 100 may be installed with one ink cartridge 001, or may be installed with multiple ink cartridges. The multiple ink cartridges 001 may be ink cartridges 001 of different colors, or one or more of them may be ink cartridges 001 of the same color. Each mounting position corresponds to a detection portion 107, so there may be one or more detection portions 107. As shown in FIG. Figure 4 As shown, the installation portion 100 can install four ink cartridges 001, and correspondingly, has a first installation position 105, a second installation position 106, and a third installation position 108 to a fourth installation position (not shown in the figure), a total of four installation positions. Each installation position can be installed with an ink cartridge 001. The four ink cartridges 001 can be ink cartridges 001 of four different colors, such as: black, yellow, blue, and red. There are four detection units 107 on the installation portion 100. The ink cartridge 001 also has a chip 004. When the ink cartridge 001 is installed on the installation portion 100, the chip 004 contacts the contact pin component 104 of the installation portion 100 to complete the transmission of electrical signals between the chip 004 and the printer. It should be noted that the ink cartridge 001 arranged on the installation portion 100 can be connected to the printer. Figure 1-Figure 3 The ink cartridge 001 structure is similar, and can also be Figure 5 When the ink cartridge 001 is connected with Figure 1-Figure 3 When the structure of the ink cartridge 001 is similar, please refer to the partial description in the background technology for details, which will not be repeated here.

[0050] For the convenience of description, the three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system XYZ axis is now defined; the X axis, Y axis, and Z axis are perpendicular to each other. Among them, the direction of the X axis is the length direction of the mounting portion 100, the direction of the Y axis is the width direction of the mounting portion 100, and the direction of the Z axis is the height direction of the mounting portion 100. The mounting portion 100 is a rectangular parallelepiped with an opening 101 as a whole, wherein the position of the opening 101 is located in the +Z axis direction, and the ink supply needle 102 is located in the -Z axis direction; the direction pointing from the mounting position to the stylus component 104 and perpendicular to the Z axis direction is set as the +X axis direction; the direction perpendicular to the X axis and Z axis directions is set as the Y axis direction, and multiple mounting positions are arranged along the Y axis direction. Among them, the direction from the second mounting position 106 to the first mounting position 105 is the +Y axis direction. When the ink cartridge 001 is installed on the mounting portion 100, the XYZ axis direction of the ink cartridge 001 is consistent with the XYZ axis direction of the mounting portion 100.

[0051] In one embodiment, see Figure 1-Figure 3 , the direction in which the ink cartridge 001 is installed on the mounting portion 100 is direction T, and direction T extends along the -Z axis direction. The cartridge body 002 of the ink cartridge 001 is installed on the adapter 003 to form the entire ink cartridge 001, and the cartridge body 002 includes: a shell 017 for carrying ink and other components, an air control valve 015, an ink outlet 005, an ink injection port 009, an ink injection port rubber plug 010, an air guide port 011, and a chamber membrane 020. The air guide membrane 007 is used to seal the air guide port 011 before the ink cartridge is used; the ink injection port membrane 006 is used to seal the ink injection port 009 after the ink is injected during the ink cartridge manufacturing process.

[0052] This embodiment provides a schematic diagram of another ink cartridge, as shown in FIG. Figure 5 shown. Figure 5 The ink cartridge shown is the one that can be installed into Figure 4 Another form of ink cartridge is shown in the mounting portion 100 . Figure 5 The ink cartridges shown are Figure 1-Figure 3 The ink cartridges shown are different. Figure 5 The ink cartridge 001 shown does not have a cartridge body 002 and an adapter 003, but is provided with a cover 002a and a frame body 003a. Figure 5 During the manufacturing process of the ink cartridge 001 shown, the cover 002a and the frame 003a are sealed together (for example, welded) to form an integral ink cartridge 001. The cover 002a includes an air control valve 015, an air guide film 007, an air guide port 011, an ink injection port film 006, an ink injection port ( Figure 5003a. The frame 003a includes: an ink cavity 023, a handle 018, a stop 019, a chip 004, and an ink outlet 005.

[0053] The handle 018 on the frame 003a is provided with a stopper 019. When the ink cartridge 001 is mounted on the mounting portion 100, the stopper 019 matches with the fixing portion 103 of the mounting portion 100 to prevent the ink cartridge from being separated from the mounting portion 100, that is, to prevent the ink cartridge 001 from moving in the +Z axis direction. The frame 003a of the ink cartridge 001 also has a chip 004. When the ink cartridge 001 is mounted on the mounting portion 100, the chip 004 contacts the contact pin component 104 of the mounting portion 100 to complete the transmission of electrical signals between the chip 004 and the printer. When the cover 002a and the frame 003a are sealed (for example, welded) together, an ink cavity 023 is formed between the cover 002a and the frame 003a. The ink in the ink cavity 023 reaches the ink supply needle 102 through the ink outlet 005, thereby providing ink for the printing of the printer. The air control valve 015 is a one-way valve, which is used to control whether the outside atmosphere can enter the ink chamber 023.

[0054] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 BB section view in; Figure 7 It is a schematic structural diagram of the valve membrane of the first embodiment; Figure 8 Schematic diagram of the opening and closing of the gas control valve of Example 1. Figure 5-8 As shown, the air control valve 015 includes: an air control valve membrane 0151, a valve cover 0152, a valve membrane 0153, and a valve body 0154. A second valve cavity 025 is provided between the valve cover 0152 and the valve membrane 0153, a first valve cavity 022 is provided between the valve membrane 0153 and the valve body 0154, and the valve membrane 0153 is also provided with a valve hole 01531, and the second valve cavity 025 can be connected to the first valve cavity 022 through the valve hole 01531. The valve membrane 0153 includes: a fixed portion 01521, a first deformation portion 01522, an intermediate portion 01523, and a valve inlet 01524. The valve inlet 01524 is sequentially connected through the connecting channel 014, the connecting port 012, and the air guide channel ( Figure 5-Figure 8 The air guide channel is not shown in FIG. Figure 2 ) and air ports ( Figure 5-Figure 8 The air guide port is not shown in FIG. Figure 2), and the valve inlet 01524 is also connected to the second valve cavity 025. The connecting channel 014 is the gap between the valve cover 0152 and the air control valve membrane 0151, and the connecting channel 014 is a part of the air control valve 015. The connecting channel 014 connects the connecting port 012 and the valve inlet 01524. The outside atmosphere enters the air control valve 015 along the air guide port 011, the air guide channel, and the connecting port 012. After entering the air control valve 015, the outside atmosphere enters the second valve cavity 025 through the connecting channel 014 and the valve inlet 01524.

[0055] The air guide channel may be a capillary channel provided on the cover 002a, so that when the ink accidentally enters the second valve chamber 025 or the connecting channel 014, the ink continues to flow along the air guide channel to the air guide port 011. This prevents the ink cartridge 001 from leaking water from the air guide port 011. The air guide channel may also be provided with a storage space, which may store ink that accidentally enters the air guide channel, and prevent the ink from reaching the air guide port 011. This prevents the ink cartridge 001 from leaking water from the air guide port 011. Furthermore, a sponge may be provided in the storage space, which may absorb the ink that enters the air guide channel, and further prevent the ink cartridge 001 from leaking water from the air guide port 011; it may also absorb the moisture carried by the outside atmosphere when entering the ink cartridge 001.

[0056] The fixing portion 01521 is located at the edge of the valve membrane 0153, and the fixing portion 01521 is arranged between the valve cover 0152 and the valve body 0154. In some implementation schemes, in order to firmly fix the valve membrane 0153 between the valve cover 0152 and the valve body 0154, the fixing portion 01521 is respectively interference fit with the valve cover 0152 and the valve body 0154, and of course, the fixing can also be achieved by gluing. The middle portion 01523 is located at the center of the valve membrane 0153, and the middle portion 01523 is provided with a valve hole 01531, and the middle portion 01523 can selectively abut against the valve cover 0152, so that the second valve cavity 025 can selectively communicate with the first valve cavity 022, that is, the second valve cavity 025 can communicate with the first valve cavity 022 through the valve hole 01531. The first deformation part 01522 is located between the fixed part 01521 and the middle part 01523, and the second valve cavity 025 is arranged between the valve cover 0152 and the first deformation part 01522. The middle part 01523 includes: a force-applying part 015A and an opening and closing part 015B. The opening and closing part 015B is located on one side of the valve membrane 0153. When the air control valve 015 is closed, the opening and closing part 015B abuts against the inner surface of the valve cover 0152, that is, the second valve cavity 025 is not connected to the first valve cavity 022, and the valve hole 01531 is isolated from the second valve cavity 025; when the air control valve 015 is opened, the opening and closing part 015B is separated from the inner surface of the valve cover 0152, that is, the second valve cavity 025 is connected to the first valve cavity 022 through the gap between the opening and closing part 015B and the valve cover 0152 and the valve hole 01531. The force applying part 015A is located on the other side of the valve film 0153, and contacts the valve body 0154. The force applying part 015A applies pressure to the opening and closing part 015B. The force applying part 015A is hollow, and the third valve cavity 026 is arranged inside the force applying part 015A (specifically the support part 015c, see below).

[0057] It is stipulated that: the axis of the valve film 0153 is arranged along the W direction, and the axes of the opening and closing part 015B and the force applying part 015A are also arranged along the W direction. The opening and closing part 015B of the valve film 0153 moves along the W direction, and the opening and closing part 015B abuts against or moves away from the valve cover 0152, and the air control valve 015 is closed or opened. Specifically, as Figure 6-8As shown, when the opening and closing portion 015B is located in the upper position in the W direction (i.e., when the opening and closing portion 015B is located in the +W direction), the opening and closing portion 015B abuts against the inner surface of the valve cover 0152, the air control valve 015 is closed, and the outside atmosphere cannot enter the ink cavity 023. When the ink in the ink cavity 023 is gradually consumed, the pressure in the ink cavity 023 is in the form of negative pressure relative to the outside environment. When the pressure difference between the pressure in the ink cavity 023 and the outside atmospheric pressure reaches the threshold value of valve opening (see Table 1 for details), the opening and closing portion 015B moves from the upper position to the lower position along the W direction (i.e., the opening and closing portion 015B moves along the -W direction and is located in the -W direction), the opening and closing portion 015B separates from the inner surface of the valve cover 0152, the air control valve 015 opens, and the atmosphere enters the ink cavity 023. When the air control valve 015 is opened, the path of the atmosphere is: air guide port → air guide channel → connecting port 012 → connecting channel 014 → valve inlet 01524 → second valve chamber 025 → valve hole 01531 → third valve chamber 026 → valve through hole 01532 → first valve chamber 022 → valve body hole 01543 → ink chamber 023. The atmosphere enters the ink chamber 023 to replenish the negative pressure of the ink chamber 023.

[0058] The force-applying portion 015A is used to apply pressure to the opening and closing portion 015B, thereby preventing the valve membrane 0152 from controlling the opening and closing of the air control valve 015 using its own first deformation portion 01522 alone, thereby reducing the unstable pressure control caused by the process differences of the valve membrane 0153 itself.

[0059] Those skilled in the art will understand that Figure 5 The structure of the air control valve 015 shown in Figure 1-Figure 3 In the ink cartridge structure shown, the beneficial effects of this embodiment can also be achieved by replacing the original air control valve structure.

[0060] Furthermore, the force applying part 015A applies pressure to the opening and closing part 015B along the W direction. Specifically, the force applying part 015A applies pressure in the +W direction to the opening and closing part 015B. Of course, the force applying part 015A can also apply pressure to the opening and closing part 015B along other directions, as long as the pressure on the opening and closing part 015B has a component along the W direction. In this embodiment, the force applying part 015A applies pressure to the opening and closing part 015B along the W direction, so that the force on the opening and closing part 015B can be the most direct, and the structure can be the simplest.

[0061] In some embodiments, the force-applying portion 015A includes: an abutting portion 015a, a second deformation portion 015b, and a supporting portion 015c. The abutting portion 015a abuts against the bottom surface 01541 of the valve body 0154; the supporting portion 015c is connected to the opening and closing portion 015B, and the supporting portion 015c exerts force on the opening and closing portion 015B; the second deformation portion 015b is located between the supporting portion 015c and the abutting portion 015a, and when the valve membrane 0153 is deformed, the second deformation portion 015b will also deform to continue to maintain the pressure of the supporting portion 015c on the opening and closing portion 015B.

[0062] The support portion 015c may be in the shape of a hollow cylinder, and a third valve cavity 026 is disposed inside the support portion 015c, and a valve through hole 01532 connects the third valve cavity 026 and the first valve cavity 022. The valve through hole 01532 may be disposed on the abutment portion 015a, or on the second deformation portion 015b, or of course on the support portion 015c, as long as the valve hole 01531 is disposed on the force-applying portion 015A and can connect the second valve cavity 025 and the first valve cavity 022. In some embodiments, the valve through hole 01532 is disposed on the second deformation portion 015b, connecting the third valve cavity 026 and the first valve cavity 022. The axis of the support portion 015c extends along the W direction. In the V direction perpendicular to the W direction, the diameter of the support portion 015c is larger than the diameter of the abutment portion 015a (the abutment portion 015a may be a solid cylindrical structure at this time). The valve through hole 01532 is arranged on the second deformation portion 015b, so that it is convenient for the outside air to enter the first valve cavity 022 through the valve through hole 01532. Of course, the diameter of the support portion 015c may also be smaller than the diameter of the abutment portion 015a, that is, the valve through hole 01532 is arranged on the support portion 015c or the abutment portion 015a, and the outside air enters the first valve cavity 022 through the valve through hole 01532. At the same time, at least a portion of the second deformation portion 015b extends along the V direction or extends along a direction inclined to the V direction. This structure allows the second deformation portion 015b and the support portion 015c to be arranged in different directions, which can further ensure that the deformation of the second deformation portion 015b will not affect the force applied by the support portion 015c to the opening and closing portion 015B, thereby further preventing the air control valve from experiencing unstable pressure control.

[0063] Further, after the opening and closing portion 015B moves a distance S along the -W direction, the valve membrane 0153 moves from Figure 8 The solid line position has changed to Figure 8At the dotted line position, at this time, the second deformation part 015b has been deformed, and the shape of the support part 015c remains unchanged, still in a cylindrical shape, so that the force of the support part 015c on the opening and closing part 015B remains unchanged. In the prior art, a spring may be used to support the valve membrane. However, due to the problem of the spring manufacturing process, the manufacturing error of the spring is very large, especially the height error of the spring (if the spring height is currently required to be 6mm, the height difference may be around 1mm), resulting in the instability of the force applied by the spring to the valve membrane, resulting in the instability of the opening threshold of the air control valve. In the structure of this embodiment, the valve membrane 0153 includes the opening and closing part 015B and the force applying part 015A. The opening and closing part 015B and the force applying part 015A are both part of the valve membrane 0153, so both are made of the same material, avoiding the influence of multiple components on the air control valve 015, and better ensuring the stability of the threshold of the air control valve 015. Furthermore, the moving distance S of the opening and closing portion 015B is absorbed by the deformation of the second deformation portion 015B, while the support portion 015c will not be deformed, and the force applied by the support portion 015c to the opening and closing portion 015B will not be affected, thereby avoiding the situation where the elastic material has a greater rebound force as it is compressed. In this way, the stability of the threshold of the air control valve 015 can be better guaranteed.

[0064] A gap is provided between the second deformation portion 015b and the bottom surface 01541 of the valve body 0154. Figure 8 As shown, there is a gap D between the second deformation part 015b and the bottom surface 01541 of the valve body 0154. The gap D allows the air control valve 015 to have a space that can accommodate the deformation of the second deformation part 015b when the second deformation part 015b is deformed. Further, after the second deformation part 015b is deformed, a recess is formed, and at least a part of the abutment part 015a is located in the recess. This arrangement can further prevent the air control valve from having unstable pressure control.

[0065] Table 1 Threshold range of air control valve

[0066] Background Art This embodiment The threshold range of the air control valve opening (the pressure difference between the ink chamber and the external environment, expressed in absolute value) 0.1-1.5KPa 0.5-1.1Kpa

[0067] like Fig. 9 As shown in the figure, it is shown that even if there is a process error (especially height error), the position relationship of the valve membrane 0153 under two different errors is represented by a solid line and a dotted line. Fig. 9 The embodiment shown can also maintain the stability of the threshold value of the air control valve 015. In this embodiment, when a process error occurs in the middle portion 01523 of the valve film 0153, the second deformation portion 015b can absorb the process error, so that the force applied by the support portion 015c to the opening and closing portion 015B is not affected, thereby avoiding the situation where the threshold value is unstable due to different forces applied by the spring to the opening and closing portion 015B caused by process errors (especially height errors).

[0068] The support portion 015c may also be in the shape of a hollow cone or an inverted hollow cone, and the interior of the support portion 015c is the third valve chamber 026, which may also achieve the technical effect of this embodiment.

[0069] Embodiment 2:

[0070] Fig.10 and Fig.11 The ink cartridge 001 of this embodiment has a cover 002a, a frame 003a, and a protective cover 050.

[0071] The protective cover 050 is used to seal the ink outlet of the ink cartridge 001 to prevent ink leakage during transportation and storage.

[0072] The air control valve 015 includes: an air control valve membrane 0151, a valve cover 0152, a valve membrane 0153, and a valve body 0154.

[0073] The rest is consistent with the first embodiment.

[0074] Embodiment three:

[0075] Fig.12 Schematic diagram of ink cartridge of embodiment 3. Ink cartridge 001 is also provided with a deformable cavity 040, which is made of a film with a variable volume or welded to the ink cartridge frame. Deformable cavity 040 can be deformed according to the negative pressure in the cavity; deformable cavity 040 can also adjust the expansion or contraction of the ink cartridge caused by the change of the external environment by adjusting the size of the volume occupied by deformable cavity 040 when the external environment changes during transportation.

[0076] The deformable cavity 040 and the air control valve 015 complement each other, and the two together control the negative pressure of the ink cavity 023.

[0077] The rest is consistent with the first embodiment.

[0078] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An ink cartridge, comprising an air control valve for controlling whether the outside atmosphere can enter the ink chamber of the ink cartridge, the air control valve comprising a valve body, a valve membrane and a valve cover; characterized in that: The valve membrane comprises: a fixed portion located at the edge of the valve membrane, a middle portion located at the center of the valve membrane, and a first deformation portion located between the fixed portion and the middle portion; The middle portion comprises: An opening and closing portion, located at one side of the valve membrane, and provided with a valve hole; A force-applying portion, located at the other side of the valve membrane, the force-applying portion contacts the valve body and applies pressure to the opening and closing portion; The opening and closing portion and the force applying portion are part of the valve membrane, and the opening and closing portion and the force applying portion are made of the same material; The force-applying portion at least includes a supporting portion and a second deforming portion, the axis of the supporting portion extends along a W direction, at least a portion of the second deforming portion extends along a V direction perpendicular to the W direction or extends along a direction inclined to the V direction, the supporting portion is connected to the opening and closing portion, the supporting portion is used to apply force to the opening and closing portion, and when the valve film is deformed, the second deforming portion is deformed to maintain the pressure of the supporting portion on the opening and closing portion; When the air control valve is closed, the opening and closing portion abuts against the valve cover, and the outside air cannot enter the ink chamber through the valve hole; When the air control valve is opened, the opening and closing portion is separated from the valve cover, and the outside atmosphere can enter the ink chamber through the valve hole.

2. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that : the valve membrane moves along the W direction, the opening and closing portion abuts against or moves away from the valve cover; the opening and closing portion abuts against the valve cover, the air control valve is closed, the opening and closing portion moves away from the valve cover, and the air control valve is opened; the force applying portion applies pressure to the opening and closing portion along the W direction; The valve cover, the valve membrane, and the valve body are arranged in sequence along the W direction; The W direction is the direction of the axis of the valve membrane.

3. The ink cartridge according to claim 2, characterized in that The force-applying portion further includes a contact portion, the contact portion contacting the valve body, and the second deformation portion is located between the support portion and the contact portion.

4. The ink cartridge according to claim 3, characterized in that :In the V direction perpendicular to the W direction, the diameter of the supporting portion is larger than the diameter of the abutting portion.

5. The ink cartridge according to claim 3, characterized in that A gap is provided between the second deformation portion and the bottom surface of the valve body, and when the second deformation portion is deformed, the deformation of the second deformation portion can be accommodated in the air control valve.

6. The ink cartridge according to claim 3, characterized in that When the second deformation portion is deformed, the second deformation portion forms a recess, and at least a portion of the abutting portion is located in the recess.

7. The ink cartridge according to claim 3, characterized in that The ink cartridge also includes: A first valve chamber, disposed between the valve membrane and the valve body; a second valve chamber, disposed between the valve cover and the valve membrane; a third valve chamber, disposed inside the support portion; a valve through hole, communicating the third valve cavity with the first valve cavity; When the air control valve is opened, the opening and closing portion is separated from the valve cover, and the outside atmosphere can enter the ink chamber through the second valve chamber, the valve hole, the third valve chamber, the valve through hole, and the first valve chamber in sequence.

8. The ink cartridge according to claim 7, characterized in that The valve through hole is arranged on the second deformation portion, or on the supporting portion, or on the abutting portion.

9. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that :The ink cartridge also includes: an air guide port, an air guide channel, and a connecting port; when the air control valve is opened, the outside air will enter the ink chamber through the air guide port, the air guide channel, the connecting port, and the air control valve in sequence.

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