An ink cartridge with a three-dimensional double air inlet channel structure and its application method

Abstract

The present invention provides an ink cartridge with a three-dimensional double air intake channel structure and an application method thereof. The ink cartridge includes a cartridge body, on which a conduction component and a chamber component are provided. Taking the plane where the conduction component is located as the first surface and the plane where the chamber component is located as the second surface, the conduction component includes an air intake through hole and a first communication channel, and the chamber component includes an ink storage chamber, a first communication hole, and a second communication channel. The air intake through hole is communicated with the atmosphere, the air intake through hole is communicated with the ink storage chamber through the first communication hole, the ink storage chamber is communicated with the second communication channel, and the second communication channel is communicated with an ink chamber. Wherein, a connection through hole is further provided on the first surface for communicating with the air intake through hole, the first communication hole, and the first communication channel. The method of the present invention is applied to the above-mentioned ink cartridge. Applying the present invention can not only prevent the ink from blocking the air passage but also prevent the ink from flowing back and emerging from the air intake through hole to cause pollution.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of printing consumables, and particularly to an ink cartridge with a three-dimensional double air intake channel structure and a method applied to the ink cartridge. Background Art

[0002] Currently, for the ink cartridges with air intake channels designed by compatible manufacturers on the market, the maze structures of the air intake channels are all designed on the same plane. This structure has many disadvantages. For example: First, the airway of the maze structure designed on the same plane occupies too much area, which will cause the cooperation relationship between the structures and spare parts of the entire ink cartridge to be too compact, affecting the efficiency during the production and assembly process and having other potential risks; Second, for the airway designed on the same plane, if the ink cartridge is placed in an inappropriate direction during the production and transportation processes, it is easy to cause ink to flow back into the airway. In the light case, ink will cap the air inlet, and in the severe case, the ink stored in the airway will block the entry of air, resulting in poor printing and possibly damaging the print head; Third, due to space reasons, the maze structure airway designed on one plane cannot exert the maximum function of the maze structure, and it is easy to cause too much air to enter, resulting in ink dripping from the print head during the printing process. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The main object of the present invention is to provide an ink cartridge with a three-dimensional double air intake channel structure that can not only prevent ink from blocking the airway but also prevent ink from flowing back and emerging from the air intake through hole to cause pollution.

[0004] Another object of the present invention is to provide an application method of an ink cartridge with a three-dimensional double air intake channel structure that can not only prevent ink from blocking the airway but also prevent ink from flowing back and emerging from the air intake through hole to cause pollution.

[0005] To achieve the above main object, an ink cartridge with a three-dimensional double air intake channel structure provided by the present invention, which is applied to a printer, includes: a cartridge body, on which there is a conduction component and a chamber component. Taking the plane where the conduction component is located as the first plane and the plane where the chamber component is located as the second plane, the conduction component includes an air intake through hole and a first communication channel, the chamber component includes an ink storage chamber, a first communication hole, and a second communication channel. The air intake through hole communicates with the atmosphere, the air intake through hole communicates with the ink storage chamber through the first communication hole, the ink storage chamber communicates with the second communication channel, and the second communication channel communicates with an ink chamber; wherein, a connection through hole is further provided on the first plane for communicating with the air intake through hole, the first communication hole, and the first communication channel.

[0006] In a further embodiment, the chamber component further includes a second communication hole. The ink storage chamber includes a first ink storage chamber and a second ink storage chamber. The second communication hole is provided at the connection between the first ink storage chamber and the second ink storage chamber.

[0007] In a further embodiment, the chamber component further includes a third communication hole. The third communication hole is provided at the connection between the second ink storage chamber and the second communication channel.

[0008] In a further embodiment, the chamber component further includes a fourth communication hole provided in the second ink storage chamber for communicating with the first communication channel.

[0009] In a further embodiment, the first communication hole, the second communication hole, the third communication hole, the fourth communication hole, and the connection through hole are all right-angled square holes.

[0010] In a further embodiment, the first communication hole is provided in the first ink storage chamber for communicating with the connection through hole and the air intake through hole.

[0011] In a further embodiment, an air intake notch is provided at the connection between the second communication channel and the ink chamber.

[0012] In a further embodiment, the first communication channel and the second communication channel are labyrinthine detour channels.

[0013] To achieve the above-mentioned another object, the present invention provides an application method of an ink cartridge having a three-dimensional dual air intake channel structure. The ink cartridge having a three-dimensional dual air intake channel structure is the above-mentioned ink cartridge having a three-dimensional dual air intake channel structure. The method includes the following steps: When the ink storage chamber of the chamber component is not blocked by ink bubbles, air is introduced into the ink cartridge through the air intake through hole. The air in the ink cartridge sequentially passes through the connection through hole of the conduction component and the second communication channel and then enters the second ink storage chamber of the chamber component, and then enters the second communication channel of the chamber component from the second ink storage chamber and is discharged into the ink chamber through the second communication channel; When the second ink storage chamber is blocked by ink bubbles, air is introduced into the ink cartridge through the air intake through hole. The air in the ink cartridge enters the first ink storage chamber through the first communication hole of the chamber component, and then enters the second ink storage chamber from the first ink storage chamber through the second communication hole. When the air enters the second ink storage chamber, it enters the second communication channel through the third communication hole of the chamber component and is discharged into the ink chamber through the second communication channel.

[0014] In a further embodiment, when there is residual ink in the second ink storage chamber, the first communication hole is used to let the ink flow downward by gravity to the first communication channel.

[0015] It can be seen that the present invention has a three-dimensional dual-channel intake structure, and air ducts with a maze structure are designed on multiple surfaces of the product, which can not only prevent the ink from blocking the air ducts but also prevent the ink from flowing back and emerging from the intake through-holes to cause pollution. Therefore, through reasonable structural design, the present invention can always maintain the air circulation in the ink cartridge, effectively solve the blockage problem existing in the existing ink cartridges, and avoid the phenomenon of ink dripping from the print head during the printing process due to excessive air intake. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 FIG. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of the first surface in an embodiment of an ink cartridge with a three-dimensional dual-intake channel structure according to the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 FIG. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of the second surface in an embodiment of an ink cartridge with a three-dimensional dual-intake channel structure according to the present invention.

[0018] Figure 3 FIG. 14 is a schematic partial structural diagram of an embodiment of an ink cartridge with a three-dimensional dual-intake channel structure according to the present invention.

[0019] Figure 4 FIG. 18 is a schematic partial structural diagram of the first surface in an embodiment of an ink cartridge with a three-dimensional dual-intake channel structure according to the present invention.

[0020] Figure 5 FIG. 22 is a schematic partial structural diagram of the second surface in an embodiment of an ink cartridge with a three-dimensional dual-intake channel structure according to the present invention.

[0021] Figure 6 FIG. 26 is a schematic structural diagram of a breathable fastener before being assembled with a cartridge body in an embodiment of an ink cartridge with a three-dimensional dual-intake channel structure according to the present invention.

[0022] Figure 7 FIG. 30 is a schematic structural diagram of a breathable fastener after being assembled with a cartridge body in an embodiment of an ink cartridge with a three-dimensional dual-intake channel structure according to the present invention.

[0023] Figure 8 FIG. 34 is a top view of a breathable fastener in an embodiment of an ink cartridge with a three-dimensional dual-intake channel structure according to the present invention.

[0024] Figure 9 FIG. 38 is a sectional view taken along line A-A in Figure 8 FIG. 40 is a sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 38.

[0025] Figure 10 FIG. 44 is a schematic overall structural diagram of a breathable fastener in an embodiment of an ink cartridge with a three-dimensional dual-intake channel structure according to the present invention.

[0026] The present invention will be further described below in conjunction with the drawings and embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are some, but not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the described embodiments of the present invention without creative efforts fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0028] An embodiment of an ink cartridge with a three-dimensional dual air intake channel structure:

[0029] See Figures 1 to 5 , an ink cartridge with a three-dimensional dual air intake channel structure of the present invention, which is applied to a printer, includes: a cartridge body 100, which has a conduction component and a chamber component on the cartridge body 100. Taking the plane where the conduction component is located as the first surface and the plane where the chamber component is located as the second surface, the conduction component includes an air intake through hole 101, a first communication channel 11, and an ink storage chamber 12 on the first surface. The chamber component includes an ink storage chamber, a first communication hole 21, and a second communication channel 28. The air intake through hole 101 is in communication with the atmosphere, the air intake through hole 101 communicates with the ink storage chamber through the first communication hole 21, the ink storage chamber is in communication with the second communication channel 28, and the second communication channel 28 is in communication with the ink chamber 50.

[0030] Wherein, a connection through hole 15 is provided on the first surface for communicating with the air intake through hole 101, the first communication hole 21, and the first communication channel 11.

[0031] In this embodiment, the chamber component further includes a second communication hole 22, and the ink storage chamber includes a first ink storage chamber 25 and a second ink storage chamber 26. The second communication hole 22 is provided at the connection of the first ink storage chamber 25 and the second ink storage chamber 26.

[0032] In this embodiment, the chamber component further includes a third communication hole 23, and the third communication hole 23 is provided at the connection of the second ink storage chamber 26 and the second communication channel 28.

[0033] In this embodiment, the chamber component further includes a fourth communication hole 24 provided in the second ink storage chamber 26 for communicating with the first communication channel 11.

[0034] Wherein, the first communication hole 21 is provided in the first ink storage chamber 25 for communicating with the connection through hole 15 and the air intake through hole 101.

[0035] Specifically, Figure 1 and Figure 2The arrow directions of the first and second communication channels represent the air flow direction. The connecting through hole 15 is provided above the first communication channel 11 and is used to communicate with the intake through hole 101 and the first communication channel 11. When the ink storage chamber is not blocked by ink bubbles, air can enter the first communication channel 11 from the connecting through hole 15, directly pass through the fourth communication hole 24 from the first communication channel 11 and enter the second ink storage chamber 26, and the air entering the second ink storage chamber 26 is directly discharged into the ink chamber 50 through the second communication channel 28.

[0036] When the ink storage chamber is blocked by ink bubbles, that is, the fourth communication hole 24 of the second ink storage chamber 26 is blocked, the air stored in the first communication channel 11 can enter the first communication hole 21 through the connecting through hole 15, thereby entering the first ink storage chamber 25, and enter the second ink storage chamber 26 from the first ink storage chamber 25 through the second communication hole 22. The air entering the second ink storage chamber 26 enters the second communication channel 28 through the third communication hole 23 and is discharged into the ink chamber 50 through the second communication channel 28.

[0037] In this embodiment, the first communication hole 21, the second communication hole 22, the third communication hole 23, the fourth communication hole 24, and the connecting through hole 15 are all right-angled square holes. It can be seen that the design of the right-angled square holes of the present invention can effectively break the surface tension of the ink and prevent ink accumulation.

[0038] In this embodiment, an intake notch 27 is provided at the connection between the second communication channel 28 and the ink chamber 50. It can be seen that the air entering the second communication channel 28 can be discharged into the ink chamber 50 through the intake notch 27.

[0039] In this embodiment, the first communication channel 11 and the second communication channel 28 are labyrinthine detour channels. It can be seen that by designing air channels with a labyrinth structure on multiple surfaces of the product, the present invention can avoid the phenomenon of ink dripping from the print head during the printing process due to excessive air intake.

[0040] In this embodiment, an air channel connection notch 13 is provided at the entrance of the first communication channel 11.

[0041] In addition, as Figures 6 to 10As shown, this embodiment further provides a ventilation fastener 200, which is connected to the air intake through-hole 101. After the ventilation fastener 200 is installed in the air intake through-hole 101, the ventilation fastener 200 can rotate around its central axis, but due to the buckle limiting effect, it cannot be easily pulled out and cannot perform radial displacement, ensuring the connection reliability; the ventilation fastener 200 includes a protruding portion 201, a limiting portion 202, a ventilation portion 203, and at least one inclined groove portion 204. The protruding portion 201 is connected to the bottom of the limiting portion 202. The length of the protruding portion 201 is greater than the wall thickness of the cartridge body 100 at the location where the air intake through-hole 101 is opened. The outer diameter of the limiting portion 202 is greater than the aperture of the air intake through-hole 101. The outer diameter of the protruding portion 201 is adapted to the aperture of the air intake through-hole 101 and is tightly connected to block the flow of ink water droplets. The ventilation portion 203 penetrates through the central axes of the protruding portion 201 and the limiting portion 202. The inclined groove portion 204 is provided at the top of the limiting portion 202 and is connected to the ventilation portion 203.

[0042] It should be noted that the ventilation portion 203 at the center of the ventilation fastener 200 connects the internal cavity of the cartridge body 100 with the external atmosphere. After the ventilation fastener 200 is fixed in the air intake through-hole 101, its protruding portion 201 protrudes from the wall thickness of the cartridge body 100. That is, when water droplets of ink are formed on the inner wall of the cartridge body 100, due to the height difference caused by the protruding portion 201, it prevents the water droplets from flowing out through the air intake through-hole 101, blocks the ink leakage channel, effectively ensures smooth air intake, has good ink leakage prevention performance, and high reliability of the ink cartridge; and through the inclined groove portion 204, since it is connected to the ventilation portion 203, it prevents the ventilation portion 203 from being blocked when the hot melt welding air film is too heavy during the production process.

[0043] As an implementation manner, the inner diameter of the opening of the ventilation portion 203 gradually decreases from the top of the limiting portion 202 to the free end of the protruding portion 201. That is, with the limiting portion 202 of the ventilation fastener 200 facing upward and the protruding portion 201 facing downward, the ventilation portion 203 shows a downward shrinking trend and has a smaller opening, which can limit the inflow of water droplets.

[0044] As another implementation manner, the inner diameter of the opening of the ventilation portion 203 gradually increases from the top of the limiting portion 202 to the free end of the protruding portion 201. That is, with the limiting portion 202 of the ventilation fastener 200 facing upward and the protruding portion 201 facing downward, the ventilation portion 203 shows a downward expanding trend. It is first large and then small in the direction of water droplet inflow, which can guide the water droplets to fall back into the cartridge body 100.

[0045] In this embodiment, a chamfered cut 205 that converges towards the central axis is provided at the free end of the protruding portion 201. That is, if water droplets flow along the protruding portion 201 towards its free end, this chamfered cut 205 can guide the water droplets to converge towards the middle.

[0046] As an implementation manner, the length of the chamfered cut 205 is from the bottom of the limiting part 202 to the free end of the extending part 201, that is, from the position where the extending part 201 is connected to the limiting part 202 to the free end of the extending part 201, which is the area range of the chamfered cut 205.

[0047] Furthermore, the inner wall aperture diameter of the air intake through hole 101 is adapted to the outer wall of the chamfered cut 205. In the area where the chamfered cut 205 coincides and cooperates with the air intake through hole 101, the inner wall aperture diameter of the air intake through hole 101 is the same as the outer diameter of the chamfered cut 205, ensuring a tight connection between them.

[0048] In this embodiment, the number of the inclined groove parts 204 is three. The three inclined groove parts 204 are evenly distributed on the top of the limiting part 202. The central symmetry lines between adjacent inclined groove parts 204 are at 120 degrees. The groove width of the inclined groove part 204 gradually decreases from the edge of the limiting part 202 to the air permeable part 203, which is equivalent to the inclined groove part 204 showing a divergent trend from the middle to the outside.

[0049] Compared with the prior art, the air permeable part 203 at the center of the air permeable fastener 200 connects the inner cavity of the box body 100 with the outside atmosphere. After the air permeable fastener 200 is fixed in the air intake through hole 101, its extending part 201 protrudes from the wall thickness of the box body 100. That is, when water droplets of ink are formed on the inner wall of the box body 100, due to the height difference caused by the extending part 201, it prevents the water droplets from flowing out of the air intake through hole 101, blocks the ink leakage channel, effectively ensures smooth air intake, has good ink leakage prevention performance, and high reliability of the ink cartridge.

[0050] An embodiment of the application method of an ink cartridge with a three-dimensional double air intake channel structure:

[0051] The application method of an ink cartridge with a three-dimensional double air intake channel structure provided by the present invention uses the ink cartridge with a three-dimensional double air intake channel structure as described above. This method includes the following steps:

[0052] When the ink storage cavity of the chamber component is not blocked by ink bubbles, air is introduced into the ink cartridge through the air intake through hole 101. The air in the ink cartridge sequentially passes through the connection through hole 15 of the conduction component and the second communication channel 28 and then enters the second ink storage cavity 26 of the chamber component, and then enters the second communication channel 28 of the chamber component from the second ink storage cavity 26 and is discharged into the ink cavity 50 through the second communication channel 28. Therefore, the air stored when there is no residual ink can prevent the ink from flowing back and rising to the air intake through hole 101; the air on the second side and the ink remaining in the second ink storage cavity 26 will flow downward into the air duct due to their own weight, thereby preventing the ink on the second side from flowing back.

[0053] When the second ink storage chamber 26 is blocked by ink bubbles, air is introduced into the ink cartridge through the air inlet through-hole 101. The air in the ink cartridge enters the first ink storage chamber 25 through the first communication hole 21 of the chamber component, and then enters the second ink storage chamber 26 from the first ink storage chamber 25 through the second communication hole 22. After the air enters the second ink storage chamber 26, it enters the second communication channel 28 through the third communication hole 23 of the chamber component and is discharged into the ink chamber 50 through the second communication channel 28.

[0054] Wherein, when there is ink remaining in the second ink storage chamber 26, the first communication hole 21 is used to allow the ink to flow downward by gravity to the first communication channel 11.

[0055] Therefore, through the first communication hole 21, the second communication hole 22 on the second side, the air on the second side, and the first ink storage chamber 25 of the present invention, when the air on the second side and the first ink storage chamber 25 are blocked by ink bubbles, air can enter from the air inlet through-hole 101 on the first side, come to the first ink storage chamber 25 through the first communication hole 21, then come to the labyrinth air channel on the second side through the second communication hole 22, and finally reach the ink chamber 50 from the air inlet notch 27 on the second side.

[0056] In addition, in this embodiment, even when the product is placed upside down, ink will not remain in the air on the second side and the first ink storage chamber 25, because the first ink storage chamber 25 is provided with the first communication hole 21, which can flow the remaining ink downward by its own weight into the airway labyrinth on the first side, and can always maintain air circulation, further solving the blockage problem existing in the existing ink cartridges.

[0057] It can be seen that the present invention has a three-dimensional double-channel air intake structure, and airways with a labyrinth structure are designed on multiple sides of the product, which can not only prevent ink from blocking the airways but also prevent ink from flowing back and emerging from the air inlet through-hole 101 to cause pollution. Therefore, through a reasonable structural design, the present invention can always maintain air circulation in the ink cartridge, can effectively solve the blockage problem existing in the existing ink cartridges, and can also avoid the phenomenon of ink dripping from the print head during the printing process due to excessive air intake.

[0058] It should be noted that the above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the design concept of the invention is not limited thereto. Any non-substantive modifications made to the present invention using this concept also fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An ink cartridge with a three-dimensional double air intake channel structure, applied to a printer, Characterized in that, Comprising: A cartridge body, on which there is a conduction component and a chamber component. Taking the plane where the conduction component is located as the first surface and the plane where the chamber component is located as the second surface, the conduction component includes an air intake through hole, a first communication channel, and an ink storage chamber on the first surface. The chamber component includes an ink storage chamber, a first communication hole, and a second communication channel. The air intake through hole is in communication with the atmosphere. The air intake through hole communicates with the ink storage chamber through the first communication hole. The ink storage chamber communicates with the second communication channel, and the second communication channel communicates with the ink chamber; Wherein, there is a connection through hole, which is arranged above the first communication channel and is used to communicate with the air intake through hole and the first communication channel; The chamber component further includes a second communication hole. The ink storage chamber includes a first ink storage chamber and a second ink storage chamber. The second communication hole is arranged at the connection between the first ink storage chamber and the second ink storage chamber; The chamber component further includes a third communication hole, and the third communication hole is arranged at the connection between the second ink storage chamber and the second communication channel; The chamber component further includes a fourth communication hole arranged in the second ink storage chamber and is used to communicate with the first communication channel; When the ink storage chamber is not blocked by ink bubbles, air enters the first communication channel from the connection through hole, directly enters the second ink storage chamber from the first communication channel through the fourth communication hole, and the air entering the second ink storage chamber is directly discharged into the ink chamber through the second communication channel; When the ink storage chamber is blocked by ink bubbles, that is, the fourth communication hole of the second ink storage chamber is blocked, the air stored in the first communication channel enters the first communication hole through the connection through hole, thereby entering the first ink storage chamber, and enters the second ink storage chamber from the first ink storage chamber through the second communication hole. The air entering the second ink storage chamber enters the second communication channel through the third communication hole and is discharged into the ink chamber through the second communication channel.

2. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, Characterized in that: The first communication hole, the second communication hole, the third communication hole, the fourth communication hole, and the connection through hole are all right-angled square holes.

3. The ink cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, Characterized in that: The first communication hole is arranged in the first ink storage chamber and is used to communicate with the connection through hole and the air intake through hole.

4. The ink cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, Characterized in that: An air intake notch is provided at the connection between the second communication channel and the ink chamber.

5. The ink cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, Characterized in that: The first communication channel and the second communication channel are labyrinthine detour channels.

6. The ink cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, Characterized in that: When there is residual ink in the second ink storage chamber, the first communication hole is used to let the ink flow downward by gravity to the first communication channel.

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