An ink bottle and a method of manufacturing the same

Abstract

This invention relates to an ink refill bottle and its manufacturing method. The ink refill bottle includes a bottle body and a cap. The bottle body includes a first end wall and a second end wall that are parallel to each other. The first end wall and the second end wall are both quadrilaterals with a side length not greater than the distance between the first end wall and the second end wall. The bottle body also includes a side wall connecting the edge of the first end wall and the edge of the second end wall. The ink refill bottle also includes an ink dispensing structure disposed on the first end wall and extending in a direction away from the bottle body. The cap is used to close the ink dispensing structure outside the bottle body, and when the cap closes the ink dispensing structure, the projection of the cap on the first end wall does not exceed the edge of the first end wall. This ink refill bottle requires less storage space, which can reduce logistics and warehousing costs.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of printing consumables technology, specifically to an ink bottle and its manufacturing method. Background Technology

[0002] An ink tank printer is available, featuring an ink tank on the printer body. The ink tank and printhead are connected by a flexible hose. Compared to traditional printers that require replacing ink cartridges, ink tank printers significantly reduce printing costs. When the ink in the ink tank is running low, the user adds ink using an ink refill bottle. Traditional ink refill bottles consist of a cylindrical ink bottle and a refilling assembly. The cylindrical ink bottle offers good resistance to compression. The refilling assembly is typically integrated into the cap with a pointed tip, or a segmented sealing film attached to the ink outlet. When the bottle opening is downward, the fine pointed tip creates a capillary effect, preventing ink spillage. The tip also facilitates insertion into the open ink tank, allowing the user to refill by pressing the bottle to break the gas-liquid balance. When the bottle opening is downward, the segmented silicone sealing film prevents ink spillage. The segmented silicone sealing film allows the ink collector to pass through, and the ink is refilled through gravity-driven gas-liquid exchange.

[0003] However, cylindrical ink bottles take up a lot of space. A typical 65 ml cylindrical ink bottle is about 3 cm in diameter and 10 cm in height, which takes up a lot of storage space and indirectly affects logistics and warehousing costs. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, the primary objective of this invention is to provide an ink refill bottle that requires less storage space, thereby reducing logistics and warehousing costs.

[0005] A second objective of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing the ink bottle, which can easily achieve the fixed connection of the components in the ink bottle and saves steps.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides an ink refill bottle, comprising a bottle body and a cap. The bottle body includes a first end wall and a second end wall that are parallel to each other. The first end wall and the second end wall are both quadrilaterals with side lengths not greater than the distance between the first end wall and the second end wall. The bottle body also includes a side wall connecting the edge of the first end wall and the edge of the second end wall. The ink refill bottle also includes an ink outlet structure disposed on the first end wall and extending in a direction away from the bottle body. The cap is used to close the ink outlet structure outside the bottle body, and when the cap closes the ink outlet structure, the projection of the cap on the first end wall does not exceed the edge of the first end wall.

[0007] In some embodiments of the present invention, the ink dispensing structure includes an ink guide tube extending from the first end wall in a direction away from the bottle body and a first sealing member disposed within the ink guide tube; the cover includes a cover body having a first opening and a second sealing member located within the cover body, the cover body being used to fit over the outside of the ink guide tube, and when the cover body is fitted over the outside of the ink guide tube, the first sealing member and the second sealing member are sealed together.

[0008] In some embodiments of the present invention, the ink guide cylinder is a cylindrical cylinder, and the cover includes an outer wall and an inner wall. The outer wall has a quadrilateral cross-section, and the inner wall has a circular cross-section. The inner wall is used to mate with the cylindrical outer side surface of the ink guide cylinder. When the cover is fitted onto the outside of the ink guide cylinder, at least one surface of the outer wall is parallel to the corresponding surface of the side wall.

[0009] In some embodiments of the present invention, the outer cylindrical surface of the ink guide cylinder is provided with a first engaging structure, and the inner surface of the inner wall is provided with a second engaging structure. When the cover is fitted onto the outer side of the ink guide cylinder, the first engaging structure engages with the second engaging structure. One of the first engaging structure and the second engaging structure is a first locking block, and the other is a second locking block or a slot.

[0010] In some embodiments of the present invention, the first sealing member is a sealing ring and the second sealing member is a sealing post. When the cover is fitted onto the outside of the ink guide cylinder, the sealing post compresses the sealing ring.

[0011] In some embodiments of the present invention, when the cover is fitted onto the outside of the ink guide cylinder, at least one surface of the outer wall is flush with the corresponding surface of the side wall, and the remaining surfaces of the outer wall are parallel to the corresponding surfaces of the side wall.

[0012] In some embodiments of the present invention, the first engaging structure and the second engaging structure extend circumferentially, and a guide slope is provided at the first end of at least one of the first engaging structure and the second engaging structure in the circumferential direction, and an axially extending stop is provided at the second end of at least one of the first engaging structure and the second engaging structure in the circumferential direction.

[0013] In some embodiments of the present invention, the ink guide tube includes a boss, one end of the first closure member near the bottle body engages with the boss, and the ink guide tube has an overflow portion extending toward the first closure member, the overflow portion contacting the other end of the first closure member away from the bottle body.

[0014] In some embodiments of the present invention, the second sealing member is integrally formed with the cover body, and the cover body has a first through hole between the second sealing member and the inner wall.

[0015] In some embodiments of the present invention, the first sealing member is provided with a second through hole in the middle, and the ink outlet structure further includes a hollow bracket, an elastic member and a bead. The hollow bracket is disposed inside the ink guide cylinder or on the opposite side of the first end wall to the side where the ink guide cylinder is located. The first end of the elastic member abuts against the hollow bracket and the second end abuts against the bead. The bead is used to abut against the first sealing member and close the second through hole.

[0016] In some embodiments of the present invention, the absolute value of the difference between the end of the hollow bracket away from the outlet of the ink guide cylinder and the outlet of the ink guide cylinder and the height of the cover in the direction perpendicular to the first end wall is not greater than 2 cm.

[0017] In some embodiments of the present invention, the hollow support is formed by a plurality of support rods, the first ends of which are connected together and the second ends are distributedly connected to the inlet of the ink guide cylinder.

[0018] In some embodiments of the present invention, the first closure member includes a ring-shaped portion and a segmented membrane located in the middle of the ring-shaped portion; the ring-shaped portion cooperates with the inner wall of the ink guide cylinder.

[0019] In some embodiments of the present invention, the bottle body includes a first body having a second opening and a first cover plate for covering the second opening, the first cover plate forming the first end wall, the projection of the second end wall onto the first end wall not exceeding the edge of the first end wall, and the first cover plate having a support block extending into the first body, the support block contacting or being close to the side wall.

[0020] In some embodiments of the present invention, the bottle body includes a second body having a third opening and a second cover plate for covering the third opening, the second cover plate forming the second end wall, and the projection of the first end wall onto the second end wall not exceeding the edge of the second end wall.

[0021] In some embodiments of the present invention, the bottle body further includes a support plate connected to the opposite wall surface of the side wall, the support plate extending in a direction from the first end wall to the second end wall, a gap being spaced between the support plate and the first end wall, and the support plate being parallel to the short side of the quadrilateral of the first end wall or the second end wall.

[0022] In some embodiments of the present invention, each side of the first end wall is parallel to each side of the second end wall in a one-to-one correspondence.

[0023] In some embodiments of the present invention, each side of the first end wall and each side of the second end wall are of equal length in a one-to-one correspondence.

[0024] In some embodiments of the present invention, the sidewall includes a plurality of sub-sidewalls connected end to end, each of the sub-sidewalls being connected to one side of the first endwall and one side of the corresponding second endwall.

[0025] In some embodiments of the present invention, the side length of the first end wall and the side length of the second end wall are respectively smaller than the distance between the first end wall and the second end wall.

[0026] In some embodiments of the present invention, the line connecting the center of the first end wall and the center of the second end wall is perpendicular to the first end wall or the second end wall.

[0027] In some embodiments of the present invention, the quadrilateral is a rectangle or a square.

[0028] In some embodiments of the present invention, the area enclosed by the edge of the first end wall is equal to or unequal to the area enclosed by the edge of the second end wall, and the ink bottle is prismatic or frustum-shaped.

[0029] In some embodiments of the invention, the bottle body is at least partially made of a transparent material.

[0030] In some embodiments of the present invention, the capacity of the bottle is 60-70 mL.

[0031] In some embodiments of the present invention, the bottle body has a thickness of less than 3 cm in a direction perpendicular to the direction from the first end wall to the second end wall.

[0032] To achieve the second objective of this invention, this invention provides a method for manufacturing an ink bottle, comprising:

[0033] The first sealing member is inserted into the ink guide tube from the outer end of the ink guide tube away from the bottle body, and the first sealing member is spaced at a predetermined distance from the outer end face of the ink guide tube.

[0034] Prepare a welding head with a groove that matches the shape of the ink guide tube. At a temperature higher than the softening temperature of the ink guide tube and lower than the melting temperature of the ink guide tube, the welding head is fitted to the ink guide tube, and the bottom of the groove presses against the outer end of the ink guide tube to form the excess adhesive portion.

[0035] Compared with the prior art, the present invention can achieve the following beneficial effects:

[0036] This invention employs a square ink bottle, with the cap's size not exceeding the end wall's dimensions. Compared to existing round ink bottles, this invention saves storage space and is more suitable for ink filling, storage, and transportation, indirectly bringing economic benefits throughout the product's entire lifecycle, including transportation, warehousing, mailing, collection, and recycling. Furthermore, the invention's cap-sealed ink outlet structure makes installation easier compared to existing methods that weld a film onto the ink outlet. The manufacturing method of this ink bottle involves using a specific concave welding head to process the ink guide tube, forming an excess adhesive portion at the outer end of the ink guide tube to prevent the first sealing element from detaching. This secures the first sealing element within the ink guide tube, simplifying the manufacturing process, eliminating the need for burr removal, and saving steps. Attached Figure Description

[0037] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first embodiment of the ink bottle of the present invention.

[0038] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first embodiment of the ink bottle of the present invention from another perspective.

[0039] Figure 3 This is an exploded view of the structure of the first embodiment of the ink bottle of the present invention.

[0040] Figure 4 This is an exploded view of the structure of the first embodiment of the ink bottle of the present invention from another perspective.

[0041] Figure 5 This is an exploded view of the structure of the first embodiment of the ink bottle of the present invention from another perspective.

[0042] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the ink bottle of the present invention, according to the second embodiment.

[0043] Figure 7 This is an exploded view of the structure of the second embodiment of the ink bottle of the present invention.

[0044] Figure 8 This is an exploded view of the structure of the third embodiment of the ink bottle of the present invention.

[0045] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the ink guide tube and the first sealing component in the fourth embodiment of the ink bottle of the present invention.

[0046] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the welding head structure in the fourth embodiment of the ink bottle of the present invention.

[0047] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. Detailed Implementation

[0048] An embodiment of the present invention provides an ink refill bottle that can be used in an ink tank printer to supply ink to the ink tank of the ink tank printer. For example, the ink can be dispensed by the ink tank itself or by an additional ink dispenser in conjunction with the ink outlet of the ink refill bottle.

[0049] like Figures 1 to 5 As shown, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the ink bottle includes a bottle body 100 and a cap 200. The bottle body 100 is used to hold ink, and the cap 200 is used to open and close the bottle body 100. The bottle body 100 includes a first end wall 101 and a second end wall 102 that are parallel to each other. The first end wall 101 and the second end wall 102 are both quadrilaterals with a side length not greater than the distance between the first end wall 101 and the second end wall 102. The first end wall 101 and the second end wall 102 do not have a large area relative to the side wall 103. The bottle body 100 also includes a side wall 103 connecting the edges of the first end wall 101 and the second end wall 102. The first end wall 101, the second end wall 102, and the side wall 103 enclose a chamber for holding ink. The ink bottle also includes an ink dispensing structure 300 disposed on the first end wall 101 and extending in a direction away from the bottle body 100; that is, the ink dispensing structure 300 is disposed on the smaller end face of the ink bottle. The cap 200 is used to seal the ink outlet structure 300 outside the bottle body 100. When the cap 200 seals the ink outlet structure 300, the projection of the cap 200 on the first end wall 101 does not exceed the edge of the first end wall 101. The cap 200 does not cause the overall size of the ink bottle to increase the cross-sectional area in the direction from the first end wall 101 to the second end wall 102, thus saving storage space.

[0050] In this embodiment, multiple ink refill bottles can be stacked along their sidewalls during storage or transportation. Compared to existing cylindrical ink refill bottles, this saves storage space and is more suitable for ink filling, storage, and transportation, indirectly bringing economic benefits to the entire product lifecycle, including transportation, warehousing, mailing, collection, and recycling. Furthermore, the present invention uses a protective cap to seal the ink outlet structure, making installation easier compared to existing methods that weld a film onto the ink outlet.

[0051] In some examples of this embodiment, each side of the first end wall 101 is parallel to each side of the second end wall 102 in a one-to-one correspondence. The side wall 103 includes a plurality of sub-side walls connected end to end. Each sub-side wall is connected to one side of the first end wall 101 and one side of the corresponding second end wall 102, so that the side wall 103 will not be twisted relative to the first end wall 101 and the second end wall 102, which is more conducive to the storage of ink bottles.

[0052] In some examples of this embodiment, the lengths of each side of the first end wall 101 and each side of the second end wall 102 are substantially equal, corresponding to each other. This substantial equality is due to the need for demolding of the bottle body 100, etc. The lengths of each side of the first end wall 101 can be slightly larger or slightly smaller than those of the second end wall 102, corresponding to each other. The area enclosed by the edges of the first end wall 101 and the area enclosed by the edges of the second end wall 102 can be substantially equal. The first end wall 101, the second end wall 102, and the side wall 103 form a prism shape, with a regular structure, which is more conducive to the storage of ink bottles.

[0053] In some examples of this embodiment, the side length of the first end wall 101 and the side length of the second end wall 102 are respectively smaller than the distance between the first end wall 101 and the second end wall 102, so that the first end wall 101 and the second end wall 102 are smaller in area than the side wall 103, for example, each of the sub-side walls. The ink outlet structure 300 is disposed on the end face with a smaller area, while the side face with a larger area is used for stacking ink bottles.

[0054] In some examples of this embodiment, the line connecting the center of the first end wall 101 and the center of the second end wall 102 is perpendicular to either the first end wall 101 or the second end wall 102. The center of the first end wall 101 and the center of the second end wall 102 can refer to the geometric center of the edge contour lines of the corresponding first end wall 101 and second end wall 102, respectively. Using the above structure makes it easier to manufacture the mold for the bottle body 100.

[0055] In some examples of this embodiment, the quadrilateral formed by the edge contours of either the first end wall 101 or the second end wall 102 is a rectangle. The rectangle has a long side and a short side, with the short side defining the thickness of the ink bottle. This allows the ink bottle to have a smaller thickness; for example, the bottle body 100 has a thickness of less than 3 cm in the direction perpendicular to the direction from the first end wall 101 to the second end wall 102. In this case, the bottle body 100 is a cuboid. Since postal or courier services in some countries or regions have certain requirements regarding package thickness—for example, mailboxes have specific drop-off points—and some logistics companies determine fees based on package thickness, reducing the thickness of the ink bottle helps lower postage costs, expands logistics options, and reduces storage space by 13%, which is beneficial for the transportation, warehousing, mailing, storage, and recycling of ink bottles. Furthermore, a smaller ink bottle thickness also allows multiple ink bottles to be arranged side-by-side in the thickness direction to simultaneously refill multiple ink tanks in the printer. In other examples, the quadrilateral can also be a square.

[0056] In some examples of this embodiment, the bottle body 100 is at least partially made of a transparent material. For example, the entire bottle body 100 can be made of a transparent material. The printing colors typically include the four CMYK colors, corresponding to four ink bottles. The transparent bottle body allows the viewer to see the ink color and remaining ink level inside. The transparent material can be PP or similar materials, which are transparent, have a certain degree of toughness, and can be ultrasonically welded.

[0057] In some examples of this embodiment, the capacity of the bottle 100 is 60-70 mL, for example, 65 mL-68 mL. Based on the ink's shelf life, the time from production to the end user, and the printer's typical ink consumption, using the above volume ensures that the ink is used up within its expiration date.

[0058] In some examples of this embodiment, the ink dispensing structure 300 includes an ink guide tube 310 extending from the first end wall 101 in a direction away from the bottle body 100. The ink guide tube 310 may be a hollow cylindrical structure and communicates with a chamber inside the bottle body 100 for dispensing ink. The ink dispensing structure 300 also includes a first sealing member 320 disposed within the ink guide tube 310, which may be fixedly disposed within the ink guide tube 310. The cover 200 includes a cover body 210 having a first opening and a second sealing member 220 located within the cover body 210. The cover body 210 is used to fit over the outside of the ink guide tube 310. When the cover body 210 is fitted over the outside of the ink guide tube 310, the first sealing member 320 and the second sealing member 220 are sealed together, thereby sealing the ink dispensing structure 300 and preventing ink from leaking out of the ink bottle when no ink is being added.

[0059] In some examples of this embodiment, the ink guide cylinder 310 includes a boss 313, and the end of the first sealing member 320 near the bottle body 100 engages with the boss 313 to position the first sealing member 320 axially in the ink guide cylinder 310. The ink guide cylinder 310 has an overflow portion 314 extending toward the first sealing member 320, thereby achieving a sealed and fixed connection between the first sealing member 320 and the ink guide cylinder 310. A heat welding process softens the adhesive of the ink guide cylinder 310 and causes overflow at the center point. The overflow prevents the first sealing member 320 from detaching. After heat welding, the adhesive of the ink guide cylinder 310 softens, and the overflow blocks the first sealing member 320, preventing it from detaching.

[0060] In some examples of this embodiment, the ink guide cylinder 310 is a cylindrical cylinder, and the cover 210 includes an outer wall 211 and an inner wall 212. The cross-section of the outer wall 211 is quadrilateral, such as a rectangle, so that the cover 210 can be turned by hand from the outside. The cross-section of the inner wall 212 is circular. The inner wall 212 is used to cooperate with the cylindrical outer surface of the ink guide cylinder 310, and can cooperate with it in contact or without contact. The inner wall 212 can play a guiding role in the ink guide cylinder 310 extending into the cover 210.

[0061] In some examples of this embodiment, the second closure 220 is integrally formed with the cover 210, simplifying the structure. The cover 210 has a first through hole 230 between the second closure 220 and the inner wall 212. The first through hole 230 allows gas to pass through. When the cover 210 moves the ink guide cylinder 310 to the mating position, the air between the second closure 220 and the inner wall 212 can be discharged through the first through hole 230, making the movement of the cover 210 smoother.

[0062] This embodiment eliminates the need for the welded sealing membrane at the ink outlet of existing ink bottles by employing the aforementioned method, achieving the same purpose through the same process and ultimately improving the user experience. Existing sealing membranes increase the ink outlet diameter, affecting the installation of the protective cap; the sealing membrane requires significant force to puncture, resulting in high membrane resistance and difficulty in installation, thus impacting the user's ink refilling experience; the sealing membrane is punctured during first use, serving only during transportation and storage, hindering recycling; the sealing membrane also prevents the sealing ring from detaching, and this embodiment achieves the same effect through excess adhesive.

[0063] In some examples of this embodiment, when the cover 210 is fitted onto the outside of the ink guide cylinder 310, at least one surface of the outer wall 211 is parallel to the corresponding surface of the side wall 103, preventing the outer wall 211 from protruding from the side wall 103, and resulting in a more regular structure and a cleaner appearance. In this embodiment, when the cover 210 is fitted onto the outside of the ink guide cylinder 310, at least one surface of the outer wall 211 is flush with the corresponding surface of the side wall 103. For example, two opposite surfaces of the outer wall 211 are flush with two opposite surfaces of the side wall 103, and the remaining surfaces of the outer wall 211 are parallel to the corresponding surfaces of the side wall 103, facilitating the movement of the cover 210 to the engaged position, for example, by rotation.

[0064] In some examples of this embodiment, the outer cylindrical surface of the ink guide cylinder 310 is provided with a first engaging structure 311, and the inner surface of the inner wall 212 is provided with a second engaging structure 213. When the cover 210 is fitted onto the outside of the ink guide cylinder 310, the first engaging structure 311 and the second engaging structure 213 engage to prevent the ink guide cylinder 310 from separating from the inner wall 212. One of the first engaging structure 311 and the second engaging structure 213 can be a first locking block, and the other can be a second locking block or a slot. In this embodiment, both the first engaging structure 311 and the second engaging structure 213 are locking blocks protruding from the wall surface, and engagement is achieved through the mutual cooperation between the locking blocks.

[0065] In some examples of this embodiment, the first engaging structure 311 and the second engaging structure 213 extend circumferentially, for example, they can extend spirally circumferentially, facilitating the rotation of the cap 210 to engage with the ink guide cylinder 310. At least one of the first engaging structures 311 and 213 may have a guide slope 312 at its first circumferential end, allowing the first engaging structure 311 to slide into a position engaging with the second engaging structure 213. At least one of the first engaging structures 311 and 213 may have an axially extending stop 214 at its second circumferential end, forming an L-shaped locking position with the corresponding engaging structure to limit the engagement position. Since it is difficult to visually confirm whether the cap 210 is tightened to achieve a seal, especially since square bottles are not convenient for both hands to tighten simultaneously, this embodiment ensures the cap 200 is properly installed by using methods such as the outer wall 211 being flush with the side wall 103 and an L-shaped locking position.

[0066] In some examples of this embodiment, the first closure 320 has a second through hole 321 in the middle, which allows ink and air to pass through. The ink dispensing structure 300 also includes a hollow support 330, an elastic element 340, and a bead 350. The hollow support 330 allows ink and air to pass through. The elastic element 340 can be, for example, a spring, and the bead 350 can be, for example, a glass bead. The hollow support 330 is located on the opposite side of the first end wall 101 from the side where the ink guide cylinder 310 is located. The hollow support 330 is located in the ink-loading chamber of the bottle body 100, so that the ink guide cylinder 310 does not need to be too long, reducing the overall length of the ink bottle. The first end of the elastic element 340 abuts against the hollow support 330 and the second end abuts against the bead 350. The elastic element 340 is compressed, for example, by 2-3 mm, to provide a force to move the bead 350 away from the bottle body 100. The bead 350 is used to abut against the first closure 320 and close the second through hole 321. The above structure forms a one-way valve. When the ink-taking tool is inserted from the outside of the ink outlet structure 300, the bead 350 can be pushed open to allow ink to flow out. When the ink-taking tool is removed, the bead 350 can return to abutting against the first sealing member 320 and seal the second through hole 321 to prevent ink leakage.

[0067] In some examples of this embodiment, the distance between the end of the hollow bracket 330 away from the outlet of the ink guide cylinder 310 and the outlet of the ink guide cylinder 310, i.e., the distance of the combination of the hollow bracket 330, the ink guide cylinder 310 and the first end wall 101 in the direction perpendicular to the first end wall 101, and the absolute value of the difference between the height of the cover 200 in the direction perpendicular to the first end wall 101 when the cover 200 is installed on the ink guide cylinder 310, is not greater than 2cm, for example, it can be not greater than 1cm, for example, the two can be basically equal, the two can be formed in the same mold, the mold opening direction is perpendicular to the first end wall 101, the height of the ink guide cylinder 310 provides space for the design of the hollow bracket 330, without increasing the mold thickness, reducing mold cost and injection cycle.

[0068] In some examples of this embodiment, the hollow bracket 330 is formed by a plurality of support rods 331, for example, there may be 4 support rods 331. The first ends of the plurality of support rods 331 are connected together, for example, in the middle of the hollow bracket 330, and the second ends are distributedly connected around the inlet of the ink guide cylinder 310, for example, at 4 positions in the length and width direction of the inlet of the ink guide cylinder 310.

[0069] In some examples of this embodiment, the bottle body 100 includes a first body 110 with a second opening and a first cover plate 120 for covering the second opening. The first cover plate 120 forms a first end wall 101. The projection of the second end wall 102 onto the first end wall 101 does not exceed the edge of the first end wall 101. The first cover plate 120 and the first body 110 can be injection molded separately. The edges of the second opening of the first cover plate 120 and the first body 110 can be sealed by ultrasonic welding. The first end wall 101 has a small area, and the welding area of ​​the first cover plate 120 is small, avoiding the reduction of sealing performance due to an excessively large welding area. The first body 110 and the first cover plate 120 are separately arranged, which is beneficial for the formation of the ink outlet structure 300 on the first cover plate 120. The first cover plate 120 is provided with a support block 121 extending into the first body 110. The support block 121 contacts or is close to the side wall 103, playing a role in supporting the side wall 103 and preventing deformation of the side wall 103. In some examples, in order to facilitate the demolding of the first body 110, the length of each side of the first end wall 101 is increased relative to the length of each side of the second end wall 102, and the area enclosed by the edge of the first end wall 101 is greater than the area enclosed by the edge of the second end wall 102. The first end wall 101, the second end wall 102 and the side wall 103 form a frustum shape.

[0070] In some examples of this embodiment, the bottle body 100 further includes a support plate 104 connected to the opposite wall surface of the side wall 103. The support plate 104 extends in a direction from the first end wall 101 to the second end wall 102, and can support the side wall 103 to prevent deformation. A gap 105 is provided between the support plate 104 and the first end wall 101, allowing ink to flow on both sides of the support plate 104, so that the ink on both sides of the support plate 104 can flow evenly to the graphite structure 300. The support plate 104 can be parallel to the short side of the quadrilateral of the first end wall 101 or the second end wall 102, so that the support plate 104 is supported between two opposite large-area surfaces of the side wall 103, where the large-area surfaces are more prone to deformation. The support plate 104 can be directly connected to the second end wall 102, which facilitates mold design and injection molding.

[0071] like Figures 6 to 7 As shown, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the structure of the bottle body 100 and the cap 200 is basically the same as that of the first embodiment. The difference is that in the ink dispensing structure 300 of the second embodiment, the first sealing member 320 includes a ring-shaped portion 322 and a segmented membrane 323 located in the middle of the ring-shaped portion 322, and does not have a hollow support, elastic element, or bead. The ring-shaped portion 322 cooperates with the boss 313 of the ink guide tube 310 to realize the positioning of the first sealing member 320 in the axial direction of the ink guide tube 310. When the ink taking tool is inserted into the segmented membrane 323, the segments of the segmented membrane 323 can separate to realize ink dispensing. Compared with the first embodiment, the segmented sealing ring structure is simpler. The ink dispensing structure 300 and the cap 200 of this embodiment can have a larger length, which is suitable for scenarios where the ink taking tool has a longer size. The ink guide tube 310 can have a longer size to match the ink taking tool. The first sealing member 320 can be set in the port of the ink guide tube 310, avoiding the use of an excessively long elastic element.

[0072] In this embodiment, the first end wall 101 with ink guide cylinder 310 and the cover 200 can be formed in the same mold, reducing mold cost and injection molding cycle.

[0073] like Figure 8As shown, in the third embodiment of the present invention, the structure of the ink dispensing structure 300 and the cover 200 is basically the same as that of the first or second embodiment described above. The difference is that in the third embodiment, the bottle body 100 includes a second main body 130 with a third opening and a second cover plate 140 for covering the third opening. The second cover plate 140 and the edge of the third opening of the second main body 130 can be sealed together by ultrasonic welding. The second cover plate 140 constitutes a second end wall 102, and the projection of the first end wall 101 on the second end wall 102 does not exceed the edge of the second end wall 102. The second main body 130 can be a box with an opening. The ink dispensing structure 300 is disposed on the first end wall 101 formed by the bottom wall of the second main body 130. The area enclosed by the edge of the second cover plate 140, i.e., the second end wall 102, can be larger than the area enclosed by the edge of the first end wall 101. The bottle body 100 can be formed into a frustum shape, thereby facilitating the stable placement of the ink bottle with the ink dispensing structure 300 facing upward and the second cover plate 140 facing downward.

[0074] like Figures 9 to 10 As shown, the fourth embodiment of the present invention provides a method for manufacturing an ink bottle, which is applicable to the manufacturing of ink bottles according to any of the first to third embodiments described above. The method includes forming an overflow portion 314 extending toward a first closure member 320 on the ink guide cylinder 310. The overflow portion 314 is located at the end of the first closure member 320 away from the bottle body 100, and together with the boss 313, it secures the first closure member 320, preventing the first closure member 320 from detaching from the ink guide cylinder 310.

[0075] The manufacturing method specifically includes the following steps:

[0076] Step S1: Insert the first sealing member 320 into the ink guide tube 310 from the outer end of the ink guide tube 310 away from the bottle body 100, with a preset distance between the first sealing member 320 and the outer end face of the ink guide tube 310. This preset distance may be, for example, several millimeters. Within this preset distance range, the portion of the ink guide tube 310 is provided with material to form the overflow portion 314.

[0077] Step S2: Prepare a welding head 400, which has a groove 410 that matches the shape of the ink guide cylinder 310. At a hot-welding temperature higher than the softening temperature and lower than the melting temperature of the ink guide cylinder 310, the welding head 400 is fitted onto the ink guide cylinder 310, for example, by placing the welding head 400 onto the ink guide cylinder 310. The bottom of the groove 410 presses against the outer end of the ink guide cylinder 310, forming an overflow portion 314, thus fixing the first sealing member 320. This embodiment uses a concave hot-welding head, and the resulting overflow portion 314 is restricted by the groove wall of the groove 410. Compared to using a flat welding head, it does not overflow adhesive and generate burrs, thus eliminating the need for burr removal, saving manpower and time, and reducing costs.

[0078] In some examples of this embodiment, the groove 410 gradually increases in size from the bottom to the opening, which facilitates the engagement of the welding head 400 with the ink guide tube 310.

[0079] In some examples of this embodiment, the bottom and wall of the groove 410 are rounded or chamfered to facilitate the smooth or even formation of the overflow portion 314 on the ink guide cylinder 310.

[0080] In some examples of this embodiment, the bottom of the groove 410 includes a planar portion connected to the groove wall, which is perpendicular to the mating direction of the welding head 400 and the ink guide cylinder 310. The resulting overflow portion 314 can better block the outside of the first closure 320, thereby achieving a limiting effect.

[0081] In some examples of this embodiment, the ink guide cylinder 310 is made of polypropylene, and the hot-welding temperature can be 120~150°C. If the temperature is too high and reaches the melting temperature, the melt will flow and the overflow portion 314 cannot be formed.

[0082] In some examples of this embodiment, the extrusion time is several seconds, resulting in high production efficiency.

[0083] Finally, it should be emphasized that the above description is merely 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 within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An ink refill bottle, comprising a bottle body and a cap, characterized in that: The bottle body includes a first end wall and a second end wall that are parallel to each other. The first end wall and the second end wall are quadrilaterals and the side length is not greater than the distance between the first end wall and the second end wall. The bottle body also includes a side wall that connects the edge of the first end wall and the edge of the second end wall. The ink bottle also includes an ink outlet structure disposed on the first end wall and extending in a direction away from the bottle body. The cover is used to close the ink outlet structure outside the bottle body, and when the cover closes the ink outlet structure, the projection of the cover on the first end wall does not exceed the edge of the first end wall. The ink dispensing structure includes an ink guide tube extending from the first end wall in a direction away from the bottle body and a first sealing member disposed inside the ink guide tube; the ink guide tube includes a boss, and the end of the first sealing member near the bottle body cooperates with the boss to form an overflow portion at the outer end of the ink guide tube that prevents the first sealing member from detaching from the ink guide tube, and the overflow portion extends toward the first sealing member. The cover includes a cover body with a first opening and a second sealing member located inside the cover body. The cover body is used to fit over the outside of the ink guide cylinder. When the cover body is fitted over the outside of the ink guide cylinder, the first sealing member and the second sealing member are sealed together. The first sealing member is a sealing ring, and the second sealing member is a sealing post. When the cover body is fitted over the outside of the ink guide cylinder, the sealing post compresses the sealing ring.

2. The ink bottle according to claim 1, characterized in that: The ink guide tube is a cylindrical tube, and the cover includes an outer wall and an inner wall. The outer wall has a quadrilateral cross-section, and the inner wall has a circular cross-section. The inner wall is used to mate with the cylindrical outer surface of the ink guide tube. When the cover is fitted onto the outside of the ink guide tube, at least one surface of the outer wall is parallel to the corresponding surface of the side wall. The outer cylindrical surface of the ink guide cylinder is provided with a first engaging structure, and the inner surface of the inner wall is provided with a second engaging structure. When the cover is fitted onto the outer side of the ink guide cylinder, the first engaging structure and the second engaging structure engage. One of the first engaging structure and the second engaging structure is a first locking block, and the other is a second locking block or a slot.

3. The ink bottle according to claim 2, characterized in that: When the cover is fitted onto the outside of the ink guide cylinder, at least one surface of the outer wall is flush with the corresponding surface of the side wall, and the remaining surfaces of the outer wall are parallel to the corresponding surfaces of the side wall. The first engaging structure and the second engaging structure extend circumferentially, and at least one of the first engaging structure and the second engaging structure has a guide slope at its first end in the circumferential direction, and at least one of the first engaging structure and the second engaging structure has an axially extending stop at its second end in the circumferential direction. The second sealing member is integrally formed with the cover body, and the cover body has a first through hole between the second sealing member and the inner wall.

4. An ink bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The first sealing member has a second through hole in the middle. The ink outlet structure also includes a hollow bracket, an elastic member and a bead. The hollow bracket is located on the opposite side of the first end wall to the side where the ink guide cylinder is located. The first end of the elastic member abuts against the hollow bracket and the second end abuts against the bead. The bead is used to abut against the first sealing member and close the second through hole.

5. An ink bottle according to claim 4, characterized in that: The absolute value of the difference between the distance between the end of the hollow bracket away from the outlet of the ink guide cylinder and the outlet of the ink guide cylinder and the height of the cover in the direction perpendicular to the first end wall is no greater than 2cm. The hollow support is formed by multiple support rods, with the first ends of the multiple support rods connected together and the second ends dispersedly connected to the inlet of the ink guide cylinder.

6. An ink bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The first closure includes a ring-shaped portion and a segmented membrane located in the middle of the ring-shaped portion; the ring-shaped portion mates with the inner wall of the ink guide cylinder.

7. An ink bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The bottle body includes a first main body having a second opening and a first cover plate for covering the second opening. The first cover plate forms the first end wall. The projection of the second end wall onto the first end wall does not exceed the edge of the first end wall. The first cover plate is provided with a support block extending into the first main body. The support block is in contact with or close to the side wall. Alternatively, the bottle body includes a second body having a third opening and a second cover for covering the third opening, the second cover forming the second end wall, the projection of the first end wall onto the second end wall not exceeding the edge of the second end wall.

8. An ink bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The bottle body also includes a support plate connected to the opposite wall of the side wall. The support plate extends in a direction from the first end wall to the second end wall. There is a gap between the support plate and the first end wall. The support plate is parallel to the short side of the quadrilateral of the first end wall or the second end wall. and / or Each side of the first end wall is parallel to each side of the second end wall in a one-to-one correspondence; And / or, the lengths of each side of the first end wall and each side of the second end wall are equal in a one-to-one correspondence; And / or, the sidewall includes a plurality of sub-sidewalls connected end to end, each of the sub-sidewalls being connected to one side of the first endwall and one side of the corresponding second endwall; And / or, the side length of the first end wall and the side length of the second end wall are respectively less than the distance between the first end wall and the second end wall; And / or, the line connecting the center of the first end wall and the center of the second end wall is perpendicular to the first end wall or the second end wall; And / or, the quadrilateral is a rectangle; And / or, the area enclosed by the edges of the first end wall is equal to or unequal to the area enclosed by the edges of the second end wall, and the ink bottle is prismatic or frustum-shaped; And / or, the bottle body is at least partially made of a transparent material; And / or, the capacity of the bottle is 60~70mL; And / or, the bottle body has a thickness of less than 3 cm in a direction perpendicular to the direction from the first end wall to the second end wall.

9. A method for manufacturing an ink bottle, characterized in that... The ink bottle is the ink bottle according to claim 1, and the manufacturing method includes: The first sealing member is inserted into the ink guide tube from the outer end of the ink guide tube away from the bottle body, and the first sealing member is spaced at a predetermined distance from the outer end face of the ink guide tube. Prepare a welding head with a groove that matches the shape of the ink guide tube. At a temperature higher than the softening temperature of the ink guide tube and lower than the melting temperature of the ink guide tube, the welding head is fitted to the ink guide tube, and the bottom of the groove presses against the outer end of the ink guide tube to form the excess adhesive portion.

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