Ink cartridges, inkjet printheads, and inkjet printers

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of inkjet printing technology. Ink cartridges have ink reservoirs that communicate with the external environment through vents, and ink leakage occurs when the external pressure changes significantly after ink filling. This invention provides an ink cartridge (37) comprising: a cartridge body (4); a cartridge cover (15); and a flexible member (101) between the cartridge cover (15) and an opening (38) of the cartridge body (4), wherein when the cartridge cover (15) is installed onto the cartridge body (4), a rib (23) on the cartridge cover (15) abuts against the flexible member (101), forming a sealed contact between them, thereby creating an expansion space (25) capable of accommodating all or most of the ink displaced from the ink reservoir. This invention also provides an inkjet printhead and an inkjet printer.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of inkjet printing technology, and more particularly to preventing ink leakage from the vent to the outside of the ink cartridge due to transportation and / or use of the inkjet printhead at an altitude different from that of the factory, and more particularly to ink cartridges, inkjet printheads, and inkjet printers. Background Technology

[0002] like Figure 1a , Figure 1b and Figure 2 As shown, the ink cartridge 37 of the inkjet printhead includes an ink cartridge body 4 and an ink cartridge cover 15 for covering an opening 38 of the ink cartridge body 4. An ink reservoir 10 for containing ink is formed inside the ink cartridge body 4. The ink cartridge body 4 also includes an ink flow aperture 13 that communicates the ink reservoir 10 with the ejection chamber of the inkjet printhead, wherein the ink flow aperture 13 is connected to the ink reservoir 10 through a filter 12 and a tube 11.

[0003] Precise control of ink flow through the nozzles of the inkjet printhead's ejection chamber is essential, as it is one of the fundamental prerequisites for achieving high-quality printing with an inkjet printer. One system that aids in providing this level of ink flow control is a back pressure system, which creates a slight negative pressure in the liquid within the ink reservoir of the ink cartridge housed in the printhead. This negative pressure in the liquid prevents unwanted ink leakage. Such leakage could otherwise occur when the printhead is idle while using ink or when the ink cartridge experiences a sudden acceleration during processing.

[0004] like Figure 1a , Figure 1b and Figure 2 As shown, feasible back pressure systems known in the art employ porous components 14 (e.g., open-cell foam), fiber components, or a combination of both, inserted into the ink reservoir 10 of the ink cartridge 37 to create a negative pressure in the liquid contained within the ink reservoir 10 by capillary effects generated by the mesh or between fibers, as described in patent EP 3302983B1.

[0005] When back pressure is generated by capillary forces originating from the porous member 14 inserted into the ink reservoir 10, the ink reservoir 10 must be in communication with the external environment. In other words, the boundary liquid surface within the porous member 14 must be at atmospheric pressure. If the ink reservoir 10 is not in communication with the external environment, and the ink level in the ink reservoir 10 decreases due to ink ejection during printing, the pressure of the liquid contained in the ink reservoir 10 will drop far beyond a suitable back pressure value, thereby preventing further ejection from the inkjet printhead.

[0006] To provide proper connectivity with the external environment, in addition to the ink filling hole 16, the ink cartridge cover 15 is typically provided with a vent 17. Specifically, as... Figure 1a , Figure 1b , Figure 2 , Figure 3 a and Figure 3 As shown in Figure b, the ink cartridge cover 15 is provided with an ink filling hole 16 and a vent hole 17. A needle passes through the ink filling hole 16, penetrating most of the path across the porous member 14 to fill the ink reservoir 10 with ink. The vent hole 17 serves to connect the ink reservoir 10 to the external environment. The vent hole 17 is located at one end of a shallow, meandering venting channel 18 molded in the outer surface of the ink cartridge cover 15. The ink filling hole 16 is relatively large and is sealed after filling with an adhesive label 19 or a stopper (not shown) to prevent excessive ink evaporation. The adhesive label 19 overlaps not only with the ink filling hole 16 but also with the vent hole 17. The adhesive label 19 seals most of the shallow, meandering venting channel 18 at the top, serving as a top surface. The vent outlet 20 at the very end of the shallow, meandering venting channel 18 remains uncovered, thus allowing the ink reservoir 10 to communicate with the external environment. The shallow, meandering venting channel 18, with its small cross-section and suitable length, maintains a low evaporation rate while preserving pressure balance between the inside and outside of the ink reservoir 10, even during printing. Alternatively, two separate labels (not shown) can be appropriately used for the ink filling hole 16 and the venting hole 17, respectively. Figure 4 As shown, in addition to the ink filling hole 16 and the vent hole 17, the inner surface of the ink cartridge cover 15 is typically provided with a peripheral sealing frame 22 and multiple ribs 23 suitable for ultrasonic bonding with the ink cartridge body 4, as well as an additional outer peripheral reinforcing frame 41. These are designed to properly reinforce the ink cartridge cover 15, thereby preventing any deformation or breakage of the ink cartridge cover 15. Typically, these ribs 23 and outer peripheral reinforcing frame 41 are obtained simultaneously during the molding process of the ink cartridge cover 15.

[0007] The ink filled into the ink reservoir 10 wets most of the porous member 14. Capillary forces prevent the ink from leaving the porous member 14. However, especially when the porous member 14 is a fibrous member that readily allows ink to move along the fiber direction, the ink has a certain degree of internal mobility across the porous member 14. Therefore, handling an ink-filled inkjet printhead may result in some air being trapped in the porous member 14. This trapped air may even become surrounded by ink. Additional air trapping may even occur in the tube 11 due to possible operational errors during the ink filling stage or a lack of airtight seal between the ink filling orifice 16 and the needle. In short, there is a certain possibility in an inkjet printhead that some air islands remain trapped within the ink.

[0008] After filling, the atmospheric pressure surrounding the inkjet printhead also exists in the ink-free portion of the ink reservoir 10. Simultaneously, the pressure of the liquid contained in the inkjet printhead due to atmospheric pressure increases through the hydrostatic pressure of the liquid column and decreases through the capillary pressure of the porous member 14. The capillary action of the porous member 14 (which depends on the pore size, the surface tension of the ink, and the wettability of the porous member material) is carefully designed to provide a lower pressure for the liquid contained in the ink reservoir relative to the external environment.

[0009] Before the inkjet printhead is ready for shipment, the nozzles are sealed with appropriate tape to prevent ink evaporation and protect the nozzles from particulate contamination or mechanical scratching. The inkjet printhead is then placed in a plastic cup and heat-sealed using a double-layered plastic-aluminum packaging cap. Finally, the inkjet printhead is encased in an airtight container with an internal pressure identical to atmospheric pressure at the factory.

[0010] However, during the transport of inkjet printheads or when they are to be used at high altitudes, the hermetic container may experience significant pressure changes. For example, during air transport, the cargo hold may be taken to a low-pressure area during flight. Similarly, the final destination of the inkjet printhead may be under an environmental pressure significantly different from that of the factory due to altitude. These changes in environmental pressure can lead to an imbalance between the internal pressure of the hermetic container and the ambient pressure. This imbalanced internal pressure pulls the packaging cap outward, causing the internal pressure of the hermetic container to decrease relative to its original pressure in the factory.

[0011] Because the ink reservoir is connected to the area outside the ink cartridge via a vent, when the ink cartridge is in an airtight container or when the end user opens the packaging, if the ambient pressure is lower than the factory pressure, the air trapped in the porous component may expand, causing the ink to be pulled out and potentially leaking out from the vent.

[0012] Seal the vent with an additional label or removable stopper only prevents ink leakage within the sealed container; however, this is ineffective if the final destination pressure is significantly lower than the plant pressure. Removing the label or stopper causes a sudden pressure imbalance, allowing ink to spray out of the vent. This can also occur if no air is trapped within the porous structure. Sudden disturbances in the internal pressure of the airtight container can easily cause ink to spray out of the vent, as the connection between the liquid surface in the ink reservoir and the outside is achieved over a short distance, and the ink can flow almost directly outwards.

[0013] exist Figure 2The diagram schematically depicts ink being sprayed from the vent 17. The exploded view shows the relative positions of the ink reservoir 10 and the cartridge cover 15, with arrows schematically indicating a sudden flow of ink 21 caused by pressure imbalance. The ink rapidly covers a short, direct path towards the ink filling hole 16 and the vent 17 of the cartridge cover 5. The ink filling hole 16 is sealed by an adhesive label 19. Figure 3 b) The adhesive label also overlaps with the vent 17 and most of the shallow, meandering vent 18, leaving a vent outlet 20 that communicates with the outside. The shallow, meandering vent 18 beneath the adhesive label 19 is very small and can be quickly filled with ink, which is ultimately sprayed out from the vent outlet 20 at the very end of the shallow, meandering vent 18. Summary of the Invention

[0014] To address the aforementioned technical problems, the present invention provides an ink cartridge with an expansion space connected to a vent to collect any possible ink flow caused by the imbalance between the internal pressure of the ink reservoir and the external environmental pressure due to changes in environmental pressure, thereby preventing ink leakage to the outside of the ink cartridge.

[0015] In a first aspect of the invention, an ink cartridge is provided. The ink cartridge includes: an ink cartridge body having an opening and an ink flow slit, wherein an ink reservoir for containing ink is formed within the ink cartridge body; an ink cartridge cover for covering the opening, wherein the ink cartridge cover is provided with an ink filling hole and a vent hole and has ribs on its inner surface; and a flexible member disposed between the ink cartridge cover and the opening and overlapping the vent hole but not the ink filling hole, wherein when the ink cartridge cover is mounted to the ink cartridge body and covers the opening, the ribs abut against the flexible member to form a sealing contact between the ribs and the flexible member, and an expansion space is formed between the ink cartridge cover and the flexible member, wherein the expansion space has an inlet through which ink can flow from the ink reservoir into the expansion space, and the expansion space communicates with the external environment through the vent hole.

[0016] The ink cartridge of this invention prevents ink from reaching areas outside the cartridge via a short travel distance through a direct connection. Instead, the ink is forced through a longer expansion space, thereby buffering the intensity of possible sprays and providing an internal expansion volume or internal expansion space capable of accommodating all or most of the ink that has displaced from the ink reservoir due to pressure imbalance. Furthermore, the expansion space is simply formed through a sealing contact between a rib on the cartridge cover and a flexible member, without requiring a physical connection between the cartridge cover and the flexible member. This is because the flexible member is slightly flexible and fits well with the rib on the cartridge cover, thus simplifying the manufacturing process, facilitating its integration into the manufacturing line, and being cost-effective.

[0017] Preferably, the ink cartridge includes a porous component and / or a fiber component inserted into the ink reservoir, and the flexible component is sized to be precisely accommodated in the ink cartridge body directly above the porous component or the fiber component, and the flexible component is provided with an open space corresponding to the ink filling hole.

[0018] Using this implementation, after the porous and / or fiber components are inserted, the flexible component is simply inserted into the cartridge body and positioned on top of the porous and / or fiber components without any alignment. The cartridge cover can then be installed onto the cartridge body. During installation, the ribs on the cartridge cover bear a certain pressure, which is partially transferred to the flexible component, achieving a sealing contact. Furthermore, even during cartridge handling, the flexible component cannot slip and remains in its stable position, thus ensuring proper contact with the ribs on the upper cartridge cover.

[0019] Preferably, the flexible member has two wings spaced apart at one end of the flexible member to form the open space extending to the periphery of the flexible member. This embodiment further simplifies ink filling of the cartridge.

[0020] Preferably, the flexible member is provided with a through hole aligned with the ink filling hole.

[0021] Preferably, the flexible component is made of rubber.

[0022] Preferably, the flexible member is a plate-shaped member with a thickness of 1 mm to 2 mm. A thickness of 1 mm to 2 mm is sufficient to create an expansion space between the cartridge cover and the flexible member. Furthermore, it can even compensate for small irregularities in the rib edges introduced during the cover molding process.

[0023] Preferably, the expansion space accommodates a porous material. The porous material can enhance the buffering effect of ink flow intensity without affecting fluid communication with the outside.

[0024] Preferably, the expansion space is a meandering expansion loop. Giving the expansion space a meandering shape will enhance the buffering effect and the available volume that needs to be traversed. The meandering expansion loop forces the ink flowing into the expansion space from the inlet to travel a longer flow path and spend more time before being sprayed out of the vent.

[0025] Preferably, the expansion space comprises a plurality of expansion chambers fluidly connected by narrow connecting passages, and each expansion chamber is surrounded by the ribs connected to the cartridge cover and abutting against the flexible member. Due to the multiple narrow connecting passages, the abrupt change in width along the expansion loop helps to buffer the flow.

[0026] Preferably, the ribs include two curved ribs surrounding the vent.

[0027] Preferably, two adjacent ribs are spaced apart from each other to form the narrow connecting passage.

[0028] Preferably, a narrow connecting passage is formed in the rib.

[0029] In a second aspect of the invention, an inkjet printhead is provided. The inkjet printhead includes the ink cartridge described above.

[0030] Preferably, the inkjet printhead is a thermal inkjet printhead, which includes a microfluidic device attached to the ink cartridge, wherein the microfluidic device includes: a plurality of resistors; a plurality of ejection chambers disposed above the resistors and in fluid communication with the ink flow orifice; and a nozzle plate covering the ejection chambers and provided with ejection nozzles for ejecting ink from the ejection chambers.

[0031] In a third aspect of the invention, an inkjet printer is provided. The inkjet printer includes the inkjet printhead described above. Attached Figure Description

[0032] Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the invention are described by way of example with reference to the following figures, wherein:

[0033] Figure 1a and Figure 1b An exploded view of a known ink cartridge is shown.

[0034] Figure 2 It shows Figure 1a and Figure 1b A schematic diagram of an ink cartridge.

[0035] Figure 3 a shows Figure 1a and Figure 1b The diagram shows the outer surface of the ink cartridge cover, with the adhesive label removed.

[0036] Figure 3 b shows Figure 1a and Figure 1b A schematic diagram of the outer surface of the ink cartridge cover in the image.

[0037] Figure 4 A bottom view of the ink cartridge cover of a known ink cartridge is shown.

[0038] Figure 5 A perspective view of an inkjet printhead according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0039] Figure 6a and Figure 6b It shows Figure 5 An exploded view of the ink cartridge in the inkjet printhead.

[0040] Figure 7 It shows Figure 5 A schematic partial cross-sectional view of the microfluidic device of the inkjet printhead.

[0041] Figure 8 A perspective view of an ink cartridge cover according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0042] Figure 9 A bottom view of an ink cartridge cover according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0043] Figure 10 A perspective view of a flexible member according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0044] Figure 11 A bottom view of a flexible member according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0045] Figure 12 A perspective view of an ink cartridge cover according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0046] Figure 13 A bottom view of an ink cartridge cover according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0047] Figure 14 A schematic diagram of the inner surface of an ink cartridge cover according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0048] Figure 15 A cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge cover is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0049] To make the above and other features and advantages of the present invention clearer, the present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments of the present invention are illustrative and not intended to be limiting.

[0050] This invention provides an ink cartridge, an inkjet printhead, and an inkjet printer. Figure 5 A perspective view of an inkjet printhead 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, the inkjet printhead 1 is a thermal inkjet printhead, such as a foaming inkjet printhead. In other embodiments, the inkjet printhead 1 may also be a piezoelectric inkjet printhead.

[0051] The inkjet printhead 1 includes one or more ink cartridges 37. Each ink cartridge 37 can hold ink of a different color. Figure 6a and Figure 6b It shows Figure 5 An exploded view of the ink cartridge in an inkjet printhead. (See diagram below.) Figure 6a and Figure 6b As shown, ink cartridge 37 includes an ink cartridge body 4, which is typically made of plastic. The ink cartridge body 4 has an opening 38 and an ink flow orifice 13. An ink reservoir 10 for containing ink is formed within the ink cartridge body 4. A filter device 12 is disposed between the ink flow orifice 13 and the ink reservoir 10. In this embodiment, the filter device 12 is a mesh filter. Optionally, the filter device 12 communicates with the ink flow orifice 13 via a tube 11 (e.g., a riser), the top of which connects to the filter device 12 at the boundary with the ink reservoir 10, and the other end terminates in the ink flow orifice 13.

[0052] like Figure 5 As shown, the inkjet printhead 1 also includes a microfluidic device 2 attached to the ink cartridge 37. For example, the microfluidic device 2 is adhered to the cartridge body 4 of the ink cartridge 37 by a sealant, providing a mechanically strong and hermeticly sealed connection between the microfluidic device 2 and the ink cartridge 37. The microfluidic device 2 is in fluid communication with the ink flow orifice 13 of the ink cartridge 37, allowing ink contained in the ink reservoir 10 of the ink cartridge 37 to flow to the microfluidic device 2 via the ink flow orifice 13. The microfluidic device 2 is electrically activated by a contact pad 3.

[0053] Figure 7 It shows Figure 5 A schematic partial cross-sectional view of the microfluidic device in the inkjet printhead. (See attached image.) Figure 7As shown, the microfluidic device 2 includes multiple ejection chambers 6 and multiple resistors 5, with the resistors 5 corresponding to the ejection chambers 6. The ejection chambers 6 are arranged above the resistors 5 and are part of a fluid circuit 7 that is in fluid communication with the ink flow orifice 13 of the ink cartridge 37. Therefore, it can be said that the ejection chambers 6 are in fluid communication with the ink flow orifice 13. Ink from the ink flow orifice 13 flows in the fluid circuit 7 and reaches the ejection chamber 6. The fluid circuit 7 is patterned in a suitable polymer layer (referred to as a barrier layer 39). A nozzle plate 8 is arranged on the barrier layer 39 and seals the microfluidic device 2 on top. The nozzle plate 8 also covers the ejection chambers 6. The nozzle plate 8 is provided with ejection nozzles 9 for each ejection chamber 6. The ejection nozzles 9 are used to eject ink from the ejection chambers 6. Specifically, a sudden current pulse can be applied through the resistors 5 as needed, causing rapid vaporization of a thin layer of ink. The high vapor pressure causes the vapor bubbles to expand, which pull the ink above from the ejection nozzles 9, resulting in the ejection of ink droplets. After spraying, new ink is retrieved from the ink reservoir 10 to refill the spray chamber 6 and the spray nozzle 9.

[0054] As described above, a back pressure system is used in the inkjet printhead 1 to assist in controlling ink flow. In this embodiment, such as Figure 6a and Figure 6b As shown, porous components 14 (e.g., open-cell foam) and / or fiber components can be inserted into the ink reservoir 10 to create a negative pressure in the liquid contained within the ink reservoir 10, generated by the capillary effect of the porous mesh or between the fibers. However, other methods can be used to generate a suitable back pressure in the liquid. For example, a blister with an opening that is in fluid communication with the tube and the jet chamber can be used; and the blister shell is mechanically biased outward by a metal spring or some other elastic element. Apart from the opening communicating with the tube, the blister is fluidly isolated from the external environment. The elastic elements must be carefully calibrated to provide suitable back pressure throughout the life of the inkjet printhead.

[0055] like Figure 6a and Figure 6b As shown, the ink cartridge 37 also includes an ink cartridge cover 15 for covering the opening 38 of the ink cartridge body 4. The ink cartridge cover 15 can be detachably mounted to the ink cartridge body 4. The ink cartridge cover 15 can also be permanently mounted to the ink cartridge body 4, for example, by gluing, ultrasonic welding, or any other suitable method, or in other words, combined with the ink cartridge body 4. Specifically, a perspective view and a bottom view of an ink cartridge cover according to an embodiment of the present invention are shown respectively. Figure 8 and Figure 9 As shown, the peripheral sealing frame 22 of the ink cartridge cover 15 can be combined with the ink cartridge body 4, so that the opening 38 of the ink cartridge body 4 is covered by the ink cartridge cover 15. Figure 6a , Figure 6b , Figure 8and Figure 9 As shown, the ink cartridge cover 15 is provided with an ink filling hole 16 and a vent hole 17. The filling hole 16 is used to fill the ink reservoir 10 with ink. The vent hole 17 is used to allow the ink reservoir 10 to communicate with the external environment. The vent hole 17 is arranged at one end of a shallow, meandering venting channel 18, which is molded in the outer surface of the ink cartridge cover 15. The ink filling hole 16 is large enough that an ink filling tool, such as a needle, can pass through it to fill the ink reservoir 10 with ink. In addition, the ink cartridge cover 15 is provided with ribs 23 on its inner surface. It should be noted that the terms used herein to describe positional relationships, such as “outer,” “inner,” “upper,” and “lower,” are used in the context of the ink cartridge cover 15 covering the opening 38 of the ink cartridge body 4. On the one hand, the ribs 23 are designed to properly reinforce the ink cartridge cover 15 to prevent any deformation or breakage of the ink cartridge cover 15; on the other hand, the ribs 23 form the chamber walls of the expansion space 25, which will be described in detail below.

[0056] To eliminate or at least mitigate the effects of the imbalance between the internal and external pressures of the ink cartridge 37, a specific ink expansion volume or expansion space 25 is constructed. For example... Figure 6a and Figure 6b As shown, the ink cartridge 37 also includes a flexible member 101 disposed between the ink cartridge cover 15 and the opening 38 of the ink cartridge body 4, and overlapping with the vent 17. It is understood that the flexible member 101 does not overlap with the ink filling hole 16 to avoid affecting ink filling through the ink filling hole 16. When the ink cartridge cover 15 is installed onto the ink cartridge body 4 and covers the opening 38 of the ink cartridge body 4, a rib 23 provided on the inner surface of the ink cartridge cover 15 abuts against the flexible member 101, forming a sealing contact between the rib 23 and the flexible member 101, and forming an expansion space 25 between the ink cartridge cover 15 and the flexible member 101. Figure 8 and Figure 9 As shown, the expansion space 25 has an inlet 26 through which ink can flow from the ink reservoir 10 into the expansion space 25, and the expansion space 25 communicates with the external environment through a vent 17. The inlet 26 may be positioned away from the vent 17. Optionally, the inlet 26 may be located within the flexible member 101. Alternatively, the inlet 26 may be located between the cartridge cover 15 and the flexible member 101. When the cartridge cover 15 covers the opening 38 of the cartridge body 4, the inlet 26 allows ink from the ink reservoir 10 to flow into the expansion space 25, and the vent 17 communicates the expansion space 25 with the external environment. The inner surface (e.g., the lower surface) of the cartridge cover 15 serves as the top of the expansion space 25, while the outer surface (e.g., the upper surface) of the flexible member 101 serves as the bottom of the expansion space 25. In one possible embodiment, the flexible member 101 is parallel to the cartridge cover 15.

[0057] The purpose of forming the expansion space 25 is to prevent ink from reaching the area outside the ink cartridge 37 with a short travel distance via a direct connection. Instead, the ink is forced to pass through a longer expansion space 25, especially a detour expansion path or expansion loop, before reaching the vent 17, thereby buffering the intensity of possible spray and providing an internal expansion volume or internal expansion space 25 capable of accommodating all or most of the ink that has shifted from the ink reservoir due to pressure imbalance.

[0058] The flexible component 101 is made of a flexible material such as rubber (especially silicone rubber). Figure 10 and Figure 11 A perspective view and a bottom view of a flexible member according to an embodiment of the present invention are shown respectively. Figure 10 and Figure 11 As shown, the flexible member 101 can be a plate-like member, thick enough to contact the ribs 23 on the cartridge cover 15 with pressure once the cartridge cover 15 has been installed (e.g., ultrasonically bonded) to the cartridge body 4. The mechanical interference and flexibility of the flexible member 101 provide a good sealing contact without the need for any adhesives or glues to attach the flexible member 101 to the cartridge cover 15, i.e., no actual bond between the cartridge cover 15 and the flexible member 101 is required. This is because the flexible member 101 is slightly flexible and can fit well with the ribs 23 on the cartridge cover 15, thus simplifying the manufacturing process, making it easier to introduce into the manufacturing line, and cost-effective. Typically, the thickness of the plate-like flexible member 101 is 1 mm to 2 mm, which is sufficient to form the expansion space 25 with the cartridge cover 15 and can even compensate for small irregularities in the rib edges introduced during the cover molding process.

[0059] In principle, the flexible component 101 only needs to be connected to a portion of the cartridge cover 15, including the vent 17 (e.g., Figure 8 The right half of the cartridge cover 15 shown overlaps; however, since the flexible member 101 is not attached to the cartridge cover 15, the flexible member 101 may slide back and forth during the handling of the cartridge in the manufacturing process, which carries the risk that a portion of the expansion space 25 may not be fully closed.

[0060] In a preferred embodiment, the flexible member 101 is formed as follows: Figure 10 and Figure 11The shape is shown. The flexible member 101 is sized to be precisely received within the cartridge body 4 directly above the porous member 14 or the fiber member. The position of the flexible member 101 above the porous member 14 or the fiber member is self-adjusting within the cartridge body 4. In other words, the opening 38 of the cartridge body 4 can precisely receive the flexible member 101 directly above the porous member 14 or the fiber member. It is worth noting that the porous member 14 or the fiber member should have a certain degree of rigidity to effectively counteract the pressure applied by the flexible member 101. For example, the fiber member is a piece of fiber that is quite rigid when compressed along the fiber direction. In addition, compressed foam can also have sufficient rigidity.

[0061] The flexible member 101 is provided with an open space 103 corresponding to the ink filling hole 16. The inlet 26 of the expansion space 25 can communicate with the ink reservoir 10 through the open space 103. In this way, after the porous member 14 and / or the fiber member are inserted, the flexible member 101 is simply inserted into the cartridge body 4 and placed on the porous member 14 and / or the fiber member without any alignment. Subsequently, the cartridge cover 15 can be installed onto the cartridge body 4. During installation, the ribs 23 on the cartridge cover 15 bear a certain pressure, which is partially transferred to the flexible member 101, achieving a sealing contact. Furthermore, even during cartridge handling, the flexible member 101 cannot slip and remains in its stable position, thereby ensuring proper contact with the ribs 23 on the upper cartridge cover 15.

[0062] Specifically, such as Figure 10 and Figure 11 As shown, the flexible member 101 is provided with two wings 102, which are spaced apart from each other at one end of the flexible member 101. The purpose of the two wings 102 in the flexible member 101 is to form the aforementioned open space 103, allowing the ink reservoir 10 to be filled through the ink filling hole 16 of the ink cartridge cover 15 without any obstruction, while providing positional stability of the flexible member 101 above the porous member 14 or fiber member within the ink cartridge body 4. It can be clearly seen that the open space 103 extends all the way to the periphery of the flexible member 101. In fact, the open space 103 does not need to extend all the way to the periphery of the flexible member 101, and a simple through hole provided in the flexible member 101 and aligned with the ink filling hole 16 above it would be sufficient to allow the ink reservoir 10 to be filled through the ink filling hole 16 of the ink cartridge cover 15 without any obstruction. However, the applicant found that if the wing design is adopted, the ink filling of the ink reservoir 10 becomes simpler.

[0063] Preferably, the expansion space 25 is a circuitous expansion loop. Giving the expansion space 25 a circuitous shape will enhance the buffering effect and the available volume that needs to be traversed. The circuitous expansion loop forces the ink flowing into the expansion space 25 from the inlet 26 to travel a longer flow path and spend more time before being sprayed out from the vent 17.

[0064] A circuitous expansion loop can be considered as a series of expansion chambers connected by narrow pathways. Specifically, such as... Figure 8 and Figure 9 As shown, the expansion space 25 may include multiple expansion chambers that are fluidly connected by narrow communication pathways. For example, see reference... Figure 14 Expansion chambers 31 and 32 are connected by narrow connecting pathways 33. Due to the multiple narrow connecting pathways 33, the abrupt change in the width of the expansion loop helps to buffer the flow.

[0065] The expansion chamber can be surrounded by a chamber wall, i.e., ribs 23, which in turn connect to the cartridge cover 15 and abut against the flexible member 101. The expansion chamber can also be surrounded by an outer peripheral reinforcing frame 41, which in turn connects to the cartridge cover 15 and abuts against the flexible member 101. The outer peripheral reinforcing frame 41 protrudes further than the peripheral sealing frame 22. The chamber wall (one of which is...) Figure 4 (As shown) The rib design of the existing cartridge cover can be modified by adding additional parts or by altering the length and position of the existing ribs 23 to construct the chamber wall of the expansion chamber. The chamber wall and the peripheral reinforcing frame 41 can be attached to the cartridge cover 15 using suitable adhesives or bonding agents, ultrasonic welding, or any other method known in the art.

[0066] Optionally, the expansion space 25 can accommodate some porous material. For example, in Figure 12 and Figure 13 In another embodiment shown, a portion of the expansion space 25 may even contain some porous material 28 to enhance the buffering of ink flow intensity without affecting fluid communication with the outside. The porous material 28 may be contained in only one expansion chamber, or it may be contained in multiple expansion chambers or even all of the expansion chambers.

[0067] like Figure 14 As shown, in another embodiment, some of the chamber walls of the expansion chamber have a curved profile instead of a straight profile. In this embodiment, the chamber walls include two curved walls 29 surrounding the vent 17. The two curved walls 29 are spaced apart from each other, thereby forming two narrow connecting passages 30 for ink.

[0068] like Figure 15As shown, narrow connecting passages can be obtained in different ways. A cross-sectional view of the cartridge cover 15 illustrates various possible ways to obtain narrow connecting passages. For example, two adjacent chamber walls are spaced apart from each other, and a narrow connecting passage 34 is formed by the gap between the two adjacent chamber walls, which extends from the cartridge cover 15 to the flexible member 101. Another example is a narrow connecting passage 35 configured as a gap within the chamber wall, which does not reach the cartridge cover 15, but has risers connecting the two sides of the gap, thus forming a shallow gap. Yet another example is a narrow connecting passage 36 entirely within the chamber wall and configured as a through-hole. The first two variations can be easily obtained using standard molding processes, while the latter requires a more complex manufacturing process. In any case, all of these can be advantageously employed.

[0069] The described embodiments are merely examples of the inventive concept. Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the detailed features of the expansion space or expansion circuit can be appropriately modified or combined according to different solutions. The expansion space integrated into the cartridge cover of the ink cartridge for the inkjet printhead effectively solves the problem caused by the pressure imbalance between the inside and outside of the ink reservoir, thereby resolving logistical deficiencies and enabling the inkjet printhead to be used correctly at different altitudes.

[0070] The various technical features described above can be combined arbitrarily. Although not all possible combinations of the various technical features are described, all combinations of these technical features should be considered within the scope described in this specification, provided that they do not conflict.

[0071] Although the invention has been described in conjunction with embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that the above description and drawings are illustrative rather than restrictive, and that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Various modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0072] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0073] 1 Inkjet printhead

[0074] 2 Microfluidic devices

[0075] 3 Contact pads

[0076] 4. Ink cartridge body

[0077] 5 Resistors

[0078] 6. Spray Chamber

[0079] 7. Fluid Circuit

[0080] 8 Nozzle Plate

[0081] 9. Injection nozzle

[0082] 10 Ink Storage

[0083] 11 tubes

[0084] 12 Filtration devices

[0085] 13 Ink flow holes

[0086] 14 Porous Components

[0087] 15 Ink cartridge cap

[0088] 16 Ink Filling Holes

[0089] 17 Vent holes

[0090] 18 Shallow, winding ventilation channels

[0091] 19. Adhesive Labels

[0092] 20 Ventilation outlet

[0093] 21 Ink Flow

[0094] 22 Peripheral sealing frame

[0095] 23. Ribs

[0096] 25. Expansion Space

[0097] 26 Entrances

[0098] 28 Porous Materials

[0099] 29 Curved Wall

[0100] 30 Narrow connecting pathways

[0101] 31 Expansion Chamber

[0102] 32 Expansion Chamber

[0103] 33 Narrow connecting pathways

[0104] 34 Narrow connecting pathways

[0105] 35 Narrow connecting pathways

[0106] 36 Narrow connecting pathways

[0107] 37 Ink Cartridges

[0108] 38 Opening

[0109] 39. Barrier layer

[0110] 41 Peripheral Reinforcement Frame

[0111] 101 Flexible Components

[0112] 102 Wings

[0113] 103 Open Space

Claims

1. An ink cartridge (37), comprising: The ink cartridge body (4) has an opening (38) and an ink flow slit (13), wherein an ink reservoir (10) for holding ink is formed within the ink cartridge body (4); and A cartridge cover (15) for covering the opening (38), wherein the cartridge cover (15) is provided with an ink filling hole (16) and a vent hole (17); and Its features are, The ink cartridge cover (15) also has ribs (23) on its inner surface; and The ink cartridge (37) also includes a flexible member (101) disposed between the ink cartridge cover (15) and the opening (38) and overlapping the vent (17) but not the ink filling hole (16). When the ink cartridge cover (15) is installed on the ink cartridge body (4) and covers the opening (38), the rib (23) abuts against the flexible member (101) to form a sealed contact between the rib (23) and the flexible member (101), and an expansion space (25) is formed between the ink cartridge cover (15) and the flexible member (101). The expansion space (25) has an inlet (26) located between the ink cartridge cover (15) and the flexible member (101), through which ink can flow from the ink reservoir (10) into the expansion space (25). The expansion space (25) communicates with the external environment through the vent (17), wherein the expansion space (25) is a meandering expansion loop.

2. The ink cartridge (37) according to claim 1, wherein, The ink cartridge includes a porous member (14) and / or a fiber member inserted into the ink reservoir (10), and the flexible member (101) is sized to be precisely accommodated in the ink cartridge body (4) directly above the porous member (14) or the fiber member, and the flexible member (101) is provided with an open space (103) corresponding to the ink filling hole (16).

3. The ink cartridge (37) according to claim 2, wherein, The flexible member (101) is provided with two wings (102) spaced apart at one end of the flexible member (101) to form the open space (103) extending to the periphery of the flexible member (101).

4. The ink cartridge (37) according to claim 2, wherein, The flexible member (101) is provided with a through hole aligned with the ink filling hole (16).

5. The ink cartridge (37) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, The flexible component (101) is made of rubber.

6. The ink cartridge (37) according to claim 5, wherein, The flexible member (101) is a plate-shaped member with a thickness of 1 mm to 2 mm.

7. The ink cartridge (37) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, The expansion space (25) accommodates the porous material (28).

8. The ink cartridge (37) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, The expansion space (25) includes a plurality of expansion chambers (31, 32) fluidly connected by narrow communication passages (30, 33, 34, 35, 36), and each expansion chamber (31, 32) is surrounded by the rib (23) connected to the cartridge cover (15) and abutting against the flexible member (101).

9. The ink cartridge (37) according to claim 8, wherein, The rib (23) includes two curved ribs (29) surrounding the vent (17).

10. The ink cartridge (37) according to claim 8, wherein, Two adjacent ribs (23) are spaced apart from each other to form the narrow connecting passage (30, 33, 34, 35, 36).

11. An inkjet printhead (1) comprising an ink cartridge (37) according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. The inkjet printhead (1) according to claim 11, wherein, The inkjet printhead (1) is a thermal inkjet printhead, which includes a microfluidic device (2) attached to the ink cartridge (37), the microfluidic device (2) comprising: Multiple resistors (5); Multiple injection chambers (6) are arranged above the resistor (5) and in fluid communication with the ink flow orifice (13); and A nozzle plate (8) covers the spray chamber (6) and is provided with spray nozzles (9) for spraying ink from the spray chamber (6).

13. An inkjet printer comprising an inkjet printhead (1) according to claim 11 or 12.

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