Ink box

Abstract

The invention provides an ink box. The ink box is provided with an absorption body capable of absorbing waste ink, a surrounding component wrapping the absorption body and a shell containing the absorption body wrapped by the surrounding component.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an ink cartridge storing waste ink therein. Background Art

[0002] Printers include inkjet printers that eject ink onto a medium such as printing paper to print text, graphics, images, etc. Inkjet printers have the function of sucking ink and bubbles from an inkjet nozzle and storing the sucked ink as waste ink. Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-123108 discloses a prior art related to an ink cartridge that can store waste ink inside.

[0003] The ink cartridge disclosed in this document includes an absorber capable of absorbing waste ink and a housing for housing the absorber. The absorber is attachable to and detachable from the housing. The absorber that has absorbed waste ink can be replaced with a new absorber. Summary of the invention

[0004] The absorber that has absorbed the waste ink tends to adhere closely to the housing. Replacing the absorber takes time and effort.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an ink cartridge in which an absorber capable of absorbing waste ink can be easily replaced.

[0006] In the present disclosure, an ink cartridge is provided, which includes: an absorber capable of absorbing waste ink; a surrounding member that wraps the absorber; and a case that accommodates the absorber wrapped by the surrounding member.

[0007] In the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an ink cartridge in which an absorber capable of absorbing waste ink can be easily replaced. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a printer including an ink cartridge according to an embodiment and a storage portion for storing the ink cartridge.

[0009] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 An exploded perspective view of the ink cartridge is shown.

[0010] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A top view of a box of ink cartridges is shown.

[0011] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge shown in the storage section.

[0012] Figure 5A It is a three-dimensional view of the box of the ink cartridge viewed from obliquely below.

[0013] Figure 5B It is a top view of the bottom of the box of the ink cartridge. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] <Example>

[0015] The embodiment will be described based on the drawings. In the drawings, Fr indicates the front, Rr indicates the back, Le indicates the left, Ri indicates the right, Up indicates the top, and Dn indicates the bottom.

[0016] Reference Figure 1 The inkjet printer 10 (hereinafter referred to as the printer 10) of the embodiment ejects ink onto a medium such as printing paper to print text, graphics, images, etc. The printer 10 has a function of sucking ink and bubbles from an inkjet nozzle (not shown) and storing the sucked ink as waste ink. In addition, the width direction of the inkjet printer is set as the left-right direction, and the height direction is set as the up-down direction.

[0017] The printer 10 includes an ink cartridge 11 that can store waste ink therein, and a storage unit 20 that is provided at the right end of the printer 10 and can store the ink cartridge 11. The storage unit 20 is not limited to being provided at the front of the printer.

[0018] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 The direction of inserting the ink cartridge 11 relative to the storage portion 20 is defined as the rear (backward), and the direction of taking the ink cartridge 11 out of the storage portion 20 is defined as the front (nearward). The ink cartridge 11 is block-shaped, and its long side direction is the front-back direction. The ink cartridge 11 includes an absorber 30 capable of absorbing waste ink, a surrounding member 40 that wraps the absorber 30, and a housing 12 that accommodates the absorber 30 wrapped by the surrounding member 40.

[0019] The absorber 30 is in a rectangular parallelepiped shape and includes a front side surface 31, a rear side surface 32, a right side surface 33, a left side surface 34, a lower surface 35, and an upper surface 36. The material of the absorber 30 is, for example, sponge, and a known material can be appropriately used.

[0020] The surrounding member 40 is a transparent synthetic resin such as polyethylene, and is formed into a film shape that is in close contact with each surface 31 to 36 of the absorbent body 30. The surrounding member 40 includes a front cover portion 41 that covers the front side surface 31, a rear cover portion 42 that covers the rear side surface 32, a right cover portion 43 that covers the right side surface 33, a left cover portion 44 that covers the left side surface 34, a lower cover portion 45 that covers the lower surface 35, and an upper cover portion 46 that covers the upper surface 36. In the upper cover portion 46, an exposure hole 46a is formed so that a part of the upper surface 36 of the absorbent body 30 can be exposed.

[0021] The housing 12 is made of synthetic resin and includes a rectangular parallelepiped box 50 having an opening 50 a opened upward and capable of accommodating the absorbent body 30 wrapped by the surrounding member 40 , and a cover 60 capable of closing the opening 50 a of the box 50 .

[0022] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 3The long side direction of the box 50 is the front-to-back direction. The box 50 has: a bottom 51 that can support the lower surface 35 of the absorbent body 30 wrapped by the surrounding part 40; an inner wall portion 52 that extends upward from the periphery of the bottom 51 and can surround the absorbent body 30 wrapped by the surrounding part 40; and a long side outer wall portion 55 that is arranged along the outer side of the inner wall portion 52.

[0023] The inner wall portion 52 includes two long-side inner wall portions 53 , 53 extending in the long-side direction of the housing 12 and two short-side inner wall portions 54 , 54 connecting the long-side inner wall portions 53 , 53 .

[0024] Furthermore, the box 50 has: two long side outer wall portions 55, 55 arranged with a gap relative to the outer surface 53a of each long side inner wall portion 53; multiple (or single) ribs 57 connecting each long side inner wall portion 53 and the long side outer wall portion 55; and a short side outer wall portion 58 arranged with a gap relative to the outer surface of the short side inner wall portion 54 on the front side.

[0025] The short side outer wall portion 58 and the long side outer wall portions 55, 55 are connected to each other and constitute the long side outer wall portion 55 as a whole. The short side outer wall portion 58 on the front side is provided with an ink cartridge gripping portion 59 that a user can grip when replacing the ink cartridge 11.

[0026] The upper surface 60a of the cover 60 of the ink cartridge 11 has a groove 61 extending in the front-rear direction. The groove 61 extends from the rear end 60b of the upper surface to the front of the front end 60c. In addition, the groove 61 may not be provided, and the upper surface 60a of the cover 60 may be a flat surface as a whole.

[0027] The groove 61 includes a first convex portion 62 (convex portion) protruding upward, a second convex portion 66 located behind the first convex portion 62 and protruding upward, and an introduction port 67 located behind the second convex portion 66 and capable of introducing waste ink into the ink cartridge 11 .

[0028] With reference to the front-rear direction, the first convex portion 62 is located on the front side of the center, and the second convex portion 66 and the introduction port 67 are located on the rear side of the center.

[0029] Reference Figure 4 In the cross section of the ink cartridge 11 viewed along the width direction (left-right direction) of the printer 10, the first convex portion 62 is substantially trapezoidal in shape. Specifically, the first convex portion 62 includes: a front inclined portion 63 that is inclined so as to be away from the bottom surface of the groove 61 as it moves toward the rear side; a top portion 64 that extends from the upper end of the front inclined portion 63 toward the rear side along the bottom surface 61a of the groove 61; and a rear inclined portion 65 that extends obliquely from the rear end of the top portion 64 toward the bottom surface 61a of the groove 61.

[0030] The top 64 is at the same height as the upper surface 60a of the cover 60, based on the up-down direction. That is, the top 64 is located on substantially the same plane as the upper surface 60a of the cover 60. Alternatively, the top 64 may be located above or below the upper surface 60a of the cover 60.

[0031] The second convex portion 66 has a substantially trapezoidal shape and has the same structure as the first convex portion 62. The description thereof will be omitted.

[0032] The inlet 67 has a peripheral edge 68 that serves as an inlet for waste ink and a cylindrical portion 69 that extends from the peripheral edge 68 toward the box 50 side (lower side). The peripheral edge 68 has a shape of a land runway, but may also be a perfect circle, an ellipse, a polygon, etc. The cylindrical portion 69 passes through the exposure hole 46a of the upper cover portion 46 of the surrounding member 40. The top end 69a of the cylindrical portion 69 is located inside the surrounding member 40.

[0033] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 4 The upper surface 36 of the absorber 30 has an exposed portion 37 which is exposed from the exposure hole 46a formed in the surrounding member 40 and serves as an inlet for waste ink. The exposed portion 37 is recessed so as to fit into the cylindrical portion 69 of the introduction port 67. The exposed portion 37 is located at a position further back than the center in the front-rear direction. The bottom surface 37a of the exposed portion 37 and the inner peripheral surface 37b of the exposed portion 37 are both away from the cylindrical portion 69, but may be in contact with the cylindrical portion 69.

[0034] The cover 60 has two front locking parts 16, 16 at its front end and a rear locking part 18 at its rear end. The box 50 has front locked parts 15, 15 that can be locked with the two front locking parts 16, 16 and a rear locked part 17 that can be locked with the rear locking part 18.

[0035] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 4 The storage section 20 has a top 21 that can be opposed to the cover 60 and a bottom surface 22 that can support the bottom 51 of the box 50. The top 21 is the right end of the metal plate 13 that is provided throughout the width direction of the printer 10. The bottom surface 22 is provided with a plurality of (or a single) protrusions 23 arranged in the front-to-back direction.

[0036] A proximity sensor 25 for detecting the presence of the ink cartridge 11 is provided on the back of the inner wall 29 of the storage portion 20. The short side inner wall portion 54 on the rear side of the box 50 has a plate-shaped detected portion 24 protruding rearward and detectable by the proximity sensor 25 and a plate-shaped reinforcing portion 26 orthogonal to the detected portion 24 and reinforcing the detected portion.

[0037] A fixing member 70 formed by bending a metal plate is fixed to the lower surface 21a of the top 21. The fixing method is a known method such as screwing, riveting, etc. The fixing member 70 has a substantially U-shaped cross section, and has a main body 71 along the top 21 and vertical wall portions 72, 72 extending from both ends of the main body 71 toward the top 21.

[0038] Although not shown in the figure, the fixing member 70 and the plate 13 (see Figure 1 ) are similarly provided throughout the entire width direction of the printer 10 to improve the rigidity of the entire plate 13. The width of the fixing member 70 may also be set according to the width of the top 21, and the fixing member 70 may be fixed only to the top 21.

[0039] Reference Figure 5A and Figure 5B The bottom 51 of the box 50 has a leg 80 extending downward from the bottom 51. The structure of the leg 80 viewed from the direction opposite to the bottom 51 (see Figure 5B ) is described. A line passing through the center in the width direction and extending in the long side direction is set as the center line CL. The leg portion 80 is symmetrical in the width direction with the center line CL as the center. The structure on one side of the center line CL is described below.

[0040] The leg portion 80 has a protrusion 23 (see Figure 1 ) to guide the ink cartridge 11. The guide portion 81 includes a guide straight portion 82 extending along the center line CL and a guide inclined portion 83 that moves away from the center line CL as it moves from the rear end of the guide straight portion 82 toward the rear.

[0041] In addition, the leg portion 80 includes an outer leg portion 84 located outside the guide portion 81 and extending in the same direction as the guide straight portion 82, and a plurality of connecting portions 85 extending in the width direction and connecting the guide portion 81 and the outer leg portion 84. The above-described structure of the leg portion 80 is an example, and the structure of the leg portion viewed from the direction opposite to the lower surface can be changed.

[0042] Reference Figure 4 and Figure 5A The leg portion 80 includes a short leg portion 89 and a long leg portion 88 having different lengths relative to the height direction of the ink cartridge 11. The length L1 of the short leg portion 89 is shorter than the length L2 of the long leg portion 88 (L1<L2). Figure 4 When the ink cartridge 11 is stored, the long leg portion 88 contacts the bottom portion 51 of the storage portion 20 , and the short leg portion 89 is separated from the bottom portion 51 .

[0043] Reference Figure 5BThe short leg portion 89 is located below the introduction port 67. The short leg portion 89 is set inside the introduction port 67 and its peripheral portion. The introduction port 67 is in the shape of a runway on land. The long side direction of the introduction port 67 is the front-to-back direction. The long side direction of the range set as the short leg portion 89 in the leg portion 80 (refer to the frame line F) is also the front-to-back direction. The range set as the short leg portion 89 can be appropriately changed.

[0044] Reference Figure 4 The storage section 20 is provided with an elastic member 90 that is elastically deformable. The elastic member 90 contacts the first convex portion 62 and the second convex portion 66 when the ink cartridge 11 is removed from the storage section 20 or when the ink cartridge 11 is installed in the storage section 20 .

[0045] The elastic component 90 is, for example, a leaf spring, and comprises: a supported portion 91, which is supported overlapping the upper surface 71a of the main body 71; and a displacement portion 92, which is arranged at the front end portion of the supported portion 91 and is deformed when it contacts the first protrusion 62 and the second protrusion 66, and its position changes in the up and down direction.

[0046] The displacement portion 92 includes a first portion 92a extending from the front end of the supported portion 91 toward the groove 61 of the cover 60 and penetrating the hole 73 formed in the main body 71, and a second portion 92b extending obliquely upward and forward from the lower end of the first portion 92a. When the ink cartridge 11 is stored, the lower end of the first portion 92a is located in front of the front inclined portion 63 and contacts the bottom surface 61a of the groove 61. The portion of the bottom surface 61a that contacts the lower end of the first portion 92a is slightly recessed.

[0047] The elastic member 90 is fixed to the fixing member 70, but may be directly fixed to the top 21 without providing the fixing member 70. The fixing method is a known method such as screw fastening, riveting, etc. The shape, position, and fixing method of the elastic member 90 are not limited to those of the embodiment.

[0048] The ink cartridge 11 includes an absorber 30 capable of absorbing waste ink, a surrounding member 40 that surrounds the absorber 30, and a housing 12 that accommodates the absorber 30 surrounded by the surrounding member 40. The surrounding member 40 is interposed between the absorber 30 that absorbs the waste ink and a box 50 of the housing 12. The absorber 30 is not in direct contact with the box 50. Replacement of the absorber 30 becomes easy. In addition, as long as the absorber 30 is not in direct contact with the box 50, the structure of the surrounding member 40 is not limited. For example, the surrounding member 40 may be a bag that is opened at the top.

[0049] Furthermore, the surrounding member 40 has a gripping portion 40a that a user can grip when replacing the absorber 30. The surrounding member 40 makes replacement of the absorber 30 easier.

[0050] Reference Figure 3The shell 12 has a resin inner wall portion 52 that can surround the absorbent body 30 wrapped by the surrounding member 40. The inner wall portion 52 has two long side inner wall portions 53, 53 extending along the long side direction of the shell 12. Therefore, bending is easily generated in the long side inner wall portion 53. However, the long side outer wall portion 55 is provided with a gap separated from the outer surface 53a of the long side inner wall portion 53. In addition, a plurality of ribs 57 are provided between the long side inner wall portion 53 and the long side outer wall portion 55. The bending of the long side inner wall portion 53 can be suppressed.

[0051] Reference Figure 4 The housing 12 has an inlet 67 that can introduce waste ink into the housing 12. The cylinder 69 extends from the peripheral edge 68 of the inlet 67 toward the inside of the housing 12. The top end 69a of the cylinder 69 is located inside the surrounding member 40. Therefore, waste ink can be prevented from adhering to the surrounding member 40.

[0052] The absorber 30 has an exposed portion 37 exposed from the exposure hole 46a of the surrounding member 40. The exposed portion 37 is recessed so that the tube portion 69 can be inserted. When the absorber 30 is stored in a state where the front and rear directions of the absorber 30 are opposite to each other with respect to the box 50, when the lid 60 is closed, the tube portion 69 of the lid 60 contacts the upper surface 36 of the absorber 30, and the lid 60 cannot be closed. It is possible to prevent the absorber 30 from being stored in the box 50 in an incorrect direction.

[0053] Reference Figure 1 The printer 10 includes an ink cartridge 11 capable of storing waste ink therein and a storage unit 20 capable of storing the ink cartridge 11. Figure 2 The upper surface 60 a of the ink cartridge 11 has a first convex portion 62 that protrudes upward. The storage portion 20 is provided with an elastic member 90 (leaf spring) that is in contact with the first convex portion 62 and is elastically deformable.

[0054] The elastic member 90 is separate from the storage section 20. It is easy to set the hardness of the elastic member 90 when the ink cartridge 11 is stored in the storage section 20 and when the ink cartridge 11 is removed from the storage section 20. The printer 10 in which the ink cartridge 11 can be stored and removed smoothly can be provided.

[0055] Furthermore, the elastic member 90 is located on the top portion 21 via the fixing member 70. The elastic member 90 is difficult to be visually recognized by a user who uses the printer 10, and the appearance is good.

[0056] The upper surface 60a of the ink cartridge 11 has an inlet 67 that can introduce waste ink into the interior of the ink cartridge 11, and a second convex portion 66 located in front of the inlet 67. In other words, the second convex portion 66 is located in front of the inlet 67. Even if waste ink is scattered forward, the second convex portion 66 serves as a wall that can block the scattering of waste ink.

[0057] 5 . The bottom 51 of the ink cartridge 11 has a leg portion 80 extending downward from the bottom 51 . The leg portion 80 has a long leg portion 88 and a short leg portion 89 , which have different lengths relative to the vertical direction. The short leg portion 89 is located below the introduction port 67 .

[0058] Reference Figure 4 Waste ink is easily attached to the portion of the bottom 51 of the ink cartridge 11 below the inlet 67. The short leg portion 89 is located around this portion. The short leg portion 89 does not contact the bottom surface 22 of the storage portion 20. Waste ink is difficult to adhere to the short leg portion 89.

[0059] In addition, the present invention is not limited to the examples as long as the functions and effects of the present invention are achieved.

[0060] [Explanation of Reference Numerals]

[0061] 11…Ink cartridges

[0062] 12…Housing

[0063] 30…Absorber

[0064] 37…exposed part

[0065] 40…enclosed parts

[0066] 50...Box, 50a...Box opening

[0067] 52…Inner wall part

[0068] 53 ... long side inner wall portion, 53a ... outer surface of the long side inner wall portion

[0069] 56…Long side outer wall

[0070] 57…rib

[0071] 60…cover

[0072] 67…Inlet

[0073] 68…The periphery of the inlet

[0074] 69…tube, 69a…top end of tube

Claims

1. An ink cartridge comprising: An absorber capable of absorbing waste ink; a surrounding member that wraps the absorbent body; and The housing accommodates the absorbent body wrapped by the surrounding member.

2. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein: The housing has an inner wall portion made of resin, and the inner wall portion can surround the absorbent body wrapped by the surrounding member. The inner wall portion has a long side inner wall portion extending along the long side direction of the housing. The long side outer wall portion is arranged with a gap relative to the outer surface of the long side inner wall portion. At least one rib is provided between each of the long side inner wall portions and each of the long side outer wall portions.

3. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein: The housing includes: a box having an opening and capable of accommodating the absorber; and a cover capable of closing the opening of the box. The cover has an introduction port, and the introduction port can introduce the waste ink into the interior of the housing. The cylindrical portion extends from the periphery of the introduction port toward the interior of the housing, The top end of the cylindrical portion is located inside the surrounding member.

4. The ink cartridge according to claim 3, wherein: The absorbent body has an exposed portion, and the exposed portion is exposed from the surrounding member. The exposed portion is recessed so that the cylindrical portion of the cover can be inserted therein.

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