Ink replenishment container and method of ink filling

Abstract

The present application relates to printing equipment technical field, provide a kind of ink replenishing container and its ink filling method, wherein ink replenishing container includes: ink containing portion, its inside is provided with the ink cavity for storing ink, ink containing portion has first ink opening and second ink opening, first ink opening and second ink opening are all communicated with ink cavity;First sealing member, with the plug portion of first ink opening is covered;Cap, including fixed part and the second connecting portion that can be detachably cooperated with first connecting portion, when second connecting portion is in the cooperation state with first connecting portion, fixed part has the through hole on plug portion in the first direction of at least part of plug portion is exposed;Second sealing member, located second end portion to seal second ink opening.The present application can solve the problem of existing technology, such as difficult to fill ink, easy to contaminate container mouth.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of printing equipment technology, and in particular to an ink refill container and ink filling method. Background Technology

[0002] The printing equipment is capable of imaging images onto printing media such as paper. It includes an imaging device that ejects ink by inkjet. The imaging device is equipped with an ink ejector head and a carriage for moving the ink ejector head. It has an ink supply system inside, which is connected to an ink tank that can be replenished with ink. The ink replenishment container can inject ink into the ink tank through the injection port on the ink tank.

[0003] Existing ink refill containers are typically bottle-shaped. After the bottle body is formed, ink is poured into the bottle through the narrow neck opening. After filling, the bottle opening is sealed using a sealing element and an intermediate cap. However, due to the narrow bottle opening, the ink injection head may accidentally touch the bottle opening or the inner wall of the bottle opening during the injection process, resulting in ink contamination of the bottle opening. Furthermore, during mass production, it is essential to ensure accurate positioning between the bottle opening and the production equipment, which places very high demands on the production equipment. If the alignment accuracy of the production equipment is insufficient, the yield rate of the produced ink refill containers will be low. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In order to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art, the purpose of this invention is to provide an ink refill container and an ink filling method to solve the problems of difficulty in filling ink and easy contamination of the container opening in the prior art.

[0005] The present invention provides an ink refill container in a first aspect, comprising: an ink receiving portion having an ink cavity for storing ink inside, the ink receiving portion having a first end and a second end disposed opposite to each other along a first direction, the first end having a first ink opening and a first connecting portion, the second end having a second ink opening, both the first ink opening and the second ink opening communicating with the ink cavity; a first sealing member having a plug portion covering the first ink opening and an edge portion connected to the plug portion, the plug portion allowing ink in the ink cavity to flow out through the first ink opening in an open state, and sealing the first ink opening in a closed state; and a pressure cap. The device includes a fixing portion and a second connecting portion that can be detachably engaged with the first connecting portion. When the second connecting portion is engaged with the first connecting portion, the fixing portion is located in a first direction of the edge portion to restrict the movement of the first seal relative to the ink receiving portion in the first direction, and the fixing portion has a through hole in the first direction of the plug portion to expose at least a portion of the plug portion; the second seal is located at the second end to seal the second ink opening; wherein ink is injected into the ink cavity through the second ink opening, and in the injection state, the plug portion is in the closed state and the second ink opening is located above the first ink opening.

[0006] According to the ink refill container provided in the embodiment of the present invention, in the ink-filling state, the first ink opening is sealed by a first sealing member and a pressure cap, and the first end of the ink receiving part serves as the bottom. The second ink opening fills the ink into the ink cavity. This can prevent the filled ink from contaminating the first ink opening and affecting the assembly and sealing of the first sealing member on the ink outlet. Moreover, compared with the ink filling method in the prior art, the ink can be effectively injected into the ink cavity, and ink leakage is less likely to occur during filling. It can prevent ink from seeping into the ink outlet and contaminating the part where the ink outlet is located. It can also provide conditions for the fully automated production of the entire container (except for the cap).

[0007] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ink receiving portion includes a first cylindrical portion and a second cylindrical portion located at the first end, wherein the first cylindrical portion is located in a first direction of the second cylindrical portion and forms a first stepped surface facing the same direction as the opening of the first ink opening;

[0008] The outer wall surface of the second cylindrical part is provided with a first external thread.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first cylindrical portion includes a first portion forming the first ink opening and a second stepped surface forming the first portion with the same opening direction as the first ink opening;

[0010] The second connecting portion includes a protruding portion extending relative to the fixing portion in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the protruding portion being hollow inside and having an annular protrusion on its inner sidewall;

[0011] The first connecting portion includes an annular groove disposed on the outer wall of the first portion and adapted to the annular protrusion.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ink receiving portion includes a receiving body for forming an ink cavity and a conical portion connecting the second cylindrical portion and the receiving body, wherein the second ink opening is formed at one end of the receiving body away from the first cylindrical portion;

[0013] The first cylindrical portion, the second cylindrical portion, the conical portion, and the receiving body are integrally formed by a mold.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plug is embedded in the first ink opening and has an elastic material sealing layer, and the elastic material sealing layer is provided with a slit for sealing the first ink opening.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ink receiving portion includes an inwardly protruding portion that communicates with the inside of the first ink opening and protrudes inwardly, the inwardly protruding portion having a positioning surface that contacts the end of the plug portion after the plug portion is embedded in the first ink opening.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ink receiving portion includes a receiving body for forming an ink cavity. The receiving body includes a cylindrical sidewall and an outwardly protruding portion that protrudes radially relative to the cylindrical sidewall. The outwardly protruding portion is located at one end of the cylindrical sidewall opposite to the first ink opening, and the second ink opening is formed inside the outwardly protruding portion.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second sealing element is configured as a sealing film for sealing the second ink opening.

[0018] In a second aspect, the present invention also provides a method for filling an ink refill container, applied to the ink refill container described in the first aspect embodiment, comprising:

[0019] The first seal is fitted to the first ink opening and the first seal is in a closed state.

[0020] The first connecting part of the pressure cap is connected to the second connecting part of the ink reservoir, and the fixing part fixes the first seal to the ink reservoir;

[0021] Adjust the ink container to the ink-filling position and fill the second ink opening with ink, wherein the second ink opening is located above the first ink opening in the ink-filling position;

[0022] This causes the second seal to seal the second ink opening.

[0023] According to the second aspect of the present invention, the ink filling method can prevent ink from leaking from the filling port during the ink filling process. In the overall assembly process of the container, especially in the automated assembly process, by pre-assembling the first sealing element for sealing the ink outlet, the ink leakage phenomenon caused by movement, misalignment of the ink nozzle or other unexpected situations after ink is filled into the ink container in the existing production process can be solved. This can reduce the alignment accuracy requirements of the production equipment to a certain extent, make the overall production process more controllable and effective, and significantly improve the product pass rate.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second sealing element is configured as a sealing membrane, and the sealing method for sealing the second ink opening with the second sealing element is a welding seal.

[0025] Other features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the following description and will be apparent in part from the description or may be learned by practicing the invention. The objects and other advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the structures and / or processes particularly pointed out in the description, claims, and drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0026] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an ink discharge device provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an ink bottle in the prior art;

[0028] Figure 3 This is a first-view structural schematic diagram of the ink refill container provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 4 This is a second-view structural schematic diagram of the ink refill container provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 5 An exploded view of the ink refill container provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 6 An exploded view of the ink refill container provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 7This is a partial internal schematic diagram of the structure of the ink refill container provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Explanation of icon numbers:

[0034] 1 Equipment body, 11 Media tray, 12 Conveying assembly, 13 Paper tray, 21 Feeding roller, 22 Conveying roller, 23 Support frame, 24 Carriage, 25 Ink jet head, 26 Ink tank, 27 Ink supply pipeline;

[0035] 100 Ink receiving portion, 110 First end, 120 Second end, 130 First ink opening, 140 Second ink opening, 150 First cylindrical portion, 151 First part, 152 Second part, 153 Inner protrusion, 153a Positioning surface, 154 Annular groove, 160 Second cylindrical portion, 161 First external thread, 170 First stepped surface, 180 Second stepped surface, 190 Conical portion, 101 Receiving body, 102 Outer protrusion;

[0036] 200 First seal, 210 Plug, 220 Edge, 230 Elastic material sealing layer, 240 Slit;

[0037] 300 pressure cap, 310 fixing part, 320 protruding part, 330 annular protrusion, 340 through hole;

[0038] 400 Second seal;

[0039] 500 middle cover;

[0040] 600 bottles of body. Detailed Implementation

[0041] The following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, will provide a thorough understanding of how the present invention uses technical means to solve technical problems and achieve technical effects, enabling its implementation. It should be noted that these specific descriptions are merely intended to facilitate a clearer understanding of the present invention by those skilled in the art, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. For example, the terms "first" and "second" mentioned in the embodiments of the present invention are not intended to limit the invention, but are merely used to indicate the sequence numbers of multiple identical or similar devices or mechanisms. Those skilled in the art can readjust these sequence numbers for ease of description or during the organization of technical solutions. Furthermore, alternative solutions are described for some mechanisms in different embodiments, and these alternatives can be applied to other identical or similar devices or mechanisms. As long as there is no conflict, the various embodiments and features in each embodiment of the present invention can be combined with each other, and the resulting technical solutions are all within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0042] The technical solution of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0043] First, the present invention provides an ink discharge device, see reference. Figure 1 The ink ejection device includes a device body 1 and a media tray 11, a conveying assembly 12, an ink ejection assembly, an ink storage assembly, and a paper ejection tray 13 disposed within the device body 1. The media tray 11 is used to hold printing media such as paper, and in this embodiment, it is disposed on the back side of the device body 1. The paper ejection tray 13 is used to place the printed paper and is located on the front side of the device body 1. The conveying assembly 12 is located between the media tray 11 and the paper ejection tray 13, and includes a media transmission path disposed inside the device body 1 and a conveying roller assembly on the media transmission path. The conveying roller assembly consists of at least a paper feed roller 21 and a conveying roller 22. The paper feed roller 21 is used to feed the printing media in the media tray 11 into the media transmission path, and the conveying roller 22 continues to convey the media in the media transmission path forward until it is conveyed onto the paper ejection tray 13. The ink jet assembly includes an ink jet head 25, a support frame 23, and a carriage 24 slidably mounted on the support frame 23. The ink jet head 25 is mounted on the carriage 24. When the carriage 24 slides on the support frame 23, it moves along a transmission direction perpendicular to the media transmission path. During the movement of the carriage 24, the ink jet head 25 jets ink onto the printing medium on the media transmission path, thereby achieving imaging of the printing medium.

[0044] The ink storage assembly also includes an ink tank 26 and an ink supply system for supplying ink from the ink tank 26 to the ink jet head 25. The ink tank 26 is mounted on the device body. The ink supply system includes an ink supply line 27 connecting the ink tank 26 and the ink jet head 25. One or more ink tanks 26 can be provided. In this embodiment, four ink tanks 26 are provided, each containing magenta, yellow, cyan, and black, to meet color printing requirements. Alternatively, depending on the usage environment and type, a single color or a mixture of other colors can be selected. The ink tank 26 has an injection port. When the injection port is exposed outside the device body, it can be connected to another ink replenishment container to inject the ink stored inside the ink replenishment container into the injection port of the ink tank 26, thus replenishing the ink in the ink tank 26.

[0045] Existing ink refill containers typically consist of a container body and a sealing plug located at the ink outlet of the container body. The container body is integrally molded with a closed bottom and an open top. The ink outlet is located at the top opening of the container body. During the production process, after the container body is demolded, the ink injection head fills the container body with ink through the ink outlet. After filling with ink, the sealing plug is used to seal the ink outlet. In this process, the ink outlet is relatively narrow because it needs to align with the ink tank's inlet 26. Furthermore, after the container body is filled with ink, it needs to be moved to the next station for sealing. During this process, the ink level is close to the ink outlet, making it prone to overflow and contamination, further affecting the assembly and sealing of the sealing plug.

[0046] Accordingly, see Figures 3 to 7 This invention provides an ink refill container, including an ink receiving portion 100, a first sealing member 200, a pressure cap 300, and a second sealing member 400. The ink receiving portion 100 has an ink cavity for storing ink inside, and also has a shape along a first direction (e.g., Figure 5 The first end 110 and the second end 120 are arranged opposite each other in the direction X. The first end 110 is provided with a first ink opening 130, and the second end 120 is provided with a second ink opening 140. Both the first ink opening 130 and the second ink opening 140 are connected to the ink cavity. In this embodiment, the first ink opening 130 serves as an ink outlet for ink to flow out of the ink cavity, and the second ink opening 140 serves as an ink filling port for ink to enter the ink cavity. The first sealing member 200 has a plug portion 210 and a connection to the plug portion 210. The edge portion 220 and the plug portion 210 cover the first ink opening 130 to control the flow of ink from the first ink opening 130 into and out of the ink chamber. They have two states: an open state and a closed state. In the open state, the first ink opening 130 connects to the outside of the ink chamber and the container, allowing ink in the ink chamber to flow out through the first ink opening 130. In the closed state, the first ink opening 130 is sealed, preventing ink in the ink chamber from flowing out of the first ink opening 130, and simultaneously preventing external liquids from entering the ink chamber through the first ink opening 130. The plug portion 210 has an openable sealing structure, which has a sealed state and a non-sealed state. In this embodiment, the sealing structure remains sealed under normal conditions without external force, preventing ink from flowing out. Under external pressure, it forms an ink outlet, through which ink flows out. Taking the needle used in the prior art to inject ink into the ink tank 26 as an example, when the ink replenishment container is connected to the injection port of the ink tank 26, the needle passes through the ink outlet formed by the sealing structure and connects with the ink cavity. The ink in the ink cavity flows into the needle channel and replenishes the ink tank 26.

[0047] Specifically, one embodiment of the sealing structure can be an elastic material sealing layer 230, with a plug 210 embedded inside the first ink opening 130. The elastic material sealing layer 230 blocks the first ink opening 130 to form a sealing structure. A slit 240 is provided in the middle of the elastic material sealing layer 230. Because the elastic material sealing layer 230 is elastic, the slit 240 automatically closes when no force is applied, keeping the elastic material sealing layer 230 in a closed state that prevents ink from flowing out. When the needle engages with the first ink opening 130, it passes through the slit 240. The slit 240 is opened and its end enters the first ink opening 130 to connect with the ink cavity. The slit 240 of the elastic material sealing layer 230 forms an ink outlet that is opened by the needle to allow the needle to pass through. However, the slit 240 is sealed to the edge of the needle under the action of the elastic material, preventing ink from leaking from the surface of the needle. At this time, the elastic material sealing layer 230 is in an open state to allow the ink in the ink cavity to flow into the needle channel. When the needle leaves the slit 240, the slit 240 closes under the action of the elastic material and reseals the first ink opening 130. Alternatively, another embodiment of the sealing structure can be an elastic element combined with a sealing movable element. The sealing movable element can be sealed within the first ink opening 130 and can move within the first ink opening 130. Its movement can be set along the flow direction of ink in the first ink opening 130, or it can be set in other movement directions. The movement trajectory of the sealing movable element relative to the first ink opening 130 has a sealed position and a non-sealed position. When the elastic element keeps the sealing movable element in the sealed position to prevent ink from flowing out, an external force, such as a needle, can push the sealing movable element from the sealed position to the non-sealed position, thereby allowing ink to flow out from the ink cavity. Of course, the sealing structure can also be implemented in other ways, all of which are within the scope of the present invention.

[0048] Further reading Figure 5 and Figure 7The pressure cap 300 includes a fixing part 310 and a second connecting part that can be detachably engaged with the first connecting part. The fixing part 310 is located in the first direction of the edge part 220 and is used to restrict the disengagement movement of the first seal 200 relative to the ink container part in the first direction. After the first connecting part and the second connecting part are detachably engaged, the pressure cap 300 is fixed relative to the ink container part 100, thereby preventing the first seal 200 from disengaging. The fixing part 310 has a through hole 340 in the middle, exposing the plug part 210. The through hole 340 allows ink to flow out through the first seal in the open state. Thus, when the plug part 210 of the first seal 200 is in the closed state, the ink that wants to flow out from the first ink opening 130 will form resistance in the first direction and act on the first seal 200. At this time, the pressure cap 300 prevents the first seal 200 from disengaging from the first ink opening 130 through the fixing part 310, avoiding the sealing failure of the first seal 200 due to ink pressure.

[0049] Continue with Figure 3 As illustrated in the embodiment, the second seal 400 is located at the second end 120 on the ink receiving portion 100 and is used to seal the second ink opening 140. The second ink opening 140 is used to fill ink into the ink chamber. This filling state can be the ink injection process before the ink replenishment container leaves the factory, or the ink replenishment process during the ink replenishment container recycling process. When the ink is in the filling state, the second ink opening 140 is located above the first ink opening 130, and the plug 210 is in the closed state. At this time, the first end 110 is located below the ink receiving part 100, and the second end 120 is located below the ink receiving part 100. The first seal 200 at the first end 110, in the sealed state of the first ink opening 130, makes the first end 110 equivalent to the bottom of the ink receiving part 100 and prevents ink leakage. Therefore, during the process of filling ink into the second ink opening 140, the ink can enter the ink chamber more smoothly without causing ink contamination to the first ink opening 130, and avoid ink contamination at or near the first ink opening 130 during ink filling, which would affect the factory shipment. In this method, ink filling via the second ink opening 140 at the second end 120 allows the opening structure of the second ink opening 140 to be adapted to the corresponding structure of the ink filling nozzle. For example, the opening diameter of the second ink opening 140 can be appropriately increased according to the filling requirements to improve the tolerance space, allowing the liquid discharged from the ink filling nozzle to directly enter the ink chamber without contaminating the edge of the second ink opening 140. Compared with the existing method of filling ink into the ink replenishment container through the ink outlet of the ink tank 26, this method eliminates the need to adjust the ink filling nozzle to adapt to the narrower ink outlet structure, reduces the required ink filling precision, effectively solves the problem of easy contamination of the ink outlet during factory ink filling, and can also improve the filling rate and significantly improve product production efficiency.

[0050] In one embodiment, such as Figure 5 As shown, the ink container 100 includes a first cylindrical portion 150 and a second cylindrical portion 160 located at a first end 110. The first cylindrical portion 150 is located in a first direction of the second cylindrical portion 160. A first ink opening 130 is formed at the end position of the first cylindrical portion 150. A first stepped surface 170 is formed at the connection between the second cylindrical portion 160 and the first cylindrical portion 150. The orientation of the first stepped surface 170 is the same as the opening direction of the first ink opening 130. In this embodiment, the ink refill container also includes an outer cover (not shown in the figure). The outer cover can be fitted onto the first end 110 of the ink container 100 to protect the first ink opening 130, the first seal 200, and the pressure cap 300. A first external thread 161 is provided around the outer side wall of the second cylindrical portion 160, and a first internal thread is provided on the inner side wall of the outer cover to assemble with the first external thread 161. The outer cover is detachably fitted onto the ink container 100 via the first external thread 161 and the first internal thread. In this structure, the presence of the first stepped surface 170 allows the inner side of the outer cover to have a accommodating space with the ink outlet portion (i.e., the structure of the ink receiving portion 100 including the first cylindrical portion 150 and the second cylindrical portion 160). The accommodating space can prevent the first cylindrical portion 150 and the second cylindrical portion 160 from directly contacting the inner wall of the outer cover, thus preventing leaked ink from adhering to the inner side of the outer cover.

[0051] The first cylindrical portion 150 includes a first portion 151 and a second portion 152 disposed along a first direction. A first ink opening 130 is formed on the first portion 151. The connection between the second portion 152 and the first portion 151 is formed on a second stepped surface 180 with the opening direction of the first ink opening 130 facing the same direction. The diameter of the second portion 152 is larger than the diameter of the first portion 151. The second connecting portion of the pressure cap 300 has a protruding portion 320 extending along a second direction (opposite to the first direction). The protruding portion 320 can be fitted onto the first portion 151 along the second direction and is restricted by the second stepped surface 180. Therefore, the second stepped surface 180 can form a positioning surface 153a for positioning the pressure cap 300. This is beneficial for the pressure cap 300 to be connected to the first portion 151 by automated equipment during automated production, avoiding damage to the pressure cap 300 due to over-assembly.

[0052] exist Figures 5 to 7In the embodiment shown, the protruding portion 320 has a hollow channel for receiving the first cylindrical portion 150 during the process of fitting it into the first cylindrical portion 150. An annular protrusion 330 is provided on the inner sidewall of the hollow channel. The first connecting portion includes an annular groove 154 provided on the outer sidewall of the first portion 151 and adapted to the first internal thread. The recessed contour of the annular groove 154 is adapted to the outer contour of the annular protrusion 330. In this embodiment, during the process of fitting the protruding portion 320 into the first cylindrical portion 150, the annular protrusion 330 is provided with an arc-shaped contour surface on the side facing the first cylindrical portion 150. The arc-shaped contour surface allows the annular protrusion 330 to undergo appropriate deformation after contacting the first cylindrical portion 150 to adapt to the fitting process, and to snap into the annular groove 154 when it reaches the annular groove 154. Expandably, the first seal 200 is made of an elastic material. In the first direction, the distance between the annular groove 154 and the outer end face of the edge portion 220 of the first seal 200 located outside the first ink opening 130 is not less than the distance between the annular protrusion 330 and the inner end face of the fixing portion 310 at the deepest point in the opposite direction of insertion. Thus, when the annular protrusion 330 and the annular groove 154 are engaged, the inner end face of the fixing portion 310 applies pressure to the outer end face when it reaches the outer end face of the edge portion 220, preventing the first seal 200 from disengaging and further sealing and reinforcing the first seal 200. This also prevents ink leakage caused by excessive ink pressure concentration at the first ink opening 130 during ink filling. Furthermore, combined with the first stepped surface 170 in the aforementioned embodiment, the automated equipment provides a corresponding positioning structure during the process of pressing the pressure cap 300 into the first portion 151 along the second direction using the crimping connector to avoid damage to the pressure cap 300 or the first cylindrical portion 150 during the crimping process, achieving precise positioning.

[0053] It should be noted that the ink storage part in this embodiment is a rotating body structure about one of its axes. The axis around which the annular groove 154 is located coincides with the axis, and the axis extends along the first direction. Therefore, the pressure cap 300 can be pressed against the first cylindrical part 150 along the second direction and fastened to the ink storage part through the annular groove 154 to fix the first seal 200.

[0054] See Figure 3The ink receiving portion 100 includes a receiving body 101 for forming an ink cavity and a conical portion 190 connecting the second cylindrical portion 160 and the receiving body 101. The larger end of the conical portion 190 is close to the first end portion 110, and the smaller end is close to the ink cavity, so as to play a guiding role when the outer cap is placed on the first end portion 110. The second ink opening 140 is formed at the end of the receiving body 101 away from the first cylindrical portion 150. The first cylindrical portion 150, the second cylindrical portion 160, the conical portion 190, and the receiving body 101 are all integrally formed by a mold. This is simpler than the structure of another prior art that additionally sets an intermediate cap 500 to form an ink filling port and assemble a sealing element for the ink outlet, reducing the complicated assembly structure. At the same time, combined with the ink filling method through the second ink opening 140 in this embodiment, the production process can be significantly shortened. It should be noted that the assembly relationship between the intermediate cap 500 and the bottle body 600 in the prior art is as follows: Figure 2 As shown, the bottom of the bottle body 600 is sealed, and an ink filling port is provided at the top. An ink outlet is provided at the top of the middle cover 500. The middle cover 500 and the bottle body 600 are sealed by a threaded connection. A sealing element is provided at the ink outlet. In the existing process, after filling the ink in the ink filling port, the middle cover 500 with the sealing element is threaded to the bottle body 600. This increases the number of parts and process steps, and the entire production process still requires manual intervention, which increases the difficulty of automation. The solution in the embodiment of the present invention can significantly solve this problem.

[0055] Additionally, see Figure 7 The plug portion 210 is embedded inside the first ink opening 130 and has a sealing layer 230 for sealing with an elastic material. The elastic material sealing layer 230 is provided with a slit 240. The edge of the plug portion 210 is attached to the ink channel that connects the first ink opening 130 to the ink cavity in an interference fit manner, providing a sealing effect. The ink receiving portion 100 also includes an inner protrusion 153 disposed in the ink channel. The inner protrusion 153 protrudes inward (in this embodiment, it protrudes towards the axis) and has a positioning surface 153a. The positioning surface 153a is used to position the plug portion 210 embedded in the first ink opening 130 to prevent over-assembly. Specifically, the inner protrusion 153 is annular, and the annular structure corresponds to the annular groove 154 formed by the second connecting part on the same horizontal plane, which can ensure that the wall thickness at this position is consistent with the wall thickness at other positions. The positioning surface 153a is provided on the side of the inner protrusion 153 facing the first ink opening 130, and after the plug 210 is embedded into the ink channel along the second direction, it abuts against the bottom of the plug 210 to achieve positioning.

[0056] In another embodiment of the present invention, the ink receiving portion 100 includes a receiving body 101 for forming an ink cavity. The receiving body 101 includes a cylindrical sidewall and an outwardly protruding portion 102 that protrudes radially relative to the cylindrical sidewall. The outwardly protruding portion 102 is located on the second end 120 of the cylindrical sidewall facing away from the first ink opening 130. The second ink opening 140 is formed inside the outwardly protruding portion 102, so that the opening diameter of the second ink opening 140 is flush with the inner sidewall of the ink cavity formed by the cylindrical sidewall, so that the sidewall of the ink cavity extends directly to the second ink opening 140 in the second direction, which facilitates the ink filling process. The outwardly protruding portion 102 plays a protective role for the structure and can provide an effective installation environment for the second seal 400, ensuring the integrity of the seal.

[0057] In this embodiment, the second sealing element 400 is configured as a sealing film for sealing the second ink opening 140. The edge of the sealing film is fixed to the edge of the second ink opening 140 by welding or other fixing methods to achieve a sealing effect. Of course, the second sealing element 400 can also be other sealing structures such as threaded assembly combined with a sealing ring, which are also within the scope of this invention. For details, please refer to... Figure 3 The second ink opening 140 is closer to the body of the ink receiving portion 100 in the first direction than the end of the protrusion 102, so that there is a distance between the second ink opening 140 and the end of the protrusion 102. As a result, when the ink refill container is placed on a flat surface such as a table, the second ink opening 140 and the second seal 400 sealing it will not come into contact with the flat surface, preventing wear and ink leakage.

[0058] Furthermore, the present invention also provides a method for filling an ink refill container for an embodiment of the first aspect, comprising:

[0059] S1, the first seal 200 is assembled into the first ink opening 130, and the first seal 200 is in a closed state. In this embodiment, the slit 240 will not open when the needle is not inserted, and will remain tight under the action of the elastic material.

[0060] S2, the first connecting portion of the pressure cap 300 is connected to the second connecting portion of the ink receiving portion 100, and the fixing portion 310 fixes the first sealing member 200 to the ink receiving portion 100. Combining the annular groove 154 and annular protrusion 330 structure mentioned in the foregoing embodiment, it is only necessary to snap the pressure cap 300 into the first portion 151 of the first cylindrical portion 150 along the second direction.

[0061] S3, adjust the ink reservoir 100 to the ink-filling position, and fill the second ink opening 140 with ink. In the ink-filling position, the second ink opening 140 is positioned above the first ink opening 130. The first ink opening 130 forms the bottom of the ink reservoir 100 under the action of the first seal 200. Ink is injected from above the ink reservoir 100 into the second ink opening 140. This position adjustment is typically achieved by flipping the reservoir.

[0062] S4, the second seal 400 seals the second ink opening 140. When the second seal 400 is set as a sealing film, the sealing method is a welded seal relative to the ink receiving part 100, which can ensure tight connection and sealing.

[0063] This ink filling method can prevent ink from leaking from the filling port during the ink filling process. In the overall assembly process of the container, especially in the automated assembly process, the method of pre-assembling the first sealing element 200 for sealing the ink outlet can solve the problem of ink leakage at the ink outlet after ink filling in the ink container in the existing production process due to movement, misalignment of the ink nozzle or other unexpected situations. It can reduce the alignment accuracy requirements of the production equipment to a certain extent, make the overall production process more controllable and effective, and significantly improve the product pass rate.

[0064] This ink filling method, combined with the structure in the aforementioned embodiments, can be used in the fully automated production process of the entire ink refill container (excluding the cap). Specifically, the first connecting part and the second connecting part are mating annular structures, so the pressure cap 300 only needs to move along the second direction to press into the first cylindrical part 150 to fix the first sealing member 200 onto the first cylindrical part 150, providing conditions for automation. The second stepped surface 180 can provide assembly pressing surface support for the equipment pressure joint to avoid over-pressing and ensure the accuracy of the pressure cap 300 installation, enabling automated assembly of the pressure cap 300. If the first sealing member 200 is installed by directly assembling it into the first ink opening 130, since the first sealing member 200 is made of elastic material and needs to be snapped into the first ink opening 130 in the second direction, it is prone to detachment during the ink filling process due to the double superposition of ink pressure and filling pressure. Obviously, this is not suitable for automated production of bottom ink filling. Furthermore, since the first ink opening 130 and the second ink opening 140 are open at both ends of the ink receiving part 100 to form an internally hollow bottle structure, and the first cylindrical part 150, the second cylindrical part 160, and the ink receiving part 100 are provided by integral molding of the mold, the first stepped surface 170 can provide a positioning surface for the crimping joint of the automated equipment to avoid the crimping joint from damaging the container. This can meet the precise positioning requirements in the automated production process and ensure the pass rate of the produced containers.

[0065] Finally, it should be noted that the above description is merely the preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Any person skilled in the art can make many possible variations and simple substitutions to the technical solutions of the present invention using the disclosed methods and techniques without departing from the scope of the present invention; all of these variations fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An ink refill container, characterized in that, include: An ink container has an ink cavity for storing ink inside. The ink container has a first end and a second end that are disposed opposite to each other along a first direction. The first end has a first ink opening and a first connecting part, and the second end has a second ink opening. Both the first ink opening and the second ink opening are connected to the ink cavity. The first seal has a plug portion covering the first ink opening and an edge portion connected to the plug portion. The plug portion allows ink in the ink chamber to flow out through the first ink opening when it is open, and seals the first ink opening when it is closed. The pressure cap includes a fixing part and a second connecting part that can be detachably engaged with the first connecting part. When the second connecting part is engaged with the first connecting part, the fixing part is located in a first direction of the edge portion to restrict the movement of the first seal relative to the ink receiving portion in the first direction, and the fixing part has a through hole in the first direction of the plug portion to expose at least a portion of the plug portion. A second seal is located at the second end to seal the second ink opening; In this process, ink is poured into the ink cavity through the second ink opening. During the pouring state, the plug is in the closed state and the second ink opening is located above the first ink opening. The ink receiving portion includes a first cylindrical portion and a second cylindrical portion located at the first end. The first cylindrical portion is located in a first direction of the second cylindrical portion and forms a first stepped surface with the opening direction of the first ink opening facing the same direction.

2. The ink refill container according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first cylindrical portion includes a first portion forming the first ink opening and a second portion forming a second stepped surface with the same opening direction as the first ink opening; The second connecting portion includes a protruding portion extending relative to the fixing portion in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the protruding portion being hollow inside and having an annular protrusion on its inner sidewall; The first connecting portion includes an annular groove disposed on the outer wall of the first portion and adapted to the annular protrusion.

3. The ink refill container according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ink receiving portion includes a receiving body for forming an ink cavity and a tapered portion connecting the second cylindrical portion and the receiving body, wherein the second ink opening is formed at the end of the receiving body away from the first cylindrical portion; The first cylindrical portion, the second cylindrical portion, the conical portion, and the receiving body are integrally formed by a mold.

4. The ink refill container according to claim 1, characterized in that, The plug is embedded in the first ink opening and has an elastic material sealing layer, on which a slit for sealing the first ink opening is provided.

5. The ink refill container according to claim 4, characterized in that, The ink receiving portion includes an inwardly protruding portion that communicates with the inside of the first ink opening and protrudes inwardly, the inwardly protruding portion having a positioning surface that contacts the end of the plug portion after the plug portion is embedded in the first ink opening.

6. The ink refill container according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ink receiving portion includes a receiving body for forming the ink cavity. The receiving body includes a cylindrical sidewall and an outwardly protruding portion that protrudes radially relative to the cylindrical sidewall. The outwardly protruding portion is located at one end of the cylindrical sidewall opposite to the first ink opening, and the second ink opening is formed inside the outwardly protruding portion.

7. The ink refill container according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second seal is configured as a sealing membrane for sealing the second ink opening.

8. A method for filling an ink refill container, characterized in that, Applied to the ink refill container as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising: The first seal is fitted to the first ink opening and the first seal is in a closed state. The first connecting part of the pressure cap is connected to the second connecting part of the ink reservoir, and the fixing part fixes the first seal to the ink reservoir; Adjust the ink container to the ink-filling position and fill the second ink opening with ink, wherein the second ink opening is located above the first ink opening in the ink-filling position; This causes the second seal to seal the second ink opening.

9. The ink filling method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The second sealing element is configured as a sealing membrane, and the sealing method for sealing the second ink opening with the second sealing element is a welding seal.

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