A flow channel structure and ink cartridge for controlling pressure balance of dual chambers

Abstract

The utility model discloses a flow channel structure for controlling the pressure balance of dual cavities and an ink cartridge. The flow channel structure for controlling the pressure balance of dual cavities is connected to the two cavities of the ink cartridge. The two cavities of the ink cartridge are used to accommodate printing materials. The flow channel structure for controlling the pressure balance of dual cavities includes two connecting ports and a pressure-controlled flow channel. The two connecting ports are respectively arranged on the cavity walls of the two cavities of the ink cartridge. The pressure-controlled flow channel is arranged on the cavity shell of the ink cartridge. The two ends of the pressure-controlled flow channel are connected to the two connecting ports. The pressure-controlled flow channel is used to connect the two cavities of the ink cartridge. The two cavities of the ink cartridge can be connected through the pressure-controlled flow channel, so that the pressure between the two cavities of the ink cartridge can be balanced in real time, so that the deformation forces of the two cavities are balanced when the printing material in the ink cartridge flows out, thereby ensuring that the printing materials of the two cavities of the ink cartridge are reduced synchronously, and finally preventing the waste of printing materials.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of ink cartridges, in particular to a flow channel structure for controlling double-cavity pressure balance and an ink cartridge. Background Art

[0002] With the development of the times, the application of printers in human production and life is becoming more and more extensive. Among them, the ink cartridge is one of the key components in the printer, which is used to provide ink supply so that the printer can print text, images or other contents on paper.

[0003] In the prior art, ink cartridges in inkjet printers usually form a state of equilibrium with atmospheric pressure through the adsorption of a storage carrier (such as a sponge) to achieve a stable supply of ink. There are also ink cartridges with a built-in elastic pressure control structure in the ink cavity to control the negative pressure of the ink cavity to achieve a stable supply of ink. However, ink cartridges with an elastic pressure control structure in the ink cavity are usually in the form of a single cavity. At the same time, due to the small amount of ink stored in a single cavity ink cartridge, the ink cartridge needs to be replaced frequently. Therefore, a dual-cavity ink cartridge structure and a flow channel structure for controlling the pressure balance of the dual cavities are proposed. Utility Model Content

[0004] The utility model aims to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, the utility model proposes a flow channel structure for controlling the pressure balance of the double cavities, which can balance the pressure between the two cavities through the flow channel.

[0005] The utility model also provides an ink cartridge having the flow channel structure for controlling the pressure balance of the double chambers.

[0006] According to the flow channel structure for controlling the pressure balance of dual cavities in the first aspect of the present utility model, the flow channel structure for controlling the pressure balance of dual cavities is connected to the two cavities of the ink cartridge, and the two cavities of the ink cartridge are used to accommodate printing materials. The flow channel structure for controlling the pressure balance of dual cavities includes two connecting ports and a pressure-controlled flow channel, and the two connecting ports are respectively arranged on the cavity walls of the two cavities of the ink cartridge, and the pressure-controlled flow channel is arranged on the cavity shell of the ink cartridge, and the two ends of the pressure-controlled flow channel are connected to the two connecting ports, and the pressure-controlled flow channel is used to connect the two cavities of the ink cartridge, and the connecting port and the pressure-controlled flow channel are used for the circulation of the printing material.

[0007] The flow channel structure for controlling the pressure balance of the dual cavities according to the embodiment of the utility model has at least the following beneficial effects: the two cavities of the ink cartridge can be connected through the pressure-controlled flow channel, so that the pressure between the two cavities of the ink cartridge can be balanced in real time, thereby making the deformation forces of the two cavities balanced when the printed material in the ink cartridge flows out, thereby ensuring that the printed material in the two cavities of the ink cartridge is reduced synchronously, and ultimately preventing the waste of printed material.

[0008] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the pressure-controlling flow channel is curved.

[0009] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the flow channel structure for controlling the pressure balance of the dual cavities is embedded in the cavity shell of the ink cartridge through an injection molding process.

[0010] According to some embodiments of the present invention, a sealing member is further included, wherein the pressure control channel is arranged on the outer surface of the cavity shell of the ink cartridge, and the sealing member is arranged on the outer surface of the cavity shell of the ink cartridge and is used to seal the pressure control channel.

[0011] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the sealing member is welded to the cavity shell of the ink cartridge by a welding process.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the utility model, the pressure-controlled flow channel located on the outer surface of the cavity shell of the ink cartridge includes a first flow channel opening and a second flow channel opening, the first flow channel opening is connected to one of the connecting ports, and the second flow channel opening is connected to the other connecting port.

[0013] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the cross-sectional shape of the connection port is at least one of circular and square.

[0014] According to the ink cartridge of the second aspect embodiment of the utility model, the ink cartridge includes the flow channel structure for controlling the pressure balance of the dual chambers as described in any one of the embodiments of the first aspect above, the ink cartridge includes a cavity shell and two cavities, two cavities are formed in the cavity shell, and the two ends of the pressure control flow channel are respectively connected to the two cavities.

[0015] The ink cartridge according to the embodiment of the utility model has at least the following beneficial effects: the two cavities of the ink cartridge can be connected through the pressure-controlled flow channel, so that the pressure between the two cavities of the ink cartridge can be balanced in real time, thereby making the deformation forces of the two cavities balanced when the printed material in the ink cartridge flows out, thereby ensuring that the printed material in the two cavities of the ink cartridge is reduced synchronously, and ultimately preventing the waste of printed material.

[0016] Additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will be given in part in the following description, and in part will become apparent from the following description, or will be learned through the practice of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and easily understood from the description of the embodiments in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

[0018] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the internal structure of an ink cartridge according to an embodiment of the second aspect of the utility model;

[0019] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the internal structure of the ink cartridge is shown (seal omitted);

[0020] Figure 3 for Figure 2 An enlarged schematic diagram of the flow channel structure for controlling the pressure balance of the dual chambers of the ink cartridge is shown;

[0021] Figure 4 for Figure 3 A schematic front view of a flow channel structure for controlling the pressure balance of the dual chambers is shown.

[0022] Reference numerals:

[0023] Ink cartridge 10; cavity 11; cavity wall 111; cavity shell 12;

[0024] Flow channel structure 20; connecting port 21; pressure control flow channel 22; first flow channel port 221; second flow channel port 222;

[0025] Seal 30. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, and examples of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals throughout represent the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and cannot be understood as limiting the present invention.

[0027] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that descriptions involving orientation, such as up, down, front, back, left, right, etc., indicating orientations or positional relationships, are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the present invention.

[0028] In the description of the present utility model, "several" means one or more, "more" means more than two, "greater than", "less than", "exceed" etc. are understood to exclude the number itself, and "above", "below", "within" etc. are understood to include the number itself. If there is a description of "first" or "second", it is only used for the purpose of distinguishing the technical features, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying the relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features or implicitly indicating the order of the indicated technical features.

[0029] In the description of the present invention, unless otherwise clearly defined, terms such as setting, installing, connecting, etc. should be understood in a broad sense, and technicians in the relevant technical field can reasonably determine the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention based on the specific content of the technical solution.

[0030] Reference Figures 1 to 3 According to the flow channel structure for controlling the pressure balance of two cavities in the first aspect of the embodiment of the utility model, the flow channel structure for controlling the pressure balance of two cavities is connected to the two cavities 11 of the ink cartridge 10, and the two cavities 11 of the ink cartridge 10 are used to accommodate the printing material. The flow channel structure 20 for controlling the pressure balance of two cavities includes two connecting ports 21 and a pressure-controlled flow channel 22. The two connecting ports 21 are respectively arranged on the cavity walls 111 of the two cavities 11 of the ink cartridge 10, and the pressure-controlled flow channel 22 is arranged on the cavity shell 12 of the ink cartridge 10. The two ends of the pressure-controlled flow channel 22 are connected to the two connecting ports 21, and the pressure-controlled flow channel 22 is used to connect the two cavities 11 of the ink cartridge 10. The connecting ports 21 and the pressure-controlled flow channel 22 are used for the circulation of the printing material.

[0031] Specifically, the flow channel structure 20 for controlling the pressure balance of the dual cavities can be applied to the inkjet printer cartridge 10, and its function is to effectively connect the two cavities 11 in the ink cartridge 10 through a pressure control flow channel 22 to achieve pressure balance and smooth flow of ink. The ink cartridge 10 is provided with two independent cavities 11, each of which is provided with a connection port 21, and the two cavities 11 are respectively used to accommodate printing materials, such as ink. Each cavity 11 has sufficient capacity to ensure continuous ink supply during printing. At the same time, the design of each cavity 11 fully considers the fluidity and stability of the ink to ensure stable and reliable printing quality.

[0032] The two connecting ports 21 of the flow channel structure 20 for controlling the pressure balance of the dual cavities are respectively arranged on the cavity walls 111 of the two cavities 11 of the ink cartridge 10. The position, size and shape of the connecting port 21 on the cavity wall 111 of the cavity 11 have been calculated and verified by experiments. Under the influence of the ink outlet speed of the ink cartridge, the capacity of the two independent cavities 11 and the elasticity of the elastic device (not shown in the figure) in the cavity 11, the various parameters of the connecting port 21 should ensure that the ink can flow in and out smoothly. The shape and material of the connecting port 21 are also selected to reduce the resistance of the ink during the flow process and prevent the leakage and volatilization of the ink. It can be a round hole with rounded chamfers, a square hole, etc. The pressure control flow channel 22 is arranged on the cavity shell 12 of the ink cartridge 10, and its two ends are respectively connected to the two connecting ports 21. The pressure control channel 22 connects the two cavities 11, which not only achieves the pressure balance between the two cavities 11, but also makes the deformation force of the two cavities 11 balanced when the printing material in the ink cartridge 10 flows out, thereby ensuring that the printing material in the two cavities 11 of the ink cartridge 10 is reduced synchronously, ensuring the stable supply of ink. So in the same way, similar to the design principle of the connecting port 21, the shape, length, width and diameter of the pressure control channel 22 are calculated. Under the influence of the ink outlet speed of the ink cartridge, the capacity of the two independent cavities 11 and the elasticity of the elastic device (not shown in the figure) in the cavity 11, the various parameters of the pressure control channel 22 should ensure that the pressure between the two cavities 11 can be maintained consistent under any circumstances, and prevent the ink from being interrupted or blocked during the flow process.

[0033] Therefore, it can be understood that the caliber, length and shape of the pressure control channel 22, and the shape and caliber of the connecting port 21 are obtained through calculation and experimental verification, and meet the use requirements of the ink cartridge to discharge ink and ensure the pressure balance between the two independent cavities 11. Because the shape, capacity and elastic force value of the ink cartridge are different, the various parameters of the pressure control channel 22 and the connecting port 21 in this embodiment are not specifically limited, and can meet the use requirements of the ink cartridge and ensure the pressure balance and synchronous pressure change between the independent cavities 11.

[0034] In actual application, when the printer performs printing operation, ink is ejected from the liquid outlet of one of the cavities 11, and the ink in the other cavity 11 can flow into the pressure control channel 22 through the connecting port 21, and then flow into the liquid outlet cavity 11 in equal amounts. Due to the existence of the pressure control channel 22, the pressure difference between the two cavities 11 is effectively balanced, thereby ensuring the stability and consistency of printing. In addition, the flow channel structure 20 for controlling the pressure balance of the dual cavities also has the advantages of simple structure, easy manufacturing and maintenance. Due to the reasonable and efficient design of the pressure control channel 22, the service life of the entire ink cartridge 10 is extended, and the printing cost is also reduced.

[0035] Therefore, it can be understood that the flow channel structure 20 for controlling the pressure balance of the dual chambers according to the embodiment of the utility model has at least the following beneficial effects: through the pressure-controlled flow channel 22, the two chambers 11 of the ink cartridge 10 can be connected, so that the pressure between the two chambers 11 of the ink cartridge 10 can be balanced in real time, so that the deformation forces of the two chambers 11 are balanced when the printing material flows out of the ink cartridge 10, thereby ensuring that the printing material of the two chambers 11 of the ink cartridge 10 is reduced synchronously, and ultimately preventing the waste of printing material.

[0036] Specifically, in some embodiments of the present invention, referring to Figures 2 to 4 , the pressure-controlled flow channel 22 is set in a curved shape. First, by designing a tortuous flow channel, the flow rate and flow of the ink can be more effectively controlled. This helps to prevent the situation of too much or too little ink during the printing process, thereby ensuring the printing quality and effect. Secondly, the tortuous flow channel design can increase the fluidity of the ink and reduce the risk of clogging. Especially when the printer is not used for a long time, this design can prevent the ink from solidifying or clogging in the flow channel. Furthermore, by accurately controlling the flow of ink, it can also help to reduce the waste of ink. In traditional straight flow channels, ink may overflow or be wasted due to excessive or uneven flow rate. The tortuous pressure-controlled flow channel 22 can better manage the use of ink and improve the utilization rate of ink. Finally, during the printing process, the tortuous pressure-controlled flow channel 22 can also maintain a constant ink pressure and stably control its force, which helps to print with high quality. The tortuous flow channel design helps to maintain the pressure balance in the system and ensure that the ink can flow to the print head evenly and stably.

[0037] It should also be noted that the meandering pressure-controlled flow channel 22 is also conducive to saving space, making the structure of the ink cartridge 10 more compact. In addition, the calibers of the various connecting holes of the pressure-controlled flow channel 22 and the caliber and length of the flow channel should be calculated according to the elastic structure and film structure of the ink cartridge 10 between different cavities 11 to calculate the pressure difference between the cavities 11, and then the calibers of the various connecting holes of the pressure-controlled flow channel 22 and the caliber and length of the flow channel are calculated based on the pressure difference. Therefore, the pressure-controlled flow channel 22 designed under this design concept can achieve the ultimate purpose of balancing the pressure difference of each cavity 11.

[0038] In some embodiments of the utility model, the flow channel structure 20 for controlling the pressure balance of the dual cavities is embedded in the cavity shell 12 of the ink cartridge 10 through an injection molding process. By embedding the flow channel structure 20 for controlling the pressure balance of the dual cavities through an injection molding process, not only can the production efficiency be improved and the manufacturing cost be reduced, but also the accuracy and consistency of the flow channel structure can be ensured. This process is suitable for large-scale production and can be flexibly adjusted and optimized as needed. In general, the flow channel structure 20 for controlling the pressure balance of the dual cavities is embedded in the cavity shell 12 of the ink cartridge 10 through an injection molding process, thereby realizing the seamless integration of the flow channel structure and the cavity shell 12 of the ink cartridge 10, and improving the overall performance and reliability of the ink cartridge 10. This embedding method also has the advantages of simple process, low cost, and high production efficiency.

[0039] Further, refer to Figure 1 In some embodiments of the utility model, the flow channel structure 20 for controlling the pressure balance of the dual chambers also includes a seal 30, and the pressure control flow channel 22 is arranged on the outer surface of the cavity shell 12 of the ink cartridge 10. The seal 30 is arranged on the outer edge surface of the cavity shell 12 of the ink cartridge 10 and is used to seal the pressure control flow channel 22.

[0040] The pressure-controlling flow channel 22 of the flow channel structure 20 for controlling the pressure balance of the dual cavities by the injection molding process is arranged on the outer surface of the cavity shell 12 of the ink cartridge 10. This design can facilitate processing and assembly, and also facilitates the inspection and maintenance of the pressure-controlling flow channel 22. However, since the pressure-controlling flow channel 22 is exposed to the outside of the cavity shell 12 of the ink cartridge 10, attention should be paid to its sealing performance to prevent ink leakage or external impurities from entering the flow channel.

[0041] In order to solve the above problem, a sealing member 30 is added to the outer surface of the cavity shell 12 of the ink cartridge 10. The sealing member 30 fits tightly around the pressure control channel 22 to form an effective sealing barrier, thereby ensuring the sealing of the pressure control channel 22.

[0042] In a specific implementation, the seal 30 can be made of plastic, rubber, silicone or other materials with excellent sealing properties. These materials not only have good elasticity and corrosion resistance, but also can adapt to the changes in the shape of the pressure control channel 22 to ensure the stability and durability of the sealing effect. In addition, the design of the seal 30 also needs to take into account the convenience and reliability of installation. For example, a specific installation structure, such as a card slot or a bonding surface, can be set on the seal 30 so as to be firmly connected to the cavity shell 12 of the ink cartridge 10. At the same time, the shape and size of the seal 30 also need to be accurately matched according to the shape and size of the pressure control channel 22 to ensure the tightness of the seal. During the installation process, the seal 30 can be placed around the pressure control channel 22 first, and then it can be tightly fitted on the outer surface of the cavity shell 12 of the ink cartridge 10 by appropriate pressure. In a specific implementation, if it is necessary to further strengthen the sealing effect, a special sealant or adhesive can be applied between the seal 30 and the cavity shell 12 of the ink cartridge 10, or a welding process can be directly used for sealing. Ultrasonic welding, thermal welding or other suitable welding techniques may be used in the welding process. Taking ultrasonic welding as an example, this technique uses high-frequency vibration energy to generate friction heat on the contact surface, so that the material of the contact part between the seal 30 and the cavity shell 12 of the ink cartridge 10 is quickly melted, and then the two are tightly combined under the action of external force. When the material cools and solidifies, a strong weld seam can be formed.

[0043] In general, the flow channel structure 20 for controlling the pressure balance of the dual cavities seals the pressure control flow channel 22 disposed on the outer surface of the cavity shell 12 of the ink cartridge 10 by adding a seal 30, which not only improves the sealing performance of the structure, but also effectively prevents ink leakage and the entry of external impurities. This sealing method has the advantages of convenient installation and high reliability, and brings new innovations and improvements to the design of the ink cartridge 10 of the inkjet printer.

[0044] In some embodiments of the present invention, referring to Figures 2 to 4 , located on the outer surface of the cavity shell 12 of the ink cartridge 10 , the pressure control channel 22 includes a first channel opening 221 and a second channel opening 222 , the first channel opening 221 is connected to one of the connecting ports 21 , and the second channel opening 222 is connected to the other connecting port 21 .

[0045] Specifically, on the outer surface of the cavity shell 12 of the ink cartridge 10, the pressure control channel 22 is an important channel connecting the two internal connection ports 21. Specifically, the pressure control channel 22 has two interfaces: a first channel port 221 and a second channel port 222. The two interfaces are respectively connected to the two connection ports 21 located on the cavity wall 111, thereby realizing the connection between the internal cavity 11 of the ink cartridge 10 and the ink supply system on the outer surface of the cavity shell 12 of the ink cartridge 10. In the implementation process, the design of the first channel port 221 and the second channel port 222 needs to take into account the fluidity of the ink, the sealing of the interface, and the stability of the connection. In order to ensure these properties, the interface can adopt a specific shape and size, such as being designed to be circular, elliptical or other suitable shapes to meet different connection requirements.

[0046] Reference Figure 2 as well as Figure 3 In some embodiments of the utility model, the cross-sectional shape of the connection port 21 is at least one of a circle and a square. The two connection ports 21 may both be round holes or square holes, or one may be a square hole and the other may be a round hole. Of course, it is understandable that the connection port 21 may also be an elliptical hole, etc., which may not be specifically limited in the present embodiment, but its aperture and shape should be calculated based on the size of the cavity 11 of the ink cartridge 10 between different cavities 11, the elastic structure and the film structure, and the ink outlet speed of the ink outlet to calculate the pressure difference before the cavity 11, and then calculate based on the pressure difference, so that the pressure control channel 22 connected through the connection port 21 can achieve the ultimate purpose of balancing the pressure difference of each cavity 11.

[0047] Reference Figure 1 According to the ink cartridge 10 of the embodiment of the second aspect of the utility model, the ink cartridge 10 includes the flow channel structure 20 for controlling the pressure balance of the dual cavities according to any one of the embodiments of the first aspect above, and the ink cartridge 10 includes a cavity shell 12 and two cavities 11, and the cavity shell 12 is formed with two cavities 11, and the two ends of the pressure control flow channel 22 are respectively connected to the two cavities 11. The two cavities 11 of the ink cartridge 10 can be connected by the pressure control flow channel 22 of the flow channel structure 20 for controlling the pressure balance of the dual cavities, so that the pressure between the two cavities 11 of the ink cartridge 10 can be balanced in real time, so that the deformation force of the two cavities 11 is balanced when the printing material in the ink cartridge 10 flows out, thereby ensuring that the printing material of the two cavities 11 of the ink cartridge 10 is reduced synchronously, and finally preventing the waste of printing material.

[0048] The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail above in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various changes can be made within the knowledge scope of ordinary technicians in the relevant technical field without departing from the purpose of the present invention.

Claims

1. A flow channel structure for controlling the pressure balance of a double cavity, characterized in that: The pressure control channel is connected to the two cavities of the ink cartridge, and the two cavities of the ink cartridge are used to accommodate the printing material. The flow channel structure for controlling the pressure balance of the dual cavities includes two connecting ports and a pressure control channel. The two connecting ports are respectively arranged on the cavity walls of the two cavities of the ink cartridge. The pressure control channel is arranged on the cavity shell of the ink cartridge. The two ends of the pressure control channel are connected to the two connecting ports. The pressure control channel is used to connect the two cavities of the ink cartridge. The connecting port and the pressure control channel are used for the circulation of the printing material.

2. The flow channel structure for controlling the pressure balance of the dual cavities according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pressure control flow channel is arranged in a curved manner.

3. The flow channel structure for controlling the pressure balance of the dual cavities according to claim 1, characterized in that: The flow channel structure for controlling the pressure balance of the dual cavities is embedded in the cavity shell of the ink cartridge through an injection molding process.

4. The flow channel structure for controlling the pressure balance of dual cavities according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a sealing member, the pressure control flow channel is arranged on the outer surface of the cavity shell of the ink cartridge, and the sealing member is arranged on the outer surface of the cavity shell of the ink cartridge and is used to seal the pressure control flow channel.

5. The flow channel structure for controlling the pressure balance of dual cavities according to claim 4, characterized in that: The sealing member is welded to the cavity shell of the ink cartridge by a welding process.

6. The flow channel structure for controlling the pressure balance of dual cavities according to claim 4, characterized in that: Located on the outer surface of the cavity shell of the ink cartridge, the pressure-controlled flow channel includes a first flow channel opening and a second flow channel opening, the first flow channel opening is connected to one of the connecting ports, and the second flow channel opening is connected to the other connecting port.

7. The flow channel structure for controlling the pressure balance of dual cavities according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cross-sectional shape of the connection port is at least one of a circular shape and a square shape.

8. An ink cartridge, characterized in that: It comprises a flow channel structure for controlling the pressure balance of dual chambers as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the ink cartridge comprises a chamber shell and two chambers, two chambers are formed in the chamber shell, and two ends of the pressure-controlled flow channel are respectively connected to the two chambers.

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