Tank and recording device

Abstract

To provide an ink tank which can examine whether a lid part of the ink tank is normally bonded or not.SOLUTION: A recording device according to the invention includes a tank including: a first storage chamber for storing an ink supplied to a recording head for discharging the ink; a second storage chamber which communicates with the first storage chamber and includes an atmosphere introducing port to introduce outside air for storing the air; a first opening part which is covered with a first lid part; a second opening part which is covered with a second lid part provided on the opposite side of the first opening part; and an injection port for injecting the ink to the first storage chamber. The injection port is blocked by a detachable tank cap.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an ink tank used in an inkjet recording apparatus that discharges ink to record an image, and an inkjet recording apparatus including the ink tank.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an ink tank including an ink storage chamber for storing ink, an ink supply port provided in the ink storage chamber, an air release passage for introducing external air into the ink storage chamber as the ink is consumed, and an air chamber provided in the middle of the air release passage.

[0003] According to the ink tank, even if the air in the ink storage chamber thermally expands due to a change in environmental temperature or the like and the ink in the ink storage chamber flows backward through the air release passage, the ink is stored in the air chamber, so that the ink can be prevented from leaking to the outside.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The ink tank described in Patent Document 1 needs to be provided with a lid portion that covers and adheres to the opening of the ink storage chamber and the opening of the air chamber in the manufacturing process. At this time, if there are adhesion failures in thermal welding or ultrasonic welding, or component failures such as steps or recesses between the ink storage chamber and the air chamber, there is a risk that the lid portion will not be adhered normally and a gap will be generated on the adhesion surface. If such a gap is generated, air will enter the ink storage chamber from the gap portion instead of from the air release passage. As a result, there is a risk that the function of the air chamber of preventing the ink from leaking to the outside will not be sufficiently exhibited.

[0006] In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an ink tank capable of inspecting whether the lid of the ink tank is normally adhered.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a first storage chamber that stores ink supplied to a recording head that discharges ink, a second storage chamber that communicates with the first storage chamber, has an air introduction port through which external air can be introduced, and stores air, a first opening covered by a first lid portion, a second opening covered by a second lid portion provided on the opposite side of the first opening, and an injection port for injecting ink into the first storage chamber. The injection port is characterized by being closed by a removable tank cap.

Effects of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an ink tank capable of inspecting whether the lid of the ink tank is normally adhered.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] (First Embodiment) Hereinafter, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an inkjet recording apparatus using an ink tank (ink cartridge) according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The inkjet recording apparatus 1 includes a cassette 2 on which a recording medium (sheet) P is loaded, a feed roller 3 that feeds the recording medium P, a conveyance roller 4 that conveys the recording medium P, a recording head 10 having ejection ports for ejecting ink, and a discharge roller 6 that discharges the recording medium P.

[0012] The recording medium P loaded in the cassette 2 is separated one by one by the feeding roller 3 and fed to the conveying roller 4 while being guided by the paper guide. The recording medium P that has reached the conveying roller 4 is sandwiched between the conveying roller 4 and the pinch roller 5 and conveyed to a position facing the recording head 10 while being supported from below by the platen 8. The recording head 10 is detachably mounted on the carriage. The carriage is supported so as to be movable in a direction intersecting the conveying direction of the recording medium. The conveyed recording medium P has ink ejected by the recording head 10 while the carriage moves, and an image for one band is formed. The recording medium on which an image for one band has been formed is intermittently conveyed by a predetermined conveyance amount in order to form an image for the next one band. By alternately repeating this intermittent conveyance operation and the image formation operation, an image is formed on the entire recording medium. The recording medium P on which the image has been formed is sandwiched and conveyed by the discharge roller 6 and the booster 7 and discharged to a discharge tray (not shown).

[0013] Next, the configuration of the ink tank according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ink tank according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2(b) is a perspective view when FIG. 2(a) is viewed from the opposite side. Further, FIG. 3 is a side view of the ink tank according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3(a) is a side view when the ink tank 21 is viewed from the A1 direction in FIG. 2. FIG. 3(b) is a side view when the ink tank 21 is viewed from the A2 direction in FIG. 2.

[0015] The ink tank 21 is detachably mounted on a mounting portion provided on the carriage. The ink tanks 21 are respectively mounted for each corresponding ink color (for example, black Bk, cyan C, magenta M, yellow Y). The ink tank 21 stores ink to be supplied to the recording head 10. The ink tank 21 is composed of a tank container 22, a first lid portion 23, and a second lid portion 24. The ink tank 21 has an ink storage chamber (first storage chamber) 201 which is a space for storing ink, and an air storage chamber (second storage chamber) 202 which is a space for storing air. The air storage chamber 202 is provided above the ink storage chamber 201. The ink storage chamber 201 and the air storage chamber 202 are partitioned by a partition wall 26. The opening of the ink storage chamber 201 is covered by the first lid portion 23. The opening of the air storage chamber 202 is covered by the second lid portion 24. An ink supply port 25 for connecting and communicating the ink storage chamber 201 and the ink receiving portion of the recording head 10 is provided on the bottom surface of the ink storage chamber 201. Further, an air inlet 27 which communicates with the atmosphere and can introduce external air into the ink storage chamber 201 as the ink in the ink storage chamber 201 is consumed is provided on the upper surface of the air storage chamber 202. A minute communication portion (communication path) 28 is provided on the partition wall 26 between the ink storage chamber 201 and the air storage chamber 202. The ink storage chamber 201 and the air storage chamber 202 communicate with each other through this communication path 28. The ink storage chamber 201 communicates with the atmosphere at the air inlet 27 through the communication path 28 and the air storage chamber 202. The air storage chamber 202 normally stores air, but can store ink inside so that ink does not leak to the outside when the air in the ink storage chamber 201 thermally expands and the ink flows back through the communication path 28.

[0016] The tank container 22 forming the ink storage chamber 201, the first lid portion 23, and the tank container 22 forming the air storage chamber 202 and the second lid portion 24 are adhered to each other by means such as ultrasonic welding or thermal welding. After adhesion, a leak inspection (leak check) described later is performed to inspect whether each is adhered normally. The leak inspection is to inspect whether there is a gap in the adhesion surface of the ink tank 21. If there is a gap, there is a risk of problems such as ink in the ink tank 21 leaking to the outside and the ink flowing back due to thermal expansion or the like not being able to be accommodated in the air storage chamber 202.

[0017] Next, the method of leak inspection in the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram during the leak inspection of the ink tank according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, during the leak inspection, a pressure pump 151 is attached to the air inlet 27 of the ink tank 21. Further, a pressure measuring device 152 is attached to the ink supply port 25 of the ink tank 21. Then, while sending air into the ink tank 21 by the pressure pump 151, the pressure inside the ink tank 21 is measured by the pressure measuring device 152. At this time, if the pressure inside the ink tank 21 is increasing, it can be seen that the adhesion surface is normally adhered without a gap. On the other hand, if the pressure inside the ink tank 21 does not increase even when air is sent into the ink tank 21, it can be seen that air is leaking (leaking) from the adhesion surface of the ink tank 21 to the outside.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 5, the conventional ink tank 31 has a configuration in which a single lid portion 33 covering the ink storage chamber 301 and the air storage chamber 302 is adhered to the tank container 32. In the ink tank 31 having such a configuration, when the above leak inspection is performed, it is possible to inspect whether the outer peripheral portions of the tank container 32 and the lid portion 33 are normally adhered. However, it is not possible to inspect whether the partition wall 36 partitioning the ink storage chamber 301 and the air storage chamber 302 and the lid portion 33 are normally adhered.

[0019] In this embodiment, the opening of the ink storage chamber 201 and the opening of the air storage chamber 202 are formed on different surfaces. A first lid portion 23 that covers the opening of the ink storage chamber 201 and a second lid portion 24 that covers the opening of the air storage chamber 202 are separately adhered to the tank container 22. Therefore, in the above leak inspection, not only the outer peripheral portion of the tank container 22 but also whether the portions between the first lid portion 23 and the partition wall 26 and between the second lid portion 24 and the partition wall 26 are properly adhered can be inspected. As a result, it becomes possible to discriminate an ink tank with guaranteed functions.

[0020] As described above, according to the ink tank according to this embodiment, it is possible to inspect whether the lid portion of the ink tank is properly adhered by the above-described leak inspection.

[0021] Note that in the present invention, the space provided in the ink tank is not limited to the ink storage chamber and the air storage chamber. It may be configured to house a negative pressure generating member that holds ink in the first storage chamber and to house the ink supplied to the first storage chamber in the second storage chamber. Even in this case, since the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber can be formed by the two lid portions as in the case of the first embodiment, it is possible to discriminate an ink tank with guaranteed functions by the same leak inspection.

[0022] (Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that the description of the same configuration as that of the first embodiment will be omitted, and only the different parts will be described.

[0023] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an ink tank 41 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The ink tank 41 according to this embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the directions of the openings of the ink storage chamber 401 and the air storage chamber 402 are different. In this embodiment, the ink storage chamber 401 has an opening on the side surface of the ink tank 41. On the other hand, the air storage chamber 402 has an opening on the bottom surface of the ink tank 41. Therefore, the first lid portion 43 that covers the opening of the ink storage chamber 401 is adhered from the side surface, and the second lid portion 44 that covers the opening of the air storage chamber 402 is adhered from the bottom surface.

[0024] Even when the ink tank 41 is configured in this way, it is possible to inspect whether the portions between the first lid portion 43 and the partition wall 46 and between the second lid portion 44 and the partition wall 46 are properly adhered by the leak inspection shown in FIG. 4.

[0025] As described above, also in the present embodiment, the effects of the present invention can be obtained in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

[0026] (Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that descriptions of configurations similar to those of the first embodiment will be omitted, and only different portions will be described.

[0027] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an ink tank 51 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the ink tank 51 according to the present embodiment, the openings of the ink storage chamber 501 and the air storage chamber 502 are provided on the same side surface of the ink tank 51 in the same direction. And a step is provided between the partition walls 56 that partition the ink storage chamber 501 and the air storage chamber 502. With such a configuration, instead of adhering the openings of the ink storage chamber 501 and the air storage chamber 502 with a single lid portion, the first lid portion 53 and the second lid portion 54 are adhered for each of the respective openings. The first lid portion 53 covers the opening of the ink storage chamber 501 without covering the opening of the air storage chamber 502. The second lid portion 54 covers the opening of the air storage chamber 502 without covering the opening of the ink storage chamber 501. In this way, a space is formed for the ink storage chamber 501 by the tank container 52 and the first lid portion 53. Also, a space is formed for the air storage chamber 502 by the tank container 52 and the second lid portion 54. The ink storage chamber 501 and the air storage chamber 502 communicate with each other through a communication passage 58.

[0028] Even when the ink tank 51 is configured in this way, it is possible to inspect whether the portions between the first lid portion 53 and the partition wall 56 and between the second lid portion 54 and the partition wall 56 are properly adhered by the leak inspection shown in FIG. 4.

[0029] As described above, the effects of the present invention can also be obtained in this embodiment in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment.

[0030] (Fourth Embodiment) Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that descriptions of configurations similar to those of the first embodiment will be omitted, and only different portions will be described.

[0031] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an ink tank 61 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the ink tank 61 according to this embodiment, the openings of the ink storage chamber 601 and the air storage chamber 602 are provided on the same-side surface of the ink tank 51 in the same direction. Further, no step is provided between the partition wall 56 that partitions the ink storage chamber 501 and the air storage chamber 502. However, the first lid portion 63 and the second lid portion 64 are adhesively bonded to the partition wall 66 separately. The first lid portion 63 covers the opening of the ink storage chamber 601 without covering the opening of the air storage chamber 602. The second lid portion 64 covers the opening of the air storage chamber 602 without covering the opening of the ink storage chamber 601. In this way, a space is formed for the ink storage chamber 601 by the tank container 62 and the first lid portion 63. Also, a space is formed for the air storage chamber 602 by the tank container 62 and the second lid portion 64. The ink storage chamber 601 and the air storage chamber 602 communicate with each other through a communication passage 68.

[0032] Even when the ink tank 61 is configured in this way, it is possible to inspect whether the first lid portion 63 and the partition wall 66, and the second lid portion 64 and the partition wall 66 are normally adhered by the leak inspection shown in FIG. 4.

[0033] As described above, the effects of the present invention can also be obtained in this embodiment in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment.

[0034] (Fifth Embodiment) Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that descriptions of configurations similar to those of the first embodiment will be omitted, and only different portions will be described.

[0035] Figure 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an inkjet recording apparatus using an ink tank according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. In the inkjet recording apparatus 101 in this embodiment, an ink tank 112 is provided on the front surface of the apparatus main body. The ink tanks 112 are provided respectively for each corresponding ink color (for example, black Bk, cyan C, magenta M, yellow Y). The ink tank 112 and the recording head 110 mounted on the carriage are connected by a supply tube 111. The ink stored inside the ink tank 112 is supplied to the recording head 110 via the supply tube 111.

[0036] Figure 10 is a perspective view of an ink tank according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. Figure 10(b) is a perspective view when Figure 10(a) is viewed from the opposite side. Further, Figure 11 is a side view of the ink tank according to this embodiment. Figure 11(a) is a side view when the ink tank 112 is viewed from the C1 direction in Figure 10. Figure 11(b) is a side view when the ink tank 112 is viewed from the C2 direction in Figure 10.

[0037] On the upper surface of the ink tank 112, as shown in Figure 10(a), an ink injection port 71 for the user to inject ink is provided. A tank cap 113 for closing the ink injection port 71 is attached to the ink injection port 71. When the ink amount in the ink tank 112 becomes low or the like, the user can remove the tank cap 113 to expose the ink injection port 71 and inject ink from the ink injection port 71 to replenish the ink in the ink tank 112.

[0038] The ink tank 112 is composed of a tank container 72, a first lid portion 73, and a second lid portion 74. The ink tank 112 has an ink storage chamber (first storage chamber) 701 which is a space for storing ink, and an air storage chamber (second storage chamber) 702 which is a space for storing air. The air storage chamber 702 is provided above the ink storage chamber 701. The ink storage chamber 701 and the air storage chamber 702 are partitioned by a partition wall 76. The opening of the ink storage chamber 701 is covered by the first lid portion 73. The opening of the air storage chamber 702 is covered by the second lid portion 74. Near the bottom surface of the ink storage chamber 701, an ink supply port 75 for connecting a supply tube for communicating the ink storage chamber 701 and the recording head is provided. Further, on the upper surface of the air storage chamber 702, an air introduction port 77 which communicates with the atmosphere and can introduce external air into the ink storage chamber 701 as the ink in the ink storage chamber 701 is consumed is provided. A minute communication portion (communication path) 78 is provided in the partition wall 76 between the ink storage chamber 701 and the air storage chamber 702. The ink storage chamber 701 and the air storage chamber 702 communicate with each other through this communication path 78. The ink storage chamber 701 communicates with the atmosphere at the air introduction port 77 through the communication path 78 and the air storage chamber 702. The air storage chamber 702 normally stores air, but can store ink so that ink does not leak to the outside when the ink in the ink storage chamber 701 thermally expands and the ink flows back through the communication path 28 (should be 78).

[0039] Next, the method of leak inspection in this embodiment will be described. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram during the leak inspection of the ink tank according to this embodiment. In this embodiment, during the leak inspection, a pressure pump 161 is attached to the air inlet 77 of the ink tank 112. Also, a pressure measuring device 152 is attached to the ink supply port 75 of the ink tank 112. Further, the ink injection port 71 of the ink tank 112 is closed by a valve 163. Then, while sending air into the ink tank 112 by the pressure pump 161, the pressure inside the ink tank 112 is measured by the pressure measuring device 162. At this time, if the pressure inside the ink tank 112 is increasing, it can be seen that the adhesive surface is normally adhered without gaps. On the other hand, if the pressure inside does not increase even when air is sent into the ink tank 112, it can be seen that air is leaking (leaking) from the adhesive surface of the ink tank 121 to the outside.

[0040] In this embodiment, the opening of the ink storage chamber 701 and the opening of the air storage chamber 702 are formed on different surfaces, and a first lid portion 73 covering the opening of the ink storage chamber 701 and a second lid portion 74 covering the opening of the air storage chamber 702 are separately adhered to the tank container 72. Therefore, in the above leak inspection, not only the outer peripheral portion of the tank container 72 but also whether the portions between the first lid portion 73 and the partition wall 76 and between the second lid portion 74 and the partition wall 76 are normally adhered can be inspected. As a result, it becomes possible to discriminate an ink tank with guaranteed functions.

[0041] As described above, according to the ink tank according to this embodiment, it is possible to inspect whether the lid portion of the ink tank is normally adhered by the above-described leak inspection.

Explanation of Signs

[0042] 21 Ink tank 22 Tank container 23 First lid portion 24 Second lid portion 25 Ink supply port 26 Partition wall 27 Air inlet 28 communication paths 201 ink storage chamber 202 air storage chamber

Claims

【Claim 1】 A first storage chamber for storing ink supplied to a recording head that discharges ink, a second storage chamber that communicates with the first storage chamber, has an air inlet through which external air can be introduced, and stores air, a first opening covered by a first lid portion, a second opening covered by a second lid portion provided on the side opposite to the first opening, and an injection port for injecting ink into the first storage chamber, and a tank having the injection port. The recording apparatus, wherein the injection port is closed by a removable tank cap.

Images