JPH0820116A - Ink tank manufacturing method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] As an ink holding member, a fiber that can be stored in the tank body and has storage suitability for various inks is used. To provide a method for manufacturing an ink tank capable of manufacturing the ink tank. [Structure] After the fibers F continuously manufactured by the manufacturing apparatus 20 are guided into the container 11 and accommodated therein, the lid 12 is joined to the container 11 to form the tank body 10.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing an ink tank in which fibers are used as an ink holding member which is contained in a tank body and holds ink.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional ink tank (integrated in a head or a conversion type of a tank) used for ink recording has been used mainly by filling the inside of the ink tank with a single or plural sponges. There is something. Generally, the sponge pore diameter is often in the range of 80 μm to 200 μm, and the volume of the sponge itself occupying the inside of the tank is also large. Therefore, even if the amount of ink is increased with respect to the given ink tank internal volume, there is sponge, and therefore a large increase cannot be achieved. In addition, there is a limit to the reduction of the amount of ink that cannot be used for recording while remaining inside the sponge.

[0003]

By the way, since the porous body used as the ink holding member is formed in a predetermined shape in advance, when it is compressed and stored in the tank body, The outer surface of the body does not have a form that is completely along the inner surface of the tank body, and a gap may be formed between them, so that the desired capillary phenomenon may not occur at that portion. Further, the urethane foam as a porous body may not be suitable for storage depending on the properties of the ink, and may limit the type of ink to be stored.

An object of the present invention is as an ink holding member.
Ink that can be stored in the tank body and that can be stored in the tank body without limiting the type of ink used, and that can be easily stored in the tank body to manufacture an ink tank It is to provide a manufacturing method of a tank.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing an ink tank in which a fiber capable of holding ink is contained in a tank body, the fiber being inside the tank body. It is characterized in that the fibers are guided into the tank body while being continuously manufactured by a fiber manufacturing apparatus when the fibers are accommodated in the tank.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the method for producing an ink tank according to the first aspect, fibers that are continuously produced from the fiber producing apparatus are temporarily stored and then introduced into the tank body. Is characterized by.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing an ink tank in which fibers capable of holding ink are contained in the tank body, wherein the fibers are contained in the tank body. It is characterized in that the fibers are collected in advance in a band-shaped aggregate, and the band-shaped aggregate is folded and put into the tank body.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing an ink tank in which fibers capable of holding ink are contained in a tank body, wherein the fibers are contained in the tank body. It is characterized in that the fibers are collected in advance to form an aggregate, and then a predetermined number of the aggregates are put into the tank body.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing an ink tank in which fibers capable of holding ink are contained in a tank body, wherein the fibers are contained in the tank body. It is characterized in that the fibers are stored in advance in a bag body that is permeable to the ink, and then a predetermined number of the bag bodies are put into the tank body.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing an ink tank in which fibers capable of holding ink are contained in the tank body, wherein the fibers are contained in the tank body. Using a guide body in which a guide passage for passing the fiber is formed, the opening of the guide passage in the guide body is positioned in the tank body, and then the fiber is passed through the guide passage into the tank body. It is characterized by leading.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing an ink tank in which fibers capable of holding ink are housed in a tank body, wherein the fibers are housed in the tank body. After using a guide body in which a holding portion capable of holding the fiber aggregate is formed, holding the fiber aggregate in the holding portion, and after bringing the guide body and the tank body close to each other The aggregate of fibers held by the holder is transferred into the tank body.

The invention described in claim 8 is the same as claim 1,
In the method for manufacturing an ink tank described in 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, fibers made of a polyolefin material are used as the fibers.

The invention described in claim 9 is the same as in claim 1,
In the method for manufacturing an ink tank described in 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, two or more kinds of fibers having different outer diameters are contained in the tank body as the fibers.

The invention described in claim 10 is the invention according to claim 1,
In the method for manufacturing an ink tank described in 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, two or more kinds of fibers having different cross-sectional shapes are contained in the tank body as the fibers.

An eleventh aspect of the present invention is a method of manufacturing an ink tank in which fibers capable of holding ink are contained in the tank body, and before the fibers are contained in the tank body, It is characterized in that the ink is contained in the tank body.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the method of manufacturing an ink tank according to the eleventh aspect, when the ink is stored in the tank main body, the fiber is stored in the tank main body. It is characterized in that the amount of the solvent of the ink is increased by the amount of the solvent evaporated of the ink.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing an ink tank in which fibers capable of holding ink are contained in the tank body, wherein the fibers are contained in the tank body before the fibers are contained in the tank body. It is characterized in that the solvent of the ink is contained in the tank body.

[0018]

The method of manufacturing the ink tank according to claim 1 is
By continuously manufacturing the fibers and guiding them into the tank body and storing them, the fibers are manufactured and the ink tank is manufactured by an integrated operation, and the storage facilities for the fibers are unnecessary.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the method for producing an ink tank according to the first aspect, fibers that are continuously produced are temporarily stored and then introduced into the tank main body so that the fibers are continuously produced. It is possible to manufacture an ink tank without stopping the production.

In the method of manufacturing an ink tank according to a third aspect of the present invention, the fibers are collected in a band-shaped aggregate, and then the fibers are folded and accommodated in the tank main body to prevent the fibers from scattering and To be surely accommodated.

In the method of manufacturing an ink tank according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a fiber aggregate is formed, and then a predetermined number of the fiber aggregate is put into the tank body to suppress the fiber scattering and By surely accommodating and changing the accommodating number according to the type of ink tank, various ink tanks can be easily accommodated.

In the method of manufacturing the ink tank according to the fifth aspect, the fibers are contained in the bag body, and then the bag body is housed in the tank main body to prevent the fibers from scattering and To be surely accommodated.

In the method of manufacturing the ink tank according to the sixth aspect, the fibers are guided into the tank main body through the guide passage of the guide body, so that the fibers can be reliably and smoothly accommodated while being prevented from scattering. And

In the method for manufacturing an ink tank according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the fiber is once held in the guide body, and then the fiber is accommodated in the tank body, so that the shape of the fiber is once regulated by the guide body. After that, it can be stored reliably and smoothly.

The invention described in claim 8 is the same as in claim 1,
In the method of manufacturing an ink tank described in 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, by using fibers made of a polyolefin-based material as fibers, it is possible to impart retentivity to various inks such as alkalinity and to provide thermal flexibility. By utilizing the fact, it can be fixed as an aggregate.

The invention described in claims 9 and 10 is the method for manufacturing an ink tank according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, wherein the fiber has an outer diameter and a cross-sectional shape. By using two or more different types, it is possible to optimally set the ink holding power of the fiber in accordance with the site inside the ink tank body.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the method of manufacturing an ink tank, by storing the ink in the tank main body before storing the fiber in the tank main body,
Gain flexibility in manufacturing procedures for ink tanks.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the method of manufacturing an ink tank according to the eleventh aspect, the amount of the solvent of the ink is increased in advance by the amount of the solvent evaporation of the ink when the fiber is stored. , Prevent the deterioration of ink.

In the method of manufacturing an ink tank according to a thirteenth aspect, by storing the solvent of the ink in the tank main body and then storing the fiber, the storage form of the fiber is adjusted in the solvent of the ink, Improves the wettability of the fiber surface against.

[0030]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the completed ink tank, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of its manufacturing process.

In FIG. 1, a tank body 10 of an ink tank is formed by joining a container 11 and a lid 12, and the tank body 10 contains ink and fibers F capable of holding the ink. The tank body 1 is provided with an ink supply port 11A and an atmosphere communication port 12A, and an inner peripheral edge portion of the ink supply port 11A has an annular projection 11B that protrudes inward toward the tank body 10 in a conical shape. A filter 13 is attached to the annular projection 11B. The ink tank of this example can be applied as, for example, an ink cartridge that is replaceably attached to a recording head of an inkjet recording apparatus.

Such an ink tank is shown in FIG.
It is manufactured through the steps of (b), (c) and (d).

First, as shown in FIG. 2A, the fibers F continuously manufactured by the fiber manufacturing apparatus 20 are introduced into the container 11.

The manufacturing apparatus 20 is, for example, for continuously manufacturing polyolefin-based polypropylene fibers, and continuously extrudes the polypropylene fibers F by extruding the molten fiber material in the furnace 21 from the die 22. To manufacture.

The fibers F continuously led out from the manufacturing apparatus 20 are once stored between the rollers 31 and 32, and then sent out by the pair of feed rollers 33 and 34, and then the guide holes of the feed guide 35. It is guided into the container 35A and then guided into the container 11. At that time, the container 11 is reciprocally moved in the horizontal right-and-left direction (arrow A direction), and the feed guide 35 is reciprocally moved in the front-back direction of the paper surface of FIG. To do. Note that a plurality of fibers F that are simultaneously and continuously manufactured by the manufacturing apparatus 20 may be introduced into one container 11, or the plurality of fibers F may be twisted together and then introduced into the container 11. You can put it in.

Then, after the fiber F of a predetermined length is accommodated in the container 11, the feed rollers 33 and 34 are stopped,
Move the pair of blades 36 and 37 in the directions of arrows B ₁ and B ₂ ,
The fibers F are cut between them (see FIG. 2 (b)).
During this time, the fiber F guided from the manufacturing apparatus 20 is stored between the rollers 31 and 32. The storage amount of the fiber F can be adjusted by controlling the rotation of the rollers 31 and 32.

After that, as shown in FIG. 2 (c), the container 11 containing the fiber F is closed by the lid 12, and then, as shown in FIG. 2 (d), the container 11 and the lid 12 are sonicated. Are joined together to form the tank body 10. Before closing the container 11 with the lid 12, it is desirable to press the fibers F that have risen upward from the inside of the container 11 downward with a pressing member or pressurized air.

By forming the container 11 and the lid 12 as a molded product of thermo-flexible resin, they can be easily joined by heat welding. In addition, the container 11 and the lid 12 are covered with the fiber F.
Thermoplastic resin made of the same material as (for example, polypropylene)
By using the molded product of 1., even if the fiber F is sandwiched between the joint surfaces, by thermally welding them together with the fiber F, the sealing property of those joint portions can be maintained, and After using the ink tank, that is, after consuming ink, the fibers F as the ink holding member and the tank body 10 are collectively processed (for example, remelted at a temperature equal to or higher than the boiling point of the stored ink) without separating them. )
It is also possible to recycle it.

Further, before and after the joining of the container 11 and the lid 12, the ink is contained in the container 11, and the ink is absorbed and held in the gaps due to the capillary phenomenon generated in the gaps between the fibers F. For example, after joining them to form the tank body 10, ink is stored in the tank body 10 through the ink supply port 11A (see FIG. 1) or an ink injection port (not shown). Alternatively, the ink may be stored in the container 11 during the work of guiding and storing the fibers in the container 11, or before the start of the work or immediately after the end of the work. However, when the ink is stored before joining the container 11 and the lid 12, the ink supply port is closed as needed.

When the ink is first accommodated in the container 11 and then the fiber F is accommodated, in consideration of the fact that the heat of the fiber F causes the solvent of the ink to evaporate, only the amount of evaporation of the solvent is considered. It is desirable to increase the amount of the solvent in the ink when the ink is stored in the container 11. For example, when the solvent of the ink evaporates by 20% due to the heat of the fiber F, the amount of the solvent may be increased in advance to reduce the ink concentration. In addition, the ink solvent is first stored in the container 11 and then the fiber F is stored, and then the solute of the ink is stored with or without the solvent, so that the ink having the optimum concentration is stored. You may allow it. In this case, the fiber F is cooled by the solvent of the ink previously contained in the container 11, and the accommodation form of the fiber F is stably adjusted in the solvent, and moreover, it is The wettability of the surface of the fiber F is improved, and the compatibility with the ink is improved.

The ink tank completed by containing the fibers F and the ink in the ink body 10 as described above is mounted, for example, as an ink cartridge in an ink jet recording apparatus, and its ink supply port 11A (FIG. 1). reference)
Is used by communicating with the recording head. In use, the ink held in the fiber F is supplied to the recording head through the ink supply port 11A during the recording operation in which the ink is ejected from the ink ejection port of the recording head, and the apparent negative generated by the fiber F is generated. Due to the pressure, the ink in the tank body 10 is supplied to the ink supply port
You will be led to 1A. When the recording operation is stopped, the ink retaining force of the fiber F prevents the ink from leaking. Further, the long length of the fiber F minimizes the cutting waste that may occur on the cut surface of the fiber F,
It is possible to avoid the occurrence of clogging of the filter 13 (see FIG. 1) due to the cutting waste, and it is also possible to avoid the possibility that when the fiber F is chopped into short pieces, it causes the clogging of the filter 13. .

As a homogeneous material for forming the fiber F with the tank body 10, an organic material (for example, aramid,
Vinylon, acrylic, polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, carbon), inorganic type (for example, boron, glass (silica), alumina, zirconia), metal type (for example, tungsten motibden, steel, stainless steel, beryllium, titanium, aluminum, magnesium) , Amorphous (Fe-Si-B type), there is no problem.

From the viewpoint of ease of molding in the initial stage before recycling, organic and metallic materials are preferable, and from the viewpoint of handling, organic materials are more preferable. From the viewpoint of recyclability, organic thermoplastic resins that can be easily recycled without undergoing steps such as decomposition and purification are more preferable.

More preferable thermoplastic resins include, for example, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, acrylonitrile, polypropylene, polyamide, polyacetal, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyphenylene oxide, polyphenylene sulfide, polyether sulfone, polyether. Examples thereof include ether ketone, polyether imide, polyamide imide, polysulfone, nylon, and polyimide, and may be a composite or modified product of these. If importance is attached to the storage stability of the ink for ink jet recording, olefin resins such as polyethylene and polypropylene are particularly preferable. In addition, it is optional to mix other additives within a range not exceeding the above resin components.

Fiber F formed by selecting from the above materials
However, in order to function as a more suitable ink holding member in ink jet recording, it is preferable that the fibers F are randomly composite-crossed in the tank body 10. In the case where the fibers F are accommodated in the tank body 10 in a neat form such as a bundle, the filling amount of ink is reduced to reduce the space in the tank body 10, and the ink is accommodated in the inner volume of the ink body 10. The quantity is reduced.

The fiber F may have any shape. For example, in order to increase the void volume in the ink cartridge when it is filled in the ink cartridge, the fiber F has an uneven section. Further, a hollow structure is more preferable.

The diameter and the filling amount of the fiber F cannot be unconditionally specified because it varies depending on the internal volume, the shape, etc. of the tank body 10, but considering that the generation of negative pressure depends on the gap between the fibers F, If it is extremely large, the negative pressure becomes low, and the ink leaks from the tank main body 10. On the contrary, if it is extremely small, the negative pressure becomes too high, and the ink cannot be supplied from the tank main body 10 to the recording head. Therefore, although depending on the internal volume of the tank body 10 and the filling amount of the fiber F, the diameter of the fiber F is preferably in the range of 1 mm to 5 μm, more preferably 0.5 mm to 10 μm.

In order to suppress the movement of the fiber F in the tank body 10, it is preferable to press the fiber F in at least one direction with the lid 12 or the like. If a large gap occurs between the fibers in the portion of the fiber F that is in contact with the ink supply port 11A, the ink supply from the tank body 10 to the recording head may be cut off. It is more preferable to press the fibers F in opposite directions.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2A, the fiber F is placed in the container 1
The fiber F is moved by the blades 36 and 37 while being guided into
May be divided into predetermined lengths. In that case, the blade 36,
The control means 38 of 37, for example, feed rollers 33, 34
The blades 36 and 37 may be activated each time the fiber F is fed by a predetermined amount. The length for dividing the fiber F is, for example,
It is preferable to make it larger than the diagonal line L ₁ (see FIG. 1) in the tank body 10, and in this case, the cut fiber F will be bent in the tank body 10,
Accordingly, the fibers F cross each other so as to be entangled with each other, and a sufficient ink holding force is obtained. Specifically, the fiber F is divided into, for example, 10 cm each. Further, as will be described later, when the density gradient of the fibers in the tank body 10 is changed, the length of division of the fibers F may be changed according to the accommodation position. When the fiber F is not divided and is housed in the container 11 as it is, the length L ₂ (for example, 1 m) of the fiber F may be input to the control unit 38.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a process for manufacturing an ink tank according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The tank body 10 includes a container 11 and a lid 1 as in the case of FIG. 1 described above.
2 and.

In this example, the fiber F is previously formed into a long band-shaped aggregate F _1, and the aggregate F ₁ is folded and then the container 11 is formed.
To be housed inside. For example, when a polyolefin-based thermo-flexible resin such as polypropylene is used as the material of the fiber F, the fibers F are assembled, and then the surface layer portion is heated to remove the fiber F from the surface layer portion. The fibers F can be fixed to the band-shaped aggregate F ₁ by welding the composite intersecting portions. In addition, the aggregated form of the fibers F in the aggregate F ₁ is _one in which one or several long fibers are randomly composite-crossed, a form in which many short fibers of several centimeters are randomly composite-crossed, or an aggregate. It may be in the form of bundling a plurality of long fibers along the length direction of the body F ₁ . Further, the cross-sectional shape of the strip-shaped aggregate F ₁ is arbitrary such as a rectangular cross section, and is arbitrarily set according to the shape of the tank body 10.

When accommodating such an aggregate F ₁ in the container 11, first, as shown in FIG. 3A, the aggregate F ₁ is temporarily accommodated in the hollow guide member 41 while being folded. . That is, while feeding the assembly F ₁ by the feed rollers 42 and 43 of the pair below in the drawing, guides the guide body 41 through the guide hole 44A of the guide 44 sends the assembly F _1, the feed guide 44 The assembly F ₁ is folded by reciprocating in the direction of arrow C in the figure.
At the time of folding, it is desirable to apply an external force to the folded portion of the aggregate F ₁ by an auxiliary means (not shown) to ensure the folding and the accommodation of the aggregate F _{1 in} the guide body 41. As the assisting means, it is possible to use, for example, a pressing member or a device that presses the assembly F ₁ in the folding direction or downward with pressurized air.

After accommodating the aggregate F ₁ having the length corresponding to the accommodating in the tank body 10 in the guide body 41, FIG.
As in (b), the rollers 42 and 43 are stopped, and the pair of blades 45 and 46 are moved in the directions of the arrows D ₁ and D ₂ to cut the assembly F ₁ between them. Guide body 4
Inside 1, there is provided a holding portion 41A for holding the assembly F ₁ in a compressed state. The holding portion 41A is configured to hold the assembly F ₁ in a compressed state by, for example, a reduced diameter portion provided on the whole or a part of the inner peripheral surface of the guide body 41 or a protrusion provided on the inner peripheral surface thereof. Can be Alternatively, it may be configured to include a cap that closes the lower opening of the guide body 41. In any case,
It suffices if the assembly F ₁ can be held in the guide body 41.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 3 (c), the guide member 4
1 and the container 11 are opposed to each other, and then the assembly F ₁ in the guide body 41 is pressed by the pressing member 47 as shown in FIG.
Push downwards to transfer it into container 11. After that, as in the above-described embodiment, the container 11 and the lid 12 are joined (see FIGS. 3E and 3F), and the ink is stored before or after the joining.

[Third Embodiment] FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of a process for manufacturing an ink tank according to a third embodiment of the present invention. This example is different from the second example described above in that the fiber F is a flat plate-shaped aggregate F ₂ . The planar shape of the assembly F ₂ is arbitrary and is set according to the shape of the tank body 10.

The aggregate F ₂ is accumulated in the stocker 48 (see FIG. 4A), and is pushed downward as shown in FIG.
The container 1 is accommodated and held in the container 1 by the pressing member 47.
Moved into 1. After that, as in the above-mentioned embodiment,
The container 11 and the lid 12 are joined (see FIGS. 4 (e) and 4 (f)), and the ink is stored before or after the joining.

[Fourth Embodiment] FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of an ink tank manufacturing process according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the fiber F is stored in the bag 51 in advance, and then the bag 51 is stored in the container 11. Bag 51
It allows ink to pass through, and has, for example, a net shape or a large number of holes. As the material of the bag 51, the same material as the fiber F or the tank body 10 can be used. For example, when the bag 51 is made of thermo-flexible resin,
It can be sealed by heat welding. Also, the bag 51
The accommodation form of the fiber F in the inside is a form in which one or several long fibers are randomly composite crossed, a form in which many short fibers of several centimeters are randomly composite crossed, or a large number of long fibers. It may be in the form of a bundle of the above.

When the bags 51 containing the fibers F are to be housed in the container 11, the bags 51 are first stored in the stocker 5.
It is accumulated in the container 2 (see FIG. 5A), and it is pushed downward and dropped into the container 11 (see FIG. 5B). At that time, by moving the container 11 in the horizontal direction,
By sequentially shifting the falling position of the bag 51 with respect to the inside of the container 11,
The bag 51 is dropped into the container 11 almost uniformly. further,
The container 51 may be tightly accommodated by vibrating the container 11 horizontally or vertically. Further, the bag 51 can be dropped uniformly into the container 11 by vibrating the stocker 52 or moving it.

The number of bags 51 dropped into one container 11 is set in advance in accordance with the size of the containers 11 and the bag, the packing density of the fibers F in the bag 51, and the like. After dropping the container 11 into the container 11, the container 11 and the lid 12 are joined together as in the above-described embodiment (see FIG. 5).
(C) and (d)), and ink is contained before or after joining them.

[Fifth Embodiment] FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a process for manufacturing an ink tank according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment differs from the second embodiment described above in that the fiber F is accommodated in the guide body 41 without being fixed. further,
In this embodiment, after the lower portion of the guide body 41 is positioned inside the container 11 (see FIGS. 6A and 6B),
As shown in (c), the pressing member 47 pushes the fiber F downward to move it into the container 11. Further, a protrusion 47A projecting downward is provided on the lower peripheral edge of the pressing member 47, and the portion of the fiber F facing the protrusion 47A is pressed more strongly by the protrusion 47A, as shown in FIG. ), The fiber F is prevented from being sandwiched between the joint surfaces of the container 11 and the lid 12. After the fiber F is transferred into the container 11, the container 11 and the lid 12 are joined together and the ink is housed before or after they are joined, as in the above-described embodiment.

The accommodation of the fibers F in the guide body 41, and thus the accommodation of the fibers F in the tank body 10, are such that one or several long fibers are randomly composite-intersected, that is, several centimeters. It may be a form in which a large number of short fibers are compositely crossed at random, or a form in which a large number of long fibers are bundled.

Further, the guide body 41 does not always have the holding 41.
A may not be provided, and for example, after the lower portion of the guide body 41 is positioned inside the container 11 as shown in FIG. 6B, the fiber F is passed through the inside of the guide body 41 and the fiber F is fed from above. You may lead it inside. In that case, the guide body 41
The inside of the becomes a guide passage for the fiber F.

[Sixth Embodiment] FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of a process for manufacturing an ink tank according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, as the bag 51 in the above-mentioned fourth embodiment of FIG. 5, one containing a small diameter fiber F _A and one containing a large diameter fiber F A
And the one containing _B , and dropping the bags 51 into the container 11 as in the fourth embodiment,
The lid 12 is joined. However, the bag 51 containing the small-diameter fiber F _A is accommodated at a position facing the ink supply hole 11A.
Therefore, first, the small diameter of the fibers F _A as shown in FIGS. 7 (a)
After accommodating the bag 51 containing the above the filter 13, the bag 51 containing the large-diameter fiber F _B is accommodated (see FIG. 7).
(See (b)), and the lid 12 is joined (see FIG. 7C).

The ink holding force (producing an apparent negative pressure) due to the capillary phenomenon of the fiber F corresponds to the size of the gap formed between the fibers F, and in the case of the fiber F _{A having} a small diameter, Since the gap between the two is small, the ink holding force is strong, and in the case of a fiber having a large diameter, the gap between the two is large and the ink holding force is weak. Since the ink holding force varies depending on the cross-sectional shape of the fiber in addition to the outer diameter of the fiber, fibers having different cross-sectional shapes can be used as the fibers F _A and F _B.

In this way, by increasing the fiber density gradient in the tank body 10 toward the ink supply port 11A, the ink in the tank body 10 easily collects in the ink supply port 11A and the residual ink remains. Also less. In addition, the protrusion 1 at the inner peripheral edge of the ink supply port 11A
1B has a function of compressing the fiber F _A to further increase the fiber density.

The bag 51 containing the small-diameter fiber F _A is
It suffices if it can be housed at least in a position facing the ink supply hole 11A, and it can be housed in the container 11 together with another bag 51 at the same time, or the shape of the container 11 when the bag 51 is housed is such that the ink supply hole 11A is located above. In the case of the configuration in which the bag 51 is placed in the above position, the bag 51 containing the small-diameter fiber F _A may be housed later than the other bags 51. In addition, a bag 51 containing three or more kinds of fibers having different outer diameters is prepared, and the bags 51 are sequentially or simultaneously arranged so as to increase the density gradient of the fibers in the tank main body toward the ink supply port 11A side. May be accommodated.

[Seventh Embodiment] FIG. 8 is an explanatory view of an ink tank manufacturing process according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the fiber F _B in the sixth embodiment described above is used in the bag 5
It is accommodated in the container 11 without being put in 1. As the method of accommodating the fibers F _B , the above-described first or fifth embodiment can be adopted. Also, two or more of those having different outer diameters housed in the container 11 as the fiber F _B, the density gradient of fibers may be increased toward the ink supply port 11A side. The container 1 without bagged 51 fibers F _B, by the first or the same method as the fifth embodiment, the above-described
1 may be accommodated in the container 11. In that case, the fibers F _A and F _B accommodated in the container 11 form an aggregate according to the internal shape of the container 11, and then the aggregate is formed in the container 11. It may be housed in. The aggregate can be fixed by welding the composite intersecting portions of the fibers located in the surface layer portion.

[Eighth Embodiment] FIG. 9 is a sectional view of an ink tank for explaining an eighth embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the small-diameter fibers F _A surround the large-diameter fibers to form an aggregate, and then the aggregate is housed in the container 11. The aggregate can be fixed by welding the composite intersecting portions of the fibers located in the surface layer portion. Further, as a method of accommodating the aggregate, for example, the method of the fifth embodiment (see FIG. 6) described above can be adopted. The ink tank of this example is the tank body 1
The small-diameter fiber F _A located along the inner wall of 0 mainly generates an apparent negative pressure, and the large-diameter fiber F _B located inside thereof.
In contrast, the apparent negative pressure generation force is weak and the ink holding force is low, but the ink residual ratio is low.

[Ninth Embodiment] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an ink tank manufacturing process according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, while the container 11 is continuously or intermittently moved in the direction of arrow G by the conveyor belt 70, the container 1
The bag 51 containing the fiber F is dropped into the container 1 in the same manner as in the fourth embodiment shown in FIG.
Join two. Therefore, a plurality of stockers 52 are provided along the moving direction of the container 11, and the bag 51 is dropped from the stockers 52 to a predetermined position in the container 11.

[Tenth Embodiment] FIG. 11 shows the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of an ink tank manufacturing process according to Example 0. In this embodiment, in the container 11 on the conveyor belt 70,
Similar to the sixth embodiment of FIG. 7 described above, the bag 51 containing the small diameter fiber F _A and the large diameter fiber F _B is placed in the stocker 52-
1, 52-2, and then the container 11 with a lid 1
Join two. The bag 51 containing the small-diameter fiber F _A is
It is dropped into a position facing an ink supply port (not shown).

"Another Configuration Example of Ink Tank" FIG.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing another configuration example of an ink tank as an ink cartridge manufactured according to the present invention, in which a fiber F is accommodated in a negative pressure generation accommodating portion 53 of the ink tank in the same manner as in each of the embodiments described above. To be done.

Ink tank cartridge 1 of this embodiment
Is provided with a supply port 8 for connecting to the connection pipe 14 of the inkjet recording head 2, and is a fiber F as a negative pressure generating member.
And a negative pressure generating member accommodating portion 53 and an ink accommodating portion 56 adjacent to the negative pressure generating member accommodating portion 53 via a rib 54. The ink container 56 is
The communication portion 57 of the ink cartridge bottom portion 55 communicates with the negative pressure generating member storage portion 53, and the ink is stored inside.

In FIG. 12, 7 is an atmosphere communication port for communicating the inside of the negative pressure generating member accommodating portion 53 with the atmosphere, and 59 is an ink accommodating portion 5.
6 is a rib for improving the strength, 60 is an opening for filling the ink tank cartridge 1 with ink, 61
Is a sealing material for sealing the opening 60. Rib 5
4 includes the ink in the ink containing portion 56 and the atmosphere communication port 58.
A groove 54 </ b> A for forming a gas-liquid object with the atmosphere introduced into the negative pressure generating member accommodating portion 53 via is formed. As a result, first, the ink in the negative pressure generating member accommodating portion 53 is consumed, and when the liquid level in the accommodating portion 53 reaches the groove 54A, the ink in the ink accommodating portion 56 is passed through the communicating portion 57 by the gas-liquid exchange. It is supplied to the housing portion 53 side and begins to be consumed.

[0075]

As described above, in the method of manufacturing the ink tank according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the fiber is continuously manufactured and is guided and accommodated in the tank body, the fiber is manufactured by the continuous operation. Manufacturing and ink tank manufacturing can be performed to eliminate the need for fiber storage facilities.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the method for producing an ink tank according to the first aspect, fibers that are continuously produced are temporarily stored and then introduced into the tank main body so that the fibers are continuously produced. The ink tank can be manufactured without stopping the manufacturing process.

In the method for manufacturing an ink tank according to the third aspect of the present invention, the fibers are gathered in a band-shaped aggregate, and then the fibers are folded and accommodated in the tank main body. It can be reliably accommodated.

In the method for manufacturing an ink tank according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the fiber aggregate is formed and then a predetermined number of the fiber aggregate is put into the tank main body, it is possible to prevent the fiber from scattering and to ensure it. It is possible to accommodate various ink tanks by changing the number of the ink tanks to be accommodated according to the type of ink tank.

In the method of manufacturing the ink tank according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the fibers are accommodated in the bag body, and then the bag body is accommodated in the tank body, so that the fibers are prevented from scattering.
It can be accommodated reliably.

In the method of manufacturing the ink tank according to the sixth aspect, the fibers are guided into the tank main body through the guide passage of the guide body. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the fibers from scattering and to store them reliably and smoothly. You can

In the method of manufacturing the ink tank according to the seventh aspect, the fiber is once held in the guide body, and then the fiber is accommodated in the tank body. Therefore, the shape of the fiber is once regulated by the guide body. Therefore, it can be accommodated reliably and smoothly.

The invention described in claim 8 is the same as in claim 1,
In the method of manufacturing an ink tank described in 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, by using fibers made of a polyolefin-based material as fibers, it is possible to impart retentivity to various inks such as alkalinity and to provide thermal flexibility. By utilizing the fact, it can be immobilized as an aggregate.

The invention described in claims 9 and 10 is the method for manufacturing an ink tank according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, wherein the fiber has an outer diameter and a cross-sectional shape. By using two or more different types, it is possible to optimally set the ink holding power of the fiber according to the site inside the ink tank body.

In the method for manufacturing an ink tank according to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, before the fibers are housed in the tank body, the ink is housed in the tank body so that the flexibility of the manufacturing procedure of the ink tank can be obtained. it can.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the method of manufacturing an ink tank according to the eleventh aspect, the amount of the solvent of the ink is increased in advance by the amount of the solvent evaporation of the ink when the fiber is stored. The deterioration of ink can be prevented.

In the method for manufacturing an ink tank according to the thirteenth aspect, by storing the solvent of the ink in the tank main body and then storing the fiber, the storage form of the fiber is adjusted in the solvent of the ink. It is possible to enhance the wettability of the fiber surface with respect to the ink.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an ink tank manufactured according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an ink tank manufacturing process according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an ink tank manufacturing process according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an ink tank manufacturing process according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an ink tank manufacturing process according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an ink tank manufacturing process according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an ink tank manufacturing process according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of an ink tank manufacturing process according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a tank manufactured according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an ink tank manufacturing process according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of an ink tank manufacturing process according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view for explaining another configuration example of the ink tank manufactured by the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Tank Main Body 11 Container 11A Ink Supply Port 12 Lid 12A Atmosphere Communication Hole 20 Fiber Manufacturing Equipment 41 Guide Body 41A Holding Section 51 Bag (Bag) F Fiber F ₁ , F ₂ Assembly

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A method of manufacturing an ink tank in which a fiber capable of holding ink is stored in a tank body, wherein the fiber is stored in the tank body by a fiber manufacturing apparatus. While continuously manufacturing,
A method for manufacturing an ink tank, wherein the fiber is introduced into the tank body. 2. The method of manufacturing an ink tank according to claim 1, wherein fibers that are continuously manufactured from the fiber manufacturing apparatus are once stored and then introduced into the tank body. 3. A method for manufacturing an ink tank in which fibers capable of holding ink are contained in a tank main body, wherein when the fibers are contained inside the tank main body, the fibers are collected in a band shape in advance. A method of manufacturing an ink tank, characterized in that it is assembled in a body, and the band-shaped assembly is folded and put into the tank body. 4. A method of manufacturing an ink tank in which fibers capable of holding ink are contained in a tank body, wherein the fibers are assembled in advance when the fibers are contained in the tank body. A method for manufacturing an ink tank, comprising forming an aggregate and then inserting a predetermined number of the aggregate into the tank body. 5. A method of manufacturing an ink tank in which a fiber capable of holding ink is contained in a tank body, wherein the ink can be transmitted in advance when the fiber is contained in the tank body. A method for manufacturing an ink tank, characterized in that the fiber is stored in the bag body, and then a predetermined number of the bag body is put into the tank body. 6. A method of manufacturing an ink tank in which a fiber capable of holding ink is housed in a tank body, wherein a guide that allows the fiber to pass inside when the fiber is housed in the tank body. An ink characterized by using a guide body having a passage formed therein, locating an opening of the guide passage in the guide body inside the tank main body, and then guiding the fiber into the tank main body through the guide passage. Tank manufacturing method. 7. A method of manufacturing an ink tank in which fibers capable of holding ink are housed in a tank body, wherein when the fibers are housed inside the tank body, an assembly of the fibers is provided inside. Using a guide body having a holding portion capable of holding the holding body, after holding the fiber assembly in the holding portion, after bringing the guide body and the tank body close to each other, the holding body is held in the holding portion. A method of manufacturing an ink tank, wherein the aggregate of the fibers is transferred into the tank body. 8. A fiber made of a polyolefin material is used as the fiber.
2. The method for manufacturing an ink tank according to 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7. 9. The fiber according to claim 1, wherein two or more kinds of fibers having different outer diameters are accommodated in the tank body as the fibers. Ink tank manufacturing method. 10. The tank body according to claim 1, wherein two or more kinds of fibers having different cross-sectional shapes are accommodated in the tank main body. Ink tank manufacturing method. 11. A method of manufacturing an ink tank in which a fiber capable of holding ink is housed in a tank body, wherein ink is housed in the tank body before housing the fiber in the tank body. A method for manufacturing an ink tank, which comprises: 12. When the ink is stored in the tank body, the amount of the solvent of the ink is increased by the amount of solvent evaporation of the ink when the fibers are stored in the tank body. The method for manufacturing an ink tank according to claim 11, wherein: 13. A method of manufacturing an ink tank in which a fiber capable of holding ink is housed in a tank body, wherein the ink is stored in the tank body before the fiber is housed in the tank body. A method for manufacturing an ink tank, characterized by containing a solvent.