JPH0920018A - Ink cartridge and ink jet recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] Ink that can easily identify the ink color of an ink cartridge, can maintain the ink color identification function for a long time, and can confirm the ink color of the ink cartridge after mounting. A cartridge and an inkjet recording device are provided. [Structure] Ink ejection mechanisms 33, 37, 41 for plural colors
In the case where the ink cartridges 50, 60, 70, 80 of a plurality of colors are detachably attached to the head holder 31 provided with 45, the lid member 53 of each ink cartridge,
63, 73, and 83 are made of a material colored similar to the color of the contained ink. This makes it easy to identify the ink cartridges, and when the ink cartridges are mounted on the head holder, it is easy to check the ink colors and the arrangement order.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink cartridge containing a recording ink and an ink jet recording apparatus to which the ink cartridge is attached, and in particular, a coloring member provided in a part of a container body of the ink cartridge, The present invention relates to an ink color that can be easily identified.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an ink jet recording apparatus for recording characters and images on paper by ejecting ink from a plurality of ejection nozzles provided in a recording head, a head holder is provided on a carriage movable in a recording direction. The head holder has a recording head facing the paper,
An ink ejecting mechanism including a cylindrical connecting cylinder portion (so-called manifold) having an ink supply path communicating with the recording head is provided, and the recording ink supplied to the recording head is accommodated and the ink supply port is provided. The provided ink cartridge is detachably attached.

By the way, in general, an ink jet recording apparatus of this type has been put into practical use capable of color recording. That is, the head holder is provided with a plurality of cartridge accommodating portions for mounting a plurality of ink cartridges having different ink colors, and a plurality of ink ejecting mechanisms are provided corresponding to the respective cartridge accommodating portions. In addition, the part of the head holder visible to the operator corresponds to each cartridge accommodating part,
A sticker printed with the ink color of the attached ink cartridge such as "cyan", "magenta", and "yellow" is attached. On the other hand, for each of a plurality of ink cartridges having different ink colors, for example, “cyan”, “magenta”,
Since an ink color sticker printed with an ink color such as "yellow" is affixed, each ink cartridge can be mounted in the cartridge accommodating portion of the same ink color.

On the other hand, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 60-192637, two recording heads having ink tanks containing inks of different ink colors are mounted at predetermined recording head mounting positions on a carriage without mistake. To
On the lower end surface of each recording head, some of the four color-coded protrusions are formed in combination according to the ink color,
A color indicator mark is provided on the upper surface of the carriage, and a color-coded recess corresponding to a combination of the color-coded projections of the printhead to be attached is formed. The printhead of a specified ink color is attached at a predetermined printhead attachment position on the carriage. There is described an ink jet recording apparatus which can be easily attached.

[0005]

As described above, in order to mount the ink cartridge of the designated ink color in each of the plurality of cartridge accommodating portions provided in the head holder without fail, a plurality of different ink colors are used. “Cyan”, “Magenta”, and “Yellow” on the top surface of the ink cartridge container for each of the ink cartridges.
When sticking ink color stickers printed with ink colors such as, not only the manufacturing cost of ink color seals for these multiple colors is required, but also a sticker sticking device that automates and sticks the ink color stickers In the case of manufacturing, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost is added and the cost of the ink color seal becomes high. Furthermore, depending on the position where the ink color sticker is applied, the ink leaks from the ink cartridge and stains it, making it impossible to identify the ink color.
When the ink color seal is hidden in the head holder when the ink cartridge is mounted on the head holder, there is a problem that the ink color of the mounted ink cartridge and the order thereof cannot be confirmed.

Further, in the ink jet recording apparatus described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-192637, a recording head containing inks of different ink colors has a color-coded protrusion corresponding to the ink color on the lower end surface thereof. Since it is only formed, there is no description of the ink color, it is not possible to easily identify the ink color, and since the color-coding projections corresponding to these ink colors are provided, the molding die becomes complicated and more than one recording head is used. There are problems such as manufacturing for each type, complicating parts management, and increasing manufacturing cost. Further, similarly, there is a problem that the ink color of the mounted recording head and the order thereof cannot be confirmed.

An object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily identify the ink color of an ink cartridge, to maintain the ink color identification function for a long time, and to confirm the ink color of the ink cartridge after mounting. A cartridge and an inkjet recording device are provided.

[0008]

An ink cartridge according to a first aspect of the present invention is an ink cartridge in which ink is contained in a box-shaped container and is detachably attached to a head holder provided with a recording head of an ink jet recording apparatus. , At least a part of the container body of the ink cartridge,
It is composed of a coloring member made of a material colored in the same color as the ink color of the contained ink.

The operation will be described. Since at least a part of the box-shaped container body in which the ink of the ink cartridge is stored is composed of a coloring member made of a material colored in the same color as the ink color of the stored ink, the ink jet When mounted on a head holder provided with a recording head of a recording apparatus, the ink color of the ink cartridge can be easily identified through the colored coloring member, and the coloring member is not affected by ink leakage. When applied to a part of the body, even if the contained ink leaks and adheres to the container body during the recording operation, the coloring member does not become dirty with the leaked ink and the ink color identification is performed. The function can be maintained.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink cartridge in which ink is contained in a box-shaped container body, and a plurality of ink cartridges having different ink colors are detachably attached simultaneously to a head holder provided with a recording head of an ink jet recording apparatus. In the above, at least a part of the container body of each of the plurality of ink cartridges is constituted by a coloring member made of a material colored in the same color as the ink color of the contained ink.

To explain the operation, since at least a part of the container of each of the plurality of ink cartridges is composed of a coloring member made of a material colored to the same color as the ink color of the contained ink, the recording of the ink jet recording apparatus is performed. When mounting a plurality of ink cartridges simultaneously on a head holder provided with a head, it is possible to easily identify the ink colors of the plurality of ink cartridges through the colored coloring members and prevent the coloring members from leaking ink. When configured by applying to a part of the container that is not affected, even if the contained ink leaks and adheres to the container during the recording operation, the colored member may become dirty with the leaked ink. Without, the ink color identification function can be maintained.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the ink cartridge according to the first or second aspect, the coloring member provided on the container body is a lid member for the container body. The operation is the same as that of claim 1 or claim 2, but since the coloring member provided on the container body is the lid member of the container body, the ink color of the colored lid member can be easily adjusted. In addition, even when the contained ink leaks and adheres to the container body, the lid member is not contaminated with the leaked ink, and the ink color identification function can be maintained.

An ink jet recording apparatus according to a fourth aspect is an ink jet recording apparatus in which a plurality of ink cartridges containing inks of different ink colors are detachably attached to a head holder provided with a recording head,
The container body of each ink cartridge is composed of a container body having an open surface and a lid member made of a material that covers the open surface of the container body and is colored with a color similar to the ink color of the ink contained in the head holder. Is formed to be at least partially open, and the plurality of ink cartridges are mounted on the head holder in such a direction that the lid member is exposed from the opening of the head holder.

To explain the operation, the container body of each ink cartridge is composed of a container body which is open on one side, and a material which covers the open surface of the container body and is colored in the same color as the ink color of the ink contained. The head holder is made of a lid member, and at least a part of the head holder is open.
Since the plurality of ink cartridges are mounted on the head holder in such a direction that the lid member is exposed from the opening of the head holder, the plurality of ink cartridges containing inks of different ink colors are used as the recording head in the inkjet recording apparatus. When mounted on the head holder provided with, it is possible to easily confirm the ink color types and arrangement order of the plurality of ink cartridges.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The present embodiment is a case where the present invention is applied to an ink cartridge mounted in an inkjet recording apparatus capable of color recording using four color inks. As shown in FIG. 1, the inkjet recording apparatus 1 basically includes a platen 1 inside a main body case 2.
0, and a carriage drive mechanism 2 that drives the carriage 21.
0 and four ink ejection mechanisms 33, 37 for ejecting ink contained in the ink cartridges 50, 60, 70, 80 from a plurality of ejection nozzles provided in the recording heads 34, 38, 42, 46 to record on the paper P. , 41, 45, and the recording mechanism 30.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the platen 10 is disposed in the left-right direction, and is rotatably supported by the side wall plates 3 and 4 at both left and right ends of the platen shaft 11. A platen gear 12 is provided at the left end of the platen shaft 11.
Is attached. A composite gear 13 having a first driven gear 14 that meshes with the platen gear 12 and a second driven gear 15 is rotatably supported by the side wall plate 3.
The drive gear 16 meshing with the second driven gear 15 is attached to the feed motor 17. That is, when the feed motor 17 is driven in the predetermined rotation direction and the drive gear 16 rotates, the platen 10 is driven in the predetermined paper feed direction via the composite gear 13 and the platen gear 12.

Next, regarding the carriage drive mechanism 20,
A description will be given based on FIGS. 1 to 3. A substantially plate-shaped carriage 21 is horizontally arranged on the front side of the platen 10, and the carriage 21 is supported by a guide rod 22 arranged in parallel with the platen 10 at its rear end so as to be movable in the left-right direction. At the same time, it is supported by a guide rail 23 arranged in parallel with the guide rod 22 so as to be movable in the left-right direction at its front end portion. The guide rod 22 and the guide rail 23 are respectively supported by the side wall plates 4 and 5 at the left and right ends thereof.

On the other hand, a driven pulley 24 is rotatably supported by a frame (not shown) at the left end of the movement range of the carriage 21, and a drive shaft of a carriage drive motor 26 is provided at the right end thereof. An attached drive pulley 25 is provided, and an endless timing belt 27 is stretched over both pulleys 24 and 25, and is connected to the timing belt 27 at the lower end of the carriage 21. When the carriage drive motor 26 is rotationally driven, the carriage 21 is supported by the guide rods 22 and the guide rails 23 via the pulleys 24 and 25 and the timing belt 27, and the recording direction (rightward direction). ) And the opposite recording direction (leftward).

Next, the recording mechanism 30 which is placed on the carriage 21 and performs color recording on the paper P by ejecting ink will be described with reference to FIGS. On the carriage 21, a box-shaped head holder 31 that is open upward and forward is fixed. The head holder 31 includes a pair of side walls 31a and 31b and three partition walls 32.
Then, in order from the left side, a cartridge housing portion 31d for mounting the black ink cartridge 50, a cartridge housing portion 31e for mounting the cyan ink cartridge 60, a cartridge housing portion 31f for mounting the magenta ink cartridge 70, and A cartridge accommodating portion 31g for mounting the yellow ink cartridge 80 is provided respectively.

Further, the rear wall portion 31c of the head holder 31
In the four cartridge housing portions 31d, 31
Four ink ejecting mechanisms 33, 37, 41, 45 are provided respectively corresponding to e, 31f, 31g. These four ink ejection mechanisms 33, 37, 41, 4
The configuration of No. 5 is the same, and the ink ejecting mechanism 33 corresponding to the cartridge housing portion 31d will be described. A plurality of ejecting nozzles and a plurality of ink supply paths communicating with the ejecting nozzles are formed on the rear end surface of the rear wall portion 31c. The recording head 34 is attached, and a connecting cylinder portion 35 having an ink passage communicating with the plurality of ink supply passages formed therein is provided so as to protrude toward the cartridge containing portion 31d. An annular seal member 36 made of rubber is fitted into the connecting cylinder portion 35 in order to prevent ink leakage from the ink supply port 52a of the attached ink cartridge 50.

That is, the ink ejecting mechanism 33 has a recording head 34 and a connecting cylinder portion 35 communicating with the recording head 34.
And a seal member 36 and the like fitted in the connecting cylinder portion 35. The ink ejecting mechanism 37 includes a recording head 38.
The ink jetting mechanism 41 is connected to the recording head 42 and the connecting cylinder portion 39 communicating with the recording head 38, and the seal member 40 fitted in the connecting cylinder portion 39. The ink jet mechanism 45 includes a cylinder portion 43 and a seal member 44 fitted in the connection cylinder portion 43. The ink ejecting mechanism 45 includes a recording head 46, a connection cylinder portion 47 communicating with the recording head 46, and the connection cylinder portion. Four
It is composed of a seal member 48 and the like fitted in 7. As a result, the ink ejecting mechanisms 33, 37, 41, 4
The color image is recorded on the fed paper P by the ink ejected in the horizontal direction from each of the recording heads 34, 38, 42 and 46 of No. 5.

By the way, the black ink ejecting mechanism 3
3, the connecting cylinder portion 35 is made of a material colored in the same color as the ink color of the black ink cartridge 50 fitted therein, that is, “black”, and is connected in the cyan ink ejecting mechanism 37. The cylinder portion 39 is made of a material colored in the same color as the ink color of the cyan ink cartridge 60 fitted therein, that is, "cyan". In the magenta ink ejecting mechanism 41, the connecting cylinder portion 43 is Of the ink cartridge 70 for magenta, which is fitted to this, is made of a material colored similar to the ink color, that is, "magenta". It is made of a material colored in the same color as the ink color of the fitted yellow ink cartridge 80, that is, "yellow".

Next, four color ink cartridges 50, 6
0, 70, 80 will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, these four color ink cartridges 50, 6
Since each of 0, 70, and 80 has the same configuration, the black ink cartridge 50 containing the "black" ink will be described with reference to FIG. A container body 51 of the black ink cartridge 50 includes a box-shaped container body 52 made of a synthetic resin and having an open upper surface, and the container body 52.
And a lid member 53 made of synthetic resin that closes the upper surface of the
In the ink cartridge 50, an ink containing material 54 made of a porous material such as urethane foam in which “black” ink is sufficiently impregnated is provided inside the container main body 52, and a lid member 53 is bonded by an adhesive material or the like. It has been configured. In addition, on the rear end wall of the container body 52, the connecting tubular portion 35
A circular ink supply port 52a that can be externally fitted is formed.

Here, the lid member 53 is composed of a coloring member made of a material colored in the same color as the contained "black" ink color. Similarly, the container body 61 of the ink cartridge 60 containing the “cyan” ink is composed of a box-shaped container body 62 having an open upper surface and a lid member 63 for closing the upper surface of the container body 62. Member 63
Is composed of a coloring member made of a material colored to the same color as the contained “cyan” ink color.

A container body 71 of an ink cartridge 70 containing "magenta" ink is composed of a box-shaped container body 72 having an open upper surface, and a lid member 73 for closing the upper surface of the container body 72. The lid member 73 is composed of a coloring member made of a material colored in the same color as the contained “magenta” ink color. Further, the container body 81 of the ink cartridge 80 containing the “yellow” ink
Is composed of a box-shaped container body 82 having an open upper surface, and a lid member 83 that closes the upper surface of the container body 82. The lid member 83 is colored in a similar color to the contained “yellow” ink color. It is composed of a colored member made of a material. Here, on the upper surface of each lid member 53, 63, 73, 83, a mark 90 indicating the direction when the ink cartridge is attached to the head holder 31 is integrally formed.

Next, these four color ink cartridges 5
The operation of mounting 0, 60, 70, 80 on the head holder 31 will be described with reference to FIGS.
As described above, the ink cartridges 50, 60, 7
The 0, 80 lid members 53, 63, 73, 83 are respectively composed of coloring members colored in “black”, “cyan”, “magenta”, and “yellow”, and the ink ejecting mechanisms 33, 37, 41. , 45 connected tubular portions 35, 39, 4
3, 47 are made of materials colored in “black”, “cyan”, “magenta”, and “yellow”, respectively. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the ink cartridge 50 for black is “black”. It can be attached to the cartridge housing portion 31d corresponding to the connecting tubular portion 35 colored.

Similarly, the cyan ink cartridge 60 can be mounted in the cartridge housing portion 31e corresponding to the connecting cylinder portion 39 colored "cyan", and the magenta ink cartridge 70 is colored "magenta". The cartridge housing portion 31f corresponding to the connected cylindrical portion 43
The yellow ink cartridge 80 can be mounted in the cartridge housing portion 31g corresponding to the connecting cylinder portion 47 colored "yellow".

At this time, the ink cartridges 50, 60, 70, 80 of the four colors are mounted on the head holder 31 so that the lid members 53, 63, 73, 83 are exposed from the opening of the head holder 31, respectively. Therefore, the ink colors of the plurality of ink cartridges 50, 60, 70, 80 to be used, the installed ink cartridges 50, 60,
The order of ink colors of 70 and 80 can be easily confirmed.

In this way, the plurality of ink cartridges 5
0, 60, 70, 80 container bodies 51, 61, 7 respectively
Since the cover members 53, 63, 73, 83 of 1, 81 are composed of coloring members made of a material colored in the same color as the ink color of the contained ink, the head holder 31 has a plurality of ink cartridges 50, 60, When 70 and 80 are mounted at the same time, the ink colors of the plurality of ink cartridges 50, 60, 70, and 80 can be easily identified through the colored coloring members, and the stored ink can be stored during the recording operation. Even if the ink leaks and adheres to the containers 51, 61, 71, 81, the lid members 53, 63, 73, 83 are not contaminated with the leaked ink, and the ink color identification function can be maintained. Furthermore, since the sticker is not attached or the shape is not changed, the ink cartridges 50, 60, 7
It is possible to reduce the cost in manufacturing 0,80.

The four color ink cartridges 50, 6
Regarding 0, 70, 80, container bodies 51, 61, 71, 8
The container body 52, 62, 72, 82 of No. 1 or the container body 51, 61, 71, 81 is made of a coloring member made of a material colored in the same color as the ink color of the contained ink, or the lid member 53. , 63, 73, 83 and container bodies 52, 6
Various modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment based on existing technology or technology obvious to those skilled in the art, such as configuring 2, 72, 82 to be partially colored. Further, it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to a plurality of ink cartridges having different ink colors that are mounted while being replaced, in an inkjet recording apparatus for single color recording having one recording head.

[0031]

According to the ink cartridge of the first aspect of the present invention, at least a part of the box-shaped container in which the ink of the ink cartridge is stored is made of a material having a color similar to the ink color of the stored ink. Since it is composed of a coloring member, the ink color of the ink cartridge can be easily identified through the colored coloring member when it is mounted on the head holder provided with the recording head of the inkjet recording apparatus, and the coloring member can be changed. When applied to a part of the container that is not affected by ink leakage, the ink color identification function can be maintained even if the stored ink leaks and adheres to the container during the recording operation. it can. Further, since the seal is not attached or the shape is not changed, the cost can be reduced.

According to the ink cartridge of the second aspect, at least a part of the container body of each of the plurality of ink cartridges is constituted by the coloring member made of a material colored in the same color as the ink color of the contained ink. , In the head holder provided with the recording head of the inkjet recording device,
When a plurality of ink cartridges are mounted at the same time, the ink colors of the plurality of ink cartridges can be easily identified through the colored coloring members, and the coloring members are not affected by ink leakage. When configured to be applied to a part, the ink color identification function can be maintained even if the contained ink leaks and adheres to the container during the recording operation. Further, since the seal is not attached or the shape is not changed, the cost can be reduced.

According to the ink cartridge of the third aspect, the same effect as that of the first or second aspect can be obtained, but since the coloring member provided on the container body is the lid member of the container body, the coloring is performed. The ink color of the covered lid member can be easily identified, and the ink color identification function can be maintained even if the contained ink leaks and adheres to the container body.

According to the ink jet recording apparatus of the fourth aspect, the container body of each ink cartridge has a one-sided open container body and a color similar to the ink color of the ink that covers and covers the open surface of the container body. The head holder is at least partially open, and the plurality of ink cartridges are composed of a lid member made of a colored material.
In the direction in which the lid member is exposed from the open part of the head holder,
Since it is mounted on the head holder, in the inkjet recording apparatus, when a plurality of ink cartridges containing ink of different ink colors are mounted on the head holder provided with the recording head, the ink color types of the plurality of ink cartridges And the order of arrangement can be easily confirmed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial plan view of the inkjet recording apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged perspective view of a recording mechanism.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a black ink cartridge.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Inkjet recording device 30 Recording mechanism 31 Head holder 50 Black ink cartridge 51 Container body 52 Container body 53 Lid member 60 Cyan ink cartridge 61 Container body 62 Container body 63 Lid member 70 Magenta ink cartridge 71 Container body 72 Container body 73 Lid member 80 Ink cartridge for yellow 81 Container body 82 Container body 83 Lid member

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An ink cartridge in which ink is housed in a box-shaped container and is detachably attached to a head holder provided with a recording head of an inkjet recording apparatus, wherein at least a part of the container of the ink cartridge is
An ink cartridge comprising a coloring member made of a material colored in the same color as the ink color of the contained ink. 2. A plurality of ink cartridges of different ink colors, wherein ink is contained in a box-shaped container and is detachably attached to a head holder provided with a recording head of an inkjet recording apparatus at the same time. An ink cartridge, wherein at least a part of each of the container bodies is composed of a coloring member made of a material colored to the same color as the ink color of the contained ink. 3. The container according to claim 1, wherein the coloring member provided on the container body is a lid member for the container body.
An ink cartridge according to claim 1. 4. An ink jet recording apparatus in which a plurality of ink cartridges containing inks of different ink colors are detachably attached to a head holder provided with a recording head, and the container body of each ink cartridge has an open surface. The container body and a lid member that covers the open surface of the container body and is made of a material that is colored in a color similar to the ink color of the contained ink, and the head holder is formed so that at least a part thereof is open. The ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the plurality of ink cartridges are mounted on the head holder in a direction in which the lid member is exposed from the opening of the head holder.