JPH1148496A - Liquid storage dispensing device with improved mounting of liquid storage pouch on base - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a liquid storage dispensing device in which the mounting of the liquid storage pouch on a base is improved. SOLUTION: The liquid dispensing device (10) has a rigid, generally cup-shaped outer shell (1) having an open end.
2) a base fixed to the open end of the outer shell and having a pumping mechanism with a liquid outlet, and an open end in liquid communication with the pumping mechanism and a closed end disposed in the outer shell; A flexible pouch (14) with a flexible pouch separated from the pumping mechanism to allow the flow of liquid from the flexible pouch into the pumping mechanism, but from the pumping mechanism within the flexible pouch. A non-return valve (42) for preventing flow of liquid into the flexible pouch and dispensing liquid from the flexible pouch through the liquid outlet. According to a feature of the invention, the base (16) has a depending peripheral wall (37), the open end of the flexible pouch (14) being fixed in a liquid-tight manner to the peripheral wall of the base. You.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid storage device provided with a built-in pump for dispensing liquid in the form of small droplets of a predetermined volume. More particularly, the present invention relates to a replaceable storage device that is useful in an ink jet printer and has the features described above and that stores printing ink and dispenses printing ink to a print head when a self-contained pump is activated.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A U.S. patent application filed by Bruce Cowger and Norman Pauloski Jr. under the title "Ink Supply Apparatus for Inkjet Printers" Describes an ink supply device for an ink jet printer that is separate from a printer ink pen and can be replaced when it becomes empty without having to replace the printer ink pen. The ink supply device of the above-mentioned U.S. Patent
Has a self-contained pumping device that dispenses ink from the pumping chamber,
A bellows type pump is described as one form of such a pressure feeding device. However, bellows type pumps require a relatively large surface extension of a semi-rigid material, such as a polymeric material, resulting in a relatively high rate of oxygen and moisture transmission or transmission through the bellows material. As a result of such oxygen and / or moisture transmission,
In particular, the ink in the ink supply device of the printer that is used only occasionally may deteriorate. In addition, the bellows are prone to leaks at other parts of the ink supply to which they are attached. According to the above-cited U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 429,987, the above and other problems associated with the use of bellows have the disadvantage that a rigid peripheral wall preferably formed integrally with the associated base structure of the ink supply device. A linear motion pumping member is movable within the pumping chamber defined by the rigid surrounding wall, thereby pressurizing the ink in the pumping chamber, and further covering the pumping member at an edge of the surrounding wall. The solution can be achieved by using a pumping device provided with a flexible moisture and oxygen barrier film hermetically mounted in a continuous pattern.

[0003] The aforementioned US patent application Ser. No. 08/429,
The 987 ink supply has a pouch made of a sheet of thermoplastic material, which is attached to the underside of the base by heatstaking or fusing. Thus, when a force is exerted to displace the pouch from the base, the thermoplastic material is put in a tensile state, whereas the optimal strength of the heat staking joint between the film and the stiffer member is obtained. This is the case when the force acting on the film tends to cause the film to separate from the heat-staking structural member. Also, it has now been found that the innermost layer, made of a material that is particularly resistant to degradation upon contact with the ink, is supported by an outermost strength-imparting material with good vapor barrier properties, such as polyethylene terephthalate. And
It is desirable to fabricate the pouch with a co-extruded multilayer material provided with a layer of adhesive between them, for example silicon dioxide. However, securing the pouch to the base in accordance with the teachings of the above-referenced U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 429,987 required that the pouch be drilled at the fill and entry ports. This exposes the edges of the pouch construction material to the ink, which may degrade pouch layers that would otherwise not be in direct contact with the ink.

The above-mentioned US patent application Ser. No. 08/429,
The above and other problems associated with the flexible pouch and base joint of the liquid containment dispensing device of No. 987 are a problem with the pouch having an open end that is heat staked in an endless pattern on the outer surface of the base. The present invention is solved by the present invention. Also, due to this way of attaching the pouch to the base,
When the entire size of the liquid storage dispensing device is fixed, the inner volume of the pouch that can be filled with ink increases. The liquid dispensing device of the above-cited U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 429,987 is normally mounted in the printer in an upside down orientation, in other words, the base is positioned below the pouch, so that the effect of gravity is reduced. There is a potential problem that leakage occurs from the ink outlet portion due to the above. However, such a problem is solved by an embodiment of the present invention in which an outlet is provided with an elastomeric diaphragm.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved dispensing and dispensing device for liquids. More specifically,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved instrument of the above character which is useful for storing and dispensing ink in an ink jet printer. Another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid dispensing and dispensing device in which the method of mounting the liquid storing pouch and the rigid molded plastic base is improved. More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved instrument for accommodating and dispensing ink in an ink jet printer. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a printing ink storage dispensing device that has improved resistance to leakage due to gravity even when mounted upside down.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and purpose of the invention, reference is made to the detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and the appended claims along with the drawings and a brief description thereof.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The aforementioned U.S. patent application Ser.
An ink containing dispensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention described in US Pat. No. 9,987 is indicated by reference numeral 10 in FIG.
The device 10 has a hard protective shell 12 containing a flexible pouch 14 containing ink. Shell 12 is
Attached to a base 16, which houses a pump 18 and a fluid outlet 20. A protective cap 22 is attached to the base 16, and a label 24 is adhered to the outside of the shell 12 and the cap 22, which are components of the device 10, so that the shell 12, the base 16 and the cap 22 are firmly fixed to each other. I have. The cap 22 is connected to the pump 8
And a hole for providing access to the fluid outlet 20.

The instrument 10 is adapted to be removably inserted into a coupling recess (not shown) provided in the ink jet printer. When the device 10 is inserted into the printer, the fluid inlet provided in the coupling recess engages the fluid outlet 20 to allow ink to flow from the device 10 to the printer. . An actuator (not shown) provided in the coupling recess engages the pump 18. By actuating the actuator, the pump 18 pumps the ink out of the flexible pouch 14 in a series of predetermined drops and through the fluid outlet 20 to the fluid inlet of the coupling recess.
Next, it is supplied to the printer. The base 16 has a filling port 32 at one end and an exhaust port 34 at the other end. Ink can be added to the ink supply through fill port 32, and air displaced by the added ink is exhausted through exhaust port 34. After filling the ink supply section, the filling port 32 is sealed with a ball 35 press-fitted therein.

A pumping chamber 36 having an open bottom is formed at the bottom of the base 16, preferably in a rigid peripheral wall 37 integrally formed with the base 16. As described in detail below, when the pressure feed chamber 36 is pressurized, ink can be supplied to the printer without pressurizing the inside of the pouch 14.
An inlet port 38 is provided at the top of the pumping chamber 36, through which ink is transferred from the pouch 14 to the pumping chamber 36 by the action of gravity and / or negative pressure in the chamber 36. You can enter. Room 3
An outlet port 40 is also provided for allowing ink to be pumped from 6. A one-way flap valve 42 located at the bottom of the inlet port 38,
Helps limit ink return from 6 to pouch 14. The flap valve 42 is a rectangular piece of flexible material. In the embodiment shown, valve 42 is located on the bottom of inlet port 38 and the middle of its shorter side is heat staked to base 16. When the pressure in the pumping chamber 36 falls below the pressure in the pouch 14, each of the free sides of the flap valve 42 deflects to allow ink flow through the inlet port 38 into the pumping chamber 36. I do. By heat staking the flap valve 42 along the paired sides on both sides to the base 16, the degree of deflection of the valve 42 is smaller than when the valve 42 is fixed only along one side. And it is necessary to do this, so that the flap valve closes more tightly, but the effect is that the heat is applied in the middle of the shorter side rather than the longer side. Increased by performing staking.

In the illustrated embodiment, the flap valve 42 has 2
Made of layer material. The outer layer has a thickness of 0.001
5 inch (about 0.038 mm) low density polyethylene layer. The inner layer is a polyethylene terephthalate (PE) having a thickness of 0.0005 inches (about 0.013 mm).
T). The width of the illustrated flap valve 42 is about 5.5
mm and the length is 8.7 mm. Such material does not allow ink to penetrate when valve 42 is in its closed position. The bottom of the chamber 36 is covered by a flexible diaphragm 44. Diaphragm 44 is slightly larger than the opening at the bottom of chamber 36 and is sealed around the free edge of peripheral wall 37 that defines chamber 36. The extra material of the larger diaphragm 44 allows the diaphragm to flex up and down to change the volume of the chamber 36. In the illustrated device, the volume of the chamber 36 is reduced to about 0.7 by displacing the diaphragm 44.
cm ³ can be changed. The volume when the illustrated chamber 36 is fully expanded is about 2.2 to 2.5 cm ^3.
It is.

In the illustrated embodiment, the diaphragm 44
Is a 0.0005 inch thick low density polyethylene layer, an adhesive layer, a 0.00048 inch thick
12mm) metallized polyethylene terephthalate (PE
It is made of a multilayer material having a T) layer, an adhesive layer, and a low density polyethylene layer 0.0005 inches thick.
Of course, other suitable materials can also be used to construct the diaphragm 44. The diaphragm 44 of the illustrated embodiment is heat staked on the free edge of the wall 37 of the chamber 36 using conventional methods. During heat staking, the diaphragm's low density polyethylene will seal the folds or wrinkles in the diaphragm 44. Thus, diaphragm 44 is impermeable to oxygen and moisture, thereby preventing the quality of the ink in chamber 36 from being degraded by exposure to such materials.

In the chamber 36, a pressure plate 46 is provided adjacent to the diaphragm 44, and the pressure plate 46
Serves as a piston for 6. In the embodiment shown, a pump spring 48, made of stainless steel, presses the pressure plate 46 against the diaphragm 44 and urges the diaphragm 44 outward, thereby increasing the size of the chamber 36. To hold the pump spring 48 in place, one end of the pump spring 48 is fitted to a spike 50 provided on the top of the chamber 36 and the other end is fitted to a spike 52 provided on the pressure plate 46. The pressure plate 46 in the illustrated embodiment is formed of high-density polyethylene. A hollow cylindrical boss 54 extends downward from the base 16 to form a housing for the fluid outlet 20, and the boss 54 is integrally formed with the base 16. Bore 5 of hollow boss 54
6 has a narrow throat, that is, a throat 54a at its lower end. In the embodiment shown, a sealing ball 58 made of stainless steel is located in the bore 56. The sealing ball 58 is dimensioned such that it can move freely within the bore 56 but cannot pass through its narrow throat 54a. A sealing spring 60 is disposed within the bore 56 and presses the sealing ball 58 against the narrow throat 54a to form a seal and prevent ink from passing through the fluid outlet. In the illustrated embodiment, a retaining ball 62 made of stainless steel is pressed into the top of the bore to hold the sealing spring 60 in place. Bore 5
6 is shaped so that a free flow of ink can pass beyond the retaining ball 62 and into the bore 56.

A raised manifold 64 is formed at the top of base 16. The manifold 64 forms a cylindrical boss around the top of the fill port 32 and a similar boss around the top of the inlet port 38, which ports 32, 38 are spaced from one another. Manifold 64
Forms an open-topped conduit 66 that extends around the base of the fluid outlet 20 and the outlet port 40 and joins the two outlets. Pouch 14 with flexible ink
Is attached to the top of the manifold 64 to form a top cover for the conduit 66. In the illustrated embodiment, this is accomplished by heat staking a rectangular plastic sheet 68 on top of the manifold 64 to surround the conduit 66. In the illustrated embodiment, the base 16 is
Molded with high density polyethylene, the plastic sheet is a low density polyethylene 0.002 inches thick. These two materials can be easily heat staked with each other using conventional methods and are easily reusable.

After attaching the plastic sheet 68 to the base 16, the sheet is folded and sealed around its two sides and top to form the flexible ink pouch 14. Also in this case, in the illustrated embodiment, the periphery of the flexible pouch 13 can be sealed using the heat staking method. The plastic sheet on the fill port 32 and the inlet port 38 may be pierced or pierced by holes or removed so as to not obstruct ink flow through these ports. The flexible pouch 14 is an ideal means for containing the ink, but it can easily puncture or rupture, and a relatively large amount of water is lost from the ink. Accordingly, the pouch 14 is contained within the protective shell 12 to protect the pouch 14 and limit water loss. In the illustrated embodiment, the shell 12 is made of clarified polypropylene and this material can be used to check the ink in the pouch 14 to ensure that the proper amount of ink remains for correct operation of the printer. Is sufficiently translucent so that can be determined. It has been found that a thickness of about 1 mm provides robust protection and prevents undesired water loss from the ink. However, in other embodiments, the material and thickness of the shell may vary.

The top of the shell 12 has a number of raised ribs 70 that make it easier to grip the shell 12 as it enters and exits the coupling recess. Vertical ribs 72 project laterally from each side of shell 12. When the vertical ribs 72 fit into slots (not shown) in the coupling recesses, these ribs provide lateral support and stability to the ink supply when the ink supply is positioned in the printer. Can be given. The bottom of the shell 12 is provided with two circumferential grooves or recesses 76
Engages two circumferential ribs or beads 78 formed in the depending peripheral wall 79 of the base 16 to snap-fit the shell 12 to the base 16. The manner in which the shell 12 and the base 16 are attached to each other preferably prevents inadvertent separation of the base from the shell and reduces the flow of ink from the shell if the flexible pouch should leak. It should be close enough to resist. However, in such an installation, no hermetic seal is formed, so that ink is reduced from the pouch 14 and air can slowly enter the shell to maintain a pressure in the shell that is approximately equal to ambient pressure. It is desirable to do so. Otherwise, a negative pressure may build up in the shell and block the flow of ink from the pouch. However, the inflow of air
It should be limited to maintain high humidity in the shell and minimize water loss from the ink.

In the illustrated embodiment, the shell 12 and the flexible pouch 14 contained therein have an ink capacity of about 30 cm ³ . The shell is about 67mm wide and 15mm thick
mm and a height of 60 mm. The flexible pouch 14 is dimensioned to fill the shell without using grossly excess material. Of course, other dimensions and shapes may be used depending on the specific needs of a given printer. Fill port 3 to fill the device 10
It is better to inject from 2. As filling of the device takes place, the flexible pouch 14 expands to substantially fill the shell 12.
When ink is introduced into the pouch, the sealing ball 5
8 can be depressed to open the fluid outlet and exert a partial vacuum on the fluid outlet 20. Due to the partial vacuum at the fluid outlet, the ink from the pouch 14 will
There is very little, if any, residual air that fills the bore of conduit 66 and cylindrical boss 54 and thus comes into contact with the ink. Applying a partial vacuum to the fluid outlet facilitates the filling process. To further facilitate quick filling of the pouch, an exhaust port 34 is provided to allow air to escape from the shell as the pouch expands. Once the ink supply is filled, the ball 35 is press fitted into the fill port 32 to prevent ink from leaking out or air.

Of course, there are a variety of other methods that can be used to fill the current ink storage dispensing device. In some cases, it may be desirable to flush the entire device with carbon dioxide before filling the device with ink. In this way, the gas trapped in the device during the filling process will be carbon dioxide rather than air. This is desirable because carbon dioxide can be dissolved in some inks, but air is not. In principle, it is preferable to remove as much gas from the device as possible so that bubbles and the like do not enter the print head or subsequent tubes. After filling the pouch, the protective cap 22 is placed on the device. The protective cap has a groove 80 for receiving a rib 82 provided on the base and attaching the cap to the base. The cap includes a lug or lug 84 that fits into the exhaust port 34 to limit air flow into the base and reduce the amount of water lost from the ink. Stud 86 is base 16
Extending from each end, the studs fit into holes provided in the cap 22 to facilitate alignment of the cap and to enhance the coupling between the cap and the base. The free ends of the studs 86 that extend beyond the holes in the cap 22 are preferably deformed after placing the cap 22 in place, preferably by applying them to a heated tool, thereby forming the cap 22 and the A tamper-proof mounting relationship with the base 16 is obtained. In addition, the label 24 is adhered to the side of the device 10 and the shell 1
2. Hold the base 16 and the cap 22 firmly together. In the illustrated embodiment, a hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive is used to attach the label in a manner that prevents the label from peeling and prevents tampering of the ink supply.

The cap 22 of the illustrated embodiment has vertical ribs 90 protruding from each side. The rib 90
It forms an extension of the vertical rib 72 of the shell and is received in a slot provided in the coupling recess in a manner similar to the vertical rib 72. In addition to the rib 90, the cap 22
Has a protruding key 92 located on each side of the rib 90. One or more keys 92 may be omitted, or modified to provide unique identification of a particular ink supply by color or type, but this is optional. A mating key (not shown) may be formed in the coupling recess to identify a particular type or color of the ink supply. This prevents the user from inadvertently inserting the wrong type or color of ink supply into the coupling recess. This arrangement is particularly advantageous for multicolor printers in which adjacent coupling recesses are provided for ink supplies of different colors.

In the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.
9 correspond to the components of the embodiment of FIG.
Numerals of the 0's are attached, and the last two digits are the numerals of the corresponding elements of the invention of FIGS. The ink storage dispensing device shown in FIG. 10 is indicated by reference numeral 110 as a whole, and corresponds to the device 10 shown in FIGS. The device 110 has a rigid protective shell 112 that is open at one end and houses a flexible pouch 114 that contains ink. Shell 112 and pouch 114
Is attached to a base 116 that houses a pump 118 and a fluid outlet 120. Protective cap 1
22 is attached to the base 116. Pouch 114
Is closed at its opposite end (not shown).

The instrument 110 is removably inserted into a coupling recess (not shown) provided in the ink jet printer. When the device 110 is inserted into the printer, the fluid inlet in the coupling recess engages the fluid outlet 120 to allow ink to flow from the device 110 to the printer. An actuator (not shown) provided in the coupling recess engages the pump 118. By operating the actuator, the pump 118 causes the ink to be dispensed from the flexible pouch 114.
Are sent out in the form of a series of droplets of a predetermined volume, sent through the fluid outlet 120 to the fluid inlet of the coupling recess, and then fed to the printer. The base 116 has a filling port 132
It has. Ink can be added to the ink supply through the fill port 132, and after filling the ink supply, the fill port 132 is sealed with a ball 135 press fitted therein.

A pumping chamber 136 with an open bottom is formed at the bottom of the base 116, preferably in a rigid peripheral wall 137 integrally formed with the base 116. As will be described in more detail below, pressurizing the pumping chamber 136 allows ink to be supplied to the printer without pressurizing the interior of the pouch 114. At the top of the chamber 136 is an inlet port 138
Is provided, through which ink can enter the chamber 136 from the pouch 114 by the action of gravity and / or negative pressure in the chamber 136. A one-way flap valve 142 located at the bottom of the inlet port 138 allows the pouch 114 to be removed from the chamber 136.
Helps limit the return of ink to the ink. Flap valve 1
42 is a rectangular piece of flexible material, the entrance port 138
Is located on the bottom of the. As the pressure in chamber 136 falls below the pressure in pouch 114, flap valve 142 flexes to allow ink flow through inlet port 138 and into chamber 136.

The bottom of the chamber 136 is provided with the flexible diaphragm 1
44. The diaphragm 144 is placed in the chamber 136
Slightly larger than the opening at the bottom of the chamber 136
Are sealed around the free edge of the peripheral wall 137 constituting The extra material of the larger diaphragm 144 can change the volume of the chamber 136 as the diaphragm flexes up and down. In the chamber 136, a pressure plate 146 is provided adjacent to the diaphragm 144, and the pressure plate 146
Serves as a piston to chamber 136. A pump spring 148 presses the pressure plate 146 against the diaphragm 144 and urges the diaphragm outward, thereby increasing the size of the chamber 136. To hold the pump spring 148 in place, one end of the pump spring 148 is
The other end is fitted with a spike 152 provided on the pressure plate 146. The pressure plate 146 of the illustrated embodiment is molded from high density polyethylene.

A hollow cylindrical boss 154 extends downward from the base 116 to form a housing for the fluid outlet 120, and the boss 154 is integrally formed with the base 116. The bore 156 of the hollow boss 154 has a narrow throat or throat 154a at its lower end. The sealing ball 158 is dimensioned such that it can move freely within the bore 156 but cannot pass through its narrow throat 154a. When the instrument 110 is not inserted into the coupling recess of the printer, the sealing spring 160
Located within bore 156, sealing ball 158 is pressed against narrow throat 154a to form a seal and prevent ink from passing through the fluid outlet. The flexible ink-filled pouch 114 has an open end 114a disposed adjacent to a base 116, and the base 116 has an endless annular skirt 116a. Open end 1 of pouch 114
The inside of 14a is heat-staked outside the skirt 116a of the base 116 in an endless pattern. Thus, any load that tends to separate the pouch 114 from the base 116 will cause the open end 114a of the pouch 114 to
And the peel strength of the plastic film from the rigid plastic member, especially the open end 114a of the pouch 114 and the base 11
Especially strong if the overlap between the six skirts 116a is sufficient to provide a substantially axially widened heat staking area.

Pouch 1 outside annular skirt 116a
Heat staking of the open end 114a of the 14 protects the free edge of the open end 114a of the pouch 114 from contact with ink and consequent degradation. Of course, the open end 114a of the pouch 114 may also be heat staked inside the annular skirt 116a if the contents of the pouch 114 do not create a risk of degradation of the material of the pouch 114. If such a multilayer material is used to form the pouch 114, the silicon dioxide deposited between the innermost and outermost layers, actually inside the outermost and innermost layers An adhesive is applied between the layers. In any case, using the above arrangement, the ink can be prevented from contacting any part of the pouch 114 except the innermost layer, and the edge of the open end 114a of the pouch 114 The heat staking of the open end 114a of the pouch 114 with respect to the skirt 116a is protected from contact with the ink.

For optimal use, the pouch 114 is formed from a multilayer material, for example, by a coextrusion method. Pouch 1
If 14 is formed from a multilayer material, this is preferably
Linear low density polyethylene is a particularly good material for such use, as it will have an innermost layer that is particularly resistant to degradation due to contact with the ink. The material of the pouch 114 further has an outermost layer of tensile strength and good oxygen impermeability, such as polyethylene terephthalate or polypropylene. In the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 11, the components in FIGS. 1 to 9 are indicated by reference numerals in the 200s, and the last two digits are the corresponding components of the invention in FIGS. Sign. The ink containing dispensing device of FIG. 11 is generally indicated by reference numeral 210,
Except as described below, it corresponds to the device 10 of FIGS. The device 210 has a rigid protective shell 2 open at one end and containing a flexible pouch 214 containing ink.
12. The open ends of the shell 212 and the pouch 214 are attached to a molded plastic base 216 that houses the pump 218 and the fluid outlet 220.
A protection cap 222 is attached to the base 216. The opposite end (not shown) of pouch 214 is closed.

The device 210 is removably inserted into a coupling recess (not shown) provided in the ink jet printer similarly to the device 10 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. When the instrument 210 is inserted into the printer,
The fluid inlet in the coupling recess engages the fluid outlet 220 to allow ink to flow from the instrument 210 to the printer. This is similar to the configuration of the device of the embodiment of FIGS. An actuator (not shown) provided in the coupling recess engages the pump 218. By operating the actuator,
The pump 218 pumps ink from the flexible pouch 214 in a series of droplets of a predetermined volume and the fluid outlet 220
To the fluid inlet of the coupling recess and then to the printer.

The base 216 has a filling port 232 at one end. Ink can be added to the ink supply through the fill port 232, and after filling the ink supply, the fill port 232 is sealed with a ball 235 press-fitted therein. Pumping chamber 2 with open bottom
A 36 is formed at the bottom of the base 216, preferably in a rigid peripheral wall 237 integrally formed with the base 216.
As described in more detail below, pressurizing the pumping chamber 236 allows ink to be supplied to the printer without pressurizing the interior of the pouch 214. At the top of the chamber 236, an inlet port 238 is provided.
8, the ink is moved from the pouch 214 to the chamber 23 by the action of gravity and / or negative pressure in the chamber 236.
You can enter 6.

A one-way flap valve 242 located at the bottom of the inlet port 238 allows a pouch 2
It helps to limit the return of ink to 14. Room 236
When the pressure in the pouch 214 drops below the pressure in the pouch 214, the flap valve 242 flexes to allow ink flow through the inlet port 238 and into the chamber 236. The bottom of the chamber 236
It is covered with a flexible diaphragm 244. Diaphragm 244 is slightly larger than the opening at the bottom of chamber 236 and is sealed around the free edge of peripheral wall 237 that defines chamber 236. Larger diaphragm 244
The extra material in the chamber 236
Volume can be changed. Within chamber 236, a pressure plate 246 is provided adjacent to diaphragm 244, and pressure plate 246 acts as a piston to chamber 236. A leaf-spring-type pump spring 248 presses the pressure plate 246 against the diaphragm 244 and urges the diaphragm outward, thereby increasing the size of the chamber 236.

A hollow cylindrical boss 254 extends downward from the base 216 to form a housing for the fluid outlet 220, and the boss 254 is integrally formed with the base 216. The bore 256 of the hollow boss 254 has a narrow throat or throat 254a at the lower end thereof, and the throat 254a
Is an elastomer diaphragm 2 fixed thereto by the action of friction.
It is closed at 55. The septum 255 has a narrow or narrow slit 255a that extends into the septum 255 so that ink can flow through the septum 255 when the ink is pressurized, but the slit 255a of the septum 255 Is closed to prevent leakage of ink through the diaphragm 255 when the ink is pressurized solely by the action of gravity. Further, the sealing ball 258 is
6. A sealing spring 260 is disposed in the bore 256 so as to press the sealing ball 258 into the inside of the diaphragm 255, in particular, a portion of the diaphragm 255 having the slit 255 a.

The liquid containing dispensing device of the various embodiments of the present invention has been particularly described as a preferred embodiment of the present invention as a device for containing and dispensing printing ink in an ink jet printer. However, it is clear that the invention can easily be applied to dispensing of other Newtonian (low viscosity) liquids. Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention conceived by the inventor at the time of filing of the present application have been illustrated and described, those skilled in the art may make appropriate design changes, modifications, and equivalents without departing from the scope of the present invention. Obviously, the scope of the present invention is limited only by the matters described in the appended claims and the legal equivalents thereof.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a liquid storage dispensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2 taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

4 is a plan view of the components of the device of FIGS. 1-3, taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the component shown in FIG. 4;

6 is a plan view of the components of the device of FIGS. 4 and 5 taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a partially exploded perspective view of a portion of the device of FIGS.

FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view similar to FIG. 8, showing the components of FIG. 8 in an assembled relationship to one another.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 7, illustrating another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view similar to FIGS. 7 and 10, showing yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 10 printing ink storing and dispensing device 12 protective shell 14 pouch 16 base 18 pump 20 fluid outlet 22 protective cap 32 filling port 36 pumping chamber 37 hanging peripheral wall 38 inlet port 42 flap valve 44 diaphragm

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A rigid, generally cup-shaped outer shell having an open end, a base fixed to the open end of the outer shell and having a pumping mechanism having a liquid outlet, and the pumping mechanism. And a flexible pouch having an open end through which liquid can flow and a closed end provided in the outer shell; and separating the flexible pouch from the pumping mechanism. A check valve that allows liquid flow into the pumping mechanism but prevents liquid flow from the pumping mechanism into the flexible pouch and dispenses liquid from the flexible pouch through the liquid outlet. In the liquid storage dispensing device, the base has a hanging peripheral wall, and an open end of the flexible pouch is fixed to the peripheral wall of the base in a liquid-tight state. Liquid storage dispensing device. 2. The base is made of a polymeric material, the flexible pouch has at least an innermost portion made of a polymeric material, and the flexible pouch is a heat steak. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing device is fixed to the base by ringing. 3. The liquid storage dispensing device according to claim 2, wherein an opening end of the flexible pouch is fixed to an outer surface of a peripheral wall of the base. 4. The liquid dispensing dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the liquid outlet has a free end, the free end of which is closed by an elastomeric diaphragm provided with a self-closing slit. Appliances. 5. A rigid, generally cup-shaped outer shell having an open end, fixed to the open end of the outer shell,
A base having a pumping mechanism having a liquid outlet, a flexible pouch having an open end in which the liquid can flow with the pumping mechanism and a closed end provided in the outer shell; Separating a flexible pouch from the pumping mechanism and allowing flow of liquid from the flexible pouch into the pumping mechanism,
A check valve for blocking the flow of liquid from the pumping mechanism into the flexible pouch and dispensing liquid from the flexible pouch through the liquid outlet, the liquid outlet being in the form of a tube. A liquid storage dispensing device, wherein an annular elastomer member is fixed to an opening of the tube. 6. A liquid dispensing and dispensing device according to claim 5, further comprising a sealing member and means for elastically pressing the sealing member to engage the elastomer member. . 7. The elastic pressing means comprises a spring having a first end engaged with the sealing member and a second end engaged with the base. The dispensing device for dispensing liquid according to claim 6. 8. A method for preventing leakage from a liquid-containing dispensing device having a liquid outlet in the form of a tube with a free end, comprising the step of connecting an annular elastomeric member provided with a self-closing slit to the tube. A method characterized in that it is fixed to a free end. 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the sealing ball is elastically pressed and pressed against a portion inside the diaphragm having the slit. 10. A method for preventing deterioration of liquid quality at a free edge of an open end of a multilayer flexible pouch which contains a liquid and has a relationship in which the liquid can flow with a base of the liquid storing and dispensing device. Wherein the base is provided on a depending peripheral wall, and an endless portion of an inner surface of an open end of the flexible pouch is fixed to an outer surface of the depending peripheral wall. 11. The hanging peripheral wall is made of a thermoplastic material, at least the innermost layer of the flexible pouch is made of a thermoplastic material, and the flexible pouch is made of a heat steak. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein said method is secured to said depending peripheral wall by ringing.