EP0786352B1 - Tintenvorratspatrone und Behälter dafür - Google Patents

Tintenvorratspatrone und Behälter dafür Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0786352B1
EP0786352B1 EP97200694A EP97200694A EP0786352B1 EP 0786352 B1 EP0786352 B1 EP 0786352B1 EP 97200694 A EP97200694 A EP 97200694A EP 97200694 A EP97200694 A EP 97200694A EP 0786352 B1 EP0786352 B1 EP 0786352B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ink
tank cartridge
ink tank
ink supply
supply port
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP97200694A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0786352A1 (de
Inventor
Seiji Mochizuki
Kazuhisa Kawakami
Masahiro Nakamura
Keiichi Ohshima
Masanori Yoshida
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Seiko Epson Corp
Original Assignee
Seiko Epson Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Family has litigation
First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=27455877&utm_source=***_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=EP0786352(B1) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Priority claimed from JP3222692A external-priority patent/JP3246516B2/ja
Priority claimed from JP5815192A external-priority patent/JP3161478B2/ja
Priority claimed from JP19340292A external-priority patent/JP3171214B2/ja
Priority to EP00200827A priority Critical patent/EP1013444B1/de
Priority to EP02076904A priority patent/EP1241012B1/de
Application filed by Seiko Epson Corp filed Critical Seiko Epson Corp
Priority to EP08000634A priority patent/EP1905599B1/de
Publication of EP0786352A1 publication Critical patent/EP0786352A1/de
Publication of EP0786352B1 publication Critical patent/EP0786352B1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B41J2/17503—Ink cartridges
    • B41J2/17533—Storage or packaging of ink cartridges
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B41J2/17503—Ink cartridges
    • B41J2/17513—Inner structure
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B41J2/17503—Ink cartridges
    • B41J2/1752—Mounting within the printer
    • B41J2/17523—Ink connection

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to an ink tank cartridge for use in an ink-jet type recording apparatus for ejecting ink droplets onto a recording medium and more particularly to a structure of an ink tank cartridge for use in the ink-jet type recording apparatus.
  • an ink is supplied to a recording head from an ink tank constructed as a cartridge.
  • Employment of the ink cartridge acting as an ink tank has advantages in that no smear is likely to occur due to the leakage of ink while refilling new ink or the like.
  • undesired air bubbles can easily enter the tank which may cause problems, such as ink-failure.
  • Unexamined Japanese Patent Application (OPI) No. Hei. 3-92356 discloses an ink-jet recording apparatus in which an ink supply port disposed below an ink tank is constituted by a rubber tap.
  • a metal ink supply needle penetrates through the rubber tap into an ink flow path communicating with ink nozzles of a recording head.
  • the ink supply needle has ink supply holes on a side surface thereof to penetrate easily through the rubber tap, the diameter of which is about 1mm and is constituted by a metal pipe formed of an anti-corrosion material, such as stainless steel and the end of the pipe is extremely sharp. Accordingly, a person must operate the sharp needle very carefully or (s)he may be injured by the tip of the needle.
  • Unexamined Japanese Patent Application (OPI) No. Sho. 50-074341 proposes an arrangement in which a packing member having a through hole is previously provided at an end opening of an ink supply port and the through hole of the packing member is sealed by a seal member. According to this arrangement, an ink supply needle having a tip which is not so sharp can be employed.
  • Japanese Patent Application Hei. 2-187364 is directed to one type of recording apparatus by which both an ink tank and a recording head are formed unitarily and both these components are replaced with a new one when ink contained in the ink tank becomes empty, it does not address the other problems or difficulties, such as undesired air flow to the recording head or leakage of ink which may occur when only the ink tank is selectively removed from the head.
  • an object of the present invention is to provide an ink tank cartridge preferably for use in an ink-jet type recording apparatus which does not require any sharp needle and capable of preventing air or gas from entering an ink supply path of the recording apparatus body even when the ink tank is replenished using the ink supply needle and keeping a high air tightness between the ink supply needle and the ink tank.
  • the present invention provides an ink tank cartridge for an ink-jet type recording apparatus, the cartridge being removably mounted onto an ink supply needle having through holes of the recording apparatus, the cartridge comprising:
  • the tip of the ink supply needle penetrates through the sealing means and passes through the packing member disposed above the sealing means to thereby communicate with ink impregnated within the porous member accommodated in the cartridge housing. Accordingly, the ink supply needle communicates with ink contained inside the tank which is liquid-tightly sealed by the packing member at the outer periphery of the needle, so that the ink is supplied to the recording head whilst keeping a constant negative pressure between the recording head and the tank owing to surface tension of the porous member.
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of an ink-jet type recording apparatus to which an ink tank cartridge according to the present invention is applied.
  • the ink-jet type recording apparatus is provided with a carriage 1 slidably mounted on guide shafts 2 with respect to a longitudinal axis of a platen 3.
  • an ink-jet recording head 4 for ejecting ink droplets in accordance with a print signal and an ink tank cartridge 5 for supplying ink to the recording head.
  • a capping apparatus 6 is disposed outside a printing region which engages with a front surface of the recording head 4 to prevent nozzle openings from drying when printing has stopped.
  • the nozzle openings are sealed by the capping apparatus 6 and forced to eject ink by a negative pressure generated by a vacuum pump 7 immediately after the ink tank cartridge 5 is replaced with a new one or an ink ejection ability is lowered during continuous printing.
  • the ejected ink is introduced to an ink storage tank 9 through a pipe 8 and stored therein.
  • the apparatus further includes a transmission cable 10 for transmitting printing signals to the recording head 4.
  • Fig. 2 is a cross-section of a first embodiment of the ink tank cartridge according to the present invention which is applied to the recording apparatus.
  • the ink tank cartridge is provided with a housing 11 constituting an ink tank cartridge body, which has an opening 12 at the top and an ink supply port 15 formed unitarily therewith at a bottom surface 13 with which a hollow ink supply needle 14 resiliently engages.
  • the housing 11 is tapered in such a manner that the bottom surface 13 is smaller in diameter than the top surface.
  • the housing need not be tapered but a cylindrical shape having a straight wall may be employed.
  • the ink supply port 15 is pipe-like shaped and projects from a bottom surface of the housing 11 both inwardly and outwardly.
  • a mesh filter 17 having a pore size of 20 to 100 ⁇ m is fuse bonded onto an upper opening 16 of the ink supply port 15 projecting towards inside the housing 11.
  • the filter may be formed of a high polymer material or an anti-corrosion metal such as stainless steel.
  • a step portion 18 is formed at an inner central portion of the ink supply port 15.
  • a packing member 19 for resiliently contacting the ink supply needle 14 to the inside of the supply port 15 is disposed inside the ink supply port 15 at a lower side of the step portion 18 for providing a liquid seal.
  • the packing member 19 is formed of a rubber ring, a so called O-ring.
  • a sealing film 20 is fuse bonded onto a lower opening of the ink supply port 15.
  • the film 20 may preferably be formed of a sealing material such as a high polymer film or a high polymer film with metal layer laminated on the film so that the film 20 demonstrates a high sealability while not capable of being torn by an external force such as contact by a finger.
  • a porous member 21 has a width which is a little bit larger than that of the opening 12 of the housing 11 and a height which is a little bit higher than the housing, so that the porous member 21 is compressed within the housing 11. Further, the lower end portion of the porous member 21 facing the filter 17 of the ink supply port 15 is compressed by the ink supply port 15 protruding inside the housing.
  • a lid 22 covers the opening 12 of the housing 11 and includes a plurality of ribs 25 projecting towards the inside of the housing 11 to compress the porous member 21 and keep respective spaces 24 within the ink tank cartridge between the lid 22 and the porous member 21.
  • An electrode 26 is provided in the ink supply port 15 while another electrode 27 is provided in the bottom portion of the housing 11 to detect an ink near-end condition where the ink is almost empty in the tank and there is only ink in the ink supply port 15.
  • an AC voltage Vcc is applied to the electrodes 26, 27 through a resistor R, and the variation in voltage between the electrodes is detected by a differential circuit 30.
  • a comparator 31 compares an output signal of the differential circuit 30 representing a voltage variation ratio with a preset value generated by a preset value supplying circuit 32. If the voltage variation ratio is larger than the preset value, that is, the ink impregnated in the porous member 21 becomes almost empty, an ink near-end signal is output and the ink near-end condition is therefore detected.
  • the hollow ink supply needle 14 cooperating with the ink tank cartridge has a conical end, and a plurality of through holes 36 are formed in a tip end surface 34 of the ink supply needle 14 for communicating the ink contained within the ink supply port 15 with an ink supply path 35 formed inside the needle 14.
  • the ink is filled in the pores of the porous member 21 accommodated within the housing 11 of the ink tank cartridge under low pressure of about 0.2-0.4 atmospheric pressure.
  • the filling of ink under low pressure is very useful as a means for keeping a good printing quality as taught in Unexamined Japanese Patent Application (OPI) No. Sho. 60-245560.
  • the ink tank cartridge After filling ink into the porous member 21, the ink tank cartridge is packed up for shipping in a bag formed of a high sealable material such as, for example, a laminate film having aluminum layers.
  • Fig. 5 shows one example of the bag, packing therein the ink tank cartridge according to the present invention.
  • the ink tank cartridge is wrapped by a pair of laminate films 37 formed of aluminum which provide a very high sealability, decompressing air in the bag and then fuse-bonding at flange portions 38 of the films 37.
  • Japanese Patent No. Hei. 3-61592 teaches using 20 Torr as an example of the negative pressure to be applied during the packing of the ink tank cartridge, which pressure is much higher than the pressure under which the ink is filled within the tank.
  • this may cause a problem since the ink tank cartridge is subject to atmospheric pressure because the location for the ink-filling process and that for the packaging process are usually spaced far from each other.
  • air which penetrates into the ink becomes free to produce air bubbles when the larger negative pressure is applied during the packaging process.
  • undesirable ink-leakage may occur and, further, the air bubbles generated in the porous member may obstruct the ink current flowing from the ink tank cartridge to the recording head which would cause an ink-failure during printing.
  • the present inventors found that it is most preferable that the ink tank cartridge is packed under a negative pressure which is only a little bit larger (closer to atmospheric pressure) than the pressure under which the ink is filled within the tank.
  • the deaeration rate of the ink contained within the ink tank cartridge can be controlled by varying the pressure during the packaging process.
  • Table 1 shows the packaging pressure (negative gauge pressure) when the nitrogen density during the packaging process is set to be the saturation value of 13-14 ppm and the nitrogen density impregnating into the ink contained in the ink tank cartridge when the packaging bag is opened.
  • Low pressure value atmospheric pressure
  • Fig. 6 shows a variation of an amount of nitrogen after opening the packaging bag. Since the ink tank cartridge has a space kept by the ribs projecting from the lid, a constant amount of air corresponding to the pressure exists within the bag from immediately after the packaging process. Accordingly, within a short period (point a ), the density of nitrogen within the ink rapidly rises as shown in Fig. 6, and after that, the density is constant because of the high sealability of the bag. The constant period continues for about two years from manufacture.
  • the space maintained in the packaged bag is substantially 15% of the total inside volume of the bag after packing.
  • the deaerated ink is apparently supplied to the recording head, and even if the ink tank cartridge is removed and attached to the ink supply needle and air enters in the ink supply port from the needle, the air is impregnated into the ink and, accordingly, the recording apparatus does not suffer from any problem.
  • the ink-jet type recording apparatus is provided with a vacuum pump for forcedly ejecting ink from ink nozzles by applying a negative pressure to a recording head.
  • a vacuum pump for forcedly ejecting ink from ink nozzles by applying a negative pressure to a recording head.
  • Fig. 7 shows an arrangement of packing the ink tank cartridge in which a cartridge is surrounded by an absorbing member, such as sponge grains 40, and accommodated in a packaging bag 41, and then subjected to a decompression process.
  • an absorbing member such as sponge grains 40
  • the sponge grains 40 form a space inside the packaging bag, the low pressure during the packing process can be continued for a long time even if the ink is filled in the porous member 21 as much as possible, for example, about 95% volume of the porous member accommodated in the ink tank cartridge. Therefore, the print quality and efficiency of the ink-filling can be improved.
  • the packaging bag is opened and the tank cartridge is taken from the bag.
  • the tank cartridge is mounted on a carriage of the recording apparatus in such a manner that the end opening of the ink supply port 15 is positioned just above the ink supply needle 14 and then depressed towards and parallel to the direction of the needle 14.
  • the ink supply needle 14 penetrates the sealing member (film) 20 and reaches the packing member (O-ring) 19. In this condition, the tip of the ink supply needle 14 is kept in a liquid seal with respect to the ink supply port 15 by the packing member (O-ring) 19 while communicating with ink contained within the ink supply port 15.
  • the sealing member 20 deforms to become shaped like the end contour of the needle 14; to large extent because of the resiliency of the sealing member 20.
  • the through holes 36 formed at the tip of the ink supply needle 14 have a diameter below 0.1 to 0.4 mm, the through holes 36 keep a meniscus when the cartridge is exchanged. Accordingly, air is prevented from entering from the ink supply needle 14 to the recording head. Further, since there is a plurality of through holes, the fluid resistance applied to the ink flowing therethrough is very small and, therefore, a sufficient amount of ink for printing can be supplied to the recording head 4.
  • the porous member 21 is resiliently deformed and compressed by the ink supply port 15 projecting inward of the tank housing, the pore size of the porous member at a region in the vicinity of the ink supply port is smaller than that of the other region so that the capillary force is large relative to the other region. Owing to this structure, the ink is concentrated at the compressed portion of the porous member, and further the ink can be supplied to the recording head right up until the last droplet.
  • the sealing member 20 disposed at the ink supply port 15 is exposed.
  • This arrangement of the flange 45 is advantageous in that not merely the sealing member is prevented from being torn but also the flange can be used as a guide member for easily positioning the ink supply needle 14 to the correct point.
  • Figs. 9-I and 9-II are cross-sections showing an ink tank cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
  • the ink tank cartridge of the second embodiment is provided with a housing 50 constituting an ink tank cartridge body having an opening 51 at the top thereof and a pipe-like ink supply port 53 projecting from a bottom surface 52 of the housing 50, which port engages with the ink supply needle 14 disposed on the recording apparatus side.
  • the housing 50 is tapered so that a diameter of the bottom surface is smaller than that of the top surface.
  • the ink supply port 53 is provided with an opening 54 onto which a filter 55 formed of high polymer or anti-corrosion metal is fuse bonded.
  • a step portion 56 is formed at an inner center of the ink supply port 53.
  • a packing member (an O-ring in this embodiment) 57 is fitted at a lower side of the step portion 56 for maintaining a liquid seal by resiliently abutting the port 53 against the ink supply needle 14. Further, a sealing member (film) stopping member (an O-ring in this embodiment) 58 is also fitted at a lower side of the packing member 57.
  • An opening 59 is sealed by a sealing member 60 having a high air-seal formed, for example, of a laminated film through which the ink supply needle easily penetrates.
  • the opening 51 of the housing 50 is sealed by a lid 62 having a communication hole 62 for communicating with the atmosphere.
  • An inner surface of the lid 62 is provided with a plurality of ribs 68 for defining spaces 63 between a porous member 64 and the lid 62.
  • the ink tank cartridge is further provided with electrodes 65a, 65b for detecting an ink near-end condition.
  • the porous member accommodated in the tank housing 50 has two separate layers consisting of upper porous member 64a and lower porous members 64b.
  • the upper porous member 64a is larger in pore size than the lower porous member 64b so that the capillary force is larger at the lower side in the vicinity of the ink supply port 53.
  • the elements of the structure of the cartridge of this arrangement other than the porous member is the same as that shown in Fig. 9-I.
  • the porous member may be divided into more than two layers if applicable as well as the lower layer having a small pore size than the upper layer.
  • ink tank cartridge With the ink tank cartridge described above, deaerated ink is filled within the porous member accommodated in the tank housing under low pressure, and packed in a package bag for stocking while maintaining a negative pressure a little bit higher (closer to the atmosphere) than that during the ink-filling process.
  • the packaging bag is opened to take a new ink tank cartridge out of the bag, and the tank cartridge is mounted on the carriage of the recording apparatus in such a manner that the end opening of the ink supply port 53 is positioned just above the ink supply needle 14 and then depressed towards and parallel to the direction of the needle 14.
  • the ink supply needle 14 penetrates the sealing member (film) 60 and reaches the packing member (O-ring) 57 through the sealing member stopping member 58. This enables the ink supply needle 14 to be kept in a liquid-tight condition with respect to the ink supply port 53 by the packing member (O-ring) 57 while communicating with ink contained within the ink supply port 53.
  • the sealing member 60 When the ink supply needle 14 penetrates the sealing member 60, the sealing member 60 may partially go into the ink supply port 53 with the ink supply needle 14. However, broken pieces 60a of the sealing member 60 are stopped to go further with the needle by the sealing member stopping member 58 as shown in Fig. 10B so that the broken pieces 60a do not reach the packing member 57. Accordingly, even if gaps 66 are formed between the needle 14 and the sealing member stopping member 58, the liquid seal can be maintained owing to the packing member 57 and, therefore, the ink is prevented from leaking out.
  • Various modifications of the sealing member stopping member 57 and the packing member 58 are now described. The remaining elements of the structure, however, remain the same.
  • the sealing member stopping member 58-2 is not an O-ring but an elastic sealing member while the packing member 57 is an O ring.
  • both the sealing member stopping member 58 and the packing member 57 are not an O-ring but an elastic sealing member.
  • sealing member stopping member 58 and the packing member 57 are unitarily formed and provided with a groove between the members.
  • the packing member 57 is not an O-ring but an elastic sealing member while the sealing member stopping member 58 is an O-ring.
  • Fig. 11 is a cross-section showing part of an ink tank cartridge according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
  • a pipe-like ink supply port 71 is formed at the bottom surface 70 of the housing for accommodating a porous member for filling therein ink.
  • a filter 72 is fixed to a top opening of the ink supply port 71 which resiliently abuts to compress the porous member for impregnating ink.
  • a packing member 73 and a seal member stopping member 74 are press fitted in a center inner portion of the ink supply port 71 and secured by a bushing 75.
  • a lower opening 76 is sealed by a sealing member (film) 77.
  • the ink tank cartridge of this embodiment is further provided with a porous member 78 fitted in the ink supply port 71 between an electrode 80 disposed within an ink chamber 79 for detecting an ink near-end condition and the packing member 73.
  • An upper portion of the porous member 78 engages with a step portion 81 formed inside the ink supply port 71 as shown in Fig. 11 to prevent the porous member 78 from moving even when the ink supply needle penetrates therethrough.
  • the reference numeral 95 designates another electrode for detecting the ink near-end condition.
  • Fig. 12 shows an embodiment of the ink supply needle 90 preferably applied to the ink tank cartridge of the present invention.
  • the ink supply needle 90 is provided with a tip 91 having a conical shape and an inclined surface for easily penetrating the sealing member 77, stopping member 74 and packing member 73.
  • a needle body 92 has generally parallel openings 94 communicating with an ink supply path 93.
  • the ink supply needle 90 penetrates the sealing member 77 and passes through the sealing member stopping member 74 and the packing member 73. Since the ink supply needle 90 has no hole at the tip 91, the variation in volume in the ink chamber 79 caused by a piston-effect during the mounting operation of the ink tank cartridge, is received by the tip 91 and the packing member 73. Whereas the variation is not applied to the through hole 94 as shown in Fig. 13A but to the upper side through the porous member 78 of the ink supply port 79. Thus, when the openings 94 pass through the packing member 73 pressure is generated when the cartridge is being mounted and so ink flows into the ink supply path 93 through the openings 94.
  • the undesirable variation in volume due to the piston effect applied to the recording head can be prevented since the ink supply path 93 does not communicate with the ink supply port 71, so that leakage of ink from the nozzle opening of the recording head is effectively avoided.
  • the ink supply needle since it is not necessary to form through holes, the ink supply needle has sufficient mechanical strength and, accordingly, the needle can be formed of a material other than metal such as, for example, a high polymer material.
  • An ink supply needle formed of high polymer material is advantageous in that the manufacturing process can be simplified and further dangers raised because of metal can be avoided.
  • an inner diameter of the through holes 94 can be selected freely yet maintain the meniscus even if an outer diameter of the ink supply needle is designed to be large to thereby control an appropriate flow resistance. Therefore, the ink supply needle can maintain a mechanical strength sufficient for penetrating into the ink tank cartridge if the needle is formed of a high polymer material.
  • the ink supply needle shown in Fig. 13B is so designed that, for example, an outer diameter R of the needle is within a range of 2-4mm and a length L of the ink supply port of the ink tank cartridge side when the ink tank cartridge is mounted onto the needle and the packing member is set to be below 2.5mm.
  • This arrangement is more preferable because the variation in volume when the ink tank cartridge is mounted on the ink supply needle is small and the undesirable piston effect can be minimized.
  • the ink tank cartridge must be replaced when the tank is still full such as for maintenance, ink existing around the tip of the ink supply needle is sucked up into the porous member 78 located in the vicinity of the needle because of capillary action of the porous member filled within the tank cartridge for impregnating the ink.
  • the porous member 78 since the porous member 78 has a capillary force which is substantially the same as that of the porous member filled in the tank cartridge, the ink remains in the ink chamber 79. Accordingly, air is prevented from entering inside the tank cartridge body. Further, if the ink tank cartridge is removed, the electrodes do not output a signal representing the ink near-end condition. As a result, it is ready to start printing again merely by mounting the once removed ink tank cartridge again onto the ink supply needle.
  • the third embodiment describes the needle having parallel through holes.
  • the needle having through holes in the end surface as shown in Fig. 3 may be employed if the piston effect during mounting of the cartridge is small.
  • the ink tank cartridge of the third embodiment utilizes stopping members for preventing the packing member and the sealing member stopping member from falling off.
  • these stopping members may be omitted if the mechanical strength of the sealing member is relatively large.
  • the ink tank cartridge housing is removable with respect to the ink supply needle and is provided with the ink supply port projecting from the bottom surface of the housing both inwardly and outwardly.
  • the porous member for impregnating ink is resiliently accommodated in the housing through the filter secured to the end of the ink supply port.
  • the packing member is disposed at the end opening of the ink supply port for resiliently abutting against the periphery of the ink supply needle and the sealing member for sealing the end opening of the ink supply port, through which the ink supply needle penetrates.
  • the ink tank cartridge of the invention is advantageous in that the ink supply needle does not require a sharp tip, air is prevented from entering the ink supply path of the recording apparatus, and a tight air-seal between the ink supply needle and the ink tank can be maintained.

Landscapes

  • Ink Jet (AREA)

Claims (26)

  1. Tintenbehälterpatrone für eine Aufzeichnungsvorrichtung vom Tintenstrahl-Typ, wobei die Patrone abnehmbar auf einer Durchgangslöcher (36, 94) umfassenden Tintenzuführnadel (14, 90) der Aufzeichnungsvorrichtung angebracht ist, wobei die Patrone umfasst:
    ein Gehäuse (11, 50);
    ein poröses Element (21, 64), das in dem Gehäuse untergebracht ist, um mit einer Tinte getränkt zu werden;
    eine Tintenzuführöffnung (15, 53, 71), die in einer unteren Oberfläche des Gehäuses gebildet ist, wobei die Tintenzuführöffnung eine obere Öffnung (16, 54), dem das poröse Element durch einen Filter (17, 55, 72) gegenüberliegt, und eine untere Öffnung, die von dem unteren Teil des Gehäuses wegführt;
    gekennzeichnet durch:
    eine Manschetteneinrichtung (19, 57, 77), die innerhalb der Tintenzuführöffnung vorgesehen ist, wobei die Manschetteneinrichtung angeordnet ist, um nachgebend an einer äußeren Peripherie der Tintenzuführnadel anzugrenzen; und
    eine Abdichtungseinrichtung (20, 60, 77) umfassend einen dünnen Film zum Abdichten der unteren Öffnung der Tintenzuführöffnung und zum Penetriertwerden durch eine Tintenzuführnadel.
  2. Tintenbehälterpatrone gemäß Anspruch 1, in der die Manschetteneinrichtung ein elastisches Abdichtungselement ist.
  3. Tintenbehälterpatrone gemäß Anspruch 1 oder Anspruch 2, ferner umfassend eine Aufhalteeinrichtung (58), die zwischen der Manschetteneinrichtung und der Abdichtungseinrichtung vorgesehen ist, um abgebrochene Teile der Abdichtungseinrichtung davon abzuhalten, dass sie weiter in die Tintenzuführöffnung eintreten, wenn die Tintenzuführnadel die Abdichtungseinrichtung penetriert.
  4. Tintenbehälterpatrone gemäß Anspruch 3, in der die Manschetteneinrichtung und die Aufhalteeinrichtung unitar gebildet sind.
  5. Tintenbehälterpatrone gemäß einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, in der das poröse Element in einem Bereich in der Nähe der Tintenzuführöffnung zusammengepresst ist.
  6. Tintenbehälterpatrone gemäß einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, in der die Tintenzuführöffnung von der unteren Oberfläche nach außen hervorsteht.
  7. Tintenbehälterpatrone gemäß einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, in der der Filter auf eine obere Öffnung der Tintenzuführöffnung schmelzgebunden ist.
  8. Tintenbehälterpatrone gemäß einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, in der der Filter aus einem hochpolymeren Material gebildet ist.
  9. Tintenbehälterpatrone gemäß einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 7, wobei der Filter aus einem korrosionsbeständigen Metall gebildet ist.
  10. Tintenbehälterpatrone gemäß Anspruch 9, wobei das Metall rostfreien Stahl umfasst.
  11. Tintenbehälterpatrone gemäß einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei der Filter einen Siebfilter umfasst.
  12. Tintenbehälterpatrone gemäß Anspruch 11, wobei der Siebfilter eine Mehrzahl an Poren aufweist, die jeweils eine Porengröße von 20 bis 100 µm aufweisen.
  13. Tintenbehälterpatrone gemäß einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, ferner umfassend einen Flansch (45), der von einem unteren Ende der Tintenzuführöffnung vorsteht.
  14. Tintenbehälterpatrone gemäß einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, ferner umfassend zwei Elektroden (26, 27, 65a, 65b, 80), wobei die eine in der Tintenzuführöffnung, und die andere in dem Gehäuse zum Ermitteln eines Zustands in dem die Tinte fast aufgebraucht ist, angeordnet ist.
  15. Tintenbehälterpatrone gemäß Anspruch 14, in der die in der Tintenzuführöffnung angeordnete Elektrode zwischen dem Filter und der Manschetteneinrichtung angeordnet ist.
  16. Tintenbehälterpatrone gemäß einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, in der das Gehäuse einen Deckel (22, 62) umfasst, der angeordnet ist, um es dem porösen Element zu ermöglichen an der Tintenzuführöffnung anzugrenzen, dabei aber wenigstens einen Luftraum (24, 63) in dem Gehäuse bereitzustellen.
  17. Tintenbehälterpatrone gemäß Anspruch 16, in der der Deckel ein Verbindungsloch (23, 61) zum In-Verbindung-Stehen mit dem Luftraum umfasst.
  18. Tintenbehälterpatrone gemäß einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, ferner umfassend ein nachgiebiges poröses Element (78), das innerhalb der Tintenzuführöffnung in der Nähe der Durchgangslöcher der Tintenzuführnadel angeordnet ist, wenn der Tintenbehälter in Verbindung mit einer Tintenstrahlaufzeichnungsvorrichtung und einer Tintenkammer (79) verwendet wird, die zwischen dem nachgiebigen porösen Element und dem Filter der Tintenzuführöffnung definiert ist.
  19. Tintenbehälterpatrone gemäß Anspruch 18, wobei das nachgiebige poröse Element eine Kapillarkraft aufweist, die im Wesentlichen der des innerhalb des Gehäuses untergebrachten porösen Elements entspricht, um mit Tinte durchtränkt zu werden.
  20. Tintenbehälterpatrone gemäß einem der Ansprüche 18 oder 19, wobei die Tintenzuführöffnung einen Stufenbereich (81) umfasst, der innerhalb dieser gebildet ist, mit dem das nachgiebige poröse Element ineinandergreift.
  21. Tintenbehälterpatrone gemäß einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Abdichtungseinrichtung eine Metallschicht umfasst.
  22. Tintenbehälterpatrone gemäß Anspruch 21, wobei die Abdichtungseinrichtung ferner einen hochpolymeren Film umfasst, und wobei die Metallschicht auf den hochpolymeren Film laminiert ist.
  23. Tintenbehälterpatrone gemäß einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 20, wobei die Abdichtungseinrichtung einen hochpolymeren Film umfasst.
  24. Kombination aus einem Tintenstrahldrucker und einer Tintenbehälterpatrone gemäß einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Durchgangslöcher der Nadel senkrecht zu einer Richtung, in der die Nadel penetriert, gebildet sind.
  25. Kombination aus einem Tintenstrahldrucker und einer Tintenbehälterpatrone gemäß Anspruch 24, wobei der Außendurchmesser R der Tintenzuführnadel innerhalb eines Bereichs von 2-4 mm liegt, und eine Länge L unter 2,5 mm zwischen einem der oberen Durchgangslöcher und der Manschetteneinrichtung festgelegt ist, wenn die Tintenbehälterpatrone auf der Nadel angebracht ist.
  26. Kombination aus einem Tintenstrahldrucker und einer Tintenbehälterpatrone gemäß einem der Ansprüche 24 oder 25, wobei die Tintenzuführnadel eine Mehrzahl von Durchgangslöcher an einer Seitenoberfläche darauf umfasst, durch die die Tinte fließt.
EP97200694A 1992-01-28 1992-08-07 Tintenvorratspatrone und Behälter dafür Expired - Lifetime EP0786352B1 (de)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP08000634A EP1905599B1 (de) 1992-01-28 1992-08-07 Tintenkartusche und Behälter dafür
EP00200827A EP1013444B1 (de) 1992-01-28 1992-08-07 Tintenvorratspatrone und Behälter dafür
EP02076904A EP1241012B1 (de) 1992-01-28 1992-08-07 Tintenkartusche und Behälter dafür

Applications Claiming Priority (13)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP1283492 1992-01-28
JP12834/92 1992-01-28
JP1283492 1992-01-28
JP3222692A JP3246516B2 (ja) 1992-02-19 1992-02-19 インクジェット記録装置、及びこれに使用するインクタンク
JP3222692 1992-02-19
JP32226/92 1992-02-19
JP5815192A JP3161478B2 (ja) 1992-03-16 1992-03-16 インクジェット記録装置用インクタンク
JP5815192 1992-03-16
JP58151/92 1992-03-16
JP193402/92 1992-06-26
JP19340292A JP3171214B2 (ja) 1992-01-28 1992-06-26 インクジェット記録装置用インクカ−トリッジ
JP19340292 1992-06-26
EP92307270A EP0553535B2 (de) 1992-01-28 1992-08-07 Tintenvorratspatrone und Behälter dafür

Related Parent Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP92307270.6 Division 1992-08-07
EP92307270A Division EP0553535B2 (de) 1992-01-28 1992-08-07 Tintenvorratspatrone und Behälter dafür

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP00200827A Division EP1013444B1 (de) 1992-01-28 1992-08-07 Tintenvorratspatrone und Behälter dafür

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0786352A1 EP0786352A1 (de) 1997-07-30
EP0786352B1 true EP0786352B1 (de) 2001-11-28

Family

ID=27455877

Family Applications (7)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP92307270A Expired - Lifetime EP0553535B2 (de) 1992-01-28 1992-08-07 Tintenvorratspatrone und Behälter dafür
EP02076904A Expired - Lifetime EP1241012B1 (de) 1992-01-28 1992-08-07 Tintenkartusche und Behälter dafür
EP03026325A Ceased EP1396344A3 (de) 1992-01-28 1992-08-07 Tintenkartusche und Behälter dafür
EP96120032A Expired - Lifetime EP0782927B1 (de) 1992-01-28 1992-08-07 Verschliessbarer Flüssigkeitsbehälter für Tintenvorratspatrone
EP97200694A Expired - Lifetime EP0786352B1 (de) 1992-01-28 1992-08-07 Tintenvorratspatrone und Behälter dafür
EP00200827A Expired - Lifetime EP1013444B1 (de) 1992-01-28 1992-08-07 Tintenvorratspatrone und Behälter dafür
EP08000634A Expired - Lifetime EP1905599B1 (de) 1992-01-28 1992-08-07 Tintenkartusche und Behälter dafür

Family Applications Before (4)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP92307270A Expired - Lifetime EP0553535B2 (de) 1992-01-28 1992-08-07 Tintenvorratspatrone und Behälter dafür
EP02076904A Expired - Lifetime EP1241012B1 (de) 1992-01-28 1992-08-07 Tintenkartusche und Behälter dafür
EP03026325A Ceased EP1396344A3 (de) 1992-01-28 1992-08-07 Tintenkartusche und Behälter dafür
EP96120032A Expired - Lifetime EP0782927B1 (de) 1992-01-28 1992-08-07 Verschliessbarer Flüssigkeitsbehälter für Tintenvorratspatrone

Family Applications After (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP00200827A Expired - Lifetime EP1013444B1 (de) 1992-01-28 1992-08-07 Tintenvorratspatrone und Behälter dafür
EP08000634A Expired - Lifetime EP1905599B1 (de) 1992-01-28 1992-08-07 Tintenkartusche und Behälter dafür

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (7) EP0553535B2 (de)
DE (6) DE69233784D1 (de)
HK (5) HK1002449A1 (de)
SG (1) SG46602A1 (de)

Families Citing this family (49)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6247803B1 (en) 1983-10-13 2001-06-19 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink jet recording apparatus and method for replenishing ink in the tank cartridge
JP3513979B2 (ja) * 1994-09-16 2004-03-31 セイコーエプソン株式会社 インクジェットプリンタ用インクカートリッジ
US6145974A (en) * 1983-10-13 2000-11-14 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink-supplied printer head and ink container
US6276785B1 (en) 1983-10-13 2001-08-21 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink-supplied printer head and ink container
US6474798B1 (en) 1984-10-11 2002-11-05 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink supplied printer head and ink container
US5844578A (en) * 1990-01-30 1998-12-01 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink-jet recording apparatus and ink tank cartridge thereof
US5790158A (en) * 1992-01-28 1998-08-04 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink-jet recording apparatus and ink tank cartridge therefor
JP3043926B2 (ja) * 1993-08-20 2000-05-22 キヤノン株式会社 インクカートリッジ
CA2272155C (en) * 1992-07-31 2004-05-25 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Liquid storing container for recording apparatus
US6170939B1 (en) 1992-07-31 2001-01-09 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Liquid storing container for recording apparatus
DE69418351T2 (de) * 1993-02-02 1999-12-30 Seiko Epson Corp., Tokio/Tokyo Verfahren zum Befüllen von Tintendurchgängen mit Tinte
ATE290468T1 (de) 1993-07-20 2005-03-15 Canon Kk Tintenstrahlaufzeichnungsgerät, welches eine farbkartusche mit einem tinteninduzierenden element verwendet
US5574489A (en) * 1994-03-30 1996-11-12 Hewlett-Packard Company Ink cartridge system for ink-jet printer
DE9405723U1 (de) * 1994-04-06 1994-06-01 Pelikan Produktions Ag, Egg Tintenpatrone für einen Druckkopf eines Ink-Jet-Printers
DE19534578C2 (de) * 1994-09-16 2000-01-20 Seiko Epson Corp Tintenpatrone
JPH08132636A (ja) * 1994-09-16 1996-05-28 Seiko Epson Corp インクジェットプリンタ用インクカートリッジ、及びカートリッジへのインクの充填方法
US6238042B1 (en) 1994-09-16 2001-05-29 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink cartridge for ink jet printer and method of charging ink into said cartridge
US5777646A (en) * 1995-12-04 1998-07-07 Hewlett-Packard Company Self-sealing fluid inerconnect with double sealing septum
DE69605713T2 (de) * 1995-05-16 2000-06-08 Dynamic Cassette International Ltd., Boston Tintenkassette für Tintenstrahldrucker
GB2323564B (en) * 1995-05-17 1999-02-24 Dynamic Cassette Int An ink cartridge for an ink jet printer
US6132036A (en) * 1995-09-14 2000-10-17 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Ink tank, production process of ink tank and ink-jet printing apparatus
US6168266B1 (en) 1995-09-29 2001-01-02 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Ink tank cartridge, a manufacturing method thereof and a packaging structure of the ink tank cartridge
US5815182A (en) * 1995-12-04 1998-09-29 Hewlett-Packard Company Fluid interconnect for ink-jet pen
JP3750138B2 (ja) 1996-02-21 2006-03-01 セイコーエプソン株式会社 インクカートリッヂ
DE19615997C2 (de) * 1996-04-10 1999-11-04 Staedtler Fa J S Tintenspeicher für Drucker, insbesondere Tintenpatronen für Ink-Jet-Drucker
US5971533A (en) * 1997-01-07 1999-10-26 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Ink cartridge and printer
JPH10250104A (ja) * 1997-03-12 1998-09-22 Seiko Epson Corp インクジェット式記録装置用インクカートリッジ、及びその製造方法
EP0949080A3 (de) * 1998-04-06 2000-01-26 Xerox Corporation Tintenbehälter mit verbesserter Auslassöffnungsdichtung
ATE381439T1 (de) 1998-05-18 2008-01-15 Seiko Epson Corp Tintenpatrone
US6299296B2 (en) * 1998-07-31 2001-10-09 Hewlett Packard Company Sealing member for a fluid container
DE19854660B4 (de) * 1998-11-26 2005-11-24 3T Supplies Ag Tintenkassette
US6799820B1 (en) 1999-05-20 2004-10-05 Seiko Epson Corporation Liquid container having a liquid detecting device
DE19962662B4 (de) * 1999-12-23 2005-12-01 3T Supplies Ag Tintenkassette und Verfahren zum Herstellen einer Tintenkassette
CN101143515B (zh) 2000-05-18 2011-08-31 精工爱普生株式会社 检测墨水消耗的方法和装置
KR100439616B1 (ko) 2000-05-18 2004-07-12 세이코 엡슨 가부시키가이샤 설치 구조체, 모듈체, 및 액체 용기
US7137679B2 (en) 2000-05-18 2006-11-21 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink consumption detecting method, and ink jet recording apparatus
JP3824216B2 (ja) 2000-05-18 2006-09-20 セイコーエプソン株式会社 インク消費状態検出方法及びインクジェット記録装置
EP1679196B1 (de) 2000-06-15 2008-05-07 Seiko Epson Corporation Verfahren zur Flüssigkeitszufuhr, Flüssigkeitsbehälter und Verfahren zu seiner Herstellung
EP1176403A3 (de) 2000-07-28 2003-03-19 Seiko Epson Corporation Flüssigkeitsverbrauchdetektor
JP3796439B2 (ja) * 2001-02-09 2006-07-12 キヤノン株式会社 液体収納容器
DE10216654A1 (de) * 2002-04-15 2003-10-23 Artech Gmbh Design & Prod Tintenkartusche
DE10239659B4 (de) * 2002-08-26 2005-12-15 Artech Gmbh Design + Production In Plastic Tintenversorgungseinrichtung
DE10250610A1 (de) 2002-10-30 2004-05-13 Kmp Printtechnik Ag Tintenpatrone zum Aufbringen auf einen Aufzeichnungskopf
CA2506479A1 (en) 2002-11-18 2004-06-03 Dynamic Cassette International Ltd. An ink cartridge for a printer, a method of assembling an ink cartridge for a printer, and a filter assembly for an ink cartridge
DE10341787B4 (de) * 2003-09-10 2009-12-17 Kmp Printtechnik Ag Tintenpatrone
GB0515806D0 (en) * 2005-08-01 2005-09-07 Dynamic Cassette Int Seal in port
GB2448872A (en) * 2007-04-30 2008-11-05 Hewlett Packard Development Co Print cartridge
US20090309940A1 (en) * 2008-06-16 2009-12-17 Price Brian G Liquid storage tank including a pressure regulator
DE102011012767A1 (de) 2010-09-18 2012-03-22 H. Stoll Gmbh & Co. Kg Verfahren zur Herstellung eines Schlauchgestricks

Family Cites Families (24)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2229320A5 (en) † 1973-05-09 1974-12-06 Meci Materiel Elect Contr Continuous inking device for pen recorders - has reservoir containing cellular material to contain ink
JPS5074341A (de) 1973-10-31 1975-06-19
DE2709730C2 (de) * 1977-03-05 1981-12-03 Olympia Werke Ag, 2940 Wilhelmshaven Tintenbehälter mit einem flexiblen Beutel
US4156244A (en) * 1977-09-06 1979-05-22 Bell & Howell Company Ink jet printer ink cartridge
US4429320A (en) * 1979-09-21 1984-01-31 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Ink jet recording apparatus
JPS5656877A (en) † 1979-10-17 1981-05-19 Canon Inc Ink jet recording apparatus
JPS59131837U (ja) * 1983-02-23 1984-09-04 シャープ株式会社 インクジエツトプリンタのインクカ−トリツジ装置
JPS60245560A (ja) 1984-05-22 1985-12-05 Seiko Epson Corp プリンタのインクタンク
DE3401071A1 (de) * 1984-01-13 1985-07-25 Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München Vorrichtung zum nachfuellen von tintenbehaeltern in tintenschreibeinrichtungen
JPH0698774B2 (ja) * 1984-02-09 1994-12-07 キヤノン株式会社 インク容器
JPS60204366A (ja) * 1984-03-30 1985-10-15 Canon Inc インクジエツト記録ヘツドおよびその保存方法
JPS6219460A (ja) * 1985-07-19 1987-01-28 Ricoh Co Ltd インクカ−トリツジの梱包容器
JPS62121062A (ja) * 1985-11-21 1987-06-02 Seiko Epson Corp インクジエツトプリンタ用インクカ−トリツジの製造方法
JPS633961A (ja) * 1986-06-24 1988-01-08 Canon Inc インク供給装置
US4771295B1 (en) † 1986-07-01 1995-08-01 Hewlett Packard Co Thermal ink jet pen body construction having improved ink storage and feed capability
JPS63118257A (ja) * 1986-11-07 1988-05-23 Ricoh Co Ltd インクジエツト記録装置
JPS63154356A (ja) * 1986-12-19 1988-06-27 Ricoh Co Ltd インクジエツトプリンタのインクカ−トリツジ装置
JP2575205B2 (ja) * 1989-01-13 1997-01-22 キヤノン株式会社 インクタンク
IT1232551B (it) * 1989-07-13 1992-02-19 Olivetti & Co Spa Testina di stampa per una stampante termica a getto d'inchiostro
JPH0361592A (ja) 1989-07-31 1991-03-18 Toppan Printing Co Ltd 精細パターンフィルタの製造方法
JP2819658B2 (ja) 1989-09-05 1998-10-30 セイコーエプソン株式会社 インクジェット記録装置
AU6774790A (en) * 1989-12-06 1991-06-13 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Package for ink jet cartridge
JPH03288653A (ja) * 1990-04-05 1991-12-18 Seiko Epson Corp インクジェットヘッド用インクカートリッジ
JP3155782B2 (ja) † 1991-09-18 2001-04-16 株式会社東芝 シャドウマスク用原板

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69227441D1 (de) 1998-12-03
DE69232893T2 (de) 2003-11-06
DE69232243T2 (de) 2002-07-25
DE69227441T2 (de) 1999-03-18
EP1013444B1 (de) 2003-01-08
DE69233371T2 (de) 2005-06-16
EP1905599B1 (de) 2010-04-28
DE69227441T3 (de) 2004-09-09
EP0782927B1 (de) 2001-11-07
EP1396344A2 (de) 2004-03-10
HK1046666B (zh) 2005-02-04
HK1010709A1 (en) 1999-06-25
HK1046666A1 (en) 2003-01-24
DE69233784D1 (de) 2010-06-10
HK1021810A1 (en) 2000-07-07
EP1013444A1 (de) 2000-06-28
HK1002449A1 (en) 1998-08-28
EP1905599A2 (de) 2008-04-02
DE69232893D1 (de) 2003-02-13
DE69232243D1 (de) 2002-01-10
EP0553535B2 (de) 2004-04-14
DE69232194T2 (de) 2002-07-18
SG46602A1 (en) 1998-02-20
EP0553535A1 (de) 1993-08-04
DE69233371D1 (de) 2004-07-22
HK1025932A1 (en) 2000-12-01
EP1241012A2 (de) 2002-09-18
EP0782927A1 (de) 1997-07-09
DE69232194D1 (de) 2001-12-13
EP1241012B1 (de) 2004-06-16
EP0786352A1 (de) 1997-07-30
EP0553535B1 (de) 1998-10-28
EP1241012A3 (de) 2003-01-02
EP1905599A3 (de) 2009-04-08
EP1396344A3 (de) 2004-07-28

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0786352B1 (de) Tintenvorratspatrone und Behälter dafür
US5576749A (en) Ink-jet recording apparatus and ink tank cartridge therefor
US5477963A (en) Ink-jet recording apparatus and ink tank cartridge therefor
US5844578A (en) Ink-jet recording apparatus and ink tank cartridge thereof
US5790158A (en) Ink-jet recording apparatus and ink tank cartridge therefor
US4785314A (en) Internally pressure-regulated ink supply
EP0714778B1 (de) Tintenstrahldrucker und reinigungsverfahren des aufzeichnungskopfes
KR100234799B1 (ko) 액체 토출용 용기
US5182581A (en) Ink jet recording unit having an ink tank section containing porous material and a recording head section
US6010213A (en) Ink supply device for use in ink jet printer and ink tank for use in the same device
JP3156319B2 (ja) インク・ジェット印刷機用のインク・カートリッジ
KR0135399B1 (ko) 잉크 유도 요소를 구비한 잉크 카트리지를 갖는 기록 유니트를 사용하는 잉크 제트 기록 장치
US6874873B2 (en) Printhead air management using unsaturated ink
JPH09123473A (ja) インクジェットカートリッジを補充するための装置
JP4529369B2 (ja) インクジェット記録装置
JP4165725B2 (ja) インク容器
JP3171214B2 (ja) インクジェット記録装置用インクカ−トリッジ
EP1433611B1 (de) Tintenstrahlaufzeichnungsgerät und Verfahren zur Tinteneinführung im genannten Gerät
US6863387B2 (en) Ink supply with air diffusion barrier for unsaturated ink
JPH07132611A (ja) インクジェット記録装置及びインクタンクとその製造方法
JPH0760985A (ja) インクジェット用カートリッジおよび一体型カートリッジ
JP2002046286A (ja) インクジェット記録装置用インクカートリッジ
JPH03286875A (ja) インクジェット記録装置用インクカートリッジ

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19970325

AC Divisional application: reference to earlier application

Ref document number: 553535

Country of ref document: EP

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): CH DE FR GB IT LI NL SE

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19980212

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AC Divisional application: reference to earlier application

Ref document number: 553535

Country of ref document: EP

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): CH DE FR GB IT LI NL SE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: IF02

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69232243

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20020110

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: NV

Representative=s name: BOVARD AG PATENTANWAELTE

ET Fr: translation filed
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: CL

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 20100814

Year of fee payment: 19

Ref country code: CH

Payment date: 20100812

Year of fee payment: 19

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Payment date: 20100812

Year of fee payment: 19

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PFA

Owner name: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION

Free format text: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION#4-1, NISHISHINJUKU 2-CHOME#SHINJUKU-KU TOKYO (JP) -TRANSFER TO- SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION#4-1, NISHISHINJUKU 2-CHOME#SHINJUKU-KU TOKYO (JP)

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20110803

Year of fee payment: 20

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20110818

Year of fee payment: 20

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20110803

Year of fee payment: 20

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Payment date: 20110811

Year of fee payment: 20

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: V1

Effective date: 20120301

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: SE

Ref legal event code: EUG

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20110831

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20110831

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20120301

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R071

Ref document number: 69232243

Country of ref document: DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R071

Ref document number: 69232243

Country of ref document: DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: PE20

Expiry date: 20120806

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF EXPIRATION OF PROTECTION

Effective date: 20120806

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF EXPIRATION OF PROTECTION

Effective date: 20120808

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20110808