Ink cartridge having waste ink absorbing function

• US 6,281,911 B1
• Filed: 05/28/1999
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Hanaoka, Yukihiro, Aoki, Katsuko, Yamada, Manabu, Nishioka, Atsushi, Nakazawa, Chiyoshige
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HSIEH, SHIH WEN
• Application Number:
  US09/297,161
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 347/36, 347/86
• US Class Current: 347/36
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1721 Collecting waste ink; Collectors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/175 Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/18 Ink recirculation systems
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/1728 Closed waste ink collector

Abstract

An ink cartridge 2 with a waste ink absorbing function includes a division room 70 formed in the interior portion of a cartridge case 30 for storing a waste ink absorbing member 20, and a plastic film 60 forming at least part of the division room 70. By cutting or peeling off the plastic film 60, the waste ink absorbing member 20 stored within can be replaced, which simplifies the replacement of the waste ink absorbing member 20. After replacement, the plastic film 60 may be mounted onto the cartridge case 30. Use of the plastic film is economical when compared with a structure in which a plastic plate is mounted onto a cartridge case. Also, the ink cartridge 2 can be reduced in size and weight as a whole.

Claims

1. An ink cartridge with a waste ink absorbing function, comprising an ink bag with ink stored therein, a waste ink absorbing member for absorbing waste ink, and a cartridge case storing therein the ink bag and waste ink absorbing member, said ink cartridge including a division room formed in an interior portion of said cartridge case for storing said waste ink absorbing member therein, and a plastic film forming at least a portion of said division room,

said cartridge case including first and second case sections which combine together to thereby define the storage portions of said cartridge case respectively for storing said ink bag and said waste ink absorbing member,

wherein said first case section includes a rectangular-shaped case bottom plate portion and a case outer frame portion formed in a peripheral edge of said case bottom plate portion, said second case section includes a rectangular-shaped case cover portion and a case inner frame portion formed in a peripheral edge of said case cover portion, and said case inner frame portion is smaller in width than said case outer frame portion and is formed in a size which allows said case inner frame portion to be inserted into said case outer frame portion, and also wherein said waste ink absorbing member is stored within a rectangular-shaped recess to be defined by said case cover portion and said case inner frame portion of said second case section, and the opening of said recess is closed by said plastic film to thereby define said division room.

2. An ink cartridge with a waste ink absorbing function as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and second case sections are combined together in a removable manner.

3. An ink cartridge with a waste ink absorbing function as set forth in claim 2, wherein the peripheral edge portion of said plastic film is thermally welded to the opening end face of said case inner frame portion defining said opening of said recess.

4. An ink cartridge with a waste ink absorbing function as set forth in claim 3, wherein there is formed a ventilation hole in said plastic film.

5. An ink cartridge with a waste ink absorbing function as set forth in claim 4, wherein said ventilation hole is formed in the portion of said plastic film that faces the portion of said waste ink absorbing member where waste ink is absorbed latest in time.

6. An ink cartridge with a waste ink absorbing function as set forth in claim 3, wherein said plastic film is transparent.

7. An ink cartridge with a waste ink absorbing function as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cartridge case is formed of plastics, and said plastic film has a permeability equivalent to at least that of said cartridge case.

8. An ink cartridge with a waste ink absorbing function as set forth in claim 3, wherein said plastic film is formed of the same material as said cartridge case and is thermally welded to said cartridge case.

9. An ink cartridge with a waste ink absorbing function as set forth in claim 1, wherein said waste ink absorbing member is formed of material which increases in volume as it absorbs ink, and said plastic film is flexible and forms a portion of said division room.

10. An ink cartridge with a waste ink absorbing function as set forth in claim 1, wherein said waste ink absorbing member is previously divided into a plurality of ink absorbing member sections and said plurality of divided ink absorbing member sections are stored within said division chamber.

11. An ink cartridge with a waste ink absorbing function as set forth in claim 1, wherein said waste ink absorbing member includes one or more breaks previously formed in order to be able to divide said ink absorbing member into a plurality of ink absorbing member sections.

12. An ink cartridge with a waste ink absorbing function, comprising an ink bag with ink stored therein, a waste ink absorbing member for absorbing waste ink, and a cartridge case storing therein the ink bag and waste ink absorbing member,

said ink cartridge including a division room formed in an interior portion of said cartridge case for storing said waste ink absorbing member therein, and a plastic film forming at least a portion of said division room, said cartridge case being formed of plastics,

wherein said plastic film includes first and second film layers, and said first film layer is formed of the same material as said cartridge case and is thermally welded to said cartridge case.

13. An ink cartridge with a waste ink absorbing function as set forth in claim 12, wherein said plastic film further includes a third film layer interposed between said first and second film layers or piled on the surface of said second film layer, and said third film layer is higher in shock resistance than said first and second film layers.

14. An ink cartridge with a waste ink absorbing function as set forth in claim 12, wherein the melting temperature of said second film layer is higher than the melting temperature of said first film layer.

15. An ink cartridge, comprising:

a fresh ink compartment having a bottom plate portion and a first frame portion formed in a peripheral edge of the bottom plate portion;

an ink bag with fresh ink stored in the fresh ink compartment;

a waste ink compartment formed by a portion of interior walls of the ink cartridge and by a flexible plastic film, the plastic film dividing the fresh and waste ink compartments, the waste ink compartment having a cover portion and a second frame portion formed in a peripheral edge of the cover portion; and

a waste ink absorbing member stored in the waste ink compartment.

16. An ink cartridge as set forth in claim 15, wherein said fresh ink compartment and said waste ink compartment together comprise a cartridge case for storing therein the ink bag and the waste ink bag.

17. An ink cartridge as set forth in claim 16, wherein said fresh ink compartment and said waste ink compartment are combined together in a removable manner.

18. An ink cartridge as set forth in claim 15, wherein said cartridge case is formed of plastics, and said plastic film has a permeability equivalent to at least that of said cartridge case.

19. An ink cartridge as set forth in claim 18, wherein said plastic film is formed of the same material as said cartridge case and is thermally welded to said cartridge case.

20. An ink cartridge as set forth in claim 16, wherein said plastic film has a ventilation hole.

21. An ink cartridge as set forth in claim 16, wherein said ventilation hole is formed in the portion of said plastic film that faces the portion of said waste ink absorbing member where waste ink is absorbed latest in time.