Package for ink cartridge and method for packing cartridge

• US 6,502,701 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2001
• Issued: 01/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Shinada, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): FOSTER, JIMMY G
• Application Number:
  US09/803,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20010032799A1
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 206/207, 206/461, 206/462, 206/467, 206/701, 206/722, 206/723, 206/460, 347/86, 347/87
• US Class Current: 206/723
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1752 Mounting within the printer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17533 Storage or packaging of ink cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17536 Protection of cartridges or parts thereof, e.g. tape
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/36 one sheet or blank being recessed and the other formed of relatively stiff flat sheet material, e.g. blister packages , the recess or recesses being preformed B65D73/0057, B65D73/0092 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/025 Containers made of sheet-like material and having a shape to accommodate contents

Abstract

A package has a holder for holding an ink cartridge, a container for accommodating the holder, and a mount for sealing an opening of the container. The holder is made from recycled materials and the internal shape of the holder conforms to the external shape of the cartridge. The container has a transparent portion and substantially conforms to the holder. The mount is made from recycled materials. The mount is attached to the container in a depressurized environment. The cartridge is visible through the transparent portion of the container. Since the holder and the mount are made from recycled materials, the package is environmentally sound. The holder may hold a used cartridge.

Claims

1. A package for an ink cartridge comprising:

a holder that supports the cartridge;

a container that accommodates the holder, wherein the container is made of a gas impermeable material and has a transparent portion and an opening; and

a cover that is attached to the container such that the opening of the container is hermetically sealed.

2. The package according to claim 1, wherein the holder is made from recycled materials.

3. The package according claim 2, wherein the recycled materials include recycled paper.

4. The package according to claim 1, wherein said holder is capable of being removed from said container.

5. The package according to claim 1, wherein said cartridge is placed in said holder before said container accommodates said holder.

6. The package according to claim 1, wherein said container is depressurized.

7. The package according to claim 4, wherein the holder functions as a tray for housing the cartridge after the package is opened and the holder is removed from the container.

8. The package according to claim 1, wherein the internal shape of the holder conforms to the external shape of the cartridge, and

wherein the holder is removable from the container.

9. The package according to claim 8, wherein the holder comprises:

a base; and

a pair of walls, wherein the walls are located on opposite ends of the base, respectively, to hold corresponding ends of the cartridge.

10. The package according to claim 9, wherein the cartridge includes a projection in which an ink supply port is formed, and wherein the base has a recess that receives the projection.

11. The package according to claim 7, wherein the holder has a base, and the holder is tapered such that the holder increases in size towards the base.

12. The package according to claim 1, wherein the holder is hollow.

13. The package according to claim 1, wherein the container substantially conforms to the shape of the holder.

14. The package according to claim 1, wherein information is written on the cartridge, and the information is unobstructed by the holder when the cartridge is held by the holder.

15. The package according to claim 11, information is written on a label that is attached to the cartridge, wherein the transparent portion corresponds to at least the label.

16. The package according to claim 1, wherein the cover is substantially flat.

17. The package according to claim 16, wherein the cover is made from a sheet of paper and includes a gas impermeable layer at a location where the cover is attached to the container.

18. The package according to claim 1, wherein the holder includes:

a base on which the cartridge is supported;

a pair of side walls, wherein the walls are located on opposite ends on the base, respectively, to hold corresponding ends of the cartridge; and

a sealing member that hermetically seals the holder, wherein the holder functions as a tray for housing the cartridge after the package is opened and the holder is removed from the container.

19. A package for an ink cartridge comprising:

a holder that supports the cartridge, wherein the holder is made from recycled materials and the internal shape of the holder conforms to the external shape of the cartridge;

a container that accommodates the holder, wherein the container is made of a gas impermeable material, has a transparent portion and an opening, and substantially conforms to a shape of the holder; and

a mount that is flat and made from recycled materials, wherein the mount is attached to the container such that the opening of the container is hermetically sealed.

20. The package according to claim 19, wherein the holder comprises:

a base; and

a pair of walls, wherein the walls are located on opposite ends of the base, respectively, to hold corresponding ends of the cartridge.

21. The package according to claim 20, wherein the cartridge includes a projection in which an ink supply port is formed, and wherein the base has a recess that receives the projection.

22. The package according to claim 19, wherein said holder is capable of being removed from said container.

23. The package according to claim 19, wherein said cartridge is placed in said holder before said container accommodates said holder.

24. A package for an ink cartridge comprising:

a holder that supports the cartridge, wherein the holder includes;

a base on which the cartridge is supported;

a pair of side walls, wherein the walls are located on opposite ends on the base, respectively, to hold corresponding ends of the cartridge; and

a sealing member that hermetically seals the holder, wherein the holder functions as a tray for housing the cartridge after the package is opened;

wherein the cartridge includes a projection in which an ink supply port is formed, and wherein the base has a recess that receives the projection.

25. A method for packing an ink cartridge comprising:

placing the cartridge in a holder;

placing the holder in a container; and

attaching a cover to the container in a depressurized environment, wherein an opening of the container is hermetically sealed to the cover.