Ink cartridge, and ink-jet recording apparatus using the same

• US 6,582,068 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2002
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Kumagai, Toshio, Ishizawa, Taku, Kamijyo, Masanori
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Anh T. N.
• Application Number:
  US10/092,624
• Publication Number:
  US 20020093556A1
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• Field of Search: 347/84, 347/85, 347/86, 347/87
• US Class Current: 347/85
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/175 Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17503 Ink cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17509 Whilst mounted in the printer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1752 Mounting within the printer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17523 Ink connection
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17526 Electrical contacts to the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17556 Means for regulating the pressure in the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17566 Ink level or ink residue control
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17596 Ink pumps, ink valves
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/17573 using optical means for ink level indication
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/17576 using a floater for ink level indication

Abstract

There is provided an ink cartridge which is formed from an ink-filled ink pack and a hermetic outer shell case for housing the ink pack and which supplies ink to a recording head by means of application of air pressure to a space between the outer shell case and the ink pack. The outer shell case is formed by coupling an upper case and a lower case together. The ink-filled ink pack is housed in the lower case, and the upper case is laid on the lower case from above. The upper and lower cases are hermetically sealed by vibratory welding or heat welding, thus constituting the ink cartridge.

Claims

1. An ink cartridge comprising:

a flexible ink pack storing ink therein and having an ink outlet port normally closed, wherein said ink outlet port is integral with said flexible ink pack;

an outer shell housing the flexible ink pack and having an air inlet port normally open, the ink outlet port being at least partially exposed outside the outer shell, wherein said air inlet port is integral with the outer shell;

a sealing member provided between the ink outlet port and the outer shell; and

a valve member disposed at said ink outlet port, wherein, when the ink cartridge is mounted in a recording apparatus, the valve member comes into contact with a connection section of the recording apparatus and recedes in an axial direction, thus becoming open; and

wherein, when the ink cartridge is removed from the recording apparatus, the valve member advances in the axial direction, thus sustaining a closed state.

2. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the outer shell includes first and second members hermetically joined together.

3. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the outer shell includes first and second members joined together by engagement.

4. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising:

a press member selected from a plurality of press members having respective different volumes, and housed in the outer shell.

5. A combination of an ink cartridge holder, and the ink cartridge of any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising:

a pressurized air supply section provided to the holder, and to be connected to and communicated with the air inlet port when the ink cartridge is installed in place in the holder;

an ink receive connection section provided to the holder, and to be connected to and communicated with the ink outlet port when the ink cartridge is installed in place in the holder.

6. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the sealing member is interposed between the ink outlet port and the outer shell in a radial direction of the ink outlet port.