Ink cartridge for ink jet printer

• US 6,916,089 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2002
• Issued: 07/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Iida, Yuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Brooke, Michael S.
• Application Number:
  US10/273,552
• Publication Number:
  US 20030058312A1
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• Field of Search: 347 85- 87, 137/859, 137/845, 137/433, 251/354
• US Class Current: 347/86
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17503 Ink cartridges
• 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 2/17553 Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17556 Means for regulating the pressure in the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17596 Ink pumps, ink valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/14 with flexible valve members
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/144 the closure elements being fixed along all or a part of their periphery
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/145 the closure elements being shaped as a solids of revolution, e.g. cylindrical or conical
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/0652 using several membranes without spring

Abstract

An ink cartridge for an ink jet printer is provided with a container having at least a first wall. An ink supply port is formed through the first wall for supplying ink to the exterior of the container. An ink chamber and an ink supply chamber are formed by a membrane valve seat made of an elastic thin membrane and formed with a through hole therethrough. A valve body is positioned opposing the through hole formed in the membrane valve seat, the valve body and membrane valve seat adjacent said through hole formed therein being maintained selectively in contact by a pressure difference between said ink chamber and said ink supply chamber.

Claims

1. An ink cartridge for detachable mounting to an ink jet recording apparatus, comprising:

a container for supplying ink to the ink jet recording apparatus, the container having a plurality of outer walls, a valve assembly wall, an ink chamber and an ink supply chamber, the ink chamber being located upstream of the ink supply chamber relative to a direction of ink flow, the valve assembly wall being located between the ink chamber and the ink supply chamber, relative to the direction of ink flow, the valve assembly wall having (i) a first side, (ii) a second side opposite from the first side and facing toward the ink supply chamber, and (iii) a contact portion, and an ink supply port downstream of the ink supply chamber through which ink flows to the ink jet recording apparatus;

an elastically deformable valve seat having therein a through hole having a perimeter, the valve seat being mounted relative to the contact portion of the valve assembly wall; and

a biasing member for applying a predetermined force to the valve seat so that the perimeter of the through hole is urged against and is obstructed by the contact portion of the valve assembly wall.

2. An ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the contact portion includes a flat portion that obstructs the through hole.

3. An ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the valve seat includes an edge portion that is held in place by the valve assembly wall.

4. An ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the perimeter of the through hole that abuts the contact portion to block the opening separates from the contact portion when the valve seat experiences a pressure that is greater than a pressure exerted on the valve seat just by the ink in the ink chamber.

5. An ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the perimeter of the through hole that abuts the contact portion to block the opening separates from the contact portion when the ink downstream of the valve seat establishes a pressure difference larger than a predetermined pressure difference relative to the ink in the ink chamber due to ink consumption by the ink-jet recording apparatus.

6. An ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the valve seat separates from the second side as a result of a pressure difference between said ink chamber and said ink supply chamber due to ink consumption by the ink jet recording head.

7. An ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the contact portion projects from the second side.

8. An ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the valve seat is deformed so that the through hole presses against the contact portion of the valve assembly wall to prevent the valve seat from separating from the valve body under pressure exerted just by the ink in the ink chamber.

9. An ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the through hole is disposed at a center of the valve seat.

10. An ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the valve assembly wall extends in a first direction and the opening in the valve assembly wall is offset from the through hole in the first direction.

11. A method of controlling ink flow in an ink cartridge for detachable mounting to an ink jet recording apparatus, comprising the steps of:

providing a container for supplying ink to the ink jet recording apparatus, the container having a plurality of outer walls, a valve assembly wall, an ink chamber and an ink supply chamber, the ink chamber being located upstream of the ink supply chamber relative to a direction of ink flow, the valve assembly wall being located between the ink chamber and the ink supply chamber, relative to the direction of ink flow, the valve assembly wall having (i) a first side, (ii) a second side opposite from the first side and facing toward the ink supply chamber, and (iii) a contact portion, and an ink supply port downstream of the ink supply chamber through which ink flows to the ink jet recording apparatus;

mounting, relative to the contact portion of the valve assembly wall, an elastically deformable valve seat having therein a through hole having a perimeter; and

applying, using a biasing member, a predetermined force to the valve seat so that the perimeter of the through hole is urged against and is obstructed by the contact portion of the valve assembly wall.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the contact portion includes a flat portion that obstructs the through hole.

13. A method according to claim 11, wherein the valve seat includes an edge portion that is held in place by the valve assembly wall.

14. A method according to claim 11, wherein the perimeter of the through hole that abuts the contact portion to block the opening separates from the contact portion when the valve seat experiences a pressure that is greater than a pressure exerted on the valve seat just by the ink in the ink chamber.

15. A method according to claim 11, wherein the perimeter of the through hole that abuts the contact portion to block the opening seperates from the contact portion when the ink downstream of the valve seat establishes a pressure difference larger than a predetermined pressure difference relative to the ink in the ink chamber due to ink consumption by the ink-jet recording apparatus.

16. A method according to claim 11, wherein the valve seat separates from contact portion as a result of a pressure difference between the ink chamber and the ink supply chamber due to ink consumption by the ink jet recording head.

17. A method according to claim 11, wherein the contact portion projects from the second side.

18. A method according to claim 11, wherein the valve seat is deformed so that the through hole presses against the contact portion of the valve assembly wall to prevent the valve seat from separating from the valve body under pressure exerted just by the ink in the ink chamber.

19. A method according to claim 11, wherein the through hole is disposed at a center of the valve seat.

20. A method according to claim 11, wherein the valve assembly wall extends in a first direction and the opening in the valve assembly wall is offset from the through hole in the first direction.

21. An ink jet recording apparatus, comprising:

a print head unit;

a container for supplying ink to the ink jet recording apparatus, the container having a plurality of outer walls, a valve assembly wall, an ink chamber and an ink supply chamber, the ink chamber being located upstream of the ink supply chamber relative to a direction of ink flow, the valve assembly wall being located between the ink chamber and the ink supply chamber, relative to the direction of ink flow, the valve assembly wall having (i) a first side, (ii) a second side opposite from the first side and facing toward the ink supply chamber, and (iii) a contact portion, and an ink supply port downstream of the ink supply chamber through which ink flows to the ink jet recording apparatus;

an elastically deformable valve seat having therein a through hole having a perimeter, the valve seat being mounted relative to the contact portion of the valve assembly wall;

a biasing member for applying a predetermined force to the valve seat so that the perimeter of the through hole is urged against and is obstructed by the contact portion of the valve assembly wall; and

a connecting member placing said print head unit in fluid communication with said ink supply chamber,

wherein ink in the container can flow through the connecting member to the print head unit.

22. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the contact portion includes a flat portion that obstructs the through hole.

23. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the valve seat includes an edge portion that is held in place by the valve assembly wall.

24. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the perimeter of the through hole that abuts the contact portion to block the opening separates from the contact portion when the valve seat experiences a pressure that is greater than a pressure exerted an the valve seat just by the ink in the ink chamber.

25. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the perimeter of the through hole that abuts the contact portion to block the opening separates from the contact portion when the ink downstream of the valve seat establishes a pressure difference larger than a predetermined pressure difference relative to the ink in the ink chamber due to ink consumption by the ink-jet recording apparatus.

26. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the valve seat separates from the second side as a result of a pressure difference between said ink chamber and said ink supply chamber due to ink consumption by the ink jet recording head.

27. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the contact portion projects from the second side.

28. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the valve seat is deformed so that the through hole presses against the contact portion of the valve assembly wall to prevent the valve seat from separating from the valve body under pressure exerted just by the ink in the ink chamber.

29. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the through hole is disposed at a center of the valve seat.

30. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the valve assembly wall extends in a first direction and the opening in the valve assembly wall is offset from the through hole in the first direction.

31. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the recording apparatus has plural said containers.

32. An ink jet recording apparatus, comprising:

a print head unit;

an ink source for supplying ink to the ink jet recording apparatus, the ink source including;

an ink cartridge mounted in the ink jet recording apparatus, the ink cartridge having a container having a plurality of outer walls, a valve assembly wall, an ink chamber and an ink supply chamber, the ink chamber being located upstream of the ink supply chamber relative to a direction of ink flow, the valve assembly wall being located between the ink chamber and the ink supply chamber, relative to the direction of ink flow, the valve assembly wall having (i) a first side, (ii) a second side opposite from the first side and facing toward the ink supply chamber, and (iii) a contact portion, and an ink supply port downstream of the ink supply chamber through which ink flows to the ink jet recording apparatus;

an elastically deformable valve seat having therein a through hole having a perimeter, the valve seat being mounted relative to the contact portion of the valve assembly wall; and

a biasing member for applying a predetermined force to the valve seat so that the perimeter of the through hole is urged against and is obstructed by the contact portion of the valve assembly wall; and

a connecting member placing said print head unit in fluid communication with said ink cartridge,

wherein ink in the container can flow through the connecting member to the print head unit.

33. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the recording apparatus has plural said ink cartridges.

34. An ink jet recording apparatus, comprising:

a print head unit;

an ink supply;

an ink cartridge mounted in the ink jet recording apparatus, the ink cartridge comprising;

an enclosure in fluid communication with the ink supply, the enclosure having a valve assembly wall, an ink chamber and an ink supply chamber, the ink chamber being located upstream of the ink supply chamber relative to a direction of ink flow, the valve assembly wall being located between the ink chamber and the ink supply chamber, relative to the direction of ink flow, the valve assembly wall having (i) a first side, (ii) a second side opposite from the first side and facing toward the ink supply chamber, and (iii) a contact portion, and an ink supply port downstream of the ink supply chamber through which ink flows to the ink jet recording apparatus;

an elastically deformable valve seat having therein a through hole having a perimeter, the valve seat being mounted relative to the contact portion of the valve assembly wall; and

a biasing member for applying a predetermined force to the valve seat so that the perimeter of the through hole is urged against and is obstructed by the contact portion of the valve assembly wall; and

a connecting member placing said print head unit in fluid communication with said enclosure,

wherein ink in the container can flow through the connecting member to the print head unit.

35. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the recording apparatus has plural said enclosures.