Summary of the invention
An object of the present invention is to avoid the shortcoming that exists in the prior art constructions.
Therefore, the present invention relates to a kind of print cartridge that is used to be installed on the record head with at least one ink supply pin, comprising:
(a) at least one comprises the first black chamber of the first porous compressible element, and
(b) one be connected to the ink supply nozzle of the first black chamber, guide to the ink supply pin with the China ink that is used for coming from the first black chamber via at least one access portal,
One second porous compressible element is arranged in the ink supply nozzle movably.
In this manual, wording " the first black chamber " is meant that one comprises the black chamber that is suitable for holding black compressible multihole device.Except compressible multihole device, " the first black chamber " according to the present invention also has the access portal that at least one leads to the ink supply nozzle.
Therefore in principle, can comprise the one or more separated first black chambers, comprise under the situation of two or more first black chambers at print cartridge that each first black chamber is connected to separately ink supply nozzle via one or more respective channel openings according to print cartridge of the present invention.Preferably make each first black chamber be connected to the ink supply nozzle via an access portal.In principle, each first black chamber can have the volume that is different from other first black chamber or have different geometries.In this example, each first black chamber comprises at least one porous compressible element, and the pore of described element is filled by China ink when print cartridge is filled.
Outdoor except at least one first China ink, print cartridge of the present invention also can have at least one or more other black chambers, for example one second black chamber or for example the one second and the 3rd black chamber.In this example, described other black chamber has at least one access portal of leading to aforementioned black chamber-described access portal and all is in all cases on the direction of (leading to) the first black chamber, thus all fluid connections mutually of all black chambers.For example, a print cartridge that comprises the first and second black chambers has the access portal between the first and second black chambers.In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, only have one first black chamber or have the first and second black chambers according to print cartridge of the present invention.Described other black chamber also can comprise the porous compressible element, but this not necessarily.Only the first black chamber comprises the porous compressible element and not comprise the porous compressible element normally favourable the second black chamber or other black chamber.
Print cartridge according to the present invention has the access portal that the first black chamber is connected to the ink supply nozzle in its first black chamber, this ink supply nozzle comprises the porous compressible element that is provided with movably.
Yet, within the scope of the invention, also can make and have only a porous compressible element in a plurality of ink supply nozzles in the print cartridge with removable setting, in a preferred embodiment, each all comprises the porous compressible element in these ink supply nozzles.
In principle, be suitable for is any such loose structure element as the porous compressible element: in the process that print cartridge is installed to record head under the residing condition of ink supply nozzle, this loose structure element is compressible on the longitudinal axis direction one of at least one direction in space-be preferably ink supply nozzle that points to print cartridge.Preferably will be used as the porous compressible element by the sponge that for example suitable polyurethane of polymeric material, polyethers, polyester etc. are made.
It is about 2.5 to 12 that suitable porous compressible element preferably has, particularly about compressed coefficient of 3 to 5.
The pore size of suitable porous compressible element (Porengr β e) for example is about 40ppi (ppi=pore/inch) to 120ppi, particularly 60ppi to 80ppi.
Within the scope of the invention, the ink supply nozzle can freely adapt to this requirement of record head that forms band ink supply pin according to the geometry of ink supply nozzle basically.For example, can imagine and make the ink supply nozzle have a rectangle, square, circle or almost circular external cross section, have rectangle, square, circle or almost circular cross section and its inside is independent of this external cross section.
It all is almost circular interior cross section and external cross section that the ink supply nozzle preferably has.The internal diameter of ink supply nozzle and external diameter all can become big or diminish on the direction of record head, perhaps become big intermittently or diminish, and perhaps can be of different sizes intermittently.Preferably, the internal diameter of ink supply nozzle and external diameter are along being constant on the direction of ink supply nozzle longitudinal axis, thereby the ink supply nozzle is the column of hollow.
In principle, the ink supply nozzle can be made by one or more materials that are different from each black chamber, and can suitable manner be connected to the first black chamber that this example provides.China ink chamber and ink supply nozzle are preferably by one or more identical materials part of making and form as one together.
In principle, within the scope of the invention, can imagine and make the ink supply nozzle stretch into black chamber interior.The ink supply nozzle stretches into that the inside of part of black chamber and/or external shape can be positioned at the inside and/or the external shape of part of black outdoor identical or different with the ink supply nozzle.Yet in a particularly preferred embodiment, the ink supply nozzle does not stretch into black chamber interior, but is terminated to the position that flushes with bottom, black chamber.
Therefore, as mentioned above, the present invention relates to a kind of print cartridge, it is characterized in that, be terminated to and position according to the internally flush of the black chamber of (a) according to the ink supply nozzle of (b).
According to the present invention, the ink supply nozzle comprises the porous compressible element that is arranged on movably in the ink supply nozzle.In this connection, described multihole device needn't be positioned at the ink supply nozzle fully.On the contrary, only some is positioned at the ink supply nozzle can to make multihole device.Similarly, can before print cartridge being installed on the ink supply pin, make multihole device be positioned at the ink supply nozzle interior fully, and the part of multihole device is sealed by the ink supply nozzle.
In principle, and the element that is provided with movably compressible except porous, the ink supply nozzle also can comprise one or more be designed to porous and/or compressible or can otherwise lead China ink other lead black element.If comprise two or more porous compressible element in the ink supply nozzle, then each in these elements all can have different geometries according to the geometry of ink supply nozzle.Preferably comprise the compressible and preferred element that is provided with movably of single porous according to print cartridge of the present invention.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, be this situation of hollow cylindrical according to the ink supply nozzle, the multihole device in the preferred especially ink supply nozzle has columnar shape.For example, with the inner surface that the diameter of multihole device is hanked and made multihole device be full of the ink supply nozzle and contact the ink supply nozzle substantially fully, certainly, should guarantee that multihole device is removable in the ink supply nozzle.Yet according to the present invention, but also the regulation multihole device not exclusively is full of the ink supply nozzle and only partly contacts ink supply nozzle inner surface or do not contact ink supply nozzle inner surface fully.
Print cartridge according to the present invention is suitable for being installed on the record head with an ink supply pin.Wording herein " ink supply pin " is interpreted as the structural detail that China ink that one of record head is used for coming from print cartridge guides to record head.Be used for according to print cartridge of the present invention the needed ink supply pin of the present invention of ink supply pin-for example-diameter less than the diameter of the ink supply nozzle of print cartridge.The diameter of suitable ink supply pin is preferably about 0.99 times to 0.01 times of ink supply nozzle diameter, for example 0.9 times to 0.02 times or 0.8 times to 0.05 times or 0.5 times to 0.1 times.
Multihole device in the ink supply nozzle has such geometry: after print cartridge had been installed on the record head, described multihole device one end contacted with the first multihole device pressure in the first black chamber, and the other end contacts with the ink supply needle force.In this connection, multihole device in the ink supply nozzle can be before print cartridge is installed to the ink supply pin contacts with multihole device in the first black chamber, perhaps can by be applied to by the ink supply pin on the multihole device in the ink supply nozzle pressure only with the first black chamber in multihole device carry out pressure and contact.
If comprise two or more multihole devices in the ink supply nozzle, then the geometry of described multihole device is such: after print cartridge has been installed on the ink supply pin, the mutual pressure contact of these multihole devices on the one hand, in these multihole devices at least one contacts with the ink supply needle force on the other hand, and wherein another contacts with multihole device pressure in the first black chamber, can form the China ink stream from the first black chamber to the ink supply pin like this.
Therefore, as mentioned above, the invention still further relates to a kind of print cartridge, it is characterized in that, after print cartridge had been installed on the record head, described at least one second multihole device contacted with described at least one first multihole device pressure in the black chamber, and contacts with the ink supply needle force.
If different China inks is all filled with other black chamber in the first black chamber in print cartridge at every turn, the China ink of different colours for example, then the material of each multihole device in each ink supply nozzle also can be different.Difference may be: the size of material itself or pore for example.In this connection, if for being the pressure contact between multihole device in pressure contact and the ink supply nozzle and the multihole device in the black chamber, then only need guaranteeing to set up multihole device from the multihole device of black chamber to the ink supply nozzle and the multihole device from the ink supply nozzle and flow between the multihole device in ink supply pin and the ink supply nozzle to the China ink of the abundance of ink supply pin.
In principle, if still need consider above-mentioned restriction to diameter, the ink supply pin can be Any shape substantially.In this connection, the end of ink supply pin for example can be cylindricality substantially, the one-tenth taper attenuates or can be the hemisphere shelly and have the one or more openings that China ink is risen.Suitable ink supply pin for example can form: have the end that one one-tenth taper attenuates, and have a plurality of through holes on the face endways, carry out pressure when contacting at ink supply pin and multihole device, thereby described a plurality of through hole contacts with the pore that is filled with China ink of multihole device and makes China ink flow into one to be formed on the leading in the black conduit of ink supply pin inside.
Preferably make and the ink supply nozzle is connected to access portal on the black chamber forms the internal geometry of its geometry and ink supply nozzle is complementary.At the ink supply nozzle is under the situation of cylindrical geometry, thus this access portal substantially for circular and have the diameter that is complementary with nozzle inside diameter, thereby can form the passage of the multihole device of ink supply nozzle to black chamber.
If the ink supply pin carries out pressure with multihole device in the ink supply nozzle and contacts in the process that print cartridge is installed on the record head, then thereby this multihole device strain capillary force of resulting from the multihole device deformed region forms a preferred orientations that is used for China ink stream, thereby this direction directs ink enters the ink supply pin end that deformed region is accurately introduced access portal.
In the present invention one particularly preferred embodiment, comprise a single multihole device according to this embodiment ink supply nozzle, owing to produce the pressure contact by the ink supply pin, so the multihole device of She Zhiing not only passes through the end distortion of pin but also moves on the direction of the first black chamber movably, therefore, at the multihole device of ink supply nozzle be contained between the multihole device in the black chamber and form the pressure contact.In this connection, the multihole device of China ink in the chamber carries out the region deformation that pressure contact with multihole device in the ink supply nozzle, makes the preferred orientations that flows by the China ink that results from capillary force formation in the porous compressible material multihole device from the multihole device of black chamber to the ink supply nozzle.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, described at least one multihole device that is arranged on movably in the ink supply nozzle has one than the little compressibility of described at least one black chamber multihole device.Therefore, guaranteed in the multihole device of ink supply nozzle and zone that the multihole device pressure of black chamber contacts, to make the pore of the multihole device in the black chamber littler just, and above-mentioned capillary force has been guaranteed just in this zone.Thereby, by two porous but the contact of the pressure of the different element of compressibility can guide the China ink stream from black chamber to the ink supply nozzle effectively.
Therefore, the present invention generally also relates to the use of two multihole devices, wherein stores China ink in a multihole device, and described China ink is directed to the ink supply pin via another multihole device.The mutual pressure contact of described two multihole devices in this connection, is described as top.The multihole device that China ink is stored in wherein is bigger than the compressibility of the multihole device that China ink is directed to the ink supply pin by it.Back one element contacts with the ink supply needle force in the process of directs ink once more.
Therefore, the invention still further relates to the use of such two multihole devices, described element compressibility difference to be being used for supplying with via the China ink that the less multihole device of compressibility will come from the bigger multihole device of compressibility the ink supply pin of record head, and the less multihole device pressure of described ink supply pin and compressibility contacts.
The material that is used to form the multihole device in the black chamber can freely be selected basically, and only need only satisfy above-mentioned requirements.The porous compressible material preferably adopts the basic corresponding porous compressible material of porous compressible element in the ink supply nozzle with the invention described above.Yet the preferred compressibility of the compressible element in the ink supply nozzle is less or pore size is less or the both is less.
Therefore, the invention still further relates to a kind of aforesaid print cartridge, it is characterized in that, at least one second multihole device has than the little compressibility of described at least one first multihole device.
Similarly, the invention still further relates to a kind of being used for comprises coming from print cartridge-this print cartridge:
(a) at least one is as the first black chamber of storage device for ink, and it comprises compressible first multihole device, and
(b) one be connected to the ink supply nozzle of this first black chamber via an access portal, this ink supply nozzle comprise compressible second multihole device that is provided with movably-China ink guide to the method for record head, may further comprise the steps:
(i) print cartridge is installed on the record head;
(ii) by according to producing the pressure contact between the multihole device of the ink supply pin that is installed in record head of (i) and ink supply nozzle;
(iii) pass through the multihole device of basis pressure contact mobile ink supply nozzle on the direction of the multihole device of black chamber (ii);
(iv) by between the multihole device of the multihole device of ink supply nozzle and black chamber, producing the pressure contact according to moving (iii).
By means of the removable setting of porous compressible element in the ink supply nozzle, also can realize cleaning to the ink supply nozzle inner walls.Because print cartridge is installed on the ink supply pin, so the multihole device that contacts with described nozzle interior to small part in the ink supply nozzle is mobile on the direction of black chamber, the inside of the outside wiping ink supply nozzle of multihole device thus.Because the multihole device outside also has pore,, the China ink that is attached to the ink supply nozzle interior can supply with the ink supply pin thereby will being brought in the multihole device.
A compound action that principal advantages is the multihole device in the ink supply nozzle according to print cartridge of the present invention.On the one hand, by means of contacting at the pressure that has formed in the installation process of ink supply pin, described multihole device can make the China ink that is accurately led flow under capillary guiding from ink supply chamber arrival ink supply pin.In addition, described multihole device cleans the effect of ink supply nozzle interior in addition.Similarly, make regularly and therefore intricately filter is installed is become unnecessary filtration and strengthened.In addition, because whole loose structure may extend into the fringe region of element, so remaining China ink can be guided out these fringe regions just to arrive the ink supply pin.Therefore this multihole device in the ink supply nozzle is a multifunctional element, and it can be combined with very many advantages under the very simple situation of structure.
In another preferred embodiment, the ink supply nozzle comprises a potted element that is suitable for the ink supply nozzle geometry at the end towards record head.Internal geometry according to the ink supply nozzle is the preferred embodiment of cylindricality, and this potted element also is basic cylindricality, and the diameter of potted element is chosen to and can forms the sealing that the ink supply nozzle is wished with respect to record head.
Contact owing to this ink supply pin in the process that print cartridge is installed to the ink supply pin must carry out pressure with the multihole device in the ink supply nozzle, so this potted element has a recess, the ink supply pin can be imported into nozzle by this recess.This recess can adapt to the geometry of ink supply pin.Similarly, can imagine the material of selecting the encapsulation ring so that potted element adapts to the geometry of ink supply pin by himself elasticity, thereby guarantee required sealing.
Before print cartridge was installed to the ink supply pin, above-mentioned recess can seal by rights, for example by a film (sealing) thus can be by the ink supply needle penetration in being installed to the process of record head.
External shape at the ink supply pin is under the situation of circle substantially, and the recess of special preferred package element is circular.Preferably the diameter of circular depressions is chosen to be slightly smaller than the external diameter of ink supply pin, thereby print cartridge inside is formed effective seal with respect to external environment condition.Therefore preferably by forming sealing to print cartridge inside with the outside potted element that closely contacts of ink supply pin.
In this connection, within the scope of the invention, can be above-mentioned potted element and replenish one or more other potted elements.This other potted element can be positioned at the end that ink supply nozzle for example points to record head, perhaps record head originally on one's body.
Therefore, the invention still further relates to a kind of aforesaid print cartridge, it is characterized in that the ink supply nozzle has potted element in the end of its record-oriented head.
In another preferred embodiment, almost circular recess arrangement in the annular potted element is become to make this recess become taper to diminish gradually from a side of record-oriented head, be slightly smaller than the external diameter of ink supply pin by the minimum diameter in the aforesaid hole that forms of diminishing gradually.Except saving material, also can utilize potted element guiding ink supply pin in this way.
In another preferred embodiment according to print cartridge of the present invention, the potted element and the multihole device of ink supply nozzle spatially are spaced from each other, therefore can prevent the direct contact between described two elements, thereby can stop potted element in the process that imports the ink supply pin, on the direction of the first black chamber, to move.In a preferred embodiment, realize that by at least one holding element this space isolates, this holding element is arranged between potted element and the multihole device.
The design of holding element is not subjected to any restriction basically.Only need to realize that the space that has illustrated isolates, must be able to make the ink supply pin carry out pressure in addition and contact by potted element and isolated component and multihole device in the ink supply nozzle.
Print cartridge according to the present invention preferably has a single annular retaining element in the ink supply nozzle.
Therefore, the invention still further relates to a kind of aforesaid print cartridge, it is characterized in that, the annular potted element and second multihole device are spatially separated by at least one holding element that is molded in the ink supply nozzle interior.
In principle, print cartridge according to the present invention comprises this two embodiment: i.e. the embodiment that multihole device in the ink supply nozzle has contacted with multihole device pressure in the black chamber before print cartridge is installed to the ink supply pin, and the embodiment that contacts of the pressure between the multihole device in the multihole device that only forms the ink supply nozzle to the installation on the ink supply pin by print cartridge and the black chamber.First embodiment for example realizes like this at this: make the multihole device in the ink supply nozzle longer than the spacing between the multihole device in isolation edge in the ink supply nozzle and the black chamber.
Second embodiment can form like this: make the length of the multihole device in the ink supply nozzle be less than or equal to spacing between the multihole device of described isolation edge and black chamber, can make the latter form pressure with the multihole device of black chamber by the contact between ink supply pin and the multihole device to contact but this length is chosen as.In this second embodiment, for example can imagine along with the length variations of certain part of ink supply pin selects the part of the length-described ink supply pin of this multihole device to stretch into the part of ink supply nozzle interior for ink supply pin after being installed to print cartridge on the ink supply pin, thereby make above-mentioned by capillary force produce from the multihole device of black chamber to the ink supply nozzle the mobile of China ink of multihole device have only when just beginning when print cartridge makes the ink supply pin contact with the multihole device generation pressure of ink supply nozzle by installing, the multihole device of ink supply nozzle is promoted on the direction of the multihole device of black chamber by the ink supply pin thus, and therefore contacts with described multihole device formation pressure.
Within the scope of the invention, the inside of black chamber can form basically by any way.
In a preferred embodiment, the ink supply nozzle is thereon molded and form to small part right and wrong plane by the bottom, black chamber that access portal is connected to black chamber.For example, can guarantee that by the projection of bottom, recessed basin shape configuration China ink can more easily be collected and so more close access portal of leading to the ink supply nozzle in position in the central authorities of bottom, black chamber.Especially under the situation that the China ink that stores in black chamber runs out, can be avoided thereby assemble the black situation that can form the residue of ink that to use at the outward flange of black chamber interior.
Therefore, the invention still further relates to a kind of aforesaid print cartridge, it is characterized in that, the bottom of black chamber is recessed basin shape design.
The geometry of the multihole device in the China ink chamber can adapt to the non-planar bottom of black chamber.In bottom, black chamber is under the situation of projection, can adopt the multihole device that forms in the concave surface mode towards the downside of bottom, black chamber at it.
The China ink chamber is provided with one removably or the closure elements of non-dismountablely installing in its open preferred upper side relative with access portal.This closure elements is preferably designed to the sidewall edge of salable black chamber to prevent that China ink is from the outdoor stream of China ink.
At least one fastening element for example can be molded into the bottom side of closure elements towards black chamber.
Comprise at print cartridge under the situation of two or more first black chambers, preferably use a single closure elements that seals all black chambers simultaneously.
Closure elements (lid) according to print cartridge of the present invention has the one or more access portal that can carry out gas and/or material exchange with external environment condition.In agent or end user's process, each access portal of closure elements is under any circumstance all by at least one potted component sealing at the transportation print cartridge.
In this connection, potted component can for example be one to be installed to the closure elements component external.The preferred outside of potted component is installed on each access portal, so that easily the sealing element was removed before first operation print cartridge by the end user.
Preferably also have at least one according to print cartridge of the present invention and be molded in the joint element of black chamber bottom faces on the bottom side of record head.This joint element is used to guarantee the as far as possible favourable joint of print cartridge on record head.Therefore the geometry of the composition surface of described at least one joint element can be fit to the requirement of most of different recording heads.Thereby since basically by this joint element form to record head near, so the bottom of black chamber can be with very different formal constructions.If print cartridge comprises two or more first black chambers, then each bottom, black chamber all can have a joint element that is molded in, and in this case, each joint element can be identical or different.In a preferred embodiment, each bottom, the first black chamber all has independent joint element, and in addition, these joint elements preferably have identical design.
The material that is used to make print cartridge and closure elements is not subjected to any restriction basically.For example, can make print cartridge and/or at least one closure elements, print cartridge filling position to print cartridge when record head takes off can carried out visual inspection like this by transparent material.Certainly, print cartridge can be made of different materials with closure member.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, print cartridge forms an integral piece, and the multihole device in described at least one closure elements, the indoor and ink supply nozzle of China ink is only arranged and is independent element with respect to the potted element of record head sealing ink supply nozzle.
Transportation according to the process of print cartridge that has been filled with China ink of the present invention in, except being installed to the potted component on the closure elements, described print cartridge also comprises at least one other potted component, the sealing element is fastened on the lower limb of an ink supply nozzle face to record head.
According to the present invention, as mentioned above, preferably have one first black chamber print cartridge, have the print cartridge that also has one or more other black chambers the print cartridge of three or four first black chambers and the first black chamber in given example alternatively.If print cartridge comprises for example three first black chambers, the China ink of three kinds of different colours is preferably filled in then described black chamber, for example cyan, magenta and yellow China ink.