Apparatus, kit and method for filling a printhead of an ink jet printer

The invention relates to a device for filling a printing head of an inkjet printer according to claim 1, a kit for filling a printing head of an inkjet printer according to claim 13, as well as two methods for filling a printing head of an inkjet printer according to claim 17 and eighteenth

So far printheads for inkjet printers usually supplied as a disposable product. After the consumption of the ink supply printheads were discarded and replaced by new ones. This is ecologically undesirable since the used print head itself is still fully functional and also a number of valuable components, such as the nozzle plate, through which the ink is ejected, or the contact sheet, which generates the electrical signals for controlling the Ausspritzvorgangs, have a lifetime which exceeds considerably over the period of single use.

Proposals have already been disclosed, refill such printheads through appropriate measures and thus to prolong their service life.

For example, from WO 92/20577 a refill container is known which is provided with a hollow needle. The hollow needle is inserted through an opening in the housing of the printhead and thus penetrates into an ink reservoir, which consists for example of a spongy material. By pressing the elastically deformable designed refill the ink therein is fed through the hollow needle to the ink reservoir.

Although the refill container described therein is in principle, a printhead refill, experience a number of problems in the practical handling. For those print heads, they have only one opening through which the ink reservoir is accessible, is not usually prevent that ink exits the nozzle plate during the refilling process. This is the consequence of the constituent is briefly overpressure by supplying ink. The pressure equalization with the environment can not be done quickly enough by the inserted into the opening hollow needle, so that ink is expressed by the nozzle plate. It is therefore necessary to provide the print head for the duration of the filling on an absorbent pad, such as a fleece, so the exiting ink is collected. It is also expedient, the filling slowly and if necessary at intervals to perform with shorter pauses to allow adequate pressure equalization and to keep the inevitable ink supply as low as possible.

The refilling process designed is accordingly not without problems since the exiting ink brings the risk of contamination with them. It is to be careful that the required pressure equalization can take place. Therefore, the refilling requires careful consideration of the relevant boundary conditions, which are not always respected in the sometimes observed bustle of office life.

A further possibility for refilling an ink storage space in a print head is described in EP-0,567,308 A2. It is a refill container having a cannula, similar to a disposable syringe, proposed, said cannula when re-filling through an opening in the housing of the print head can be inserted into an ink reservoir. To prevent contamination of the environment during the filling operation by exiting the nozzle plate ink, is provided to provide the print head for the duration of the filling on an absorbent pad, it being introduced to further improve the handling of the print head in a recess of a transport package ,

The operation is complicated considerably, provided printheads recent conception should be refilled with an elaborate ventilation system in this way. This type of print heads have in their interior flexible plastic bags, which are acted upon during the printing process via a ventilation opening with air. For proper operation of the printhead further vent opening is required. Therefore, such printheads having a first ventilation opening in the region of the cover and a second vent opening in the vicinity of the oppositely arranged nozzle plate. Furthermore, embedded in the casing lid filling hole exists that allows access to the ink reservoir. The filling opening is factory sealed with a ball.

The refilling of such a print head is far more complicated because of the sophisticated ventilation system and requires strict adherence to a specific sequence of steps. So initially the air vent located in the region of the nozzle plate must be sealed. This happens for example by taping the opening with a sealing film. Then have the opposite to the housing cover Inappropriate ventilation opening, are sealed, for example with a plug. The nozzle must be sealed to prevent any leakage of ink during the filling process. Subsequently, the ball of the filling opening has to be removed by pressing. Henceforth, z. B. be supplemented with the above described refill the ink reservoir. Again, pay attention to that the refill is done sufficiently slowly to allow pressure equalization.

After completion of the filling, the filling hole must first be sealed with a Verschließstopfen. Thereafter, first, the vent hole located on the housing cover is released and finally drawn off the sealing sheet from the opposite, in the vicinity of the nozzle plate ventilation hole.

Such printheads is the sealing of the two vents of immense importance. If this fails and releases the filling opening only for filling, so the ink flows in a short time from the nozzles and the adjacently disposed air vent.

The present invention was therefore based on the problem, the filling, particularly refilling, a printhead of an inkjet printer to improve and make safer, so that operating errors are largely excluded and contaminants are reliably avoided.

This problem is solved by a device as described by the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the apparatus are represented by the adjoining this subclaims.

The problem is further solved by a kit which is defined by the features of claim 13. Advantageous developments of the kit are specified by the downstream sub-claims.

The problem is finally solved by the 17 and 18 represented in the claims process.

The invention is based on the idea to provide a device available, in which the to be filled print head can be used. By special, tailored to each printhead additional elements, which are placed on the print head or on the holder, the vents and the nozzle plate of access are sealed and prepared for the ink reservoir. For this purpose, a holder is provided with sealing members, in which the print head with little lateral play and with downward-pointing nozzle plate is used. The nozzle plate is directed against the sealing member and is brought to it for sealing contact by means of a Arretierorgans. In the print head so employed a cannula carrier can be placed. The needle carrier has a cannula which penetrates the lid located in the area of ​​the printhead bore in the interior of the printhead and thus into the ink reservoir. It establishes the communicating connection to a refill cartridge that is attachable to the cannula from the top.

This basic version of a device is designed for those printheads that only a single air vent, for example, in the cover region have. By sealing the nozzle plate can there emerge out of ink, contamination of the subsoil no longer occur. Also, the supply of ink is particularly simple, since after the insertion of the needle automatically flows into the refill ink reservoir to atmospheric pressure and capillary action into the ink reservoir. An additional operation is not required.

After emptying of the refill cartridge needs this only withdrawn from the cannula and remove the cannula support from the printhead to be. The printhead is ready for immediate use available.

For printheads more vents, for example, have in the vicinity of the nozzle plate are gem. a variant additional sealing bodies provided. Since these print heads often have a different geometry, in addition, an adapter is advantageously used in the holder, so that the device can be used for a variety of different print heads. In this case, the additional sealing elements can be attached to the adapter, so that forced the correct allocation of sealing element and ventilation opening is achieved.

The required contact pressure between the sealing element and the print head can be achieved in a simple manner by a latch that engages one of the housing edges of the printhead.

For those print heads, which have a ventilation opening in the region of the housing cover, a seal carrier is provided which has a sealing element and can be placed on the print head. To achieve the necessary contact pressure of the seal carrier may have locking hooks, the bevorzugtin Snap the cradle. The seal carrier and the cannula holder are gem. a preferred embodiment, matched to one another in terms of their geometric design that they can only be placed in the intended order another and detached from one another again after filling. So it is, as described initially in detail, first necessary to close all vents before the cannula can be inserted into the ink reservoir. Likewise, the adherence to a determined sequence of steps must be maintained after completion filling. For this reason, the cannula holder is designed so that it can only be placed on the print head if previously the seal carrier has been attached. Conversely, the seal carrier can be removed only when previously the tracheostomy tube was lifted.

Concretely, this is easily achieved in that both the seal carrier and the holder are provided with a special peripheral edge profile, which serve as mutual contact surfaces or as a bearing surface for the needle carrier. Each stepped paragraphs allow the arrangement only in the specified order.

The cannula carrier preferably has a recess in the cannula, which is tuned to the-set-up refill and this includes leader in its lower region. This allows reliable placement of the refill cartridge to the needle carrier.

Further advantages can be achieved when the needle carrier and the optionally present seal carrier are made of transparent material. So the filling process can be monitored to see if ink leaks from the filler opening and therefore the filling must be stopped by removing the refill cartridge. Although the volume of refill matched to the capacity of the ink chamber and therefore overfilling is hardly possible, however, it may then result in accidental leakage of ink when the printhead is refilled before the original ink supply is exhausted.

The filling of a printhead can be optimized further, when the device and the refill matched, ie in the manner of a kit prepared. Preferably, the refill cartridge consisting of a cylindrical housing, which is at one end sealed with a plug, which can be easily punctured by the cannula to make the fluid connection between the cartridge and the ink reservoir of the printhead. For the automatic emptying of the cartridge, it is necessary to provide a ventilation option. This can be realized by the other end attached, removable closure member, for example in the form of a cork, a stopper, a cap, a screw cap, a glued film or a welded film.

to produce the pierceable stopper made by the cannula selbstverschließendem material is particularly advantageous. Thereby, the filling process is interrupted by removal of the refill cartridge from the cannula at all times and continued at a later time or in another printhead. On removal of the refill cartridge the plug closes automatically, preventing accidental leakage of ink.

With the help of the inventive devices, including the associated refill most of the printheads commercially available can be refilled in a simple manner.

With the help of a first method, the filling of printheads, the ink reservoir is accessible from above through a vent hole in the lid succeed. For this purpose, a device is used consisting of the main assembly holder and cannula carrier substantially. First, in the mounting of the print head is used and the nozzle plate is sealed by latching the housing with the locking member. Thereafter, the cannula is introduced into the ink storage space by placing the cannula holder to the print head. Thus, the print head for the actual filling process is prepared. The refill cartridge is fitted onto the needle carrier, said during Aufsetzvorgangs the needle pierces the stopper of the refill cartridge. By loosening or removal of the closure member, the refill cartridge is vented and the ink flows automatically into the ink reservoir. After emptying of the refill cartridge or when reaching the desired Befüllzustandes the refill cartridge is withdrawn from the cannula, so that after removal of the cannula holder of the filled printing head can be immediately removed.

With a second method those printheads can be filled, having the initially described elaborate ventilation system. For this purpose, a device is used which additionally comprises the seal carrier in addition to the main assembly holder and cannula holder.

First, in turn, the print head is inserted into the holder and locks the locking member. This not only the nozzle plate but also the adjacently disposed to the nozzle plate ventilation opening is sealed. Then the air vent above the housing cover located is closed by placing the seal carrier on the printhead. In addition, the print head is pressed with an increased contact force to which the nozzle plate and the adjacent vent opening associated sealing elements by latching the latching pawls. Finally, the cannula carrier is mounted on the seal carrier, whereby the cannula penetrating into the ink storage chamber. Now, the print head for the filling is prepared.

The refill cartridge is fitted onto the needle carrier, said needle pierces the stopper. After the closure member is connected or disconnected, so that the ink can automatically discharged into the ink reservoir. After completion of the filling operation, the refill cartridge is withdrawn from the cannula and the cannula carrier is lifted. Now the filler hole shall be sealed with a Verschließstopfen. Only after the seal carrier can be lifted and filled printhead be removed.

The invention is illustrated below with reference to two embodiments. Shown in schematic representation:<dl id="dl0001" compact="compact"><dt>figure 1</dt><dd>Exploded view of the apparatus in a first embodiment including refill,</dd><dt>Figure 2 - 6</dt><dd>various stages of the procedure for preparing the filling according to using a device. Figure 1,</dd><dt>figure 7</dt><dd>Exploded view of the apparatus in a second embodiment including refill,</dd><dt>Figure 8-13</dt><dd>Various methods steps for preparing the filling according to by using a device. FIG. 7</dd></dl>

Hereinafter, the first embodiment of the device will be explained, which is used for filling a printing head 100th

Gem. Figure 1 has the printing head 100 includes a housing 101, at its lower end face of a nozzle plate 103 is mounted. Opposite the housing 101 carries a lid 102 having a bore 106th The bore 106 serves both as a ventilation hole, on the other hand as a filling hole for the in-casing 101, ink reservoir, not shown here. The ink reservoir is substantially filled by a highly liquid-absorbing material. This can be a material like a sponge or to a highly absorbent nonwoven fabric.

The device comprises two main assemblies, namely a holder 4 and a cannula holder 18. The holder 4 is made of a mount insert 3, a housing 2 and a latching pawl 5 is constructed. The mount insert 3 carries a sealing member 7, which the nozzle plate is to seal 103rd

Further, 100 is an adapter 6 is provided in this case to conform to the geometry of the print head, which carries an additional Dichtunsorgan eighth In the present case the sealing member 8 has no sealing function, as the print head 100 carries no ventilation opening on its underside. However, the sealing element 8 follows the contour of the bottom edge of the printhead 100 and can serve as additional support.

The needle carrier 18 has latching hooks 14, which are intended to engage the mount insert. 3

The ink supply is supplemented by a refill cartridge 200, which is closed by a removable cap 210 at its upper end.

In Figure 2, the initial state is shown schematically. The mount insert 3 is inserted into the housing second For this purpose, the holder insert 3 at the upper end a stulpen shaped edge profile 50, whereby an outwardly profile section 51, the housing 2 comprises overlapping and circumferentially in the upper region. The profile section 51 is shaped heel upward in a marginal web 53 over. The shoulder 52 thus formed serves as a bearing surface for the needle carrier 18, the overlap with the edge web 53 has contact.

In mount insert 3 the sealing member 7 is attached.

In the mount insert 3, the adapter is inserted 6 loose. It has an L-shaped cross-section substantially. In the upper part of the adapter 6 a stop edge 65 is formed, which comes to the mount insert 3 for conditioning. Furthermore, a vertical ridge 64 is present in this area, which serves as a grip surface for handling of the adapter. 6

In the illustration like. 3, the print head 100 is inserted into the holder. 4 The housing 101 is thereby completely absorbed by the holder 4, the adapter 6 is held by the inserted print head 100 inside. The lid 102 of the print head 100 protrudes from the holder. 4

Not shown here is the latch 5, which is placed at the edge of the housing 101 under bias to the plant, thereby ensuring that the nozzle plate 103 is pressed against the sealing member. 7

In Figure 4, the cannula holder 18 is mounted. At its lower end it rests on the shoulder 52 of the edge profile 50 at the mount insert 3. He also has overlapping contact with the edge web 53 of the edge profile 50. This causes the needle carrier 18 is held by friction effect. In addition, in here not shown way locking hooks on the holder 4, for example in the area of ​​the edge profile 50, are fixed detent.

On cannula support 18, a cannula 17 is attached. The position of the needle 17 is chosen such that it corresponds with the bore 106 in the lid 102 and this permeates in the illustrated state. The length of the cannula 17 is sized down to bottom that it protrudes to at least halfway into the ink reservoir. This ensures that even deeper layers of ink collecting space can be sufficiency quickly refilled with ink.

Upwardly the cannula penetrates 17 the cannula holder 18 in the region of a depression 16. However, the tip of the cannula 17 ends still within the recess 16, so that no acute risk of injury is given by the tip of the cannula 17th Moreover, the recess 16 is performed a circular cylinder to encompass the cylindrical body 201 of the refill cartridge 200 in the lower region.

In Figure 5, the refill cartridge 200 is mounted on the cannula support 18th The cannula 17 has pierced the stopper 205, and there is a connection between the ink reservoir and the interior of the refill cartridge 200. The refill cartridge 200 is closed in the illustrated situation even with the cap 210th

In the illustration gem. Figure 6 is the cap 210 is removed, the interior of the refill cartridge 200 is ventilated so that the filling and can run automatically.

in Figure 7, a device is shown which 'is used to fill a printhead 100th This has a housing 101 'which at its underside, a nozzle plate 103' as well as a vent hole 104 'is attached. The housing 101 'is at the top by a cover 102' is closed, the 'a bore 106' in addition to a further air vent 105th The bore 106 'is factory sealed with a ball, not shown here.

The structure of the holder 4 is in accordance with the design of the apparatus of the first embodiment. In contrast, however, has the sealing member 8, which is mounted on the adapter 6, the task of the ventilation hole 104 'at the bottom of the housing 101' of the printhead 100 'be sealed.

The main difference to the apparatus of the first embodiment, however, is that in addition a further main component, namely a seal carrier 12 'is present. This has the function described in greater detail below, the 'air vent located 105' on the cover 102 be sealed. The seal carrier 12 'is placed on the mount insert 3 and by means of locking hooks 14' fixable. A tracheostomy tube 18 'is on the seal carrier 12' can be placed.

The initial situation shown in Figure 8 is in agreement with that of FIG. 2

This also applies to the postion gem. Figure 9, the gem in accordance with the position. Figure 3 is. However, functionally, the difference is that the sealing member 'is kept pressed to the vent opening 104 is located there' 8 against the underside of the housing 101 to seal.

Figure 10 shows the configuration with the attached seal carrier 12 '. The seal carrier 12 'has the task of a sealing member 13' is pressed against the lid 102 'located ventilation opening 105' to hold and seal it.

The seal carrier 12 'has at its end an edge profile our 55' with a lower profile section 56 '. The profile portion 56 'resting on the edge flange 52 of the mount insert 3. On its inside, has the edge profile 56' contact with the edge flange 53 of the mount insert 3. The profile section 56 'is in the form of a shoulder 57' in a further profile section 58 'over.

Figure 11 shows the device with an attached cannula carrier 18 'formed on the shoulder 57 of the seal carrier 12' rests. The tracheostomy tube 18 'also has contact with the profile section 58' and is held by friction effect. Further, not shown here Fixierorgane can secure the cannula carrier 18 'in addition.

The cannula holder 18 'has a recess 16', which is matched to the shape of the refill cartridge 200th In the region of the depression 16 'is located, the cannula 17', the position of which is matched to the bore 106 'of the print head 100th The cannula 17 'penetrates only a short piece in the ink reservoir, because this is not, as in the case of the print head 100 is filled with a liquid-absorbing material, but designed as a cavity and is penetrated by the plastic bags described above.

Figure 12 finally shows the needle carrier 18 'patch refill cartridge 200, which is still closed by the cap 210th

In Figure 13, the cap 210 is removed, the filling can proceed now automatically.

Following the principle described can be a number, fill commercially befindlicher printheads easy and secure. The modular structure of the devices a maximum flexibility. Depending on the composition of the main components, devices or kits can be put together that are tailored to a specific type of print heads either, or universally suitable for different types of print heads. In the latter case it is only necessary, for example in addition to the device with the needle carrier 18 has a further cannula carrier 18 'and a seal carrier 12' be provided.

FIGURE LEGEND

<dl id="dl0002" compact="compact"><dt>2</dt><dd>housing</dd><dt>3</dt><dd>mount insert</dd><dt>4</dt><dd>holder</dd><dt>5</dt><dd>Locking member, latch</dd><dt>6</dt><dd>adapter</dd><dt>7</dt><dd>sealing member</dd><dt>8th</dt><dd>sealing member</dd><dt>12 '</dt><dd>seal carrier</dd><dt>13 '</dt><dd>sealing member</dd><dt>14, 14 '</dt><dd>Fixierorgane, latch hook</dd><dt>16, 16 '</dt><dd>deepening</dd><dt>17, 17 '</dt><dd>cannula</dd><dt>18, 18 '</dt><dd>cannula holder</dd><dt>19</dt><dd>grip area</dd><dt>29, 29 '</dt><dd>grip area</dd><dt>50</dt><dd>edge profile</dd><dt>51</dt><dd>Profile section</dd><dt>52</dt><dd>paragraph</dd><dt>53</dt><dd>edge web</dd><dt>55 '</dt><dd>edge profile</dd><dt>56 '</dt><dd>Profile section</dd><dt>57 '</dt><dd>paragraph</dd><dt>58 '</dt><dd>Profile section </dd><dt>64</dt><dd>rib</dd><dt>65</dt><dd>stop edge</dd><dt>100,100 '</dt><dd>printhead</dd><dt>101.101 '</dt><dd>housing</dd><dt>102,102 '</dt><dd>cover</dd><dt>103.103 '</dt><dd>nozzle plate</dd><dt>104.104 '</dt><dd>ventilation opening</dd><dt>105 '</dt><dd>ventilation opening</dd><dt>106.106 '</dt><dd>drilling</dd><dt>200</dt><dd>refill</dd><dt>201</dt><dd>housing</dd><dt>202</dt><dd>outlet opening</dd><dt>205</dt><dd>to stuff</dd><dt>210</dt><dd>A closure, cap</dd></dl>