Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6481839
-
Patent Number
6,481,839
-
Date Filed
Thursday, February 24, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, November 19, 200221 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, L.L.P.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 347 85
- 347 86
- 347 87
- 347 35
- 347 36
- 347 22
- 347 28
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
An ink-jet printer (10) having a reciprocatingly movable printing head (16) provided with a plurality of nozzles (28) for ejecting ink droplets; a fluid-passage system including an ink supply passage (42) for the printing head and other various fluids passages; and a fluidic-material storage device (62) for storing ink and other various fluidic materials, the fluidic-material storage device being detachably connected to the fluid-passage system. The fluidic-material storage device has a body (66) including a plurality of compartments capable of storing ink and other various fluidic materials in a classified manner; fluid-passing portions (80, 82, 84) provided respectively in the compartments of the body to communicate the compartments with the fluid-passage system; first breakable seal members (86) provided respectively in the fluid-passing portions to interrupt fluid flow in the fluid-passing portions; and second seal members (88) provided in the fluid-passing portions to cover the respective first seal members, the second seal members including apertures (90) for permitting an access of the fluid-passage system to the first seal members.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a device for storing fluidic materials, and particularly to a fluidic-material storage device usable for an ink-jet printer.
BACKGROUND ART
As non-impact type printers are less noisy during printing of characters or images and can perform color printing, they have been used in various fields. For example, an ink-jet printer wherein ink-droplets are ejected from a number of micro-nozzles provided in a printing head onto a material to be printed to carry out a printing operation, and particularly an on-demand type ink-jet printer wherein piezoelectric elements are used in the printing head, has recently prevailed, as an output device for personal computers or word processors, because it can print on a plain paper and the printer body thereof is small.
On the other hand, impact type printers have relatively simple structures which makes the maintenance thereof easy and have advantages in running cost due to, e.g., an inexpensive ink ribbon, and thus have widely been used as printers for industrial use, such as a printer for printing on a bankbook or a slip in a bank (hereinafter referred to as a bankbook printer). Nowadays, however, even in the field of bankbook printers, requirements have been risen for, e.g., noise reduction, small size and an improvement in operation time (i.e., a time period required for user's operation between the introducing of a bankbook into the printer and the retaking thereof after it is printed). Therefore, it becomes difficult to satisfy these requirements with the impact type printer.
One problem to be solved when an ink-jet printer is used as an industrial printer is a capacity of an ink storage section. Since the frequency of use of the industrial printer is remarkably larger than that of the personal printer, it is desired for the ink storage section of the industrial printer to have a sufficient capacity, so as to increase ink-replenishment intervals and reduce an ink-replenishment load.
Conventionally, as an ink storage section provided for an ink-jet printer, a head-mount type mounted on a printing head and a separate type placed apart from the printed head have been known. The head-mount type ink storage section has an advantage that an ink-supply passage connecting the ink storage section with the printing head is short and ink in the ink-supply passage is thus hardly influenced by inertia when the printing head is moving. However, it is generally difficult to increase the capacity of the ink storage section of this type since the dimensions and weight of the ink storage section directly influence the mobility of the printed head. Accordingly, the ink-jet printer for the industrial use generally uses a separate-type ink storage section of which the capacity can be easily increased.
In either of the head-mount or separate ink storage section, a cartridge type ink tank is usually adopted, which is detachably mounted in relation to an ink-supply system of the printer, to facilitate the ink replenishment work. In the cartridge type ink tank, a sleeve-like ink outlet formed in a tank wall is sealed by a easily-breakable seal member, so as to prevent ink from leaking through the ink outlet during stocking and transportation of the tank. On the other hand, a coupler including a connecting tube element with a tapered tip end is placed at one end of the ink-supply passage of the ink-jet printer. When the ink tank is attached to the ink-supply system, the seal member is pierced by the connecting tube element of the coupler to open the ink outlet and, simultaneously, the ink is discharged through the connecting tube element into the ink-supply passage.
The seal member provided to the ink outlet of the conventional ink tank is composed of a rubber packing inserted into the ink outlet and a seal plate arranged outside the packing to cover the ink outlet. The packing is previously provided with an aperture capable of tightly receiving the connecting tube element. The connecting tube element is inserted into the aperture of the packing immediately after piercing the seal plate, so that the ink outlet is opened and sealed to the connecting tube element.
According to this structure, however, the ink has already permeated between the seal plate and the packing through the aperture of the packing before the seal plate is pierced, and therefore, a problem arises in that a small amount of ink leaks the instant the seal plate is pierced.
Incidentally, in an ink-jet printer for industrial use, a storage section for a washing liquid used for washing the nozzles and/or of a waste ink sucked and removed from the nozzles is sometimes provided, as fluidic-material storage sections other than the ink storage section, in a maintenance mechanism for eliminating nozzle clogging. In this case, the ink storage section as well as a washing-liquid storage section and a waste-ink storage section have their respective replenishment/replacement intervals different from one another, and thus are generally provided in the printer independently from one another. Consequently, the replenishment/replacement work of the fluidic materials becomes troublesome, and if cartridge type tanks are used for various fluidic materials, a complicated management of the cartridges is required.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a fluidic-material storage device detachably coupled to a fluid passage system, which can effectively prevent the possible leakage of fluidic materials when it is attached to the fluid passage system.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a fluidic-material storage device usable as an ink storage section detachably coupled to an ink-supply system of an ink-jet printer, which can effectively prevent the possible leakage of ink when it is attached to the ink-supply system.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a fluidic-material storage device usable as a storage section for various fluidic materials in an ink-jet printer, which can simplify the replenishment and replacement works of various fluidic materials.
A yet further object of the present invention is to provide the above types of fluidic-material storage device which can be used as a large capacity ink storage section detachably mounted to an ink-jet printer apart from a printing head thereof.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide an ink-jet printer provided with the above types of fluidic-material storage device, which can be used as an industrial printer such as a bankbook printer.
To accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a fluidic-material storage device, comprising a body including a plurality of compartments capable of storing various fluidic materials in a classified manner; fluid-passing portions provided respectively in the compartments of the body to communicate the compartments with an external fluid-passage system; first breakable seal members provided respectively in the fluid-passing portions to interrupt fluid flow in the fluid-passing portions; and second seal members provided in the fluid-passing portions to respectively cover the first seal members, the second seal members including apertures for permitting access to the first seal members.
In the above fluidic-material storage device, it is preferred that the second seal members are formed from rubber packings.
The present invention also provides a fluidic-material storage device for an ink-jet printer incorporating therein a reciprocatingly movable printing head provided with a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink droplets and a fluid-passage system including an ink supply passage for the printing head and other various fluids passages, the device comprising a body detachably connected to the fluid-passage system, the body including a plurality of compartments capable of storing ink and other various fluidic materials in a classified manner; fluid-passing portions provided respectively in the compartments of the body to communicate the compartments with the fluid-passage system; first breakable seal members provided respectively in the fluid-passing portions to interrupt a fluid flow in the fluid-passing portions; and second seal members provided in the fluid-passing portions to respectively cover the first seal members, the second seal members including apertures for permitting an access of the fluid-passage system to the first seal members.
In the above fluidic-material storage device, it is preferred that the second seal members are formed from rubber packings.
It is also advantage that the compartments of the body constitute ink storage sections connected to the ink supply passage.
In this arrangement, it is preferred that at least one of the compartments of the body constitutes a storage section for a washing liquid used for washing the nozzles of the printing head.
Alternatively, it is preferred that at least one of the compartments of the body constitutes a storage section for a waste ink removed from the nozzles of the printing head.
The present invention further provides an ink-jet printer, comprising a reciprocatingly movable printing head provided with a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink droplets; a fluid-passage system including an ink supply passage for the printing head and other various fluids passages; and a fluidic-material storage device for storing ink and other various fluidic materials, the fluidic-material storage device being detachably connected to the fluid-passage system; the fluidic-material storage device comprising a body including a plurality of compartments capable of storing ink and other various fluidic materials in a classified manner; fluid-passing portions provided respectively in the compartments of the body to communicate the compartments with the fluid-passage system; first breakable seal members provided respectively in the fluid-passing portions to interrupt a fluid flow in the fluid-passing portions; and second seal members provided in the fluid-passing portions to respectively cover the first seal members, the second seal members including apertures for permitting an access of the fluid-passage system to the first seal members.
In the above ink-jet printer, it is preferred that the second seal members of the fluidic-material storage device are formed from rubber packings.
It is also advantage that the compartments of the body of the fluidic-material storage device constitute ink storage sections connected to the ink supply passage.
In this arrangement, the fluidic-material storage device may be placed apart from the printing head, and the ink supply passage may be formed of a flexible tube extending between the ink storage sections of the fluidic-material storage device and the printing head.
It is also preferred that at least one of the compartments of the body of the fluidic-material storage device constitutes a storage section of a washing liquid used for washing the nozzles of the printing head.
Alternatively, it is preferred that at least one of the compartments of the body of the fluidic-material storage device constitutes a storage section of a waste ink removed from the nozzles of the printing head.
The ink-jet printer as described above may be used as a bankbook printer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be described with reference to the embodiments shown in the attached drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1
is a schematic perspective view showing, in a partially cut-out manner, main components of an ink-jet printer provided with a fluidic-material storage device according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2
is a schematic perspective view of a printing head of the ink-jet printer shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 3
is a schematic perspective view of the fluidic-material storage device according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4
is a sectional view of the fluidic-material storage device, taken along a line IV—IV of
FIG. 3
;
FIG. 5A
is a partially enlarged sectional view of the fluidic-material storage device of
FIG. 3
;
FIG. 5B
is a partially enlarged sectional view of the fluidic-material storage device of
FIG. 3
, in an operative state; and
FIG. 6
is an enlarged perspective view of a coupler provided in the ink-jet printer of FIG.
1
.
BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
With reference to the drawings,
FIG. 1
is a schematic perspective view showing, in a partially cut-out manner, main components of an ink-jet printer
10
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
The ink-jet printer
10
is provided with a machine frame
14
including an openable/closable housing
12
and a machine body not shown, a printing head
16
provided reciprocatingly movably in a predetermined direction (usually in a horizontal direction relative to a reference plane on which the printer is installed) in the machine frame
14
, ink-supply means
18
for supplying ink to the printing head
16
, material-feeding means
20
for feeding a material to be printed (not shown) into a printing area P opposed to the printing head
16
in the machine frame
14
, and maintenance means
22
including a plurality of functional stations arranged in a distributed manner in opposite end regions of the reciprocation range of the printing head
16
in the machine frame
14
.
The printing head
16
is fixed to a carriage
24
which, in turn, is carried on a guide bar
26
extending in the horizontal direction in the machine frame
14
so as to be slidingly movable in the axial direction of the bar. During the printing operation, the printing head
16
is reciprocated in the horizontal direction along the guide bar
26
by means of a driving mechanism not shown.
As schematically shown in
FIG. 2
, the printing head
16
is provided with a plurality of nozzles
28
for ejecting ink-droplets, a nozzle surface
30
onto which the nozzles
28
open, an actuator
32
composed of piezoelectric elements for making the nozzles
28
eject ink-droplets, and an inner pressure adjustment device or a damper
34
for stabilizing a meniscus of the ink entering the respective nozzles
28
. In the illustrated embodiment, the printing head
16
includes separate three subheads
36
, each of which is provided with the plural nozzles
28
, the nozzle surface
30
and the actuator
32
. A flexible circuit board
38
for applying a driving voltage onto the actuator
32
is shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
.
As shown in
FIG. 1
, the ink-supply means
18
is provided with an ink storage section
40
arranged at a position apart from the printing head
16
in the machine frame
14
, and an ink supply conduit
42
connecting the printing head
16
with the ink storage section
40
, to supply an ink (e.g., a pigment ink) to the printing head
16
during the printing operation. In the illustrated embodiment, the ink supply conduit
42
is formed of a sufficiently flexible tube so as not to interfere with the reciprocating motion of the printing head
16
.
The material-feeding means
20
disposed beneath the reciprocation range of the printing head
16
includes a material-holding section
48
having an upper fixed plate
44
and a lower movable plate
46
and holding the material to be printed, such as a printing paper or a bankbook, inserted between the plates
44
,
46
, a correcting mechanism
50
arranged above the fixed plate
44
for correcting the feeding direction of the material to be printed held in the material-holding section
48
, and a feeding mechanism
52
disposed above the fixed plate at a position behind the correcting mechanism
50
in the material-feeding direction, for introducing the material to be printed held in the material-holding section
48
into the printing area P and discharging the same from the printing area P.
The printing area P is defined between two pairs of feed rollers
54
constituting the feeding mechanism
52
. The printing head
16
reciprocates along the guide bar
26
above the printing area P, and scans the material to be printed introduced into the printing area P while forming characters or images on the material to be printed by ejecting ink droplets from the nozzles
28
.
The plural functional stations constituting the maintenance means
22
include a sealing station
56
for substantially sealing and covering the plural nozzles
28
opening on the nozzle surface
30
of the printing head
16
when the printer does not operate, so as to prevent the ink in the nozzles
28
from drying, a discharging station
58
for making the nozzles
28
of the printing head
12
discharge the ink of which the viscosity has increased in the nozzles
28
during the inoperative state of the printer, and a cleaning station
60
for sucking and removing the ink of which the viscosity has increased in the nozzles
28
during the inoperative state of the printer and for washing and wiping the nozzle surface
30
. In the illustrated embodiment, the sealing station
56
and the discharging station
58
are disposed in one end region (a right end region in the drawing) of the reciprocation range of the printing head, and the cleaning station
60
is disposed in another end region (a left end region in the drawing) of the reciprocation range of the printing head.
Such a distributive arrangement of the various functional stations facilitates the effective utilization of all idle space in the machine frame
14
of the ink-jet printer
10
. That is, in the general ink-jet printer, since the printing operation is carried out on the material to be printed while the printing head reciprocates in the predetermined direction, the reciprocation range of the printing head is determined to be wider than a dimension of the material-feeding device disposed opposite to the printing head. As a result, an idle space is inevitably formed around the material-feeding device. Therefore, in the ink-jet printer
10
, the above-mentioned various functional stations for establishing a multifunctional maintenance system are distributively arranged in the idle space, so as to effectively prevent the machine size from being enlarged. Further, the ink-jet printer
10
having such a multifunctional maintenance system can safely use pigment ink, and thus can be suitably applied to printers for industrial use, e.g., to a bankbook printer.
A fluidic-material storage device
62
, according to one embodiment of the present invention, to be provided in the ink-jet printer
10
, is formed as a cartridge type tank having a plurality of fluidic-material storage sections including the above-described ink storage section
40
, and is detachably placed at a predetermined position in the machine frame
14
apart from the printing head
16
. As shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4
, the fluidic-material storage device
62
includes a tank-shaped body
66
opening at the upper end thereof and having five compartments separated by partition walls
64
and a cover
68
for closing the upper end opening of the body
66
. The five compartments separated by the partition walls
64
store various fluidic materials including the ink in a classified manner, respectively, and are coupled to a fluid-passage system including the ink supply conduit
42
of the ink-jet printer
10
.
In the illustrated embodiment, mutually adjacent three of the five compartments of the body
66
constitute mutually independent ink storage sections
40
, respectively. Also, two compartments adjacent to the ink storage sections
40
respectively constitute a washing-liquid storage section
70
for storing a washing liquid to be supplied to the cleaning part of the cleaning station
60
of the ink-jet printer
10
as described before and a waste-liquid storage section
72
for storing a waste ink collected from the sucking part of the cleaning station
60
. In this respect, the number and purpose of the compartments, in the present invention, should not be limited to those disclosed in the above arrangement.
The body
66
is provided at the bottom
66
a
thereof with an outwardly projecting rib
74
lying across all the compartments and generally at the center of the respective compartments, and holes
76
are formed through a bottom wall
74
a
of the rib
74
, one hole being provided for each compartment. The bottom wall
74
a
of the rib
74
is also provided with cylindrical portions
78
individually projecting outward, one portion being provided for each compartment (FIG.
5
A). Each hole
76
communicates in a fluidic communicative manner with the interior space of each compartment to the interior space of each cylindrical portion
78
. In this manner, the bottom
66
a
of the body
66
is provided, as fluid-passing portions, with ink outlets
80
of the respective ink storage sections
40
, a washing liquid outlet
82
of the washing-liquid storage section
70
and a waste liquid inlet
84
of the waste-liquid storage section
72
.
The cylindrical portions
78
of the bottom
66
a
of the body
66
are provided respectively with seal means for interrupting a fluid flow of the respective fluid-passing portions so as to prevent the leakage of the fluidic materials from the fluid-passing portions during the stock and transportation of the fluidic-material storage device
62
. As shown in
FIG. 5A
, the seal means in the fluidic-material storage device
62
are constituted from seal plates
86
as first seal members for hermetically sealing the openings of the free ends
78
a
of the respective cylindrical portions
78
, and packings
88
as second seal members arranged to cover the seal plates
86
and the cylindrical portions
78
at locations outside the respective seal plates
86
.
Each seal plate
86
is a lamination made of materials, such as resinous film or paper, which can be broken by a tapered tip-ended member, and is fixedly secured to the free end
78
a
of each cylindrical portion
78
by, e.g., an adhesive. Each packing
88
is a cap-shaped member made of elastic materials such as rubber, and is closely attached to the cylindrical portion
78
under the elastic force. The packing
88
is provided at the center of the end wall
88
a
thereof with an aperture
90
opening therethrough, and thereby a corresponding tip-ended member provided at the passage end of the fluid-passage system of the ink-jet printer can access to the seal plate
86
. Each aperture
90
has a diametric dimension capable of tightly receiving the corresponding tip-ended member under the elastic force. In this arrangement, the fluidic material (e.g., ink F in
FIG. 5A
) filled in each compartment enters the interior space of the fluid-passing part through the hole
76
of the body bottom
66
a
to be in contact with the seal plate
86
.
In correspondence with the fluidic-material storage device
62
having the above arrangement, the ink-jet printer
10
is provided at a predetermined location in the machine frame
14
with a supporting block
92
for detachably supporting the fluidic-material storage device
62
. As shown in
FIG. 6
, a coupler
94
is fixedly mounted on the supporting block
92
to connect the respective compartments of the fluidic-material storage device
62
with various fluid passages of the ink-jet printer
10
. The coupler
94
includes a base plate
96
fixed to the supporting block
92
, and five connecting tube elements
98
arranged in a row on one side of the base plate
96
and respectively provided with tapered tip ends
98
a
. Each connecting tube element
98
constitutes the corresponding tip-ended member to be received in each packing
88
of the fluidic-material storage device
62
, and has an axially penetrating fluid channel
100
in the interior thereof (FIG.
5
B). Each fluid channel
100
branches at one end thereof to open on the tip end
98
a
of the connecting tube element
98
, and is connected at the other end thereof with one of the various fluid passages of the ink-jet printer
10
.
In the illustrated embodiment, the ink supply conduit
42
of the ink-jet printer
10
is formed as three separate ink supply conduits
42
(FIGS.
2
and
6
), and the mutually adjacent three connecting tube elements
98
of the coupler
94
are respectively connected to three ink supply conduits
42
. According to this arrangement, it is possible to individually connect three ink storage sections
40
of the fluidic-material storage device
62
to three subheads
36
. Thereby, it is also possible to use the ink-jet printer
10
as a color printer. One of the remaining connecting tube elements
98
is connected through a washing-liquid conduit
102
to the washing part of the cleaning station
60
, and another one of them is connected through a waste-liquid conduit
104
to the sucking part of the cleaning station
60
. In this respect, the number of the subheads
36
and ink supply conduits
42
is not limited to three but may be selected to be any optional number.
When the respective compartments of the fluidic-material storage device
62
are connected to the various fluid passages of the ink-jet printer
10
, the fluidic-material storage device
62
is placed on the coupler
94
, and the connecting tube elements
98
of the coupler
94
are inserted respectively into the corresponding ink outlets
80
, washing liquid outlet
82
and waste liquid inlet
84
, preferably in a simultaneous manner. At this time, as shown in
FIG. 5B
, the tip end
98
a
of each connecting tube element
98
is initially inserted into the aperture
90
of each packing
88
, and thereby the packing
88
is brought into close contact with the connecting tube element
98
under the elastic force of the packing. Immediately thereafter, the tip ends
98
a
of the respective connecting tube elements
98
pierce through the seal plates
86
, so that the ink outlets
80
, the washing liquid outlet
82
and the waste liquid inlet
84
are opened. As a result, the ink storage sections
40
, the washing-liquid storage section
70
and the waste-liquid storage section
72
are connected through the fluid passes
100
of the respective connecting tube elements
98
with the ink supply conduits
42
, the washing liquid conduit
102
and the waste liquid conduit
104
.
As described above, according to the fluidic-material storage device
62
, an interface between the packing
88
and the connecting tube element
98
is previously sealed by the elastic force of the packing
88
, prior to the seal plate
86
is pierced by the connecting tube element
98
of the coupler
94
, and thereby the leakage of ink or washing liquid when the seal plate
86
is broken is effectively prevented.
Also, the ink storage sections
40
, the washing-liquid storage section
70
and the waste-liquid storage section
72
are assembled and integrated into a single fluidic-material storage device
62
, so that it is possible to simultaneously carry out the replenishment of ink and waste liquid as well as the disposal of waste ink to simplify these works, and thereby reducing a load of the operator. In this case, it is possible to previously optimize the capacity of the respective compartments of the body
66
in correspondence to the generally expected replenishment/replacement intervals for various fluidic materials to be stored. In the case where a pigment ink is used in the ink-jet printer
10
, the intervals of the disposal of waste ink and of the replacement of tank may be shorter than the case where a dyestuff ink is used, and therefore, the fluidic-material storage device
62
, in which the disposal of ink is carried out at the same time as the replenishment thereof, is effectively used.
Further, the fluidic-material storage device
62
can be used as a large capacity ink storage section detachably provided to the ink-jet printer
10
apart from the printing head
16
. In this case, the ink-jet printer
10
can be used as an industrial printer such as a bankbook printer. It will be understood, however, that the present invention may be applied as a head-mount type ink storage section.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
The present invention provides a fluidic-material storage device, which can effectively prevent the possible leakage of fluidic materials when it is attached to the fluid passage system. Accordingly, the present invention can be used with high reliability as various fluidic-material storage sections detachably coupled to an ink supply passage and other various fluid passages of an ink-jet printer. Further, when the fluidic-material storage device is used as a large capacity ink storage section detachably mounted apart from a printing head, it is possible to use the ink-jet printer as an industrial printer such as a bankbook printer.
Claims
- 1. A fluidic-material storage device, comprising:a body including a plurality of compartments capable of storing various fluidic materials in a classified manner; fluid-passing portions provided respectively in said compartments of said body to communicate said compartments with an external fluid-passage system; first breakable seal members provided respectively on said fluid-passing portions to interrupt fluid flow from said fluid-passing portions; and second seal members provided respectively outside of and covering said first seal members, each of said second seal members including an aperture for permitting an object to be inserted through said aperture for access to each of said first seal members, each of said second seal members having a portion for making sealing contact with the object inserted through said aperture.
- 2. A fluidic-material storage device as defined in claim 1, wherein said second seal members are formed from rubber packings.
- 3. A fluidic-material storage device for an ink-jet printer incorporating therein a reciprocatingly movable printing head provided with a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink droplets and a fluid-passage system including an ink supply passage for said printing head and other various fluids passages, the device comprising:a body detachably connected to said fluid-passage system, said body including a plurality of compartments capable of storing ink and other various fluidic materials in a classified manner; fluid-passing portions provided respectively in said compartments of said body to communicate said compartments with said fluid-passage system; first breakable seal members provided respectively on said fluid-passing portions to interrupt fluid flow from said fluid-passing portions; and second seal members provided respectively outside of and covering said first seal members, each of said second seal members including an aperture for permitting an object to be inserted through said aperture for access to each of said first seal members, each of said second seal members having a portion for making sealing contact with the object inserted through said aperture.
- 4. A fluidic-material storage device as defined in claim 3, wherein said second seal members are formed from rubber packings.
- 5. A fluidic-material storage device as defined in claim 3, wherein said compartments of said body constitute ink storage sections connected to said ink supply passage.
- 6. A fluidic-material storage device as defined in claim 5, wherein at least one of said compartments of said body constitutes a storage section of a waste ink removed from said nozzles of said printing head.
- 7. An ink-jet printer, comprising:a reciprocatingly movable printing head provided with a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink droplets; a fluid-passage system including an ink supply passage for said printing head and other various fluids passages; and a fluidic-material storage device for storing ink and other various fluidic materials, said fluidic-material storage device being detachably connected to said fluid-passage system; said fluidic-material storage device comprising: a body including a plurality of compartments capable of storing ink and other various fluidic materials in a classified manner; fluid-passing portions provided respectively in said compartments of said body to communicate said compartments with said fluid-passage system; first breakable seal members provided respectively on said fluid-passing portions to interrupt fluid flow from said fluid-passing portions; and second seal members provided respectively outside of and covering said first seal members, each of said second seal members including an aperture for permitting an object to be inserted through said aperture for access of said fluid-passage system to each of said first seal members, each of said second seal members having a portion for making sealing contact with the object inserted through said aperture.
- 8. An ink-jet printer as defined in claim 7, wherein said second seal members of said fluidic-material storage device are formed from rubber packings.
- 9. An ink-jet printer as defined in claim 7, wherein said compartments of said body of said fluidic-material storage device constitute ink storage sections connected to said ink supply passage.
- 10. An ink-jet printer as defined in claim 9, wherein said fluidic-material storage device is placed apart from said printing head, and wherein said ink supply passage is formed of a flexible tube extending between said ink storage sections of said fluidic-material storage device and said printing head.
- 11. An ink-jet printer as defined in claim 9, wherein at least one of said compartments of said body of said fluidic-material storage device constitutes a storage section of a waste ink removed from said nozzles of said printing head.
- 12. A fluidic-material storage device for an ink-jet printer incorporating therein a reciprocatingly movable printing head provided with a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink droplets and a fluid-passage system including an ink supply passage for said printing head and other various fluids passages, the device comprising:a body detachably connected to said fluid-passage system, said body including a plurality of compartments capable of storing ink and other various fluidic materials in a classified manner; fluid-passing portions provided respectively in said compartments of said body to communicate said compartments with said fluid-passage system; first breakable seal members provided respectively on said fluid-passing portions to interrupt fluid flow from said fluid-passing portions; and second seal members provided respectively outside of and covering said first seal members, said second seal members including apertures for permitting access of said fluid-passage system to said first seal members; wherein said compartments of said body include ink storage sections connected to said ink supply passage, and wherein at least one of said compartments of-said body constitutes a storage section of a washing liquid used for washing said nozzles of said printing head.
- 13. An ink-jet printer, comprising:a reciprocatingly movable printing head provided with a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink droplets; a fluid-passage system including an ink supply passage for said printing head and other various fluids passages; and a fluidic-material storage device for storing ink and other various fluidic materials, said fluidic-material storage device being detachably connected to said fluid-passage system; said fluidic-material storage device comprising: a body including a plurality of compartments capable of storing ink and other various fluidic materials in a classified manner; fluid-passing portions provided respectively in said compartments of said body to communicate said compartments with said fluid-passage system; first breakable seal members provided respectively on said fluid-passing portions to interrupt fluid flow from said fluid-passing portions; and second seal members provided respectively outside of and covering said first seal members, said second seal members including apertures for permitting access of said fluid-passage system to said first seal members; wherein said compartments of said body of said fluidic-material storage device include ink storage sections connected to said ink supply passage, and wherein at least one of said compartments of said body of said fluidic-material storage device constitutes a storage section of a washing liquid used for washing said nozzles of said printing head.
PCT Information
Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
PCT/JP98/02387 |
|
WO |
00 |
Publishing Document |
Publishing Date |
Country |
Kind |
WO99/62719 |
12/9/1999 |
WO |
A |
US Referenced Citations (6)
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
62-68494 |
Nov 1988 |
JP |
1-242256 |
Sep 1989 |
JP |
08-25642 |
Jan 1996 |
JP |