Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6286946
-
Patent Number
6,286,946
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, October 12, 199924 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, September 11, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 347 85
- 347 86
- 347 87
- 347 108
- 347 31
- 347 36
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
There is provided an ink cartridge device which permits a delivery port-sealing film thereof to be positively peeled off and prevents ink from scattering out of the device during an operation for peeling off the delivery port-sealing film. An ink cartridge has an ink delivery port for supplying ink to the printer therefrom, and a rim of the ink delivery port. A container box contains the ink cartridge and has a box body and a lid for closing the box body. The box body is formed with a slit. A delivery port-sealing film has a sealing portion removably welded to the rim of the ink delivery port, for sealing the ink delivery port, and an unsealing operation portion continuous with the sealing portion and extending in a direction of making a U-turn with respect to the sealing portion to extend out of the container box through the slit of the box body.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an ink cartridge device for use with an ink jet printer.
2. Prior Art
FIGS. 9A and 9B
show a conventional ink cartridge. The ink cartridge
80
is comprised of a cartridge body
82
having three (YMC) ink reservoirs
81
for holding yellow ink, magenta ink, and cyan ink, a delivery port-sealing film
84
sealing ink delivery ports
83
of the cartridge body
82
, and an air inlet port -sealing film
87
sealing ink-charging ports
85
and air inlet ports
86
of the cartridge body
82
. In the state constructed above, the ink cartridge
80
is enclosed in an aluminum package, not shown, for shipment. Ink in the cartridge body
82
is made liable to degradation by exposure to air. To avoid this inconvenience, the ink cartridge
80
has the ink delivery ports
83
thereof sealed by the delivery port-sealing film
84
, and then, after being charged with ink from the ink-charging ports
85
in a vacuum chamber, the ink-charging ports
85
and air inlet ports
86
are sealed by the air inlet port-sealing film
87
. In this state, the ink cartridge
80
is vacuum-packed in an aluminum package for supply to the user.
When the ink cartridge
80
is used by the user, first, the aluminum package is unsealed to take out the ink cartridge
80
, and thereafter, part (peel-off portion
87
a
) of the air inlet port-sealing film
87
is peeled off, and the air inlet ports (actually, upstream ends of meandering air inlet passages continuous with the respective air inlet ports)
86
are opened to the atmosphere, while the delivery port-sealing film
84
is peeled off to open the ink delivery ports
83
. In this state, the ink cartridge
80
is loaded in a printer.
The conventional ink cartridge having the above construction suffers from the problem that when the delivery port-sealing film is removed from (peeled off) the cartridge body, ink held in the vicinity of the ink delivery ports may be scattered (spilled) and ink adhering to the delivery port-sealing film, particularly, a delivery port-sealing portion thereof may touch the user's hand, so that the user's hand, a desk, or the like can be stained with the ink. Further, there is a fear that the user forgets to peel off the delivery port-sealing film and loads the ink cartridge still covered therewith in the printer. Further, the conventional ink cartridge has the inconvenience that since the inside of the cartridge body is under reduced pressure, air can be mixed into ink to cause a faulty printing operation, unless the films are peeled off in order of the air inlet port - sealing film, first, and then the delivery port-sealing film, in accordance with an instruction manual of the ink cartridge supplied to the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an ink cartridge device which permits a delivery port-sealing film to be positively peeled off and prevents ink from scattering out of the device when the delivery port-sealing film is peeled off.
To attain the first object, according to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an ink cartridge device for a printer, comprising:
an ink cartridge having an ink delivery port for supplying ink to the printer therefrom, and a rim of the ink delivery port;
a container box for containing the ink cartridge, the container box having a box body and a lid for closing the box body, the box body being formed with a slit; and
a delivery port-sealing film having a sealing portion removably welded to the rim of the ink delivery port, for sealing the ink delivery port, and an unsealing operation portion continuous with the sealing portion and extending in a direction of making a U-turn with respect to the sealing portion to extend out of the container box through the slit of the box body.
According to this ink cartridge device, if the unsealing operation portion extending out of the box body through the slit is pulled while holding the container box, the sealing portion continuous with the unsealing operation portion is drawn in a manner making a U-turn and peeled off the ink delivery port. In this operation, the sealing portion being peeled off is drawn in a direction orthogonal to the direction of the axis of the ink delivery port. This makes it possible to suppress scattering of ink from the ink delivery port. Further, even if ink is scattered, the scattered ink can be received within the box body.
Preferably, an end of the sealing portion remote from the unsealing operation portion is fixedly attached to the box body.
According to this preferred embodiment, when peeling of the delivery port-sealing film has been completed, the film is prevented from being drawn out any further, which enables the user to recognize that the peeling operation has been completed, even without viewing a peeled-off portion of the film. Further, the user can dispose of the delivery port-sealing film stained with ink along with the container box therefor.
Preferably, a distal end portion of the unsealing operation portion extending out of the container box is folded to extend under the lid in a closed state.
According to this preferred embodiment, when the ink cartridge is not desired to be put into use, it is possible to prevent the unsealing operation portion from being erroneously pulled to peel off the delivery port-sealing film. Moreover, part of the unsealing operation portion extending out of the container box is prevented from obstructing a packing operation for packing the container box containing the ink cartridge, for instance.
Preferably, the box body has a belt-like portion extending therefrom such that the belt-like portion covers the unsealing operation portion extending out of the container box from outside,
the belt-like portion including a holding portion holding the unsealing operation portion such that the unsealing operation portion extends along a side surface of the box body, and an insertion portion folded to be inserted under the lid together with the distal end portion of the unsealing operation portion, and
the insertion portion being separably continuous with the holding portion and having the distal end portion of the unsealing operation portion fixedly attached thereto.
According to this preferred embodiment, the unsealing operation portion can be held by the belt-like portion such that it extends along a side surface of the box body, so as to prevent the same from obstructing a packing operation or the like. Further, the insertion portion is torn off from the holding portion to separately draw the unsealing operation portion, whereby the insertion portion can be used as a pull tab for peeling off the delivery port-sealing film. During the peeling operation, even if the sealing portion peeled off is drawn out of the container box, a surface of the sealing portion stained with ink is bought into sliding contact with the holding portion, thereby preventing ink from attaching to a desk or the like.
Preferably, an inner surface of the box body facing toward the ink delivery port is provided with an ink-absorbing portion capable of absorbing ink.
According to this preferred embodiment, ink scattered by peeling of the delivery port-sealing film or ink adhering to the delivery port-sealing film peeled off can be efficiently absorbed by the ink-absorbing portion of the inner surface of the box body.
Preferably, the ink cartridge has an air inlet port corresponding to the ink delivery port, for permitting air to flow into an inside of the ink cartridge, and a rim of the air inlet port,
the ink cartridge device further including an air inlet port-sealing film for sealing the air inlet port of the ink cartridge,
the air inlet port-sealing film having an air inlet port-sealing portion removably welded to the rim of the air inlet port, and an air inlet port-unsealing operation portion continuous with the air inlet port-sealing portion, the air inlet port-unsealing operation portion being fixedly attached to the lid, for permitting the air inlet port-sealing portion to be peeled off by an opening operation for opening the lid.
According to this preferred embodiment, when the lid is opened so as to take out the unsealing operation portion folded under the lid, the air inlet port-sealing film is automatically pulled to thereby peel the same off the ink cartridge. That is, when the lid is opened, the air inlet port-sealing film is first pulled off and then, the delivery port-sealing film is peeled off by pulling the unsealing operation portion. Thus, the air inlet port and the ink delivery port are made open to the atmosphere, in the mentioned order. Therefore, even if the ink cartridge is supplied to a user in a state reduced in pressure inside, air is prevented from being mixed into the ink held therein when the ink cartridge is put into use.
Preferably, the lid is formed with an opening tab, for being pulled up to carry out the opening operation for opening the lid,
the air inlet port-unsealing operation portion being fixedly attached to the opening tab.
According to this preferred embodiment, by pinching and pulling the opening tab, the air inlet port-sealing film is automatically torn off simultaneously when the lid is opened. The air inlet port-unsealing operation portion is fixedly attached to the opening tab, and the user directly pulls this operation portion. This makes it possible to positively or reliably peel off the air inlet port-sealing film even when the lid is low in rigidity.
Preferably, the box body has an upper end opposed to the lid, the upper end being formed with a cut -away portion for permitting the ink cartridge contained therein to be seized to draw out the ink cartridge.
According to this preferred embodiment, when the ink cartridge is finally taken out from the container box, the cartridge is seized via the cut-away portion, whereby the cartridge can be easily taken out without turning the container box upside down.
To attain the above object, according to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an ink cartridge device for a printer, comprising:
an ink cartridge having an ink delivery port for supplying ink to the printer therefrom, and a rim of the ink delivery port;
a container box for containing the ink cartridge;
a delivery port-sealing film having a sealing portion removably welded to the rim of the ink delivery port, for sealing the ink delivery port, and an unsealing operation portion continuous with the sealing portion and fixedly attached to the container box, the sealing portion being peeled off within the container box as a drawing operation for drawing out the ink cartridge from the container box is carried out; and
braking means for braking the drawing operation.
When the delivery port-sealing film is peeled off within the container box by utilizing the drawing operation for drawing out the ink cartridge from the container box, if the drawing operation is carried out violently, there is a fear that ink scatters out of the container box, since ink leaking from the ink delivery port also has motility in the direction of drawing out of the ink cartridge.
According to this ink cartridge device, the drawing operation for drawing out the ink cartridge is braked, whereby the ink cartridge is forced to be slowly drawn out or removed from the container box. This makes it possible to effectively prevent ink from scattering out of the container box when the delivery port-sealing film is peeled off.
Preferably, the braking means comprises an auxiliary film which has one end thereof removably welded to the ink cartridge, and another end thereof fixedly attached to the container box, and
the drawing operation is braked by a peeling operation for peeling off the auxiliary film.
Alternatively, the ink delivery port opens in one end face of the ink cartridge,
the braking means comprising outward projections formed on respective side surfaces of the ink cartridge toward the one end face thereof, and inward projections formed on respective inner surfaces of the container box toward an opening of the container box which permits the ink cartridge to be drawn out therefrom, and
the drawing operation being braked by bringing the outward projections and the inward projections into sliding contact with each other.
Alternatively, the braking means comprises a welded portion continuous with an end of the sealing portion remote from the unsealing operation portion and removably welded to the ink cartridge, and
the drawing operation being braked by a peeling operation for peeling off the welded portion.
According to these preferred embodiments, in the course of drawing out the ink cartridge, the cartridge can be smoothly braked without causing the user to feel that the cartridge is lodged. It should be noted that the braking operation is effected immediately after peeling of the delivery port-sealing film has been completed.
To attain the above object, according to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided an ink cartridge device for a printer, comprising:
an ink cartridge having an ink delivery port for supplying ink to the printer therefrom, and a rim of the ink delivery port;
a delivery port-sealing film having a sealing portion removably welded to the rim of the ink delivery port, for sealing the ink delivery port, and an unsealing operation portion continuous with the sealing portion, for being pulled to carry out a peeling operation for peeling off the sealing portion before the ink cartridge is mounted in the printer; and
a peeling guide portion which restricts a direction of the peeling operation carried out by the unsealing operation portion to a direction of the sealing portion making a U turn.
According to this ink cartridge device, when the unsealing operation portion is pulled, the sealing portion continuous with the unsealing operation portion is drawn in a manner making a U-turn and peeled off the rim of the ink delivery port. The sealing portion being pulled off is drawn in a direction orthogonal to the direction of the axis of the ink delivery port. This makes it possible to prevent ink from scattering from the ink delivery port.
Preferably, the ink cartridge device further includes a scattering prevention member removably fitted on the ink cartridge such that the scattering prevention member covers the sealing portion, for receiving ink scattered by the peeling operation.
According to this preferred embodiment, even if ink is scattered by the peeling operation, the scattered ink can be received by the scattering prevention member. Further, the scattering prevention member which received the scattered ink can be removed from the ink cartridge and disposed of.
The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A
is a transverse cross-sectional view of an ink cartridge device according to a first embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 1B
is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge device;
FIG
2
A is a perspective view of an appearance of the ink cartridge;
FIG. 2B
is a perspective view of an appearance of the ink cartridge with an upper casing-side down;
FIG. 3
is a perspective view of an appearance of a container box in a partially unfolded state;
FIGS. 4A
to
4
F are perspective views of appearances of the ink cartridge device, which are useful in explaining a procedure of taking out the ink cartridge from the container box;
FIGS. 5A
to
5
C are cross-sectional views of an ink cartridge device according to a second embodiment of the invention, which are useful in explaining peeling of a delivery port-sealing film of the ink cartridge device effected when an ink cartridge of the inlet cartridge device is drawn out from a container box of the same and braking of the drawing operation;
FIGS. 6
to
6
C are cross-sectional views of an ink cartridge device according to a third embodiment of the invention, which are useful in explaining peeling of a delivery port-sealing film of the ink cartridge device effected when an ink cartridge of the inlet cartridge device is drawn out from a container box of the same and braking of the drawing operation;
FIGS. 7A
to
7
C are cross-sectional views of an ink cartridge device according to a fourth embodiment of the invention, which are useful in explaining peeling of a delivery port-sealing film of the ink cartridge device effected when an ink cartridge of the inlet cartridge device is drawn out from a container box of the same and braking of the drawing operation;
FIG. 8
is a partially exploded perspective view of an ink cartridge device according to a fifth embodiment;
FIG. 9A
is a plan view of a conventional ink cartridge; and
FIG. 9B
is a front elevational view of the conventional ink cartridge.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The invention will now be described in detail with reference to drawings showing embodiments thereof.
FIGS. 1A and 1B
show transverse and longitudinal cross sections of an ink cartridge device for a printer, according to a first embodiment of the invention. The ink cartridge device
1
includes an ink cartridge
2
filled with four colors of ink, and a container box
3
for containing the ink cartridge
2
. The container box
3
is comprised of a box body
3
a
and a lid
3
b
integrally formed with the box body
3
a
in a manner such that the box body
3
a
can be closed and opened by the lid
3
b
. The ink cartridge
2
has an air inlet port-sealing film
4
and a delivery port-sealing film
5
attached to top and bottom surfaces thereof, respectively, by hot-melt bonding. The ink cartridge device
1
thus sealed is provided to the user in a state hermetically enclosed in a package, not shown.
The user unseals the package to take out the container box
3
and opens the lid
3
b
, whereby he can automatically peel (part of) the air inlet port-sealing film
4
off the ink cartridge body
2
. Then, by pulling a distal end portion of the delivery port-sealing film
5
extending out of the container box
3
, he can peel the delivery port-sealing film
5
off the ink cartridge
2
. This permits the ink cartridge
2
to be loaded in the printer.
As shown in
FIGS. 1A
to
2
B, the ink cartridge
2
includes a cartridge casing
21
which is comprised of a lower casing
21
a
and an upper casing
21
b
as a cover welded to an upper end of the lower casing
21
a
. The upper casing
21
b
has a flanged peripheral portion
22
slightly protruded with respect to the upper end of the lower casing
21
a
. The cartridge casing
21
has its interior divided by three partition walls extending upward from the bottom of the lower casing
21
a
into four ink reservoirs
23
for holding yellow, magenta, cyan, and black colors of ink. The four colors of ink are stored in the respective ink reservoirs
23
in a state absorbed in ink absorbent materials.
The lower casing
21
a
has the bottom thereof formed with four ink delivery ports
24
in communication with the respective four ink reservoirs
23
. Arranged in the vicinity of the four ink delivery ports
24
are two rows of protection ribs
25
,
25
protruding downward from the bottom of the lower casing
21
a
. The delivery port-sealing film
5
is removably affixed by hot-melt bonding to a portion of the bottom of the lower casing
21
a
between the two rows of the protection ribs
25
,
25
where the ink delivery ports
24
open, for collectively sealing the ink delivery ports
24
. The delivery port-sealing film
5
is comprised of a sealing portion
31
for sealing the ink delivery ports
24
and an unsealing operation portion
32
continuous with the sealing portion
31
. Portions of the sealing portion
31
facing the respective ink delivery ports
24
are depressed therein by hot-melt bonding of the sealing portion
21
to seal them. Further, when the ink cartridge
2
is contained in the container box
3
, one end (extended proximal end)
33
of the sealing portion
31
extends upward along an inner surface of the container box
3
and fixed thereto. It should be noted that the one end
33
of the sealing portion
31
may extend out from a slit
63
, described hereinafter, for instance, to be affixed to an outer surface of the container box
3
. Such a construction is preferred particularly when one of the front and back of the delivery port-sealing film
5
has a so-called adhesive-receiving surface.
In a state where the ink cartridge
2
is contained in the container box
3
, the unsealing operation portion
32
is bent into a U shape at an root end thereof merging into the sealing portion
31
, and extends along a bottom surface of the container box
3
to extend out of the container box
3
through the slit
63
, described hereinbelow. Then, the externally extended portion of the unsealing operation portion
32
further extends along a side surface of the container box
3
up to a top surface of the ink cartridge
2
. In this embodiment, the externally extended portion of the unsealing operation portion
32
is covered with a belt-like portion
59
, described hereinafter, of the container box
3
such that the externally extended portion is in contact with the side surface of the container box
3
, and has the distal end portion
34
thereof inserted under the lid
3
b
along with an end (insertion portion
59
b) of the belt-like portion
59
. The distal end portion
34
of the unsealing operation portion
32
is fixedly attached to an inner surface of the insertion portion
59
b
of the belt-like portion
59
.
The delivery port-sealing film
5
constructed as above is peeled off, starting from the end of the sealing portion
31
in the following manner: After the lid
3
b
of the container box
3
is opened, the belt-like portion
59
is unfolded and the insertion portion
59
b
of the belt-like portion
59
is pulled out to thereby pull the distal end portion
34
of the unsealing operation portion
32
. This causes the sealing portion
31
to be drawn out in a manner making a U-turn whereby the delivery port-sealing film
5
is peeled off. When the sealing portion
31
is completely peeled of f the ink cartridge
2
, the container box
3
is then pulled by the one end
33
of the sealing portion
31
, whereby the pulling operation is hindered. Thus, the user can make sure that peeling of the delivery port-sealing film
5
has been completed.
The upper casing
21
b
has four circular ink-charging ports
26
and four air inlet ports
27
formed therethrough in a manner corresponding to the respective ink delivery ports
24
of the lower casing
21
a
. Further, the upper casing
21
b
has a top surface formed with four air inlet grooves
28
whose downstream ends lead to the four air inlet ports
27
, respectively. Each air inlet groove
28
is formed in a manner meandering over the top surface of the upper casing
21
b
so as to provide a long path through which air is permitted to flow into the ink cartridge
2
. The four air inlet grooves
28
have respective upstream ends extending to a central portion of the top surface of the upper casing
21
b
in parallel with each other. It should be noted that reference numeral
22
a
appearing in
FIGS. 2A and 2B
indicates positioning projections for preventing the ink cartridge
2
from being mounted in the printer in a horizontally reversed direction.
The air inlet port-sealing film
4
is removably affixed to the top surface of the upper casing
21
b
by hot-melt bonding in a manner covering (sealing) the openings of the ink-charging ports
26
, the air inlet ports
27
, and the air inlet grooves
28
, that is, the whole area of the top surface of the upper casing
21
b
, from above. The air inlet port-sealing film
4
and the four air inlet grooves
28
define four air inlet passages
29
leading to the ink reservoirs
23
via the air inlet ports
27
, respectively. That is, the four air inlet passages
29
have upstream ends
29
a
arranged in parallel with each other in the central portion of the top surface of the upper casing
21
b
, meandering portions extending from the upstream ends
29
a
, and downstream ends continuing from the meandering portions and communicating with the air inlet ports
27
, respectively. By opening the upstream ends
29
a
of the meandering air inlet passages
29
to the atmosphere, the air inlet ports
27
are communicated with the atmosphere.
The air inlet port-sealing film
4
has a portion covering the upstream ends
29
a
of the air inlet passages
29
, which is extended at right angles to the air inlet port-sealing film
4
to form a long belt portion. The long belt portion is a peeling operation portion (air inlet port-unsealing operation portion)
41
for use in peeling off part (peel-off portion) of the air inlet port -sealing film
4
, and the portion covering the upstream ends
29
a
is the peel-off portion (air inlet port -sealing portion)
42
defined by perforated lines for being actually peeled off. In short, the air inlet port-sealing film as defined in claim
6
appended hereto is constituted by the peeling operation portion
41
and the peel-off portion
42
.
In a state in which the ink cartridge
2
contained in the container box
3
, the peeling operation portion
41
is bent or folded to form a U shape together with the peel-off portion
42
, and the distal end portion thereof is fixedly attached to an inner surface of an opening tab
52
, described hereinafter, of the lid
3
b
. When the opening tab
52
is pulled up so as to open the lid
3
b
, the peeling operation portion
41
is drawn, whereby the peel-off portion
42
is torn along the perforated lines off the ink cartridge
2
. It should be noted that the air inlet port-sealing film
4
may be formed of a uniaxially oriented film. In such a case, there is no need to provide perforated lines restricting the width of the peel-off portion
42
.
As shown in
FIGS. 1A
,
1
B, and in
FIG. 3
in which the container box
3
is shown in a partially-unfolded state, the container box is constructed by cutting out a flat or pre-folded corrugated cardboard, and folding the cut-out cardboard into the shape of a box. The container box
3
is comprised of the box body
3
a
, and the lid
3
b
integrally formed with the box body
3
a
, for bendably closing the top opening of the box body
3
a
. The lid
3
b
has a free end formed with an upper bend
51
for insertion into the box body
3
a
to close the lid
6
, such that the upper bend
51
overlaps a wall of the box body
3
a
. Further, the upper bend
51
has side end portions cut away so as to avoid the positioning projections
22
a
of the upper casing
21
b
. At a central portion of the lid
3
b
is formed a U-shaped cut line cut from a root portion of the upper bend
51
. A portion surrounded by the cut line forms the opening tab
52
. The distal end portion of the peeling operation portion
41
of the air inlet port-sealing film
4
is fixedly attached to the inner surface of the opening tab
52
.
The box body
3
a
includes a hollow body
53
comprised of a front board portion
54
, a rear board portion
55
and opposite side board portions
56
, and a bottom
57
comprised of a bottom board portion
58
, the belt-like portion
59
and a lower bend
60
. From an upper end of the rear board portion
55
bendably extends the lid
3
b
, and from a lower end of one of the side board portions
56
bendably extends the bottom
57
. Upper end portions of the respective side board portions
56
are cut away to form upper cut-away portions
61
for permitting the peripheral portion
22
of the upper casing
21
b
to be extend thereat. Further, the other of the side board portions
56
has a lower end portion cut away and this lower cut-away portion
62
and the bottom board portion
58
folded form therebetween the slit
63
for permitting the above unsealing operation portion (delivery port-sealing film
5
)
32
to extend out of the box body
3
a.
The belt-like portion
59
and the lower bend
60
bendably extend from an end of the bottom board portion
58
. The belt-like portion
59
is comprised of a belt-like portion body
59
a
which is brought into contact with the other of the side board portions
56
when the belt-like portion
59
is folded as part of the container box
3
, and the insertion portion
59
b
which is folded for insertion under the lid
3
b
when the belt-like portion
59
is folded. At a boundary between the belt-like portion body
59
a
and the insertion portion
59
b
there is formed a perforated line
59
c
such that the insertion portion
59
b
can be torn away from the belt-like portion body
59
a
. The unsealing operation portion
32
extending out of the box body
3
a
through the slit
63
is sandwiched between the inner surface of the belt-like portion
59
folded and the side board portion
56
, and the distal end portion
34
of the unsealing operation portion
32
is fixedly attached to the inner surface of the insertion portion
59
b.
When the delivery port-sealing film
5
is being peeled off, the sealing portion
31
, that is, a portion stained with ink is brought into sliding contact with an inner surface of the bottom board portion
58
. Therefore, it is preferable to shag the contacting portion of the inner surface of the bottom board portion
58
to form an ink-absorbing portion
64
for absorbing the ink thereby (see FIGS.
1
A and
1
B). Of course, ink absorbent material paper may be attached to the contacting portion to form the ink-absorbing portion
64
. Further, as described hereinafter, the sealing portion
31
drawn out of the container box
3
is also brought into sliding contact with the belt-like portion body
59
a
. Therefore, it is more preferable to provide an ink-absorbing portion
64
on the belt-like portion body
59
a.
The container box
3
having the above construction is fabricated according to the following procedure: The front board portion
54
, the rear board portion
55
, and the opposite side board portions
56
are folded from a pre-folded state thereof, and then, a side end portion of one of the side board portions
56
is bonded to the rear board portion
55
to thereby form the hollow body
53
. Then, the bottom board portion
58
is folded to insert the lower bend
60
into the hollow body
53
, whereby the bottom
57
is formed. Further, after the belt-like portion body
59
a
is folded to extend along the one of the side board portions
56
, the insertion portion
59
b
is folded such that the insertion portion
59
b
faces the top opening of the box body
3
a
. Finally, the lid
3
b
is folded such that the upper bend
51
is inserted into the hollow body
53
.
Now, a procedure of taking out the ink cartridge
2
from the container box
3
will be described with reference to
FIGS. 4A
to
4
F. As shown in
FIG. 4A
, a new ink cartridge
2
is contained in the container box
3
constructed by folding the cut-out corrugated cardboard into the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, as described above. From this state, first, the opening tab
52
is raised (
FIG. 4B
) and then, the opening tab
52
is pulled up to open the lid
3
b
. When the lid
3
b
is opened, the peel-off portion
42
of the air inlet port-sealing film
4
is peeled off the ink cartridge
2
in accordance with the opening operation (FIG.
4
C).
Next, the belt-like portion
59
is unfolded (FIG.
4
D), and while holding the container box, the insertion portion
59
b
is cut off from the belt-like portion body
59
a
and pulled in a horizontal direction. This causes the delivery port-sealing film
5
in the container box
3
to be peeled off the ink cartridge
2
and drawn out from the box (FIG.
4
E). In this process, if all of (four) portions of the delivery port-sealing film
5
stained with ink appear on the belt-like portion body
59
a
and the delivery port-sealing film
5
cannot be drawn out any further, it is confirmed that the peeling of the delivery port-sealing film
5
has been completed, so that the operation for drawing out the film is stopped.
Then, portions of the peripheral portions
22
of the upper casing
21
b
positioned on the upper cut-away portions
61
of the opposite side board portions
56
are seized to pull out the ink cartridge
2
(FIG.
4
F). The ink cartridge
2
pulled out is mounted as it is in the printer, while the container box
3
is disposed of along with part of the air inlet port-sealing film
4
and the delivery port-sealing film
5
.
As described above, according to the above-mentioned embodiment, the belt-like portion
59
cannot be unfolded without opening the lid
3
b
, which inevitably ensures that the films are peeled off (unsealing operations therefor are carried out) in order of (the peel-off portion
42
of) the air inlet port-sealing film
4
and the delivery port-sealing film
5
. This prevents air from being directly blown into the ink held within the ink cartridge
2
under reduced pressure from the ink delivery ports
24
, thereby suitably preventing air from being mixed into the ink.
Further, the delivery port -sealing film
5
can be peeled off (the ink delivery ports
24
can be unsealed) without removing the ink cartridge from the container box
3
, so that even if ink is scattered or spilled from the ink delivery ports
24
, the scattered or spilled ink can be received within the container box
3
. Moreover, the delivery port-sealing film
5
is peeled off in a direction orthogonal to the direction of the axis of each ink delivery port
24
. Hence, the peeling operation is carried out relatively slowly and at the same time shock caused by the peeling operation is prevented from being applied in the direction of leakage of ink, whereby it is possible to minimize the amount of spilled ink. Further, portions of the drawn-out delivery port-sealing film
5
, stained with ink, can be received on the belt-like portion body
59
a
. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the user's hands or a desk from being stained with ink when the delivery port-sealing film
5
is peeled off. Moreover, the air inlet port-sealing film
4
and the delivery port-sealing film
5
can be disposed of in a state fixedly attached to the container box
3
.
Next, a second embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to
FIGS. 5A
to
5
C. Although in this embodiment, the air inlet port-sealing film
4
, not shown in these figures, is provided in the same manner as in the first embodiment described above, the distal end portion
34
of the unsealing operation portion
32
of the delivery port-sealing film
5
extends through the bottom board portion
58
of the container box
3
and is fixedly attached to a lower or outer surface of the bottom board portion
58
. Or alternatively, the distal end portion
34
of the unsealing operation portion
32
is fixedly attached to an upper or inner surface of the bottom board portion
58
. Further, there is provided an auxiliary film
6
which has one end thereof removably affixed to the bottom of the ink cartridge
2
by hot-melt bonding and the other end thereof extending through the bottom board portion
58
of the container box
3
and fixedly attached to the lower or outer surface of the bottom board portion. The auxiliary film
6
is made of a film having the same properties as those of the delivery port-sealing film
5
and has a function of braking a drawing operation for drawing out the ink cartridge
2
from the container box
3
.
More specifically, when the lid
3
b
of the container box
3
is opened, the air inlet port-sealing film
4
is peeled off in the same manner as in the first embodiment and next, when the ink cartridge
2
is drawn out from the container box
3
, the delivery port-sealing film
5
is peeled off at a time point at which approximately half of the ink cartridge
2
is drawn out. Further, immediately before the ink cartridge
2
has been completely drawn out, the auxiliary film
6
is peeled off.
As described above, when the delivery port-sealing film
5
is peeled off, the ink cartridge
2
remains within the container box
3
, so that even if ink is scattered or spilled from the ink delivery ports
24
when the delivery port-sealing film
5
is peeled off, the scattered or spilled ink can be received within the container box
3
. Further, since the delivery port-sealing film
5
is left in the container box
3
, the delivery port-sealing film
5
stained with ink can also be confined within the container box
3
.
Further, immediately before the ink cartridge
2
has been completely drawn out, the auxiliary film
6
is peeled off, so that the operation for drawing out the ink cartridge
2
is braked, thereby preventing the ink cartridge
2
from being suddenly or violently drawn out of the container box
3
. This makes it possible to prevent ink which has leaked through the ink delivery ports
24
from being scattered out of the container box
3
due to the momentum of the ink cartridge
2
drawn out.
Next, a third embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to
FIGS. 6A
to
6
C. In this embodiment, the air inlet port-sealing film
4
and the delivery port-sealing film
5
are arranged in the same manner as in the second embodiment. However, the ink cartridge
2
has outward projections
71
arranged on outer surfaces of a lower portion thereof, while the container box (box body
3
a
)
3
has inward projections
72
on inner surfaces of an upper portion thereof. The outward projections
71
and the corresponding inward projections
72
cooperate with each other to brake the drawing operation for drawing out the ink cartridge
2
from the container box
3
.
More specifically, after opening the lid
3
b
to thereby peel off the air inlet port-sealing film
4
, when the ink cartridge
2
is drawn out from the container box
3
, the delivery port-sealing film
5
is peeled off at a time point at which approximately half of the ink cartridge
2
is drawn out. Further, immediately before the ink cartridge
2
has been completely drawn out, the outward projections
71
and the corresponding inward projections
72
are brought into sliding contact with each other to brake the drawing operation for drawing out the ink cartridge
2
from the container box
3
.
In this embodiment as well, similarly to the second embodiment, even if ink is scattered or spilled from the ink delivery ports
24
when the delivery port-sealing film
5
is peeled off, the scattered or spilled ink can be received within the container box
3
, and at the same time the delivery port-sealing film
5
stained with ink can also be confined within the container box
3
. Further, it is possible to prevent ink which has leaked through the ink delivery ports
24
from scattering out of the container box
3
.
Next, a fourth embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to
FIGS. 7A
to
7
C. In this embodiment, the air inlet port-sealing film
4
and the delivery port-sealing film
5
are arranged in the same manner as in the second embodiment. The sealing portion
31
of the delivery port-sealing film
5
, however, has an outer end extended further forward. This extended portion (affixed portion)
35
is removably affixed to a bottom surface of the ink cartridge
2
by hot-melt bonding, for braking the operation for drawing out the ink cartridge
2
from the container box
3
.
More specifically, as the lid
3
b
of the container box
3
is opened, the air inlet port-sealing film
4
is peeled off in the same manner as described above as to the first embodiment. Then, when the ink cartridge
2
is drawn out from the container box
3
, the sealing portion
31
of the delivery port-sealing film
5
is peeled off at a time point at which approximately half of the ink cartridge
2
is drawn out. Further, immediately before the ink cartridge
2
has been completely drawn out, the extended portion
35
is peeled off.
Therefore, in this embodiment as well, similarly to the second embodiment, even if ink is scattered or spilled from the ink delivery ports
24
when the delivery port-sealing film
5
is peeled off, the scattered or spilled ink can be received within the container box
3
, and at the same time the delivery port-sealing film
5
stained with ink can also be confined within the container box
3
. Further, it is possible to prevent ink which has leaked through the ink delivery ports
24
from scattering out of the container box
Next, a fifth embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to FIG.
8
. In this embodiment, the ink cartridge
2
has a bottom surface integrally formed with a peeling guide portion
7
for restricting the direction of an operation for peeling off the delivery port-sealing film
5
to a direction of the sealing portion
31
making a U-turn. The peeling guide portion
7
is U-shaped and placed close to ends of the opposed protection ribs
25
at right angles to the same. The unsealing operation portion
32
of the delivery port-sealing film
5
, which continues from the sealing portion
31
of the same sealing the ink delivery ports
24
, makes a U-turn with respect to the sealing portion
31
, and passes through the peeling guide portion
7
to further extend to a side surface of the ink cartridge
2
.
Further, to a lower portion of the ink cartridge
2
is removably mounted a scattering prevention tray (scattering prevention member)
8
made of corrugated cardboard in place of the container box
3
. In this embodiment, when the ink cartridge
2
is mounted to the printer, the distal end portion
34
of the unsealing operation portion
32
serving as a pull tab extends out of the scattering prevention tray
8
. When the distal end portion
34
is pulled, a precut holding portion
8
a
of the scattering prevention tray
8
is broken to fall down, and further, the sealing portion
31
is peeled off the ink cartridge
2
. Of course, prior to this peeling operation, (part of) the air inlet port-sealing film
4
is peeled off in advance. Further, after the delivery port-sealing film
5
is peeled off, the scattering prevention tray
8
is removed from the ink cartridge
2
and disposed of.
According to this arrangement of the ink cartridge device, even if ink is scattered or spilled from the ink delivery ports
24
when the delivery port-sealing film
5
is peeled off, the scattered or spilled ink can be received within the scattering prevention tray
8
, and at the same time the delivery port-sealing film
5
stained with ink can also be received within the scattering prevention tray
8
. Further, as described above, if the delivery port-sealing film (sealing portion
31
)
5
is peeled off in a direction of the sealing portion
31
making a U-turn, scattering of ink is relatively effectively suppressed. Therefore, a variation of the present embodiment may be constructed such that the scattering prevention tray
8
is omitted, and peeling of the delivery port-sealing film
5
is carried out in the state of the ink cartridge
2
being placed upside down.
As described above, according to the ink cartridge device of the invention, the sealing portion is peeled off in a direction of making a U-turn. Hence, it is possible to suppress scattering of ink from the ink delivery ports, and even if ink is scattered, the scattered ink can be received within the container box. This makes it possible to positively peel off the delivery port-sealing film as well as prevent ink from scattering when the delivery port -sealing film is peeled off, whereby the user's hands or a desk can be prevented from being stained with ink when the delivery port-sealing film is peeled off.
It is further understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing are preferred embodiments of the invention, and that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.
Claims
- 1. An ink cartridge device for a printer, comprising:an ink cartridge having an ink delivery port for supplying ink to said printer therefrom, and a rim of said ink delivery port; a container box for containing said ink cartridge, said container box having a box body and a lid for closing said box body, said box body being formed with a slit; a delivery port-sealing film having a sealing portion removably welded to said rim of said ink delivery port, for sealing said ink delivery port, and an unsealing operation portion continuous with said sealing portion and extending in a direction of making a U-turn with respect to said sealing portion to extend out of said container box through said slit of said box body; an end of said sealing portion remote from said unsealing operation portion being fixedly attached to said box body, and a distal end portion of said unsealing operation portion extending out of said container box being folded to extend under said lid in a closed state.
- 2. An ink cartridge device according to claim 1, wherein said box body has a belt-like portion extending therefrom such that said belt-like portion covers from outside said unsealing operation portion extending out of said container box,wherein said belt-like portion includes a holding portion holding said unsealing operation portion such that said unsealing operation portion extends along a side surface of said box body, and an insertion portion folded to be inserted under said lid together with said distal end portion of said unsealing operation portion; and wherein said insertion portion is separably continuous with said holding portion, and has said distal end portion of said unsealing operation portion being fixedly attached thereto.
- 3. An ink cartridge device according to claim 1, wherein an inner surface of said box body facing toward said ink delivery port is provided with an ink-absorbing portion capable of absorbing ink.
- 4. An ink cartridge device according to claim 1, wherein said box body has an upper end opposed to said lid, said upper end being formed with a cut-away portion for permitting said ink cartridge contained therein to be seized to null out said ink cartridge from said container box.
- 5. An ink cartridge device for a printer, comprising:an ink cartridge having an ink delivery port for supplying ink to said printer therefrom, and a rim of said ink delivery port; a delivery port-sealing film having a sealing portion removably welded to said rim of said ink delivery port, for sealing said ink delivery port, and an unsealing operation portion continuous with said sealing portion, for being pulled to carry out a peeling operation for peeling off said sealing portion before said ink cartridge is mounted in said printer; and a peeling guide portion which restricts a direction of said peeling operation carried out by said unsealing operation portion to a direction of said sealing portion making a U turn, the peeling guide being integrally formed with a bottom surface of said ink cartridge, and being U-shaped and being disposed adjacent opposed protection ribs at right angles thereto.
- 6. An ink cartridge device according to claim 5, further including a scattering prevention member removably fitted on said ink cartridge such that said scattering prevention member covers said sealing portion, for receiving ink scattered during said peeling operation.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
10-293779 |
Oct 1998 |
JP |
|
US Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
5231416 |
Terasawa et al. |
Jul 1993 |
|
5701995 |
Higuma et al. |
Dec 1997 |
|
6168266 |
Ishinaga et al. |
Jan 2001 |
|
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
5-270002 |
Oct 1993 |
JP |