WO2008101380A1 - A method for reconstructing an ink cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for reconstructing an ink cartridge includes several processing steps that are successive in order. First of all, a lid (5) of the ink cartridge is detached, and porous fibrous members (3) in ink-storing chambers (101-103) are taken out. Then, an extending plate (2) that shapes as a separating plate (113) in an internal chamber of the ink cartridge and extends toward the lid (5) is additionally provided at a side of the separating plate (113) facing toward the lid (5). The extending plate (2) hermetically connects with the separating plate (113) and corresponding parts of the internal chamber of the ink cartridge. Under the assembled condition, the side of the extending plate (2) facing toward the lid (5) keeps a hermetically contacting state with an inner wall of the lid (5) facing the internal chamber of the ink cartridge. Finally, porous fibrous members (3) respectively matching with the ink-storing chambers (101-103) are placed into corresponding chambers, and the lid (5) is attached. After ink is filled in, a reconstructing ink cartridge can be obtained. This method can remarkably increases ink storage capacity of the ink cartridge, and avoid color mixture.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an inkjet cartridge remanufacturing method, and more particularly to a printhead disposed at an outer end of an ink outlet of an inkjet cartridge, the interior of which is provided with at least two interconnected ink chambers that are either vacant or vacant Regeneration method or remanufacturing method of the ink cartridge. The present invention is based on a Chinese patent application filed on Feb. 24, 2007, the application number of which is incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Ink printing printers generally provide an ink source by an ink container, transport ink to a print head via a corresponding ink flow path, and eject ink from a print head nozzle onto a recording medium such as paper by a printing signal to complete A record of characters or graphics. From the principle of inkjet, common inkjet printers include piezoelectric inkjet printers and thermal bubble inkjet printers. Piezoelectric inkjet printers are provided with a piezoelectric crystal on each side of the ink supply pipe of the print head. The piezoelectric crystal is controlled by the printing signal to cause shrinkage or expansion deformation, and the ink in the ink supply pipe is squeezed to form droplets, which are ejected from the nozzle onto the paper surface to form a recording point. The thermal head inkjet printer has a printhead structure similar to that of a piezoelectric inkjet printer. The difference is that it provides a heating electrode in the inking duct near the nozzle of the printhead. The data modulated electrical pulse signal is sent to a heating electrode corresponding to the nozzle. The heating electrode rapidly heats up, so that the ink near the nozzle is rapidly vaporized instantaneously to form bubbles. The bubble expansion occupies the internal space of the nozzle, and the generated pressure pushes the ink out of the nozzle to form a fine droplet of ink ejected from the nozzle. After the electric pulse disappears, the ink vapor condenses, and the ink in the ink delivery pipe is maintained at a level close to the outer surface of the nozzle by the surface tension. The negative pressure formed after the ink is ejected directs the ink in the ink tank to flow into the ink path where the nozzle is located. Structurally, inkjet printer cartridges are available in two types. One is an integrated structure in which the ink cartridge and the print head are integrated; and the other is a split structure in which the ink cartridge is separated from the print head. The ink cartridge of the integrated structure includes both a print head and an ink storage compartment. The ink cartridge of the split structure is separated from each other by the ink storage chamber and the print head. The ink cartridges are only used to hold ink. The print head is placed on the printer's carriage. To prevent ink The impurities or suspended debris in the nozzle block the nozzle. Both inkjet printer cartridges are provided with a sieve in the ink channel or the ink supply chamber between the nozzle and the ink storage chamber, so that the ink is filtered and removed when the ink flows through the filter. In the scales. Referring to Figures 1, 2a and 2b, a body portion of a conventional ink jet printer cartridge is shown, the lid portion of which is not shown. The cartridge body 1 has an outer shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, and is formed by a plurality of side walls connected to each other and surrounded. The empty interior therein is divided by three partitions 113 having an appearance of a "T" shape into three ink storage chambers 101, 102 and 103 which are not in communication with each other toward the side of the print head 105. Each of the three ink storage chambers 101, 102, and 103 is provided with an ink outlet 107, 108, 109 corresponding thereto, respectively. All of the ink outlets 107, 108, 109 communicate with their corresponding ink storage chambers through the screen 104. The three ink outlets 107, 108, and 109 are respectively in one-to-one correspondence with the nozzles 110, 111, and 112 on the print head 105 through ink passages provided in the casing 1. The three ink storage chambers 101, 102, and 103 are internally provided with a porous compressive material such as a sponge to hold or hold the ink by the capillary action of the sponge. The top wall of the casing 1 is designed in the form of a detachable lid (not shown). A platform 114 projects outwardly from the side wall of the casing 1 opposite the top wall. A printhead 105 coupled to the flexible microchip sheet 106 is mounted on the platform 114. The "T" shaped partition 113 has a gap with the lid at one end toward the lid. Such an ink cartridge, because its three ink storage chambers 101, 102, and 103 are kept in communication with respect to the upper end portion of the print head 105 at the "T" shaped partition 113, so that the three ink storage chambers 101, 102, and 103 The amount of ink stored is completely determined by its corresponding sponge, or ink that exceeds the ability of the sponge to absorb will be mixed into other ink storage chambers. Thus, on the one hand, the respective design spaces of the three ink storage chambers 101, 102, and 103 cannot be fully utilized, and the ink storage capacity is limited by the sponge body, in other words, the ink storage amounts of the three ink storage chambers 101, 102, and 103. The available space is reduced, or the three ink storage chambers 101, 102, and 103 can only be used as a single ink storage chamber. On the other hand, the error in the amount of ink injected during the ink filling process must be More precise, a slightly larger ink injection error may cause the ink to exchange between the three ink storage chambers 101, 102, and 103, so that color mixing is formed in the case of dispensing multi-color ink. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a method for remanufacturing an inkjet cartridge, which can effectively increase the ink storage capacity of the ink cartridge, and can effectively avoid color mixing of the multicolor ink. An inkjet cartridge remanufacturing method designed according to the above object, the inkjet cartridge for which the inkjet cartridge is targeted The cover is composed. The inkjet cartridge is internally provided with at least two ink reservoir chambers separated by a separator and containing a porous fibrous material. A gap is formed between the portion of the partition facing the lid at least between the portions of the two ink storage chambers and the lid. One of the outer surfaces of the side walls of the casing is provided with a print head that is respectively in communication with the ink storage chamber. The rework method includes the following sequence of process steps:

1 Remove the cover of the ink cartridge and take out the porous fiber material in the ink storage chamber.

2 An extension plate whose shape corresponds to the original partition of the inner cavity of the ink cartridge and extends in the direction of the cover is added to the side of the original partition of the ink cartridge facing the cover. The extension plate is sealed to the original partition and the inner cavity of the ink cartridge corresponding to the original partition. The side of the extension plate facing the cover is in a sealed contact state with the cover toward the inner wall of the inner cavity of the ink cartridge in the assembled state.

3 The qualified porous fiber materials matched with the chamber obtained in the second step are respectively loaded into the corresponding chambers, the cover is replaced, and the reconstituted ink cartridge is obtained after the ink is filled. Generally, in the foregoing inkjet cartridge refining method, the sealing connection between the extension plate and the original partition plate and the corresponding portion of the inner cavity of the ink cartridge in the step 2 is realized by a chemical adhesive. Alternatively, in the inkjet ink cartridge reconstitution method, the sealing connection between the extension plate and the original partition plate and the corresponding portion of the inner cavity of the ink cartridge in the step 2 is passed between the melted extension plate and the corresponding portion of the original partition plate and the inner cavity of the ink cartridge. The docking site is then cooled. Preferably, in the above method for remanufacturing the inkjet cartridge, after performing the step 2 and before the step 3, the following three steps are sequentially taken: First, the filter screen located at the front end of the print head inside the ink cartridge is removed, using 40 to 80°. The cleaning cartridge or the deionized water of C is used to soak the obtained cartridge body and the print head for 1 to 2 hours; secondly, the obtained cartridge body and the print head are ultrasonically cleaned by using 1000 to 2000 Hz for 1 to 2 hours, and the container is rinsed with deionized water. The chamber and printhead are dried or blown dry to obtain the cartridge and printhead; again, the qualified filter is assembled to the original position of the filter cartridge of the resulting cartridge cartridge. Preferably, in the foregoing inkjet cartridge remanufacturing method, the screen assembly is performed using a chemical adhesive. Preferably, in the above method for remanufacturing the inkjet cartridge, the filter assembly is achieved by melting the filter cartridge in the original position of the ink cartridge wall and then installing the filter screen to be cooled to achieve the bonding of the qualified filter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional ink jet printer cartridge; FIG. 2a is a perspective view of a conventional ink jet printer cartridge; FIG. 2b is a perspective view of a conventional ink jet printer cartridge; FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an ink jet printer cartridge regenerated by the reconstitution method of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the ink jet printer cartridge regenerated by the reconstituted method of the present invention; Method for regenerating an inkjet printer cartridge embodiment III; FIG. 7 is a second embodiment of an extension panel applied to the method of reconstitution of the present invention; FIG. 8 is a third embodiment of an extension panel applied to the method for reconstitution of the present invention; The fourth embodiment of the extension plate applied to the reconstitution method of the present invention. The present invention will be further described below in conjunction with the embodiments and the accompanying drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1 The method for reconstituting the ink jet cartridge of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals will be used to refer to the same parts, features or structures. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The specific structures or components that are directed to the process of the present invention are merely illustrative examples for those skilled in the art to understand the method for remanufacturing the inkjet cartridge of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can also make no The technical scope of the invention and the various equivalent technical configurations of the inkjet cartridge remanufacturing method are still within the scope of protection of the inkjet cartridge remanufacturing method of the present invention. Before introducing the inkjet cartridge reconstitution method, the structure of the inkjet cartridge obtained by applying the method of the present invention for remanufacturing will be first described, so that the skilled person can clearly understand the remanufacturing method proposed by the present invention, but for the sake of brevity, the applicant has omitted A description of the relationship between the inkjet cartridge and the printer. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the inkjet printer ink cartridge 1 processed by the method of the present invention is further assisted by those skilled in the art when reading the specific embodiments of the present invention, and the introduction of FIG. 1, 2a, and 2b is more helpful. To gain a comprehensive understanding and understanding. Structurally, the ink cartridge includes a case 1, a sponge 3, a backing plate 4, and a cover 5. The ink cartridge case 1 has an outer shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. It is formed by a plurality of side walls connected to each other and surrounded. One of the side walls of the casing 1 is designed as a cover 5 movably fitted to the casing 1. The internal cavity obtained by snapping the case 1 and the cover 5 to each other is divided by the partition 113 into three ink storage chambers 101, 102, 103. On the side wall of the casing 1 opposite to the cover 5, a platform 114 is projected outward. Three through holes (not shown) respectively corresponding to the three ink storage chambers 101, 102, 103 are connected to the platform 114, and the three through holes are formed by the print heads with the corresponding flexible microchip sheets 106. 105 (see Figure 1) is closed. The flexible microchip sheet 106 refers to a flexible plastic film as a substrate on which a corresponding circuit is formed by printing. After the print head 105 closes the three through holes, only the three rows of nozzles 110, 111, 112 arranged in parallel with each other on the print head 105 are in communication with the three ink storage chambers 101, 102, 103 in one-to-one correspondence. The three ink storage chambers 101, 102, 103 are respectively filled with a shape-adapted sponge 3. In order to ensure the positioning accuracy at the time of assembly, a pad 4 is attached between the cover 5 and the casing 1. When assembled, the backing plate 4 is first positioned on the opening of the casing 1, and the cover 5 is then fastened to the positioning hole of the backing plate 4. In Fig. 3, the pad 4 and the cover 5 are bonded to form a complete cover, and of course, it can be directly injection molded into a single cover. The spacer 113 is adjacent to the print head from the casing 1 in a direction substantially parallel to the ink ejection direction in the print head 105.

The bottom wall 115 of the 105 extends in the direction of the cover 5. In a section perpendicular to the direction in which the ink is ejected in the printhead 105, the spacer 113 has a "T" shape, and its end portion in the cross section maintains sealing contact with the inner wall of the casing 1. Thus, the inner cavity of the casing 1 is divided into three ink storage chambers 101, 102, 103 as viewed in a section perpendicular to the ink ejection direction in the print head 105. After the casing 1, the backing plate 4 and the cover 5 are engaged with each other, there is a gap between the partition 113 and the backing plate 4, so that the three ink storage chambers 101, 102, 103 are in proximity to the backing plate 4. The parts remain connected to each other. The task of the present invention is to transform the three ink storage chambers 101, 102, 103 into a mutually independent structural relationship from the interconnected structural relationship, so that the three ink storage chambers 101, 102, 103 become independent capacities. Ink room. A corresponding improvement is to add an extension plate 2 between the partition 113 and the backing plate 4. The shape of the extension plate 2 generally corresponds to the partition 113. In the present embodiment, the extension plate 2 has an "work" shape as viewed in a cross section perpendicular to the ink ejection direction in the print head 105. The extension plate 2 has the following structural relationship with the casing 1: The extension plate 2 extends in a direction parallel to the ink ejection direction in the print head 105 from the end face of the spacer 113 facing the pad 4 toward the direction in which the pad 4 is located. In the three extension walls of the extension plate 2, the two blocks 116, 117 which are perpendicular to each other maintain a sealing butt joint with the end faces of the partition plate 113 facing the backing plate 4, and the extension walls 116, 117 are perpendicular to the print head 105. The end portion on the cross section of the ink ejection direction is in sealing contact with the inner cavity wall of the casing 1, so that the ink in the three ink storage chambers 101, 102, 103 cannot form a flow or leak at these joint portions, and the third thereof The block 118 abuts against the inner wall of the cartridge body 1 corresponding to the ink storage chambers 102, 103 in a sealed manner or in a squeeze manner, see Fig. 4. When reconstituting such an ink cartridge with reference to Figs. 1, 2a, 2b, 3, 4, the cartridge cover 5 is first opened by a tool such as a cutter, and the sponges 3 in the three ink storage chambers 101, 102, 103 are taken out. Thereafter, the extension plate 2 is fixed to the partition plate 113 by means of a commercially available adhesive to bond or melt the splicing. In carrying out the steps, the extension plate 2 and the original partition plate 113 are sealed to each other. The side of the extension plate 2 facing the pad 4 maintains a sealed contact state with the pad 4 toward the inner walls of the three ink storage chambers 101, 102, 103 in the assembled state. Thereafter, the ink outlets 107, 108, 109 are torn away toward the screen 104 on the ports of the three ink storage chambers 101, 102, 103. The obtained ink cartridge case 1 and the lid 5 are separately immersed in a commercially available cleaning solution or deionized water at a temperature of 40 to 80 ° C, and immersed for 1 to 2 hours. Then, the obtained cartridge body 1 and the lid 5 are ultrasonically cleaned by ultrasonic waves at a frequency of 1000 to 2000 Hz, and after washing for 1 to 2 hours, the three ink storage chambers 101, 102, 103 and the inside of the cartridge are rinsed with deionized water. The ink transport lines they communicate with each other suck the nozzles 110, 111, 112 on the printhead 105. Subsequently, a brand new filter or a filter that has been treated with deionized water is used as a commercially available adhesive. The ink discharge ports 107, 108, 109 are fitted to the ports of the three ink storage chambers 101, 102, 103 in a bonding or splicing manner. Finally, a new or deionized water-washed sponge adapted to the shape of the three ink storage chambers 101, 102, 103 is loaded into its chamber, and the lid 5 is replaced, and the performance is close to that of the brand new ink cartridge. Recycled products. After the refilled ink is poured into the refilled product, it can be applied to the actual printing operation. The qualified rate of the ink cartridge remanufactured by this method is over 95%. Referring to Table 1, the product performance of the remanufactured ink cartridge obtained by the ink jet printer ink cartridge remanufacturing method of the present invention. Table 1

The ink cartridge remanufacturing method described above can also be applied to the ink cartridges of the two configurations shown in Figs. The ink cartridge shown in Fig. 5 has a structure substantially the same as that of the ink cartridge of the foregoing embodiment, except that the partition plates 113 are arranged in parallel with each other, so that the three ink storage chambers 101, 102, and 103 are arranged in a "one" shape. . The ink cartridge shown in Fig. 6 has a structure substantially the same as that of the ink cartridge of the foregoing embodiment, except that the partition plate 113 is arranged in a "human" shape, so that the three ink storage chambers 101, 102, 103 obtained are in English letters. The arrangement of the "W" shape. Embodiments 2 to 4. The structure of the ink cartridges of the second to fourth embodiments is basically the same as that of the first embodiment. The difference is that there is a slight difference in the structure of the extension plates used. Referring to Fig. 7, in the second embodiment, the shape of the extension plate 2a is the same as that of the spacer 113 shown in Fig. 1, but the corresponding shape corresponding to the case 1 is cancelled. A third extension wall 118 on the inner wall of the ink storage chambers 102, 103 (see the third extension wall 118 of the extension panel 2 in Figures 3, 4). In addition, the extension plate 2a in the second embodiment is in its two docking with the partition plate 113. A strip-shaped long groove 2a1 and a slanting abutting surface or a circular arc abutting surface 2a2 are respectively formed on the block extending wall, so that the end surface of the partition plate 113 facing the backing plate 4 can be inserted into the strip-shaped long groove 2al and the inclined abutting surface or the arc abutting surface 2a2 is tightly aligned to achieve better positioning between the extension plate 2a and the partition 113. Referring to Fig. 8, in the third embodiment, the shape of the extension plate 2b is the same as that of the extension plate 2 shown in Fig. 3 in the first embodiment. At the same time, a groove 2b1 is formed in the outer surface of the extension piece 2b against the third block extending wall 2b2 (see Fig. 4) on the inner wall of the ink storage chambers 102, 103. When assembling, glue is applied in the groove 2b1 so that the third extension wall 2b2 of the extension plate 2b is completely insulated from the inner wall of the ink storage chamber 102, 103 by the casing 1, so that the ink is stored in the ink. The possibility of color mixing between the chambers 102, 103 by infiltration is completely blocked. In addition to this arrangement, it is also conceivable that the first extension wall 2b3 of the extension plate 2b relative to the third extension wall 2b2 maintains an abutting relationship with the partition 113, which is similar to the third extension wall 2b2. A relationship is formed with the casing 1 corresponding to the inner wall of the ink storage chambers 102, 103. Of course, in this state, the portion of the partition 113 corresponding to the first extension wall 2b3 maintains a sealing contact relationship with the backing plate 4. Referring to Fig. 9, in the fourth embodiment, the extension plate 2c is formed in a "one" shape, and a strip-shaped long groove 2c l is formed on the end surface of the same platen 113. In accordance with the "one"-shaped extension plate 2c, a portion of the partition plate 113 that abuts the strip-shaped long groove 2c l has a gap with the backing plate 4, and the remaining portion maintains a sealing contact. Further, both ends of the "one"-shaped extension plate 2c abut against the inner wall of the casing 1 corresponding to the ink storage chambers 102, 103 and the partition 113 sealing the portion of the contact pad 4, and the extension plate 2c abuts against the butting The portion is provided with a recess 2c2 for filling the glue. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The inkjet ink cartridge remanufacturing method of the present invention mainly focuses on the gap between the separator for separating the ink storage chamber and the cartridge lid of the existing ink cartridge, so as to limit or reduce the ink capacity of the ink storage chamber, Make full use of the design capacity of the ink storage chamber, and there are problems of ink mixing or color mixing in multiple ink storage chambers. The method of adding an extension plate on the side of the partition facing the cartridge cover eliminates the partition and the cartridge cartridge. The gap existing between the covers blocks the channels through which the plurality of ink reservoirs communicate with each other. In this way, the plurality of ink storage chambers are made uncorrelated with each other or have no ink exchange channels, and only the respective ink containers of the corresponding print heads are turned on, so that the ink storage capacity of the single ink storage chamber can reach almost the inside thereof. Whole empty In addition, the ink storage capacity of a single ink storage chamber is greatly improved, and there is no possibility of ink mixing or color mixing between the plurality of ink storage chambers.

Claims

Claim 1. Inkjet cartridge remanufacturing method,  The inkjet cartridge is composed of a casing and a lid, and is internally provided with at least two ink storage chambers separated by a partition and containing a porous fibrous material, the partition being at least facing the side of the lid a gap exists between a portion between the two ink storage chambers and the cover, and an outer surface of one side wall of the casing is provided with a print head corresponding to the ink storage chamber respectively. The rework method includes the following sequential process steps:  1 Remove the cover of the ink cartridge and take out the porous fiber material in the ink storage chamber.  2, an extension plate having a shape corresponding to the original partition of the inner cavity of the ink cartridge and extending in the direction of the cover is added to a side of the original inner wall of the ink cartridge facing the cover, the extension plate The original partition and the inner cavity of the ink cartridge are sealed to each other corresponding to the portion of the original partition, and the side of the extension plate facing the cover is oriented with the cover in the assembled state. Maintaining a sealed contact state between the inner walls of the inner cavity of the ink cartridge,  3 The qualified porous fiber materials matched with the chamber obtained in the second step are respectively loaded into the corresponding chambers, the cover is replaced, and the reconstituted ink cartridge is obtained after the ink is filled. 2. The method of remanufacturing an inkjet cartridge according to claim 1, wherein:  The sealing connection between the extension plate in the step 2 and the corresponding portion of the original separator and the inner cavity of the ink cartridge is achieved by a chemical bonding agent. 3. The method of remanufacturing an inkjet cartridge according to claim 1, wherein:  The sealing connection between the extension plate and the original partition plate and the corresponding portion of the inner cavity of the ink cartridge in the step 2 corresponds to the original partition plate and the inner cavity of the ink cartridge by melting the extension plate The docking sites between the parts are then cooled. 4. The method of remanufacturing an inkjet cartridge according to claim 2, wherein: After the implementation of the step 2 and before the step 3, the following three steps are sequentially taken: First, the filter screen located at the front end of the print head inside the ink cartridge is removed, using a cleaning solution of 40 to 80 ° C or Immerse the obtained cartridge body and print head in deionized water for 1-2 hours.  Secondly, after using the ultrasonic cleaning of 1000~2000 Hz to clean the cartridge body and the print head for 1 hour, rinse the inner cavity of the box and the print head with deionized water, dry or blow dry the resulting box and print head again, and pass the qualified filter. Assembled to the original position of the filter cartridge of the resulting cartridge body. 5. The method of remanufacturing an inkjet cartridge according to claim 4, wherein: said screen assembly is performed using a chemical adhesive. 6. The inkjet cartridge refining method according to claim 4, wherein: the screen assembly is performed by melting a wall of the ink cartridge in the original position of the filter screen, and then installing the filter screen, and then implementing the qualified filter screen. Bonding.