EP0486309A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ink jet recording apparatus
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1991-11-14
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-11-14
Abstract
Abstract An ink storage unit (IT) used in an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink comprises a plurality of ink storage chambers (910A), a plurality of movable walls (950) and a mechanism for holding each of the movable walls. Each of the ink storage chambers stores ink. Each of the movable walls (950) is provided in the each ink storage chamber (910A) respectively so as to seal stored ink against air, and each movable wall (950) can move according to a change of amount of ink in each ink storage chamber (910A). The mechanism for holding the movable walls exerts a force opposed to a force which is exerted on the each movable wall (950) according to the change of amount of ink, on each of of the movable walls (950) so as to make the pressure in each ink storage chamber an appropriate negative pressure.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshifumi C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Hattori
- 👤 Masashi C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Kitani
- 👤 Etsuro c/o Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Suzuki
- 👤 Hideo C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Saikawa
- 👤 Masami C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Kojima
- 👤 Kenji c/o Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Kawano
- 👤 Koichi C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Tanno
- 👤 Kenji c/o Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Aono
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 12:20
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/17; B41J2/175; B41J2/17503; B41J2/17513; B41J2/17553
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
An ink storage unit used in an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink, characterized by comprising: a plurality of ink storage chambers forstor- ing ink; a plurality of movable walls each of which is provided in each of said plurality of ink storage chambers respectively, so as to seal said stored ink against air and can move according to a change of amount of said stored ink; and a movable wall holding means for exerting a force opposed to a force which is exerted on said each movable wall according to said change of amount of said stored ink, on each of said plurality of movable walls so as to make the pressure in said each ink storage chamber an appropriate negative pressure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
An ink storage unit used in an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink, characterized by comprising: a plurality of ink storage chambers forstor- ing ink; a plurality of movable walls each of which is provided in each of said plurality of ink storage chambers respectively, so as to seal said stored ink against air and can move according to a change of amount of said stored ink; and a movable wall holding means for exerting a force opposed to a force which is exerted on said each movable wall according to said change of amount of said stored ink, on each of said plurality of movable walls so as to make the pressure in said each ink storage chamber an appropriate negative pressure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
An ink storage unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said movable wall holding means has a configuration in which said each movable wall contacts a wall of said each chamber, and said force opposed is a friction force caused by said contact.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
An ink storage unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said movable wall holding means includes an elastic member, and said force opposed is an elastic force caused by said elastic member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
An ink storage unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said ink storage unit is integrally formed with a recording head for ejecting ink.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
An ink storage unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said ink storage unit is used in a state in which said ink storage unit is removably attached to a recording head for ejecting ink.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
121 words
An ink storage unit used in an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink, characterized by comprising: an ink storage path which is used for storing ink and winds in said ink storage unit; a movable wall which is provided in said ink storage path so as to seal said stored ink against air and can moves according to a change of amount of said stored ink; and a movable wall holding means for exerting a force opposed to a force which is exerted on said movable wall according to the change of amount of said stored ink, on each of said movable walls so as to make the pressure in said ink storage path an appropriate negative pressure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
121 words
An ink storage unit used in an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink, characterized by comprising: an ink storage path which is used for storing ink and winds in said ink storage unit; a movable wall which is provided in said ink storage path so as to seal said stored ink against air and can moves according to a change of amount of said stored ink; and a movable wall holding means for exerting a force opposed to a force which is exerted on said movable wall according to the change of amount of said stored ink, on each of said movable walls so as to make the pressure in said ink storage path an appropriate negative pressure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
An ink storage unit as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that said movable wall holding means has a configuration in which said each movable wall contacts a wall of said each chamber, and said force opposed is a friction force caused by said contact.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
An ink storage unit as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that said ink storage is being integrally formed with a recording head for ejecting ink.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
An ink storage unit as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that said ink storage unit is used in a state in which said ink storage unit is removably attached to a recording head for ejecting ink.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
150 words
An ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink, characterized by comprising: a recording head for ejecting ink; an ink storage unit comprising: a plurality of chambers for storing inkto be supplied to said recording head; a plurality of movable walls each of which is provided in each of said plurality of ink storage chambers respectively, so as to seal said stored ink against air and can move according to a change of amount of said stored ink; a movable wall holding means for exerting a force opposed to a force which is exerted on said each movable wall according to the change of said stored ink, on each of said plurality of movable walls so as to make the pressure in said each ink storage chamber an appropriate negative pressure; and a signal sending means for sending an electric signal to said recording head to thereby eject ink.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
150 words
An ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink, characterized by comprising: a recording head for ejecting ink; an ink storage unit comprising: a plurality of chambers for storing inkto be supplied to said recording head; a plurality of movable walls each of which is provided in each of said plurality of ink storage chambers respectively, so as to seal said stored ink against air and can move according to a change of amount of said stored ink; a movable wall holding means for exerting a force opposed to a force which is exerted on said each movable wall according to the change of said stored ink, on each of said plurality of movable walls so as to make the pressure in said each ink storage chamber an appropriate negative pressure; and a signal sending means for sending an electric signal to said recording head to thereby eject ink.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
An inkjet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that said recording head has configuration in which heat energy produces bubbles in ink and ink is ejected by growth of said bubble.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
140 words
An ink storage unit used in an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink, characterized by comprising: an ink storage chamber for storing ink; a movable wall which is provided in said ink storage chamber so as to seal said stored ink against air and which can move according to a change of amount of said stored ink; a movable wall holding means for exerting a force opposed to a force which is exerted on said movable wall according to the change of amount of said stored ink, on said movable wall so as to make the pressure in said ink storage chamber an appropriate negative pressure; and an ink temporary holding means which is provided in an ink supply route communicating with said ink storage chamber and is used for holding ink in said ink supply route.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
140 words
An ink storage unit used in an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink, characterized by comprising: an ink storage chamber for storing ink; a movable wall which is provided in said ink storage chamber so as to seal said stored ink against air and which can move according to a change of amount of said stored ink; a movable wall holding means for exerting a force opposed to a force which is exerted on said movable wall according to the change of amount of said stored ink, on said movable wall so as to make the pressure in said ink storage chamber an appropriate negative pressure; and an ink temporary holding means which is provided in an ink supply route communicating with said ink storage chamber and is used for holding ink in said ink supply route.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
An ink storage unit as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that said movable wall holding means has a configuration in which said each movable wall contacts a wall of said each chamber, and said force opposed is a friction force caused by said contact.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
An ink storage unit as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that said inkstorage unit is integrallyfor- med with a recording head for ejecting ink.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
An inkstorage unit as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that said ink storage unit is used in a state in which said ink storage unit is removably attached to a recording head for ejecting ink.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
165 words
An ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink, characterized by comprising: a recording head for ejecting ink; an ink storage unit comprising: an inkstorage chamber for storing ink to be supplied to said recording head; a movable wall which is provided in said ink storage chamber so as to seal said stored ink against air and which can move according to a change of amount of said stored ink; a movable wall holding means for exerting a force opposed to a force which is exerted on said movable wall according to the change of said stored ink, on said movable wall so as to make the pressure in said ink storage chamber an appropriate negative pressure; an ink temporary holding means which is provided in an ink supply route communicating with said ink storage chamber and is used for holding ink in said ink supply route; and signal sending means for sending an electric signal to said recording head to thereby eject ink.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
165 words
An ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink, characterized by comprising: a recording head for ejecting ink; an ink storage unit comprising: an inkstorage chamber for storing ink to be supplied to said recording head; a movable wall which is provided in said ink storage chamber so as to seal said stored ink against air and which can move according to a change of amount of said stored ink; a movable wall holding means for exerting a force opposed to a force which is exerted on said movable wall according to the change of said stored ink, on said movable wall so as to make the pressure in said ink storage chamber an appropriate negative pressure; an ink temporary holding means which is provided in an ink supply route communicating with said ink storage chamber and is used for holding ink in said ink supply route; and signal sending means for sending an electric signal to said recording head to thereby eject ink.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that said recording head has configuration in which heat energy produces bubbles in ink and ink is ejected by growth of said bubble.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
155 words
An ink storage unit used in an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink, characterized by comprising: a plurality of ink storage chambers; a plurality of movable walls each of which is provided in each of said plurality of ink storage chambers respectively, so as to seal said stored ink against air and can move according to a change of amount of said stored ink; a movable wall holding means for exerting a force opposed to a force which is exerted on said each movable wall according to the change of amount of said stored ink, on each of said plurality of movable walls so as to make the pressure in said each ink storage chamber an appropriate negative pressure; and an ink temporary holding means which is provided in an ink supply route communicating with each of said ink storage chambers and is used for holding ink in said ink supplying route.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
155 words
An ink storage unit used in an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink, characterized by comprising: a plurality of ink storage chambers; a plurality of movable walls each of which is provided in each of said plurality of ink storage chambers respectively, so as to seal said stored ink against air and can move according to a change of amount of said stored ink; a movable wall holding means for exerting a force opposed to a force which is exerted on said each movable wall according to the change of amount of said stored ink, on each of said plurality of movable walls so as to make the pressure in said each ink storage chamber an appropriate negative pressure; and an ink temporary holding means which is provided in an ink supply route communicating with each of said ink storage chambers and is used for holding ink in said ink supplying route.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
174 words
An ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink, characterized by comprising: a recording head for ejecting ink; an ink storage unit comprising: a plurality of ink storage chambers; a plurality of movable walls each of which is provided in each of said plurality of ink storage chambers respectively, so as to seal said stored ink against air and can move according to a change of amount of said stored ink; a movable wall holding means for exerting a force opposed to a force which is exerted on said each movable wall according to the change of said stored ink, on each of said plurality of movable walls so as to make the pressure in said each ink storage chamber an appropriate negative pressure; an ink temporary holding means which is provided in an ink supply route communicating with each of said ink storage chambers and is used for holding ink in said ink supplying route; and signal sending means for sending an electric signal to said recording head to thereby eject ink.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
174 words
An ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink, characterized by comprising: a recording head for ejecting ink; an ink storage unit comprising: a plurality of ink storage chambers; a plurality of movable walls each of which is provided in each of said plurality of ink storage chambers respectively, so as to seal said stored ink against air and can move according to a change of amount of said stored ink; a movable wall holding means for exerting a force opposed to a force which is exerted on said each movable wall according to the change of said stored ink, on each of said plurality of movable walls so as to make the pressure in said each ink storage chamber an appropriate negative pressure; an ink temporary holding means which is provided in an ink supply route communicating with each of said ink storage chambers and is used for holding ink in said ink supplying route; and signal sending means for sending an electric signal to said recording head to thereby eject ink.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
34 words
An inkjet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 19, characterized in that said recording head has configuration in which heat energy produces bubbles in ink and ink is ejected by growth of said bubble.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
57 words
An ink storage unit used in an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink, characterized by comprising: an ink storage portion for storing ink; and an ink temporary holding means which is provided in an ink supply route communicating with said ink storage portion and is used for holding ink in said ink supply route.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
57 words
An ink storage unit used in an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink, characterized by comprising: an ink storage portion for storing ink; and an ink temporary holding means which is provided in an ink supply route communicating with said ink storage portion and is used for holding ink in said ink supply route.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
68 words
An ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink, characterized by comprising: a recording head for ejecting ink; an ink storage unit comprising: an ink storage portion for storing ink to be supplied to said recording head; an ink temporary holding means which is provided in an ink supply route communicating with said ink storage portion and is used for holding ink in said ink supply route.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
68 words
An ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink, characterized by comprising: a recording head for ejecting ink; an ink storage unit comprising: an ink storage portion for storing ink to be supplied to said recording head; an ink temporary holding means which is provided in an ink supply route communicating with said ink storage portion and is used for holding ink in said ink supply route.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
34 words
An inkjet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 22, characterized in that said recording head has configuration in which heat energy produces bubbles in ink and ink is ejected by growth of said bubble.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
50 words
An ink storage tank comprising at least one relatively moving sealing surface, characterised in that the materials and dimensions of the sealing surface are so selected, in accordance with the negative pressure exerted within the tank, that movement of the sealing surface is smooth and without discontinuities caused by friction.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
50 words
An ink storage tank comprising at least one relatively moving sealing surface, characterised in that the materials and dimensions of the sealing surface are so selected, in accordance with the negative pressure exerted within the tank, that movement of the sealing surface is smooth and without discontinuities caused by friction.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
69 words
An ink storage container usable in ink jet recording apparatus comprising a relatively moveable sealing member, providing a frictional seal against a relatively static member, in which the negative pressure within the tank produced by balancing the frictional force with the forces exerted on the sealing member is smaller than a suction force generated when ink is refilled into the storage unit after ink ejection in the recording apparatus.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
69 words
An ink storage container usable in ink jet recording apparatus comprising a relatively moveable sealing member, providing a frictional seal against a relatively static member, in which the negative pressure within the tank produced by balancing the frictional force with the forces exerted on the sealing member is smaller than a suction force generated when ink is refilled into the storage unit after ink ejection in the recording apparatus.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
33 words
An ink storage tank for use in a printer or like recording apparatus in which the tank is divided by a plurality of static walls between which frictionally sealing moving walls are provided.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
33 words
An ink storage tank for use in a printer or like recording apparatus in which the tank is divided by a plurality of static walls between which frictionally sealing moving walls are provided.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
28 words
An ink storage unit which comprises movable sealing means, in which the movable sealing means comprises a substantially solid surface coated with a high viscosity liquid (e.g. oligomer).
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
28 words
An ink storage unit which comprises movable sealing means, in which the movable sealing means comprises a substantially solid surface coated with a high viscosity liquid (e.g. oligomer).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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