EP0633138A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ink supply device
Assignee: Brother Industries Ltd
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Filing: 1994-07-06
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2014-07-06
Abstract
Abstract An ink unit (22) for storing ink includes a porous member (30) impregnated with ink and a film (34) wrapped around the porous member. A container (20) has an opening (21) for allowing insertion and removal of the ink unit into and from the container and a lid (24) adapted to engage with the opening of the container. When the ink unit is inserted into the container, an O-ring (36) engages with a projecting portion, and the film is burst by the projecting portion (28) causing the porous member to abut against a filter (29). Then, the lid (24) is fitted to the opening of the foam storing case. Thus, the ink unit is quickly and neatly replaced, and the ink impregnated in the replaced ink unit can be supplied to a print head (16).
Inventors
- 👤 Masayuki C/O Brother Kogyo K. K. Takata
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 18:29
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/17; B41J2/175; B41J2/17503; B41J2/1752; B41J2/17523; B41J2/17513
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
58 words
An ink supply device for supplying ink to a print head and including:- a container (20) for ink having an ink supplying passage (26) by which ink can be supplied from the container, an ink unit (22) to be received in the container and comprising a porous member (30) impregnated with ink and wrapped with a film (34).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
34 words
An ink supply device according to claim 1, wherein the container (20) has an opening (21) for insertion and removal of said ink unit (22) and a lid (24) removably engaging said opening (21).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The ink supply device according to claim 2, wherein said lid has a puncturing portion (38) for puncturing said film (34) of said ink unit and an air communication hole (39) for providing communication between said porous member and atmospheric air.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The ink supply device according to claim 2 or 3 including a spacer (32), which may be a grid member, defining a space between said porous member and said film member on a side of said ink unit facing said lid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
An ink supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the ink supply passage communicates with a print head on which the container is located.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
An ink supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the porous member is compressed in an area adjacent to the ink supply passage when inserted into the container.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
The ink supply device according to claim 6, wherein said container has a interiorly projecting portion (28) forming the ink supply passage (26), whereby when said ink unit is inserted into said container, said ink unit can be compressed by said projecting portion (28), and said film member of said foam unit can be burst by said projecting portion (28) to allow the ink contained in said porous member to be supplied through said ink supply passage.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The ink supply device according to claim 7, further comprising a filter (29) provided on said projecting portion (28) that abuts against said ink unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The ink supply device according to claim 7 or 8, wherein said projecting portion has an angled surface such that said ink unit is non-uniformly depressed by said projecting portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
An ink supply device according to claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein the ink supply passage has a pointed end.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
59 words
The ink supply device according to any one of claims 7 and 10 further comprising a sealing member (36) provided on said ink unit positioned, in use, adjacent to said projecting portion for sealing said ink unit to said projecting portion, the sealing member preferably being an O-ring to engage the projection portion sealingly and preferably being adhesively secured.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The ink supply device according to any one of claims 7 and 11 further comprising strengthening means (37) for enhancing the strength of said film of said ink unit in an area depressed by said projecting portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The ink supply device according to claim 12, wherein said strengthening means (37) comprises a coating of adhesive on said film member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The ink supply device according to any one of the claims 7 to 13, wherein said lid (24) has a projecting portion (40) opposed to said projecting portion (28) of said container.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
The ink supply device according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the volume of said porous member of said ink unit is larger than the capacity of the container, whereby when said ink unit is inserted into said container, said porous member is compressed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The ink supply device according to any one of the previous claims, wherein an internal pressure in said ink unit is set higher than atmospheric pressure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The ink supply device of any one of the previous claims, wherein the porous member has an initial internal volume greater than the normal capacity of the wrapping film so that the porous member is compressed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The ink supply device according any one of the previous claims, wherein said ink unit further comprises a handling member for removing said ink unit from said container.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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