Ink refilling method and apparatus, ink container refilled therewith and ink jet apparatus comprising ink refilling apparatus
US6338552B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 22, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jan 15, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 22, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2/17506
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An ink container for containing ink to be supplied to a recording head includes a main body, an ink absorbing material accommodated in the main body to contain the ink, a connecting portion relative to a supply tube of the recording head for supplying ink to the recording head, and a refilling connection at a position different from that of the connecting portion for refilling the ink. An ink absorption member is provided at the refilling connection portion, the ink absorption member having a bundle of fibers and a capillary force higher than that of the ink absorbing material. In an ink jet recording apparatus usable with such an ink container, a refilling mechanism is provided to fill the ink into the refilling connection portion, the refilling mechanism including an ink chamber for containing ink and an ink discharge member of porous material for press-contactedly supplying ink to the ink absorption member. In preferred embodiments, the ink absorption member has a capillary force higher than that of the ink absorbing material, and the ink discharge member has a density smaller than that of the ink absorption member.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.