Method of liquid filling of cartridge, liquid filling device, and cartridge

A liquid refilling device that refills liquid into a used cartridge mountable to a liquid jet apparatus, comprising:

• a film removing unit that removes a first film, welded to an originally welded surface around an opening communicating with an interior of the used cartridge to seal the opening, in order to communicate the opening with an exterior of the used cartridge;
• a liquid injecting unit that injects liquid into the used cartridge through the opening communicated by the film removing unit;
• and
• a rewelding unit that rewelds a second film using a surface other than the originally welded surface as a rewelded surface in order to seal again the opening, through which the liquid has been injected by the liquid injecting unit.

A method of refilling liquid into a used cartridge mountable to a liquid jet apparatus, comprising;

• a liquid extracting process of extracting liquid remaining in the used cartridge;
• a remaining amount checking process of checking whether an amount of the liquid remaining in the cartridge after the remaining liquid is extracted in the extracting process occupies a predetermined ratio or less with respect to a total amount of liquid to be filled in a new cartridge;
• and
• a liquid injecting process of injecting liquid into the used cartridge checked to contain the amount of the remaining liquid equal to or less than the predetermined ratio in the remaining amount checking process.

A liquid refilling device for refilling liquid into a used cartridge mountable to a liquid jet apparatus, comprising:

• a liquid extracting unit that extracts liquid remaining in the cartridge;
• a measuring device that measures whether an amount of the liquid remaining in the cartridge after the liquid is extracted by the liquid extracting unit occupies a predetermined ratio or less of a total amount of liquid to be filled into a new cartridge;
• and
• a liquid injecting unit that injects liquid into the cartridge checked to contain the amount of the liquid, measured by the measuring unit, equal to or less than the predetermined ratio.

A ink refilling method for an ink cartridge having:

• a container body;
• an ink chamber formed in the container body;
• an ink supply opening, formed in the container body and adapted to receive an ink supplying needle of a printer, for communication between the ink chamber and a print head;
• an ink injection opening formed in the container body and communicating with the ink chamber;
• and a film member attached to the container body to seal the ink injection opening, the method comprising the step of:
• forming a through-hole through the film member to unseal the ink injection opening;
• injecting ink into the ink chamber through the through hole and the ink injection opening;
• and
• sealing the ink injection opening by attaching a sealing member to the container body over the film member so that a part of the sealing member passes through the through-hole and liquid-tightly contacts an interior surface of the ink injection opening, the interior surface being located between the film member and the ink chamber.

An ink cartridge comprising;

• a container body;
• an ink chamber formed in the container body;
• an ink supply opening, formed in the container body and adapted to receive an ink supplying needle of a printer, for communication between the ink chamber and a print head;
• an ink injection opening formed in the container body and communicating with the ink chamber;
• a film member attached to the container body, and having a through-hole facing the ink injection opening;
• and
• a sealing member attached to the container body over the film member so that a part of the sealing member passes through the through-hole and liquid-tightly contacts an interior surface of the ink injection opening, the interior surface being located between the film member and the ink chamber.

A method of filling liquid into a cartridge mountable to a liquid jet apparatus, comprising:

• a film removing process of removing a first film, welded to an originally welded surface around an opening communicating with an interior of the cartridge to seal the opening, in order to communicate the opening with an exterior of the used cartridge;
• a liquid injecting process of injecting liquid into the cartridge through the opening communicated in the film removing process;
• and
• a sealing process of sealing the opening again by closely contacting a sealing member with a surface other than the originally welded surface.

A liquid filling device that fills liquid into a cartridge mountable to a liquid jet apparatus, comprising:

• a film removing unit that removes a first film, welded to an originally welded surface around an opening communicating with an interior of the cartridge to seal the opening, in order to communicate the opening with an exterior of the used cartridge;
• a liquid injecting unit that injects liquid into the cartridge through the opening communicated by the film removing unit;
• and
• a sealing unit that seals the opening again by closely contacting a sealing member with a surface other than the originally welded surface.