Ink fill device, ink filling method, ink cartridge manufacturing method and ink cartridge

An ink fill device for filling ink into an ink cartridge, the ink cartridge comprising:

• an ink container for storing the ink;
• a supply opening for connecting an inner section and an outer section of the ink container;
• an inner plug containing a plug part for opening and closing the supply opening, and a shaft part extending from the plug part;
• a biasing unit for applying force on the inner plug in a closing direction;
• and
• a covering member mounted in the inner section of the ink container, said covering member restricting a movement direction of the shaft part of the inner plug, also covering at least a portion of the shaft part so as to prevent contact with the ink container even in a state in which the plug part seals the supply opening and even in a state in which the plug part opens the supply opening,
• the ink fill device comprising:
• a pressing force section freely moving relative to the inner plug along the movement direction of the inner plug, and making the inner plug move relatively against the force of the biasing unit;
• and
• a joint section being outwardly inserted over the pressing force section, and coupling to the supply opening released by the pressing force section.

An ink filling method for an ink cartridge, the ink cartridge comprising:

• an ink container for storing the ink;
• a supply opening for connecting an inner section and an outer section of the ink container;
• an inner plug for opening and closing the supply opening;
• and
• a biasing unit for applying a force on the inner plug in a closing direction,
• the ink filling method comprising:
• a first step of opening the supply opening by pressing the inner plug to inside the ink container against the force of the biasing unit;
• a second step of injecting ink from the supply opening that is opened;
• and
• a third step of releasing pressing force on the inner plug at a stage in which the ink within the ink container attains a specified quantity.

An ink filling method for an ink cartridge, the ink cartridge comprising:

• an ink container for storing the ink;
• a supply opening for connecting an inner section and an outer section of the ink container;
• an inner plug containing a plug part for opening and closing the supply opening, and a shaft part extending from the plug part;
• a biasing unit for applying force on the inner plug in a closing direction;
• and
• a covering member mounted in the inner section of the ink container, said covering member restricting a movement direction of the shaft part of the inner plug, also covering at least a portion of the shaft part so as to prevent contact with the ink container even in a state in which the plug part seals the supply opening and even in a state in which the plug part releases the supply opening,
• the ink filling method comprising:
• a first step of opening the supply opening by pressing the inner plug to inside the ink container against the force of the biasing unit;
• a second step of injecting ink from the supply opening that is opened;
• and
• a third step of releasing pressing force on the inner plug at a stage in which the ink within the ink container attains a specified quantity.

An ink cartridge manufacturing method for manufacturing an ink cartridge, the ink cartridge comprising:

• an ink container for storing the ink;
• a supply opening for connecting an inner section and an outer section of the ink container;
• an inner plug for opening and closing the supply opening;
• and
• a biasing unit for applying force on the inner plug in a closing direction,
• the ink cartridge manufacturing method comprising:
• a first step of opening the supply opening by pressing the inner plug to inside the ink container against the force of the biasing unit;
• a second step of injecting ink from the supply opening that is opened;
• and
• a third step of releasing pressing force on the inner plug at a stage in which the ink within the ink container attains a specified quantity.

An ink cartridge manufacturing method for manufacturing an ink cartridge, the ink cartridge comprising:

• an ink container for storing the ink;
• a supply opening for connecting an inner section and an outer section of the ink container;
• an inner plug containing a plug part for opening and closing the supply opening, and a shaft part extending from the plug part;
• a biasing unit for applying force on the inner plug in a closing direction;
• and
• a covering member mounted in the inner section of the ink container, said covering member restricting a movement direction of the shaft part of the inner plug, also covering at least a portion of the shaft part so as to prevent contact with the ink container even in a state in which the plug part seals the supply opening and even in a state in which the plug part releases the supply opening,
• the ink cartridge manufacturing method comprising:
• a first step of opening the supply opening by pressing the inner plug to inside of the ink container against the force of the biasing unit;
• a second step of injecting ink from the supply opening that is opened;
• and
• a third step of releasing pressing force on the inner plug at a stage in which the ink within the ink container attains a specified quantity.

An ink cartridge comprising:

• an ink container for storing a newly filled ink;
• a supply opening for connecting an inner section and an outer section of the ink container;
• an inner plug containing a plug part for opening and closing the supply opening, and a shaft part extending from the plug part;
• a biasing unit for applying force on the inner plug in a closing direction;
• and
• a covering member mounted in the inner section of the ink container, said covering member restricting a movement direction of the shaft part of the inner plug, also covering at least a portion of the shaft part so as to prevent contact with the ink container even in a state in which the plug part seals the supply opening, even in a state in which the plug part releases the supply opening.