U.S. patent application number 10/541630 was filed with the patent office on 2006-07-06 for envelope for recovering a recording liquid cartridge.
This patent application is currently assigned to Ricoh Company, Ltd.. Invention is credited to Tetsuya Hiruma, Kiyotaka Kikuchi.
Application Number | 20060144908 10/541630 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34567286 |
Filed Date | 2006-07-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060144908 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hiruma; Tetsuya ; et
al. |
July 6, 2006 |
Envelope for recovering a recording liquid cartridge
Abstract
An envelope for recovering a used recording liquid cartridge is
disclosed. The envelope comprises an inner layer made of material
capable of absorbing recording liquid; and an outer layer made of
water resistant material. Alternatively, the envelope comprises an
inner layer made of material capable of absorbing recording liquid;
a middle layer made of water resistant material; and an outer layer
made of writable material.
Inventors: |
Hiruma; Tetsuya; (Kanagawa,
JP) ; Kikuchi; Kiyotaka; (Gunma, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OBLON, SPIVAK, MCCLELLAND, MAIER & NEUSTADT, P.C.
1940 DUKE STREET
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
Ricoh Company, Ltd.
3-6, Nakamagome 1-Chome Ohta-ku
Tokyo
JP
143-8555
Marubishi Shiko Co., Ltd.
17-22, Minamicho 1-chome, Maebashi-shi
Gunma
JP
371-0805
|
Family ID: |
34567286 |
Appl. No.: |
10/541630 |
Filed: |
November 10, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
November 10, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP04/17033 |
371 Date: |
July 7, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
229/68.1 ;
229/80 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 27/005 20130101;
B65D 27/14 20130101; B65D 81/264 20130101; B65F 2210/102 20130101;
B65D 33/18 20130101; B65D 31/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
229/068.1 ;
229/080 |
International
Class: |
B65D 27/00 20060101
B65D027/00; B65D 27/14 20060101 B65D027/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 11, 2003 |
JP |
2003-381624 |
Claims
1. An envelope for recovering a used recording liquid cartridge,
comprising: an inner layer made of material capable of absorbing
recording liquid; and an outer layer made of water resistant
material.
2. An envelope for recovering a used recording liquid cartridge,
comprising: an inner layer made of material capable of absorbing
recording liquid; a middle layer made of water resistant material;
and an outer layer made of writable material.
3. An envelope for recovering a used recording liquid cartridge,
comprising: a main body of the envelope; and a foldable sealing
portion capable of sealing an opening of the envelope by folding at
a reference line; wherein a portion of the main body is extended
over the reference lines at both sides of the sealing potion.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention generally relates to an envelope for
recovering a recording liquid cartridge which is used in an image
printing device such as an ink jet recording device.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] An ink jet recording device using ink as the recording
liquid is employed as an image forming device in printers,
facsimiles, copying machines and their hybrid machines. In these
ink jet recording devices, it is common to replace an ink
cartridge, which is a recording liquid cartridge for supplying ink
to a recording head.
[0003] In the past, after such ink cartridge replacement, used ink
cartridges were thrown away by users. Recently, however, because of
requirements for efficient resource usage and environmental
preservation, used cartridges have been recovered by ink cartridge
suppliers.
[0004] Patent Reference #1 below discloses a method for recovering
used recording liquid cartridges, in which a recovering box is used
for recycling. In this method, however, it is inconvenient in that
users must go to where a recovering box is placed.
[0005] Patent Reference #2 below discloses another method for
recovering used recording liquid cartridges, in which
transportation such as mailing is employed for recovering such
cartridges. In this method, a name and address of destination and
other information are written on an outer surface of an ink
cartridge. After replacement, users can seal the ink inlet and
outlet of a used cartridge and mail it to the cartridge
supplier.
[0006] In this method, however, it is troublesome for users to seal
the ink inlet and outlet of used cartridges. And users may get ink
on their hands. If the user's sealing is incomplete, highly
transmittable ink for such ink jet recording devices may leak out
and make a mess of other transported goods.
[0007] Patent Reference #1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Open
Publication 2003-182804
[0008] Patent Reference #2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication
5-30106
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0009] It is a general object of the present invention to provide
an envelope for recovering such a recording liquid cartridge, which
can be easily used and can prevent ink leakage.
[0010] Features and advantages of the present invention are set
forth in the description that follows, and in part will become
apparent from the description and the accompanying drawings, or may
be learned by practice of the invention according to the teachings
provided in the description. Objects as well as other features and
advantages of the present invention will be realized and attained
by the envelope particularly pointed out in the specification in
such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable a person
having ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention.
[0011] To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with
the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described
herein, the invention provides as follows.
[0012] An envelope for recovering a used recording liquid cartridge
according to the present invention that solves the above problems
comprises an inner layer made of material capable of absorbing
recording liquid; and an outer layer made of water resistant
material.
[0013] According to this envelope, even if recording liquid leaks
from the cartridge put into the envelope, the liquid can be
absorbed by the inner layer to prevent from leaking outside of the
envelope. It is easy for users to mail used cartridges, and the
recording liquid of used cartridges does not make a mess of other
transported goods.
[0014] Another envelope for recovering a used recording liquid
cartridge according to the present invention comprises an inner
layer made of material capable of absorbing recording liquid; a
middle layer made of water resistant material; and an outer layer
made of writable material.
[0015] According to this envelope, besides the above advantages,
users can write a name and address of destination.
[0016] Further, an envelope for recovering a used recording liquid
cartridge according to the present invention comprises a main body
of the envelope; and a foldable sealing portion capable of sealing
an opening of the envelope by folding at a reference line; wherein
a portion of the main body is extended over the reference line at
both sides of the sealing potion.
[0017] According to this envelope, it is possible to prevent liquid
from leaking out at a potential opening due to capillary
phenomenon.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an envelope for recovering a
recording liquid cartridge according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structural
example of the envelope.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another
structural example of the envelope.
[0021] FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the envelope.
[0022] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the envelope.
[0023] FIG. 6 is a plan view of the major portion of the sealed
envelope.
[0024] FIG. 7 is a plan view of the major portion of a comparison
sample sealed envelope.
[0025] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an example of an ink
cartridge.
[0026] FIG. 9 shows an example of an ink bag.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0027] In the following, embodiments of the present invention are
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0028] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an envelope for recovering a
recording liquid cartridge according to an embodiment of the
present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view for
illustrating a structural example of the envelope. FIG. 3 is a
cross-sectional view for illustrating another structural example of
the envelope. FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the
envelope. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the envelope.
[0029] The envelope 1 is for recovering an ink cartridge 101 that
is a used recording liquid cartridge. As shown in FIG. 2, the
envelope 1 has a two-layer structure comprising an inner layer 11
and an outer layer 12. The inner layer 11 is made of material
capable of absorbing ink, for example thin paper. The outer layer
12 is made of water resistant material, for example PE. The inner
layer 11 and the outer layer 12 are heat sealed.
[0030] Due to this two-layer structure, even if ink is leaked out
from the used ink cartridge 101 put into the envelope 1, the inner
layer 11 keeps the leaked ink and the water resistance of the outer
layer 12 does not allow the ink to transmit to the outside.
Therefore, the envelope does not make a mess of others with the
leaked ink while transporting. Even if the envelope 1 is exposed to
rain, the water resistance of the outer layer 12 prevents the
envelope 1 from ripping or breaking. Heat sealing the inner layer
11 and the outer layer 12 to achieve integration prevents the inner
layer 11 from weakening even when the inner layer 11 absorbs the
ink.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 3, the envelope 1 may have a three-layer
structure having an inner layer 21, a middle layer 22 and an outer
layer 23. The inner layer 21 is made of material capable of
absorbing ink, for example thin paper. The middle layer 22 is made
of water resistant material, for example PE. The inner layer 21 and
the middle layer 22 are heat sealed. The outer layer 23 is made of
material allowing writing thereon, for example, craft paper, and is
stuck to the middle layer 22.
[0032] In this three-layer structure, the middle layer 22 functions
in the same manner as the above mentioned outer layer 12 resulting
in the same effect as in the two layer structure. Besides,
information such as sender's name and address can be written on an
outer surface of the outer layer 23.
[0033] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the envelope 1 has a sealing slip
3 at a sealing portion. The sealing slip 3 can be valley-folded at
a folding reference line 4, to seal an opening 2a of a main body 2
of the envelope 1. At each end of the sealing slip 3, a portion 5
of the main body 2 of the envelope 1 is formed continuously over
the folding reference line 4, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. That is,
the portion 5 of the main body 2 of the envelope 1 is extended over
the valley-folding reference line 4 and is folded at the
valley-folding line 4, to the perpendicular direction. A paste face
is formed or a double stick tape is fixed on the sealing slip 3 to
adhere to the main body 2 of the envelope 1.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 6, after valley-folding the sealing slip 3
at the folding reference line 4, the portion 5 of the main body 2
of the envelope 1 is folded over or laid over at both sides of the
sealing slip 3, and therefore the opening 2a is not exposed at an
end 2b of the main body 2 of the envelope 1. Accordingly, the ink
leaked out from the ink cartridge 101 put into the envelope 1
cannot leak to the outside of the envelope 1.
[0035] In general, liquid such as ink penetrates small
cross-sectional places well due to the capillary phenomenon. As
shown in FIG. 7, if there is no portion 5 of the main body 2 of the
envelope 1 at each end of the sealing slip 3, after folding the
sealing slip 3 at the folding reference line 4, there remains an
opening or gap at A portion at each end between the sealing slip 3
and the main body 2 of the envelope 1. This opening or gap portion
allows ink to easily penetrate better than other portions, and
therefore even a small amount of ink can be leaked out. In order to
avoid such leakage, the portion 5 of the main body 2 of the
envelope 1 is extended.
[0036] Similarly, at a bottom portion of the envelope 1, a portion
9 (see FIG. 5) of the main body 2 of the envelope 1 is extended
over a folding reference line 8 at each end of a sealing slip 7.
The sealing slip 7 is to be valley-folded along the folding
reference line 8 to seal the envelope 1. In this way, it is
possible to prevent the ink leaked out from the ink cartridge 101
put into the envelope 1 from leaking to the outside due to the
capillary phenomenon.
[0037] Next, with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, one example of such
an ink cartridge 101 is explained, which is suitable for recovering
by using the envelope 1.
[0038] The ink cartridge 101 shown in FIG. 8 comprises an ink bag
102 to be filled with ink, and a housing 103 to contain the ink bag
102. The housing 103 comprises a first housing part 111, a second
housing part 112 and a third housing part 113. The first housing
part 111 and the second housing part 112 form a protection cover
having a thin box figure to protect the sides of the ink bag
102.
[0039] The ink bag 102 comprises a rectangular-shaped flexible bag
body 121 made of aluminum laminated films, and a plastic holding
member 122 fixed or sealed to one longer side of the bag body 121.
The plastic holding member 122 is provided with an ink outlet 123
for supplying ink within the bag body 121 to an image printing
device. The ink outlet 123 is sealed by a self-sealable member,
made of such as butyl rubber resilient material.
[0040] In this way, since the ink cartridge 101 is formed by the
box-like housing 103 and the ink bag 102 is contained in and
protected by the housing 103, it is easy to put the ink cartridge
101 in the envelope 1.
[0041] Further, the present invention is not limited to these
embodiments, but various variations and modifications may be made
without departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0042] The present application is based on Japanese Priority
Application No. JPA 2003-381624 filed on Nov. 11, 2003, with the
Japanese Patent Office, the entire contents of which are hereby
incorporated by reference.
* * * * *