Background Art As well known to those skilled in the art, an ink cartridge, used in an inkjet printer and continuously consuming ink during printing cannot print any more when the ink remaining in the ink cartridge reaches a predetermined amount or less.

After the ink in the cartridge is wholly consumed, the used ink cartridge should be replaced with a new one, or refilled with ink.

Currently, the used ink cartridge is recycled by refilling ink in the cartridge, because it is expensive to replace the used ink cartridge with a new one.

Moreover, it is preferable to refill the ink cartridge in view of the protection of environment as well as economic efficiency.

The used ink cartridge has been conventionally refilled by making an opening in the ink cartridge and injecting ink through the opening into the ink cartridge.

However, this method is disadvantageous in that it is inconvenient to refill the ink cartridge and the preferable refilled ink cartridge is not always obtained because the ink leaks through the opening for injecting the ink into the ink cartridge.

Furthermore, sharpness is reduced and a desired print cannot be obtained because printer head cleaning is not feasible.

Meanwhile, Korean Pat. Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-184735 discloses a device for injecting ink into a printer cartridge and a decompressor.

According to this patent, when a user unfixes the lever from a side of the ink vessel after an ink cartridge is combined with a cartridge holder comprising a push part, an elastic spring, a reinforcing plate provided with a lever positioned thereon, an ink vessel provided with a packing combined with the reinforcing plate, and an engagement member engaged with the ink vessel, ink in the ink vessel is released by an elastic spring, thus injecting the ink into the ink cartridge.

This device has an advantage of automatically refilling the ink cartridge, but is disadvantageous in that its structure is complicated, assembly of the device is difficult, and productivity of the device is reduced due to a large number of parts.

Disclosure of the Invention Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a device for stably and automatically refilling an ink cartridge.

Based on the present invention, the above object can be accomplished by providing a device for refilling an ink cartridge comprising a cartridge holder capable of being stably engaged with the ink cartridge ; a refill vessel engaged with the combination port of the cartridge holder, comprising an outlet communicated with the perforation of the cartridge holder, a cover detachably combined with an upper portion thereof, a liquid storage pack positioned under the cover, and chemicals positioned under the liquid storage pack ; and a pouch for storing ink, positioned in the refill vessel, having a hole communicated with the outlet of the refill vessel at a lower side thereof. The cartridge holder has a combination port positioned thereon and a perforation, positioned in the combination port, corresponding to an inlet of the ink cartridge. The outlet is positioned at a lower side of the refill vessel, the liquid storage pack contains a mixture of water with acid and is torn when a switch is pressed, and the chemicals react with the mixture in the liquid storage pack to produce a predetermined pressure in the refill vessel.

The pouch is compressed to release the ink through the outlet of the refill vessel to

the cartridge holder when a pressure in the refill vessel is increased.

Further, the present invention provides a device for refilling an ink cartridge comprising a cartridge holder capable of being stably engaged with the ink cartridge; a refill vessel engaged with the combination port of the cartridge holder, comprising an outlet communicated with the perforation of the cartridge holder, a cover detachably combined with an upper portion thereof, a liquid storage pack positioned under the cover, a prop positioned under the liquid storage pack, and chemicals positioned on the prop; and a bellows for storing ink, positioned under the prop in the refill vessel, having a hole communicated with the outlet of the refill vessel at a lower side thereof. The cartridge holder has a combination port positioned thereon and a perforation, positioned in the combination port, corresponding to an inlet of the ink cartridge. In addition, the outlet is positioned at a lower side of the refill vessel, the liquid storage pack contains a mixture of water with acid and is torn when a switch is pressed, the prop can be vertically moved in the refill vessel, and the chemicals react with the mixture in the liquid storage pack to produce a predetermined pressure in the refill vessel. The bellows is pressed to release the ink through the outlet of the refill vessel to the cartridge holder when a pressure in the refill vessel is increased and the prop descends.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a device for refilling an ink cartridge comprising a cartridge holder capable of being stably engaged with the ink cartridge; and a refill vessel engaged with the combination port of the cartridge holder, comprising an outlet communicated with the perforation of the cartridge holder, a cover detachably combined with an upper portion thereof, a liquid storage pack positioned under the cover, chemicals positioned under the liquid storage pack, ink positioned under the chemicals, and a piston for partitioning a space between the chemicals and the ink. The cartridge holder has a combination port positioned thereon and a perforation, positioned in the combination port, corresponding to an inlet of the ink cartridge. In addition, the outlet is positioned at a lower side of the refill vessel, the liquid storage pack contains a mixture of water with acid and is torn when a switch is pressed, the chemicals react with the

mixture in the liquid storage pack to produce a predetermined pressure in the refill vessel, and the piston, positioned between the chemicals and the ink, descends to compress a space under the piston to release the ink through the outlet of the refill vessel to the cartridge holder when a pressure over the piston is increased.

Brief Description of the Drawings The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a device for refilling an ink cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a device for refilling an ink cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a device for refilling an ink cartridge according to a third embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a device for refilling an ink cartridge according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a device for refilling an ink cartridge according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a device for refilling an ink cartridge according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a device for refilling an ink cartridge according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention, in which a refill vessel is separated from a cartridge holder; and Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a device for refilling an ink cartridge according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention, in which a sticker is removed from a chemical providing means.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Reference now should be made to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used throughout the different drawings to designate the same or similar components.

With reference to Fig. 1, illustrated is a sectional view of a device for refilling an ink cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The device for refilling the ink cartridge comprises a refill vessel 10, and a cartridge holder 100 for effectively refilling the ink cartridge 1 by properly supporting the ink cartridge 1.

The refill vessel 10 comprises a cover 20 detachably combined with an upper portion thereof and an outlet 12 positioned at a lower portion thereof.

A block 22 having a space 22a opened downwardly from a bottom thereof is integrally positioned under the cover 20, and a liquid storage pack 24 containing a mixture of water with acid is positioned in the space 22a.

At this time, the acid acts as a catalyst, and is selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, sulfuric acid, chloric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, carbonic acid, and a mixture thereof.

A switch 30 capable of pressing the liquid storage pack 24 to tear open the liquid storage pack 24 is positioned over the cover 20, and comprises a pin part 32 having a sharp lower portion-and extended from a pressing part 34 through the cover to the vicinity of the liquid storage pack, and the pressing part 34, exposed to an atmosphere, positioned on an upper portion of the pin part 32.

The block 22 is provided with a prop 40 which is positioned under the block and the block 22 and the prop 40 are connected through a plurality of connecting rods 42 each other.

A groove 44 corresponding to the opening of the block 22 is positioned on the prop 40, and chemicals 50 are positioned in the groove 44. The chemicals 50 are reacted with the mixture in the liquid storage pack 24 to produce a predetermined pressure.

Preferably, the chemicals 50 are positioned in a separate storage tub 52 in a form of gel or powder in the groove 44.

The chemicals are selected from the group consisting of azodicarbonamide (ADCA), p, p'-oxybis benzenesulfonyl hydrazide (OBSH), p-toluenesulfonyl hydrazide (TSH), benzenesulfonyl hydrazide (BSH), dinitrosopentamethylene tetramine (DNPT), p-toluenesulfonyl semitabazide (PTSS), 5-phenyltetrasol (5PT), and an inorganic mixture consisting of citric acid and sodium bicarbonate.

Formulae of citric acid and sodium bicarbonate are expressed by formulae 1 and 2, respectively.

Formula 1 HOOCCH2C (OH) (COOH) CH2COOH Formula 2 NaHCO3 Furthermore, a reaction mechanism of citric acid and sodium bicarbonate with water are shown in equation 1, below.

Equation 1 (Citric acid + Sodium bicarbonate) + nH20 o 771C02 (gas t) + NaOOCCHZC (OH) (COONa) CH2COONa As shown in equation 1, citric acid and sodium bicarbonate react stoichiometrically with water in the presence of an acid catalyst to produce sodium citrate and carbon dioxide C02. For example, 1 g of chemicals react with 10 cc of water to produce 100 cc of carbon dioxide, thus increasing a pressure in the refill vessel 10 by 10 times.

Meanwhile, a pouch 60 is positioned in the refill vessel 10.

Ink L is stored in the pouch 60, and a hole 62 communicated with the

outlet 12 is positioned at a bottom of the pouch 60, and so when a pressure in the refill vessel 10 is increased, the pouch 60 is compressed to release the ink through the outlet of the refill vessel 10.

A filter 14 for filtering dregs of the ink L is positioned at a junction between the hole 62 of the pouch 60 and the outlet 12 of the refill vessel 10, and a rubber plate 16 for sealing the outlet is positioned at a bottom of the outlet 12 of the refill vessel 10.

At this time, the rubber plate 16 preferably consists of a material with a cohesive power sufficient to seal a circumference of the pin part when the rubber plate 16 is pricked by the pin part, for example, rubber or silicone.

A receiving space 102 for receiving and fixing an ink cartridge 1 is positioned in a cartridge holder 100, and a support 104 is protruded from a bottom of the receiving space 102 so as to stably fix the ink cartridge 1 in the space 102.

The support 104 is inserted into a groove positioned at a bottom of the ink cartridge 1, thus supporting the ink cartridge.

In addition, a combination port 106, engaged with the outlet 12 of the refill vessel 10, is positioned on an upper side of the cartridge holder 100, a pin 108 is vertically positioned at the center of the combination port 106, and a perforation 109 communicated with an inlet of the ink cartridge 1 is positioned in the pin 108.

Furthermore, a packing 110 with an opening communicated with the perforation 109 of the pin 108 is in contact with a bottom side of an upper portion of the cartridge holder 100, thus sealing the inlet of the ink cartridge 1 to stably refilling the ink cartridge 1 with the ink L.

A detailed description of an operation of the device for refilling an ink cartridge will be given, below.

A refill vessel 10 is vertically inserted into a cartridge holder 100 having an ink cartridge 1 bottom up in such a way that an outlet 12 of a refill vessel 10 is inserted into a combination port 106 of the cartridge holder 100. At this time, a pin 108 of the cartridge holder 100 is inserted through a rubber plate 16 of the refill vessel 10 into the outlet 12.

A switch 30 is then pressed to tear open a liquid storage pack 24, and water and acid are released from the liquid storage pack to react with chemicals 50 to produce carbon dioxide (C02), thus increasing a pressure in the refill vessel 10 and compressing a pouch 60.

Ink L in the compressed pouch 60 is then released through a hole 62, filtered by a filter 14, and inserted through the pin 108 of the cartridge holder 100 into the ink cartridge 1 stably supported by the cartridge holder 100.

Therefore, the present invention is advantageous in that the ink is readily inserted into the ink cartridge by just pressing the switch 30 after the refill vessel 10 is vertically inserted into the cartridge holder 100 bottom up.

Another advantage is that the ink L is constantly refilled in the ink cartridge 1 during a predetermined period because the pouch 60 is constantly compressed by a constant pressure due to the carbon dioxide, thereby allowing the ink cartridge 1 to provide a print with a desired quality.

In addition, the ink cartridge 1 is stably supported by the cartridge holder 100, and the ink is refilled in the ink cartridge 1 while not being leaked because a circumference of the inlet of the ink cartridge 1 is sealed by a packing 110, and the leakage of the ink is completely prevented to prevent a contamination around the ink cartridge by the ink.

Further, damage to the refill vessel 10 during a long shipping and storing period is prevented because the pouch 60 is compressed by reacting chemicals with water.

Furthermore, a print can be cleanly obtained with the use of the ink cartridge because the filter 14 filters the ink refilled in the ink cartridge.

Other embodiments of the present invention are shown in Figs. 2 to 6, and only a description in these embodiments different from that of the first embodiment of the present invention will be given, below.

The device for refilling the ink cartridge according to a second embodiment shown in Fig. 2 has the same constitution as the device according to the first embodiment except that a cartridge holder 100 is integrated with a refill

vessel 10. The device of the second embodiment is operated by use of a pouch like the device of the first embodiment.

That is to say, an outlet 12 of the refill vessel 10 positioned on an upper side of the cartridge holder 100 is integrated with the cartridge holder 100, and a perforation 109 communicated with an inlet of an ink cartridge 1 is positioned in the outlet 12.

Accordingly, the ink is refilled in the ink cartridge 1 according to the same procedure as the first embodiment by inserting the ink cartridge 1 into the cartridge holder 100 and pressing a switch 30.

In Figs. 3 and 4, a bellows is used instead of the pouch.

Referring to Fig. 3, the liquid storage pack 24 and the switch 30 are positioned in the same way as the second embodiment, but the bellows is used instead of the pouch.

The bellows 70 vertically expands and contracts, and has a hole 72, positioned at a bottom thereof, communicated with the outlet 12. In addition, a vertically movable prop 40-1 is positioned on the bellows 70 in the refill vessel 10.

A groove 44-1 is positioned on the prop 40-1, and chemicals 50 are positioned in the groove 44-1.

Accordingly, when the switch 30 is pressed after the ink cartridge 1 is inserted into the cartridge holder 100, a pressure in a space formed between the prop 40-1 and the cover 20 is increased to allow the prop 40-1 to descend. The descending prop 40-1 presses the bellows 70 to release the ink through the outlet 12 to refill the ink cartridge.

A fourth embodiment shown in Fig. 4 utilizes the bellows like the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, but has a difference in that the cartridge holder 100 is integrated with the refill vessel 10 in the fourth embodiment.

In other words, the outlet 12 of the refill vessel 10 is integrally positioned on the cartridge holder 100, and a perforation 109 communicated with an inlet of the ink cartridge 1 on the cartridge holder is positioned in the outlet.

Therefore, when the switch 30 is pressed after the ink cartridge 1 is

inserted into the cartridge holder 100, the bellows 70 is compressed to refill the ink cartridge as in the third embodiment shown in Fig. 3.

In Figs. 5 and 6, a piston is used to refill the ink cartridge.

According to a fifth embodiment shown in Fig. 5, the liquid storage pack 24 and the switch 30 are positioned in the same way as the fourth embodiment.

However, this fifth embodiment is different from the above embodiments in that a piston 80 is positioned under the liquid storage pack 24.

A groove 82 is positioned on the piston 80, and chemicals 50 are positioned in the groove 82. One or more rubber rings 84 are positioned around a circumference of the piston 80 so as to form an airtight seal between the piston and an inside of the refill vessel.

Ink L is stored in a lower portion of the piston 80.

Accordingly, when the switch 30 is pressed after the ink cartridge 1 is inserted into the cartridge holder 100, a pressure in a space formed between the piston 80 and the cover 20 is increased to allow the piston 80 to descend. The descending piston 80 presses the stored ink into the outlet to refill the ink cartridge.

A sixth embodiment shown in Fig. 6 utilizes the same piston manner as the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, but is different from the fifth embodiment in that the cartridge holder 100 is integrated with the refill vessel 10 in the sixth embodiment.

In other words, the outlet 12 of the refill vessel 10 is integrally positioned on the cartridge holder 100, and a perforation 109 communicated with an inlet of the ink cartridge 1 on the cartridge holder is positioned in the outlet.

Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate a device for refilling an ink cartridge according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention, and the refill vessel is separated from the cartridge holder in Fig. 7.

In this specification, only constituents of the device of this embodiment differ from those of the third embodiment shown in Fig. 3 will be described, below.

According to the seventh embodiment, a bellows 70 in which ink L is stored is positioned in a lower portion of the refill vessel 10, and a predetermined amount of a mixture of water with acid is discharged in a space positioned on an

upper portion of the bellows 70.

In addition, a chemical providing means 90 for providing a predetermined amount of chemicals 50 so as to produce a predetermined pressure by reacting the chemicals with the mixture of water with acid in the refill vessel is positioned at an upper portion of the refill vessel 10.

The chemical providing means 90 comprises a chemical capsule 92, positioned at an upper portion of the refill vessel 10, having a perforation 92a at a bottom thereof; a predetermined amount of chemicals 50 stored in the chemical capsule 92 ; a sealing paper 96 for sealing the perforation 92a of the chemical capsule ; and a sticker 94 connected through a string 98 to the sealing paper 96 so as to remove the sealing paper from the chemical capsule to expose the perforation 92a when the sticker is pulled from an upper side of the refill vessel 10.

A structure of the cartridge holder 100 and a structure of the cartridge holder integrated with the refill vessel are the same as the above embodiments.

A detailed description of an operation of the device for refilling an ink cartridge according to this embodiment will be given, below.

A refill vessel 10 is vertically inserted bottom up into a cartridge holder 100 having an ink cartridge 1.

A sticker 94 of a chemical providing means 90 is then removed so that a sealing paper 96 is separated from a chemical capsule 92.

In that case, chemicals 50 are released through the perforation 92a of the chemical capsule 92 into the refill vessel 10, and react with a liquid in the refill vessel to produce carbon dioxide gas, thus increasing a pressure in the refill vessel and pressing the bellows 70 to refill the ink cartridge.

Industrial Applicability As described above, the present invention is advantageous in that users can easily refill an ink cartridge, the print is clear, and refilling is cleanly conducted because leakage of ink is completely prevented during refilling of the ink cartridge.

Other advantages of the present invention are that the used cartridge is recycled, thus protecting the environment as well as obtaining economic efficiency.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.