Device and method for sealing an ink cartridge

Abstract

The present invention provides a sealing device and method for an ink cartridge. First, the ink cartridge and a sealing film are placed in an airtight chamber isolated to the atmosphere. Second, a decompression mechanism is used to draw the air off the airtight chamber until the air pressure in the airtight chamber is reduced to a pre-determined pressure. Finally, a sealing mechanism is used to seal the sealing film onto the ink cartridge.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A sealing device for an ink cartridge having a cover and a body, comprising: 
 an airtight chamber having an upper airtight cover, a lower airtight cover and a cartridge supporting pedestal, the cartridge supporting pedestal being disposed in the lower airtight cover for supporting the body of the ink cartridge;    a decompression mechanism connected to the airtight chamber for drawing the air off the airtight chamber; and    a sealing mechanism disposed in the airtight chamber, the sealing mechanism having a sealing head for sealing a sealing film on the cover of the ink cartridge.    
     
     
         2 . The sealing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the airtight chamber further includes an elastic airtight member disposed in the lower edge of the upper airtight cover, whereby the airtight chamber is isolated to the atmosphere when the upper airtight cover is closed to the lower airtight cover.  
     
     
         3 . The sealing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sealing mechanism further includes a cylinder for moving the sealing head.  
     
     
         4 . The sealing device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the sealing head is connected to the cylinder and is faced toward the cartridge supporting pedestal.  
     
     
         5 . The sealing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the decompression mechanism further includes a pump and a valve.  
     
     
         6 . The sealing device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the decompression mechanism further includes a drawing pipe connected between the pump and the valve and between the valve and the upper airtight cover.  
     
     
         7 . A sealing method for using in the sealing device as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising the steps of: 
 (a) Placing the body of the ink cartridge in the cartridge supporting pedestal of the lower airtight cover of the airtight chamber;    (b) Placing the sealing film on a sealing position on the cover of the ink cartridge;    (c) Closing the upper airtight cover to the lower airtight cover;    (d) Actuating the decompression mechanism to draw the air off the airtight chamber until the air pressure in the airtight chamber is reduced to a pre-determined pressure, wherein the pre-determined pressure is less than the air pressure surrounding the airtight chamber;    (e) Turning off the valve of the decompression mechanism; and    (f) Pressing the sealing head to the sealing position on the cover of the ink cartridge to thermally fuse the sealing film onto the cover of the ink cartridge, wherein the sealing head is pre-heated to a pre-determined temperature.    
     
     
         8 . The sealing method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein in the step (f), the sealing head is actuated by the cylinder.  
     
     
         9 . A sealing method for an ink jet cartridge, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) Disposing the ink jet cartridge in an airtight chamber;    (b) Decompressing the airtight chamber; and    (c) Sealing a film onto the ink jet cartridge.    
     
     
         10 . The sealing method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the step (a) further comprises the sub-steps of: 
 (a-1) Placing the ink jet cartridge in a cartridge supporting pedestal of the airtight chamber;    (a-2) Placing the film on a sealing position on the ink jet cartridge; and    (a-3) Closing the airtight chamber.    
     
     
         11 . The sealing method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the step (b) further comprises the sub-steps of: 
 (b-1) Actuating a decompression mechanism to draw the air off the airtight chamber until the air pressure in the airtight chamber is reduced to a pre-determined pressure, wherein the pre-determined pressure is less than the air pressure surrounding the airtight chamber; and    (b-2) Turning off the decompression mechanism.    
     
     
         12 . The sealing method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the step (c) further comprises the step of Pressing a sealing head to the sealing position on the ink jet cartridge to thermally fuse the film onto the ink jet cartridge, wherein the sealing head is pre-heated to a pre-determined temperature.  
     
     
         13 . The sealing method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the sealing head is actuated by a cylinder.