Liquid container and liquid container package

Abstract

When a package in which a tank 1 is wrapped is opened, caused is an action of reversing vertical positions of an end face of the tank 1 having an ink supply portion 10, and an end face opposite to the foregoing end face. Along with this action, air existing inside the tank 1 ascends, and then is separated by air separating portions. Thus, a coloring material component inside the tank is stirred.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of an external shape of an ink tank according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an interior of the ink tank according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the ink tank immediately after a turnover operation is performed from a state in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the ink tank for illustrating a state where air goes ascending.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the ink tank for illustrating a state where the air goes ascending while passing through a portion α.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the ink tank for illustrating a state where the air further goes ascending from the state in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the ink tank for illustrating a state where the air further goes ascending from the state in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the ink tank for illustrating a state where the air finishes ascending.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the ink tank for illustrating a state where the air goes ascending after a subsequent turnover operation is performed from the state in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the ink tank for illustrating a state where the air further goes ascending from the state in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the ink tank for illustrating a state where the separated air pieces go ascending.

FIG. 12 is a front view showing a package in which the ink tank of the first embodiment is wrapped.

FIG. 13 is a front view of an external shape of an ink tank according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of an interior of the ink tank according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the ink tank immediately after a turnover operation is performed from a state in FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the ink tank for illustrating a state where the separated air pieces go ascending.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the ink tank for illustrating a state where the air goes ascending from the state in FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a perspective cutaway view showing a vicinity of an ink supply portion of the ink tank according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a perspective cutaway view showing a vicinity of an ink supply portion of the ink tank according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a schematic view for illustrating a specification of an amount of air existing in an ink tank.

Claims

1. A liquid container, which contains air in addition to liquid used by an inkjet printing apparatus, comprising: a first end portion having a liquid supply portion for supplying the contained liquid to the inkjet printing apparatus;a second end portion opposite to the first end portion; andan air separating portion which separates the air, and which extends between two opposite sides of the container having the largest areas among all sides of the container connecting first end portion and the second end portion with each other, whereinan air-liquid interface between the air and the liquid is located at the same level as or the higher level than the air separating portion in a posture of the ink tank with the first end portion facing vertically downward.

2. A liquid container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air separating portion separates the air into pieces, the separated air pieces ascend inside the liquid container, and reach the uppermost portion of the liquid contained in the liquid container in the gravity direction with time lags, respectively.

3. A liquid container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the liquid supply portion is provided in a position located off to one side of the container from the center of the first end portion, so as to protrude from the first end portion of the ink tank.

4. A liquid container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air separating portion includes an inclined portion which extends from a central region of the container toward one side thereof so as to cover a region over the liquid supply portion, and which is inclined in a direction of getting away from the liquid supply portion.

5. A liquid container as claimed in claim 1, comprising a plurality of air separating portions, wherein the air-liquid interface is located at the same level as or the higher level than at least one of the air separating portions.

6. A liquid container as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in a state where the liquid supply portion faces downward in the gravity direction, at least one of an ink supply pipe and an atmosphere communicating pipe which are constituent members of the liquid supply portion is in contact with the air.

7. A liquid container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the liquid is ink.

8. A liquid container as claimed in claim 7, wherein the liquid is ink containing pigment component.

9. The liquid container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the liquid container is an ink tank.

10. A liquid container package configured by housing, in a pack member, a liquid container which includes: a first end portion having a liquid supply portion for supplying the contained liquid to the inkjet printing apparatus;a second end portion opposite to the first end portion; andan air separating portion separating the air, and extending between two opposite sides of the container having the largest areas among all sides of the container that connect first end portion and the second end portion with each other; andin which an air-liquid interface between the air and the liquid is located at the same level as or the higher level than the air separating portion in a posture of the ink tank with the first end portion facing vertically downward,wherein the pack member having:a notch provided in an first outer edge portion of the pack member where the first end portion of the housed liquid container is located; anda hole for suspension provided in an second outer edge portion, opposite to the first edge portion, of the pack member where the second end portion is located.