Patent Application
20160009100
The present invention relates to a liquid container.
An inkjet printer that is one type of a liquid consuming device performs printing on a printing medium such as printing paper by ejecting ink that is one example of a liquid from an ejection head onto the printing medium. A conventionally known configuration of this inkjet printer includes an ink tank provided to store ink and supplies the ink stored in the ink tank to the ejection head (see, for example, Patent Literature 1). This ink tank is provided with an ink inlet port. The user may refill ink from the ink inlet port into the ink tank.
PTL 1: JP 2012-20495A
The ink tank described in Patent Literature 1 above includes a liquid chamber configured to contain ink, an air chamber provided to communicate with the liquid chamber and an air introducing port provided to communicate with the air chamber. The air chamber stores the air that is introduced into the liquid chamber. The air introducing port is an air intake to introduce the air into the air chamber. In this ink tank, the balance between the ink and the air is maintained between the liquid chamber and the air chamber in a state that the pressure applied to the ink in the liquid chamber is lower than the atmospheric pressure in the air chamber. Accordingly, in this ink tank, the boundary position between the ink and the air is maintained in between the liquid chamber and the air chamber. In other words, in this ink tank, an ink meniscus is formed on the boundary between the ink and the air in between the liquid chamber and the air chamber.
A vibration or an impact applied to the inkjet printer may, however, break the meniscus of ink and lose the balance between the ink and the air in between the liquid chamber and the air chamber. In this case, the ink in the liquid chamber flows into the air chamber. The ink flowing into the air chamber may be leaked through the air introducing port out of the ink tank. In other words, the prior art liquid container has such a problem that a liquid contained in the liquid container may be leaked outside. This problem is not limited to the liquid container that contains ink but is also commonly found in any liquid container that contains a liquid other than ink.
In order to solve at least part of the problems described above, the invention may be implemented by the following aspects or embodiments.
According to one aspect, there is provided a liquid container. The liquid container may comprise a storage chamber configured to contain a liquid; an air chamber provided to communicate with the storage chamber and configured to contain the air that is introduced into the storage chamber; and an air introducing path provided between the air chamber and the storage chamber and configured to introduce the air contained in the air chamber into the storage chamber. A first introducing port may formed to introduce the air into the air chamber is located vertically above a liquid level in the air chamber of the liquid that flows from the storage chamber into the air chamber, in a first attitude that the storage chamber and the air chamber are aligned in a direction intersecting with a vertical direction and that the first introducing port is located vertically above a delivery port which is an air chamber-side opening of the air introducing path.
In the liquid container of this aspect, the first introducing port is located vertically above the liquid level in the air chamber of the liquid that flows from the storage chamber into the air chamber, in the first attitude that the storage chamber and the air chamber are aligned in the direction intersecting with the vertical direction and that the first introducing port is located vertically above the delivery port. This configuration suppresses the liquid in the air chamber from being leaked through the first introducing port out of the liquid container in the first attitude.
In the liquid container of the above aspect, the air introducing path may include a portion extended vertically upward in the first attitude, and a second introducing port which is a storage chamber-side opening of the air introducing path may be provided in the portion extended vertically upward.
In this aspect, the air introducing path includes the portion extended vertically upward in the first attitude, and the second introducing port is provided in the portion extended vertically upward. In the case that the liquid flows through the air introducing path into the air chamber, the second introducing port provided to be protruded vertically above the liquid level of the liquid in the storage chamber stops the inflow of the liquid into the air introducing path. This reduces the amount of the liquid flowing from the storage chamber into the air chamber in the first attitude. This accordingly further suppresses the liquid in the air chamber from flowing from the introducing port into the air introducing path. This configuration thus more effectively suppresses the liquid in the storage chamber from being leaked through the air introducing path out of the liquid container.
In the liquid container of the above aspect, the delivery port may be located vertically above the liquid level in the air chamber in the first attitude.
In this aspect, the delivery port is located vertically above the liquid level in the air chamber in the first attitude. This configuration further suppresses the liquid in the storage chamber from being leaked through the air introducing path out of the liquid container.
In the liquid container of the above aspect, the storage chamber may be a space formed between a first sheet member and a main wall, and the air chamber may be a space formed between the first sheet member and the main wall and separated from the storage chamber by a partition wall. The delivery port may be formed to pass through the main wall and to be open from inside of the air chamber toward outside of the air chamber. The second introducing port may be formed to pass through the main wall and to be open from outside of the storage chamber toward inside of the storage chamber. The air introducing path making the storage chamber communicate with the air chamber may lead from the delivery port to the second introducing port through a surface of the main wall on an opposite side to the air chamber and a surface of the main wall on an opposite side to the storage chamber.
In this aspect, the air introducing path goes through outside of the air chamber and outside of the storage chamber. This increases the capacity of the storage chamber, compared with the configuration that the air introducing path is provided inside of the storage chamber.
In the liquid container of the above aspect, the air introducing path may be a groove that is provided on the surface of the main wall on the opposite side to the air chamber and the surface of the main wall on the opposite side to the storage chamber and is sealed by a second sheet member.
In this aspect, the air in the air chamber is introduced into the storage chamber by the air introducing path configured such that the groove provided in the outer shell of the liquid container is sealed with the second sheet member.
In the liquid container of the above aspect, a first bank may be provided inside of the air chamber to surround the delivery port.
In this aspect, the first bank surrounding the delivery port is provided inside of the air chamber. Even when the liquid flows into the air introducing path, the first bank is likely to interfere with the inflow of the liquid through the air introducing path into the air chamber. This suppresses the liquid flowing into the air introducing path from entering the air chamber and thereby more effectively suppresses the liquid in the storage chamber from being leaked out of the liquid container.
In the liquid container of the above aspect, the first bank may be located to be protruded from a liquid level of the liquid in the storage chamber in a second attitude that the storage chamber and the air chamber are aligned in a direction intersecting with the vertical direction and that the first sheet member is located vertically below the main wall.
This aspect suppresses the liquid in the storage chamber from flowing through the air introducing path and being leaked from the first bank in the air chamber. This more effectively suppresses the liquid in the storage chamber from being leaked out of the liquid container.
In the liquid container of the above aspect, a second bank may be provided inside of the storage chamber to surround the second introducing port.
In this aspect, the second bank surrounding the second introducing port is provided inside of the storage chamber. The second bank is likely to interfere with the inflow of the liquid in the storage chamber through the second introducing port into the air introducing path. This accordingly suppresses the liquid in the storage chamber from flowing into the air chamber.
In the liquid container of the above aspect, the second bank may be located to be protruded from a liquid level of the liquid in the storage chamber in a third attitude that the storage chamber and the air chamber are aligned in a direction intersecting with the vertical direction and that the first sheet member is located vertically below the main wall.
In this aspect, the second bank is provided to be protruded from the liquid level of the liquid in the storage chamber in the third attitude that the storage chamber and the air chamber are aligned in the direction intersecting with the vertical direction and that the first sheet member is located vertically below the main wall. This further suppresses the liquid in the storage chamber from flowing through the second introducing port into the air introducing path in the third attitude and thereby more effectively suppresses the liquid in the storage chamber from flowing into the air chamber.
In the liquid container of the above aspect, the storage chamber may be a space formed between a first sheet member and a main wall, and the air chamber may be a space formed between the first sheet member and the main wall and separated from the storage chamber by a partition wall. The air introducing path may include a first flow path formed along an outer periphery of the air chamber. The first flow path may be formed to be located vertically above the air chamber in an attitude that the storage chamber is located vertically below the air chamber.
In this aspect, at least part of the air introducing path is formed along the outer periphery of the air chamber. The air introducing path is accordingly located vertically above the storage chamber in any of the attitude that the tank is placed such that the second wall faces downward, the attitude that the tank is placed such that the third wall faces downward and the attitude that the tank is placed such that the fourth wall faces downward. This further effectively suppresses the liquid in the storage chamber from flowing into the air chamber.
According to another aspect, there is provided a liquid container. The liquid container may comprise a storage chamber configured to contain a liquid; a inlet port provided to communicate with the storage chamber and configured to fill the storage chamber with the liquid; a supply port provided to communicate with the storage chamber and configured to supply the liquid to outside; an air chamber provided to communicate with the storage chamber and configured to contain an air that is introduced into the storage chamber; and an air introducing path provided between the air chamber and the storage chamber and configured to introduce the air contained in the air chamber into the storage chamber. The air introducing path may include a first flow path formed along an outer periphery of the air chamber. The first flow path may be formed to be located vertically above the air chamber in an attitude that the storage chamber is located vertically below the air chamber.
In this aspect, the air introducing path includes the first flow path formed along the outer periphery of the air chamber. The first flow path is formed to be located vertically above the air chamber in the attitude that the storage chamber is located vertically below the air chamber. This configuration is more likely to suppress the liquid in the storage chamber from flowing into the air chamber.
In the liquid container of the above aspect, the air chamber may be a space formed between a first sheet member and a main wall, and the first flow path may be provided by the first sheet member and an overhang formed along the outer periphery of the air chamber.
In general, the air introducing path is a passage of the air and preferably has such a passage sectional area that does not allow the liquid to readily pass through. This air introducing path has the smaller passage sectional area, compared with the storage chamber configured to contain the liquid. This air introducing path may be easily provided by using the overhang outside of the storage chamber rather than the internal space of the storage chamber. It is more preferable to use the overhang on the outer periphery of the air chamber. This facilitates formation of the air introducing path.
In the liquid container of the above aspect, the overhang may have a thickness in a direction from the main wall toward the first sheet member less than a distance between the main wall and the first sheet member.
In general, the air introducing path is a passage of the air and preferably has such a passage sectional area that does not allow the liquid to readily pass through. This air introducing path has the smaller passage sectional area, compared with the storage chamber configured to contain the liquid. This air introducing path may be easily provided by forming the overhang on the outer periphery of the air chamber to have the thickness less than the distance between the main wall and the first sheet member. This facilitates formation of the air introducing path.
In the liquid container of the above aspect, the air introducing path may connect with the first flow path and include a second flow path formed along the outer periphery of the air chamber. The second flow path may be located vertically above the air chamber in an attitude that the storage chamber and the air chamber are aligned in a direction intersecting with a vertical direction.
In this aspect, the second flow path is located vertically above the air chamber in the attitude that the storage chamber and the air chamber are aligned in the direction intersecting with the vertical direction. This configuration more effectively suppresses the liquid in the storage chamber from flowing into the air chamber.
In the liquid container of the above aspect, the air introducing path may connect with the first flow path and include a third flow path formed along the outer periphery of the air chamber. The third flow path may be located on an opposite side to the second flow path across the air chamber.
In this aspect, the air introducing path connects with the first flow path and includes the third flow path formed along the outer periphery of the air chamber. The third flow path is located on the opposite side to the second flow path across the air chamber. This configuration more effectively suppresses the liquid in the storage chamber from flowing into the air chamber.
The liquid container of the above aspect may further comprise a supply tube connecting with the supply port.
This aspect includes the tube connecting with the supply port. This enhances the flexibility in the configuration of supplying the liquid in the storage chamber to outside.
The following describes a multifunction printer as one example of a liquid consuming device according to an embodiment with reference to drawings. The multifunction printer 1 of the embodiment includes a printer 3 and a scanner unit 5 as shown in
The scanner unit 5 is flatbed type having an imaging element (not shown) such as an image sensor, a platen and a cover. The scanner unit 5 is capable of reading an image or the like recorded on a medium such as paper via the imaging element in the form of image data. The scanner unit 5 accordingly serves as a reader of the image or the like. As shown in
The printer 3 performs printing on a printing medium P such as printing paper with ink as one example of liquid. As shown in
The printer 3 also has an operation panel 12. The operation panel 12 is provided with a power button 13A and other operation buttons 13B. An operator who operates the printer 3 faces the operation panel 12 to operate the power button 13A and the operation buttons 13B. A front face of the printer 3 is a surface where the operation panel 12 is provided. The casing 7 has a window 14 provided on the front face of the printer 3. The window 14 has optical transparency. The four tanks 9 described above are placed at a position overlapping the window 14. This configuration enables the operator to observe the four tanks 9 through the window 14.
According to this embodiment, a region of each of the tank 9 facing the window 9 has optical transparency, so that ink contained in the tank 9 is visible through the region of the tank 9 having optical transparency. This enables the operator to observe the four tanks 9 through the window 14 and thereby visually check the amounts of inks remaining in the respective tanks 9. According to this embodiment, the window 14 is provided on the front surface of the printer 3. This configuration enables the operator facing the operation panel 12 to visually recognize the respective tanks 9 through the window 14. This accordingly enables the operator to check the remaining amounts of inks in the respective tanks 9 while operating the printer 3.
As shown in
The printer 3 also has a medium feeding mechanism (not shown) and a head carrying mechanism (not shown). The medium feeding mechanism drives a feed roller 22 by the power from a motor (not shown), so as to feed a printing medium P in the Y-axis direction. The head carrying mechanism transmits the power from a motor 23 via a timing belt 25 to the carriage 17, so as to carry the carriage 17 along the X-axis direction. As described above, the ejection head 19 is mounted on the carriage 17. The ejection head 19 is thus movable in the X-axis direction via the carriage 17 by the head carrying mechanism. The medium feeding mechanism and the head carrying mechanism cause ink to be ejected from the ejection head 19 while changing the position of the ejection head 19 relative to the printing medium P, so as to complete printing on the printing medium P.
The tank 9 has a casing 31 and a sheet member 33 as one example of the first sheet member as shown in
The container portion 35 includes first wall 41, a second wall 42, a third wall 43, a fourth wall 44 and a fifth wall 45. The second wall 42, the third wall 43, the fourth wall 44 and the fifth wall 45 are arranged to intersect with the first wall 41 respectively. The second wall 42 and the third wall 43 are located to face each other across the first wall 41 in the Y-axis direction. The fourth wall 44 and the fifth wall 45 are located to face each other across the first wall 41 in the Z-axis direction. The second wall 42 intersects with both the fourth wall 44 and the fifth wall 45. The third wall 43 also intersects with both the fourth wall 44 and the fifth wall 45.
In the planar view, the first wall 41 is surrounded by the second wall 42, the third wall 43, the fourth wall 44 and the fifth wall 45. The second wall 42, the third wall 43, the fourth wall 44 and the fifth wall 45 are protruded from the first wall 41 in the +X-axis direction. Accordingly, the container portion 35 is formed in a recessed shape by the first wall 41 as main wall and the second wall 42, the third wall 43, the fourth wall 44 and the fifth wall 45 extended vertically from the main wall. A recess 35A is formed by the first wall 41, the second wall 42, the third wall 43, the fourth wall 44 and the fifth wall 45. The recess 35A is formed to be concave in the −X-axis direction. The recess 35A is open in the +X-axis direction, i.e., on the sheet member 33-side. Ink is contained in the recess 35A. The first wall 41, the second wall 42, the third wall 43, the fourth wall 44 and the fifth wall 45 are not limited to flat walls but may have some concavo-convex shapes.
The air chamber 37 is provided on the fifth wall 45. The air chamber 37 is protruded from the fifth wall 45 on an opposite side to a fourth wall 44-side of the fifth wall 45, i.e., on a +Z-axis direction side of the fifth wall 45. The air chamber 37 includes a first wall 41, a fifth wall 45, a sixth wall 46, a seventh wall 47 and an eighth wall 48. The first wall 41 of the container portion 35 is identical with the first wall 41 of the air chamber 37. In other words, according to this embodiment, the container portion 35 and the air chamber 37 share the first wall 41.
The sixth wall 46 is protruded from the fifth wall 45 on the opposite side to the fourth wall 44-side of the fifth wall 45, i.e., on the +Z-axis direction side of the fifth wall 45. The seventh wall 47 is protruded from the fifth wall 45 on the opposite side to the fourth wall 44-side of the fifth wall 45, i.e., on the +Z-axis direction side of the fifth wall 45. The sixth wall 46 and the seventh wall 47 are located to face each other across the first wall 41 of the air chamber 37 in the Y-axis direction. The eighth wall 48 is located to face the fifth wall 45 across the first wall 41 of the air chamber 37 in the Z-axis direction. The sixth wall 46 intersects both the fifth wall 45 and the eighth wall 48. The seventh wall 47 also intersects both the fifth wall 45 and the eighth wall 48.
In the planar view, the first wall 41 of the air chamber 37 is surrounded by the fifth wall 45, the sixth wall 46, the seventh wall 47 and the eighth wall 48. The fifth wall 45, the sixth wall 46, the seventh wall 47 and the eighth wall 48 are protruded from the first wall 41 in the +X-axis direction. Accordingly, the air chamber 37 is formed in a recessed shape by the first wall 41 as main wall and the fifth wall 45, the sixth wall 46, the seventh wall 47 and the eighth wall 48 extended vertically from the main wall. A recess 37A of the air chamber 37 is formed by the first wall 41, the fifth wall 45, the sixth wall 46, the seventh wall 47 and the eighth wall 48. The recess 37A is formed to be concave in the −X-axis direction. The recess 37A is open in the +X-axis direction, i.e., on the sheet member 33-side. The recess 35A and the recess 37A are separated from each other by the fifth wall 45 as partition wall. The amounts of protrusion of the second wall 42 to the eighth wall 48 from the first wall 41 are set to an identical protrusion amount.
The second wall 42 and the sixth wall 46 form a step in the Y-axis direction. The sixth wall 46 is located on the third wall 43-side of the second wall 42, i.e., on the +Y-axis direction side of the second wall 42. The third wall 43 and the seventh wall 47 form a step in the Y-axis direction. The seventh wall 47 is located on the second wall 42-side of the third wall 43, i.e., on the −Y-axis direction side of the third wall 43. In the planar view of the first wall 41, an inlet port 51 is provided between the second wall 42 and the sixth wall 46. In the planar view of the first wall 41, a supply port 53 is provided between the third wall 43 and the seventh wall 47. The inlet port 51 and the supply port 53 are placed on the fifth wall 45. The inlet port 51 and the supply port 53 are respectively arranged to make outside of the casing 31 communicate with inside of the recess 35A.
The eighth wall 48 has a first air introducing path 55. The first air introducing path 55 is protruded from the eighth wall 48 on an opposite side to a fifth wall 45-side of the eighth wall 48, i.e., on a Z-axis direction side of the eighth wall 48. The first air introducing path 55 is arranged to make outside of the casing 31 communicate with inside of the recess 35A. The first air introducing path 55 is an air passage to introduce the air outside of the casing 31 to inside of the recess 35A. As shown in
This embodiment employs the configuration that the first air introducing path 55 is protruded from the eighth wall 48 outward the casing 31. The configuration of the first air introducing path 55 is, however, not limited to this configuration. In another employable configuration, the first air introducing path 55 is not protruded from the eighth wall 48 or more specifically the end of the first air introducing path 55 is placed on the fifth wall 45-side of the eighth wall 48. In the latter configuration, the first air introducing path 55 may be placed in the thickness of the eighth wall 48 or may be protruded from the eighth wall 48 into the recess 37A. For example, providing a hole penetrated from outside of the casing 31 to the recess 37A causes the length of the first air introducing path 55 to be equal to the thickness of the eighth wall 48. In the application that the length of the first air introducing path 55 is equal to the thickness of the eighth wall 48, the air communication port 57 is open on an opposite side surface to a fifth wall 45-side of the eighth wall 48, and the first introducing port 59 is open on a fifth wall 45-side surface of the eighth wall 48.
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The ink 75 in the recess 35A is supplied to the ejection head 19 with progress in printing by means of the ejection head 19. The internal pressure of the recess 35A accordingly becomes lower than the atmospheric pressure with progress in printing by means of the ejection head 19. As the internal pressure of the recess 35A becomes lower than the atmospheric pressure, the air 79 in the recess 37A is flowed through the second air introducing path 61 into the recess 35A. The internal pressure of the recess 35A is thus more likely to be maintained at the atmospheric pressure.
The ink 75 in the tank 9 is supplied to the ejection head 19 as described above. When the ink 75 in the recess 35A of the tank 9 is consumed to a small remaining amount, the operator is allowed to refill the recess 35A with new ink supplied from the inlet port 51. In the use state of the printer 3 for printing, the inlet port 51 is located vertically below the air communication port 57, i.e., on a −Z-axis direction side of the air communication port 57 in the tank 9. Accordingly, even when the recess 35A is filled with the ink 75, this configuration suppresses the ink from overflowing from the recess 35A through the first air introducing path 55 into the recess 37A.
The printer 3 may not be installed at one fixed location but may be transferred to another location. During such transfer, the attitude of the printer 3 is unspecified. In this case, when the ink 75 remains in the tank 9, the ink 75 is likely to flow from the recess 35A into the recess 37A and to be eventually leaked through the first air introducing path 55 out of the tank 9. In this embodiment, for example, in the attitude of the printer 3, the tank 9 may be inclined such that the +Y-axis direction faces vertically downward as shown in
According to this embodiment, even in the above first attitude, in the steady state, a meniscus 91 is maintained in the second air introducing path 61 as shown in an enlarged view. This suppresses the ink 75 in the recess 35A from entering the recess 37A in the steady state even when the tank 9 is inclined in the first attitude that the +Y-axis direction faces vertically downward.
The meniscus 91 in the second air introducing path 61 may, however, be broken by application of, for example, a vibration or an impact on the printer 3. As the meniscus 91 in the second air introducing path 61 is broken, the ink 75 in the recess 35A flows through the second air introducing path 61 to enter the recess 37A as shown in
In this embodiment, the internal configuration of the air chamber 37 is not limited to the configuration shown in
The following describes a tank 9 according to a second embodiment. The tank 9 of the second embodiment has a similar configuration to that of the tank 9 of the first embodiment, except that a second air introducing path 61 in the casing 31 includes a portion 95 extended along the fourth wall 44 toward the second wall 42 in the first attitude as shown in
In the second embodiment, a partition wall 62B is extended along the Z-axis direction from the fifth wall 45 toward the fourth wall 44 and is bent before reaching the fourth wall 44. The partition wall 62B extended from the fifth wall 45 and bent before the fourth wall 44 is extended along the Y-axis direction toward the second wall 42, i.e., extended vertically upward in the first attitude with keeping a clearance from the fourth wall 44. A partition wall 62A is extended along the Z-axis direction from the fifth wall 45 toward the fourth wall 44 and is bent before reaching the fourth wall 44 and reaching the partition wall 62B. The partition wall 62A extended from the fifth wall 45 and bent before the partition wall 62B is extended along the Y-axis direction toward the second wall 42, i.e., extended vertically upward in the first attitude with keeping a clearance from the partition wall 62B. The second air introducing path 61 has a capacity smaller than the capacity of the recess 37A (air chamber 37).
According to the second embodiment, when the ink 75 in the recess 35A flows through the second air introducing path 61 into the recess 37A in the first attitude, locating the second introducing port 65 to be protruded in the vertical direction above the liquid level 75A of the ink 75 stops the outflow of the ink 75 into the recess 37A. This configuration reduces the amount of the ink 75 flowing through the second air introducing path 61 into the recess 37A, compared with the first embodiment. This configuration of the second embodiment more effectively suppresses the ink 75 from being leaked through the first air introducing path 55 out of the tank 9. In the second embodiment, locating the second air introducing path 61 to be protruded in the vertical direction above the liquid level 75A of the ink 75 in the recess 35 in the first attitude further reduces the amount of the ink 75 flowing into the recess 37A.
The following describes a tank 9 according to a third embodiment. The tank 9 of the third embodiment has a similar configuration to that of the tank 9 of the second embodiment, except that a delivery port 63 in the casing 31 is located vertically above the position of the delivery port 63 in the second embodiment in the first attitude as shown in
In the third embodiment, a partition wall 62A is extended along the Z-axis direction from the fifth wall 45 toward the fourth wall 44, is bent with keeping a clearance from the fifth wall 45 and is extended along the fifth wall 45 toward the third wall 43. The partition wall 62A is then bent before reaching the partition wall 62B and is extended along the partition wall 62B with keeping a clearance from the partition wall 62B.
The third embodiment has similar advantageous effects to those of the second embodiment. Additionally, in the third embodiment, providing the delivery port 63 vertically above the position of the delivery port 63 in the second embodiment enables the ink in the second air introducing path 61 to remain in the second air introducing path 61 in the first attitude. This configuration reduces the amount of the ink 75 flowing into the recess 37A, compared with the second embodiment. The delivery port 63 is accordingly located vertically above the liquid level 75A of the ink 75 in the recess 37A. As a result, the configuration of the third embodiment more effectively suppresses the ink 75 from being leaked through the first air introducing path 55 out of the tank 9.
The following describes a tank 9 according to a fourth embodiment. The tank 9 of the fourth embodiment has a similar configuration to that of the tank 9 of the first embodiment, except that a second air introducing path 61 is provided outside of the casing 31 as shown in
In the fourth embodiment, a delivery port 63 is formed in the first wall 41 in the recess 37A as shown in
The second air introducing path 61 is provided on a surface 41B (outside of the casing 31) that is opposite to a surface 41A of the first wall 41 on the recess 37A-side (as shown in
In the first to the fourth embodiments described above, in the use state of the printer 3 for printing, the supply port 53 is located at a position higher than the liquid level of ink in the container portion 35. This configuration effectively suppresses leakage of ink out of the tank 9 even when the supply tube 16 is disconnected from the supply port 53. This accordingly suppresses the printer 3 from being stained with ink when the supply tube 16 is disconnected from the supply port 53. The first to the fourth embodiments employ the configuration that the supply port 53 faces the +Z-direction side. This configuration enables the supply tube 16 to be readily attached to and detached from the supply port 53 in the state that the tank 9 is mounted to the printer 3. This facilitates assembly of the printer 3.
The following describes a tank 9 according to a fifth embodiment. The tank 9 of the fifth embodiment has a similar configuration to that of the tank 9 of the fourth embodiment, except that a bank 101 is provided on the first wall 41 to surround a delivery port 63 in the recess 37A as shown in
In the fifth embodiment, the bank 101 is provided on the surface 41A of the first wall 41. The bank 101 is protruded from the surface 41A on the +X-axis direction side (opposite side to the surface 41B-side). In this embodiment, part of the fifth wall 45 and part of the seventh wall 47 constitute part of the bank 101. The amount of protrusion of the bank 101 from the first wall 41 except some part is set to be equal to the protrusion amount of the second wall 42 to the eighth wall 48. The bank 101 has a cut 103 provided at an end on an opposite side to the first wall 41-side. Accordingly, when the sheet member 33 is joined with the casing 31, inside of the recess 37A communicates with inside of the bank 101 via the cut 103. The air in the recess 37A is thus flowed through the cut 103 into the bank 101.
In the fifth embodiment, even when the ink 75 flows into the second air introducing path 61, the bank 101 is likely to block the ink 75 from flowing through the second air introducing path 61 into the recess 37A (air chamber 37). The ink 75 flowing into the second air introducing path 61 is thus unlikely to be flowed into the air chamber 37. As a result, this configuration more effectively suppresses the ink 75 from being leaked through the first air introducing path 55 out of the tank 9.
In the attitude of the printer 3, the tank 9 may be inclined such that the −X-axis direction faces vertically downward as shown in
The fifth embodiment employs the configuration that the bank 101 is provided at the delivery port 63. Another employable configuration may be that the bank 101 is provided at the second introducing port 65. The configuration that the bank 101 is provided at the second introducing port 65 is likely to suppress the ink 75 in the container portion 35 from flowing into the second air introducing path 61 in a third attitude that the container portion 35 and the air chamber 37 are aligned in a direction intersecting with the vertical direction and that the sheet member 33 is located vertically below the first wall 41. This is attributed to that the bank 101 located to be protruded in the vertical direction above the liquid level 75A of the ink 75 stops the inflow into the second air introducing path 61 when the ink 75 in the container portion 35 flows into the second air introducing path 61. This suppresses the ink 75 from flowing from the container portion 35 into the air chamber 37. In this embodiment, the second introducing port 65 is provided on the first wall 41, like the delivery port 63. The third attitude is accordingly the same as the second attitude.
The configuration that the cut 103 of the bank 101 is located to be protruded in the vertical direction above the liquid level 75A of the ink 75 in the container portion 35 may also be employed for the bank 101 provided at the second introducing port 65. This configuration more effectively suppresses the ink 75 in the container portion 35 from flowing into the second air introducing path 61.
Additionally, another employable configuration may be that the bank 101 is provided at both the delivery port 63 and the second introducing port 65. This configuration more effectively suppresses the ink 75 in the container portion 35 from flowing into the air chamber 37 and thus more effectively suppresses the ink 75 from being leaked through the first air introducing path 55 out of the tank 9.
The following describes a tank 9 according to a sixth embodiment.
As shown in
As shown in
The third flow path 83 is located on the opposite side of the second flow path 82 across the air chamber 37. Accordingly, either the third flow path 83 or the second flow path 82 is located vertically above the air chamber 37 in an attitude that the container portion 35 and the air chamber 37 are aligned in a direction intersecting with the vertical direction. This reduces the likelihood that the ink in the container portion 35 enters the air chamber 37.
Additionally, with regard to a direction from the first wall 41 toward the sheet member 33, the overhang 49 is formed to have a thickness in the direction from the first wall 41 toward the sheet member 33 less than the distance between the first wall 41 and the sheet member 33. This reduces the likelihood that the ink moves through the second air introducing path 61.
The third flow path 83 is provided with an inversion section 107 where the direction of the flow path is reversed. The third flow path 83 extended from the first flow path 81 toward the fourth wall 44 is reversed at the inversion section 107 to the direction from the fourth wall 44 toward the eight wall 48. In another respect, the third flow path 83 is reversed at the inversion section 107 from the vertically downward direction to the vertically upward direction. According to this embodiment, the third flow path 83 is in a U shape. In the air path from the air communication port 57 to the container portion 35, the air communication port 57-side is upstream side and the second introducing port 65-side is downstream side.
In the state that ink flows from the second introducing port 65 to enter the third flow path 83, when the attitude of the tank 9 is not changed, the ink entering the third flow path 83 is unlikely to flow back to the upstream of the third flow path 83 across the inversion section 107. More specifically, the ink flows back to the upstream of the inversion section 107 only upon satisfaction of both the conditions that a significant impact is applied to break the ink meniscus at the second introducing port 65 and that the attitude of the printer 3 is subsequently changed significantly. It is very rare that both the conditions are satisfied. It is thus extremely unlikely that the ink in the container portion 35 flows back through the third flow path 83 to reach the first flow path 81. This accordingly reduces the likelihood that the ink in the container portion 35 enters the air chamber 37.
Additionally, according to this embodiment, the fourth flow path 84 is also provided with an inversion section 109. The fourth flow path 84 extended from the second flow path 82 toward the second wall 42 is reversed at the inversion section 109 to the direction from the second wall 42 toward the air chamber 37. In another respect, in the attitude that the third wall 43 and the seventh wall 47 are located vertically above the second wall 42, the fourth flow path 84 is reversed at the inversion section 109 from the vertically downward direction to the vertically upward direction. According to this embodiment, the fourth flow path 84 is in a U shape.
In the state that ink flows from the second flow path 82 to enter the fourth flow path 84, when the attitude of the tank 9 is not changed, the ink entering the fourth flow path 84 is unlikely to flow back to the upstream of the fourth flow path 84 across the inversion section 109. More specifically, the ink flows back to the upstream of the inversion section 109 only upon satisfaction of both the conditions that ink flows back to the upstream of the inversion section 107 and that the attitude of the printer 3 is subsequently changed significantly. It is very rare that both the conditions are satisfied. It is thus extremely unlikely that the ink in the container portion 35 flows back through the fourth flow path 84 to reach the air chamber 37. This accordingly reduces the likelihood that the ink in the container portion 35 enters the air chamber 37.
According to this embodiment, the second introducing port 65 is provided at a position nearer to the fifth wall 45 than the fourth wall 44. This configuration facilitates locating the second introducing port 65 at a position higher than the liquid level of ink in the container portion 35 in this embodiment. According to this embodiment, the upper limit of the amount of ink in the container portion 35 is determined to keep the liquid level of ink in the container portion 35 lower than the second introducing port 65. The second introducing port 65 is thus located to be protruded in the vertical direction above the liquid level of ink in the container portion 35. When the air in the air chamber 37 is introduced into the container portion 35 in the course of printing with the ejection head 19, this configuration effectively suppresses the air introduced into the container portion 35 from passing through the ink in the form of bubbles.
A gas in the form of bubbles that pass through ink is more likely to be dissolved in the ink, compared with the case that the ink surface is statistically exposed to the gas. The gas dissolved in the ink may come out as bubbles in the ink supply path or inside the ejection head 19. The presence of such bubbles in the ink in the ejection head 19 may deteriorate the ink ejection performance. The gas dissolved in the ink may cause deterioration of the ink ejection performance of the ejection head 19. Deterioration of the ink ejection performance may be, for example, the amount of ink droplets out of a specified range, failure in ejection of ink droplets or deviation of the direction of ink droplets ejected.
In the configuration of this embodiment, however, the second introducing port 65 is located to be protruded in the vertical direction above the liquid level of ink in the container portion 35. This effectively suppresses the air introduced into the container portion 35 from passing through the ink in the form of bubbles. This accordingly reduces dissolution of the air in the ink in the container portion 35 and suppresses the air from being mixed into the ink in the ejection head 19. As a result, the configuration of this embodiment suppresses deterioration of the ink ejection performance of the ejection head 19.
The following describes a tank 9 according to a seventh embodiment. The tank 9 of the seventh embodiment has a similar configuration to that of the tank 9 of the sixth embodiment, except the configuration of an air chamber 37. The like components to those of the sixth embodiment are thus expressed by the like signs to those of the sixth embodiment and are not specifically described.
In the tank 9 of the seventh embodiment, as shown in
A tenth wall 126 and an eleventh wall 127 are provided between the second air chamber 122 and the third air chamber 124. The first air chamber 121 and the second air chamber 122 are separated from the third air chamber 124 in the Y-axis direction by the tenth wall 126 and the eleventh wall 127. The tenth wall 126 is provided nearer to the sixth wall 46 than the seventh wall 47 and is arranged to face the seventh wall 47. The eleventh wall 127 is provided nearer to the seventh wall 47 than the sixth wall 46 and is arranged to face the sixth wall 46. The eleventh wall 127 is also provided nearer to the sixth wall 46 than the tenth wall 126.
The first air chamber 121 is formed by the first wall 41, the seventh wall 47, the eighth wall 48, the ninth wall 125, the tenth wall 126 and the sheet member 33. The second air chamber 122 is formed by the first wall 41, the fifth wall 45, the seventh wall 47, the ninth wall 125, the tenth wall 126 and the sheet member 33. A communication port 128 is provided in the ninth wall 125. The first air chamber 121 communicates with the second air chamber 122 via the communication port 128. The third air chamber 124 is formed by the first wall 41, the fifth wall 45, the sixth wall 46, the eighth wall 48, the eleventh wall 127 and the sheet member 33.
The communication path 123 is provided between the tenth wall 126 and the eleventh wall 127 to make the second air chamber 122 and the third air chamber 124 communicate with each other. The communication path 123 is in a serpentine shape. The second air chamber 122 communicates with the communication path 123 via a communication port 129A. The third air chamber 124 communicates with the communication path 123 via a communication port 129B. This configuration causes the container portion 35 to communicate with the outside of the tank 9 via the second air introducing path 61, the third air chamber 124, the communication path 123, the second air chamber 122, the first air chamber 121 and the first air introducing path 55.
As shown in
The groove 143 is provided in an area surrounded by the fifth wall 45, the tenth wall 126, the eighth wall 48 and the eleventh wall 127. The depth of the groove 143 in the X-axis direction is less than the depths of the recesses 142 and the 144 in the X-axis direction. The communication port 128 is formed as a cut provided in the ninth wall 125. The recess 141 and the recess 142 communication with each other via the communication port 128 formed as the cut. The communication port 128A is formed as a cut provided in the tenth wall 126. Similarly the communication port 128B is formed as a cut provided in the eleventh wall 127.
The first air chamber 121 has the recess 141 provided in the casing 31 and sealed by the sheet member 33. The second air chamber 122 has the recess 142 provided in the casing 31 and sealed by the sheet member 33. The third air chamber 124 has the recess 144 provided in the casing 31 and sealed by the sheet member 33. The communication path 123 has the groove 143 provided in the casing 31 and sealed by the sheet member 33. The seventh embodiment of this configuration achieves the similar advantageous effects to those of the sixth embodiment.
Additionally, in the seventh embodiment, the communication path 123 is provided on the first air introducing path 55-side of the third air chamber 124. As described previously, the communication path 123 is in a serpentine shape. The moving ink that has entered the communication path 123 is trapped in the middle of the communication path 123. This further suppresses the ink from reaching the first introducing port 59.
Moreover, in the seventh embodiment, the second air chamber 122 is provided on the first air introducing path 55-side of the third air chamber 124. This configuration further reduces the likelihood that the ink flowing from the delivery port 63 to enter the third air chamber 124 reaches the first introducing port 59. Furthermore, in the seventh embodiment, the first air chamber 121 is provided on the first air introducing path 55-side of the third air chamber 124. This configuration further reduces the likelihood that the ink flowing from the delivery port 63 to enter the third air chamber 124 reaches the first introducing port 59.
Like the first embodiment to the fourth embodiment, the configuration that the supply port 53 is located at a higher position than the liquid level of ink in the container portion 35 in the use state of the printer 3 for printing may be applied to the sixth embodiment or the seventh embodiment. This configuration effectively suppresses leakage of ink out of the tank 9 even when the supply tube 16 is disconnected from the supply port 53. This accordingly suppresses the printer 3 from being stained with ink when the supply tube 16 is disconnected from the supply port 53. Like the first embodiment to the fourth embodiment, the configuration that the supply port 53 faces the +Z-axis direction side may be applied to the sixth embodiment or the seventh embodiment. This configuration enables the supply tube 16 to be readily attached to and detached from the supply port 53 in the state that the tank 9 is mounted to the printer 3. This facilitates assembly of the printer 3.
In each of the first embodiment to the seventh embodiment described above, the tank 9 may be comprised of only two components, i.e., the casing 31 and the sheet member 33. This is likely to reduce the cost of the tank 9 and thereby reduce the cost of the printer 3.
In each of the embodiments described above, the liquid consuming device is not limited to the configuration that the tanks 9 are placed inside the casing 7 shown in
Each of the plurality of tanks 9 has one inlet port 51. A first air introducing path 55 is mounted to each inlet port 51. Each inlet port 51 is exposed to the outside through one of a plurality of openings provided in the upper cover member 301 to allow for filling with liquid. Each of the plurality of tanks 9 is placed corresponding to one of a plurality of windows 14 provided in the upper cover member 301 to be visible from outside.
In the configuration shown in
In the respective embodiments described above, the liquid consuming device may be a liquid consuming device that sprays, ejects or applies and thereby consumes a liquid other than ink. The liquid ejected in the form of very small amounts of droplets from the liquid consuming device may be in a granular shape, a teardrop shape or a tapered threadlike shape. The liquid herein may be any material consumed in the liquid consuming device. The liquid may be any material in the liquid phase and may include liquid-state materials of high viscosity or low viscosity, sols, aqueous gels and other liquid-state materials including inorganic solvents, organic solvents, solutions, liquid resins and liquid metals (metal melts). The liquid is not limited to the liquid state as one of the three states of matter but includes solutions, dispersions and mixtures of the functional solid material particles, such as pigment particles or metal particles, solved in, dispersed in or mixed with a solvent. Typical examples of the liquid include ink described in the above embodiments and liquid crystal. The ink herein includes general water-based inks and oil-based inks, as well as various liquid compositions, such as gel inks and hot-melt inks. A concrete example of the liquid consuming device may be a liquid ejection device that ejects a liquid in the form of a dispersion or a solution containing a material such as an electrode material or a color material used for production of liquid crystal displays, EL (electroluminescent) displays, surface emission displays and color filters. The liquid consuming device may also be a liquid ejection device that ejects a bioorganic material used for manufacturing biochips, a liquid ejection device that is used as a precision pipette and ejects a liquid as a sample, a printing device or a microdispenser. Additionally, the liquid consuming device may be a liquid ejection device for pinpoint ejection of lubricating oil on precision machines such as machines and cameras or a liquid ejection device that ejects a transparent resin solution of, for example, an ultraviolet curable resin, onto a substrate to manufacture a hemispherical microlens (optical lens) used for optical communication elements and the like. As another example, the liquid consuming device may be a liquid ejection device that ejects an acidic or alkaline etching solution to etch a substrate or the like.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-040405 | Mar 2013 | JP | national |
| 2013-199382 | Sep 2013 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2014/001014 | 2/26/2014 | WO | 00 |
