Patent Grant
11970006
The present disclosure relates to a liquid container.
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2020-157562, there is described a liquid container including a filter in a bag so as to be thereby capable of removing substances unnecessary for recording, such as foreign substances and bubbles (hereinafter also referred to as unnecessary substances). Specifically, the liquid container of Patent Literature 1 has a configuration in which a filter unit is connected in the middle of a flow path for supplying the liquid from the bag to the recording apparatus and in which unnecessary substances are filtered and removed from the liquid supplied to the recording apparatus. With the liquid container according to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2020-157562, since the liquid is filtered by the filter, even if the liquid container contains foreign substances or bubbles, it is possible that the foreign substances are prevented from being mixed and reaching the liquid injection apparatus (hereinafter also referred to as the liquid ejection apparatus), and thus deterioration of image quality can be reduced.
However, with the liquid container described in Patent Literature 1, since it is necessary to install a dedicated filter structure in the middle of the liquid path, the number of components configuring the liquid container increases, and the liquid container itself must be large.
Accordingly, the object of the present disclosure is to provide a liquid container that can prevent foreign substances from flowing into a liquid ejection apparatus with a simple configuration.
To achieve such an object, the liquid container of the present disclosure is a liquid container for containing liquid to be ejected by a liquid ejection apparatus, the liquid container including: a bag body configured to contain the liquid inside; and a flow path for supplying the liquid contained inside the bag body to the liquid ejection apparatus, wherein, inside a peripheral wall of the flow path, a first capturing unit extending in an anti-gravitational direction and a second capturing unit extending in a gravitational direction are arranged at different positions with respect to a direction in which the liquid flows.
Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.
Hereinafter, with reference to the attached drawings, the present invention is explained in detail in accordance with preferred embodiments. Configurations shown in the following embodiments are merely exemplary and the present invention is not limited to the configurations shown schematically.
<<About the Liquid Ejection Apparatus 1>>
Examples of the liquid ejection apparatus 1 include an inkjet recording apparatus that ejects ink as a liquid from a liquid ejection head to record an image on a recording medium (not illustrated in the drawing). Further, the liquid ejection head may be a serial head that reciprocates in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the recording medium and may be a line head that does not reciprocate and is fixed to the main body of the apparatus.
Further, the case 30 can be mounted on the mounting part 3 even in a state where the liquid container 20 is not housed. As for the mounting part 3 according to the present embodiment, there are multiple (four in the illustrated example) mounting parts installed side by side in the width direction of the housing 2. Further, the cover 4 that covers the mounting part 3 in an openable manner is installed at the opening portion of the mounting part 3.
Further, the liquid container 20 configures the liquid containing unit 10 (see
Further, the liquid ejection apparatus 1 includes a pump mechanism (not illustrated in the drawing) for suctioning the liquid from the liquid container 20, so that the liquid inside the liquid container 20 is sucked into the liquid ejection apparatus 1 due to the negative pressure generated by the suctioning of the pump mechanism.
<<About the Dimensions>>
In the following explanation, regarding the dimensions in the drawings, the direction in which the liquid containing unit 10 is inserted to the liquid ejection apparatus 1 is referred to as “front”, and the direction in which the liquid containing unit 10 is withdrawn from the liquid ejection apparatus 1 is referred to as “rear”. Further, with respect to the direction in which the liquid containing unit 10 is inserted to the liquid ejection apparatus 1, the left side is referred to as “left” and the opposite side of the left side is referred to as “right”. Further, with respect to the gravitational direction, the anti-gravitational direction is referred to as “up” and the gravitational direction is referred to as “down”.
<<About the Liquid Container 20>>
The liquid container 20 includes the bag body 21, the adapter 22, and the liquid supply part 23 that is equipped with the liquid deriving port 23a. The bag body 21 contains a liquid inside. Examples of the liquid contained in the bag body 21 include ink and the like. Although the example in which a pigment ink is contained in the bag body 21 is explained in the present embodiment, the liquid contained in the bag body 21 does not have to be the pigment ink.
Further, the bag body 21 has flexibility and gas barrier property. The shape of the bag body 21 may be a pillow type or a gusset type. Note that the explanation below is continued on the premise that the bag body 21 according to the present embodiment is a pillow type bag formed by stacking two rectangular films and joining the peripheral parts thereof to each other.
As the films that configure the bag body 21, a material having the above-described flexibility and gas barrier property is used. For example, examples of the material for the films include polyethylene terephthalate (PET), nylon, polyethylene, etc.
Further, it is also possible that one bag body 21 is formed by using a laminate structure in which multiple films configured of the above-described material are laminated. In such a laminate structure, for example, the outer layer may be formed of PET or nylon having excellent impact resistance, and the inner layer may be formed of polyethylene having excellent ink resistance.
Further, a film having a layer on which aluminum or the like is deposited may be used as one constituent member of the laminate structure. Further, in the bag body 21, the adapter 22 for supplying the ink in the bag body 21 to the liquid ejection apparatus 1 is attached to an end part located on the front edge.
Further, the bag body 21 is sandwiched by an upper member constituting the adapter 22 and a lower member (not illustrated in the drawing), so as to be fixed. The adapter 22 has a function of connecting the liquid container 20 to the liquid ejection apparatus 1. Further, the adapter 22 has the bottom surface part, the top surface part having the same shape as the bottom surface part and installed so as to face the bottom surface part, the front surface part in which the liquid deriving port 23a is arranged, the rear surface part installed so as to face the front surface part, and the side surface parts respectively installed on the left and right of the adapter 22.
The liquid container 20 is housed so that the bottom surface part of the adapter 22 and the bottom surface part of the case 30 correspond to each other. Further, in a case where the liquid container 20 is housed in the case 30, the concave parts 22a on the side surface parts of the liquid container 20 are engaged with the convex parts 30a formed inside the side surfaces of the case 30. Then, if the liquid container 20 is housed in the case 30, the height of the upper surface part of the adapter 22 approximately matches the height of the opening surface of the case 30, so that they are located at almost the same height.
If the above-described pump mechanism is activated, the liquid contained in the bag body 21 is supplied from the liquid deriving port 23a, which is located at the tip of the liquid supply part 23, to the liquid ejection apparatus 1 via the liquid supply part 23 that penetrates from the inside of the bag body 21 to the front surface of the adapter 22. That is, the liquid supply part 23 functions as a flow path for letting the liquid flow from the rear to the front of the liquid container 20. Further, at the time of welding the peripheral edge part of the bag body 21, the liquid supply part 23 is sandwiched between the bag body 21, so as to be fixed to the bag body 21.
<<About the Liquid Supply Part 23>>
As illustrated in
Inside the liquid supply part 23, the first wall part 131a extends in a direction approximately perpendicular to the peripheral wall of the liquid supply part 23 from the upper surface of the peripheral wall of the liquid supply part 23 toward the internal center of the liquid supply part 23. Inside the liquid supply part 23, the second wall part 131b extends in a direction approximately perpendicular to the peripheral wall of the liquid supply part 23 from the lower surface of the peripheral wall of the liquid supply part 23 toward the internal center of the liquid supply part 23. Further, the first wall part 131a and the second wall part 131b are alternately arranged at different positions with respect to the direction in which the liquid flows (that is, from the rear to the front of the liquid supply part 23).
That is, inside the peripheral wall of the liquid supply part 23, the second wall part 131b extending in the anti-gravitational direction with respect to the central position of the liquid flow and the first wall part 131a extending in the gravitational direction with respect to the central position of the liquid flow are arranged at different positions with respect to the direction in which the liquid flows.
The liquid supply part 23 is easily manufactured, for example, by joining the half-split bodies having the shape illustrated in
In the example according to the present embodiment, if the half-split bodies illustrated in
Hereinafter, a brief explanation will be given of the capturing of the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52. First, if the pump mechanism included in the above-described liquid ejection apparatus 1 operates and starts suctioning the liquid in the liquid container 20, the liquid Q inside the liquid supply part 23 flows in the direction of the arrow illustrated in
Subsequently, if the liquid Q hits the capturing unit 131, the flow of the liquid Q is suppressed. Here, if the liquid Q contains the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52, the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52 will be captured by the capturing unit 131.
Regarding the capturing of the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52, the specific gravity of the bubble 51 is generally lighter than that of the liquid Q. Therefore, it is likely that the bubble 51 is captured by the first wall part 131a which is formed on the upper surface side of the liquid supply part 23. On the other hand, the specific gravity of the foreign substance 52 is generally considered to be heavier than that of the liquid Q. Therefore, it is likely that the foreign substance 52 is captured by the second wall part 131b which is formed on the lower surface side of the liquid supply part 23. Needless to say, it is also possible that the bubble 51 is captured by the second wall part 131b which is formed on the lower surface side of the liquid supply part 23. On the contrary, it is also possible that the foreign substance 52 is captured by the first wall part 131a which is formed on the upper surface side of the liquid supply part 23. The above is a brief explanation of the capturing of the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52.
By the way, in a case where the liquid Q contains a substance which has a heavier specific gravity than that of the liquid Q and has to be supplied to the liquid ejection apparatus 1, the substance may be captured by the second wall part 131b. However, even in this case, if the size of the substance is small enough to be swirled up by the flow of the liquid Q, no particular problem will occur. Hereinafter, the case where the liquid Q is a pigment ink that contains a pigment having a heavier specific gravity than the liquid Q will be taken as an example for the explanation.
First, if the liquid Q hits the second wall part 131b, a turbulent flow occurs in the vicinity of the second wall part 131b. Subsequently, the pigment that has precipitated on the lower surface side of the liquid supply part 23 is swirled up and stirred by the turbulent flow. Subsequently, the stirred pigment is supplied to the liquid ejection apparatus 1 on the flow of the liquid flowing in the vicinity of the center of the liquid supply part 23.
Therefore, even if the pigment is captured by the second wall part 131b, it is unlikely that the pigment will continue to stagnate in that place. Thus, the liquid supply part 23 according to the present embodiment can supply the pigment to the liquid ejection apparatus 1 while capturing the foreign substance 52 having a heavier specific gravity than the liquid by using the second wall part 131b. Therefore, no problem arises. The above is the explanation of the reason why there is no problem even if the second wall part 131b captures the pigment.
On the other hand, the foreign substance 52 assumed in the present embodiment is a large particle that is hardly swirled up by the flow of the liquid Q. Thus, even if the foreign substance 52 is swirled up by the flow of the liquid Q and gets over the first second wall part 131b, there is a high possibility that the foreign substance 52 will be captured by the second wall part 131b. Therefore, it is preferable that multiple second wall parts 131b are formed in the direction of the flow of the liquid Q. Needless to say, for the same reason, it is preferable that multiple first wall parts 131a are also formed in the direction of the flow of the liquid Q.
<<Manufacturing Method of the Liquid Supply Part 23>>
Hereinafter, an explanation will be given of the liquid supply part 23. Note that, in the following explanation, the symbol “S” represents a step. In S1, either the left or right half-split body of the liquid supply part 23 is injection-molded. In S2, the other half-split body of the liquid supply part 23 is injection-molded. In S3, both the left and right half-split bodies of the liquid supply part 23 are joined to each other with their joint surfaces aligned.
Through the above steps, the liquid supply part 23 according to the present embodiment can be manufactured. Note that, although the example of joining the left and right half-split bodies to each other is shown in the above-described example, it is also possible that upper and lower half-split bodies are joined to each other by the above-described method.
<<Conclusion>>
According to the liquid container 20 according to the present embodiment, the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52 can be captured without using a filter unit attached to the outside of the liquid supply part 23 or to the middle of a path thereof. That is, according to the liquid container 20 of the present disclosure, it is possible to prevent the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52 from being mixed into the liquid ejection apparatus 1 with a simple configuration.
In the present embodiment, the object is to make it easier to capture the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52. Although the capturing unit 131 is formed in the approximately perpendicular direction inside the liquid supply part 23 in the first embodiment, the present embodiment is different in the aspect that the walls are formed diagonally inside the liquid supply part 23. Hereinafter, an explanation will be given of the present embodiment with reference to
Further,
Therefore, since the crown part of the second capturing unit 231 is inclined in the direction opposite to the direction of the flow of the liquid Q, it is possible to make it difficult for the captured bubble 51 and foreign substance 52 to flow again as compared with the first embodiment, and thus higher catchability can be obtained. Thereby, according to the present embodiment, the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52 can be captured more effectively.
In the present embodiment, the object is to facilitate the flow of the liquid Q while capturing the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52. The difference between the first embodiment and the present embodiment is the presence or absence of a slope for facilitating the flow of the liquid Q. Hereinafter, an explanation will be given of the present embodiment with reference to
As illustrated in
Note that, in a case where the third capturing unit 331 does not include the flat surface parts W2, the slope surface parts W3 extend further forward from the crown parts of the wall surface parts W1 and toward the peripheral wall of the liquid supply part 23. In other words, the slope surface parts W3 extend diagonally from the peripheral wall of the liquid supply part 23 toward the internal center of the liquid supply part 23 in the direction opposite to the direction of the flow of the liquid Q (that is, from the front to the rear of the liquid supply part 23).
As illustrated in
First, it is assumed that the liquid Q has hit the wall surface part W1 of the first third wall part 331b located on the leftmost of the drawing (that is, in the rear of the liquid supply part 23). Then, the liquid Q that hit the wall surface part W1 of the third wall part 331b will hit the slope surface part W3 of the first fourth wall part 331a located on the leftmost of the drawing (that is, in the rear of the liquid supply part 23). Regarding the flow of the liquid Q, compared to the liquid Q hitting a wall surface extending in a direction approximately perpendicular to the peripheral wall, it is easier for the liquid Q to flow if it hits a slope surface inclined with respect to the peripheral wall because the resistance is smaller.
Subsequently, the liquid Q that hit the wall surface part W1 of the second fourth wall part 331a will hit the slope surface part W3 of the first third wall part 331b, so that the liquid Q can flow more easily. Thereby, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to facilitate the flow of the liquid while capturing the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52.
Note that, although the example in which the slope surface part W3 is formed in front of the third capturing unit 331 is shown as an example of the position where the slope surface part W3 is formed, it is also possible that the slope surface part W3 is formed in the left-right direction of the third capturing unit 331. That is, it is also possible that the shape of the third capturing unit 331 is as illustrated in
With the configuration, although the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52 flow to the front of the liquid supply part 23 from a part where the height of the wall surface part W1 is low, the area of the wall surface part W1 that is hit by the liquid Q can be made small, and thus the resistance to the flow of the liquid Q can be reduced accordingly. Note that the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52 that have flown to the front of the liquid supply part 23 can be captured by using the third capturing unit 331 that is formed in a further front position inside the liquid supply part 23.
In the present embodiment, the object is to facilitate the flow of the liquid while capturing the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52. The difference between the walls according to the first embodiment and the walls according to the present embodiment is the presence or absence of holes. In view of facilitating the flow of liquid while capturing the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52, it is preferable that the walls have multiple regularly-arranged holes (that is, mesh-like holes) that are smaller than the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52. Hereinafter, an explanation will be given of the present embodiment with reference to
Further, as illustrated in
In the present embodiment, the object is to capture the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52 with a simpler configuration. Although the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52 are blocked and captured by using the walls in the first embodiment, the present embodiment is different in the aspect that the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52 are made to enter a groove and captured. Hereinafter, an explanation will be given of the present embodiment with reference to
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Therefore, if the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52 enter the fifth capturing unit 532, the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52 will stagnate in the fifth capturing unit 532. That is, if the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52 enter the fifth capturing unit 532, the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52 can be captured. Thereby, the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52 can be captured with a simpler configuration.
In the present embodiment, the object is to make it easier to capture the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52. Although the grooves are formed in the direction approximately perpendicular to the peripheral wall of the liquid supply part 23 in the fifth embodiment, the present embodiment is different in the aspect that the grooves are formed diagonally in the direction opposite to the direction of the flow of the liquid Q. Hereinafter, an explanation will be given of the present embodiment with reference to
As illustrated in
Therefore, since the sixth capturing unit 632 is inclined in the direction opposite to the direction of the flow of the liquid Q, it is possible to make it difficult for the captured bubble 51 and foreign substance 52 to flow again as compared with the fifth embodiment, and thus higher catchability can be obtained. Thereby, according to the present embodiment, the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52 can be captured more effectively.
In the present embodiment, the object is to make it easier to capture the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52. The difference between the fifth capturing unit 532 according to the fifth embodiment and the seventh capturing unit 732 according to the present embodiment is the shape of the groove. Hereinafter, an explanation will be given of the present embodiment with reference to
Inside the peripheral wall of the liquid supply part 23, the groove according to the seventh capturing unit 732 expands in diameter from the inside to the outside of the peripheral wall. Therefore, it is difficult for the once-captured bubble 51 and foreign substance 52 to get out from the entrance of the seventh capturing unit 732. Therefore, according to the seventh capturing unit 732 according to the present embodiment, the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52 can be captured more easily as compared with the fifth embodiment.
In the present embodiment, the object is to make it easier to capture the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52 while ensuring the flowability of the liquid Q. The following explanation focuses on the aspects that are different from the first embodiment, and the same configurations as those of the first embodiment are assigned with the same signs so that the explanations thereof are omitted.
The eighth wall part 831 has at least one or more holes. In the example illustrated in
As illustrated in
Therefore, if the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52 hit the eighth wall part 831, the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52 enter the eighth groove part 832 which is formed in front of the eighth wall part 831, and thus the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52 will continue to stagnate in the eighth groove part 832. That is, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52 that have entered the eighth groove 832 come out of the eighth groove part 832 and flow again, and thus the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52 can be captured more effectively.
Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the flowability of the liquid Q can be ensured as compared with a wall with no holes. Further, the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52 can be captured more effectively as compared with a wall and a groove formed to be approximately perpendicular to the liquid supply part 23.
In the present embodiment, the object is to capture the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52 with a more inexpensive configuration. Although the shape of the liquid supply part 23 is cylindrical in the first embodiment, the liquid supply part 23 according to the present embodiment is different from the liquid supply part 23 according to the first embodiment in the aspect of having a rectangular tubular shape. The following explanation focuses on the aspects that are different from the first embodiment, and the same configurations as those of the first embodiment are assigned with the same signs so that the explanations thereof are omitted.
Thereby, it becomes possible to manufacture the liquid supply part 23 at a lower cost than the cylindrical liquid supply part 23 from the viewpoint of die cutting. That is, with the liquid supply part 23 according to the present embodiment, the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52 can be captured with a more inexpensive configuration.
Note that, although the cross section of the liquid supply part 23 is a quadrangle in the example of the present embodiment, the cross section of the liquid supply part 23 may be formed to be a triangle or to be a pentagon. That is, it is sufficient as long as the cross-sectional shape of the liquid supply part 23 is polygonal. Needless to say, the shape of the walls is appropriately changed according to the cross-sectional shape of the liquid supply part 23.
In the present embodiment, the object is to capture the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52 with a more inexpensive configuration. Although the liquid supply part 23 according to the fifth embodiment is cylindrical, the liquid supply part 23 according to the present embodiment is different from the liquid supply part 23 according to the fifth embodiment in the aspect of having a rectangular tubular shape. The following explanation focuses on the aspects that are different from the fifth embodiment, and the same configurations as those of the fifth embodiment are assigned with the same signs and the explanations thereof are omitted.
Accordingly, the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52 can be captured by simply making a notch inside the peripheral wall of the rectangular tubular liquid supply part 23. That is, with the liquid supply part 23 according to the present embodiment, the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52 can be captured with a more inexpensive configuration.
In the present embodiment, the object is to improve the catchability of the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52 while adopting an inexpensive configuration. Although the liquid supply part 23 according to the eighth embodiment is cylindrical, the liquid supply part 23 according to the present embodiment is different from the liquid supply part 23 according to the eighth embodiment in the aspect of having a rectangular tubular shape. Further, although the shape of the eighth wall part 831 is a semicircular shape in accordance with the cylindrical shape made by joining the half-split bodies of the liquid supply part 23 to each other, the present embodiment is different in the aspect that the shape is polygonal in accordance with the rectangular shape of the liquid supply part 23. The following explanation focuses on the aspects that are different from the eighth embodiment, and the same configurations as those of the eighth embodiment are assigned with the same signs and the explanations thereof are omitted.
Further, on the lower surface and the upper surface inside the peripheral wall of the liquid supply part 23, the eleventh wall part 1131 and the eleventh groove part 1132 of the eleventh capturing unit are formed so as to be inclined from the front to the rear in the direction in which the liquid flows. That is, the eleventh wall part 1131 and the eleventh groove part 1132 are formed so as to be inclined in the direction opposite to the direction in which the liquid flows.
Thereby, it becomes easier to capture the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52, as compared with a case in which a wall and a groove are formed in a direction approximately perpendicular to the direction in which the liquid flows. Therefore, with the eleventh wall part 1131 and the eleventh groove part 1132 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to improve the catchability of the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52 while adopting an inexpensive configuration.
Hereinafter, the techniques of the present disclosure will be explained in more detail with reference to a specific comparative example and exemplary embodiments. The following explanation focuses on the aspects that are different from the first embodiment, and the same configurations as those of the first embodiment are assigned with the same signs so that the explanations thereof are omitted.
In the present comparative example, the liquid container 20 having no capturing unit for capturing the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52 was created.
As the bag body 21 according to the present comparative example, one having a width (length in the left-right direction) of 60 mm and a depth (length in the front-rear direction) of 200 mm was prepared. Further, as the adapter 22 according to the present comparative example, one having a width of 76 mm, a depth of 40 mm, and a height (length in the up-down direction) of 20 mm was prepared.
Further, as the liquid supply part 23 according to the present comparative example, one having an inner diameter of 6 mm, a wall thickness of 1 mm, a depth of 100 mm, and no groove or wall formed inside was prepared.
Liquid blended with the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52 was sealed in the bag body 21 of the liquid container 20 created as described above, and the liquid was all extracted from the liquid supply part 23. Then, it was confirmed that the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52 were still contained in the extracted liquid.
In the present exemplary embodiment, the exemplary embodiment of the above-described first embodiment will be explained. In the present exemplary embodiment, the same bag body 21 and adapter 22 as those in the above-described comparative example were prepared. Further, as the liquid supply part 23, one having an inner diameter of 6 mm, a wall thickness of 1 mm, and a depth of 100 mm was prepared. Inside the peripheral wall of the liquid supply part 23, the capturing units 131 in a semicircular shape having a diameter of 6 mm and a thickness of 1 mm were alternately formed in upper and lower positions at intervals of 5 mm with respect to the direction of the flow of the liquid Q.
Liquid blended with the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52 was sealed in the bag body 21 of the liquid container 20 according to the present exemplary embodiment created as described above, and the liquid derived from the liquid deriving port 23a was all extracted via the liquid supply part 23. In this case, it was confirmed that the extracted liquid did not contain the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52.
In the present exemplary embodiment, the exemplary embodiment of the above-described fifth embodiment will be explained. In the present exemplary embodiment, the same bag body 21 and adapter 22 as those in the above-described comparative example were prepared. Further, as the liquid supply part 23, one having an inner diameter of 6 mm, a wall thickness of 3 mm, and a depth of 100 mm was prepared. Further, inside the liquid supply part 23, the grooves in a semicircular shape having a depth of 1 mm and a deepness of 2 mm were alternately formed in upper and lower positions at intervals of 5 mm with respect to the direction of the flow.
Liquid blended with the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52 was sealed in the bag body 21 of the liquid container 20 according to the present exemplary embodiment created as described above, and the liquid derived from the liquid deriving port 23a was all extracted via the liquid supply part 23. In this case, it was confirmed that the extracted liquid did not contain the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52.
In the present exemplary embodiment, the exemplary embodiment of the above-described eighth embodiment will be explained. In the present exemplary embodiment, the same bag body 21 and adapter 22 as those in the above-described comparative example were prepared. Further, as the liquid supply part 23, one having an inner diameter of 6 mm, a wall thickness of 3 mm, and a depth of 100 mm was prepared.
Inside the liquid supply part 23, the semi-elliptical mesh-like (line diameter: 0.25 mm/pitch: 0.25 mm) walls whose crown part is inclined at 30 degrees with respect to the peripheral wall of the liquid supply part 23 in the direction opposite to the direction in which the liquid flows were alternately formed in upper and lower positions at intervals of 5 mm in the direction of the flow. Further, on the upstream side of the walls, the grooves having a depth of 1 mm and a deepness of 2 mm were formed so as to be adjacent to the walls, respectively.
Liquid blended with the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52 was sealed in the bag body 21 of the liquid container 20 created as described above, and the liquid derived from the liquid deriving port 23a was all extracted via the liquid supply part 23. In this case, it was confirmed that the extracted liquid did not contain the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52. Further, the same processes were performed with use of the pigment ink as the liquid. Then, it was confirmed that the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52 could be captured without impairing the function as the pigment ink.
Although the preferred embodiments of the liquid container 20 according to the present disclosure has been explained, the liquid container 20 according to the present disclosure is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the gist thereof. The above-described changes in accordance with the essence of the present disclosure are not prevented.
Although the liquid containing unit 10 supplies ink to the liquid ejection apparatus 1 in the explanation of the first embodiment, the use application of the liquid containing unit 10 is not limited to this. The liquid containing unit 10 of the present disclosure can also be used in various liquid ejection apparatus for ejecting liquids other than ink, for example. Note that the term “liquid” as used herein includes not only materials in a liquid phase state but also those in which particles of a functional material made of solid bodies such as pigments and metal particles are dissolved, dispersed or blended in a solvent, and typical examples thereof include liquid crystal and the like other than ink.
The term “ink” as used herein is one in which a pigment as a precipitation component is dispersed in a solvent and includes various liquid compositions such as gel ink and hot melt ink in addition to general aqueous inks and oil-based inks.
In the first embodiment, as an example of the order in which the capturing units 131 are formed, the example in which the capturing units 131 are alternately formed on the upper surface and the lower surface inside the peripheral wall of the liquid supply part 23 with respect to the direction in which the liquid flows. As another example of the order in which the capturing units 131 are formed, it is also possible that the capturing unit 131 is formed in a partial section of the longitudinal direction in the liquid supply part 23.
For example, in a view from the rear side of the liquid supply part 23, it is also possible that the second wall part 131b is formed as the first wall, the first wall part 131a is formed as the second wall, and the first wall part 131a that is different from the first wall part 131a used as the second wall is formed as the third wall. Needless to say, even in a case where a wall according to another embodiment is formed, the wall may be formed in a partial section of the longitudinal direction in the liquid supply part 23.
Further, even in a case where a groove according to the seventh embodiment is formed, the fifth capturing unit 532 may be formed in a partial section of the longitudinal direction in the liquid supply part 23. Furthermore, even in a case where a groove according to another embodiment is formed, the groove may be formed in a partial section of the longitudinal direction in the liquid supply part 23.
Although the capturing unit 131 is formed on the upper surface and the lower surface inside the peripheral wall of the liquid supply part 23 in the first embodiment, the capturing unit 131 may be formed only on the upper surface or on the lower surface depending on the use application. For example, in a case where it is desired to mainly capture the bubble 51 which has a lighter specific density than the liquid, only the first wall part 131a may be formed only on the upper surface, and, in a case where it is desired to mainly capture the foreign substance 52 which has a heavier specific gravity than the liquid, only the second wall part 131b may be formed.
Although grooves are not formed inside the peripheral wall of the liquid supply part 23 in the first embodiment, it is also possible that a groove as a capturing unit is formed in addition to the capturing unit 131. For example, it is also possible that a groove adjacent to the capturing unit 131 is formed on the rear side of the capturing unit 131 (on the front side with respect to the direction in which the liquid Q flows). That is, it is also possible that a groove, which is formed in a direction approximately perpendicular to the direction in which the liquid flows so as to be adjacent to the wall that is formed in a direction approximately perpendicular to the direction in which the liquid flows, is formed inside the liquid supply part 23.
Although the example in which the mesh-like holes are formed in the fourth capturing unit 431 is shown in the fourth embodiment, an example in which at least one or more recesses are formed in the capturing unit 131 according to the first embodiment can be taken as another example. Note that, in the aspect of capturing the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52, it is preferable that multiple regularly-arranged recesses are formed.
For example, in a case where a dimple-like recess is formed in the capturing unit 131, the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52 can be captured by the recess, and thus the bubble 51 and the foreign substance 52 are captured more effectively than a case where the surface of the capturing unit 131 is flat. Needless to say, it is also possible that a dimple-like recess is formed on the surface of the eighth wall part 831 without making mesh-like holes in the eighth wall part 831 according to the eighth embodiment.
Further, although the eighth wall part 831 according to the eighth embodiment is inclined in the direction opposite to the direction of the flow of the liquid Q, it is also possible that the eighth wall part 831 is formed so as to be approximately perpendicular to the direction of the flow of the liquid Q. Further, although a slope for facilitating the flow of the liquid Q is not formed in front of the eighth wall part 831, it is also possible that a slope is formed as in the third embodiment.
Further, although the eighth groove part 832 is inclined in the direction opposite to the direction of the flow of the liquid Q, it is also possible that the eighth wall part 831 is formed so as to be approximately perpendicular to the direction of the flow of the liquid Q as in the fifth embodiment. Further, it is also possible that the eighth groove part 832 is formed inside the peripheral wall of the liquid supply part 23 so as to increase the diameter from the inside toward the outside of the periphery as in the seventh embodiment. That is, it is also possible that the shape of the eighth groove part 832 is a keyhole shape.
According to a liquid container of the present disclosure, it is possible to prevent bubbles and foreign substances from being mixed in a liquid ejection apparatus with a simple configuration.
While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.
This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-132339, filed, Aug. 16 2021 which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-132339 | Aug 2021 | JP | national |
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| Number | Date | Country |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20230046404 A1 | Feb 2023 | US |
