This patent application is based on and claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) to Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-051094, filed on Mar. 25, 2021, in the Japan Patent Office, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
Aspect of this disclosure relates to a liquid discharge apparatus, a liquid container, and a refill container.
A liquid discharge apparatus such as a printer feeds a liquid from a liquid supply container to a liquid container installed in an apparatus body of the printer to perform continuous printing for a long time.
For example, the liquid container has a liquid inlet, from which a liquid is supplied to the liquid container and a first fitting part provided around the liquid inlet. The liquid supply container has a liquid outlet to supply a liquid to the liquid container and a second fitting part provided around the liquid inlet. The first fitting part and a second fitting part are fitted to each other so that liquid is supplied from the liquid outlet to the liquid inlet.
In an aspect of this disclosure, a liquid discharge apparatus includes a head configured to discharge a liquid, and a liquid container configured to contain the liquid to be supplied to the head. The liquid container includes an inlet from which the liquid is supplied to the liquid container, a first lid configured to cover and openably close the inlet, the first lid having a first fitting part liftable to a first key detachably attached to a refill bottle containing the liquid.
In another aspect of this disclosure, a liquid container for use in a liquid discharge apparatus includes a container body containing a liquid, an inlet from which the liquid is supplied to the container body, a first lid configured to cover and openably close the inlet, the first lid having a first fitting part finable to a first key detachably attached to a refill bottle containing the liquid.
In still another aspect of this disclosure, a refill container containing a liquid to be supplied to a liquid container in a liquid discharge apparatus, an outlet from which the liquid is supplied to the liquid container, and a first key detachably attached to the outlet, the first key finable to a first fitting part of a first lid of the liquid container.
A more complete appreciation of the disclosure and many of the attendant advantages and features thereof can be readily obtained and understood from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The accompanying drawings are intended to depict embodiments of the present invention and should not be interpreted to limit the scope thereof. The accompanying drawings are not to be considered as drawn to scale unless explicitly noted. Also, identical or similar reference numerals designate identical or similar components throughout the several views.
In describing embodiments illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the disclosure of this specification is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that have a similar function, operate in a similar manner, and achieve a similar result.
Referring now to the drawings, embodiments of the present disclosure are described below. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
Referring now to the drawings, embodiments of the present disclosure are described below. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
It will also be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to another element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, embodiments of the present disclosure are described below.
A liquid discharge apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to
The printer 1 serving as the liquid discharge apparatus includes a liquid discharger 10 and a liquid supply system 20. The liquid discharger 10 discharges a liquid. The liquid supply system 20 supplies a liquid to the liquid discharger 10.
The liquid discharger 10 includes a head 11, a sub tank 12, and a carriage 13. The head 11 serves as a liquid discharge device having a nozzles to discharge a liquid. The sub tank 12 supplies a liquid to the head 11. The carriage 13 mounts the head 11 and the sub tank 12 on the carriage 13. The carriage 13 is reciprocally movable in a main scanning direction parallel to a paper surface. The carriage 13 is reciprocally movable in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the paper surface (in a depth direction to the paper surface).
The liquid supply system 20 supplies a liquid to the head 11. The liquid supply system 20 includes a liquid tank serves as a liquid storage container. Hereinafter, the liquid storage container is simply referred to as a “liquid container”. The liquid tank 21 as the liquid container is installed in the apparatus body of the printer 1. The liquid tank 21 stores a liquid. Liquid is supplied from the liquid tank 21 to the head 11 via a liquid supply path 22. The liquid supply path 22 includes a filter 23 and a liquid feed pump 24 serving as a liquid feeder.
A housing 25 contains the liquid tank 21 inside the housing 25. The housing 25 includes an operable cover 26. The liquid tank 21 is replenished with ink 200 as a liquid from a refill bottle 30 serving as a refill container.
The liquid container may not be a replaceable container detachably attachable to the apparatus body of the printer 1 such as the liquid tank 21. The liquid container may be fixed to the housing 25 so that the liquid container and the housing 25 form a single body.
Next, the liquid tank 21 as the liquid container and the refill bottle 30 as the riffle container are described below with reference to
The liquid tank 21 includes a tank body 210 (container body), an inlet 211, and a first lid 212. The tank body 210 stores liquid. The liquid in the refill bottle 30 is supplied into liquid tank 21 through the inlet 211 (see
As illustrated in
The first fitting part 213 includes a recess 213a recessed from the top surface 212a of the first lid 212 and three recesses 213b, 213c, and 213d recessed in a radial direction from a wall surface of the recess 213a.
Further, the liquid tank 21 includes a surrounding part 220 (wall) that rises from the tank body 210 and surrounds a periphery of the first lid 212. Accordingly, the first lid 212 is in a state of being embedded inside the surrounding part 220. Thus, the surrounding part 220 prevents the user from directly gripping and operating the first lid 212.
The refill bottle 30 also serves as a refill container. The refill bottle 30 includes a bottle body 310 (container body), an outlet 311, and a second lid 312. The bottle body 310 stores the ink 200 as a liquid. The ink 200 in the refill bottle 30 is supplied into the inlet 211 of the liquid tank 21 from the outlet 311 of the refill bottle 30 (see
The second lid 312 of the refill bottle 30 is a first key that is detachably attached to the refill bottle 30. As illustrated in
Here, the protrusion 313a of the second fitting part 313 of the second lid 312 of the refill bottle 30 is fitted into the recess 213a of the first fitting part 213 of the first lid 212 of the liquid tank 21. Similarly, the protrusions 313b to 313d of the second fitting part 313 of the second lid 312 of the refill bottle 30 are respectively fitted into the recesses 213b to 213d of the first fitting part 213 of the first lid 212 of the liquid tank 21.
Accordingly, the second lid 312 of the refill bottle 30 functions as the first key that openably closes the first lid 212 of the liquid tank 21. Further, the second lid 312 is detachably attached to the refill bottle 30 since the second lid 312 is a lid member.
Thus, the protrusions 313b to 313d of the second lid 312 (first key) of the refill bottle 30 respectively protrude in multiple radial directions; and the recesses 213b to 213d of the first fitting part 213 of the first lid 212 of the liquid tank 21 are respectively disposed in the multiple radial directions corresponding to the protrusions 313b to 313d respectively fitted to the recesses 213b to 213d.
Next, a liquid supply (refill) operation from the refill bottle 30 to the liquid tank 21 is described below with reference to
When the ink 200 in the refill bottle 30 is supplied to the liquid tank 21, the second lid 312 of the refill bottle 30 is removed (detached) from the bottle body 310.
Then, as illustrated in
Thus, the first lid 212 of the liquid tank 21 is rotatable and removable by the second lid 312 (first key) fitted to the first fitting part 213 to open the inlet 211.
Then, as illustrated in
In the above-described way, the second lid 312 of the refill bottle 30 is removed (detached) from the refill bottle 30, and the second lid 312 is fitted to the first lid 212 of the liquid tank 21 as the first key to open the first lid 212.
Accordingly, the first lid 212 of the liquid tank 21 is easily opened without performing an operation of lifting the refill bottle 30 and fitting the refill bottle 30 to the liquid tank 21. Thus, operability of refilling work (replenishing work) is improved. Particularly, the liquid tank 21 and the refill bottle 30 in the first embodiment improve efficiency in the refilling work (replenishing work) in a large-sized printer. In the large-sized printer, a capacity of the liquid tank 21 (liquid container) containing ink is large, a capacity of the refill bottle 30 (refill container) is also large, so that the refill bottle 30 (refill container) becomes heavy.
When the first lid 212 of the liquid tank 21 is closed, the second lid 312 removed (detached) from the refill bottle 30 is fitted to the first lid 212 again and rotated in a direction indicated by arrow “B” in
Next, shapes of fitting parts of multiple liquid tanks 21 (liquid containers) and the multiple refill bottles 30 (refill containers) according to the first embodiment is described below with reference to
The printer 1 according to the first embodiment includes multiple liquid tanks 21 as multiple liquid containers. Liquids of different types (colors) are stored in the liquid tanks 21, respectively.
As illustrated in
Here, the recesses 213b and 213c of the first fitting parts 213 of the multiple liquid tanks 21 are disposed at an identical position in a circumferential direction in all of the liquid tanks 21. That is, each of the first fitting parts 213 of the multiple liquid tanks 21 includes the recesses 213b and 213c serving as common fitting parts common among the multiple liquid tanks 21.
On the other hand, the recess 213d of each of the first fitting parts 213 of the multiple liquid tanks 21 is disposed at a different position in the circumferential direction for each of the liquid tanks 21 of each color.
Similarly, the refill bottles 30 of respective colors include the second fitting parts 313 including the protrusions 313b to 313d respectively fitted to the recesses 213b to 213d of the first fitting part 213 of the liquid tank 21 corresponding to the respective colors.
With such a configuration, when a color of the liquid tank 21 to be replenished with the ink 200 is different from a color of the refill bottle 30, the second fitting part 313 of the second lid 312 of the refill bottle 30 may not be fitted to the first fitting part 213 of the liquid tank 21.
Accordingly, the first lid 212 of the liquid tank 21 of a color other than the color to be refilled may not be opened. Thus, the printer 1 prevent color mixture of the inks.
The liquid tank 21 (liquid containers) includes multiple liquid tanks 21 respectively contain multiple types of liquids, and the multiple liquid tanks 21 (liquid containers) respectively include first fitting parts 213 having different shapes with each other, and one of the first fitting parts 213 of one of the multiple liquid tanks 21 is fittable to only one of first keys (second lid 312) of one of refill bottles 30 containing the liquid, a type of which is same as one of the multiple types of liquids in said one of the multiple liquid tanks 21.
Thus, the refill bottle 30 includes multiple refill bottles 30 each including the first key (second lid 312) having a shape different from shapes of other first keys (second lids 312). The liquid tank 21 includes multiple liquid tanks 21 configured to respectively contain multiple types of liquids 200, the multiple liquid tanks 21 each including the first fitting part 213 having a shape different from shapes of other first fitting parts 213, and the first fitting part 213 of one of the multiple liquid tanks 21 is fittable only to the first key (second lid 312) of one of the multiple refill bottles 30 corresponding to said one of the multiple liquid tanks 21.
Comparative Example 1 is described below with reference to
In Comparative Example 1, the inlet 211 of the liquid tank 21 is opened and closed by the first lid 212 as a normal cap that does not have the first fitting part 213 as in liquid tank 21 according to the first embodiment.
Therefore, as illustrated in
Specifically, a case is considered in which the user mistakenly opens the inlet 211 of the liquid tank 21B. The liquid tank 21B contains ink of a color different from a color of the ink 200 in the refill bottle 30. Although the user notices an error in selection of liquid tank 21A and 21B by looking at the color of the ink 200 in the liquid tank 21B, the user also opens the inlet 211 of the liquid tank 21A to supply ink 200 from the refill bottle 30 to the liquid tank 21A without closing the inlet 211 of the liquid tank 21B.
The liquid tank 21A contains ink 200 of a color same as the color of the ink 200 in the refill bottle 30. At such a time, the rebounded ink from the refill bottle 30 or the like may be mixed into the adjacent liquid tank 21B to cause color mixture of the ink 200.
Another case is considered in which the user forget to close the inlet 211 of the liquid tank 21A after supplying ink 200 from the refill bottle 30 to the liquid tank 21A. Then, the user opens the inlet 211 of the liquid tank 21B to supply ink 200 from the refill bottle 30 to the liquid tank 21B adjacent to the liquid tank 21A. At such a time, the rebounded ink from the refill bottle 30 or the like may be mixed into the adjacent liquid tank 21A to cause color mixture of the ink 200.
Still another case is considered in which the user mistakes the color of ink 200 to be refilled such that the user opens the inlet 211 of the liquid tank 21 of a color such as light magenta and red close to magenta when the user plans to refill the ink 200 of magenta to the liquid tank 21 of magenta. Then, the user may replenish the liquid tank 21 of magenta with ink 200 of light magenta and red close to but different from magenta without noticing the mistake. Such a case also causes the color mixture of ink 200.
Conversely, the printer 1 (liquid discharge apparatus) according to the first embodiment prevents opening of the first lid 212 of the liquid tank 21 when a color of ink 200 of the liquid tank 21 is different from a color of ink 200 of the refill bottle 30. Thus, the printer 1 (liquid discharge apparatus) according to the first embodiment reduces occurrence of color mixture as described in Comparative Example 1.
Next, the refill operation of a cleaning liquid of the liquid tank 21 (liquid container) is described with reference to
In the printer 1 using liquid, a replacement operation is performed when a color arrangement of ink is changed, when the printer 1 is stored and not used for printing for a long time, or when the printer 1 is transported, for example. The replacement operation replaces the ink 200 in a liquid path such as the liquid supply path 22 in the printer 1 with the cleaning liquid 400 (or storage liquid).
Therefore, in the printer 1 (liquid discharge apparatus) according to the first embodiment, the liquid tank 21 is emptied and refilled with the cleaning liquid 400 from a cleaning bottle 40 serving as a cleaning container.
Next, a cleaning bottle 40 (cleaning container) is described below with reference to
The cleaning bottle 40 includes a bottle body 410 (container body), an outlet 411, and a third lid 412. The bottle body 410 contains the cleaning liquid 400. The cleaning liquid 400 in the cleaning bottle 40 is supplied to the liquid tank 21 from the outlet 411 (see
The third lid 412 of the cleaning bottle 40 is a second key that is detachably attached to the cleaning bottle 40. As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Accordingly, the third lid 412 of the cleaning bottle 40 functions as a second key that openably closes the first lid 212 of the liquid tanks 21 of all colors. Further, the third lid 412 is detachably attached to the cleaning bottle 40 since the third lid 412 is a lid member
The printer 1 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to
The printer 1 (liquid discharge apparatus) according to the second embodiment includes a common fitting part 214 in addition to the first fitting part 213 in the first lid 212 of the liquid tank 21. The common fitting part 214 includes multiple protrusions 214a around the first lid 212. The protrusions 214a of the common fitting part 214 are provided at the same circumferential positions in the liquid tanks 21 of all colors.
The third lid 412 of the cleaning bottle 40 includes a third fitting part 413. The third fitting part 413 includes four recesses 414b formed between four protrusions 414a protruding from the top surface 412a. The recesses 414b of the third fitting part 413 is fitted to the protrusions 214a of the common fitting part 214 of the liquid tank 21.
Thus, the printer 1 according to the second embodiment uses the third lid 412 of the cleaning bottle 40 to open the first lid 212 of the liquid tanks 21 of all colors as in the printer 1 according to the first embodiment.
The printer 1 (liquid discharge apparatus) according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to
The second lid 312 serving as the first key of the refill bottle 30 includes latches 321a and 321b and a connector 322. The connector 322 couples (connects) the latch 321a and the latch 321b. The latch 321a is attached to the outlet 311 of the bottle body 310. The latch 321b is formed on the second lid 312.
Thus, the printer 1 according to the third embodiment prevents the second lid 312 of the refill bottle 30 from being lost after the second lid 312 is removed (detached) from the bottle body 310 of the refill bottle 30 (refill container), and the first lid 212 of the liquid tank 21 is opened or closed. Since the second lid 312 is removable (detachable) from the outlet 311 and fitted to the first fitting part 213 of the first lid 212 of the liquid tank 21 the printer 1 according to the third embodiment improves operability of the refill operation. Thus, the printer 1 (liquid discharge apparatus) according to the third embodiment improves operability of the refill operation.
In each of the above-described embodiments, the second lid 312 of the refill bottle 30 (refill container) and the third lid 412 of the cleaning bottle 40 (cleaning container) serve as the keys. However, the refill bottle 30 and the cleaning bottle 40 may include a key separately from the second lid 312 and the third lid 412. The key is detachable from the bottle body 310 and 410 (container body).
The above-described embodiments are illustrative and do not limit the present invention. Thus, numerous additional modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, elements and/or features of different illustrative embodiments may be combined with each other and/or substituted for each other within the scope of the present invention. Any one of the above-described operations may be performed in various other ways, for example, in an order different from the one described above.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2021-051094 | Mar 2021 | JP | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
9387684 | Ogawa | Jul 2016 | B2 |
20070109362 | Hori et al. | May 2007 | A1 |
20160325550 | Masaoka et al. | Nov 2016 | A1 |
20190184709 | Hasebe et al. | Jun 2019 | A1 |
20190255854 | Asano et al. | Aug 2019 | A1 |
20190299624 | Mizutani | Oct 2019 | A1 |
20200079091 | Takahashi et al. | Mar 2020 | A1 |
20210394516 | Takahashi | Dec 2021 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
2005-059490 | Mar 2005 | JP |
2017-205895 | Nov 2017 | JP |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20220305796 A1 | Sep 2022 | US |