Patent Grant
9403371
This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-219889 filed on Oct. 23, 2013. The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-219889 is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a liquid storage container and a liquid jet apparatus, inter alia.
2. Related Art
Inkjet printers have conventionally been known as one example of a liquid jet apparatus. In an inkjet printer, printing on a printing medium such as printing paper can be carried out by discharging an ink, which is one example of a liquid, from an ejection head onto the printing medium. With such an inkjet printer, there is a conventionally known configuration where ink that has been collected in a tank, which is one example of a liquid storage container, is supplied to the ejection head. An ink injection port is provided to this tank. A user is able to refill the tank with ink from the ink injection port. In such a tank, there is a conventionally known configuration with which a liquid storage chamber in which the ink is stored and an air storage chamber in which air is introduced are in communication with one another by a communicating section (see JP-A-2012-20495 (patent document 1), for example).
In the tank described in patent document 1 above, even when, for example, the ink that is inside the liquid storage chamber flows out to the air storage chamber side via the communicating section, the ink that has flowed out to the air storage chamber side can still be collected in the air storage chamber. This tank therefore makes it easier to reduce leakage of the ink that is inside the liquid storage chamber to outside of the tank via the air release port. However, with the tank described above, in an injection posture at which the ink is injected into the liquid injection port, the liquid storage chamber-side opening of the communicating section is located below the liquid injection port and therefore the ink inside the liquid storage section readily flows into the communicating section. Then, when an external force such as vibration acts in a state where the ink has flowed into the communicating section, the ink inside the communicating section becomes more likely to flow into the air storage chamber. When the ink is more likely to flow into the air storage chamber, then there is an increased possibility that ink could leak out of the tank from the air release port. In this manner, a conventional liquid storage container has a problem in that it is difficult to reduce the possibility of leakage of the liquid from occurring.
The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problem at least in part, and can be realized in the form of the following modes or application examples.
A liquid storage container is characterized by comprising a liquid storage section configured to store a liquid, a liquid injection section configured to inject the liquid into the liquid storage section, an air chamber communicated with air, an air introduction section communicated to the air chamber and configured to introduce the air to the air chamber, a communicating passage through which the liquid storage section and the air chamber are communicated to each other, a liquid injection port defined as an intersection at which the liquid injection section and the liquid storage section intersect each other, and a connecting port defined between the liquid storage section and the communicating passage and located above the liquid injection port in a posture where the liquid injection port is oriented upward in a direction intersecting with a horizontal direction.
In the liquid storage container of this application example, the connecting port between the liquid storage section and the communicating passage is located above the liquid injection port, and therefore the liquid inside the liquid storage section is less likely to reach the connecting port. For this reason, the possibility that the liquid inside the liquid storage section could flow into the communicating passage is reduced. As a result, the possibility that the liquid inside the liquid storage section could reach the air chamber is reduced, and therefore the possibility that the liquid inside the liquid storage section could leak out of the liquid storage container via the air introduction section from the air chamber can be reduced.
A liquid storage container as described above is characterized by further comprising a side wall surrounding the liquid injection port and projecting out toward the outside of the liquid storage section, and a cap configured to blocking off the liquid injection port, the liquid storage section including an upper region that is located above the liquid injection port in the posture, the connecting port being provided to the upper region, and a volume of the upper region being greater than a volume of the cap that is fitted to the side wall.
In this application example, the volume of the upper region is greater than the volume of the cap that is fitted to the side wall, and therefore even when the cap is fitted to the side wall in a state where, for example, the inside of the side wall has been filled with the liquid, the liquid that is pressed against the inside of the liquid storage section with the cap can still be collected in the upper region. This causes the liquid inside the liquid storage section to less readily reach the connecting port even in a configuration having a cap, and therefore makes it possible to reduce the possibility that that liquid inside the liquid storage section could leak out of the liquid storage container via the air introduction section from the air chamber.
A liquid storage container is characterized by comprising a liquid storage section configured to store a liquid, a liquid injection section configured to inject the liquid into the liquid storage section, an air chamber communicated with air, an air introduction section communicated to the air chamber and configured to introduce the air to the air chamber, a communicating passage through which the liquid storage section and the air chamber are communicated to each other, at least a part of the liquid storage section being optically transmissive, the at least a part of the liquid storage section having a mark indicating an upper limit for an amount of the liquid, a liquid injection port defined as an intersection at which the liquid injection section and the liquid storage section intersect each other, and a connecting port defined between the liquid storage section and the communicating passage and located above the mark in a posture where a liquid injection port is oriented upward in a direction intersecting with a horizontal direction.
With the liquid storage container of this application example, the connecting port between the liquid storage section and the communicating passage is located above the mark indicating the upper limit for the amount of the liquid, and therefore the liquid inside the liquid storage section is less likely to reach the connecting port. For this reason, the possibility that the liquid inside the liquid storage section could flow into the communicating passage is reduced. As a result, the possibility that the liquid inside the liquid storage section could reach the air chamber is reduced, and therefore the possibility that the liquid inside the liquid storage section could leak out of the liquid storage container via the air introduction section from the air chamber can be reduced.
A liquid storage container as described above is characterized by further comprising a case member having a groove and a recess communicating with the groove, and a sheet member covering the groove and the recess to seal the groove and the recess, at least a part of the communicating passage being formed of a space surrounded by the groove and the sheet member, and at least a part of the liquid storage section being formed of a space surrounded by the recess and the sheet member.
In this application example, at least a part of the communicating passage can be configured with the case member and the sheet member, as can at least a part of the liquid storage section.
A liquid storage container as described above is characterized in that a rib that is convex toward the sheet member is provided inside the recess.
In this application example, the rib is provided inside the recess and therefore it is easy to use the rib to regulate deformation of the sheet member when the sheet member is deformed toward inside the recess.
A liquid storage container as described above is characterized in that the sheet member is bonded to the rib.
In this application example, the sheet member is bonded to the rib and therefore deformation of the sheet member to the side opposite to the case member side is easily regulated.
A liquid storage container as described above is characterized in that the recess has two inner walls that face one another across the rib, and a gap between the rib and one inner wall of the two inner walls is equal to a gap between the rib and the other inner wall of the two inner walls.
In this application example, deformation of the sheet member is easily regulated equally between the rib and one inner wall and between the rib and the other inner wall.
A liquid storage container as described above is characterized in that the recess has two inner walls that face one another, a plurality of the ribs are provided inside the recess and are lined up along a direction in which the two inner walls face one another, and a gap between one inner wall of the two inner walls and the rib that is adjacent to the one inner wall in the direction, a gap between the other inner wall of the two inner walls and the rib that is adjacent to the other inner wall in the direction, and a gap of two of the ribs that are adjacent in the direction are all equal to one another.
In this application example, deformation of the sheet member is easily regulated mutually equally between one inner wall and a rib adjacent to this inner wall, between the other inner wall and a rib adjacent to this inner wall, and between two ribs that are adjacent to one another.
A liquid storage container as described above is characterized in that the air chamber is located above the liquid storage section and a part of the communicating passage is located above the air chamber in the posture.
In this application example, the air chamber is located above the liquid storage section and a part of the communicating passage is located above the air chamber, and therefore the liquid that has flowed into the communicating passage from the liquid storage section will less readily rise above the air chamber, due to the action of gravity. For this reason, liquid that has flowed into the communicating passage from the liquid storage section will less readily arrive at the air chamber. As a result, it is easier to prevent liquid that has flowed from the liquid storage section into the communicating passage from leaking out from the liquid storage container.
A liquid storage container as described above is characterized in that the communicating passage includes a first portion and a second portion, and the first portion and the second portion are located at opposite sides to one another across the air chamber in the horizontal direction in the posture.
In this application example, the route of the communicating passage can be lengthened by putting the space surrounding the air chamber to use and forming the communicating passage so as to run around the air chamber.
A liquid jet apparatus is characterized by comprising a first case, a mechanism unit including a mechanism portion covered by the first case and configured to execute a print operation, a second case coupled to the first case, and a plurality of liquid storage containers. The plurality of liquid storage containers are covered by the second case and are arranged to supply a liquid to a print section of the mechanism unit via supply tubes.
In the liquid jet apparatus of this application example, the plurality of liquid storage containers are arranged inside the same second case, and therefore any variance such as in the height of the connecting port between the liquid storage section and the communicating passage in the plurality of liquid storage containers can be reduced. As a result of this, even in a case where a plurality of liquid storage containers are used, it is possible to endow all of the liquid storage containers with the effect of reducing the possibility that the liquid could leak out of the liquid storage containers via the air introduction sections.
A liquid jet apparatus is characterized by comprising a case, a mechanism unit including a mechanism portion covered by the case and configured to execute a print operation, and a plurality of liquid storage containers. The plurality of liquid storage containers are covered by the case and are arranged to supply a liquid to a print section of the mechanism unit via supply tubes.
In the liquid jet apparatus of this application example, the plurality of liquid storage containers are arranged inside the same case, and therefore any variance such as in the height of the connecting port between the liquid storage section and the communicating passage in the plurality of liquid storage containers can be reduced. As a result of this, even in a case where a plurality of liquid storage containers are used, it is possible to endow all of the liquid storage containers with the effect of reducing the possibility that the liquid could leak out of the liquid storage containers via the air introduction sections.
Referring now to the attached drawings which form a part of this original disclosure:
Embodiments shall be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, using the example of an inkjet printer (hereinafter called a printer), which is one example of a liquid jet apparatus. In each of the drawings, there may be instances where the scales of the configurations and members have been altered in order to make the respective configurations large enough to be recognizable.
A printer 1 in the present embodiments, as illustrated in
Stored in the first case 3 is a mechanism unit 10 (
Also provided to the printer 1 is a paper discharge section 11. In the printer 1, the printing medium P is discharged from the paper discharge section 11. In the printer 1, a surface to which the paper discharge section 11 is provided is understood to be a front surface 13. The printer 1 also has an operation panel 17 at an upper surface 15 that intersects the front surface 13. Provided to the operation panel 17 are a power button 18A, another operation button 18B, and the like. The tank unit 5 is provided to a side section 19 that intersects the front surface 13 and the upper surface 15 in the first case 3. Window sections 21 are provided to the second case 7. The window sections 21 are provided to a side section 27 that intersects with a front surface 23 and an upper surface 25 in the second case 7. The window sections 21 are optically transparent. The four tanks 9 described above are provided to positions overlapping with the window sections 21. For this reason, a worker who is using the printer 1 is able to view the four tanks 9 through the window sections 21.
In the present embodiments, the sites of each of the tanks 9 that face the window sections 21 are optically transparent. The inks inside the tanks 9 can be viewed from the optically transparent sites of each of the tanks 9. As such, viewing the four tanks 9 via the window sections 21 allows the worker to view the amount of ink that is in each of the tanks 9. Provided to each of the tanks 9, to the sites that face the window sections 21, are an upper limit mark 28 indicative of an upper limit for the amount of ink and a lower limit mark 29 indicative of a lower limit for the amount of ink. The worker can use the upper limit marks 28 and the lower limit marks 29 as benchmarks to ascertain the amount of ink that is in each of the tanks 9. Meanwhile, the first case 3 and the second case 7 are constituted of separate bodies from one another. For this reason, in the present embodiments, the second case 7 can be separated from the first case 3, as illustrated in
The printer 1 has a print section 41 and supply tubes 43, as illustrated in
The printer 1 also has a medium conveyance mechanism (not shown) and a head conveyance mechanism (not shown). The medium conveyance mechanism conveys the printing medium P along the Y-axis direction by driving a conveyance roller 51 using power coming from a motor (not shown). The head conveyance mechanism conveys the carriage 45 along the X-axis direction by transmitting power coming from a motor 53 to the carriage 45 via a timing belt 55. The print head 47 is mounted onto the carriage 45. For this reason, the print head 47 can be conveyed in the X-axis direction via the carriage 45, by the head conveyance mechanism. The print head 47 is supported by the carriage 45 in a state of facing the printing medium P. The inks are discharged from the print head 47 while the relative position of the print head 47 with respect to the printing medium P is being changed by the medium conveyance mechanism and the head conveyance mechanism, whereby printing is performed on the printing medium P.
Various embodiments of the tanks 9 shall be described. For the purpose of discriminating between the different embodiments of the tanks 9 below, a different alphabetic character for each of the embodiments shall be appended to the reference numeral for the tanks 9.
(First Embodiment)
A tank 9A as in the first embodiment shall now be described. The tank 9A, as illustrated in
The tank 9A, as illustrated in
The case 61 has a first wall 81, a second wall 82, a third wall 83, a fourth wall 84, a fifth wall 85, a sixth wall 86, a seventh wall 87, and an eighth wall 88. Arranged on the side of the fifth wall 85 opposite to the storage section 65 side are the first air chamber 68, the second air chamber 69, the first communicating passage 71, and the third air chamber 72. When the first wall 81 is seen in plan view from the sheet member 63 side, then the storage section 65 is surrounded by the second wall 82, the third wall 83, the fourth wall 84, and the fifth wall 85.
When the first wall 81 is seen in plan view from the sheet member 63 side, then the first air chamber 68, the second air chamber 69, the first communicating passage 71, and the third air chamber 72 are surrounded by the fifth wall 85, the sixth wall 86, the seventh wall 87, and the eighth wall 88. The first wall 81 of the storage section 65 and the first wall 81 of the first air chamber 68, the second air chamber 69, and the third air chamber 72 are the same wall as one another. In other words, in the present embodiment, the first wall 81 is shared among the storage section 65, the first air chamber 68, the second air chamber 69, and the third air chamber 72.
The second wall 82, the third wall 83, the fourth wall 84, and the fifth wall 85 each intersect the first wall 81, as illustrated in
The second wall 82, the third wall 83, the fourth wall 84, and the fifth wall 85 project out in the +Y-axis direction from the first wall 81. Due to this, where the first wall 81 is a main wall, a recess 91 is constituted of the second wall 82, the third wall 83, the fourth wall 84, and the fifth wall 85, which extend in the +Y-axis direction from the main wall. The recess 91 is configured with an orientation so as to be concave going towards the −Y-axis direction. The recess 91 forms an opening going toward the +Y-axis direction, i.e., toward the sheet member 63 (
The sixth wall 86 projects out from the fifth wall 85 toward the side of the fifth wall 85 opposite to the fourth wall 84 side, i.e., toward the +Z-axis direction side of the fifth wall 85, as illustrated in
Provided between the fifth wall 85 and the eighth wall 88 is a ninth wall 93 by which the first air chamber 68 and the second air chamber 69 are partitioned in the Z-axis direction. Also, provided between the sixth wall 86 and the seventh wall 87 are a tenth wall 94 and an eleventh wall 95. Between the first air chamber 68 and second air chamber 69 and the third air chamber 72, a separation in the X-axis direction is formed by the tenth wall 94 and the eleventh wall 95. The tenth wall 94 is provided to the seventh wall 87 side more than the sixth wall 86, and faces the sixth wall 86. The eleventh wall 95 is provided to the sixth wall 86 side more than the seventh wall 87, and faces the seventh wall 87. The eleventh wall 95 is provided to the seventh wall 87 side more than the tenth wall 94.
The sixth wall 86, the seventh wall 87, the eighth wall 88, the ninth wall 93, the tenth wall 94, and the eleventh wall 95 each project out in the +Y-axis direction from the first wall 81, as illustrated in
The recess 97, the recess 98, and the recess 99 each form an opening going toward the +Y-axis direction, i.e., toward the sheet member 63 (
The second wall 82 and the sixth wall 86 have a stepped difference in the X-axis direction. The second wall 82 is located to the third wall 83 side more than the sixth wall 86, i.e., to the −X-axis direction side more than the sixth wall 86. The third wall 83 and the seventh wall 87 have a stepped difference in the X-axis direction. The seventh wall 87 is located to the second wall 82 side more than the third wall 83, i.e., to the +X-axis direction side more than the third wall 83. An ink injection section 101 is provided between the third wall 83 and the seventh wall 87 in the state where the first wall 81 is seen in plan view from the sheet member 63 side. The ink injection section 101 is provided to the fifth wall 85.
The first communicating passage 71 is provided between the tenth wall 94 and the eleventh wall 95, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
Here, inside the recess 91, a recess 109 is provided. The recess 109 is provided at an orientation so as to be concave going toward the opposite side to the fifth wall 85 side more than the fourth wall 84, i.e., going toward the −Z-axis direction side more than the fourth wall 84. Then, in the recess 109, a supply port 113 is provided to a wall 111 that faces the third wall 83 and the second wall 82. For this reason, the supply port 113 is provided between the third wall 83 and the second wall 82 in a state where the first wall 81 is seen in plan view. The ink injection section 101 and the supply port 113 each form communication between the outside of the case 61 and the inside of the recess 91. The supply port 113 projects out toward the second wall 82 side along the X-axis direction from the wall 111.
Also, an air communication port 115 is provided to the eighth wall 88. The air communication port 115 projects out from the eighth wall 88 to the side of the eighth wall 88 opposite to the fifth wall 85, i.e., to the +Z-axis direction side of the eighth wall 88. The air communication port 115 is provided to a position that overlaps with the recess 97 when the eighth wall 88 is seen in plan view, i.e., when the eighth wall 88 is seen in plan view in the XY plane. The air communication port 115 forms communication between the outside of the case 61 and the inside of the recess 97. The air communication port 115 is a communicating passage for air, in order to introduce the air that is outside of the case 61 to the inside of the recess 97. In the case 61, the bonding sections 64 are provided along the respective contours of each of the recess 91, the recess 97, the recess 98, the recess 99, the recess 109, the first communicating passage 71, and the second communicating passage 73.
The sheet member 63 faces the first wall 81 across the second wall 82 through eighth wall 88 in the Y-axis direction, as illustrated in
The second communicating passage 73 has a communication port 106 and a communication port 107, as illustrated in
The ink injection section 101 is provided to the fifth wall 85. The ink injection section 101 is provided to inside a recess 121 that is surrounded by the seventh wall 87, the extended section 105, the third wall 83, and the first wall 81, as illustrated in
Due to the configuration described above, the ink injection section 101 is surrounded by the seventh wall 87, the extended section 105, the third wall 83, and the first wall 81. In other words, the ink injection section 101 is provided to a region of the fifth wall 85 that is surrounded by the seventh wall 87, the extended section 105, the third wall 83, and the first wall 81. Then, the recess 121 has the function of an ink receiving section. The ink receiving section can receive, for example, ink that overflows from the ink injection section 101, or ink that has dripped down during injection. In this manner, the recess 121 has a function as an ink receiving section for receiving the ink.
In the case 61, a recess 123 is provided to the side of the sixth wall 86 opposite to the recess 97 side. The recess 123 and the recess 97 are lined up sandwiching the sixth wall 86 in the X-axis direction. Also, in the case 61, a recess 124 is provided to the side of the sixth wall 86 opposite to the recess 98 side. The recess 124 and the recess 98 are lined up sandwiching the sixth wall 86 in the X-axis direction. The recess 123 and the recess 124 are each provided at an orientation so as to be concave going toward the side opposite to the sheet member 63 (
When the sheet member 63 is bonded to the case 61, the groove 117 is closed off by the sheet member 63, thus constituting the second communicating passage 73, as illustrated in
Provided to inside the storage section 65 are a plurality of support sections 127, as illustrated in
The two support sections 127 are provided to the first wall 81 as illustrated in
The ink injection section 101 has an opening 128 and a side wall 129, as illustrated in
In the tank 9A, an ink 141 is stored in the interior of the storage section 65, as illustrated in
In association with the printing by the print head 47, the ink 141 inside the storage section 65 is sent to the print head 47 side. For this reason, the pressure inside the storage section 65 becomes lower than the atmospheric pressure in association with the printing by the print head 47. When the pressure inside the storage section 65 becomes lower than the atmospheric pressure, then the air inside the third air chamber 72 passes through the second communicating passage 73 and is sent to inside the storage section 65. This makes it easier for the pressure inside the storage section 65 to be kept at atmospheric pressure. The air flows into the third air chamber 72 from the air communication port 115 after passing by way of the first air chamber 68, the second air chamber 69, and the first communicating passage 71, in the stated order. By the above, the ink 141 inside the tank 9A is supplied to the print head 47. When the ink 141 inside the storage section 65 in the tank 9A is consumed and little of the ink 141 remains, then the worker can refill the inside of the storage section 65 with new ink from the ink injection section 101.
The second communicating passage 73, as illustrated in
The second passage 152 goes from the reversal section 161 toward the seventh wall 87 along the direction of extension of the first passage 151, i.e., along the X-axis direction. The second passage 152 leads from the reversal section 161 to a bend section 162. The bend section 162 is a site where the orientation of the flow path in the second communicating passage 73 is bent. At the bend section 162, the orientation of the flow path is bent from the +X-axis direction to the +Z-axis direction. The third passage 153 goes from the bend section 162 toward the eighth wall 88 along the seventh wall 87, i.e., along the Z-axis direction. The third passage 153 leads from the bend section 162 to a bend section 163. The bend section 163 is a site where the orientation of the flow path in the second communicating passage 73 is bent. At the bend section 163, the orientation of the flow path is bent from the +Z-axis direction to the +X-axis direction.
The fourth passage 154 goes from the bend section 163 toward the sixth wall 86 along the eighth wall 88, i.e., along the X-axis direction. In the Z-axis direction, the fourth passage 154 is located above the third air chamber 72. The fourth passage 154 leads from the bend section 163 to a bend section 164. The bend section 164 is a site where the orientation of the flow path in the second communicating passage 73 is bent. At the bend section 164, the orientation of the flow path is bent from the +X-axis direction to the −Z-axis direction. The fifth passage 155 leads from the bend section 164 toward the fourth wall 84 along the sixth wall 86, i.e., along the Z-axis direction. The fifth passage 155 leads from the bend section 164 toward a reversal section 165.
As stated above, in the Z-axis direction, the fourth passage 154 is located above the third air chamber 72. In other words, a part of the second communicating passage 73 is located above the third air chamber 72. According to this configuration, the ink that has flowed into the second communicating passage 73 from the storage section 65 will less readily rise above the third air chamber 72, due to the action of gravity. For this reason, ink that has flowed into the second communicating passage 73 from the storage section 65 will less readily arrive at the third air chamber 72. As a result, it is easier to prevent ink that has flowed from the storage section 65 into the second communicating passage 73 from leaking out from the tank 9A.
Also, in the tank 9A, the third passage 153 and the fifth passage 155 are located at mutually opposite sides across the third air chamber 72 in the X-axis direction. According to this configuration, the route of the second communicating passage 73 can be lengthened by putting the space surrounding the third air chamber 72 to use and forming the second communicating passage 73 so as to run around the third air chamber 72. Lengthening the route of the second communicating passage 73 is preferable from the viewpoint of making it less likely that the liquid component of the ink inside the storage section 65 will evaporate and from the viewpoint of making it less likely that the ink that has flowed from the storage section 65 into the second communicating passage 73 will arrive at the third air chamber 72.
The reversal section 165 is a site where the orientation of the flow path in the second communicating passage 73 is reversed. At the reversal section 165, the orientation of the flow path is reversed from the −Z-axis direction to the +Z-axis direction. The sixth passage 156 goes from the reversal section 165 toward the fifth wall 85 along the second wall 82, i.e., along the Z-axis direction. The sixth passage 156 leads from the reversal section 165 to the communication port 107 by way of a bend section 166. The bend section 166 is a site where the orientation of the flow path in the second communicating passage 73 is bent. The second communicating passage 73 is communicated to inside the storage section 65 via the communication port 107 after the orientation of the flow path is bent in the bend section 166 from the +Z-axis direction to the −X-axis direction.
The first buffer chamber 74 and the second buffer chamber 75 are each provided to the fifth passage 155 in the second communicating passage 73. The first buffer chamber 74 is arranged between ninth wall 93 and the eighth wall 88 in the Z-axis direction. The second buffer chamber 75 is arranged between the fifth wall 85 and the ninth wall 93 in the Z-axis direction. For this reason, in the vertical direction, the first buffer chamber 74 is located above the second buffer chamber 75.
The places of arrangement of the first buffer chamber 74 and the second buffer chamber 75 are not limited to the fifth passage 155. Any of the sites of the first passage 151 through sixth passage 156 could also be employed as the places of arrangement of the first buffer chamber 74 and the second buffer chamber 75. Also, any of the sites of the reversal section 161, the reversal section 165, the bend section 162, the bend section 163, the bend section 164, and the bend section 166 could also be employed as the places of arrangement of the first buffer chamber 74 and the second buffer chamber 75.
The communication port 106 is located at the intersection at which the seventh wall 87 and the fifth wall 85 intersect together. In another viewpoint, the communication port 106 is located at the lower end of the third air chamber 72 in the vertical direction. The communication port 107 is located at the intersection at which the second wall 82 and the fifth wall 85 intersect together. In another viewpoint, the communication port 107 is located at the upper end of the storage section 65 in the vertical direction. In the present embodiment, the communication port 107 is located below the second buffer chamber 75 in the vertical direction. The communication port 103 is located at the intersection at which the fifth wall 85 and the tenth wall 94 intersect together. In another viewpoint, the communication port 103 is located at a lower end of the second air chamber 69 in the vertical direction. The communication port 104 is located at the intersection at which the fifth wall 85 and the eleventh wall 95 intersect together. In another viewpoint, the communication port 104 is located at the lower end of the third air chamber 72 in the vertical direction.
Herein, the communication port 107 is located above the upper limit mark 28 in the vertical direction, as illustrated in
In the first embodiment, the Z-axis direction corresponds to a direction intersecting with the horizontal direction, the storage section 65 corresponds to a liquid storage section, the ink injection section 101 corresponds to a liquid injection section, the opening 128 corresponds to a liquid injection port, and the third air chamber 72 corresponds to an air chamber. The air communication port 115, the first air chamber 68, the communication port 102, the second air chamber 69, and the first communicating passage 71 correspond to an air introduction section. The second communicating passage 73 corresponds to a communicating passage, each of the first buffer chamber 74 and the second buffer chamber 75 corresponds to a collection section, and the case 61 corresponds to a case member. The support sections 127 correspond to ribs. The second wall 82 and the third wall 83 correspond to two inner walls that face one another across ribs. One among either the third passage 153 or the fifth passage 155 corresponds to a first portion and the other among the third passage 153 and the fifth passage 155 corresponds to a second portion.
In the first embodiment, the first buffer chamber 74 and the second buffer chamber 75 are provided to the second communicating passage 73. For this reason, even though, for example, the ink inside the storage section 65 might flow back toward the third air chamber 72 side through the second communicating passage 73, the ink can be captured at the first buffer chamber 74 and the second buffer chamber 75, and therefore the ink inside the storage section 65 can be more easily prevented from arriving at the third air chamber 72. This makes it easier to avoid an event where the ink inside the storage section 65 leaks out from the air communication port 115 to the outside of the tank 9A. The number of the buffer chambers, however, is not limited to being two, namely, the first buffer chamber 74 and the second buffer chamber 75. One or a number three or higher could also be employed as the number of buffer chambers.
In the first embodiment, the first buffer chamber 74 and the second buffer chamber 75 are provided to the fifth passage 155 (
Here, in a case where, for example, the ink 141 flowing back from the storage section 65 side toward the third air chamber 72 side flows from the top toward the bottom in the fifth passage 155, then the ink 141 flowing back flows toward the first buffer chamber 74 from above the first buffer chamber 74. At this time, as illustrated in
By contrast to such an event, in the present embodiment, the ink 141 that has arrived at the first buffer chamber 74 will collect going from the bottom toward the top of the first buffer chamber 74, and therefore it is possible to efficiently exploit the capacity of the first buffer chamber 74.
Also, according to the present embodiment, the first buffer chamber 74 has a smaller cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of the third air chamber 72, and therefore the distance in the horizontal direction from the inner wall of the first buffer chamber 74 to the second communicating passage 73 is shorter than the distance in the horizontal direction from the inner wall of the third air chamber 72 to the second communicating passage 73. For this reason, the ink inside the first buffer chamber 74 more easily arrives at the second communicating passage 73 as compared to the ink that has flowed into the third air chamber 72. In other words, the ink inside the first buffer chamber 74 more easily returns to the second communicating passage 73 as compared to the ink that has flowed into the third air chamber 72. This makes it possible to reduce the amount of ink that remains inside the first buffer chamber 74 beyond the amount of ink that remains inside the third air chamber 72. As a result, in a case where ink in an amount that can be captured with the first buffer chamber 74 flows out to the third air chamber 72 side from the storage section 65, then the amount of ink that remains in the first buffer chamber 74 can be reduced and therefore waste of the ink can be mitigated.
In the first embodiment, the first buffer chamber 74 is provided to the upstream side of the second buffer chamber 75, and therefore ink that has overflowed from the second buffer chamber 75 can be captured with the first buffer chamber 74. This makes it easy to even further prevent the ink inside the storage section 65 from arriving at the third air chamber 72, and therefore makes it easy to even further avoid an event where the ink inside the storage section 65 leaks out from the air communication port 115 to the outside of the tank 9A.
In the first embodiment, as stated above, the first buffer chamber 74 is located above the opening 128 in the Z-axis direction. According to this configuration, even though, for example, the ink might be injected to capacity up until the opening 128, the ink is less likely to advance to a position higher than the opening 128, and therefore it is easier to avoid an event where the first buffer chamber 74 ends up being filled with the ink. To easily avoid the event where the first buffer chamber 74 ends up being filled with the ink, it suffices for at least a part of the first buffer chamber 74 to be located above the opening 128 in the Z-axis direction. In this configuration, it is still possible to make it easier to avoid the event where the first buffer chamber 74 ends up being filled with the ink.
In the first embodiment, the communication port 107 is located above the upper limit mark 28 in the vertical direction. For this reason, it is easier to avoid an event where the ink inside the storage section 65 arrives at the communication port 107. As a result, it is easier to prevent the ink inside the storage section 65 from flowing from the communication port 107 to inside the second communicating passage 73, and therefore it is easier to avoid an event where the ink inside the storage section 65 leaks out from the air communication port 115 to the outside of the tank 9A.
In the first embodiment, the communication port 107 is located at the upper end of the storage section 65 in the vertical direction. For this reason, in the state where the printer 1 is used, it is easier to prevent the ink inside the storage section 65 from flowing from the communication port 107 to inside the second communicating passage 73. As a result, it is easier to avoid an event where the ink inside the storage section 65 leaks out from the air communication port 115 to the outside of the tank 9A.
In the first embodiment, the reversal section 165 is provided to the second communicating passage 73. The second communicating passage 73 reverses at the reversal section 165 from an orientation going vertically downward from vertically above to an orientation going vertically upward from vertically below. For this reason, when the posture of the tank 9A is not turned in the state where the ink has entered into the second communicating passage 73 from the communication port 107, then the ink that has entered into the second communicating passage 73 does not readily surpass the reversal section 165 and flow back to the upstream side of the fifth passage 155. For this reason, it is easy to even further prevent the ink inside the storage section 65 from arriving at the third air chamber 72.
In the first embodiment, the support sections 127 that project out toward the sheet member 63 side from the first wall 81 of the case 61 are provided. For this reason, the sheet member 63 can be supported with the support sections 127 when, for example, the sheet member 63 is pressed toward the first wall 81 of the case 61, i.e., toward the inside of the storage section 65. This makes it easier to regulate flexure of the sheet member 63. As a result, it is possible to mitigate any contraction of the capacity inside the storage section 65 when, for example, the sheet member 63 is pressed toward the inside of the storage section 65. For this reason, it is easier to avoid an event where the ink inside the storage section 65 would flow from the communication port 107 into the second communicating passage 73 when, for example, the sheet member 63 is pressed toward the inside of the storage section 65.
In the first embodiment, there are the plurality of support sections 127 provided to inside the storage section 65, and therefore it is possible to further mitigate any contraction of the capacity inside the storage section 65 when the sheet member 63 is pressed toward the inside of the storage section 65. For this reason, it is easy to even further avoid an event where the ink inside the storage section 65 would flow from the communication port 107 into the second communicating passage 73 when, for example, the sheet member 63 is pressed toward the inside of the sheet member 63.
In the first embodiment, the sheet member 63 is bonded to the bonding sections 64 provided to the support sections 127. For this reason, positional displacement of the sheet member 63 is easily prevented. Also, any increase in the capacity inside the storage section 65 can be mitigated at times such as when, for example, the pressure inside the storage section 65 becomes higher than the atmospheric pressure.
The above embodiment illustrates an example where the tank 9A is constituted of the case 61 and the sheet member 63, but the configuration of the tank 9A is not limited thereto. An example where, for example, the case 61 is constituted of a plurality members could also be employed as the configuration of the tank 9A. Examples where the case 61 is constituted of a plurality of members include an example where the first wall 81 of the case 61 is constituted of another member. Further, examples where the first wall 81 of the case 61 is constituted of another member include an example where the first wall 81 is constituted of a sheet member different from the sheet member 63. This example would be a configuration where the case 61 is sandwiched between the sheet member 63 and the other sheet member. The tank 9A can be configured by this configuration, as well.
In the above first embodiment, it would also be possible to employ a configuration where the depth of the first buffer chamber 74 is less on the lower side than the upper side of the first buffer chamber 74 in the Z-axis direction, as illustrated in
According to this configuration, ink that has collected in the first buffer chamber 74 more readily returns from the lower side of the first buffer chamber 74 to the second communicating passage 73, due to the action of gravity toward the lower side of the first buffer chamber 74. At this time, when the configuration is one where the first buffer chamber 74 is shallower at the lower side than the upper side, the ink inside the first buffer chamber 74 more readily approaches the second communicating passage 73 at the lower side more than the upper side of the first buffer chamber 74. For this reason, going from the upper side toward the lower side of the first buffer chamber 74, the ink inside the first buffer chamber 74 becomes increasingly easier to guide to the second communicating passage 73. As a result, ink that has collected in the first buffer chamber 74 is more readily returned to the second communicating passage 73. This makes it possible to even further reduce the amount of ink that remains in the first buffer chamber 74, and therefore makes it possible to even further mitigate waste of the ink.
As a method for causing the first buffer chamber 74 to become shallower at the lower side than the upper side, it would also be possible to employ, for example, a method where the slope 168 is configured so as to be stepwise, as illustrated in
(Second Embodiment)
A tank 9B in the second embodiment shall now be described. In the second embodiment, configurations that are the same as in the first embodiment are assigned the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment and a detailed description thereof is omitted. The tank 9B, as illustrated in
The tank 9B, as illustrated in
The case 171 has the first wall 81 through eighth wall 88, similarly with respect to the case 61. The case 171 also has a ninth wall 191, a tenth wall 192, an eleventh wall 193, and a twelfth wall 194. The first air chamber 184, the first communicating passage 185, and the second air chamber 186 are arranged on the side opposite to the storage section 181 side from the fifth wall 85. When the first wall 81 is seen in plan view from the sheet member 63 side, the storage section 181 is surrounded by the second wall 82, the third wall 83, the fourth wall 84, the fifth wall 85, the ninth wall 191, and the tenth wall 192.
When the first wall 81 is seen in plan view from the sheet member 63 side, then the first air chamber 184, the first communicating passage 185, and the second air chamber 186 are surrounded by the fifth wall 85, the sixth wall 86, the seventh wall 87, the eighth wall 88, the ninth wall 191, and the tenth wall 192. The first wall 81 of the storage section 181 and the first wall 81 of the first air chamber 184 and second air chamber 186 are the same wall as one another. In other words, in the present embodiment, the first wall 81 is shared among the storage section 181, the first air chamber 184, and the second air chamber 186. The ink injection section 101, the supply port 113, and the air communication port 115 are also provided to the case 171. The places of arrangement of the ink injection section 101, the supply port 113, and the air communication port 115 are each similar to as in the first embodiment.
The second wall 82, the third wall 83, the fourth wall 84, the fifth wall 85, the ninth wall 191, and the tenth wall 192 each intersect with the first wall 81, as illustrated in
The second wall 82, the third wall 83, the fourth wall 84, the fifth wall 85, the ninth wall 191, and the tenth wall 192 project out to the +Y-axis direction form the first wall 81. Due to this, where the first wall 81 is a main wall, a recess 201 is configured by the second wall 82, the third wall 83, the fourth wall 84, the fifth wall 85, the ninth wall 191, and the tenth wall 192 which extend in the +Y-axis direction from the main wall. The recess 201 is configured with an orientation so as to be concave going towards the −Y-axis direction. The recess 201 forms an opening going toward the +Y-axis direction, i.e., toward the sheet member 63 (
The sixth wall 86 projects out from the ninth wall 191 toward the side of the ninth wall 191 opposite to the fourth wall 84 side, i.e., toward the +Z-axis direction side of the ninth wall 191, as illustrated in
The eleventh wall 193 and the twelfth wall 194 are provided between the sixth wall 86 and the seventh wall 87. Between the first air chamber 184 and the second air chamber 186, a separation is formed in the X-axis direction by the eleventh wall 193 and the twelfth wall 194. The eleventh wall 193 is provided to the seventh wall 87 side more than the sixth wall 86, and faces the sixth wall 86. The twelfth wall 194 is provided to the sixth wall 86 side more than the seventh wall 87, and faces the seventh wall 87. The twelfth wall 194 is provided to the seventh wall 87 side more than the eleventh wall 193.
The sixth wall 86, the seventh wall 87, the eighth wall 88, the eleventh wall 193, and the twelfth wall 194 each project out in the +Y-axis direction from the first wall 81, as illustrated in
The recess 202 and the recess 203 each form an opening going toward the +Y-axis direction, i.e., toward the sheet member 63 (
The first communicating passage 185 is provided between the eleventh wall 193 and the twelfth wall 194, as illustrated in
The extended section 105, as in the first embodiment, is also provided to the case 171, as illustrated in
The second communicating passage 187 has the communication port 106 and the communication port 107, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
In the tank 9B, as well, as with the first embodiment, the sheet member 63 is bonded to the bonding sections 64 at each of the two support sections 127. In the tank 9B, as well, as with the first embodiment, the gap between the third wall 83 and the support section 127A, the gap between the support section 127A and the support section 127B, and the gap between the second wall 82 and the support section 127B are set so as to be equal to one another. Also, in the tank 9B, as well, as with the first embodiment, the second communicating passage 187, as illustrated in
Also, in the tank 9B, as well, as with the first embodiment, the buffer chamber 188 is located above the fifth wall 85 in the Z-axis direction. For this reason, in the tank 9B, as well, as with the first embodiment, the buffer chamber 188 is located above the opening 128 (
The buffer chamber 188 is provided to the fifth passage 155 in the second communicating passage 187. The buffer chamber 188 is arranged between the ninth wall 191 and the eighth wall 88 in the Z-axis direction. The place of arrangement of the buffer chamber 188 is not limited to being the fifth passage 155. Any of the sites of the first passage 151 through sixth passage 156 could also be employed as the place of arrangement of the buffer chamber 188. Furthermore, any of the sites of the reversal section 161, the reversal section 165, the bend section 162, the bend section 163, the bend section 164, and the bend section 166 could also be employed as the place of arrangement of the buffer chamber 188.
In the tank 9B, the communication port 106 is located at the intersection at which the seventh wall 87 and the fifth wall 85 intersect together. In another viewpoint, the communication port 106 is located at the lower end of the second air chamber 186 in the vertical direction. The communication port 107 is located at the intersection at which the second wall 82 and the ninth wall 191 intersect together. In another viewpoint, the communication port 107 is located at the upper end of the storage section 181 in the vertical direction. In the present embodiment, the communication port 107 is located below the buffer chamber 188 in the vertical direction. The communication port 204 is located at the intersection at which the ninth wall 191 and the eleventh wall 193 intersect together. In another viewpoint, the communication port 204 is located at the lower end of the first air chamber 184 in the vertical direction.
As with the first embodiment, the communication port 107 is located above the upper limit mark 28 in the vertical direction, as illustrated in
As stated above, the ninth wall 191 is located on the side opposite to the storage section 181 side more than the fifth wall 85. In other words, the ninth wall 191 is located above the fifth wall 85 in the Z-axis direction. Then, the communication port 107 is located at the intersection at which the second wall 82 and the ninth wall 191 intersect together. For this reason, the communication port 107 is located above the fifth wall 85 in the Z-axis direction. Herein, the opening 128 (
The communication port 205 is located to the eighth wall 88 side more than the intersection at which the fifth wall 85 and the twelfth wall 194 intersect together, as illustrated in
In the present embodiment, the communication port 205 is located above a position that is raised by a distance H1 from the lower end 211. The dimension H1 is a dimension of the communication port 106 in the Z-axis direction. The communication port 205 is also located below a position that has been lowered by a dimension H2 from the upper end 213. The dimension H2 is a dimension of the communication port 205 in the Z-axis direction.
In the second embodiment, the Z-axis direction corresponds to a direction intersecting with the horizontal direction, the storage section 181 corresponds to a liquid storage section, the ink injection section 101 corresponds to a liquid injection section, the opening 128 corresponds to a liquid injection port, the second air chamber 186 corresponds to an air chamber, and the communication port 107 corresponds to a connecting port. The air communication port 115, the first air chamber 184, and the first communicating passage 185 correspond to an air introduction system. The second communicating passage 187 corresponds to a communicating passage and the case 171 corresponds to a case member. The second wall 82 and the third wall 83 correspond to two inner walls that face one another across ribs. One among either the third passage 153 or the fifth passage 155 corresponds to a first portion and the other among the third passage 153 and the fifth passage 155 corresponds to a second portion.
In the second embodiment, effects similar to those of the first embodiment are also obtained. In the second embodiment, as stated above, the communication port 205 is located above the lower end 211 of the second air chamber 186 (
Also, in the second embodiment, as stated above, the communication port 205 is located below the upper end 213 of the second air chamber 186 (
Further, in the second embodiment, as stated above, the communication port 205 is located above the position that is raised by the dimension H1 from the lower end 211. According to this configuration, when, for example, ink has flowed in from the storage section 181 to inside the second air chamber 186 via the second communicating passage 187, it is easy to avoid an event where the ink that has flowed into the second air chamber 186 ends up moving along the fifth wall 85 from the communication port 106 and directly arriving at the communication port 205. In other words, the ink that has flowed in from the storage section 181 to inside the second air chamber 186 via the second communicating passage 187 is readily stopped inside the second air chamber 186. As a result of this, it is easy to even further avoid an event where the ink inside the storage section 181 leaks out from the air communication port 115 to the outside of the tank 9B.
Also, in the second embodiment, as stated above, the communication port 205 is located below the position that is lowered by the dimension H2 from the upper end 213. According to this configuration, when the vertical orientation of the tank 9B is inverted in a state where, for example, ink has flowed in from the storage section 181 to inside the second air chamber 186 via the second communicating passage 187, it is easy to avoid an event where the ink inside the second air chamber 186 ends up directly arriving at the communication port 205. In other words, even in a state where the vertical orientation of the tank 9B has been inverted, the ink that has flowed in from the storage section 181 to inside the second air chamber 186 via the second communicating passage 187 is readily stopped inside the second air chamber 186. As a result of this, it is easy to even further avoid an event where the ink inside the storage section 181 leaks out from the air communication port 115 to the outside of the tank 9B.
In the second embodiment, the ninth wall 191 is located to the eighth wall 88 side more than the fifth wall 85, as illustrated in
As stated above, the opening 128 (
Moreover, as illustrated in, for example,
In the present embodiment, the volume of the recess 221 is greater than the volume, out of the space surrounded by the side wall 129 of the ink injection section 101, into which the cap 143 is fitted. This makes it possible, even though the cap 143 may be mounted in a state where the space that is surrounded by the side wall 129 is filled to capacity with ink, to use the volume of the recess 221 to capture the amount of ink that is pushed into the storage section 181 by the cap 143. As a result of this, even though the space that is surrounded by the side wall 129 may be filled to capacity with ink, the ink inside the storage section 181 will less readily reach the communication port 107. Accordingly, it is easy to even further prevent the ink inside the storage section 181 from flowing into the second communicating passage 187 from the communication port 107. As a result of this, it is easy to even further avoid an event where the ink inside the storage section 181 leaks out from the air communication port 115 to the outside of the tank 9B.
The embodiment described above illustrates an example where the tank 9B is constituted of the case 171 and the sheet member 63, but the configuration of the tank 9B is not limited thereto. An example where, for example, the case 171 is constituted of a plurality members could also be employed as the configuration of the tank 9B. Examples where the case 171 is constituted of a plurality of members include an example where the first wall 81 of the case 171 is constituted of another member. Further, examples where the first wall 81 of the case 171 is constituted of another member include an example where the first wall 81 is constituted of a sheet member different from the sheet member 63. This example would be a configuration where the case 171 is sandwiched between the sheet member 63 and the other sheet member. The tank 9B can be configured by this configuration, as well.
In the second embodiment described above, as well, as with the first embodiment, the configuration where the slop 168 illustrated in
In each of the embodiments above, the plurality of tanks 9 are not built into the first case 3, which covers the mechanism unit 10. In other words, each of the embodiments above employs a configuration where the plurality of tanks 9 are arranged on the outside of the first case 3. A configuration where the plurality of tanks 9 are built into the first case 3, however, could also be employed. Below, a configuration where the plurality of tanks 9 are built into the case shall be described, using the example of a multifunction peripheral, which is one example of a liquid jet apparatus.
A multifunction peripheral 500 in the present embodiment has a printer 503 and a scanner unit 505, as illustrated in
The scanner unit 505 is of the flatbed-type, and has an imaging element (not shown) such as an image sensor, as well as a platen and a covering. Via the imaging element, the scanner unit 505 is able to read an image that has been recorded onto a medium such as paper, as image data. For this reason, the scanner unit 505 functions as an apparatus for reading images and the like. The scanner unit 505 is configured so as to be rotatable relative to a case 507 of the printer 503, as illustrated in
The printer 503 is able to print onto the printing medium P of printing paper or the like using ink, which is one example of a liquid. The printer 503, as illustrated in
The printer 503 also has an operation panel 512. Provided to the operation panel 512 are a power source button 513, another operation button 514, and the like. The worker who operates the printer 503 can face the operation panel 512 and in this state operate the power source button 513 or the operation button 514. In the printer 503, the surface to which the operation panel 512 is provided is understood to be the front surface. On the front surface of the printer 503, a window section 515 is provided to the case 507. The window section 515 is optically transparent. The four tanks 9 described above are provided to positions overlapping with the window section 515. For this reason, the worker is able to view the four tanks 9 through the window section 515.
In the printer 503, the sites of each of the tanks 9 that face the window section 515 are optically transparent. The inks inside the tanks 9 can be viewed from the optically transparent sites of each of the tanks 9. As such, viewing the four tanks 9 via the window section 515 allows the worker to view the amount of ink that is in each of the tanks 9. In the printer 503, because the window section 515 is provided to the front surface of the printer 503, the operator can face the operation panel 512 and in this state view each of the tanks 9 from the window section 515. For this reason, the worker can ascertain the amount of ink remaining in each of the tanks 9 while also operating the printer 503.
The printer 503 has the print section 41 and the supply tubes 43, as illustrated in
In each of the embodiments described above, the liquid jet apparatus may be a liquid jet apparatus that consumes a liquid other than an ink by ejecting, discharging, or coating with the liquid. A liquid that trails with particles, tears, or threads is also understood to be included as a state of a liquid that is made into minute liquid droplets and discharged from the liquid jet apparatus. It suffices for the liquid as referred to herein to be such a material that can be consumed with a liquid jet apparatus. For example, it suffices for the liquid to be a substance when the substance is in the liquid phase, and high- or low-viscosity liquids, sols, gel waters, and other inorganic solvents, organic solvents, solutions, liquid resins, liquid metals (molten metals), and other liquid bodies are understood to be included. Not only liquids in the form of one state of a substance, but also solvents into which a functional material composed of a solid matter such as a pigment or metal particles has been dissolved or dispersed, or the like are also understood to be included. Representative examples of liquids could include an ink such as was described in the embodiments above, a liquid crystal, or the like. Herein, the term “ink” encompasses a variety of compositions in the form of a liquid, such as general water-soluble inks and oil-soluble inks as well as gel inks, hot melt inks, and the like. Other specific examples of the liquid jet apparatus may include a liquid jet apparatus for ejecting a liquid containing, in the form of a dispersion or solution, a material such as an electrode material or color material that is used, inter alia, in the manufacture of liquid crystal displays, electroluminescence (EL) displays, surface emitting displays, or color filters. Other examples may include a liquid jet apparatus for ejecting a biological organic matter used to manufacture biochips; a liquid jet apparatus for ejecting a liquid serving as a sample, used as a precision pipette; or printing device, a micro-dispenser, or the like. Further examples include: a liquid jet apparatus for ejecting a lubricant at pin points for a precision machine such as a timepiece or camera; or a liquid jet apparatus for ejecting a transparent resin solution such as an ultraviolet curable resin onto a substrate in order to form, inter alia, a hemispherical micro lens (optical lens) used in an optical communication element or the like. Another example may be a liquid jet apparatus for ejecting an acid or alkali etching solution in order to etch a substrate or the like.
In understanding the scope of the present invention, the term “comprising” and its derivatives, as used herein, are intended to be open ended terms that specify the presence of the stated features, elements, components, groups, integers, and/or steps, but do not exclude the presence of other unstated features, elements, components, groups, integers and/or steps. The foregoing also applies to words having similar meanings such as the terms, “including”, “having” and their derivatives. Also, the terms “part,” “section,” “portion,” “member” or “element” when used in the singular can have the dual meaning of a single part or a plurality of parts. Finally, terms of degree such as “substantially”, “about” and “approximately” as used herein mean a reasonable amount of deviation of the modified term such that the end result is not significantly changed. For example, these terms can be construed as including a deviation of at least ±5% of the modified term if this deviation would not negate the meaning of the word it modifies.
While only a selected embodiment has been chosen to illustrate the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Furthermore, the foregoing descriptions of the embodiment according to the present invention are provided for illustration only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-219889 | Oct 2013 | JP | national |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20120038719 | Shimizu et al. | Feb 2012 | A1 |
| 20120050359 | Koganehira et al. | Mar 2012 | A1 |
| 20120182364 | Takeda et al. | Jul 2012 | A1 |
| 20130169720 | Nakamura et al. | Jul 2013 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 61-020332 | Feb 1986 | JP |
| 2012-020495 | Feb 2012 | JP |
| 2012-020496 | Feb 2012 | JP |
| 2012-051307 | Mar 2012 | JP |
| 2012-051308 | Mar 2012 | JP |
| 2012-051309 | Mar 2012 | JP |
| 2012-051328 | Mar 2012 | JP |
| 2012-066563 | Apr 2012 | JP |
| 2013-139140 | Jul 2013 | JP |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20150109386 A1 | Apr 2015 | US |
