Abstract:
A liquid container including: a containing portion, adapted to store liquid; a liquid outlet port, adapted to flow out the liquid from the containing portion therethrough; an outer wall, having a liquid supply opening for exposing the liquid outlet port to an outside, and covering a periphery of the liquid outlet port while the outer wall keeps a predetermined gap from an outer end of the liquid outlet port; and a first liquid absorption member, disposed at the predetermined gap so as to absorb the liquid.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Technical Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a liquid container that is mounted on a cartridge mounting portion in a liquid ejection apparatus, such as an ink jet printer or the like. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   As a liquid container that is mounted on a cartridge mounting portion in a liquid ejection apparatus, such as an ink jet printer or the like, an ink cartridge having the configuration shown in  FIG. 14  has been suggested. 
   An ink cartridge  101  shown in  FIG. 14  is disclosed in JP-A-5-16377 described below. The ink cartridge  101  has an ink pack  104  that has a flexible pouch body  102  containing an ink liquid and an ink outlet port  103  provided in the pouch body  102 , and a rectangular cartridge case  105  that accommodates the ink pack  104  and is mounted on a cartridge mounting portion of a printer. 
   In the cartridge case  105 , a boxlike case main body  106  having a top opened and a lid body  107  that covers the opened portion of the case main body  106  defines a pack accommodating space  105   a  that accommodates the ink pack  104 . 
   The pouch body  102  is formed by stacking aluminum-laminated films and bonding their circumferential portions to each other using a heat welding method or the like. The aluminum-laminated films are obtained by forming a nylon film and a polyethylene film on both surfaces of an aluminum foil. In addition, the aluminum-laminated films are stacked such that their polyethylene films face each other. 
   As shown in  FIG. 15 , the ink outlet port  103  is configured such that a sealing plug  103   b  formed of an elastic material, such as rubber or the like, is press-fitted into and fixed to a cylindrical body  103   a  formed of plastic. A thin film portion  103   c  is provided on the sealing plug  103   b  close to the pouch body  102  so as to prevent the occurrence of eluted products and deposits of impurities due to the insertion of the sealing plug  103   b  that was brought into contact with ink. 
   A rear end of the cylindrical body  103   a  that is inserted between the superimposed portion of the aluminum-laminated films of the pouch body  102  and the cylindrical body  103   a  is heat-welded to the aluminum-laminated films. Accordingly, the ink outlet port  103  is incorporated into the pouch body  102  in an airtight manner. 
   As shown in  FIG. 14 , a pack positioning portion  106   b  is provided at a front-end side wall  106   a  of the case main body  106  so as to position the ink outlet port  103 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 15 , the pack positioning portion  106   b  is a semicircular notch that is fitted into an anchoring groove  103   d  formed in an outer circumference of the cylindrical body  103   a  of the ink outlet port  103 . With the engagement of the pack positioning portion  106   b  and the ink outlet port  103 , a front end of the outer end of the ink outlet port  103  is positioned so as to slightly protrude from the cartridge case  105 . 
   If the ink cartridge  101  that accommodates the ink pack  104  is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion of the printer, as shown in  FIG. 15 , an ink supply needle  108  provided in the cartridge mounting portion passes through the sealing plug  103   b  and the thin film portion  103   c , such that the ink liquid within the pouch body  102  can be supplied to an ink supply portion of the printer connected to the ink supply needle  108 . 
   If the ink cartridge  101  is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion of the printer in such a manner, the ink supply needle  108  of the printer is inserted into and connected to the exposed ink outlet port  103  at one end of the cartridge case  105 . Then, when the ink cartridge is removed from the cartridge mounting portion of the printer for cartridge replacement, a small amount of a remaining ink liquid may leak to the ink outlet port  103  in a state where the ink supply needle  108  is extracted. 
   In the conventional ink cartridge  101 , the front end of the ink outlet port  103  protrudes outside the cartridge case  105 . For this reason, an ink liquid leaking from the ink outlet port  103  may drip within the printer and stain the inside of the printer. Further, the ink liquid may flow out from the case and stain the hand of a worker or peripheral matters. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention has been finalized in order to solve the above-described problems, and it is an object of at least one embodiment of the invention to provide a liquid container that, even though liquid leaks from a liquid outlet port when a cartridge case is removed from a cartridge mounting portion of a liquid ejection apparatus, can prevent leakage liquid from flowing out from the cartridge case, an ink cartridge having such a liquid container, and an ink jet printer having such a liquid container. 
   According to this aspect of the embodiment of the invention, a liquid container comprises: a containing portion, adapted to store liquid; a liquid outlet port, adapted to flow out the liquid from the containing portion therethrough; an outer wall, having a liquid supply opening for exposing the liquid outlet port to an outside, and covering a periphery of the liquid outlet port while the outer wall keeps a predetermined gap from an outer end of the liquid outlet port; and a first liquid absorption member, disposed at the predetermined gap so as to absorb the liquid. 
   Here, the predetermined gap at which the outer end of the liquid outlet port is positioned and fixed at a position spaced from the liquid supply opening inward is appropriately set depending on properties of the liquid, such as viscosity or fluidity, such that the liquid does not remain between the inner surface of the outer wall having the liquid supply opening formed therein and the outer end of the liquid outlet port as a meniscus. 
   According to the liquid container having the above-described configuration, the outer end of the liquid outlet port is positioned at the position spaced at the predetermined gap from the liquid supply opening of the outer wall inward. Therefore, when the liquid container is removed from a mounting portion of a liquid ejection apparatus, even though liquid leaks from the liquid outlet port, leakage liquid flows between the inner surface of the outer wall having the liquid supply opening formed therein and the outer end of the liquid output port. At this time, the liquid is collected so as to be absorbed by the liquid absorption member. That is, the liquid rarely flow out from the outer wall of the liquid container. 
   As a result, when the liquid container is removed from the mounting portion, liquid rarely leaks from the liquid outlet port and rarely stains the inside of the liquid ejection apparatus or the outer surface of the liquid container. 
   For this reason, even though the liquid supply opening of the removed liquid container is turned downward, the collected liquid rarely flows backward and rarely leaks from the liquid supply opening of the liquid container to the outside. Therefore, it is possible to improve reliability for a function of collecting the leakage liquid. 
   In this case, the first liquid absorption member may cover the outlet port to decrease an exposed portion of the outlet port from the liquid supply opening. 
   Accordingly, liquid leaking from the liquid outlet port can be prevented from flowing out from the liquid outlet port. Further, liquid stuck to a liquid supply member of the mounting portion to be inserted into the liquid outlet port can be absorbed by the liquid absorption member. 
   The first liquid absorption member may cover the outlet port such that the outlet port is bisected. In this case, since the liquid absorption member and the liquid supply member are reliably brought into contact with each other, liquid stuck to the liquid supply member when the liquid container is removed from the mounting portion can be reliably collected. Therefore, the liquid container can be prevented from being stained by the liquid. 
   In the liquid container having the above-described configuration, the liquid container may further comprise a liquid storage space, disposed at a position on a downstream side of the inner surface of the outer wall and adapted to store the liquid flowing along an inner surface of the outer wall. 
   According to the liquid container having the above-described configuration, since the liquid storage space is provided within the liquid container, a collection capability of liquid flowing along the inner surface of the outer wall can be improved. 
   Therefore, even though the amount of the leakage liquid from the liquid outlet port is increased due to the repetition of the attachment and detachment to and from the mounting portion of the liquid ejection apparatus, the leakage liquid can be reliably collected. 
   In the liquid container having the above-described configuration, the containing portion may be a liquid pack, and the liquid storage space may be disposed to be lower than a position where the liquid pack is accommodated. 
   According to the liquid container having the above-described configuration, the liquid that leaks from the liquid outlet port, flows through the liquid absorption member, and then is stored in the liquid storage space does not flow toward the liquid pack, which is accommodated higher than the liquid storage space, unless the cartridge case is horizontally inclined or reversed. Accordingly, the collected liquid can be prevented from being stuck to the liquid pack. 
   For this reason, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a situation in which a worker who performs replacement of the liquid pack or the like stains his/her hands with the leakage liquid stuck to the liquid pack. Therefore, operationality and a handling property at the time of the replacement of the liquid pack are improved. 
   In the liquid container having the above-described configuration, the liquid container may further comprise a second liquid absorption member disposed in the liquid storage space so as to absorb the liquid. 
   According to the liquid container having the above-described configuration, liquid that leaks from the liquid outlet port, flows through the liquid absorption member, and then is stored in the liquid storage space is absorbed by the liquid absorption member to be then collected. Therefore, even though the removed liquid container is horizontally inclined or reversed, the collected liquid rarely flows backward and leaks from the liquid supply opening of the liquid container to the outside. Therefore, it is possible to improve reliability for a function of collecting the leakage liquid. 
   Further, in the liquid container having the above-described configuration, the liquid container may further comprise a rib extending along the outer wall to the liquid storage space. The width of the rib may be smaller than an outer diameter of the liquid outlet port and the boundary between the rib and the outer wall may be rounded. 
   According to another aspect of the invention, an ink cartridge includes the liquid container having the above-described configuration. In this case, an ink liquid is filled in the liquid pack that is accommodated in the liquid container having the above-described configuration. 
   According to the ink cartridge having the above-described configuration, when the ink cartridge is removed from the cartridge mounting portion, the situation in which an ink liquid leaking from the liquid outlet port stains the printer, peripheral matters, or the hands of a worker rarely occurs. 
   According to still another aspect of the invention, an ink jet printer includes the ink cartridge having the above-described configuration. 
   According to the ink jet printer having the above-described configuration, when the ink cartridge is removed from the cartridge mounting portion, ink liquid leaking from the liquid outlet port rarely stains the printer, peripheral matters, or the hands of a worker. Therefore, operationality and a handling property at the time of the replacement of the ink cartridge are improved. 
   According to the liquid container, the ink cartridge having the liquid container, and the ink jet printer of embodiment of the invention, when the liquid container is removed from the mounting portion of the liquid ejection apparatus, even though the liquid supply member is removed and the liquid leaks from the liquid outlet port, the leakage liquid flows along the inner surface of the outer wall and then is collected by the liquid absorption member. That is, there is no case where the liquid flows out from the liquid container. 
   Therefore, when the liquid container is removed from the mounting portion, the leakage liquid does not stain the inside of the liquid ejection apparatus or the outer surface of the liquid container. As a result, the inside of the liquid container, peripheral matters of the apparatus, or the hands of a worker are prevented from being stained. In addition, operationality and a handling property at the time of the replacement of the liquid container or the like can be improved. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an exterior perspective view of an ink jet printer which has an ink cartridge as a liquid container according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an overall perspective view of the ink cartridge shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the ink cartridge shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a longitudinal perspective view of the ink cartridge shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge taken along the line V-V of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a plan view showing a state where an upper case is removed from the ink cartridge shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a plan view showing a state where an upper case and an ink pack serving as a liquid pack are removed from the ink cartridge shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the ink cartridge shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 9  is an expanded view of a C port opening-closing.; 
       FIG. 10  is an overall perspective view of an ink cartridge according to another embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view of the ink cartridge shown in  FIG. 10 ; 
       FIG. 12  is an expanded cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge shown in  FIG. 10 ; 
       FIG. 13  is an exploded perspective view of an ink absorption member shown in  FIG. 10 ; 
       FIG. 14  is an exploded perspective view of a conventional ink cartridge; 
       FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view showing the periphery of an ink outlet port of the ink cartridge taken along the line XV-XV of  FIG. 14   
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Hereinafter, a liquid container according to a first embodiment of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     FIG. 1  is an exterior perspective view of an ink jet printer which has an ink cartridge as a liquid container according to an embodiment of the invention.  FIGS. 2 to 5  are an overall perspective view, an exploded perspective view, a longitudinal perspective view, and a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge shown in  FIG. 1 , respectively.  FIG. 6  is a plan view showing a state where an upper case is removed from the ink cartridge shown in  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 7  is a plan view showing a state where an upper case and an ink pack serving as a liquid pack are removed from the ink cartridge shown in  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the ink cartridge shown in  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 9  is an expanded view of a C port opening-closing.  4 . 
   An ink jet printer  1  according to this embodiment performs color printing on a roll paper using a plurality of color ink liquids. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a printer cover  4  having a roll paper cover  5  and an ink cartridge cover  7  integrally formed is openably provided on a front surface of a printer case  2 . In addition, a power supply switch  3  and feed switches or indicators are disposed on the front surface of the printer case  2 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , if the printer cover  4  is opened, the roll paper cover  5  that covers a paper accommodating portion  8  for accommodating the roll paper  6  as a printing paper is opened, such that the papers can be replaced. At the same time, the ink cartridge cover  7  that covers a cartridge mounting portion  9  is also opened, such that an ink cartridge  10  can be attached and detached to and from the cartridge mounting portion  9 . 
   In case of the ink jet printer  1  of this embodiment, the ink cartridge  10  is drawn out by a predetermined distance in front of the cartridge mounting portion  9  in connection with an opening operation of the printer cover  4 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 2 to 5 , the ink cartridge  10  of this embodiment is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion  9  of the ink jet printer  1 . Accordingly, a waste ink storage structure  17  that stores waste ink generated at the time of an ink filling operation or a head cleaning operation of the printer is provided in a cartridge case  15  that accommodates three ink packs (liquid packs)  11  to  13 . 
   The three ink packs  11  to  13  are filled with ink (liquid) of different colors for color printing. The ink packs  11  to  13  have the same structure. Each of the ink packs  11  to  13  has a flexible pouch body  21  that contains ink, and an ink outlet port  23  that is bonded to a front end of the pouch body  21 . 
   The pouch body  21  is formed by superimposing two aluminum-laminated films and bonding their peripheries to each other using a heat welding method or the like. The aluminum-laminated film is used to improve gas barrier characteristics. As the aluminum-laminated film, for example, a laminated film obtained by laminating a nylon film and a polyethylene film on both surfaces of an aluminum foil is used. 
   In this embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 9 , the ink outlet port  23  has a cylindrical body  23   a  that is formed to have an outer diameter larger than the outer diameter of its front end and is inserted and fixed into the pouch body  21 , a valve mechanism  23   b  that is mounted within the cylindrical body  23   a  so as to open/close a flow passage of the cylindrical body  23   a , and a seal film  23   c  that is attached to the front end of the cylindrical body  23   a  so as to seal an opening of the cylindrical body  23   a . The cylindrical body  23   a  of the ink outlet port  23  is formed of, for example, hard plastic. Further, the seal film  23   c  is formed of a polyethylene film. 
   The cylindrical body  23   a  is fixed to the aluminum-laminated film of the pouch body  21  by heat welding or the like, such that the ink outlet port  23  is incorporated into the pouch body  21 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 9 , the valve mechanism  23   b  has a mouth member  24   a , formed of an elastic material, such as a rubber material or the like, that is formed in a tapered tube shape having a wider inner diameter at the front end, with which an ink supply needle (liquid supply member)  41  provided in the cartridge mounting portion  9  of the ink jet printer  1  is closely engaged, a guide cylinder  24   b  that is connected to a rear end of the mouth member  24   a  to be concentric with the mouth member  24   a , a valve body  24   c  that is slidably provided within the guide cylinder  24   b  and comes into contact with the rear end of the mouth member  24   a  so as to seal an opening of the mouth member  24   a , a compressed coil spring  24   d  that biases the valve body  24   c  in a direction to be brought into contact with the rear end of the mouth member  24   a , and a spring seat  24   e  that supports one end of the compressed coil spring  24   d  at a base end of the cylinder body  23   a  (see  FIG. 4 ). 
   In the valve mechanism  23   b , the ink supply needle  41  provided in the cartridge mounting portion  9  is inserted into the mouth member  24   a , and then the valve body  24   c  is pressed by the ink supply needle  41  and is press-spaced away from the mouth member  24   a , such that an ink liquid in the pouch body  21  can be supplied to the ink supply needle  41 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the cartridge case  15  has an upper case  31 , a lower case  33  that is connected to the bottom of the upper case  31 , and an intermediate container wall  35  vertically divides a space defined by the upper case  31  and the lower case  33 . 
   The upper case  31  and the lower case  33  are molded products formed of suitable plastic materials. The intermediate container wall  35  is formed of a plastic film. 
   The upper case  31  is in a box shape having an open bottom and a front container wall  31   a  thereof is set to be lower than side container walls and a rear container wall, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . Then, semicircular cylindrical outlet port positioning portions  31   b  are formed below the front container wall  31   a  so as to position upper halves of the ink outlet ports  23  of the individual ink packs  11  to  13 . Three semicircular cylindrical outlet port positioning portions  31   b  are formed to correspond to the three ink packs  11  to  13  to be accommodated. 
   Anchoring protrusions  31   d  provided at the lower ends of side walls  31   c  in the periphery of the rear end that are to be the side container walls of the upper case  31  are engaged with engagement portions  33   a  of the lower case  33 , such that the upper case  31  and the lower case  33  are connected to each other. 
   The lower case  33  is formed in a thin pan and box shape having an open top. A front container wall  33   b  is set to be higher than side container walls and a rear container wall. Outlet port positioning portions  33   c  are formed at an upper end of the front container wall  33   b  so as to position lower halves of the ink outlet ports  23  of the individual ink packs  11  to  13 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 4 , the outlet port positioning portions  33   c  position and fix the ink outlet ports  23  of the individual ink packs  11  to  13 , together with the outlet port positioning portions  31   b  of the upper case  31 , by clamping the individual ink outlet ports  23  from above and below. Like the above-described outlet port positioning portions  31   b , three outlet port positioning portions  33   c  are formed to correspond to the three ink packs  11  to  13  to be accommodated. 
   In this embodiment, the outlet port positioning portion  31   b  positions the ink outlet port  23  in an axial direction by causing a positioning brim portion  26  provided on an outer circumference of the cylindrical body  23   a  of the ink outlet port  23  to be engaged with a groove  27  formed on its inner circumferential surface. Further, the outlet port positioning portion  33   c  positions the ink outlet port  23  in a vertical direction by causing the outer circumference of the cylindrical body  23   a  of the ink outlet port  23  to be engaged with a semicircular cylindrical contact portion  28  provided at its top surface. 
   Further, a cover portion  33   d  is formed at the upper end of the front container wall  33   b  to extend from the front ends of the outlet port positioning portions  33   c  and to cover the front sides of the ink outlet ports  23 . As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the ink supply openings (liquid supply openings)  33   e  that expose the ink outlet ports  23  positioned by the outlet port positioning portions  31   b  and  33   c  to the outside of the case are formed to pass through the cover portion  33   d.    
   The ink supply openings  33   e  are openings into which the ink supply needles  41  provided in the cartridge mounting portion  9  of the ink jet printer  1  are inserted. Three ink supply openings  33   e  are formed so as to be correspondingly concentric with the three outlet port positioning portions  33   c.    
   If the ink cartridge  10  is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion  9  of the ink jet printer  1 , the ink supply needles  41  provided in the cartridge mounting portion  9  are correspondingly inserted into the ink outlet ports  23  of the individual ink packs  11  to  13 . Then, the ink liquids in the individual ink packs  11  to  13  can be supplied to the printer. 
   Specifically, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 9 , each of the ink supply needle  41  provided in the cartridge mounting portion  9  passes through the mouth member  24   a  of each of the ink outlet ports  23  and causes the valve mechanism  23   b  to be in a closed state. Accordingly, the ink liquid in the pouch body  21  of each of the ink packs  11  to  13  can be supplied to the printer through the ink supply needle  41 . Supply tubes  42  that guide the ink liquid to a printing head of the printer are correspondingly connected to the ink supply needles  41 . 
   In this embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the outlet port positioning portions  31   b  and  33   c  provided in the cartridge case  15  position the front ends of the ink outlet ports  23 , that is, the outer ends  23   d , at positions spaced at a predetermined gap s from the inner surface of the cover portion  33   d  of the lower case  33  having the ink supply openings  33   e  formed therein to the inside of the case. That is, the gap s is secured between the inner surface of the cover portion  33   d  and the front end of the ink outlet port  23  to flow. 
   The gap s causes ink liquids dripping from the ink outlet ports  23  to flow into the cartridge case  15  when the ink cartridge  10  is removed from the cartridge mounting portion  9  of the ink jet printer  1  for the replacement of the ink cartridge  10  or the like and the ink supply needles  41  are removed from the ink outlet ports  23 . 
   The gap s is appropriately set according to properties of the ink liquid, such as viscosity or fluidity such that the ink liquid remains between the inner surface of the cover portion  33   d  serving as an inner surface of the cartridge case having the ink supply openings  33   e  formed therein and the front ends of the ink outlet ports  23  as a meniscus. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , an angular portion  34  close to the inner surface of the cover portion  33   d  has an R section having a radius enough to prevent the stuck ink liquid from flowing out from the cartridge case  15 . 
   In this embodiment, an ink absorption member (liquid absorption member)  80  that absorbs the ink liquid is provided between the inner surface of the cover portion  33   d  and the front ends of the individual ink outlet ports  23 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 9 , the ink absorption member  80  substantially has an L sectional shape having a flat plate portion  81  that is provided to fill the gap s along the inner surface of the cover portion  33   d  extending from the front container wall  33   b , and a seat plate portion  82  that is provided upright from a lower end of the flat plate portion  81  and then accommodated in a blank space p below the front end of the cylindrical body  23   a . The seat plate portion  82  is placed on a step between the front container wall  33   b  and the cover portion  33   d  to be then positioned. 
   Openings  81   a  are formed in the flat plate portion  81  to have a diameter larger than the ink supply openings  33   e  to be concentric with the ink supply openings  33   e  or the ink outlet ports  23 . The ink supply needles  41  are inserted into the openings  81   a.    
   As a specific material of the liquid absorption member  80 , for example, in addition to porous materials, such as sponge or nonwoven fabric, a liquid absorbent polymer can be used. 
   In the lower case  33  of this embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the front container wall  33   b  is disposed below the cover portion  33   d  having the ink supply openings  33   e  formed therein to be connected to the cover portion  33   d . On the inner surface of the front container wall  33   b , reinforcing ribs  84  are integrally formed to vertically extend corresponding to positions supporting the ink outlet ports  23 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the upper end surfaces of the ribs  84  form the outlet port positioning portions  33   c . Each of the ribs  84  is set such that a size w in a widthwise direction of the case is smaller than the outer diameter of each of the ink outlet ports  23 . If the ink liquid leaking from each of the ink outlet ports  23  flows to the step between the front container wall  33   b  and the cover portion  33   d , the ink liquid flows from the step to the lower end of the front container wall  33   b  along the inner surface on both sides of each of the ribs  84  (the inner surface of the front container wall  33   b ). Moreover, each of angular portions  84   a  close to a base portion of each of the ribs  84  has an R section having a sufficiently small radius such that the stuck ink liquid easily moves downward by a capillary force. 
   In this embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 7 , a liquid storage space  86  that stores the ink liquid flowing along the inner surface of the front container wall  33   b  is provided at a position that extends to the lower end of the inner surface of the front container wall  33   b . Further, the position of the liquid storage space  86  is set to be lower than a lower end position of an ink pack accommodating space  55  that accommodates the ink packs  11  to  13  (that is, a position at which the intermediate container wall  35  is provided). Still further, the liquid storage space  86  may be provided with a liquid absorption member so as to absorb the ink liquid flowing along the inner surface of the front container wall  33   b.    
   An waste ink inlet  44  that constitutes a waste ink inlet portion  37  in the waste ink storage structure  17  is formed at a position in the periphery of a lower portion of the front container wall  33   b.    
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , the waste ink inlet portion  37  has a tapered tube-shaped rubber mouth member  37   a  that has a wider inner diameter at its front end, a seal film  37   b  that is adhered to the front end of the rubber mouth member  37   a , a valve body  37   c  that comes into contact with a rear end of the rubber mouth member  37   a  to close an opening of the rubber mouth member  37   a , and a compressed coil spring member  37   d  that brings the valve body  37   c  into contact with the rubber mouth member  37   a , and presses and biases the valve body  37   c  to be closely adhered to the valve body  37   c.    
   If the ink cartridge  10  is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion  9  of the ink jet printer  1 , a waste ink pouring needle  47  provided in the cartridge mounting portion  9  is engaged with the rubber mouth member  37   a  airtight, and the valve body  37   c  is pressed. Then, waste ink can be poured into the storage space  51  through the waste ink pouring needle  47  (see  FIG. 4 ). 
   A waste ink guiding tube  49  that guides waste ink generated at the time of an ink filling operation or a head cleaning operation of the ink jet printer  1  is connected to the waste ink pouring needle  47 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , an IC module  53 , in the lower case  33 , an IC module  53  that can record the kinds of the ink packs  11  to  13 , a residual ink quantity, and other kinds of data is provided on a side container wall  33   f  of the lower case  33 . 
   If the ink cartridge  10  is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion  9  of the ink jet printer  1 , the IC module  53  is electrically connected to a connection terminal provided in the cartridge mounting portion  9 . Accordingly, information can be read and written from and into a printer control circuit or a computer to which the printer is connected. 
   The intermediate container wall  35  that is a container wall formed of a plastic film, such as a polyethylene film or the like, is set such that its circumferential portion is superimposed on the upper end surfaces of the side container walls  33   f  and the front and rear container walls  33   g  and  33   h  of the lower case  33  (see  FIG. 4 ). Then, the superimposed portions are bonded using a heat welding method or the like, such that the intermediate container wall  35  is fixed to the lower case  33  while being slightly tensioned. 
   The intermediate container wall  35  is fixed to the lower case  33  so as to cover an upper opening of the lower case  33 . Then, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the storage space  51  constituting the waste ink storage structure  17  is defined between a bottom wall  33   i  of the lower case  33  and the intermediate container wall  35 . In addition, an ink pack accommodating space  55  that accommodates the three ink packs  11  to  13  upright as shown in  FIG. 3  is defined between a top wall  31   e  of the upper case  31  and the intermediate container wall  35 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 4 , the waste ink storage structure  17  of this embodiment has the storage space  51  that is defined by the lower case  33  and the intermediate container wall  35  and stores waste ink, the waste ink inlet portion  37  that pours waste ink into the storage space  51 , a vent  61  that connects the storage space  51  to the outside, two ink absorption members  63  that are provided in the storage space  51  so as to absorb waste ink poured into the storage space  51  from the waste ink inlet portion  37 , and an open-close valve  65  that opens/closes the vent  61 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the waste ink inlet portion  37  that pours waste ink into the storage space  51  is provided at the waste ink inlet  44  formed in the front container wall  33   b  that is a part of a container wall defining the storage space  51 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 4 , a rear end (a left end in  FIG. 4 ) of the waste ink inlet  44  is connected to the storage space  51 . Then, waste ink to be poured from the waste ink pouring needle  47  inserted into the waste ink inlet portion  37  flows from the rear end of the waste ink inlet  44  into the storage space  51 . 
   The vent  61  formed in the intermediate container wall  35  is a circular opening that exposes the storage space  51  to the air. A position at which the vent  61  is to be formed is preferably a position that waste ink finally reaches within the storage space  51 . 
   The ink absorption members  63  absorb poured waste ink such that waste ink poured into the storage space  51  through the waste ink inlet portion  37  and the waste ink inlet  44  does not flow backward to the waste ink inlet portion  37  and leak to the outside. 
   The ink absorption members  63  are molded in rectangular shapes so as to be accommodated in the storage space  51  using a liquid absorbent material. As a specific material, in addition to porous materials, sponge or nonwoven fabric, a liquid absorbent polymer can be used. 
   The open-close valve  65  provided at the vent  61  opens the vent  61  only when waste ink is poured and releases air in the storage space  51  so as not to obstruct the pouring of waste ink from the waste ink inlet portion  37 . 
   In this embodiment, as a plastic film used for the intermediate container wall  35  having the vent  61 , a plastic film having flexibility to be expanded by an pouring pressure of waste ink from the waste ink inlet portion  37  is selected. 
   In this embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the open-close valve  65  has the intermediate container wall  35  having the vent  61 , and a valve structure member  67  that is provided within the storage space  51  such that its front end comes into contact with the circumference of the vent  61  so as to close the vent  61 . 
   The valve structure member  67  that is a cylindrical support has a positioning protrusion  67   a  that is provided at its front end to pass through the vent  61 . The valve structure member  67  is formed integrally with the bottom wall  33   i  of the lower case  33  that faces the vent  61 . A hole  63   a  (see  FIG. 3 ), into which the valve structure member  67  is inserted, is formed in the two ink absorption members  63  provided in the storage space  51 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 4 , in the open-close valve  65 , the front end surface of the valve structure member  67  comes into contact with the circumference of the vent  61  so as to close the vent  61 . The open-close valve  65  is kept to be in a closed state excluding when waste ink is poured from the waste ink inlet portion  37 . 
   If a pressure in the storage space  51  is increased due to the pouring of waste ink, the intermediate container wall  35  is transformed and the open-close valve  65  expands upward. Then, the circumference of the vent  61  is spaced away from the front end surface of the valve structure member  67 , and thus the open-close valve  65  exposes the storage space  51  to the air through the vent  61 . 
   According to the ink cartridge  10  of this embodiment described above, the front ends of the liquid outlet ports  23  of the individual ink packs  11  to  13  are positioned and fixed at the positions spaced inwardly at the predetermined gap s from the liquid supply openings  33   e  of the cartridge case  15 . 
   Then, even though leakage of the ink liquid from the liquid outlet ports  23  when the ink cartridge  10  is removed from the cartridge mounting portion  9  of the ink jet printer  1  and the ink supply needles  41  are removed from the liquid outlet ports  23 , the leakage ink liquid does not flow into the cartridge case  15  and does not flow out from the cartridges case  15 . 
   Therefore, according to the ink cartridge  10  of this embodiment, when the ink cartridge  10  is removed from the cartridge mounting portion  9 , the ink liquid leaking from the ink outlet ports  23  does no stain the printer  1 , peripheral matters, or the hands of a worker. As a result, operationality and a handling property at the time of the replacement of the cartridge or the like can be improved. 
   According to the ink cartridge  10  of the above-described embodiment, the ink liquid leaking from the ink outlet ports  23  when the ink cartridge  10  is removed from the cartridge mounting portion  9  flows between the inner surface of the cover portion  33   d  of the cartridge case  15  having the ink supply openings  33   e  formed therein and the front ends of the ink outlet ports  23 . Subsequently, the ink liquid is absorbed by the liquid absorption member  80  to be then collected. 
   For this reason, even though the ink supply openings  33   e  of the removed cartridge case  15  are turned downward, the collected ink liquid rarely flows backward and flows out from the ink supply openings  33   e  to the outside. As a result, reliability for a function of collecting the leakage ink liquid can be improved. 
   According to the ink cartridge  10  of the above-described embodiment, the liquid storage space  86  that stores the ink liquid flowing along the inner surface of the cartridge case  15  is provided at a lower position extended to the inner surface of the cartridge case  15  having the ink supply openings  33   e  formed therein. 
   Even though the amount of the leakage ink liquid from the liquid outlet ports  23  is increased due to the repetition of the attachment and detachment of the ink cartridge  10  to and from the cartridge mounting portion  9  of the ink jet printer  1 , the leakage ink liquid can be reliably collected. 
   According to the ink cartridge  10  of the above-described embodiment, the liquid storage space  86  is set to be lower than the position where the ink packs  11  to  13  in the cartridge case  15  are accommodated. Accordingly, the ink liquid that leaks from the liquid outlet ports  23 , flows down within the cartridge case  15 , and is stored in the liquid storage space  86  do not flow to the ink packs  11  to  13  accommodated above the liquid storage space  86 , unless the cartridge case  15  is horizontally inclined or reversed. Therefore, the collected ink liquid can be prevented from being stuck to the ink packs  11  to  13 . When the liquid absorption member is provided in the liquid storage space  86 , the liquid stored in the liquid storage space  86  does not flow to the ink packs  11  to  13 , even if the cartridge case  15  is horizontally inclined or reversed. 
   For this reason, it is possible to prevent the situation in which a worker who performs replacement of the liquid packs  11  to  13  or the like stains his/her hands with the leakage ink liquid stuck to the ink packs  11  to  13 . Therefore, operationality and a handling property at the time of the replacement of the ink packs  11  to  13  or the like are improved. 
   Next, a second embodiment according to the invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 10 to 13 . In these drawings, parts having the same function as that in the first embodiment are represented by the same reference numerals, and the descriptions thereof will be omitted. In particular, the shape and function of the ink absorption member (liquid absorption member) in the second embodiment are different from that in the first embodiment. 
     FIG. 10  is an overall perspective view of an ink cartridge according to the second embodiment.  FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view of the ink cartridge shown in  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 12  is an expanded cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge.  FIG. 13  is an expanded perspective view of an ink absorption member. In the second embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 10 to 13 , an ink absorption member (liquid absorption member)  800  that absorbs ink liquid is provided between the inner surface of a cover portion  33   d  and front ends of ink outlet ports  23 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 11 and 13 , the ink absorption member  800  substantially has an L sectional shape having a flat plate portion  810  that is provided to bury the gap s along the inner surface of the cover portion  33   d  extending from the front container wall  33   b , and a seat plate portion  820  that is provided upright at a lower end of the flat plate portion  810  and is accommodated in a black space p below a front end of a cylindrical body  23   a . The seat plate portion  820  is placed on a step between the front container wall  33   b  and the cover portion  33   d  to be then positioned. 
   Semicircular openings  810   a  are formed in the flat plate portion  810  so as to be substantially concentric with the centers of the ink supply openings  33   e  or the ink outlet ports  23 , respectively, and only the upper halves thereof are opened. The openings  810   a  have semicircular shapes larger than the diameter of the individual ink supply openings  33   e . In the first embodiment, each of the ink outlet ports  23  is exposed by the area of each of the ink supply openings  33   e . Meanwhile, in the second embodiment, since the lower halves of the ink supply openings  33   e  are covered with the ink absorption member  800 , only the upper halves of the ink supply openings  33   e  are exposed. 
   Slits  820   a  that extend from the centers of the individual semicircular openings  810   a  downward are provided in the ink absorption member  800 , such that a contact portion  830  covering the ink supply openings  33   e  can be easily displaced. 
   In the second embodiment, in each of ink supply needles  410  of the cartridge mounting portion  9  of the ink jet printer  1 , an introduction hole  410   a  for introducing ink is provided at an upper portion of its circumferential portion. 
   If the ink cartridge  100  having the above-described configuration is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion  9  of the ink jet printer  1 , the ink supply needles  410  provided in the cartridge mounting portion  9  come into contact with the contact portions  830 , respectively. Then, the lower portions of outer circumferences of the ink supply needles  410  are correspondingly inserted into and connected to the ink outlet ports  23  of the individual ink packs  11  to  13  while displacing the contact portions  830  to be spaced away from the slits  820   a . Accordingly, the ink liquids in the individual ink packs  11  to  13  can be supplied to the printer. As such, the sides of the ink supply needles  410  not having the introduction holes  410   a  slide into contact with the ink absorption member  800 , and the introduction holes  410   a  do not slide into contact with the ink absorption member  800  by the openings  810   a . Therefore, foreign substances or fragments of the ink absorption member do not enter the introduction holes  410   a . Further, since the slits  820   a  are disposed on the contact portions  830  of the ink absorption member  800 , when the ink supply needles  410  are inserted into the ink cartridge  100 , the ink supply needles  410  do not damage the flat plate portion  810 . 
   Next, a case where the ink cartridge  100  is removed from the cartridge mounting portion  9  will be described. Although ink easily sticks to the outer circumferences of the ink supply needles  410 , since the outer circumferences of the ink supply needles  410  slide into contact with the contact portions  830  of the ink absorption member  800 , ink stuck to the outer circumferences of the ink supply needles  410  seeps into the contact portions  830 . Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the outer surface of the ink cartridge  100  or the ink jet printer  1  from being stained. In addition, the contact portions  830  of the ink absorption member  800  are displaced toward the ink outlet ports  23 , thereby rapidly absorbing ink leaking from the ink outlet ports  23 . As a result, there is little possibility that the ink cartridge  100  or the ink jet printer  1  is stained with leakage ink. 
   Although the openings of the ink absorption member  800  are in the semicircular shapes in the second embodiment, the openings may be in U shapes. Alternatively, when the introduction hole of each of the ink supply needles is disposed at its front end, a small hole in contact with the outer circumference may be provided and a radial slit may be provided. What is necessary is that the opening comes into contact with or easily comes into contact with the outer circumference of the ink supply needle. In view of ease of manufacturing, the opening is preferably formed in the semicircular shape. 
   The use of the liquid container according to the invention is not limited to the ink cartridge mounted on the ink jet printer. The liquid container according to the invention can be used as various liquid containers in various liquid ejection apparatuses, such as ink jet printers or the like. In this case, if the liquid container is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion, liquid supply members of the liquid ejection apparatus are inserted into and connected to liquid outlet ports of liquid packs in a cartridge case, and then liquid within the ink packs can be supplied to the apparatus. 
   The liquid ejection apparatus according to the invention is not limited to the ink jet printer described in the above-described embodiments. For example, the invention can be applied to a liquid ejection apparatus that uses a liquid jetting head ejecting a liquid, such as a color material jetting head used in manufacturing color filters of a liquid crystal display or the like, an electrode-material jetting head used in forming electrodes of an organic electroluminescent (EL) display or an FED (surface emission display), a bioorganic compound jetting head used in manufacturing a bio-chip, or the like, and a sample spraying head as a precision pipette.