Printing agent containers

A printing agent container and a method for manufacturing printing agent containers is disclosed wherein the container has improved stability to external collision. The container comprises a receptacle having at least one side wall and a bottom surface defining an internal volume; a cap on a top surface of the receptacle; and a tube connected to the cap and defining a fluid connection between the internal volume and the cap, wherein the receptacle comprises a protrusion that is provided, at least partially, in the bottom surface, and that extends into the internal volume, defining a bottom feed region between the protrusion and a side wall and wherein the tube extends at least partially in the feed region.

BACKGROUND

Printing agent containers are tanks that contain a volume of printing agent for printers. Large format agent containers are designed for large format printers and may contain relatively large volumes of printing agent, for example around ten liters of agent. Existing examples of large format agent containers may be arranged to be emptied into permanent agent containers in the large format printer. Other existing example agent containers are arranged to be fluidically connected to the printer and supply agent to the printer in a connected state. Such agent container may be located in the vicinity of the printer during usage, and connected to an agent inlet. The agent may be drawn from the agent container by a pump or other agent suction device, alternatively, the container may be pressurized as to allow agent to flow towards the printer.

Examples of printing agents may be inks, in the case of ink-based printing, or detailing and/or fusing agents in the case of 3D printers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Printing agent containers, especially large format, may comprise moveable or flexible parts in the inner volume of the container. Examples of movable parts may be the tube for fluid connection between the inner volume of the container and a printer. It is beneficial for containers to comprise a receptacle wherein mechanisms for positioning and/or preventing the displacement of the moveable parts are provided. For example, when the moveable part is a tube, a collision on the container may cause the tube to move to an area away from the bottom surface so that part of the agent within the container may not be withdrawn from it. This is especially relevant in a printing agent container wherein the tube is, at least, partly flexible.

In one example, a printing agent container with increased stability to external vibrations and/or collisions is disclosed, although also other effects may be associated with different aspect of this disclosure.

In the foregoing, reference is made to the accompanying drawings. The examples in the description and drawings should be considered illustrative and are not to be considered as limiting to the specific example or element described. Multiple examples may be derived from the following description and/or drawings through modification, combination or variation of certain elements. Although certain features are shown and described in conjunction they may be applied separately to the ink tank of this description, also if not specifically claimed. Furthermore, it may be understood that examples or elements that are not literally described may be derived from the description and drawings by a person of ordinary skill in the art.

FIG. 1shows an example of printing agent container1. In the example ofFIG. 1, the container1comprises a receptacle2that may be a single cast thermoplastic receptacle2that includes a body for containing a printing agent and may be rigid or semi-rigid, i.e., the receptacle2may be arranged to at least approximately maintain shape without additional internal or external support structures, while holding at least approximately ten liters of ink. Additionally, the receptacle2may comprise a handle4with a though-hole40. The handle4may be manufactured integrally to the receptacle, for example, by blow-molding. In the example ofFIG. 1, a cap3is provided wherein, in assembled condition, the cap3is affixed to the body. The body of the receptacle2may comprise an opening for filling the receptacle2with agent. The body may comprise a neck that defines the opening. The cap3may be attached, e.g., screwed or otherwise fixed, to the neck.

The receptacle2may comprise at least one side wall and a bottom surface23which depending on their distribution may define different shapes, such as cylindrical, rectangular or, as in the case ofFIG. 1, substantially polyhedral. In an example, a set of side walls comprise a pair of frontal faces22and a pair of lateral faces21. The side walls21,22and bottom surface23may be connected to each other through rounded corners232.

Also, the protrusion231may be located, at least partially, on the bottom surface23and protrudes upwards into the inner volume of the receptacle2. In one example the protrusion may also partly extend through a rounded corner edge between a side wall22and the bottom surface23, and/or at least partly in the side wall22. One function of this protrusion231is to provide support as to position a moveable part inside the receptacle2wherein in one example the movable part is a flexible or movable tube.

FIG. 2shows a partial longitudinal cut on the receptacle2. It is further shown the tube31that is fluidically connected to the outlet30. The tube31comprises a proximal end connected to the outlet30and a distal end32that is open to the inner volume of the receptacle2. The tube31establishes a fluid connection between the inner volume of the receptacle2and an external device through the outlet30thereby allowing for the transfer of printing agent from the container1, for example, to a printer.

For example, the tube31is at least partly flexible for bending and repositioning and may be partly rigid for maintaining a certain orientation or shape. For example, the tube includes only plastic material and is held in place between cap and bottom (as shown). In an example, the tube6has a slightly bended shape and may be dimensioned as to touch the bottom surface23, i.e., with a height above the height of the container1. In a further example, the distal end32is kept in contact with the bottom surface23using the force generated from bending it between the cap3on one end and the bottom surface23of the receptacle2on the other end.

As mentioned above, the protrusion231acts as a positioning member to avoid that a collision or unwanted movements on the container1cause the tube31to move to a position other than a predefined feed region. In the example ofFIG. 3, the feed region comprises a section of the receptacle wherein the maximum amount of fluid may be transferred through the output30. Also, often containers1are installed tilted over a platform so that the printing agent is moved to a specific section of the receptacle2wherein the feed region may be located. In the example ofFIG. 2, the protrusion is located in the bottom surface, but any protrusion towards the inner volume in the vicinity of the bottom surface will have the same effect.

In the example ofFIG. 3, the feed region is located between the protrusion231and at least one of the side walls. In this configuration the protrusion231helps maintain the tube31in its position together with the bending force on the tube. The protrusion231prevents movements of the tube in the direction between the side faces21and the bending force prevents the tube31from moving in the direction between the frontal faces.

The protrusion may be integrally molded to the receptacle, as in the case ofFIG. 2, or may be attached to the container by adhesives or any other fixing means.

The location of the protrusion231is preferably on the bottom surface and spaced-apart from at least one of the walls by a separation distance in the range of 1-3 times the diameter of the tube. The separation distance defining the feed region, that is, the region between the protrusion and at least one of the side walls.

The protrusion231may have a different shapes depending on the application. In the example ofFIGS. 1-3the protrusion231has a substantially cylindrical shape, nonetheless, other shapes are envisaged such as an L-shape or an arch to also contact one of the sidewalls and increase the positioning effect on the tube31.

The manufacturing of the receptacle may be made by molding. In an example, the receptacle is manufactured by blow-molding and the receptacle is made of a thermoplastic material, for example, high-modulus high-density polyethylene (HM-HDP).

The cap3may include an agent outlet30arranged to be fluidically connected to a tube on its inner part and to an adaptor or printer on its outer part as to supply the agent of the inner volume of the receptacle2to a printer. The outlet30may protrude from the cap3, for example in an upwards direction and in an installed and upright condition of the container1. The cap3may include further interface features such as at least one of a chip, an adaptor interconnect latch feature, a key lock out feature and a vent device. For example, these interface features may interface with connector or printer elements at least at some point during usage. In an example, some of the interface features protrude from the cap3.

In a further example, the vent device may provide for an ambient air opening in the receptacle2during usage. The vent device may be closed before usage and is arranged to break open when beginning usage, for example by connecting a connector. The chip can include a memory or integrated circuit or microprocessor and is designed for interconnection with a printer or adaptor connector for one- or two-way data or signal exchange. In one example, the chip is designed to interconnect with printer electrodes, triggering a signal in the printer that the container1has been connected and the signal may also indicate a property of the agent, for example, the agent's color, level or type.

FIG. 3shows an example of a printer5wherein several containers1are installed. It is noted that containers1may be installed over platform10wherein such platform is inclined as to tilt the container1towards the feed region to optimize the amount of agent that may be withdrawn from the container1.

In the example ofFIG. 3a five container arrangement is shown but the same principle can be applied to other printing arrangements.

In essence, it is disclosed a printing agent container comprising:a receptacle having at least one side wall and a bottom surface defining an internal volume,a cap on a top surface of the receptacle, anda tube connected to the cap and defining a fluid connection between the internal volume and the cap,
wherein the receptacle may comprise a protrusion that is provided, at least partially, in the bottom surface, and that extends into the internal volume, defining a bottom feed region between the protrusion and a side wall and wherein the tube extends at least partially in the feed region.

In an example, the tube is at least partly flexible and may have a proximal end attached to the cap, a distal end in the internal volume and a length to enable the distal end to engage the bottom surface of the receptacle. In a further example, the length of the tube is dimensioned to enable a bend of the tube over the bottom surface.

In an example, the tube is at least partly flexible, and a distal end of the tube extends in the feed region and engages one of the protrusion and a proximal side wall that together define the feed region, to hold the distal end of the flexible tube in place so that agent flows into the tube in the feed region. Also, the receptacle may have four upright side walls connected to each other through four rounded corners wherein the protrusion is provided near one of the rounded corners and the tube's end extends near said corner.

In an example, the protrusion is integrally molded with the receptacle thereby forming a monolithic structure. In an example, this is done by manufacturing the receptacle using, e.g., blow molding.

The receptacle may be made of high-density thermoplastic material, e.g., high-density polyethylene.

In a further example, the cap may comprise an outlet for connection to a printer.

Regarding the type of agents, the agent may be ink and, therefore, the inner volume contains ink.

Furthermore, it is disclosed a method of manufacturing a printing agent container comprising:providing a receptacle that defines an internal volume wherein the receptacle comprises a top surface, at least one side wall and a bottom surface, the receptacle further comprising a protrusion protruding into the internal volume; andattaching a cap to the receptacle wherein the cap comprises a tube attached on its proximal end to the cap;
wherein the attaching of the cap comprises locating the distal end of the tube in a feed region between the protrusion and the side wall.
In an example, providing the receptacle comprises blow molding the receptacle.

In another example, the distal end of the tube is installed to contact the bottom surface of the receptacle.

In a further example, the receptacle is made of a high-density thermoplastic material, for example, high-density polyethylene.