Patent Publication Number: US-11654686-B2

Title: Liquid container, liquid supply device and liquid discharge apparatus

Description:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     This application is based on and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese patent application Nos. 2020-121311 filed on Jul. 15, 2020 and 2021-113480 filed on Jul. 8, 2021 which are incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to a liquid container, a liquid supply device and a liquid discharge apparatus. 
     An ink pack in which an ink used for an inkjet printer is stored is known. The ink pack is formed in a back shape made of film material, and stored in a case of an ink storage part in a replaceable manner. The ink pack has a spout serving as an ink supply port (to the inkjet head), and the thickness of the ink pack is gradually changed (the ink pack is collapsed in a flat shape) depending on a consumed amount of the ink. 
     However, since the ink pack made of film material is easily deformed (bent or recessed) by an external force, it is sometimes stored in the case in a deformed state. In this case, there is a problem that the ink remains in the ink pack because it is not collapsed in a flat shape at the deformed portion in the process of being collapsed depending on the consumed amount of the ink. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, a liquid container includes a pack main body and a covering body. The pack main body is formed by bonding flexible films, and changes a thickness depending on a remaining amount of the liquid. The covering body covers a part of the pack main body and is more hardly deformable than the pack main body. The pack main body includes a trunk part, a pair of sealing parts and a spout. The trunk part is formed into a rectangular cylindrical shape in a state where the ink is stored. The pair of sealing parts seal both ends of the trunk part in an axial direction. The spout is provided in one of the sealing parts, and through which the liquid stored in the pack main body is discharged. At least one of the sealing parts is formed into a gabled roof shape having a pair of flat portions facing each other in a thickness direction and a pair of gable portions facing each other in a width direction perpendicular to the axial direction and the thickness direction. The covering body includes a pair of covering flat plates covering at least a part of the pair of flat portions. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, a liquid supply device includes the liquid container and supplies the liquid stored in the liquid container to a supply destination. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, a liquid discharge apparatus includes the liquid container and a discharge head through which the liquid supplied from the liquid container is discharged. 
     The other features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following description. In the detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, and preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view showing an image forming system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    is a front view schematically showing an inner structure of an image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  3    is a side view schematically showing an ink supply path of the image forming system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view showing an inner structure of an ink supply device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  5    is a perspective view showing an ink pack according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view showing a covering body of the ink pack according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  7    is a development view showing the covering body of the ink pack according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  8    is a perspective view showing a modified example of the covering body of the ink pack according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, with reference to the attached drawings, the present embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. Fr, Rr, L, R, U and D marked in each figure indicate a front, a rear, a left, a right, an upper and a lower. Although terms showing a direction and a position are used herein, they are used for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
     The image forming system  1  will be described with reference to  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2   .  FIG.  1    is a perspective view showing the image forming system  1 . FIG. is a front view schematically showing an inner structure of an image forming apparatus  2 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , the image forming system  1  includes the image forming apparatus  2  and an ink supply device  3 . The image forming apparatus  2  as an example of a liquid discharge apparatus is an inkjet printer which discharges ink droplets to form an image on a sheet S. The ink supply device  3  as an example of a liquid supply device is disposed on the rear side of the image forming apparatus  2  and supplies ink (liquid) to the image forming apparatus  2 . 
     [Image Forming Apparatus] As shown in  FIG.  2   , the image forming apparatus  2  includes a box-shaped housing  10  in which various devices are stored. A sheet feeding cassette  11  in which the sheet S is stored is provided in the lower portion of the housing  10 , and a manual sheet feeding tray  12  on which the sheet S is manually set is provided on the right side surface of the housing  10 . Above the manual sheet feeding tray  12 , a sheet discharge tray  13  on which the image-formed sheet S is stacked is provided. In the upper portion of the left side surface of the housing  10 , a discharge port  14  through which the sheet S is conveyed to a post-processing apparatus (not shown) disposed on the left side of the image forming apparatus  2  is formed. 
     In the central portion of the housing  10 , four head units  15  which forms an image on the sheet S are disposed side by side in the left-and-right direction. The four head units  15  are disposed corresponding to ink of four colors (yellow, black, cyan and Magenta). Each head unit  15  includes a plurality of discharge heads  15 A which discharge the ink. Below the head units  15 , a conveyance unit  16  which conveys the sheet S while attracting the sheet S to a conveyance belt  16 A is provided. On the left side of the conveyance unit  16 , a drying unit  17  which dries the image-formed sheet S while conveying it is provided. 
     In the lower left portion of the inside of the housing  10 , four ink containers  31  storing the ink to be supplied to the four head units  15  (the discharge heads  15 A) are stored. Therefore, the image forming apparatus  2  can be used independently without the ink supply device  3  described later. 
     A first conveyance path  21  from the sheet feeding cassette  11  to the conveyance unit  16  and a manual sheet conveyance path  20  joining from the manual sheet feeding tray  12  to the first conveyance path  21  are provided in the right side portion of the inside of the housing  10 . A second conveying path  22  from the drying unit  17  to the discharge port  14  is provided in the left side portion of the inside of the housing  10 . Above the head units  15 , a third conveyance path  23  branching from the second conveyance path  22  to the sheet discharge tray  13 , and a fourth conveyance path  24  branching from the third conveyance path  23  and joining to the first conveyance path  21  are provided. At a branch point between the second conveyance path  22  and the third conveyance path  23  and at a branch point between the third conveyance path  23  and the fourth conveyance path  24 , a switching member for switching the conveying path of the sheet S is provided (not shown). 
     [Image Forming Processing] The image forming processing performed by the image forming apparatus  2  will be described. For example, when an image forming job is input to the image forming apparatus  2  from an external terminal or the like connected to the image forming apparatus  2 , the image forming processing is performed as follows. 
     The sheet S is fed from the sheet feeding cassette  11  or the manual sheet feeding tray  12  and then on the conveyance belt  16 A through the first conveyance path  21 . The head units  15  (the discharge heads  15 A) discharge the ink droplets to the sheet S conveyed while attracted to the conveyance belt  16 A, and form (print) a full-color image. The sheet S on which the image is formed is conveyed by the drying unit  17 , and drying of the ink landed on the sheet S is promoted during this time. When a one-side printing is performed, the sheet S printed on one face is discharged to the sheet discharge tray  13  through the second conveyance path  22  and the third conveyance path  23 . When a both-side printing is performed, the sheet S printed on one face is conveyed along the fourth conveyance path  24 , is turned upside down, and is again fed to the conveyance belt  16 A. Thereafter, an image is formed on the back face of the sheet S in the same order as in the case of the one-side printing, and the sheet S printed on both faces is discharged to the sheet discharge tray  13 . 
     [Ink Supply Path] Next, with reference to  FIG.  3   , the ink supply path of the image forming apparatus  2  will be described.  FIG.  3    is a side view schematically showing the ink supply path of the image forming system  1 . In the present embodiment, the four ink supply paths are provided for the four colors of the ink, but  FIG.  3    shows one ink supply path for one color. Hereinafter, the one ink supply path will be described. 
     The image forming apparatus  2  includes an ink supply part  30  which supplies the ink to each head unit  15 . The ink supply part  30  includes an ink container  31 , a container attachment part  32 , a filter  33 , a pump  34  and a sub tank  35 . 
     The ink container  31  is attached to the container attachment part  32 , and stores the ink to be supplied to the corresponding head unit  15 . The ink container  31 , the filter  33 , the pump  34  and the sub tank  35  are connected to each other by a main pipe  36 . The pump  34  sucks the ink from the ink container  31 , and the filter  33  filters the ink to be sucked by the pump  34 . The ink fed from the ink container  31  is stored in the sub tank  35 . The sub tank  35  is connected to the corresponding head unit  15  (the discharge head  15 A) through a sub pipe (not shown). The ink stored in the sub tank  35  is supplied to the head unit  15  by a sub pump (not shown). 
     On the back face of the housing  10 , a coupling  38  to which one end of a relay pipe  37  is connected is provided. When the ink supply device  3  is used, the upstream end of the main pipe  36  is connected to the other end of the relay pipe  37  in place of the ink container  31 . 
     [Ink Supply Device  3 ] With reference to  FIG.  3    and  FIG.  4   , the ink supply device  3  will be described.  FIG.  4    is a perspective view showing an inner structure of the ink supply device  3 . 
     The ink supply device  3  includes a casing  4 , four pack attachment parts  5 , four ink packs  6  and four supply pipes  7 . In the present embodiment, the four ink packs  6  and the others are provided for the four colors of the ink, but  FIG.  3    shows one ink pack  6  and the others. In the following description, one ink pack  6  and the others will be described unless otherwise specified. 
     The casing  4  includes a frame  4 A (see  FIG.  4   ) formed into an approximately parallelepiped shape by assembling metal columns and beams, and exterior plates  4 B (see  FIG.  1   ) covering the side faces and the top face of the frame  4 A. As shown in  FIG.  4   , the four pack attachment parts  5  are disposed side by side in the left-and-right direction in the rear portion of the inside of the casing  4 . The pack attachment part  5  is formed into an approximate flat plate shape, and supported by the frame  4 A. 
     The ink pack  6  is a container in which the ink is stored. The ink pack  6  has a capacity larger than the ink container  31  attached to the image forming apparatus  2 . The ink pack  6  is attached to the pack attachment part  5  in a detachable manner (in a replaceable manner). The ink pack  6  will be described below). 
     As shown in  FIG.  3   , the supply pipe  7  is a steel pipe made of stainless steel, for example, and is formed into a regularly meandered shape. One end of the supply pipe  7  is connected to an upstream connection pipe  7 A, and the other end of the supply pipe  7  is connected to the coupling  38  of the housing  10  via a downstream connection pipe  7 B. To a terminal end of the upstream connection pipe  7 A, a suction port member  8  is mounted. The suction port member  8  is fixed to the pack attachment part  5 , and is connected to a supply connection part  44  of the ink pack  6  attached to the pack attachment part  5 . The ink filled in the ink pack  6  is supplied to the ink supply path in the image forming apparatus  2  through the suction port member  8 , the upstream connection pipe  7 A, the supply pipe  7  and the downstream connection pipe  7 B. The ink supply device  4  is provided with a heater (not shown) which heats the ink passing through the supply pipe  7 . 
     [Ink Pack] With reference to  FIG.  5    to  FIG.  7   , the ink pack  6  will be described.  FIG.  5    is a perspective view showing the ink pack  6 .  FIG.  6    is a perspective view showing a covering body  50  of the ink pack  6 .  FIG.  7    is a development view showing the covering body  50  of the ink pack  6 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  5   , the ink pack  6  includes a pack main body  40  and the covering body  50 . 
     &lt;Pack Main Body&gt; The pack main body  40  is formed into a back shape by joining flexible films F 1  and F 2 , and stores the ink (a liquid). The films F 1  and F 2  forming the pack main body  40  are each a layered film in which a plurality of layers is layered. For example, the films F 1  and F 2  each has a four-layer structure of a polyethylene (PE) layer, an aluminum (Al) layer, a polyamide (PA (nylon)) layer and a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) layer in the order from the inner layer to the outer layer. The films F 1  and F 2  is not limited to the above material and structure, and may be made by material capable of sealing light, air (odor) and moisture and being bent easily. 
     The pack main body  40  is formed into a back shape with gores by joining a pair of the upper and lower films F 1  formed in a substantially rectangular shape and a pair of the left and right films F 2  formed in a substantially hexagonal shape along their outer peripheral edges. Along the outer peripheral edges of the pack main body  40 , joint parts  40 A where the films F 1  and F 2  are overlapped and joined are formed in a belt-like shape. The films F 1  and F 2  are preferably joined by heat melting and pressure bonding, but the joining method is not limited to the above method, and the films F 1  and F 2  may be bonded using an adhesive or a double-sided tape. 
     The pack main body  40  has a trunk part  41  formed in a square cylindrical shape with the ink stored therein, and a pair of sealing parts  42  sealing both axial ends of the trunk part  41  in an axial direction (the front-and-rear direction) of the trunk part  41 . Each of the sealing parts  42  is formed into a gabled roof shape having a pair of flat portions  42 A facing each other in the thickness direction (the upper-and-lower direction) and a pair of gable portions  42 B facing each other in the width direction (the left-and-right direction (a direction orthogonal to the axial direction and the thickness direction)). In a state in which the pack main body  40  is fully filled with the ink (a full state), the flat portions  42 A are inclined so as to be close to each other as they separate away from the trunk part  41  in the axial direction. The flat portions  42 A are joined at the tip end sides in the axial direction to form the joint parts  40 A. Each of the gable portions  42 B is formed in a substantially triangular shape which becomes narrower as they separate away from the trunk part  41  in the axial direction. In this specification, “facing” means not only facing each other in a parallel posture but also facing each other in an inclined posture (a posture not parallel). 
     In the full state, the pack main body  40  is formed such that the maximum dimension W (alternatively, the width dimension of the trunk part  41 ) of the flat portions  42 A in the width direction is longer than the maximum dimension H (alternatively, the thickness of the trunk part  41 ) of the gable portion  42 B in the thickness direction. 
     (Spout) The pack main body  40  has a spout  43  through which the stored ink is discharged. The spout  43  is made of, for example, synthetic resin and is formed into an approximately cylindrical shape. The spout  43  is attached to the tip end (the front end) of the sealing part  42  at the substantially center in the width direction. Specifically, the spout  43  is fixed to the joint part  40 A while being held between the flat portions  42 A. That is, the flat portions  42 A are also joined to the outer surface of the spout  43 . 
     (Supply Connection Part) The supply connection part  44  is attached to the tip end portion of the spout  43 . The supply connection portion  44  is made of, for example, hard synthetic resin and is formed into a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape long in the left-and-right direction. The supply connection part  44  has a length in the width direction shorter than the maximum dimension W of the flat portions  42 A in the width direction and longer than half of the maximum dimension W. The supply connection part  44  has a thickness (a height) shorter than the thickness (H) of the trunk part  41 . The spout  43  is mounted at a position shifted on the right side from the center in the width direction of the supply connection part  44 . That is, the supply connection portion  44  is disposed at a position shifted on the left side from the center of the pack main body  40  (the sealing part  42 ). 
     The supply connection part  44  is provided to connect to the image forming apparatus  2  (an external apparatus). Specifically, in a state where the ink pack  6  is set in the pack attachment part  5 , the supply connection part  44  is connected to the suction port member  8  (see  FIG.  3   ). Thus, the ink pack  6  is connected to the ink supply part  30  of the image forming apparatus  2  via the supply pipe  7  and the others. The ink stored in the ink pack  6  is supplied to the discharge head  15 A (a supply destination), and the discharge head  15 A can discharge the supplied ink. 
     &lt;Action of the Pack&gt; In the full state, the trunk part  41  is formed into a square cylindrical shape, and each sealing part  42  is formed into a gabled roof shape. When the ink is discharged through the spout  43 , the pack main body  40  changes its thickness depending on to a remaining amount of the ink. That is, as the remaining amount of the ink in the pack main body  40  decreases, the thickness (a width in the upper-and-lower direction) of the pack main body  40  gradually decreases and the pack main body  40  collapses in a flat shape. Specifically, as the ink decreases, the left and right films F 2  are folded inward, and the upper and lower films F 1  (the flat portions  42 A) are overlapped each other in parallel. In this way, since the pack main body  40  is collapsed into an almost flat shape, the ink stored in the pack main body  40  can be effectively consumed up without leaving it. It is also possible to prevent excess air from entering the pack main body  40 . 
     &lt;Covering Body&gt; As shown in  FIG.  5   , the covering body  50  is provided to cover a part of the pack main body  40 . Specifically, the covering body  50  covers most of the front sealing part  42 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  5    and  FIG.  6   , the covering body  50  is formed into a gabled roof shape having a pair of covering flat plates  50 A disposed so as to face the pair of flat portions  42 A, and a pair of plate-shaped support parts  50 B connected to the covering flat plates  50 A and disposed along (facing) the pair of gable portions  42 B. That is, the covering flat plates  50 A are inclined to be close to each other toward the front side. The support parts  50 B cause the portions of the covering flat plates  50 A to which the support parts  50 B are connected, to be disposed separately. Thus, the covering flat plates  50 A are disposed so as to form a predetermined angle between them. Each of the support parts  50 B is formed, for example, into a plate having a substantially trapezoidal shape (or a fan-like shape) whose width becomes narrower toward the front side. By forming the support part  50 B into a plate, the pair of covering flat plates  50 A can be hardly deformed from a state where they are disposed so as to form the predetermined angle between them. 
     The covering body  50  is formed such that the maximum dimension D 2  of the support part  50 B in the axial direction (the front-and-rear direction) is shorter than the maximum dimension D 1  of the covering flat plate  50 A in the axial direction. Further, each of the covering flat plates  50 A has a projecting piece  50 A 1  projecting toward the side of the trunk part  41  (rearward). Each projecting piece  50 A 1  is formed in a substantially trapezoidal shape whose width gradually decreases toward the rear side. 
     (Plate) The covering body  50  is formed by bending or joining a plate  51  shown in  FIG.  7    at suitable positions. The plate  51  constituting the covering body  50  is made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), for example, and is formed thicker than the films F 1  and F 2  constituting the pack main body  40 . That is, the plate  51  has a higher rigidity than the films F 1  and F 2 . The plate  51  is more hardly deformed than the films F 1  and F 2 . That is, the plate  51  has a deformation amount when an external force is applied than the films F 1  and F 2  when they are formed in the same plane shape. 
     As shown in  FIG.  7   , the plate  51  has a pair of the covering flat plates  50 A and four gable plate parts  52 . 
     The covering flat plates  50 A are connected to each other through a first folding line L 1  at a portion to be the front end. The covering flat plates  50 A are formed into a substantially rectangular shape which is linearly symmetrical about the first folding line L 1 . At the center of the covering flat plates  50 A in the width direction, a fitting opening part  53  is opened crossing the first folding line L 1 . The covering flat plates  50 A have a pair of projections  54  projecting toward the inside of the fitting opening part  53 . Therefore, the fitting opening part  53  is formed in a substantially H-shape. The covering flat plates  50 A have a pair of side openings  55  recessed from both sides in the width direction (the left-and-right direction) toward the center. Each side opening  55  is cut into a substantially rectangular shape. 
     The four gable plate parts  52  are connected to both ends of the pair of covering flat plates  50 A in the width direction through second folding lines L 2 . The four gable plate parts  52  are each formed in a substantially trapezoidal shape (a substantially fan-like shape) whose width becomes gradually narrow, toward the first folding line L 1 . 
     The first and second folding lines L 1  and L 2  are perforations formed by forming a plurality of notches at predetermined intervals, and are formed for folding the plate  51 . The first and second folding lines L 1  and L 2  are not limited to the perforations, and may be lines weakened so that the plate  51  can be folded. Although not shown in the drawings, a label on which information relating to the ink is printed is adhered to the surface of the plate  51 . The information may be directly printed on the surface of the plate  51 . 
     &lt;Assembly of the Covering Body&gt; Next, a procedure for assembling the covering body  50  will be described. Here, as an example, a case where an operator assembles the covering body  50  by hand will be described. 
     The operator folds the pair of covering flat plates  50 A back along the first folding line L 1  to make the back surfaces face each other at a predetermined angle. Next, the operator folds the pair of gable plate parts  52  connected to one of the covering flat plates  50 A at substantially right angles along the second folding lines L 2  toward the other covering flat plate  50 A. After that, the operator folds the pair of gable plate parts  52  connected to the other covering flat plate  50 A at substantially right angles toward the one covering flat plate  50 A along the second folding lines L 2 , and joins it to the previously folded gable plate part  52 . The two gable plate parts  52  are overlapped and joined to constitute the support part  50 B. It should be noted that the gable plate parts  52  may be joined by a method of heat melting and pressure bonding, or may be joined using an adhesive or a double-sided tape. 
     Thus, the gabled roof shaped covering body  50  is assembled (see  FIG.  6   ). The fitting opening part  53  is opened at the front end portion (near the first folding line L 1 ) of the pair of covering flat plates  50 A, and the projections  54  project forward from the edge of the fitting opening part  53 . The side openings  55  are opened at both corners of the covering body  50  in the width direction. 
     &lt;Attachment of the Covering Body&gt; Next, a procedure for attaching the covering body  50  to the pack main body  40  will be described. Here, as an example, a case where an operator attaches the covering body  50  by hand will be described. It is assumed that the covering body  50  is attached to the pack main body  40  before the supply connection part  44  is attached to the spout  43 . It is assumed that the pack main body  40  is filled with the ink and the spout  43  is sealed. 
     The operator covers the sealing part  42  of the pack main body  40  with the covering body  50  from the front side. As shown in  FIG.  5   , the covering flat plates  50 A are disposed so as to overlap on the flat portions  42 A of the sealing part  42 , and the support parts  50 B are disposed so as to face the gable portions  42 B of the sealing part  42 . The spout  43  is exposed to the outside through the fitting opening part  53  of the covering body  50 . The projections  54  projecting forward from the edge of the fitting opening part  53  hold the spout  43  protruding through the fitting opening part  53  from both upper and lower sides. In other words, the spout  43  fits into the fitting opening part  53  of the covering body  50 . In other words, the covering body  50  is connected to the spout  43  (the proximal end portion of the spout  43 ). Both the front corner portions of the sealing part  42  are exposed to the outside from the side openings  55  of the covering body  50 . 
     In the above manner, the covering body  50  is attached to the pack main body  40 . After attaching the covering body  50  to the pack main body  40 , the operator attaches the supply connection part  44  to the spout  43 . 
     &lt;Attachment of the Ink Pack and Action of the Covering Body&gt; The operator opens a part (a top plate) of the exterior plate  4 B of the ink supply device  3 , attaches the ink pack  6  to the pack attachment part  5 , and couples the supply connection part  44  of the ink pack  6  to the suction port member  8 . Then, the ink stored in the ink pack  6  is supplied to the discharge head  15 A (the supply destination) of the image forming apparatus  2 . When the ink is consumed, the remaining amount of the ink in the pack main body  40  is decreased, and the pack main body  40  is gradually collapsed into a flat shape. 
     By the way, because the pack main body  40  of the ink pack  6  is formed by the flexible films F 1  and F 2 , it is flexibly deformed (folded or recessed) owing to a force applied from the outside (an external force) even a case of the full state. If the pack main body  40  having no covering body  50  is only attached to the pack attachment part  5 , when the operator who conveys the pack main body  40  or attaches (replaces) the pack main body  40  deforms the pack main body  40 , the pack main body  40  may be attached to the pack attachment part with the deformed state. In this case, if the remaining amount of the ink is decreased, the pack main body  40  cannot be collapsed into a flat shape at the deformed portions. As an example, if the sealing part  42  formed into a gabled roof shape is deformed, because the sealing part  42  is not collapsed into a flat shape, the trunk part  41  is collapsed irregularly not into a flat shape. As described above, if the pack main body  40  is not collapsed into a flat shape, a problem that the ink in the pack main body  40  is not discharged through the spout  43  and remains in the pack main body  40  may occur. 
     For the above problem, in the ink pack  6  (a liquid container) according to the present embodiment, the covering body  50  is covered on the sealing part  42  formed into a gabled roof shape, of the pack main body  40 . Because the covering body  50  has a rigidity larger than the films F 1  and F 2  and is hardly deformed (it is more hardly deformed than the pack main body  40 ), the flat portions  42 A of the pack main body  40  is hardly deformed from a flat shape into a deflect shape. According to the configuration, for example, the deformation of the pack main body  40  caused by the user pushing or gripping the sealing part  42  during transportation or attachment (replacement) can be suppressed. This prevents the pack main body  40  from being attached to the pack attachment part  5  in a deformed state, so that the pack main body  40  can be collapsed into a flat shape depending on the remaining amount (a consumption amount) of the ink. As a result, the ink in the pack main body  40  can be effectively consumed up, and the ink remaining in the pack main body  40  can be reduced. When the covering body  50  is constituted such that the covering flat plates  50 A are connected by the support parts  50  B, the covering flat plate  50 A itself is hard to deform, and additionally, the whole covering body  50  in which the covering flat plates  50 A are kept at a predetermined angle is hard to deform. Thus, the covering body  50  can maintain its own shape in comparison with the pack main body  40  regardless of the remaining amount of the ink. As a result, the ink in the pack main body  40  can be effectively consumed up, and the remaining amount of the ink in the pack main body  40  can be reduced. If the support part  50 B is formed into a plate shape, the whole covering body  50  is more hardly to deform. 
     If the covering body  50  (the covering flat plate  50 A, the support part  50 B) is connected (fixed) to the flat portion  42 A or the gable portion  42 B of the sealing part  42 , the pack main body  40  cannot be collapsed into a flat shape even if the remaining amount of the ink is reduced. On the other hand, according to the ink pack  6  according to the present embodiment, because the covering body  50  is connected to the spout  43 , a suppression of the deformation of the pack main body  40  depending on the remaining amount of the ink is inhibited. Further, the sealing part  42  can be kept in a gable roof shape from a state in which the ink is full to a state in which the remaining amount of the ink is about a half, and thereafter, the pack main body  40  can be collapsed in a flat shape as the remaining amount of the ink decreases. Further, even if, for example, the user holds the covering body  50  and transports the ink pack  6 , since the covering body  50  is connected to the spout  43  and does not interfere with the pack main body  40 , the pack main body  40  can be hardly deformed. 
     Information relating to the ink or the ink pack  6  is displayed on a label adhered to the surface of the plate  51 . When the label is adhered to the pack main body  40 , since the portion where the label is adhered is different from the other portion in the easiness of deformation, when the remaining amount of the ink is reduced, a possibility that the pack main body  40  is collapsed in a deformed shape is increased. In the case where the label is adhered to the pack main body  40 , such a possibility can be reduced by setting a length of the longest portion of the label to ½ or less, and further to ⅓ or less of the shortest width of the surface to which the label is adhered. If the label is not adhered to the pack main body  40 , such possibility can be reduced. 
     In addition, the label may be adhered in a skewed state with respect to the surface to which the label is adhered. This results in a deformed shape of the pack main body  40 . Such a deformed state increases the deformation when the remaining amount of the ink decreases. From this point of view, as described above, the label adhered to the pack main body  40  is made small, or, it is more preferable that no label is adhered to the pack main body  40 . 
     It should be noted that the information may be printed on the pack main body  40 , but this would complicate the process of manufacturing the ink pack  6  storing the ink and its management for reasons described later. Although the information showing the type of the ink is displayed on the ink pack  6 , it is necessary to change the language to be displayed depending on the shipping area. In addition, since it is required to display information in accordance with laws and the like depending on the country or the area to which the ink is shipped, there are many types of information to be displayed on the ink pack  6  even when the ink of the same type is stored in the ink pack  6 . When the information is printed on the pack body  40 , the printing is usually performed on the sheet shaped pack main body  40  before the pack main body  40  is formed into a bag shape. That is, when the information is printed on the pack main body  40 , it is necessary to prepare a large number of types of the pack main bodies  40  printed with different information, and to fill the ink therein in accordance with the information. In this way, the process and its management are complicated, and the stock of the pack main body  40  to be prepared is increased. 
     By the way, for example, when the ink pack  6  is dropped on the floor, because the pack main body  40  is greatly deformed by the impact caused when the ink pack  6  collides with the floor, the supply connection part  44  may relatively shift toward the pack main body  40 . If the covering body  50  is not provided, there is a possibility that the supply connection part  44  directly come in contact with the sealing part  42  and damages the sealing part  42  (the pack main body  40 ), causing leakage of the ink. On the other hand, according to the ink pack  6  according to the present embodiment, since the covering body  50  is covered with the sealing part  42  of the pack main body  40 , the supply connection part  44  is prevented from directly coming into contact with the pack main body  40 . Thus, the pack main body  40  can be protected. It should be noted that the covering body  50  of the ink pack  6  according to the present embodiment covers a range in which the supply connection part  44  comes into contact with (interferes with) the pack main body  40  when the pack main body  40  is largely deformed by the impact or the like and the supply connection part  44  is relatively shifted. 
     When the user transports the ink pack  6 , it is desirable to hold the entire ink pack  6 . In this way, the pack main body  40  is hardly deformed during the transportation, and a possibility that the deformation remains when the pack main body  40  is attached on the ink supply device  3  can be reduced. However, it is conceivable for some users to hold the covering body  50  and transport the pack main body  40 . In such a case, as shown in  FIG.  5   , if the supporting parts  50 B are in a plate shape, the entire covering body  50  is hardly deformed, so that a possibility that the pack main body  40  is attached in a deformed state can be reduced. In addition, the plate-like support part  50 B covers at least a part of the gable portion  42 B. The range in which the support part  50 B covers the gable portion  42 B may be 1/10 or more, further ⅕ or more, especially ⅓ or more of the area of the gable portion  42 B. In this case, the above-described deformation of the pack main body  40  can be made less likely to occur. 
     Furthermore, considering the shape of the sealing part  42  of the pack main body  40  and the covering body  50  and the connecting position between them, a distance (D 3 ) from the connecting portion (for example, the most front end) of the covering body  50  to the free end (the most rear end) of the support part  50 B is longer than the maximum dimension D 1  in the axial direction of the covering flat plate  50 A. Therefore, the deformation of the pack main body  40  is larger when the user holds the support part  50 B of the covering body  50  and transports it than when the user holds the covering flat plate  50 A of the covering body  50  and transports it. Therefore, according to the ink pack  6  according to the present embodiment, by forming the support part  50 B shorter than the covering flat plate  50 A, the deformation of the pack main body  40  when the support part  50 B is held and transported can be reduced. 
     Further, according to the ink pack  6  according to the present embodiment, since the projecting piece  50 A 1  is formed so as to protrude toward the trunk part  41 , the user can easily hold the projecting piece  50 A 1  by his finger or the like. Further, by forming the projecting piece  50 A 1 , the area of the covering flat plate  50 A can be increased, and for example, the label or the like can be easily adhered. 
     In the ink pack  6  according to the present embodiment, the covering body  50  is fitted and connected to the spout  43 , but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the covering body  50  may be fixed to the spout  43  with an adhesive or the like. Alternatively, for example, the covering body  50  may be hooked and connected to the spout  43  by a hook (not shown). Further, for example, the covering body  50  may be connected to the joint parts  40 A of the pair of flat portions  42 A which are the front end portions of the sealing part  42 . In this case, the covering body  50  may be connected by holding the joint part  40 A between the covering plates  50 , or the covering flat plate  50 A may be bonded to the joint part  40 A with an adhesive or the like. According to this configuration, since the covering body  50  is connected to the joint part  40 A at the distal end of the pack main body  40 , a suppression of the deformation of the pack main body  40  depending on the remaining amount of the ink is prevented, and the same effect as the above-described embodiment can be obtained. 
     In the ink pack  6  according to the present embodiment, the covering body  50  covers the front sealing part  42 , but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, one covering part  50  may cover the rear sealing part  42 , or two covering bodies  50  may cover both the front and rear sealing parts  42  (both examples are not shown). 
     Further, in the ink pack  6  according to the present embodiment, the plate  51  of the covering body  50  is formed thicker than the films F 1  and F 2  of the pack main body  40 , so that the covering body  50  is hardly deformed, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the covering body  50  (the plate  51 ) may be made of material harder than the films F 1  and F 2 . 
     Further, in the ink pack  6  according to the present embodiment, the two gable plate parts  52  of the covering body  50  are overlapped and bonded, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, grooves to be engaged with each other may be provided in the two gable plate parts  52 , and the two gable plate parts  52  may be connected by engaging the grooves (not shown) with each other. 
     Further, in the ink pack  6  according to the present embodiment, the covering body  50  is formed by folding one plate  51 , but the present disclosure is not limited to thereto. For example, like the pack main body  40 , a gabled roof shaped like covering body may be formed by joining a plurality of divided plates (not shown). In this case, it is sufficient to prepare only two gable plate parts  52 . 
     Further, in the ink pack  6  according to the present embodiment, although the covering body  50  has the pair of side openings  55 , the pair of side openings  55  may be omitted (this example is not shown). 
     Further, in the ink pack  6  according to the present embodiment, the covering body  50  includes the pair of covering flat plates  50 A and the pair of support parts  50 B, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the pair of support parts  50 B may be omitted, and the covering body  50  may include only the pair of covering flat plates  50 A (this example is not shown). 
     Further, although the ink pack  6  according to the present embodiment, the support part  50 B is formed in a plate shape, it is not limited thereto, and it may be formed in a rod-like shape (or a belt-like shape) as shown in  FIG.  8   . In addition, the support part  50 B may be formed in a rectangular columnar shape or a circular columnar shape. As one support part  50 B, a plurality of rectangular columns or a plurality of circular columns may be arranged, or a plurality of rectangular columns or a plurality of circular columns may be connected to each other (the examples are not shown). Further, the support part  50 B may be a mesh-like plate having holes (the example is not shown). The covering flat plate  50 A may be a mesh-like shape (the example is not shown). In this case, the size of the hole may be made small such that the corners of the supply connection part  44  do not come into contact with the pack main body  40  (the sealing part  42 ). 
     Further, in the ink pack  6  according to the present embodiment, the pair of sealing parts  42  of the pack main body  40  are formed in a gabled roof shape, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the sealing part  42  which seals one end face of the trunk part  41  may be formed in a gabled roof shape, and the sealing part (not shown) which seals the other end face of the trunk part  41  may be formed in a single wall shape. That is, it is sufficient that at least one of the sealing parts  42  is formed in a gabled roof shape. In this case, the covering body  50  may cover the sealing part  42  of the gabled roof shape. 
     In the ink pack  6  according to the present embodiment, the spout  43  is provided at the tip end of the sealing part  42 , but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the spout  43  may be provided on the trunk part  41  of the pack main body  40  (the example is not shown). In this case, the fitting opening part  53  of the covering body  50  is omitted. 
     Further, in the ink pack  6  according to the present embodiment, although the supply connection part  44  is connected to the spout  43 , the supply connection part  44  may be omitted if the spout  43  is directly connected to the suction port member  8  (the example is not shown). 
     Further, although the ink pack  6  according to the present embodiment stores the ink, it is not limited to this, and may store, for example, a liquid such as a cleaning liquid used for cleaning the discharge head  15 A and a storage liquid used for storing the discharge head  15 A. The supply destination of the cleaning liquid is, for example, a maintenance unit for performing maintenance of the discharge head  15 A. 
     Further, the ink pack  6  according to the present embodiment is attached to the ink supply device  3 , but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the ink supply device  3  may be omitted, and the ink pack  6  may be attached to the ink supply part  30  (the container attachment part  32 ) of the image forming apparatus  2 . 
     The image forming apparatus  2  according to the present embodiment is a color printer, but it is not limited thereto, and may be a monochrome printer, a copying machine, a facsimile, etc. 
     The description of the above embodiment shows one mode in the liquid container, the liquid supply device and the liquid discharge apparatus according to the present disclosure, and the technical range of the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiment. The present disclosure may be changed, substituted, or modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the technical idea, and the claims include all embodiments which may be included within the scope of the technical idea.