Patent Publication Number: US-2023150248-A1

Title: Liquid storage bag

Description:
The present application is based on, and claims priority from JP Application Serial Number 2021-186881, filed Nov. 17, 2021, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a liquid storage bag that stores a liquid. 
     2. Related Art 
     An example of a liquid storage bag that can store ink, which is an example of a liquid, is an ink bag disclosed, for example, in International Publication No. 2006/046464. The ink bag has an ink storage portion, which is an example of a bag, and an ink outlet, which is an example of a feeder. The ink storage portion is formed of a multi-layer film, which is an example of a film. The multi-layer film includes a light shielding layer formed of polyethylene containing carbon black or aluminum. 
     Aluminum has high light shielding properties but is more costly than resin, for example. Polyethylene containing carbon black is also more costly than normal polyethylene because it involves a process of kneading carbon black into polyethylene. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a liquid storage bag includes a bag configured to store a liquid and a feeder that feeds the liquid in the bag to an external component. The bag is formed of a film. The film includes a first base layer, a second base layer, and a black layer located between the first base layer and the second base layer. The black layer is formed of a colorant filling a layer surface of the second base layer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of a printer to which a liquid storage bag is attached. 
         FIG.  2    is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a film. 
         FIG.  3    is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a film according to a first modification. 
         FIG.  4    is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a film according to a second modification. 
         FIG.  5    is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a film according to a third modification. 
         FIG.  6    is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a film according to a fourth modification. 
         FIG.  7    is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a film according to a fifth modification. 
         FIG.  8    is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a film according to a sixth modification. 
         FIG.  9    is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a film according to a seventh modification. 
         FIG.  10    is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a film according to an eighth modification. 
         FIG.  11    is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a film according to a ninth modification. 
         FIG.  12    is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a film according to a tenth modification. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiment 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment of a liquid storage bag will be described with reference to the drawings. The liquid storage bag, for example, stores a liquid to be fed to a printer. The printer is, for example, an ink jet printer that prints by ejecting ink, which is an example of a liquid, onto a medium such as paper. 
     In the drawings, the Z axis indicates the direction of gravity and the X axis and the Y axis indicate the direction along the horizontal plane with a printer  11  being placed on the horizontal plane. The X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis are perpendicular to each other. As illustrated in  FIG.  1   , the printer  11  may include a housing  12 , a liquid ejection head  13 , and a support  14 . 
     The support  14  supports a medium  16  being transported. The liquid ejection head  13  has nozzles  17 . The liquid ejection head  13  can eject a liquid. The liquid ejection head  13  ejects a liquid through the nozzles  17  onto the medium  16  supported by the support  14  to print on the medium  16 . The liquid ejection head  13  may be a serial head that prints by ejecting a liquid while moving. The liquid ejection head  13  may be a line head that is long in the width direction of the medium  16  and prints by ejecting a liquid onto the medium  16  being transported. 
     The printer  11  may include a feed passage  19 , a feed needle  20 , a tray  21 , and an attachment portion  22 . A liquid is fed from the liquid storage bag  23 , which stores the liquid, to the liquid ejection head  13  through the feed passage  19 . 
     The feed needle  20  is located at the upstream end of the feed passage  19 . The tray  21  is detachably attached to the attachment portion  22 . The tray  21  supports the liquid storage bag  23 . In other words, the liquid storage bag  23  is placed on the tray  21 . The liquid storage bag  23  is connected to the feed needle  20  when the tray  21  having the liquid storage bag  23  thereon is attached to the attachment portion  22 . 
     The liquid storage bag  23  includes a bag  24  and a feeder  25 . The liquid storage bag  23  may have an auxiliary component  26 . The bag  24  can store a liquid. The bag  24  is, for example, a gusset bag that has a depth  29  with a crease  28 . 
     The feeder  25  feeds a liquid in the bag  24  to an external component. The auxiliary component  26  assists connection between the feeder  25  and the feed needle  20 . The auxiliary component  26  positions the feeder  25  relative to the tray  21 , enabling the feeder  25  to be readily connected to the feed needle  20  when the tray  21  is attached. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  2   , the bag  24  is formed of a film  31 . The bag  24  may be formed of a single-layer or multi-layer film  31 , and the film  31  forms a storage space  32  that can store a liquid. The film  31  may include, in this order from the side adjacent to the storage space  32 , a first base layer  33 , a first adhesive layer  34 , a second black layer  35 , a third base layer  36 , a second adhesive layer  37 , a first black layer  38 , which is an example of a black layer, and a second base layer  39 . The layers are stacked on top of another in the thickness direction of the film  31 . In this embodiment, when the film  31  is placed flat, surfaces of the respective layers perpendicular to the thickness direction may be called layer surfaces. In the film  31  according to this embodiment, a side adjacent to the storage space  32  may be called an inner side and a side away from the storage space  32  may be called an outer side. 
     The first base layer  33  may be the inner most layer. The inner layer surface of the first base layer  33  is in contact with a liquid in the storage space  32 . The first base layer  33  may be formed of polyethylene. Polyethylene has resistance to, for example, an ultraviolet curable ink, which is an example of a liquid. In other words, polyethylene limits transmission of ultraviolet rays, protecting a liquid such as an ultraviolet curable ink in the storage space  32 . Polyethylene has high heat shielding properties. This enables easy formation of the bag  24  because the inner most layers, or the first base layers  33  formed of polyethylene can be bonded together by heat. 
     The first adhesive layer  34  may attach the first base layer  33  and the second black layer  35  together. The first adhesive layer  34  of this embodiment attaches the outer layer surface of the first base layer  33  to the second black layer  35 . The first adhesive layer  34  joins the third base layer  36  having the second black layer  35  on the inner layer surface to the first base layer  33 . 
     The second black layer  35  is located between the first base layer  33  and the third base layer  36 . The third base layer  36  is located between the first base layer  33  and the second base layer  39 , and thus it also could be said that the second black layer  35  is located between the first base layer  33  and the second base layer  39 . The second black layer  35  of this embodiment is formed of a black colorant that fills the inner layer surface of the third base layer  36 . The second black layer  35  may be formed over the entire layer surface of the third base layer  36  or may be formed over the layer surface of the third base layer  36  except for a portion such as an end. 
     The third base layer  36  may be located outwardly from the first base layer  33 . The third base layer  36  may be located between the first base layer  33  and the second base layer  39 . The third base layer  36  may be formed of nylon. Nylon has resistance to oil and puncture. 
     The second adhesive layer  37  may attach the third base layer  36  and the first black layer  38  together. The second adhesive layer  37  of this embodiment attaches the outer layer surface of the third base layer  36  to the first black layer  38  together. The second adhesive layer  37  joins the second base layer  39  having the first black layer  38  on the inner layer surface to the third base layer  36 . The first adhesive layer  34  and the second adhesive layer  37  may be formed of a urethan-based adhesive, an ester-based adhesive, an ethylene-based adhesive, or an epoxy-based adhesive, for example. 
     The first black layer  38  is located between the second base layer  39  and the third base layer  36 . The third base layer  36  is located between the first base layer  33  and the second base layer  39 , and thus the first black layer  38  is located between the first base layer  33  and the second base layer  39 . The first black layer  38  of this embodiment is formed of a black colorant that fills the inner layer surface of the second base layer  39 . The first black layer  38  may be formed over the entire layer surface of the second base layer  39  or may be formed over the layer surface of the second base layer  39  except for a portion such as an end. 
     The first black layer  38  and the second black layer  35  may be formed of the same colorant or different colorants. The black colorant may contain carbon, iron black, or pine soot, for example. The black colorant may be a mixture of different colors of colorants. The black colorant may include different colors of colorants applied in layers on the layer surface of the second base layer  39  or the third base layer  36 . 
     The first black layer  38  and the second black layer  35  may be formed by application of paint containing a black colorant onto the layer surfaces. The first black layer  38  and the second black layer  35  may be formed by printing. For example, ink containing a black colorant may fill the layer surfaces to form the first black layer  38  and the second black layer  35 . 
     The first black layer  38  and the second black layer  35  may have the same light absorbance and the same thickness or may have different light absorbances and thicknesses. For example, when the first black layer  38  and the second black layer  35  are formed of the same colorant, paint containing the colorant may be applied in layers to increase the light absorbance. 
     The second base layer  39  may be located outwardly from the first base layer  33 . The outer layer surface of the second base layer  39  may be exposed to the ambient air. The second base layer  39  may be formed of polyethylene terephthalate having surface deposited alumina. Alumina may cover at least one of an outer surface and an inner surface of the polyethylene terephthalate. The polyethylene terephthalate having the deposited alumina has oxygen and vapor barrier properties and impact and vibration resistances. 
     Operation of Embodiment 
     Operation of the embodiment will be described. The liquid storage bag  23  stores a liquid in the storage space  32 . The bag  24  having the storage space  32  is formed of the film  31 . The film  31  protects the liquid in the storage space  32  with the first and second black layers  38  and  35  that block light from the outside. 
     Advantages of Embodiment 
     Advantages of the embodiment will be described. (1) The film  31  forming the bag  24  includes the first black layer  38 . The first black layer  38  is formed of a colorant filling the layer surface of the second base layer  39 . This is less costly than employment of a metal film or employment of a colored second base layer, for example. The black colorant has higher light-shielding properties than colorants of the other colors. Thus, this embodiment reduces an increase in the cost and has light-shielding properties. 
     (2) The film  31  includes the first black layer  38  and the second black layer  35 . In other words, the film  31  has multiple black layers and thus has higher light-shielding properties than a film  31  having one black layer. 
     (3) Polyethylene limits transmission of ultraviolet rays. The first base layer  33  that is formed of polyethylene reduces ultraviolet rays passing through the bag  24 . 
     (4) Polyethylene terephthalate having deposited alumina has impact and vibration resistance. The second base layer  39  on the outer side is formed of polyethylene terephthalate having deposited alumina, increasing the strength of the bag  24 . 
     (5) Nylon has resistance to puncture. The third base layer  36  located between the first base layer  33  and the second base layer  39  is formed of nylon, reducing the possibility that the bag  24  will have a hole. 
     Modifications 
     The present embodiment may be modified as follows. The embodiment and the modifications below may be combined without involving technical inconsistency. 
     First Modification 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  3   , the film  31  may include, in this order from the side adjacent to the storage space  32 , the second base layer  39 , the first black layer  38 , the first adhesive layer  34 , and the first base layer  33 . The first base layer  33  may be formed of polyethylene terephthalate having deposited alumina or nylon. The second base layer  39  may be formed of polyethylene. The first black layer  38  is located between the first base layer  33  and the second base layer  39 . The first black layer  38  may be formed on the outer layer surface of the second base layer  39 . 
     Second Modification 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  4   , the film  31  may include, in this order from the side adjacent to the storage space  32 , the first base layer  33 , the first adhesive layer  34 , the first black layer  38 , and the second base layer  39 . The first base layer  33  may be formed of polyethylene. The second base layer  39  may be formed of polyethylene terephthalate having deposited alumina or nylon. The first black layer  38  is located between the first base layer  33  and the second base layer  39 . The first black layer  38  may be formed on the inner layer surface of the second base layer  39 . 
     Third Modification 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  5   , the film  31  may include the second black layer  35  in addition to the configuration of the second modification. In other words, the film  31  may include, in this order from the side adjacent to the storage space  32 , the first base layer  33 , the second black layer  35 , the first adhesive layer  34 , the first black layer  38 , and the second base layer  39 . The first black layer  38  and the second black layer  35  are located between the first base layer  33  and the second base layer  39 . The second black layer  35  may be formed on the outer layer surface of the first base layer  33 . 
     Fourth Modification 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  6   , the film  31  may include, in this order from the side adjacent to the storage space  32 , the first base layer  33 , the first adhesive layer  34 , the first black layer  38 , the second base layer  39 , the second black layer  35 , the second adhesive layer  37 , and the third base layer  36 . The second base layer  39  may be located between the first base layer  33  and the third base layer  36 . The third base layer  36  may be located outwardly from the first base layer  33  and the second base layer  39 . The first base layer  33  may be formed of polyethylene. The second base layer  39  may be formed of nylon. The third base layer  36  may be formed of polyethylene terephthalate having deposited alumina. The first black layer  38  and the second black layer  35  may be formed on the second base layer  39 . In other words, the first black layer  38  may be formed on the inner layer surface of the second base layer  39 . The first black layer  38  is located between the first base layer  33  and the second base layer  39 . The second black layer  35  may be formed on the outer layer surface of the second base layer  39 . 
     Fifth Modification 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  7   , the film  31  may include, in this order from the side adjacent to the storage space  32 , the second base layer  39 , the first black layer  38 , the first adhesive layer  34 , the third base layer  36 , the second black layer  35 , the second adhesive layer  37 , and the first base layer  33 . The second base layer  39  and the third base layer  36  may be located inwardly from the first base layer  33 . In other words, the second base layer  39  and the third base layer  36  may be located between the first base layer  33  and the storage space  32 . The first base layer  33  may be formed of polyethylene terephthalate having deposited alumina. The second base layer  39  may be formed of polyethylene. The third base layer  36  may be formed of nylon. The first black layer  38  and the second black layer  35  may be located between the first base layer  33  and the second base layer  39 . The first black layer  38  may be formed on the outer layer surface of the second base layer  39 . The second black layer  35  may be formed on the outer layer surface of the third base layer  36 . 
     Sixth Modification 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  8   , the film  31  may include, in this order from the side adjacent to the storage space  32 , the third base layer  36 , the second black layer  35 , the first adhesive layer  34 , the first base layer  33 , the second adhesive layer  37 , the first black layer  38 , and the second base layer  39 . The first base layer  33  may be located between the second base layer  39  and the third base layer  36 . The second base layer  39  may be located outwardly from the first base layer  33 . The first base layer  33  may be formed of nylon. The second base layer  39  may be formed of polyethylene terephthalate having deposited alumina. The third base layer  36  may be formed of polyethylene. The first black layer  38  is located between the first base layer  33  and the second base layer  39 . The first black layer  38  may be formed on the inner layer surface of the second base layer  39 . The second black layer  35  may be formed on the outer layer surface of the third base layer  36 . 
     Seventh Modification 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  9   , the film  31  may include, in this order from the side adjacent to the storage space  32 , the first base layer  33 , the first adhesive layer  34 , the third base layer  36 , the second adhesive layer  37 , the first black layer  38 , and the second base layer  39 . The first base layer  33  may be formed of polyethylene. The second base layer  39  may be formed of polyethylene terephthalate having deposited alumina. The third base layer  36  may be formed of nylon. The first black layer  38  is located between the first base layer  33  and the second base layer  39 . The first black layer  38  may be formed on the inner layer surface of the second base layer  39 . 
     Eighth Modification 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  10   , the film  31  may include, in this order from the side adjacent to the storage space  32 , the third base layer  36 , the first adhesive layer  34 , the second base layer  39 , the first black layer  38 , the second adhesive layer  37 , and the first base layer  33 . The first base layer  33  may be formed of polyethylene terephthalate having deposited alumina. The second base layer  39  may be formed of nylon. The third base layer  36  may be formed of polyethylene. The first black layer  38  is located between the first base layer  33  and the second base layer  39 . The first black layer  38  may be formed on the outer layer surface of the second base layer  39 . 
     Ninth Modification 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  11   , the film  31  may include, in this order from the side adjacent to the storage space  32 , the first base layer  33 , the first adhesive layer  34 , the first black layer  38 , the second base layer  39 , the second adhesive layer  37 , and the third base layer  36 . The first base layer  33  may be formed of polyethylene. The second base layer  39  may be formed of nylon. The third base layer  36  may be formed of polyethylene terephthalate having deposited alumina. The first black layer  38  is located between the first base layer  33  and the second base layer  39 . The first black layer  38  may be formed on the inner layer surface of the second base layer  39 . 
     Tenth Modification 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  12   , the film  31  may include, in this order from the side adjacent to the storage space  32 , the second base layer  39 , the first black layer  38 , the first adhesive layer  34 , the third base layer  36 , the second adhesive layer  37 , and the first base layer  33 . The first base layer  33  may be formed of polyethylene terephthalate having deposited alumina. The second base layer  39  may be formed of polyethylene. The third base layer  36  may be formed of nylon. The first black layer  38  is located between the first base layer  33  and the second base layer  39 . The first black layer  38  may be formed on the outer layer surface of the second base layer  39 . 
     Other Modifications 
     In the above-described embodiment, the second black layer  35  may be formed on the outer layer surface of the third base layer  36 . 
     In the fifth modification, the second black layer  35  may be formed on the inner layer surface of the third base layer  36 . 
     The film  31  may include three or more black layers. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the black layer may also be formed on at least one of the outer layer surface of the first base layer  33  and the outer layer surface of the third base layer  36 . In the fourth modification, the black layer may also be formed on at least one of the outer layer surface of the first base layer  33  and the inner layer surface of the third base layer  36 . In the fifth modification, the black layer may also be formed on at least one of the inner layer surface of the first base layer  33  and the inner layer surface of the third base layer  36 . 
     In the above-described embodiment and modifications, the first base layer  33 , the second base layer  39 , and the third base layer  36  may be formed of any resin. For example, the first, second, and third base layers  33 ,  39 , and  36  may be formed of polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl alcohol, polypropylene, or polystyrene, for example. 
     At least one of the first adhesive layer  34  and the second adhesive layer  37  may be eliminated from the film  31 . For example, a melted resin, which is a material of the first base layer  33 , may be pressure bonded while being on the first black layer  38  formed on the second base layer  39  to form the first base layer  33 . 
     The liquid in the liquid storage bag  23  may be a substance in a liquid phase, and examples of the liquid include a substance in liquid form that has high or low viscosity, and a substance in fluid form such as sol, gel water, other inorganic solvents, organic solvents, solutions, liquid resins, liquid metals, and metallic melts. The liquid is not limited to a liquid, which is a state of substance, but may be a liquid in which particles of a functional material formed of solids such as a pigment and a metal particle are dissolved, dispersed, or mixed in a solvent. Representative examples of the liquid include ink and liquid crystals. “Ink” includes various liquid compositions, such as a common water-based ink, an oil-based ink, a gel ink, or a hot melt ink. 
     Supplementary Note 
     The following describes technical ideas understood from the above-described embodiment and modifications and their operations and advantages. 
     (A) A liquid storage bag includes a bag configured to store a liquid and a feeder that feeds the liquid in the bag to an external component. The bag is formed of a film. The film includes a first base layer, a second base layer, and a black layer located between the first base layer and the second base layer. The black layer is formed of a black colorant filling a layer surface of the second base layer. 
     In this configuration, the film forming the bag includes the black layer. The black layer is formed of a colorant filling the layer surface of the second base layer. This is less costly than employment of a metal film or employment of a colored second base layer, for example. The black colorant has higher light-shielding properties than colorants of the other colors. Thus, the embodiment reduces an increase in the cost and has light-shielding properties. 
     (B) In the liquid storage bag, the black layer is a first black layer, and the film may include a third base layer and a second black layer formed of a black colorant filling a layer surface of the third base layer. 
     In this configuration, the film includes the first black layer and the second black layer. In other words, the film has multiple black layers and thus has higher light-shielding properties than a film having one black layer. 
     (C) In the liquid storage bag, the first base layer may be formed of polyethylene. Polyethylene limits transmission of ultraviolet rays. In this configuration, the first base layer that is formed of polyethylene reduces ultraviolet rays passing through the bag. 
     (D) In the liquid storage bag, the second base layer may be located outwardly from the first base layer and may be formed of polyethylene terephthalate having surface deposited alumina. Polyethylene terephthalate having deposited alumina has impact and vibration resistance. In this configuration, the second base layer on the outer side is formed of polyethylene terephthalate having deposited alumina, increasing the strength of the bag. 
     (E) In the liquid storage bag, the third base layer may be located between the first base layer and the second base layer and may be formed of nylon. Nylon has resistance to puncture. In this configuration, the third base layer located between the first base layer and the second base layer is formed of nylon, reducing the possibility that the bag will have a hole.