Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7404628?dq=6,272,646
Timestamp: 2016-09-29 09:34:56
Document Index: 605830771

Matched Legal Cases: ['art.\n51', 'art 12', 'art 13', 'arts 102', 'art 134', 'arts 134', 'arts 134', 'arts 134', 'art 132', 'arts 134']

Patent US7404628 - Liquid container - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inPatentsThe invention provides a liquid container for storing liquid to be supplied to a liquid consuming apparatus. The liquid container is constructed such that pressurized fluid is sent to its inside so that the liquid in the inside is delivered to the outside. The liquid container includes a container body...http://www.google.com/patents/US7404628?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7404628 - Liquid containerAdvanced Patent SearchTry the new Google Patents, with machine-classified Google Scholar results, and Japanese and South Korean patents.Publication numberUS7404628 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 10/811,470Publication dateJul 29, 2008Filing dateMar 26, 2004Priority dateMar 26, 2003Fee statusPaidAlso published asCA2461959A1, CA2461959C, CA2745944A1, CA2745944C, CN1532063A, CN1532063B, CN101797844A, CN101797844B, EP1462263A2, EP1462263A3, EP1462263B1, US7997703, US20040252146, US20080273048Publication number10811470, 811470, US 7404628 B2, US 7404628B2, US-B2-7404628, US7404628 B2, US7404628B2InventorsTakahiro Naka, Takahiro Katakura, Atsushi Kobayashi, Satoshi Shinada, Toshio Kumagai, Taku Ishizawa, Takeo Seino, Hisashi Miyazawa, Takakazu Fukano, Hitotoshi Kimura, Yasunao Uehara, Masahide MatsuyamaOriginal AssigneeSeiko Epson CorporationExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (44), Non-Patent Citations (2), Referenced by (42), Classifications (14), Legal Events (3) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetLiquid container
US 7404628 B2Abstract
1. A liquid container containing liquid to be supplied to a liquid consuming apparatus, comprising:
a first reservoir chamber which is located within the container body and which is at least in part defined by a first flexible member;
a second reservoir chamber which is located within the container body and which is at least in part defined by a second flexible member;
an urging member which urges the second flexible member in a direction from a first position to a second position;
a liquid delivery port formed in the container body;
a first flow path through which the first reservoir chamber is in fluid communication with the second reservoir chamber; and
a second flow path through which the second reservoir chamber is in fluid communication with the liquid delivery port,
wherein the second reservoir chamber expands to cause the second flexible member to reach the first position when pressure is applied through the first flexible member to the liquid existing a predetermined amount or more in the first reservoir chamber.
a sensor which is disposed adjacent to the second reservoir chamber and which detects whether the second flexible member reaches the first position.
3. The liquid container according to claim 2, wherein the sensor includes:
a stationary contact fixed relative to the container body; and
a movable contact movable relative to the container body by the second flexible member.
4. The liquid container according to claim 3, wherein the movable contact is separated from the stationary contact when the second flexible member reaches the first position.
5. The liquid container according to claim 3, wherein the movable contact contacts the stationary contact when the second flexible member reaches the first position.
6. The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein the urging member includes a bellows structure formed in the second flexible member.
7. The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein the urging member includes a spring disposed between the container body and the second flexible member and outside the second liquid reservoir chamber.
8. The liquid container according to claim 7, wherein the urging member further includes an electrically conductive plate disposed between the spring and the second flexible member.
9. The liquid container according to claim 7, wherein the urging member further includes a spring seat member movably supported by the container body and disposed between the spring and the second flexible member.
10. The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein the second reservoir chamber contracts to cause the second flexible member to reach the second position by the action of the urging member when the pressure applied through the first flexible member to liquid existing in the first reservoir chamber is released.
11. The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein the second reservoir chamber gradually contracts depending on consumption of the liquid by the liquid consuming apparatus after the liquid in the first liquid reservoir chamber has been consumed with the pressure continuously applied to the first flexible member.
12. The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein:
the urging member has a movable part contacting the second flexible member;
an opening of the first flow path to the second reservoir chamber is closed by the movable part via the second flexible member located at the second position when the pressure applied through the first flexible member to liquid existing in the first reservoir chamber is released.
13. The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein:
an opening of the second flow path to the second reservoir chamber is closed by the movable part via the second flexible member located at the second position when the pressure applied through the first flexible member to liquid existing in the first reservoir chamber is released.
14. The liquid container according to claim 1, further comprising:
an urging member which is disposed between the container body and the first flexible member and outside the first liquid reservoir chamber, and which urges the first flexible member to apply the pressure through the first flexible member to the liquid existing in the first reservoir chamber.
15. The liquid container according to claim 1, further comprising:
a window which is formed in the container body and which faces the first flexible member,
wherein an urging member of the liquid consuming apparatus is accessible to the first flexible member through the window to apply the pressure through the first flexible member to the liquid existing in the first reservoir chamber.
16. The liquid container according to claim 1, further comprising:
a sealed space, which is located within the container body, which is sealed from the second reservoir chamber and which faces the first reservoir chamber; and
a pressurized fluid introduction port which is formed in the container body and which is in fluid communication with the sealed space,
wherein pressurized fluid can be introduced into the sealed space through the pressurized fluid introduction port to apply the pressure through the first flexible member to the liquid existing in the first reservoir chamber.
17. The liquid container according to claim 16, wherein the sealed space is at least in part defined by the first flexible member.
18. The liquid container according to claim 17, wherein the container body includes:
a first case member that has a first recess and the first flexible member closing an opening of the first recess and that defines the first liquid reservoir chamber; and
a second case member that has a second recess and that is coupled to the first case member to define the sealed space by the second recess and the first flexible member.
19. The liquid container according to claim 16, wherein the sealed space is at least in part defined by a third flexible member contactable with the first flexible member.
20. The liquid container according to claim 19, wherein the container body includes:
a second case member that has a second recess and the third flexible member closing an opening of the second recess and that defines the third recess,
wherein the second case member is coupled to the first case member to contact the third flexible member with the first flexible member.
21. The liquid container according to claim 20, wherein the first case member has a fourth flexible member forming a bottom of the first recess and opposite to the first flexible member.
22. The liquid container according to claim 18 or 20, wherein the pressurized fluid introduction port is formed in the second case member.
23. The liquid container according to claim 18 or 20, wherein the first case member has a third recess having an opening closed by the second flexible member to define the second liquid reservoir chamber.
24. The liquid container according to claim 23, wherein the first flexible member and the second flexible member are constructed by a single common film member attached to the first case member.
25. The liquid container according to claim 1, further comprising:
a liquid injection port formed in the container body;
a third flow path which is at least in part defined by the container body and which is for communicating the liquid injection port with the first reservoir chamber.
26. The liquid container according to claim 25, wherein the container body includes:
a first case member that has a first through hole, the first flexible member closing an opening of the first through hole, a first groove connecting the first through hole to the liquid injection port and a third flexible member closing an opposite opening of the first through hole and an opening of the groove to respectively define the first liquid reservoir chamber and the third flow path.
27. The liquid container according to claim 26, wherein the first case member has a second through hole, the second flexible member closing an opening of the second through hole, and a fourth flexible member closing an opposite opening of the second through hole to define the second reservoir chamber.
28. The liquid container according to claim 27, wherein the third flexible member and the fourth flexible member is constructed as a single common film member.
29. The liquid container according to claim 28, wherein the first case member has a second groove connecting the first through hole to the second through hole, and an opening of the second groove is closed by the single common film member to define the first flow path.
30. The liquid container according to claim 29, wherein the second flow path is at least in part defined by the single common film member.
31. The liquid container according to claim 26, wherein the first case member has a partition wall that is located in the first groove and that is attached to the third flexible member to divide the third flow path into a first region in fluid communication with the first reservoir and a second region in fluid communication with the liquid injection port.
32. The liquid container according to claim 31, further comprising:
a seal member attached to the first case member and closing the liquid injection port.
33. The liquid container according to claim 1, further comprising:
an IC module which has an antenna member and which is disposed within the container body.
34. The liquid container according to claim 33, further comprising:
a sensor which is disposed adjacent to the second reservoir chamber, which detects whether the second flexible member reaches the first position, and which is electrically connected to the IC module.
35. A liquid container for storing liquid to be supplied to a liquid consuming apparatus, which is constructed such that pressurized fluid is sent to its inside so that the liquid in the inside is delivered to the outside, the liquid container comprising:
a first reservoir chamber which stores the liquid within and which is provided in the container body;
a second reservoir chamber to which the liquid is supplied from the first reservoir chamber and which is provided in the container body;
a pressurized fluid introduction port for introducing the pressurized fluid to the inside of the container body;
a detection unit which is attached to the second reservoir chamber and outputs an output signal which indicates whether an amount of the liquid stored in the first reservoir chamber is more than a predetermined value; and
a pressurizing unit which pressurizes the liquid in the second reservoir chamber.
36. The liquid container according to claim 35, further comprising:
a liquid reservoir chamber which is formed in the inside of the contain body and stores the liquid and whose volume is decreased by receiving pressure of the pressurized fluid; and
a sensor chamber which is formed in the inside of the container body and communicates with the liquid reservoir chamber, wherein:
the pressure of the pressurized fluid applied to the liquid in the inside of the liquid reservoir chamber is transmitted through the liquid to the liquid in the inside of the sensor chamber; and
the output signal of the detection unit is changed in accordance with the pressure change of the liquid in the inside of the sensor chamber.
37. The liquid container according to claim 36, wherein:
the sensor chamber is constructed such that the volume thereof is changed in accordance with the pressure change of the liquid in the inside thereof; and
the output signal of the detection unit is changed in accordance with a volume change of the sensor chamber.
38. A liquid container constructed such that: a pressure is applied to liquid in a liquid containing chamber by a pressure of a pressurized fluid fed from a pressurized fluid introduction port to feed the liquid to a liquid consuming apparatus from a liquid delivery port; liquid in a liquid containing chamber is selectively pressurized from outside to feed the liquid in the liquid containing chamber to the liquid consuming apparatus from the liquid delivery port; or liquid in a liquid containing chamber is constantly pressurized by a built-in pressurizing unit to feed the liquid to the liquid consuming apparatus from the liquid delivery port, the liquid container comprising:
a buffer chamber connected to a channel for connecting the liquid containing chamber to the liquid delivery port, wherein:
the buffer chamber is expanded in its volume by an inflow of the liquid from the liquid containing chamber to the buffer chamber, and contracted when the inflow of the liquid from the liquid containing chamber to the buffer chamber is stopped;
a detecting unit adapted to output a signal in relation to a volume variation of the buffer chamber; and
a pressurizing unit which pressurizes the liquid in the buffer chamber.
39. The liquid container according to claim 38, wherein the buffer chamber is disposed in an area blocked from the pressure of the pressurized fluid.
40. A liquid container for storing therein liquid to be supplied to a liquid consuming apparatus, the liquid container comprising:
a container body having a liquid delivery port for delivering the liquid to the outside;
a first reservoir chamber formed in the inside of the container body and for storing the liquid;
a first pressurizing unit capable of pressurizing the liquid in the first reservoir chamber;
a second reservoir chamber which is formed in the inside of the container body and communicates with the first reservoir chamber and the liquid delivery port and in which pressure in the first reservoir chamber is transmitted through the liquid to the liquid in its inside;
a second pressurizing unit for pressurizing the liquid in the second reservoir chamber to delivery the liquid through the liquid delivery port; and
a detection unit which is provided in the container body and whose output signal is changed in accordance with a change of pressure of the liquid in the second reservoir chamber,
wherein P1>P2>P3 is established where a pressure applied to the liquid in the first reservoir chamber by the first pressurizing unit is P1, a pressure applied to the liquid in the second reservoir chamber by the second pressurizing unit is P2, and a pressure loss in a liquid flow path from the liquid container to the liquid consuming apparatus is P3.
41. The liquid container according to claim 40, wherein when a pressure of the liquid in the second reservoir chamber is P, the output signal of the detection unit is changed according to P>P2 or P<P2.
42. The liquid container according to claim 40, further comprising:
a memory unit for storing a liquid reservoir amount in the inside of the container body, and data relating to the liquid reservoir amount stored in the memory unit is rewritten into a predetermined amount at the point of time when the output signal of the detection unit is changed.
43. The liquid container according to claim 40, wherein:
the pressure P2 applied to the liquid in the second reservoir chamber by the second pressurizing unit is changed between P2-MAX and P2-MIN in accordance with the amount of the liquid stored in the inside of the second reservoir chamber, and
P1>P2-MAX>P2-MIN>P3 is established.
44. The liquid container according to claim 40, wherein when a water head difference of the liquid container relative to a liquid discharge part of the liquid consuming apparatus is P7, P1>P2>P3−P7 is established.
45. A liquid container for storing therein liquid to be supplied to a liquid consuming apparatus, the liquid container comprising:
a container body having a pressurized fluid introduction port for introducing pressurized fluid into the inside and a liquid delivery port for delivering the liquid to the outside;
a first reservoir chamber which is formed in the inside the container body, stores the liquid, and includes a first flexible film constituting at least a part of a wall forming the first reservoir chamber;
a first pressurizing unit for applying pressure of the pressurized fluid to the first flexible film to deform the first flexible film;
a second reservoir chamber which is formed in the inside of the container body, communicates with the first reservoir chamber and the liquid delivery port, and includes a second flexible film constituting a part of a wall forming the second reservoir chamber and in which the second flexible film seals a substantially circular or regular polygonal opening formed by the rigid wall forming the second reservoir chamber, and the pressure of the pressurized fluid applied to the liquid in the first reservoir chamber is transmitted through the liquid to the liquid in the inside of the second reservoir chamber;
a second pressurizing unit which pressurizes the liquid in the second reservoir chamber to deliver the liquid from the liquid delivery port in a state where the liquid in the first reservoir chamber is consumed and the pressure of the pressurized fluid is not transmitted to the liquid in the inside of the first reservoir chamber, and includes a press member for pressing the second flexible film toward a direction of decreasing a volume of the second reservoir chamber; and
a detection unit which is provided in the container body and whose output signal is changed in accordance with a change of pressure of the liquid in the second reservoir chamber.
46. A liquid container for storing liquid to be supplied to a liquid consuming apparatus, which is constructed such that pressurized fluid is introduced into its inside so that the liquid in the inside is pressurized and is delivered to the outside, the liquid container comprising:
a container body having a pressurized fluid introduction port for introducing the pressurized fluid into the inside and a liquid delivery port for delivering the liquid to the outside;
a first liquid reservoir chamber which is formed in the inside of the container body, stores the liquid, and is constructed such that its volume is decreased by receiving pressure of the pressurized fluid;
a second liquid reservoir chamber which is formed in the inside of the container body and communicates with the first liquid reservoir chamber and in which the pressure of the pressurized fluid applied to the liquid in the inside of the first liquid reservoir chamber is transmitted through the liquid to the liquid in the inside of the second liquid reservoir chamber and its volume is changed in accordance with pressure of the liquid in the inside changed by transmission of the pressure of the pressurized fluid; and
a narrow flow path which is formed at a midway of a liquid flow path communicating the first liquid reservoir chamber and the liquid delivery port, and is openably closed by a movable part displaced in accordance with the change of the volume of the second liquid reservoir chamber in a state where the liquid in the first liquid reservoir chamber is not pressurized by the pressurized fluid.
47. The liquid container according to claim 46, wherein:
the narrow flow path is formed in a flow path for connecting the second liquid reservoir chamber and the liquid delivery port, or
the narrow flow path is formed in a flow path for connecting the first liquid reservoir chamber and the second liquid reservoir chamber.
48. A liquid container for storing liquid to be supplied to a liquid consuming apparatus, which is constructed such that pressurized fluid is introduced into its inside so that the liquid in the inside is pressurized and is delivered to the outside, the liquid container comprising:
a narrow flow path which is formed at a midway of a liquid flow path communicating the first liquid reservoir chamber and the liquid delivery port, and is openably closed by a movable part displaced in accordance with the change of the volume of the second liquid reservoir chamber in a state where the liquid in the first liquid reservoir chamber is not pressurized by the pressurized fluid, wherein:
at least a part of a wall forming the second liquid reservoir chamber is constituted by a flexible film,
the movable part includes at least a part of the flexible film, and
the narrow flow path is closed by the flexible film displaced to decrease the volume of the second liquid reservoir chamber.
49. The liquid container according to claim 48, further comprising:
a press mechanism for pressing the flexible film toward a direction of decreasing the volume of the second liquid reservoir chamber, wherein
magnitude of pressure applied to the flexible film by the press mechanism is set to such a value that the second liquid reservoir chamber can be expanded when the pressure of the pressurized fluid is transmitted through the liquid to the liquid in the inside of the second liquid reservoir chamber.
50. A liquid container for storing liquid to be supplied to a liquid consuming apparatus, which is constructed such that pressurized fluid is introduced into its inside so that the liquid in the inside is pressurized and is delivered to the outside, the liquid container comprising:
a narrow flow path which is formed at a midway of a liquid flow path communicating the first liquid reservoir chamber and the liquid delivery port, and is openably closed by a movable part displaced in accordance with the change of the volume of the second liquid reservoir chamber in a state where the liquid in the first liquid reservoir chamber is not pressurized by the pressurized fluid, wherein the narrow flow path includes a small hole in which a ring-shaped projection is formed, on a side where it is closed by the movable part.
51. The liquid container according to claim 50, wherein at least a portion of the ring-shaped projection with which the movable part comes in contact is made of an elastic material.
(3). In a conventional ink cartridge in which compressed air is introduced into the inside of a container and ink is delivered to the outside of the container by its pressure, an assembling operation for forming a sealing structure between a pressurizing chamber into which the compressed air is introduced and a reservoir chamber in which the ink is stored or a disassembling operation has been complicated.
However, in the conventional ink cartridge using the electric contact, there is a case where the electric contact causes poor contact due to the poor mounting of the ink cartridge to the ink-jet recording apparatus or the attachment of a foreign matter to the electric contact. When the poor contact occurs at the electric contact as stated above, the output of the detection unit of the remaining amount of ink is not transmitted to the ink-jet recording apparatus side, or the operation of the detection unit becomes impossible since the supply of electric power to the detection unit can not be performed, and there has been possibility that the detection of the remaining amount of ink becomes impossible, and poor printing is caused
Besides preferably, the detection unit includes a contact type switch which is opened and closed in accordance with the volume change of the sensor chamber.
Besides, preferably, at least a part of the first pressurizing unit is constituted by a first flexible film. The first pressurizing unit includes a pressurizing chamber whose volume can be changed by receiving the pressure of the pressurized fluid. The first reservoir chamber is pressurized by a volume change of the pressurizing chamber.
Besides., preferably, the opening sealed by the second flexible film is substantially square.
Besides, preferably, a projecting part for defining the clearance between the flexible film and the top surface of the partition wall is formed on the top surface of the partition wall of the case member provided in the case member providing step. In the flow passage closing step, the projecting part is melted so that the flexible film is welded to the top surface of the partition wall.
Besides, preferably, a projecting part for defining the clearance between the flexible film and the top surface of the partition wall is formed on the top surface of the partition wall of the case member when the liquid is injected into the inside of the liquid reservoir chamber. After the injection of the liquid into the inside of the liquid reservoir chamber is complete, the projecting part is melted so that the flexible film is welded to the top surface of the partition wall.
2003-160685 (filed on Jun. 5, 2003):
FIGS. 18A to 18D are views showing the outer appearance of an ink cartridge as a second embodiment of a liquid container according to the invention, in which FIG. 18A is a plan view, FIG. 18B is a side view, FIG. 18C is a front view and FIG. 18D is a back view.
FIG. 31A to 31C are Sectional views schematically showing the ink cartridge for explaining the detection operation of a detection unit of the ink cartridge shown in FIG. 18, in which FIG. 31A shows a state where an ink reservoir chamber is sufficiently filled with ink and compressed air is not introduced into an ink pressurizing chamber, FIG. 31B shows a state where the compressed air is introduced into the ink pressurizing chamber of the ink cartridge in which the ink reservoir chamber is sufficiently filled with ink, and FIG. 31C shows a state where ink hardly exists in the ink reservoir chamber.
FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate an example of the closed-bottom box 10, which is formed as a two piece structure of a frame 10 a and a lid 10 b. The closed-bottom box 10 has a recessed part 12 to be an ink containing chamber 12′ serving as the liquid containing chamber (first reservoir chamber), a recessed part 13 to be a buffer chamber 13′ (second reservoir chamber), a groove 14 forming a first ink channel 14′ for connecting the ink containing chamber 12′ to the buffer chamber 13′, and a groove 16 forming a second ink channel 16′ for connecting the buffer chamber 13′ to a valve housing chamber 15.
Accordingly, the plate 28 is moved upwardly in the drawing to contact with the detecting mechanism 26, which confirms that ink, at least enough to fill the volume of the buffer chamber 13′ is contained in the cartridge and that the ink cartridge is mounted correctly.
In addition, in case of ink easy to generate precipitation as pigment ink, it is possible to generate a reverse-flow from the buffer chamber 13′ into the ink containing chamber 12′ having a low ink flow rate to agitate the precipitated pigments.
More specifically, the buffer chamber 13′ functions as a pump chamber by activating or stopping the recording device, and thus it also functions as an agitating unit to agitate the ink in the ink containing chamber 12′. Furthermore, the recording device is originally designed not to leak ink from the recording head due to a pressure applied by the pressurized fluid. Therefore, ink will not leak from the recording head by the extent of pressure applied by the spring 29 of the buffer chamber 13′.
As discussed above, a detection signal of the amount of remaining liquid can be obtained at the point in time when the liquid in the liquid containing chamber (first reservoir chamber) 12′ is all consumed and below the maximum volume of the buffer chamber (second reservoir chamber) 13′. Therefore, the detection signal of signaling that the liquid container needs to be changed can be obtained more surely than the amount of ink in the liquid containing chamber is monitored. In addition, even when the signal is detected during a predetermined liquid ejection operation, the liquid remaining in the buffer chamber 13′ allows liquid ejection continuously for a predetermined period of time.
An IC board (IC module) 121 adjacent to the contract type switch 120 and having a control IC 160 is disposed on an inner wall surface of the second case member 102B, and this IC board 121 is fixed by a fixing rib 122 and by heat caulking. The IC board 121 includes contact terminals 123 with which the movable side terminal 120A and the fixed side terminal 120B come in contact. The movable side terminal 120A and the fixed side terminal 120B are fixed to convex parts 102B01 provided in the second case member 102B by, for example, heat caulking so that the movable side terminal 120A made of a plate spring member and the fixed side terminal 120B are brought into pressure contact with the respective contact terminals 123 by the spring force.
Besides, the IC substrate 121 includes an antenna member 124, and by using this antenna member 124, communication is made in a non-contact manner (wireless) by an electric wave between the ink-jet recording apparatus and the IC board 121, and information and electric power are transmitted.
Incidentally, the compressed air introduction port 107 formed in the second case member 102B communicates with the pressurizing chamber recess 115 through an air flow path 125.
More specifically, since the spring force of the compression spring 119 is changed according to its compression amount, the pressure P2 applied to the ink in the sensor chamber 142 by the spring force of the compression spring 119 is changed within a range of P2-MAX to P2-MIN in accordance with the amount of the ink stored in the inside of the sensor chamber 142. Then, in this embodiment, the pressure of the compressed air and the spring force of the compression spring 119 are set so that P1 >P2-MAX>P2-MIN is established.
Incidentally, this embodiment is constructed such that when the spring seat member 117 displaced against the spring force of the compression spring 119 by the increase of volume of the sensor chamber 142 reaches the vicinity of the limit point. (upper limit position) in the displaceable range, it comes in contact with the movable side terminal 120A and the movable side terminal 120A is displaced.
As shown in FIG. 47A, the seal part 134 provided in a midway of the ink injection passage 132 (see FIG. 27) of the first case member 102A includes a partition wall 134 a for closing the ink injection passage 132, and clearance formation projecting parts 134 c formed on a top surface 134 b of this partition wall 134 a. The first case member 102A provided in the case member providing step has a clearance between the top surface 134 b of the partition wall 134 a and the bottom film 110 due to the clearance formation projecting parts 134 c formed on the top surface 134 b of the partition wall 134. That is, the bottom film 110 in this point of time is not welded to the top surface 134 b of the partition wall 134 a, and is welded only to the top portions of the clearance formation projecting parts 134 c. In addition, the bottom film 110 is welded to the top surface of the projecting part 132 a forming a part of wall surface defining the ink injection passage 132.
After the injection of ink into the inside of the ink reservoir chamber 140 is complete, the method advances to a flow passage closing step in which the bottom film 110 is welded to the top surface 134 b of the partition wall 134 a to close the ink flow passage. In this flow passage closing step, as shown in FIG. 47B, the bottom film 110 is welded to the top surface 134 b of the partition wall 110 by heat and pressure application means while melting the clearance formation projecting parts 134 c formed on the top surface 134 b of the partition wall 134 a. Next, in a vacuum discharge step, ink existing in the ink injection passage 132 between the ink injection port 108 and the partition wall 134 a is vacuum-discharged through the ink injection port 108.
Incidentally, although it is difficult to supply large electric power by the communication through the electric wave, in the ink cartridge 191 according to this embodiment, the detection unit 116 for digitally detecting whether or not the remaining amount of ink is the predetermined value or more is provided, so that it is possible to detect the remaining amount of ink by use of small electric power.
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