Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/CA2745944C/en
Timestamp: 2020-03-29 13:17:28
Document Index: 109361170

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 12', 'art 13', 'arts 12', 'art 12', 'art 13', 'art 22', 'art 25', 'art 22', 'arts 12', 'art 117', 'art 117', 'art 117', 'arts 102', 'art 133', 'art 133', 'art 134', 'art 134', 'arts 136', 'art 131', 'art 131', 'art 134', 'arts 133', 'art 134', 'arts 133', 'art 136', 'art 134', 'arts 134', 'arts 134', 'arts 134', 'art 132', 'arts 134', 'art 134']

CA2745944C - Liquid container - Google Patents
CA2745944C
CA2745944C CA2745944A CA2745944A CA2745944C CA 2745944 C CA2745944 C CA 2745944C CA 2745944 A CA2745944 A CA 2745944A CA 2745944 A CA2745944 A CA 2745944A CA 2745944 C CA2745944 C CA 2745944C
CA2745944A
CA2745944A1 (en
2003-03-26 Priority to JP2003085097 priority Critical
2003-03-26 Priority to JP2003-085097 priority
2003-05-30 Priority to JP2003-154991 priority
2003-05-30 Priority to JP2003154991A priority patent/JP4107165B2/en
2003-06-05 Priority to JP2003-160685 priority
2003-06-05 Priority to JP2003160815A priority patent/JP4129741B2/en
2003-06-05 Priority to JP2003160836A priority patent/JP4131199B2/en
2003-06-05 Priority to JP2003160685A priority patent/JP4235942B2/en
2003-06-05 Priority to JP2003-160836 priority
2003-06-05 Priority to JP2003-160815 priority
2003-07-02 Priority to JP2003-190527 priority
2003-07-02 Priority to JP2003190527A priority patent/JP4129742B2/en
2003-07-17 Priority to JP2003-198638 priority
2003-07-17 Priority to JP2003198631A priority patent/JP4103705B2/en
2003-07-17 Priority to JP2003198638A priority patent/JP3972873B2/en
2003-07-17 Priority to JP2003-198631 priority
2003-08-20 Priority to JP2003-296687 priority
2003-08-20 Priority to JP2003296687A priority patent/JP4348681B2/en
2004-03-25 Priority to CA 2461959 priority patent/CA2461959C/en
2004-09-26 Publication of CA2745944A1 publication Critical patent/CA2745944A1/en
2012-07-31 Publication of CA2745944C publication Critical patent/CA2745944C/en
239000007788 liquids Substances 0 title claims abstract description 674
239000007924 injection Substances 0 claims description 123
This is a divisional of Canadian patent application serial no. 2,461,959 filed March 25, 2004 and laid open to public inspection on September 26, 2004.
(1) USP 6,290,343 discloses an ink cartridge of a type in which compressed air is sent into an inner flexible bag, and an ink-jet printer in which the ink cartridge is mounted. A pressure sensor is connected to a pressurizing pump for pressurizing the air.
The pressurizing pump is controlled in accordance with the output of this pressure sensor so that the supply of ink is controlled.
As described above, in the ink cartridge and the ink-jet printer disclosed in USP 6,290,343, the supply of the ink is controlled on the basis of the operation of the pressurizing pump. Thus, for example, even in the case where the mounting of the ink cartridge to the ink-jet printer is poor, and the ink is not actually supplied to the inkjet printer although the pressurizing pump is operated, as long as the operation of the pressurizing pump is detected by the pressure sensor, itismistaken that the ink is being supplied.
(2) As a method of detecting an amount of ink remaining in an ink cartridge constructed to discharge ink using a pressurized fluid fed from outside, generally using air pressure, a method is disclosed in USP6,151,039 in which electrodes are mounted on an ink bag formed of a flexible material for containing ink so as to face to each other for detecting the thickness of the ink bag. Another method is disclosed in USP6, 435, 638 in which a through hole is provided in the midway of a channel for connecting an ink bag to an ink feeding port and a pressure sensor is fixed so as to seal the through hole for detecting delivery pressure by the pressure sensor.
The detection unit of the remaining amount of ink in the conventional ink cartridge includes a type in which an actuator disposed to be adjacent to ink is vibrated and the existence of the ink is detected from its vibration state, and a type in which a light emitting element and a light receiving element are provided and the existence of the ink therebetween is detected.
In any type, since electric power consumed to drive the detection unit is large, sufficient electric power can not be supplied by the supply of electric power according to a noncontact form, and as described above, the supply of electric power according to a contact form using the electric contact must be adopted.
(6) A liquid container in which liquid in the inside of a liquid container is pressurized by pressurized fluidisgenerally provided with a valve unit. That is, the liquid container as stated above is constructed such that the valve unit is provided at a liquid delivery port for delivering the liquid in the inside, and this valve unit keeps a valve closed state at a normal time, and when the liquid container is mounted in a liquid consuming apparatus, the valve is opened.
Besides, preferably, the liquid container further includes - i2 -a transmission unit for transmitting the detection signal of the detection unit to the liquid consuming apparatus in a contact manner.
The invention further provides: a liquid container constructed such that a pressure is applied to liquid in a liquid containing chamber (first reservoir 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; a liquid container constructed such that liquid in a liquid containing chamber (first reservoir chamber) is selectively pressurized from outside to feed the liquid in the liquid containing chamber to a liquid consuming apparatus from a liquid delivery port, and a liquid container constructed such that liquid in a liquid containing chamber (first reservoir chamber) is constantly pressurized by a built-in pressurizing unit to feed the liquid to a liquid consuming apparatus from a liquid delivery port. Each of the liquid containers includes a buffer chamber (second reservoir chamber) connected to a channel for connecting the liquid containing chamber to the liquid delivery port. 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.
Each of the liquid containers further includes a detecting unit adapted to detect a volume variation of the buffer chamber.
In a case where the pressurized fluid fed from the pressurized fluid introduction port is uses as pressure application means for applying the pressure to the liquid in the liquid containing chamber, the buffer chamber is disposed in an area blocked from the pressure of the pressurized fluid.
The invention further provides a liquid container f or storing therein liquid to be supplied to a liquid consuming apparatus.
The liquid container includes: 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. P1 > P2 > P3 is established where a pressure applied to the liquid in the first reservoir chamber by the first pressurizing unit is Pl, 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.
Besides, preferably, 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.
Besides, preferably, at least apart 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.
lb -Besides, preferably, the first flexible film includes an introduction port side film member which comes in contact with the pressurized fluid introduced into the inside of the container body and is deformed, and a reservoir chamber side film member which constitutes at least a part of a wall forming the first reservoir chamber and is pressed and deformed by deformation of the introduction port side film member.
Besides, preferably, when a pressure loss due to a reaction force at a time of deformation of the first flexible film is P4, and a pressure of the pressurized fluid introduced into the inside of the container body is P1' , P1' - P4 = P1 > P2 is established.
Besides, preferably, when a pressure loss due to a reaction force at a time of deformation of the second flexible film is P5, and a pressure applied from the press member to the second flexible film is P2', Pl > P2' + P5, and P2' - P5 = P2 > P are established.
Besides, preferably, 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 Pl > P2-MAX > P2-MIN > P3 is established.
Besides, preferably, 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.
The invention further provides a liquid container for storing therein liquid to be supplied to a liquid consuming apparatus.
The liquid container includes: 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.
Besides, preferably, the opening sealedbythe second flexible film is substantially square.
The invention further provides a liquid container f or storing liquid to be supplied to a liquid consuming apparatus. The liquid container is constructed such that pressurized fluid is sent into its inside so that the liquid in the inside is delivered to the outside. The liquid container includes: a tank unit which includes a sealed liquid reservoir chamber for storing the liquid, and a liquid delivery port communicating with the liquid reservoir chamber and for delivering the liquid to the outside of the liquid container and in which a volume of the liquid reservoir chamber is changed in accordance with an amount of the liquid stored in the inside thereof; and a pressurizing unit which includes a sealed pressurizing chamber into which the pressurized fluid is introduced to change a volume, and a pressurized fluid introduction port communicating with the pressurizing chamber and for introducing the pressurized fluid to the inside of the pressurizing chamber, and is constructed to pressurize the liquid reservoir chamber of the tank unit by a volume change of the pressurizing chamber.
Besides, preferably, the liquid reservoir chamber includes a reservoir chamber side flexible film constituting at least a part of a wall forming the liquid reservoir chamber, and the pressurizing chamberincludesa pressurizing chamber side flexible film constituting at least a part of a wall forming the pressurizing chamber and disposed to be opposite to the reservoir chamber side flexible film.
The liquid container includes a detection unit for digitally detecting whether an amount of liquid stored in the inside of the liquid container is a predetermined value or more or not, and a communication unit for communicating an output signal of the detection unit to the liquid consuming apparatus by an electric wave.
Besides, preferably, the detection unit includes a press unit which is displaced when the amount of the liquid stored in the inside of the liquid container becomes less than the predetermined value, to therebypress and displace at least a part of the conductive elastic member.
The liquid container includes: a detection unit for detecting a remaining amount of liquid in the inside of the liquid container;
and an IC module electrically connected to the detection unit.
The IC module includes: plural terminals coming in contact with the detection unit to achieve electrical conduction; and an antenna member for communicating an output signal of the detection unit to the liquid consuming apparatus by an electric wave. The plural terminals are disposed side by side along a long side direction of the IC module.
Besides, preferably, the conductive elastic member includes:
a movable side terminal at least a part of which is displaced in accordance with a state change as to whether an amount of the liquid stored in the inside of the liquid container is a predetermined value or more or not; and a fixed side terminal which is disposed to be opposite to the movable side terminal and in which a contact state and a non-contact state relative to the movable side terminal are switched by the displacement of the movable side terminal.
The invention further provides a liquid container f or storing liquid to be supplied to a liquid consuming apparatus. The liquid container 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 includes:
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.
Besides, preferably, there is further included a press mechanism for pressing the flexible film toward a direction of decreasing the volume of the second liquid reservoir chamber, and 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.
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, the method further includes a fluid discharge step after the case member providing step is complete and before the 'Liquid injection step starts. In the fluid discharge step, the liquid injection port is closed, and fluid inside the liquid reservoir chamber and the liquid injection passage is discharged from the liquid delivery port.
The invention further provides a liquid container for storing liquid to be supplied to a liquid consuming apparatus. The liquid container includes: a case member formed with a liquid reservoir chamber into which the liquid is to be filled. The case member includes a liquid injection port for injecting the liquid into an inside of the case member, a liquid injection passage communicating the liquid injection port with the liquid reservoir chamber, and a liquid delivery port communicating with the liquid reservoir chamber for delivering the liquid from the liquid container to the liquid consuming apparatus. A partition wall for closing the liquid injection passage is provided in the liquid flow passage. A part of the wall surface forming the liquid reservoir chamber and a part of a wall surface forming the liquid injection passage are constructed by a flexible film. Theflexible film is provided over a top surface of the partition wall. In a state in which the flexible film is not attached to the top surface of the partition wall, the liquid is injected from the liquid injection port into the liquid injection passage so that the liquid flows into the inside of the liquid reservoir chamber through a clearance formed between the top surface of the partition wall and the flexible film. A flow passage of the liquid is closed by attaching the flexible film onto the top surface of the partition wall after the injection of the liquid into the inside of the liquid reservoir chamber is complete.
Besides, preferably, the liquid container further includes a detecting unit whose output signal is changed in accordance with a pressure change of the liquid stored in the inside of the liquid container.
Besides, preferably, the liquid reservoir chamber is constructed such that its volume is decreased by receiving pressure of the pressurized fluid. The liquid container further includes a sensor chamber which is formed in the inside of the liquid container, which communicates with the liquid reservoir chamber and in which 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.
In one preferred embodiment the present invention provides a method of manufacturing a liquid container for storing liquid to be supplied to a liquid consuming apparatus, the method comprising: a case member providing step of providing a case member formed with a liquid reservoir chamber into which the liquid is to be filled, wherein the case member includes a liquid injection port for injecting the liquid into an inside of the case member, a liquid injection passage communicating the liquid injection port with the liquid reservoir chamber, and a liquid delivery port communicating with the liquid reservoir chamber for delivering the liquid from the liquid container to the liquid consuming apparatus, wherein a partition wall for closing the liquid injection passage is provided in the liquid flow passage, wherein a part of the wall surface forming the liquid reservoir chamber and a part of a wall surface forming the liquid injection passage are constructed by a flexible film, and wherein the flexible film is provided over a top surface of the partition wall but is not attached to the top surface of the partition wall; a liquid injection step of injecting the liquid from the liquid injection port into the liquid injection passage so that the liquid flows into the inside of the liquid reservoir chamber through a clearance formed between the top surface of the partition wall and the flexible film; and a passage closing step of closing a flow passage of the liquid by attaching the flexible film onto the top surface of the partition wall after the injection of the liquid into the inside of the liquid reservoir chamber is complete.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a liquid container for storing liquid to be supplied to a liquid consuming apparatus, the liquid container comprising: a case member formed with a liquid reservoir chamber into which the liquid is to be filled, the case member including: a liquid injection port for injecting - 37a -the liquid into an inside of the case member, a liquid injection passage communicating the liquid injection port with the liquid reservoir chamber, and a liquid delivery port communicating with the liquid reservoir chamber for delivering the liquid from the liquid container to the liquid consuming apparatus, wherein: a partition wall for closing the liquid injection passage is provided in the liquid flow passage; a part of the wall surface forming the liquid reservoir chamber and a part of a wall surface forming the liquid injection passage are constructed by a flexible film; the flexible film is provided over a top surface of the partition wall; in a state in which the flexible film is not attached to the top surface of the partition wall, the liquid is injected from the liquid injection port into the liquid injection passage so that the liquid flows into the inside of the liquid reservoir chamber through a clearance formed between the top surface of the partition wall and the flexible film; and a flow passage of the liquid is closed by attaching the flexible film onto the top surface of the partition wall after the injection of the liquid into the inside of the liquid reservoir chamber is complete.
The present disclosure relates to the subject matter contained in Japanese patent application Nos_:
-37b-2003-085097 (filed on March 26, 2003);
2003-160836 (filed on June 5, 2003);
2003-160815 (filed on June 5, 2003);
2003-160685 (filed on June 5, 2003);
2003-198631 (filed on July 17, 2003);
2003-198638 (filed on July 17, 2003);
2003-296687 (filed on August 20, 2003); and 2003-190527 (filed on July 2, 2003).
Figs. 6A and 6B are cross-sectional views illustrating the cross-sectional structure in lines A-A and B-B shown in Fig.
Figs. 10A and lOB are diagrams schematically illustrating the stats before the liquid container is mounted in a recording device to be one kind of liquid consuming device (10A) and after it is mounted and pressure is applied to ink (10B).
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. 22A is a sectional view of the ink cartridge shown in Fig. 18, and Fig.22B is an exploded view of Fig. 22A.
Fig. 41A is a sectional view of the third embodiment taken along line A-A shown in Fig. 18A, and Fig. 41B is a sectional view of the third embodiment taken along line B-B shown in Fig.
First Embodiment Figs. lA to 1C are schematic diagrams illustrating, as one embodiment of a liquid container of the invention, an ink cartridge for containing ink to be fed to a recording apparatus as a liquid consuming apparatus. In the embodiment, closed-bottom boxes (case members) 10 and 2 0 are combined to forma hard case constructing a cartridge 1 as a liquid container. The boxes 10 and 20 are half shells of the hard case, which are in almost symmetry to each other.
Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate an example of the closed-bottom box 10, which is formed as a two piece structure of a frame 10a and a lid 10b. 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.
The recessed parts 12 and 13 are formed such that through holes formed in the frame 10a are sealed with the lid 10b from the front surface side of the cartridge. At the same time, the grooves 14 and 16 are sealed with the lid 10b to form the first ink channel 14' and the second ink channel 16'.
The opening side of the recessed part 12 is sealed with a film 17 deformable by air to define a space, i.e. the ink containing chamber 12' for containing ink therein. The opening side of the recessed part 13 is similarly sealed with a film to define a space, i.e. the buffer chamber 13', the volume of which can be varied by ink pressure. Moreover, the film 17 is attached to an annular projection 19 of the closed-bottom box 10, which projection is disposed in the outer periphery than the deformable area of the film 17. Besides, the films 17 and 18 to be attached to the closed-bottom box 10 may be a single film as long as the required contraction for the films 17 and 18 can be secured.
As shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6B, a recessed part 22 of the case 20 communicates with the air introduction port 21 via a channel 24. In addition, in the area facing to the buffer chamber, a recessed part 25 is formed to dispose a detecting mechanism 26 for detecting the volume variation in the buffer chamber.
Two terminals are formed in the detecting mechanism 26, in which the terminals are configured to short-circuit at the communicating part of a plate 28 and a contact is turned on or off to output a detection signal in cooperation with the plate 28 at the point in time when the buffer chamber 13' is expanded to the set volume.
Furthermore, as means for detecting the volume variation in the buffer chamber 13' , various means can be adopted as long as it can detect whether the top part of the buffer chamber 13' reaches a predetermined position. Accordingly, for example, a microswitch, a magnet switch and a proximity photoswitch can be adopted as detecting means.
Fig. 8 illustrates an example of the buffer chamber 13', in which the opening side of the recessed part configuring the buffer chamber 13' is sealed with the film 18 and the outer surface of the film 18 is constantly energized by springs 29 through the plate 28 in the direction of reducing the volume. The energizing force is selected to have a slightly smaller value than a pressure applied by the pressurized fluid. More specifically, the energizing force is set such a valve that the buffer chamber 13' expands to the limit as long as ink can be fed from the ink containing chamber 12' to the buffer chamber 13', and contracts when the ink in the ink containing chamber 12' is consumed.
The buffer chamber 13' is designed to have a volume to allow printing for a period of time required to prepare a next ink cartridge after the detecting mechanism 26 detects ink near end, more specifically, after the ink in the ink containing chamber 12' has been consumed. The volume of the buffer chamber 13' is, for example, the amount allowing a few sheets to be printed, that is, a volume in which ink of about 1 to 2 cc can be contained.
Next, the operation of the ink cartridge thus configured will be described below based on Fig. 9 in which the illustration of the channel configuration is simplified and Figs. 10A to 12B
illustrating the volume variations in the ink containing chamber 12' and the buffer chamber 13' in the various states.
At the point in time when the ink cartridge 1 is mounted at the set position, air is fed from the pressurized fluid supplying source, so that air is introduced in between the film 17 and the recessed part 22 of the closed-bottom box 20 to apply pressure to the film 17 of the ink containing chamber 12' . Consequently, ink in the ink containing chamber 12' passes through the channel 14 to flow into the buffer chamber 13. Therefore, the film 18 configuring the buffer chamber 13' is expanded against the spring 29 to increase the volume.
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.
When ink is consumed in the recording operation in this state, the ink in the ink containing chamber 12' is fed to the recording head through the buffer chamber 13' . The ink in the ink containing chamber 12' is reduced by that amount, but the volume of the buffer chamber 13' keeps the set volume (Fig. 11A).
When the power source of the recording device is turned off to stop the air supply in the state that ink remains in the ink containing chamber 12', a pressure applied by the spring 29 of the buffer chamber 13' exceeds the pressure of the ink in the i5 ink containing chamber 12'. Consequently, the ink in the buffer chamber 13' flows in a reverse direction into the ink containing chamber 12' to reduce the volume of the buffer chamber 13' (Fig.
This reverse-flow allows the ink in the buffer chamber 13' to be mixed with the ink in the ink containing chamber 12' to prevent an increase in viscosity. The ink in the buffer chamber 13' is relatively increased in viscosity because it is in the proximity of the ink delivery port, and the ink in the ink containing chamber 12' has low viscosity.
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'.
In the meantime, when the ink in the ink containing chamber 12' is all consumed in the recording operation and ink remains only in the buffer chamber 13' (Fig. 12A) , signals are still outputted from the detecting mechanism 26 in this state. However, ink is further consumed in the recording device, and then ink is fed only from the buffer chamber 13' . Thus, the volume of the buffer chamber 13' is reduced, the plate 28 yields to the spring 29 and retracts by AL to separate from the detecting mechanism (it is moved downwardly in Fig. 12B) , and the output of the detection signals is stopped.
Consequently, it can be confirmed that ink is reduced to near end. After this, the spring 29 squeezes the ink in the buffer chamber 13' to feed it to the recording head until the last (Fig.
13). In the embodiment, the volume of the buffer chamber 13' is set to the amount to the extent that a few sheets of recording media can be printed. Therefore, printing can be still continued even in this state and the next new ink cartridge can be prepared during this time.
Moreover, when a defect is generated in mounting the ink cartridge on the recording device, the pressure in the ink containing chamber 12' is dropped. Thus, the plate 28 yields to the spring, and retracts and separates from the detecting mechanism 26 to stop the output of the detection signals. Therefore, abnormality can be known..
In addition, in the embodiment, the buffer chamber 13' is constantly energized by the spring in the contracting direction. However, the same advantage is exerted in which the buffer chamber 13' is formed to be a bellows structure and the bellows part is constantly set in the contracting direction.
In the embodiment, the ink containing chamber 12' and the buffer chamber 13' are configured in which the recessed parts 12 and 13 are formed in the hard case and the openings of these recessed parts are sealed with the deformable films 17 and 18.
However, the annular projection 23 disposed around the pressurizing area of the closed-bottom box 20 is sealed to the projection 19 sealed with the film 17 with an adhesive also functioning as a sealing agent, for example, which allows the pressurizing area to be formed into an airtight structure.
Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 14, the ink containing chamber 12' and the buffer chamber 13' are formed into a bag 42 and a bellows 43, and are connected by channel forming units 44 and 45 such as tubes, and alternatively, they are formed in one piece.
Then, the ink containing chamber 12' and the buffer chamber 13' thus connected or thus formed in one piece are housed in a hard case defining the pressurizing area of a pressurized fluid.
This modification can also produce the same advantage.
Moreover, as shown Fig. 15, a film 46, which is separate from the film 17 in the ink containing chamber of the closed-bottom box 10, may be provided to the closed-bottom box 20 to define a pressurizing chamber 47., The film 46 is preferably formed of an elastic member expandable and contractible so as to press the film 17, and alternatively, the film 46may be attached to the box 20 with a slack tomake the pressurizing chamber 47 expandable and contractible. This modification can also exert the same advantage. Besides, in Fig. 15, the film 46 is depicted to be distanced from the film 17 for clarification.
In this manner, the pressurizing area (pressurizing chamber 47) is defined independently of the ink containing chamber 12' fluidically. This arrangement eliminates an airtight seal in the joining part of the closed-bottom box 10 to the closed-bottom box 20. The cartridge can be completed by simply assembling the closed-bottom box 10 and the closed-bottom box 20, which can simplify the assembly process as compared with the case of vacuum-tight joint.
The embodiment discussed above employs the mechanism using the pressurized fluid as means for applying pressure to the ink containing chamber 12'. However, as shown in Fig. 16, a pressurizing unit, such as springs 48, may be housed in the hard case in the area facing to the front surface of the film 17 forming the ink containing chamber 12' . This modification can also exert the same advantage.
The energizing force of the pressurizing unit 48 is set to the extent of expanding the buffer chamber 13' to the maximum in the state that ink remains in the ink containing chamber 12' .
The volume of the buffer chamber 13' is contracted at the point in time when the ink in the ink containing chamber 12' is consumed, which allows the detecting mechanism 26 to detect ink near end as similar to the above and allows printing with the ink remaining in the buffer chamber 13'.
Furthermore, in the embodiment and modifications thereof, the pressurizing unit is built in the hard case. However, the same advantage is exerted in which the pressurizing unit, for example, a drive source 49 that can control the pressing force, such as a solenoid or a fluid actuator, is disposed in the liquid ejection apparatus main body side and a window 20a is formed in the area facing to the film 17 forming the ink containing chamber of the hard case so that the film 17 can be pressed via the window 20a by displacement of the drive source 49 as shown in Fig. 17.
According to this modification, the pressing force of the drive source 49 is released at the point in time when the operation of the liquid ejection apparatus main body is stopped.
The ink in the buffer chamber 13' can be returned to the ink containing chamber 12', and the agitating effect can be obtained.
Moreover, also in the embodiment, the buffer chamber 13' can be expanded to the maximum in the state that ink remains in the ink containing chamber 12' as similar to the above. The ink in the buffer chamber 13' begins to be consumed and the volume is contracted at the point in time when the ink in the ink containing chamber 12' is all consumed, and therefore the detecting mechanism 26 can detect ink near end. After that, printing can be done with the ink remaining in the buffer chamber 13'.
Without mentioning it, also in the modifications shown in Figs. 14 to 17, the channel for connecting the ink containing chamber 12' to the buffer chamber 13' and the channel for connecting the buffer chamber 13' to the liquid delivery port 11 can be formed by disposing a groove or a through hole in the hard case configuring the liquid container.
According to such the configuration, when pressure is applied to the ink containing chamber 12' or pressure is eliminated, the liquid flows through the channels formed of the groove or through hole at high speed between the ink containing chamber 12' and the buffer chamber 13. Therefore, the agitating effect is generated.
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.
Furthermore, when the operation of the liquid consuming device causes pressure to be applied to the liquid containing chamber 12', or the operation of the liquid consuming device is stopped to eliminate pressure in an ink containing chamber 12', the volume of the buffer chamber 13' is greatly varied to function as a pump chamber. Therefore, it has the effect to agitate the liquid, and solids can be prevented from precipitating in the case of a liquid having an increase in viscosity and having solids such as pigments.
The channels connecting the separate areas can be formed in injection molding of the hard case, and the channels are formed of a tube or a groove. Therefore, a reverse-flow into the ink containing chamber 12' or the ink flow rate in flowing into the buffer chamber 13' is increased, and the greater agitating effect can be obtained.
The ink cartridge 101 includes a container body 102, and this container body 102 is constituted by a first case member 102A, a second case member 102B and a third case member 102C.
As is understood from Figs. 20 and 21, plural heat caulking ribs 103 are formed at a peripheral part of the second case member 102B, and these heat caulking ribs 103 are inserted in plural through holes 104 and 105 formed in the first case member 102A
and the third case member 102C, and are subjected to heat caulking.
By this, the first case member 102A is held between the second case member 102B and the third case member 102C, and these three case members 102A, 102B and 102C are united.
As stated above, the three case members 102A, 102B and 102C
are fixed by heat caulking, so that the heat-caulked parts can certainly receive force generated in the direction of separating the case members when compressed air is introduced into the inside of the ink cartridge 101.
Here, the sensor chamber through hole 112 is formed to have a substantially square section. By this, reaction force at the time of deformation of the sensor chamber film 113B becomes small, and it becomes possible to deform the sensor chamber film 113B
by a low pressure.
As a mounting method, the guide projection 118 formed in the second case member 102B is inserted in a through hole 117a of this spring seat member 117, the tip of the guide projection 118 is subjected to heat caulking, and the spring seat member 117 may be made not to come off from the guide projection 118.
By this, the spring seat member 117 is movably mounted to the guide projection 118. As stated above, since the spring seat member 117 is mounted to the guide projection 118 by heat caulking, its assembly is easy, and it is unnecessary to provide a molding die with a complicated structure which becomes necessary in the case where, for example, a pawl for hooking is formed. Incidentally, in this case, in order to ensure the movement distance of the spring seat member 117, it is necessary to form the guide projection 118 to be relatively long.
Besides, as another mounting method, for example, as shown in Fig. 32, a guide projection 118 is formed to be relatively short, an inside tube part 117A of the spring seat member 117 is formed to be relatively long, and this inside tube part 117A
may be slidably mounted to the guide projection 118. In this case, the tip of the guide projection 18 is not subjected to heat caulking.
Besides, the detection unit 116 includes a contact type switch 120 which is opened/closed by pressure actually applied to the ink in the container body 102 from the compressed air.
This contact type switch 120 includes a movable side terminal 120A displaced by the pressure actually applied to the ink in the container body 102 from the compressed air, and a fixed side terminal 120B disposed to be opposite to the movable side terminal 120A. The movable side terminal 120A and the fixed side terminal 120B are respectively made of conductive elastic members. In this embodiment, the movable side terminal 120A is pressed by a peripheral part 117B of the seat member 117 so that it is moved (Fig. 32).
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.
Incidentally, the compressed air introduction port 107 f ormed in the second case member 102B communicates with the pressurizing chamber recess 115 through an air flow path 125.
The pressurizing unit is constituted by the second case member 1028, the detection unit 116, the pressurizing chamber film 114 and the like.
Besides, the filter 130 and the check valve 131 are provided at the midway of the passage for connecting the ink delivery port 106 and the sensor chamber through hole 112. Besides, the ink injection port 108 formed in the first case member 102A
communicates with the ink chamber through hole 111 through the ink injection passage 132. Besides, the ink chamber through hole 111 and the sensor chamber through hole 112 are communicated with each other through the narrow communicating path 135.
Incidentally, in Fig. 26, reference numerals 133A and 133B
denote film welding parts, and the ink chamber film 113A and the sensor chamber film 113B are liquid-tightly connected to the film welding part 133A and the film welding part 133B, respectively.
Besides, in Fig. 27, reference numeral 134 denotes a seal part, and in this seal part 134, after ink is filled into the container body 102, the ink injection path 132 is sealed. For example, the seal part 134 is used as described below. The check valve 131 and the filter member 130 are mounted to the first case member 102A, and the bottom film 110 is welded to the welding part (the film welding parts 136A and 136B, the welding part of the periphery of the check valve mounting part 131A and the filter mounting part 131B, the welding part of the periphery of the ink injection flow path 132) of the first case member 102A. At the time of this welding, the bottom film 110 and the seal part 134 are not welded. Further, the ink chamber film 113A
and the sensor chamber film 113B are welded to the film welding parts 133A and 133B. After the assembly of these, a predetermined amount of ink is injected through the ink injection port 108 into an inside space formed of the first case member 102A, the bottom film 110, the ink chamber film 113A and the sensor chamber film 113B. After this injection, the ink injection flow path 132 is sealed by welding the bottom film 110 and the seal part 134. At the time of the injection, since the ink delivery port 106 is used as the opening for discharging the air in the inside space or as the opening for decreasing the pressure in the inside space, in the case where the valve body 129 is inserted into the inside of the ink delivery port 106 and the seal rubber 128 is mounted to the ink delivery port 106 before the injection of the ink, at the time of the ink injection, the valve body 129 is moved, and the inside space is made to communicate with the outer air or a pressure reducing apparatus.
As stated above, the f irst case member 102A side is constructed as the tank unit, and the second case member 102B side is constructed as the pressurizing unit, so that the number of parts is decreased and cost reduction is realized, and further, it becomes possible to recycle the pressurizing unit.
Figs. 31A, 31B and 31C are sectional views schematically showing the ink cartridge 101 in order to describe the detection operation of the detection unit 116. As is apparent from Fig.
31, an ink reservoir chamber (first liquid reservoir chamber) 140 for storing ink, an ink pressurizing chamber 141 formed above the ink reservoir chamber 140, and a sensor chamber (second liquid reservoir chamber) 142 provided at a midway of a flow path for connecting the ink reservoir chamber 140 and the ink delivery port 106 are formed in the inside of the container body 102 of the ink cartridge 101.
In this embodiment, when a pressure actually applied to the ink in the ink reservoir chamber 140 by the compressed air is P1, and a pressure actually applied to the ink in the sensor chamber 142 by the spring force of the compression spring 119 is P2, the pressure of the compressed air and the spring force of the compression spring 119 are set so that P1 > P2 is established.
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.
Besides, in this embodiment, when a pressure loss by reaction force at the time of deformation of the ink chamber film 113A
and the pressurizing chamber film 114 is P4, and a pressure of the compressed air introduced from the compressed air introduction port 107 to the ink pressurizing chamber 141 is P1' , the pressure of the compressed air and the spring force of the compression spring 119 are set so that P1' - P4 = Pl > P2 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.
Besides, this embodiment is constructed such that when a pressure loss by the reaction force at the time of deformation of the sensor chamber film 113B is P5, and a pressure applied to the sensor chamber film 113B from the spring seat member 117 is P2', P1 > P2' + P5, and P2' - P5 = P2 > P are established.
By this, even in the case where the reaction force is generated at the time of deformation of the sensor chamber film 113B, the detection unit 116 can be operated without fail.
Besides, this embodiment is constructed such that when the pressure loss in the ink flow path from the ink cartridge 101 to the ink-jet recording apparatus 200 is P3, P1 > P2 > P3 is established. More specifically, the minimum pressure P2-MIN of the compression spring 119 becomes larger than the pressure loss P3 of the ink flow path. By this, almost all ink existing in the sensor chamber 142 can be certainly delivered from the ink delivery port 106 by the spring force of the compression spring 119.
Further, this embodiment is constructed such that when the water head difference of the ink cartridge 101 relative to the recording head 202 of the ink-jet recording apparatus 200 is P7, P1 > P2 > P3 - P7 is established. By this, even in the case where the recording head 202 is located at a position higher than the ink cartridge 101, ink can be certainly supplied from the ink cartridge 101 to the recording head 202.
Here, it is preferable that the predetermined value corresponding to the maximum value of the amount of ink which can be stored in the inside of the sensor chamber 142 is set to an amount of ink which can print one or more sheets of recording paper to be processed by the ink-jet recording apparatus 200.
By setting the predetermined value as stated above, even after an ink near end (N/E) is detected by the detection unit 116, it is not necessary to stop printing, and it is possible to prevent the recording paper from being wasted.
As described above, since the movable side terminal 120A
is pressed and displaced by the displacing spring seat member 117, the switching operation of the contact type switch 120 can be certainly performed by the simple structure.
Incidentally, in this embodiment, the movable side terminal 120A is pressed upward by the raised spring seat member 117 and the contact type switch 120 is switched from the on state (conduction state) to the off state (non-conduction state). However, a modif ied example may be such that the arrangement of the movable side terminal 120A and the fixed side terminal 120B is turned upside down, and in the non-pressure state, the movable side terminal 120A and the fixed side terminal 120B are put in the non-contact state, and at the time of pressurization, the movable side terminal 120A is pressed upward by the raised spring seat member 117 and comes in contact with the fixed side terminal 120B.
Figs. 33 and 35 show ink supply pressures which change in accordance with the consumption of ink in the ink cartridge 101, and the horizontal axis indicates the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge 101. Here, the "ink supply pressure" is the pressure of the ink delivered from the ink delivery port 106 of the ink cartridge 101.
Incidentally, Fig. 33 is a graph in the case where the reaction force at the time of deformation of the ink chamber film 113A
and the sensor chamber film 113B is not considered, and Fig.
35 is a graph in the case where the reaction force at the time of deformation of the ink chamber film 113A and the sensor chamber film 113B is considered.
As is understood from Fig. 33, in the state (initial state) where the ink cartridge 101 is full of ink, the pressure P1 of the compressed air becomes the ink supply pressure as it is.
Then, as long as the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge 101 is a predetermined value or more, the ink supply pressure is kept at the pressure P1 of the compressed air.
Besides, as is understood from Fig. 35, in the initial state, the pressure Pl of the compressed air becomes the ink supply pressure almost as it is. When the consumption of the ink progresses and the ink in the ink reservoir chamber 140 is decreased, the reaction force of the ink chamber film 113A and the pressurizing chamber film 114 gradually become large, and the ink supply pressure is gradually decreased.
Besides, Fig. 34 is a table showing the transition of an output signal of the detection unit 116 according to the existence of ink and the operation/stop of the pressurizing pump.
Incidentally, "there is ink" in Fig. 34 indicates the case where the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge 101 is a predetermined value or more, and "there is no ink" indicates the case where the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge 101 is less than the predetermined value.
As is understood from Fig. 34, in the case where the pressurizing pump 201 operates in the state where there is ink, the detection unit 116 is put in the OFF state (non-conduction state) . On the other hand, even in the case where the pressurizing pump 201 operates, when there occurs the state where there is no ink, the detection unit 116 is put in the ON state (conduction state). Besides, in the case where the pressurizing pump 201 is stopped, the detection unit 116 is put in the ON state irrespective of the existence of the ink in the ink reservoir chamber 140.
First of all, in a case member providing step, the first case member 102A prior to being joined to the second case member 102B and the third case member 102C is provided. This first case member 102A is in such a state that the ink chamber film 113A and the sensor chamber film 113B are attached to the film welding parts 133A and 133B on one surface of the first case member 102A, and the bottom film 110 is welded to the film welding part 136A and 136E on the other surface thereof.
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 134a for closing the ink injection passage 132, and clearance formation projecting parts 134c formed on a top surface 134b of this partition wall 134a.
The first case member 102A provided in the case member providing step has a clearance between the top surface 134b of the partition wall 134a and the bottom film 110 due to the clearance formation projecting parts 134c formed on the top surface 134b of the partition wall 134. That is, the bottom film 110 in this point of time is not welded to the top surface 134b of the partition wall 134a, and is welded only to the top portions of the clearance formation projecting parts 134c. In addition, the bottom film 110 is welded to the top surface of the projecting part 132a forming a part of wall surface defining the ink injection passage 132.
Next, in an ink injection step, ink is injected from the ink injection port 108 to the ink injection passage 132, so that ink injected into the ink injection passage 132 passes through the clearance between the top surface 134b of the partition wall 134a and the bottom film 110 and flows into the inside of the ink reservoir chamber 140.
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 134b of the partition wall 134a 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 134b of the partition wall 110 by heat and pressure application means while melting the clearance formation projecting parts 134c formed on the top surface 134b of the partition wall 134a.
Next, in a vacuum discharge step, ink existing in the ink injection passage 132 between the ink injection port 108 and the partition wall 134a is vacuum-discharged through the ink injection port 108.
As mentioned above, ink between the ink injection port 108 and the partition wall 134a is vacuum-discharged, and the thus discharged ink is re-utilized, to thereby eliminate wasteful disposal of ink.
Further, no ink remains between the ink injection port 108 and the partition wall 134a. Therefore, it is possible to prevent ink leakage from the ink injection port 108. Further, such a feeling as if ink still remains in the ink cartridge 101 will not be caused after ink in the ink cartridge 101 is completely used.
As described above, in the ink cartridge 101 and the method of manufacturing the same according to this embodiment, the partition wall 134a is provided in the ink injection passage 132 communicating the ink injection port 108 with the ink reservoir chamber 140. When the ink is filled into the ink reservoir chamber 140, the ink flows through the clearance between the bottom film 110 and the top surface 134b of the partition wall 134a. After the filling of ink is complete, the bottom film 110 is bonded to the top surface 134b of the partition wall 134a. Therefore, even in a case where the ink reservoir 140 is defined by a rigid member such as the first case member 102A and a flexible member such as the ink chamber film 113A, injection of ink into the ink reservoir chamber 140 can be readily conducted, and the ink flow passage used during the ink injection can be reliably sealed after the ink injection is complete.
By forming the clearance forming projecting part 134c on the top surface 134b of the partition wall 134a, the clearance can be surely secured between the top surface 134b of the partition wall 134a and the bottom film 110 during the ink injection.
Further, when the ink reservoir chamber 140 and the ink injection passage 132 are decompressed prior to the ink injection, a part of the ink injection passage 132 between the partition wall 134a and the ink injection port 108 can be surely decompressed.
Further, the first case member 102A is formed of a material suitable for welding film material thereto from the viewpoint of welding the ink chamber film 113A and the sensor chamber film 113B thereto. For this reason, even in a case where the partition wall 134a is formed as an integral part of the first case member 102A, the welding of the bottom film 110 to the top surface 134b of the partition wall 134a can be performed without any problem.
Moreover, since the ink injection is performed using the ink injection port 108 and the ink delivery port 106 formed in the first case member 102A, it is unnecessary to inject ink downwardly in a gravity direction, which is required in a case of an ink cartridge constructed by an ink bag. Accordingly, the freedom as to the ink injection direction during ink filling is high. For this reason, the ink cartridge 101 can be arranged such that the motion of the heat and pressure application means for welding is directed downwardly (in the gravity direction) when the bottom film 110 is welded to the top surface 134b of the partition wall 134a after the ink injection is complete.
This arrangement makes the welding operation easier in comparison to a case in which the heat and pressure application means is moved horizontally as required in a flexible bag type ink cartridge.
As described above, in the ink cartridge 1 according to this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 28 or 29, since the pair of contact terminals 123 formed on the IC board 121 are disposed side by side along the long side direction of the IC board 121, the movable side terminal 120A and the fixed side terminal 120B
of the contact type switch 120 can be easily and certainly brought into contact with the pair of terminals 23 while being elastically deformed, and the structure of the movable side terminal 120A
and the fixed side terminal 120B can be made simple, and further, in the middle of manufacture of the ink cartridge 101, it is possible to easily visually confirm that the movable side terminal 120A and the fixed side terminal 120B are certainly in contact with the pair of contact terminals 123.
Besides, in the ink cartridge 101 according to this embodiment, since the movable side terminal 120A and the fixed side terminal 120Bmade of the conductive elastic member are brought into pressure contact with the pair of contact terminals 123 while they are elastically deformed, the movable side terminal 120A and the fixed side terminal 120B can be certainly brought into contact with the pair of contact terminals 123, and further, it is not necessary to perform soldering or the like to connect the terminals, so that manufacturing cost is reduced and recycling of the detection unit 116 becomes easy.
Besides, in the ink cartridge 101 according to this embodiment, the amount of ink which can be supplied from the point of time of the ink near end (N/E) to the ink end (I/E) is determined by the amount of ink in the sensor chamber 142 at the point of time of the ink near end (N/E). Then, since the amount of ink in the sensor chamber 142 at the point of time of the ink near end (N/E) is determined at the design stage, this ink amount is stored in the IC board 121 of the ink cartridge 101, and the remaining amount of ink is rewritten into the predetermined amount of ink at the point of time when the detection unit 116 detects the ink near end (N/E) , so that it becomes possible to accurately judge the point of time of the ink end (I/E) . Thus, it is possible to avoid such a situation that a judgment of ink end (I/E) is made although ink sufficiently remains in the ink cartridge 101 and the ink is wasted, or an erroneous judgment that ink sufficiently remains is made although the ink end (I/E) almost actually arises, and the ink end (I/E) arises in the middle of printing and the recording paper is wasted.
Besides, since the amount of ink consumed from the point of time of an ink full-tank state to the point of time of the ink near end (N/E) is determined at the design stage, this ink amount is stored in the IC board 121 of the ink cartridge 101, so that at the point of time of the ink near end (N/E) , information relating to the unit weight of an ink droplet can be corrected on the basis of the number of times of discharge of ink droplets.
By this, the accuracy of calculation of the ink consumption amount after the ink near end (N/E) can be raised, and the point of time of the ink end (I/E) can be more accurately judged.
Figs. 36A, 36B and 36C show a modified example of the foregoing embodiment, and the respective states of Figs. 36A, 36B and 36C
correspond to the respective states of Figs. 31A, 31B and 31C.
As shown in Fig. 36, in the ink cartridge according to this modified example, an ink reservoir chamber 140 and a sensor chamber 142 are integrally formed without a narrow flow path intervening between both the chambers. Besides, an ink chamber film 113A
and a sensor chamber film 113B are constructed as separate bodies, and both the films 113A and 113B are disposed so that a press direction to the ink chamber film 113A and a press direction to the sensor chamber film 113B are opposite to each other.
Besides, as another modified example of the embodiment, as indicated by a dotted line in Fig. 37, an IC board 121 having a function of storing information relating to ink in the ink cartridge 101 may also be provided at the tank unit 150 side.
By doing so, it is possible to certainly prevent such a situation that ink actually stored in the tank unit 150 is inconsistent with the data stored in the IC board 121.
Then, in the ink cartridge 101 according to this embodiment, as is understood from Figs. 41A, 41B and 46A, in the state where ink in the ink reservoir chamber 14 0 is not pressurized by compressed air, the sensor chamber film 113B constituting the movable part displaced in accordance with the change of volume of the sensor chamber 142 is pressed to the tip of the ring-shaped projection 138, and by this, the small hole 137 is sealed to be openable.
a case member providing step of providing a case member formed with a liquid reservoir chamber into which the liquid is to be filled, wherein the case member includes a liquid injection port for injecting the liquid into an inside of the case member, a liquid injection passage communicating the liquid injection port with the liquid reservoir chamber, and a liquid delivery port communicating with the liquid reservoir chamber for delivering the liquid from the liquid container to the liquid consuming apparatus, wherein a partition wall for closing the liquid injection passage is provided in the liquid flow passage, wherein a part of the wall surface forming the liquid reservoir chamber and a part of a wall surface forming the liquid injection passage are constructed by a flexible film, and wherein the flexible film is provided over a top surface of the partition wall but is not attached to the top surface of the partition wall;
a liquid injection step of injecting the liquid from the liquid injection port into the liquid injection passage so that the liquid flows into the inside of the liquid reservoir chamber through a clearance formed between the top surface of the partition wall and the flexible film; and a passage closing step of closing a flow passage of the liquid by attaching the flexible film onto the top surface of the partition wall after the injection of the liquid into the inside of the liquid reservoir chamber is complete.
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, and 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.
a fluid discharge step after the case member providing step is complete and before the liquid injection step starts, wherein in the fluid discharge step, the liquid injection port is closed, and fluid inside the liquid reservoir chamber and the liquid injection passage is discharged from the liquid delivery port.
a liquid injection port for injecting the liquid into an inside of the case member, a liquid injection passage communicating the liquid injection port with the liquid reservoir chamber, and a liquid delivery port communicating with the liquid reservoir chamber for delivering the liquid from the liquid container to the liquid consuming apparatus, wherein:
a partition wall for closing the liquid injection passage is provided in the liquid flow passage;
a part of the wall surface forming the liquid reservoir chamber and a part of a wall surface forming the liquid injection passage are constructed by a flexible film;
in a state in which the flexible film is not attached to the top surface of the partition wall, the liquid is injected from the liquid injection port into the liquid injection passage so that the liquid flows into the inside of the liquid reservoir chamber through a clearance formed between the top surface of the partition wall and the flexible film; and a flow passage of the liquid is closed by attaching the flexible film onto the top surface of the partition wall after the injection of the liquid into the inside of the liquid reservoir chamber is complete.
CA2745944A 2003-03-26 2004-03-25 Liquid container Expired - Fee Related CA2745944C (en)
JP2003085097 2003-03-26
JP2003-085097 2003-03-26
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JP2003160815A JP4129741B2 (en) 2003-06-05 2003-06-05 Liquid container
JP2003160836A JP4131199B2 (en) 2003-06-05 2003-06-05 Liquid container
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JP2003190527A JP4129742B2 (en) 2003-07-02 2003-07-02 Liquid container and manufacturing method thereof
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JP2003198631A JP4103705B2 (en) 2003-07-17 2003-07-17 Liquid container
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CA2745944A1 CA2745944A1 (en) 2004-09-26
CA2745944C true CA2745944C (en) 2012-07-31
ID=32831275
CA 2461959 Expired - Fee Related CA2461959C (en) 2003-03-26 2004-03-25 Liquid container
CA2745944A Expired - Fee Related CA2745944C (en) 2003-03-26 2004-03-25 Liquid container
US (2) US7404628B2 (en)
EP (1) EP1462263B1 (en)
KR (1) KR101088947B1 (en)
CN (2) CN1532063B (en)
AT (1) AT547251T (en)
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SG (4) SG2011097557A (en)
TW (1) TWI327526B (en)
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2004-03-25 CA CA 2461959 patent/CA2461959C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
2004-03-25 CA CA2745944A patent/CA2745944C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
2004-03-26 US US10/811,470 patent/US7404628B2/en active Active
2004-03-26 SG SG2011097557A patent/SG2011097557A/en unknown
2004-03-26 EP EP20040007410 patent/EP1462263B1/en active Active
2004-03-26 TW TW93108560A patent/TWI327526B/en not_active IP Right Cessation
2004-03-26 CN CN 201010112822 patent/CN101797844B/en active IP Right Grant
2004-03-26 CN CN 200410029648 patent/CN1532063B/en active IP Right Grant
2004-03-26 AT AT04007410T patent/AT547251T/en unknown
2004-03-26 AU AU2004201278A patent/AU2004201278A1/en not_active Abandoned
2004-03-26 SG SG2011097540A patent/SG2011097540A/en unknown
2004-03-26 SG SG200401664-8A patent/SG148011A1/en unknown
2004-03-26 KR KR20040020743A patent/KR101088947B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
2004-03-26 SG SG2008022576A patent/SG185823A1/en unknown
2004-12-30 HK HK04110350A patent/HK1067340A1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
2008-07-14 US US12/172,814 patent/US7997703B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
CA2461959A1 (en) 2004-09-26
CA2461959C (en) 2012-07-24
EP1462263B1 (en) 2012-02-29
EP1462263A2 (en) 2004-09-29
CN101797844A (en) 2010-08-11
KR20040085026A (en) 2004-10-07
CA2745944A1 (en) 2004-09-26
CN1532063B (en) 2010-05-26
TWI327526B (en) 2010-07-21
EP1462263A3 (en) 2006-04-26
SG148011A1 (en) 2008-12-31
AT547251T (en) 2012-03-15
SG185823A1 (en) 2012-12-28
SG2011097557A (en) 2014-06-27
US20080273048A1 (en) 2008-11-06
US20040252146A1 (en) 2004-12-16
CN101797844B (en) 2013-08-14
SG2011097540A (en) 2014-06-27
US7404628B2 (en) 2008-07-29
TW200508040A (en) 2005-03-01
AU2004201278A1 (en) 2004-10-14
US7997703B2 (en) 2011-08-16
KR101088947B1 (en) 2011-12-01
CN1532063A (en) 2004-09-29
HK1067340A1 (en) 2012-10-05
CN100341707C (en) 2007-10-10 Liquid container
2014-05-07 MKLA Lapsed