Patent Description:
In the related art, as an example of an ink ejecting apparatus, an inkjet printer capable of performing a print with ink on a printing medium such as printing paper by ejecting the ink from a print head toward the printing medium is known. Such an inkjet printer is an ink replenishment type printer that is used by replenishing ink in an ink tank. <CIT> discloses an ink replenishment container used for replenishing ink to an ink tank having an ink replenishment type.

The ink replenishment container in <CIT> has room for improvement from the viewpoint of quickly replenishing a liquid or facilitating the manufacture or maintenance of the ink replenishment container. An ink replenishment container having a configuration in which at least one of these improvements is improved is desired.

<CIT> discloses a liquid storage bottle that stores a liquid with which a liquid tank is replenished, has a bottle body and a discharge port that discharges a liquid stored in the bottle body, and has a discharge nozzle in which a liquid injection tube of the liquid tank can be inserted via the discharge port and an annular fixed seal member that is provided to the discharge port and seals a part between the discharge port and the liquid injection tube inserted in the discharge port. The fixed seal member has a plurality of annular seal portions that are arranged apart from each other in the axis direction of a discharge nozzle and are individually in contact with the liquid injection tube inserted in the discharge port. <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> are also relevant.

According to the invention, there is provided an ink replenishment container as defined in claim <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a printer <NUM> according to a first embodiment. The printer <NUM> is an ink jet printer that ejects ink onto a printing medium for printing. In <FIG>, XYZ axes orthogonal to each other are drawn. The X-axis corresponds to a width direction of the printer <NUM>, the Y-axis corresponds to a depth direction of the printer <NUM>, and the Z-axis corresponds to a height direction of the printer <NUM>. The printer <NUM> is installed on a horizontal installation surface defined by the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. The "X-axis direction" means a concept in which a +X direction and a -X direction are combined. In the same manner, the "Y-axis direction" means a concept in which a +Y direction and a -Y direction are combined, and the "Z-axis direction" means a concept in which a +Z direction and a -Z direction are combined.

The printer <NUM> has a housing <NUM>. Inside the housing <NUM>, a carriage (not illustrated) that can move in a main scanning direction (X-axis direction) is provided. The carriage is provided with a print head that ejects ink onto a printing medium. An ink tank accommodating unit <NUM> accommodating a plurality of ink tanks <NUM> and <NUM> is provided at one end of a front surface of the housing <NUM>. The ink tank accommodating unit <NUM> has a lid <NUM> that can be opened and closed at a top portion of the ink tank accommodating unit <NUM>. The ink tank <NUM> is a small-capacity tank, and the ink tank <NUM> is a large-capacity tank. Meanwhile, in the following description, the ink tank <NUM> and the ink tank <NUM> are simply referred to as an "ink tank <NUM>" without distinction. Each ink tank <NUM> is coupled to a print head of the carriage by a tube (not illustrated). That is, the ink tank <NUM> is a stationary ink tank that is not mounted on the carriage of the printer <NUM>. Further, each ink tank <NUM> is an ink replenishment type ink tank to which ink is replenished from an ink replenishment container when the remaining amount of ink is low. In the present embodiment, the ink tank <NUM> is a stationary ink tank, and the ink tank <NUM> may be mounted on the carriage of the printer <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a state in which ink is replenished to the ink tank <NUM> by using an ink replenishment container <NUM>. A front surface of each ink tank <NUM> is formed of a transparent member, and the remaining amount of ink in each ink tank <NUM> can be visually recognized from an outside. When the remaining amount of ink is low, as illustrated in <FIG>, it is possible to open the lid <NUM> and replenish ink from an ink inlet flow path member <NUM> of the ink tank <NUM>.

On an upper surface of each ink tank <NUM>, the tubular ink inlet flow path member <NUM> for replenishing ink to the ink tank <NUM> is provided. The ink tank accommodating unit <NUM> includes a sealing cap member <NUM> having a sealing cap <NUM> for sealing a tip of the ink inlet flow path member <NUM>. In a state in which ink is not replenished into the ink tank <NUM>, the tip of the ink inlet flow path member <NUM> is sealed with the sealing cap <NUM> of the sealing cap member <NUM>. When the ink is replenished into the ink tank <NUM>, the sealing cap member <NUM> is separated from the ink inlet flow path member <NUM>, and a tip portion of the ink replenishment container <NUM> is inserted at a position of the ink inlet flow path member <NUM> to replenish the ink. Two recess portions <NUM> that fit with a fitting portion (described below) of the ink replenishment container <NUM> are provided around the ink inlet flow path member <NUM>. These recess portions <NUM> have a rotationally symmetric shape of <NUM> degrees based on the ink inlet flow path member <NUM>.

In the present specification, the term "ink replenishment" means an operation of supplying ink to the ink tank <NUM> so as to increase the remaining amount of ink. Meanwhile, it is not necessary to fill-up the ink tank <NUM> with ink by "ink replenishment". Further, "ink replenishment" includes an operation of filling the empty ink tank <NUM> with ink when the printer <NUM> is used for the first time.

<FIG> is an exploded perspective view of the ink replenishment container <NUM> according to the first embodiment. The ink replenishment container <NUM> has a container main body <NUM> capable of accommodating ink, an ink outlet forming portion <NUM> that forms an ink outlet <NUM>, an outlet valve unit <NUM>, and a cap <NUM> attached to the ink outlet forming portion <NUM>. An upper end side of the ink replenishment container <NUM>, which is a cap <NUM> side, is referred to as a "tip side", and a lower end side of the ink replenishment container <NUM>, which is a container main body <NUM> side, is referred to as a "rear end side". The container main body <NUM> is a hollow cylindrical container having an opening on the tip side. An external screw <NUM> for mounting the ink outlet forming portion <NUM> is provided at a small-diameter portion at a tip of the container main body <NUM>.

The ink outlet <NUM> is provided at a tip of the ink outlet forming portion <NUM>. The ink outlet forming portion <NUM> is used by being coupled to the container main body <NUM>. The ink outlet forming portion <NUM> includes a tubular portion <NUM> having the ink outlet <NUM>. The outlet valve unit <NUM> is mounted in the tubular portion <NUM>. Therefore, the outlet valve unit <NUM> can be regarded as a member constituting a part of the ink outlet forming portion <NUM>. At a time of ink replenishment to the ink tank <NUM>, the ink inlet flow path member <NUM> (<FIG>) of the ink tank <NUM> is inserted into the ink outlet <NUM>.

The outlet valve unit <NUM> is configured to seal the ink outlet <NUM> so that ink does not leak to the outside in a non-replenishment state in which the ink is not replenished into the ink tank <NUM>, and is configured to release the sealing so that the ink flows into the ink inlet flow path member <NUM> in a replenishment state in which the ink is replenished into the ink tank <NUM>.

<FIG> is a first perspective view of the outlet valve unit <NUM>. <FIG> is a second perspective view of the outlet valve unit <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates a state in which the ink inlet flow path member <NUM> is inserted into the outlet valve unit <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the outlet valve unit <NUM> includes a valve housing <NUM>, a sealing member <NUM>, a valve body <NUM>, and a spring member <NUM>. In the present disclosure, a direction parallel to a central axis C of the ink replenishment container <NUM> is referred to as an "axial direction", and a direction outward from the central axis C is referred to as a "diameter direction".

The valve housing <NUM> accommodates the spring member <NUM>, the sealing member <NUM>, and the valve body <NUM> inside. The valve housing <NUM> has a substantially cylindrical shape in which a tip in the axial direction is open and the other end is closed. The ink inlet flow path member <NUM> can be inserted and removed through an opening at the tip of the valve housing <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the valve housing <NUM> has a retaining portion 517A of the sealing member <NUM> and an engaging portion 517B with the tubular portion <NUM>, on the tip side. Therefore, the outlet valve unit <NUM> is integrated in a state of being assembled with the tubular portion <NUM>. In addition, since the outlet valve unit <NUM> is detachable by itself, it is easy to manufacture or handle the outlet valve unit <NUM>, and the outlet valve unit <NUM> can be transported by itself, and the outlet valve unit <NUM> can be replaced when the ink replenishment container <NUM> is reused. The valve housing <NUM> is mounted so as to provide a gap with the tubular portion <NUM> in a diameter direction, in the tubular portion <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the valve housing <NUM> has a total of four through-holes Ho penetrating in a direction intersecting the axial direction. The through-hole Ho communicates with the gap in the diameter direction between the valve housing <NUM> and the tubular portion <NUM>. The through-hole Ho is formed so as to extend in the axial direction.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the spring member <NUM> is housed inside the valve housing <NUM>. The spring member <NUM> is housed on the rear end side in the axial direction in the valve housing <NUM>, and is supported by the valve housing <NUM>. The spring member <NUM> can be made of metal, for example. In the present embodiment, the spring member <NUM> is a coil spring.

The sealing member <NUM> is mounted inside the valve housing <NUM>. The sealing member <NUM> is located on the tip side of the ink outlet <NUM> than the spring member <NUM> in the axial direction. The sealing member <NUM> has a substantially ring-shaped shape. The sealing member <NUM> can be formed of, for example, a rubber member (elastomer) having elasticity. The sealing member <NUM> has an opening through which the ink inlet flow path member <NUM> can be inserted and removed.

The valve body <NUM> is movably mounted inside the valve housing <NUM> in the axial direction. The valve body <NUM> has a cylindrical portion <NUM> and a projection portion <NUM>. The valve body <NUM> has a configuration in which the projection portion <NUM> is disposed on an end surface of the cylindrical portion <NUM>, which is a substantially cylindrical member. The cylindrical portion <NUM> faces an inner surface of the valve housing <NUM>. The cylindrical portion <NUM> is configured to be slidable by being guided by the inner surface of the valve housing <NUM>. Therefore, an opening and closing operation of the valve body <NUM> is appropriately performed. A valve open state and a valve close state of the valve body <NUM> will be described below. The valve body <NUM> can be formed of, for example, a thermoplastic resin such as polyethylene or polypropylene. As illustrated in <FIG>, the projection portion <NUM> of the valve body <NUM> has a partition contact portion 526A having a circular end surface that can come into contact with a partition wall <NUM>, which will be described below, of the ink inlet flow path member <NUM>. The projection portion <NUM> is formed such that a cross-sectional area in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the axial direction on the rear end side is larger than the cross-sectional area on the tip side having the partition contact portion 526A in the axial direction. The partition contact portion 526A has a circular end surface, and is not limited to the circular end surface, and may have an end surface having any shape such as an elliptical end surface as long as the operation and effect of the present disclosure are achieved.

The valve body <NUM> may be in the "valve close state" and the "valve open state". Specifically, the valve body <NUM> is urged toward the sealing member <NUM> by the spring member <NUM>. When the cylindrical portion <NUM> comes into contact with the sealing member <NUM> with such urging, the valve body <NUM> is in the "valve close state". In this "valve close state", the cylindrical portion <NUM> comes into contact with the sealing member <NUM>, so that an opening in the axial direction is closed. Further, the valve body <NUM> is pressed by the ink inlet flow path member <NUM> in a direction opposite to an urging direction of the spring member <NUM>. When the cylindrical portion <NUM> is separated from the sealing member <NUM> by such pressing, the valve body <NUM> is in the "valve open state". In this "valve open state", the cylindrical portion <NUM> is separated from the sealing member <NUM>, so that the opening is formed in the axial direction.

The components of the ink replenishment container <NUM> other than the outlet valve unit <NUM> can be formed of, for example, a thermoplastic resin such as polyethylene or polypropylene.

As illustrated in <FIG>, two fitting portions <NUM> are provided around the ink outlet <NUM>. These fitting portions <NUM> are positioning members that position the ink replenishment container <NUM> by being fit into the recess portions <NUM> (<FIG>) provided around the ink inlet flow path member <NUM> of the ink tank <NUM>. The positioning is, for example, at least one of a function that the ink replenishment container <NUM> for replenishing yellow ink is fitted into the recess portion <NUM> corresponding to the ink tank <NUM> accommodating yellow ink and the ink replenishment container <NUM> for replenishing ink of other colors such as magenta ink and cyan ink is not fitted into the recess portion <NUM> to prevent ink from being erroneously filled and a function of stabilizing an ink filling posture of the ink replenishment container as described below. The function of preventing ink from being erroneously filled is not limited to the color of the ink, and is, for example, a function to prevent dye ink and pigment ink from being erroneously filled, for black ink. In the first embodiment, the two fitting portions <NUM> have a rotationally symmetric shape of <NUM> degrees based on a central axis C of the ink replenishment container <NUM>. In the same manner, the recess portion <NUM> provided around the ink inlet flow path member <NUM> of the ink tank <NUM> has a rotationally symmetric shape of <NUM> degrees based on the ink inlet flow path member <NUM>. At the time of ink replenishment, the fitting portion <NUM> of the ink replenishment container <NUM> is fitted into the recess portion <NUM> around the ink inlet flow path member <NUM> of the ink tank <NUM>, so that an orientation of the ink replenishment container <NUM> is limited to two orientations, which are rotationally symmetric by <NUM> degrees. As a result, it is possible to maintain the ink replenishment container <NUM> in a stable posture during ink replenishment. Meanwhile, the fitting portion <NUM> can be omitted.

<FIG> is a front view of the ink replenishment container <NUM> in a normal placement state, and <FIG> is a plan view of the ink replenishment container <NUM> in the normal placement state. The "normal placement state of the ink replenishment container <NUM>" means a state in which a bottom of the container main body <NUM> is placed to face down on a horizontal surface such as a desk. As illustrated in <FIG> described above, ink is replenished to the ink tank <NUM> in an inverted posture with the tip side of the ink replenishment container <NUM> facing downward. <FIG> illustrate a state in which the cap <NUM> is separated.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the ink tank <NUM> according to the first embodiment. The ink inlet flow path member <NUM> of the ink tank <NUM> projects upward from the ink tank <NUM>. The ink inlet flow path member <NUM> has two flow paths <NUM> and <NUM>. The two flow paths <NUM> and <NUM> are divided by the partition wall <NUM>. In the first embodiment, a tip surface of the ink inlet flow path member <NUM> is flat, and the two flow paths <NUM> and <NUM> are opened at the tip surface of the ink inlet flow path member <NUM>, respectively. Further, a part of the tip surface of the ink inlet flow path member <NUM> corresponds to an end portion of the partition wall <NUM>. At a time of ink replenishment, the fitting portion <NUM> of the ink replenishment container <NUM> is fitted into the recess portion <NUM> around the ink inlet flow path member <NUM> of the ink tank <NUM>, and the ink replenishment container <NUM> is positioned in a circumferential direction. Therefore, the two flow paths <NUM> and <NUM> communicate with two in-tank flow paths <NUM> and <NUM> projecting into a lower ink storage chamber <NUM>, respectively. Lower ends of these in-tank flow paths <NUM> and <NUM> extend below a ceiling wall of the ink storage chamber <NUM>. The reason is that when ink is replenished from the ink replenishment container <NUM> to the ink tank <NUM>, the air-liquid exchange is stopped when a liquid level in the ink storage chamber <NUM> reaches the lower ends of the in-tank flow paths <NUM> and <NUM>, and the ink replenishment is accordingly stopped, so that the replenishment work of the ink is easy.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view illustrating a replenishment state in which ink is replenished from the ink replenishment container <NUM> to the ink tank <NUM>. In this replenishment state, the ink replenishment container <NUM> has an inverted posture, and a direction on the tip side of the ink replenishment container <NUM> is a tip side direction D1. The tubular portion <NUM> has a flange portion Fr extending in the radial direction of the ink outlet <NUM> that can come into contact with a tip of the outlet valve unit <NUM> in the axial direction, an engagement projection Kt extending from the flange portion Fr toward the inside of the tubular portion <NUM> in the axial direction, and an annular projection portion Co that can be engaged with an annular projection portion Co2 which is an engaging portion provided at the outer periphery of the outlet valve unit <NUM>. Here, the engagement projection Kt and the annular projection portion Co form a tubular portion side engaging portion. In <FIG>, only a part of each of the ink replenishment container <NUM> and the ink tank <NUM> is illustrated. An engaging portion between the annular projection portion Co2 and the annular projection portion Co, and an engaging portion between the engagement projection Kt and a tip of the sealing member <NUM>, particularly the latter engaging portion, also has an ink leakage sealing function.

The ink inlet flow path member <NUM> of the ink tank <NUM> is inserted into the tubular flow path portion <NUM> via the opening of the sealing member <NUM>. A flow path (also referred to as "replenishment flow path") on the inner peripheral surface side of the tubular portion <NUM> than a center of the tubular flow path portion <NUM> in the radial direction is divided into two replenishment flow paths <NUM> and <NUM> formed in a gap between the valve housing <NUM> and an inner peripheral surface of the tubular portion <NUM>. The gap forming the replenishment flow paths <NUM> and <NUM> also includes a gap via the through-hole Ho between the valve body <NUM> and the spring member <NUM> accommodated in the valve housing <NUM> and the inner peripheral surface of the tubular portion <NUM>. Therefore, the gap can be said to be a gap via the through-hole Ho between the outlet valve unit <NUM> and the inner peripheral surface of the tubular portion <NUM>. Further, as will be described below, in the ink replenishment state, one of the two replenishment flow paths <NUM> and <NUM> is used as a flow path of ink, and the other is used as a flow path of air. As a result, the ink replenishment container <NUM> can replenish the ink while the air-liquid exchange is performed with the ink tank <NUM>. When the ink replenishment is performed by using the air-liquid exchange, it is not necessary to squeeze the container main body <NUM>. As described above, a type of ink replenishment container capable of ink replenishment without squeezing the container main body <NUM> is also referred to as a "non-squeeze type". The flow path of the tubular flow path portion <NUM> does not need to be divided into the two replenishment flow paths <NUM> and <NUM> via the flow paths <NUM> and <NUM> of the ink inlet flow path member <NUM> and the through-holes Ho of the valve housing <NUM>, and may be formed as one replenishment flow path. Further, the flow path of the tubular flow path portion <NUM> may be divided into three or more replenishment flow paths.

The outlet valve unit <NUM> is configured such that in the replenishment state, the replenishment flow paths <NUM> and <NUM> on the inner peripheral surface side of the tubular portion <NUM> than the center of the tubular flow path portion <NUM> in the radial direction communicate with the two flow paths <NUM> and <NUM> of the ink inlet flow path member <NUM>. In order for the air and liquid to flow in and out through communication with the replenishment flow paths <NUM> and <NUM> and the two flow paths <NUM> and <NUM>, it is necessary to be in the "valve open state" so that the air and liquid can be passed through the through-hole Ho.

The projection portion <NUM> of the valve body <NUM> is provided at a position facing the partition wall <NUM> of the ink inlet flow path member <NUM> in the axial direction. In the replenishment state, the projection portion <NUM> of the valve body <NUM> is pushed by the ink inlet flow path member <NUM> and retracts toward the container main body <NUM> side, and the two flow paths <NUM> and <NUM> of the ink inlet flow path member <NUM> respectively communicate with the replenishment flow paths <NUM> and <NUM> on the inner peripheral surface side of the tubular portion <NUM> than the center of the tubular flow path portion <NUM> in the radial direction through the through-hole Ho. Such a state is the "valve open state" described above. As a result, it is allowed that ink in the container main body <NUM> flows into the ink inlet flow path member <NUM> via the replenishment flow paths <NUM> and <NUM>. In <FIG>, solid arrows indicate a flow of the ink, and dashed arrows indicate a flow of the air. As described above, in the replenishment state, the two flow paths <NUM> and <NUM> of the ink inlet flow path member <NUM> and the two replenishment flow paths <NUM> and <NUM> of the tubular flow path portion <NUM> are used to efficiently replenish ink from the ink replenishment container <NUM> to the ink tank <NUM> while performing the air-liquid exchange. In order to smoothly perform this air-liquid exchange, it is preferable that the replenishment flow path of the tubular flow path portion <NUM> is divided into a plurality of replenishment flow paths. The same applies to an ink inlet flow path of the ink inlet flow path member <NUM>. In this case, in the replenishment state, it is preferable that one or more of a plurality of replenishment flow paths communicate with one or more of a plurality of ink inlet flow paths, and the other one or more of the plurality of replenishment flow paths communicate with the other one or more of the plurality of ink inlet flow paths.

As described above, the projection portion <NUM> is formed such that a cross-sectional area in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the axial direction on the rear end side is larger than the cross-sectional area on the tip side having the partition contact portion 526A in the axial direction. Therefore, since the cross-sectional area on a side in contact with the partition wall <NUM> is smaller than the cross-sectional area on a rear end side, it is difficult to obstruct the inflow of the ink and the outflow of the air through a plurality of flow paths, and it is possible to smoothly perform the air-liquid exchange. Further, since the rear end side becomes thicker, a strength when the projection portion <NUM> of the valve body <NUM> comes into contact with the partition wall <NUM> can be maintained, and the partition function can be appropriately maintained.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the projection portion <NUM> of the valve body <NUM> has an inclined surface 526B enlarged from the tip side to the rear end side. Therefore, since the gas and the liquid flow along the inclined surface 526B, mutual interference is reduced, so the liquid can be quickly replenished by smoothly performing the air-liquid exchange.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, a center portion of the valve housing <NUM> on the rear end side is closed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent interference between the air and the liquid, smoothly perform the air-liquid exchange, and quickly replenish the ink.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the ink replenishment container <NUM> when the cap <NUM> is closed. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the ink replenishment container <NUM> in the middle of opening the cap <NUM>. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the ink replenishment container <NUM> when the cap <NUM> is fully opened. An arrow in the ink replenishment container <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> indicates a flow when the atmosphere is open. As illustrated in <FIG>, the cap <NUM> has a projection <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, in a state in which the cap <NUM> is closed, the projection <NUM> presses the valve body <NUM> toward the rear end side in the axial direction, so the valve open state is obtained. Therefore, the through-hole Ho is generated, and the through-hole Ho and each of the replenishment flow paths <NUM> and <NUM> communicate with each other. Since the cap <NUM> is closed, the atmosphere is not open. Meanwhile, the replenishment flow paths <NUM> and <NUM> communicate with the inside of the sealing member <NUM> in the diameter direction, via the through-hole Ho. As illustrated in <FIG>, the valve body <NUM> moves toward the tip side in the axial direction and a length of the through-hole Ho in the axial direction is shortened, and when the cap is opened, the atmosphere is opened and an internal pressure is lowered. As illustrated in <FIG>, the valve body <NUM> further moves in the tip side direction D1 and the through-hole Ho is closed, so the valve close state is obtained. Therefore, even when the cap <NUM> is fully opened, the ink does not leak. By providing the cap <NUM>, when the internal pressure of the ink replenishment container <NUM> is increased by a change in temperature or atmospheric pressure, the internal pressure is released when the opening of the cap <NUM> from the closed state, so that the ink jet can be prevented.

With the first embodiment described above, air rises from one of a plurality of partitioned flow paths of the ink inlet flow path member <NUM>, passes through the through-hole Ho of the valve housing <NUM>, and enters the container main body <NUM> through a gap between the tubular portion <NUM> and the valve housing <NUM>. On the other hand, ink in the container main body <NUM> passes through the through-hole Ho through the gap and flows into the other one of the plurality of flow paths. Therefore, the air and the liquid are more appropriately separated and the liquid can be quickly replenished by smooth air-liquid exchange, as compared with a configuration in which the air and the liquid pass through the valve housing <NUM>.

In the first embodiment, in the replenishment state, the projection portion <NUM> of the valve body <NUM> comes into contact with the partition wall <NUM> of the ink inlet flow path member <NUM>, so that the sealing member <NUM> and the valve body <NUM> are separated from each other, and the gap of the sealing member <NUM> and the valve body <NUM> communicates with the through-hole Ho of the valve housing <NUM>. The replenishment flow paths <NUM> and <NUM>, which are formed as a gap between the valve housing <NUM> and the inner peripheral surface of the tubular portion <NUM> in the tubular flow path portion <NUM> via the through-hole Ho, are configured to communicate with the flow paths <NUM> and <NUM> of the ink inlet flow path member <NUM>. In this manner, by providing the projection portion <NUM> at a tip of the valve body <NUM> and providing the through-hole Ho in the valve housing <NUM>, in the valve open state in which the projection portion <NUM> comes into contact with the partition wall <NUM> of the ink inlet flow path member <NUM>, it is possible to easily realize an inter-flow-path communication state in which the flow paths <NUM> and <NUM> communicate with the through-hole Ho through the gap between the sealing member <NUM> and a tip of the cylindrical portion <NUM> of the valve body <NUM>, and further communicate with the replenishment flow paths <NUM> and <NUM> formed as the gap between the valve housing <NUM> and the inner peripheral surface of the tubular portion <NUM>.

Further, in the replenishment state, the sealing member <NUM> is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the ink inlet flow path member <NUM>, and seals an outer peripheral surface of the ink inlet flow path member <NUM>. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the ink from leaking to the outside, and it is possible to improve sealing performance for the outer peripheral surface of the ink inlet flow path member <NUM>.

In addition, since in the projection portion <NUM> of the valve body <NUM>, the cross-sectional area on a side in contact with the partition wall <NUM> is smaller than the cross-sectional area on a rear end side, it is difficult to obstruct the inflow of the ink and the outflow of the air through the plurality of flow paths, and it is possible to smoothly perform the air-liquid exchange. Further, since the rear end side becomes thicker, a strength when the projection portion <NUM> of the valve body <NUM> comes into contact with the partition wall <NUM> can be maintained, and the partition function can be appropriately maintained.

Further, since the gas and the liquid flow along the inclined surface 526B of the projection portion <NUM>, mutual interference is reduced, so the liquid can be quickly replenished by smoothly performing the air-liquid exchange.

Further, since the rear end side of the valve housing <NUM> is closed, interference between air and liquid can be prevented, air-liquid exchange can be smoothly performed, and the ink can be quickly replenished.

Further, the valve body <NUM> has the cylindrical portion <NUM> facing the inner surface of the valve housing <NUM>. The cylindrical portion <NUM> is configured to be slidable by being guided by the inner surface of the valve housing <NUM>. Therefore, an opening and closing operation of the valve body <NUM> is appropriately performed.

Further, the cap <NUM> capable of covering the ink outlet <NUM> is provided, and the cap <NUM> has the projection <NUM> that presses the valve body <NUM> in a state in which the cap <NUM> closed to obtain the valve open state. Therefore, when the internal pressure of the ink replenishment container <NUM> is increased by a change in temperature or atmospheric pressure, the internal pressure is released when the opening of the cap <NUM> from the closed state, so that the ink jet can be prevented.

Further, the valve housing <NUM> has the retaining portion 517A of the sealing member <NUM> on the tip side and the engaging portion 517B with the tubular portion <NUM>, and is detachably configured in the tubular portion <NUM>. Therefore, the outlet valve unit <NUM> is integrated in a state of being assembled with the tubular portion <NUM>. In addition, since the outlet valve unit <NUM> is detachable by itself, it is easy to manufacture or handle the outlet valve unit <NUM>, and the outlet valve unit <NUM> can be transported by itself, and the outlet valve unit <NUM> can be replaced when the ink replenishment container <NUM> is reused. Further, since the sealing member <NUM> is suppressed from falling off, the sealing member <NUM> can be reliably accommodated in the valve housing <NUM>, and a positional relationship with the valve body is appropriately maintained. Further, since a separate stopper member may not be mounted, it is possible to suppress an increase in components or an increase in manufacturing steps.

The "partition wall <NUM>" in the first embodiment corresponds to the "partition" of the present disclosure.

In the first embodiment described above, the ink replenishment container <NUM> includes the outlet valve unit <NUM>, which is a spring valve unit including the spring member <NUM> housed in the valve housing <NUM> of the tubular portion <NUM>, and the present disclosure is not limited to this. The ink replenishment container <NUM> may include an outlet valve unit provided with a slit valve, instead of the outlet valve unit <NUM>, which is a spring valve unit. The ink replenishment container <NUM> may be configured such that an outlet valve unit having an engaging portion capable of engaging with each of the engagement projection Kt of the tubular portion <NUM> and the annular projection portion Co, which is an outlet valve unit provided with a slit valve having a slit through which the ink inlet flow path member <NUM> can be inserted and removed in the diameter direction of the valve body <NUM>, can be replaced with the spring valve unit. Therefore, when the supply of the outlet valve unit becomes insufficient, the outlet valve unit can be replaced with the slit valve unit, the other parts of the ink outlet forming portion <NUM> are commonized, and manufacturing or maintenance is facilitated. Further, when the ink replenishment container <NUM> is reused, it is possible to easily change the spring valve unit to be detached and the slit valve unit to be attached, or the slit valve unit to be detached and the spring valve unit to be attached.

In the first embodiment described above, the ink replenishment container <NUM> includes the cap <NUM>, and the cap <NUM> may not be provided.

Claim 1:
An ink replenishment container (<NUM>) for replenishing ink into an ink tank (<NUM>) of a printer (<NUM>) via an ink inlet flow path member (<NUM>) of the ink tank, the ink inlet flow path member having a plurality of flow paths partitioned by a partition (<NUM>), the ink replenishment container comprising:
a container main body (<NUM>) configured to accommodate the ink;
an ink outlet forming portion (<NUM>) coupled to the container main body and including a tubular portion (<NUM>) having an ink outlet (<NUM>); and
an outlet valve unit (<NUM>) mounted in the tubular portion,
wherein the outlet valve unit includes
a valve housing (<NUM>) mounted to provide a gap with an inner peripheral surface of the tubular portion in the tubular portion,
a sealing member (<NUM>) mounted in the valve housing and having an opening through which the ink inlet flow path member is inserted and removed, and
a valve body (<NUM>) mounted in the valve housing to be movable in a central axis (C) direction of the ink outlet, and movable between a valve close state in which the valve body is in contact with the sealing member and a valve open state in which the valve body is pressed by the ink inlet flow path member and separated from the sealing member,
the valve body includes a partition contact portion (526A) having an end surface configured to contact with the partition (<NUM>) of the ink inlet flow path member, and
the valve housing (<NUM>) includes a through-hole (Ho) which communicates with the gap, and the through-hole communicates with the ink inlet flow path member (<NUM>) in the valve open state.