Patent ID: 12257846

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the components described in the embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure to them.

First Embodiment

FIG.1is a schematic view showing a main configuration of a printing apparatus to which a liquid storage container of the present disclosure is applied. The printing apparatus is an ink jet printing apparatus for ejecting a liquid such as ink. The printing apparatus includes a holder3for holding a liquid storage container100according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, and a printing head1to which a liquid is supplied from the liquid storage container100held by the holder3via a tube2. The liquid storage container100is detachably attached to the holder3. The printing head1is mounted on a carriage, for example, and ejects the liquid toward a printing medium such as paper. The liquid consumed by the ejection is supplied to the printing head1from the liquid storage container100. In an inside of the holder3, a joint needle310and an internal flow passage31communicated with the tube2, which are described later are provided.

Next, the configuration of the liquid storage container100according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail.

FIG.2is a cross sectional view showing a configuration of the liquid storage container100.FIG.2shows a configuration of a cross section cut in the vertical direction along the longitudinal direction of the liquid storage container100. InFIG.2, the z-axis indicates a vertical direction, the x-axis and the y-axis indicate a horizontal direction, and the axes are orthogonal to each other.

Referring toFIG.2, the liquid storage container100includes a liquid reservoir part110, a liquid supply part120, and a valve unit140. The liquid reservoir part110and the liquid supply part120are integrally formed. The liquid reservoir part110reserves a liquid such as ink. The liquid supply part120supplies the liquid reserved in the liquid reservoir part110to the printing head1. A lid136is provided on an upper part of the liquid reservoir part110. The lid136is configured to be capable of accommodating a pressing portion320to be described later when the liquid storage container100is attached to the holder3.

The liquid storage container100is provided with an air communication passage147configured to communicate the liquid reservoir part110with the atmosphere. When the liquid is supplied to the printing head1, the inside of the liquid reservoir part110becomes a negative pressure state, but the internal pressure of the liquid reservoir part110is kept constant because an external air is taken into the liquid reservoir part110through the air communication passage147. The valve unit140switches between a closed state in which the air communication passage147is closed and an open state in which the air communication passage147is opened.

The configuration of each part of the liquid storage container100will be described in detail below.

(Liquid Reservoir Part)

The liquid storage container100has a partition wall144configured to separate an inside of the liquid reservoir part110and an outside of the liquid reservoir part110. The partition wall144is located at an upper region of the liquid reservoir part110. In the present embodiment, the partition wall144constitutes a lid member of the liquid reservoir part110. A liquid supply part120is provided at a bottom part111of the liquid reservoir part110. Since the bottom part111is formed to be inclined downwardly toward the liquid supply part120, the liquid can be supplied to the printing head1without remaining in the bottom part111.

(Liquid Supply Part)

Next, the configuration of the liquid supply part120will be described in detail with reference toFIGS.2,3and4.FIG.3is a view showing a state immediately before the liquid storage container100is attached to the holder3.FIG.4is a view showing a state in which the liquid storage container100is completely attached to the holder3.FIGS.3and4show cross sections at positions similar to those ofFIG.2. InFIGS.3and4, an arrow51indicates an insertion direction when the liquid storage container100is attached to the holder3. An arrow52indicates a direction along which the liquid storage container100is detached from the holder3.

The liquid supply part120has a liquid supply port124, a valve element121, a valve spring122and an annular joint seal123. The valve element121is made of a resin material. The valve spring122is made of a metal material. The joint seal123is made of an elastic member such as rubber and is attached to the liquid supply port124. The valve spring122biases the valve element121toward the joint seal123. By the biasing force of the valve spring122, the valve element121closes the liquid supply port124to which the joint seal123is attached.

When the liquid storage container100is attached to the holder3, the joint needle310is inserted into the liquid supply port124as shown inFIG.4. The joint needle310is made of a hollow member and is connected to the tube2through an internal flow passage31. The joint needle310constitutes an end of the liquid supply system on the side of the printing apparatus. When the liquid storage container100moves in the direction of the arrow51, the joint needle310moves relatively toward the valve element121in the liquid supply port124while maintaining the sealing property by closely contacting the joint seal123. The joint needle310pushes the valve element121in a direction opposite to the biasing direction of the valve spring122. By the pressing force of the joint needle310, the valve element121is moved in a direction opposite to the biasing direction of the valve spring122and separated from the liquid supply port124. Thereby, the liquid supply port124is opened, and the liquid can be supplied from the liquid storage container100to the printing head1.

When the liquid storage container100is detached from the holder3, the liquid storage container100is moved in the direction of the arrow52. The joint needle310relatively moves in the liquid supply port124in the direction opposite to the insertion direction (the same direction as the biasing direction of the valve spring122) while maintaining the sealing property by the joint seal123. As the joint needle310exits the liquid supply port124, the biasing force of the valve spring122causes the valve element121to close the liquid supply port124.

(Valve Unit and Air Communication Passage)

Next, the valve unit140and the air communication passage147will be described with reference toFIGS.2,3and4. The valve unit140has a movable support member141, a torsion coil spring142, a first seal member146and a second seal member143. The first seal member146and the second seal member143are made of an elastic member such as rubber. A partition wall144is provided with a through hole144cpenetrating the partition wall144in the first direction B (z-axis direction). Specifically, the through hole144cpenetrates from a first surface144afacing the liquid reservoir part110of the partition wall144to a second surface144b, which is a surface on the reverse side of the first surface144a. The movable support member141is inserted into the through hole144cand can move in the through hole144cin the first direction B.

One end of the movable support member141is located on a side of the liquid reservoir part110, and the other end is located outside the liquid reservoir part110. The first seal member146is disposed inside the liquid reservoir part110and is fixed to the one end of the movable support member141. The second seal member143is disposed outside the liquid reservoir part110and is fixed to the movable support member141. In other words, the first seal member146is disposed on the first surface144aside of the partition wall144, and the second seal member143is disposed on the second surface144bside of the partition wall144. The interval between the first seal member146and the second seal member143is larger than the thickness of the partition wall144. The second seal member143has an annular shape, and its inner peripheral surface is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the movable support member141. The first seal member146and the second seal member143can be fixed to the movable support member141using, for example, an adhesive.

The torsion coil spring142is an example of a biasing member for biasing the movable support member141such that the first seal member146positions at a closing position P1for closing the air communication passage147. At the closing position P1, the first seal member146can close a gap between the movable support member141and the through hole144c. When the movable support member141is moved in the direction opposite to the biasing direction of the biasing member, the first seal member146is separated from the closing position P1, and the second seal member143closes the gap between the movable support member141and the through hole144c. When the first seal member146is separated from the closing position P1, the liquid reservoir part110communicates with the atmosphere through the air communication passage147.

The air communication passage147is provided in the movable support member141. The air communication passage147has a first opening147acommunicating with an inside of the liquid reservoir part110and a second opening147bcommunicating with an outside of the liquid reservoir part110. Here, the air communication passage147is provided so as to penetrate from one end to the other end of the movable support member141. The first opening147ais formed on a side surface of one end of the movable support member141, and the second opening147bis formed on an end surface of the other end of the movable support member141. The second opening147bmay be formed on a side surface of the movable support member141. The first opening147ais located inside the liquid reservoir part110, and the second opening147bis located outside the liquid reservoir part110. In the closed state in which the first seal member146is disposed at the closing position P1, the first opening147ais accommodated in the through hole144c.

A gas-liquid separation membrane145for separating gas and liquid is provided in the first opening147aof the air communication passage147. The gas-liquid separation membrane145suppresses a leakage of the liquid stored in the liquid reservoir part110to a side of the air communication passage147even when the printing device is tilted slightly. The gas-liquid separation membrane145preferably has low flow resistance and low liquid permeability. For example, a water-repellent filter can be used for the gas-liquid separation membrane145.

The biasing mechanism will be described in detail with reference toFIGS.5A to6B.FIGS.5A and5Bare views showing a state of the biasing mechanism including the valve unit140immediately before the liquid storage container100is attached to the holder3, whereinFIG.5Ais a top view andFIG.5Bis a sectional view.FIGS.6A and6Bare views showing a state of the biasing mechanism including the valve unit140when the liquid storage container100is completely attached to the holder3, whereinFIG.6Ais a top view andFIG.6Bis a sectional view. That is,FIGS.5A and5Bshow a state in which the first seal member146is located at the closing position P1, andFIGS.6A and6Bshow a state in which the first seal member146is separated from the closing position P1.FIGS.5B and6Bshow cross sections at positions similar to those ofFIG.2. InFIGS.5A to6B, only the pressing portion320is shown as a constituent member of the holder3for convenience. The pressing portion320is configured to apply external force to the receiving part of the movable support member141to be described later when the liquid storage container100is attached to the holder3.

A male screw148ais provided on an outer peripheral surface of the movable support member141, and a female screw148bis provided on an inner peripheral surface of the through hole144c. The movable support member141is rotatable in a state where the male screw148aand the female screw148bare screwed. When the movable support member141is rotated in a first rotational direction (arrow A1), the movable support member141moves toward the inside of the liquid reservoir part110, that is, in the direction of the arrow54. When the movable support member141is rotated in a second rotational direction (arrow A2) opposite to the first rotational direction, the movable support member141moves toward the outside of the liquid reservoir part110, that is, in the direction of the arrow53.

The movable support member141has a receiving part which receives an external force. The external force moves the first seal member146from the closing position P1so that the inside of the liquid reservoir part110communicates with the outside of the liquid reservoir part110via the air communication passage147. Here, the pressing force of the pressing portion320is used as the external force. The movable support member141includes, as an external force receiving part, a pressure receiving part141adisposed outside the liquid reservoir part110and extending in a direction intersecting the rotational axis of the movable support member141. When the liquid storage container100is attached to the holder3, the pressing portion320presses the pressure receiving part141a, so that the movable support member141rotates in the first rotational direction.

The torsion coil spring142is configured to receive a torsion moment (arrow A) about the central axis of the coil. In the torsion coil spring142, a coil part is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the movable support member141, an upper end of the coil is fixed to the movable support member141, and a lower end of the coil is fixed to a spring support part149. The spring support part149is provided on the second surface144bof the partition wall144. The torsion coil spring142biases the movable support member141in the second rotational direction (arrow A2) so as to maintain the closed state in which the first seal member146is arranged at the closing position P1.

When the liquid storage container100is attached to the holder3, as shown inFIGS.6A and6B, the pressing portion320presses the pressure receiving part141aof the movable support member141, and the movable support member141rotates in the first rotational direction (arrow A1) by an angle θ1. Rotating in the first rotational direction causes the movable support member141to move in the direction of the arrow54. As a result, the first seal member146is separated from the closing position P1, and the second seal member143is brought into close contact with the second surface144bof the partition wall144to close the gap between the movable support member141and the through hole144c. In this way, the liquid storage container100is switched to an open state in which the liquid reservoir part110communicates with the atmosphere. In the switching to the open state, the torsion coil spring142receives a torsion moment corresponding to the rotation amount of the angle θ1. This torsion moment acts to rotate the movable support member141in the second rotational direction (arrow A2).

When the liquid storage container100is detached from the holder3, the pressing portion320is separated from the pressure receiving part141a, and the pressure of the pressing portion320against the pressure receiving part141ais released. When the pressing portion320is separated from the pressure receiving part141a, the movable support member141is rotated by an angle θ1 in the second rotational direction by the action of the torsional moment. Rotating in the second rotational direction causes the movable support member141to move in the direction of the arrow53. As a result, the second seal member143is separated from the second surface144bof the partition wall144, and the first seal member146is moved to the closing position P1to close the gap between the movable support member141and the through hole144c. In this way, the liquid storage container100is switched to a closed state in which the liquid reservoir part110is sealed.

In the biasing mechanism, the distance D1between the second seal member143and the first surface144aof the partition wall144corresponds to the movement amount of the movable support member141corresponding to the rotational amount of the angle θ1, and can be defined by a pitch of the screw and the angle θ1. The rotatable angle range (range of angle θ1) of the movable support member141is preferably 30°-150°, for example. Within this angle range, the open state and the closed state can be satisfactorily realized by the action of the torsional moment.

According to the liquid storage container100of the present embodiment described above, the first seal member146closes the air communication passage147in a detached state, so that the liquid reservoir part110is kept in a sealed state. Therefore, for example, even when the liquid storage container100is transported or the user picks up the liquid storage container100and tilts it, the liquid reserved in the liquid reservoir part110does not leak out of the liquid storage container100.

The first seal member146is configured so as to close the air communication passage147from the inside of the liquid reservoir part110by closely contacting with the first surface144aof the partition wall144. Therefore, even if the internal pressure of the liquid reservoir part110increases due to transportation or the like, the first seal member146is not separated from the first surface144a, and the closed state can be maintained.

Further, in the open state, since the second seal member143closes the gap between the movable support member141and the through hole144c, it is possible to suppress leakage of the liquid inside the liquid reservoir part110to the outside through the gap between the movable support member141and the through hole144c.

Second Embodiment

FIGS.7and8are cross sectional views showing the configuration of a liquid storage container100A according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG.7shows a state immediately before the liquid storage container100A is attached to the holder3.

FIG.8shows a state in which the liquid storage container100A is completely attached to the holder3.FIGS.7and8show the configuration of a cross section cut in the vertical direction along the longitudinal direction of the liquid storage container100A.

FIG.9is a view showing the state of the biasing mechanism including the valve unit140immediately before the liquid storage container100A is attached to the holder3.FIG.10is a view showing the state of the biasing mechanism including the valve unit140when the liquid storage container10A is completely attached to the holder3. That is,FIGS.7and9show a state in which the first seal member146is located at the closing position P1, andFIGS.8and10show a state in which the first seal member146is separated from the closing position P1.FIGS.9and10show cross sections at positions similar toFIGS.7and8. InFIGS.9and10, only the pressing portion320is shown as a constituent member of the holder3for convenience.

The liquid storage container100A of the present embodiment is different from the liquid storage container100of the first embodiment in that the liquid storage container100A has an air communication passage247instead of the air communication passage147. The same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and descriptions of these components are omitted here in order to avoid duplication of descriptions.

The air communication passage247is provided in the partition wall144. The air communication passage247has a first opening247acommunicating with the inside of the liquid reservoir part110and a second opening247bcommunicating with the outside of the liquid reservoir part110. Here, the air communication passage247is provided so as to penetrate from the first surface144ato the second surface144bof the partition wall144. The first opening247ais adjacent to the through hole144c. With the movable support member141disposed in the closing position P1, the first seal member146closes the first opening247a. The gas-liquid separation membrane145is provided in the first opening247a.

As shown inFIGS.7and9, in the detached state, the first seal member146is in the closing position P1. The first seal member146closes the gap between the movable support member141and the through hole144c, and closes the first opening247aof the air communication passage247. In this way, the liquid storage container100A is in the closed state with the air communication passage247closed.

As shown inFIGS.8and10, when the liquid storage container100A is attached to the holder3, the pressing portion320presses the pressure receiving part141aof the movable support member141. The movable support member141rotates in the first rotational direction and moves in the direction of the arrow54. As a result, the first seal member146is separated from the closing position P1, and the second seal member143closes the gap between the movable support member141and the through hole144c. In this manner, the liquid reservoir part110communicates with the atmosphere through the air communication passage247, and the liquid storage container100A is switched to the open state.

Similarly to the case of the first embodiment, the liquid storage container100A of the present embodiment can also prevent leakage of the liquid when the liquid storage container is removed from the printing apparatus or when the internal pressure of the liquid reservoir part110increases.

In the closed state, since the first seal member146closes the gap between the movable support member141and the through hole144c, it is possible to suppress leakage of the liquid inside the liquid reservoir part110to the outside through the gap between the movable support member141and the through hole144c.

Further, in the open state, since the second seal member143closes the gap between the movable support member141and the through hole144c, it is possible to suppress leakage of the liquid inside the liquid reservoir part110to the outside through the gap between the movable support member141and the through hole144c.

Third Embodiment

FIG.11is a cross sectional view showing the configuration of a biasing mechanism of a liquid storage container100B according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG.11shows the structure of the cross section in a position similar to that ofFIGS.5A and5B. InFIG.11, only the pressing portion320is shown as a component of the holder3for convenience.

The liquid storage container100B of the present embodiment differs from the liquid storage container100of the first embodiment in that it does not have the male screw148aand the female screw148band uses a coil spring142A instead of the torsion coil spring142. A part of a movable support member241is inserted into the through hole144cof the partition wall144. An outer peripheral surface of a movable support member241is in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the through hole144c, and the movable support member241can slide in the penetration direction (z-axis direction). The outer peripheral surface of the movable support member241and the inner peripheral surface of the through hole144chave concentric circular shapes in the x-y plane. A spring support part150for supporting an upper end of a coil spring142A is provided at an outer part of the movable support member241. The spring support part150extends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the movable support member241. The spring support part150is parallel to the second surface144bof the partition wall144and is located on an outer side (opposite to the partition wall144) of the second seal member143. In other words, the second seal member143is located between the spring support part150and the second surface144bof the partition wall144.

A lower end of the coil spring142A is in contact with the second surface144bof the partition wall144. The Coil spring142A biases the movable support member241such that the first seal member146maintains the closed state in which the first seal member146closes the air communication passage147at the closing position P1. Specifically, the coil spring142A biases the movable support member241in a direction toward the outside (arrow53). The movable support member241is provided with an air communication passage147described in the first embodiment.

The pressing portion320has a leaf spring320athat biases the movable support member241in a direction (arrow54) opposite to the biasing direction of the coil spring142A. In the present embodiment, an end of the movable support member241in contact with the leaf spring320aserves as the receiving part of the external force. Instead of the leaf spring320a, a slope acting to move the movable support member241in the direction of the arrow54may be provided in the pressing portion320.

In the liquid storage container100B of the present embodiment, the first seal member146is located in the closing position P1and the first opening147aof the air communication passage147is housed in the through hole144cin the detached state. The first seal member146closes the gap between the movable support member241and the through hole144cat the closing position P1. In this way, the liquid storage container100B becomes the closed state with the air communication passage147closed.

When the liquid storage container100B is attached to the holder3, the leaf spring320aof the pressing portion320biases the movable support member241in the direction of the arrow54. When the movable support member241moves in the direction of the arrow54, the first seal member146moves away from the closing position P1, and the second seal member143closes the gap between the movable support member241and the through hole144c. In this way, the liquid storage container100B is switched to an open state in which the liquid reservoir part110communicates with the atmosphere through the air communication passage147.

In the liquid storage container100B of the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, leakage of the liquid can be prevented when it is detached from the printing device or when the internal pressure of the liquid reservoir part110increases.

In addition, according to the liquid storage container100B of the present embodiment, the structure of the container can be made simple because it does not have a screw structure compared with the first embodiment.

The biasing mechanism of the liquid storage container100B of the present embodiment can also be applied to the liquid storage container100A of the second embodiment. In such case, in the detached state, the first seal member146closes the gap between the movable support member241and the through hole144cat the closing position P1, and closes the opening247aof the air communication passage247. As a result, the liquid storage container100A becomes a closing state with the air communication passage247closed.

On the other hand, when the liquid storage container100B is attached to the holder3, the leaf spring320aof the pressing portion320biases the movable support member241in the direction of the arrow54. When the movable support member241moves in the direction of the arrow54, the first seal member146moves away from the closing position P1, and the second seal member143closes the gap between the movable support member241and the through hole144c. With this, the liquid storage container100B is switched to the open state in which the liquid reservoir part110communicates with the atmosphere through the air communication passage247.

The above application example also exhibits the same working effect as that of the second embodiment.

According to the present disclosure, even when the liquid storage container is removed from the printing apparatus or when the internal pressure of the liquid reservoir part increases, leakage of the liquid from the liquid storage container can be prevented.

While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-169410, filed Oct. 15, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.