Liquid storage container

Abstract

To provide a liquid storage container for preventing foreign matter from entering a portion where a liquid is supplied to an external device, and to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society such as a decarbonization / sound material-cycle society.SOLUTION: A liquid storage container having a filling port for filling a liquid and an injection port for injecting the filled liquid into an external device, includes: a filling-port disposing surface in which the filling port is disposed; and an injection-port disposing surface which is adjacent to the filling-port disposing surface, forms a storage space of the liquid storage container together with the filling-port disposing surface, and is provided with the injection port; wherein, in a posture of the liquid storage container when the liquid is injected from the injection port into the external device, the injection port is located at a position higher than the filling port.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a liquid storage container, and more particularly to a liquid storage container that can be refilled with liquid such as ink and that stores liquid and supplies the refilled liquid to an external device. [Background technology]

[0002] An example of this type of liquid storage container is an ink tank that stores ink to be supplied to an ink ejection head in an inkjet recording device and is replenished with ink when the stored ink runs low. Another form of liquid storage container is a liquid storage bottle that stores and supplies ink to be replenished to the ink tank described above. Some of these liquid storage containers have an inlet for supplying liquid to an external device and a filling port for refilling liquid, which are provided separately from the viewpoint of user operability.

[0003] The liquid storage container described in Patent Document 1 has an injection port at the bottom of the liquid storage container for supplying liquid to an ejection head of a liquid ejection device, and a filling port at the top of the liquid storage container for refilling the liquid. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-949 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the liquid container described in Patent Document 1, the inlet for supplying liquid to another predetermined location (ejection head) is at the lowest part of the container during injection. Therefore, if foreign matter is mixed in when filling the container with liquid or if ink solidification occurs, the foreign matter may move to the lowest part of the container when the liquid is injected and then move to the predetermined location as the liquid is supplied. In this case, if the predetermined location is, for example, the ejection head, the ejection function, etc., of the ejection head may be impaired by the moved foreign matter.

[0006] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a liquid storage container that can prevent foreign matter from entering the liquid storage container when the liquid is supplied to an external device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present disclosure relates to a liquid storage container having a filling port for filling with liquid and an injection port for injecting the filled liquid into an external device, the liquid storage container comprising: a filling port arrangement surface on which the filling port is provided; and an injection port arrangement surface adjacent to the filling port arrangement surface and forming a storage space of the liquid storage container together with the filling port arrangement surface, the injection port arrangement surface on which the injection port is provided, the liquid storage container being characterized in that in the attitude of the liquid storage container when injecting liquid into an external device from the injection port, the injection port is positioned at a higher position than the filling port. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present disclosure, when liquid is supplied from a liquid storage container to an external device, it is possible to prevent foreign matter from entering the liquid storage container. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a liquid ejection device. [Diagram 2] 2 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of a main part of the liquid ejection device shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] 1(a) to 1(c) are diagrams illustrating a liquid storage bottle as a liquid storage container according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] 13(a) and 13(b) are diagrams illustrating a liquid storage bottle as a liquid storage container according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 5] 13(a) to 13(c) are diagrams illustrating a liquid storage bottle as a liquid storage container according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] 13(a) and 13(b) are diagrams illustrating a liquid storage bottle as a liquid storage container according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] 13(a) and 13(b) are diagrams illustrating a liquid storage bottle as a liquid storage container according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] 13(a) and 13(b) are diagrams illustrating a liquid containing bottle as a liquid containing container according to a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative positions of each component of the embodiments described below may be changed as appropriate depending on the configuration of the liquid ejection head to which the present disclosure is applied and various conditions. The scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described below.

[0011] 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a liquid ejection device 1 in which a liquid storage container according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is used as a refill container. The liquid ejection device 1 is a recording device that performs recording by a serial method, and includes a housing 11 and a liquid tank 12 disposed inside the housing 11. The liquid tank 12 contains ink, which is a liquid to be ejected from a recording head onto a recording medium (not shown).

[0012] Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of a main part of the liquid ejection device 1 shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 2, the liquid ejection device 1 includes a transport roller 13 for transporting a recording medium (not shown), a carriage 15 on which a recording head 14 for ejecting ink is detachably provided, and a carriage motor 16 for driving the carriage 15. The recording medium may be, for example, paper, but is not particularly limited as long as an image is formed by the liquid ejected from the recording head 14.

[0013] The transport roller 13 is driven to rotate intermittently to transport the recording medium intermittently. The carriage 15 is driven to rotate by a carriage motor 16 to move back and forth in a direction intersecting the transport direction of the recording medium by the transport roller 13. During this reciprocating scan, ink is ejected from the ejection openings of the recording head 14 on the carriage 15 onto the recording medium, and the recording medium is transported a predetermined distance, which is repeated to record an image or the like on the recording medium.

[0014] The ink is stored in the liquid tank 12, supplied to the recording head 14 via the liquid flow passage 17, and ejected from the recording head 14. In this embodiment, four colors of ink (for example, cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) are used as the liquid, and four colored liquid tanks 12a to 12d each storing an ink of each color are provided as the liquid tank 12. Each of the colored liquid tanks 12a to 12d is disposed at the front portion of the liquid ejection device 1 inside the housing 11.

[0015] In this embodiment, these liquid tanks 12a to 12d are filled and replenished with ink from the corresponding liquid containing bottles (not shown).

[0016] (First embodiment) 3(a) to (c) are diagrams illustrating a liquid storage bottle as a liquid storage container according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0017] 3(a) shows the liquid containing bottle 100 of this embodiment in a stationary state. The liquid containing bottle 100 in this stationary state has, as its outer surfaces, a top surface 112, a first side surface 114 which is a frustum-shaped inclined surface adjacent to the top surface, a second side surface 115 which forms a side surface of a cylindrical portion adjacent to the first side surface 114, and a bottom surface 116 which faces the top surface 112 and is adjacent to the second side surface 115. The top surface 112 is a surface where a filling port of the liquid containing bottle 100 is provided, and is provided with a filling port 120 which is an opening for filling and replenishing the liquid containing bottle 100 with ink.

[0018] The top surface 112 together with the first side surface 114 forms a liquid containing space of the liquid containing bottle 100 , and more specifically, the top surface 112 together with the first side surface 114 and the second side surface 115 form a liquid containing space of the liquid containing bottle 100 .

[0019] The filling port 120 can be closed with a lid 120a. The first side surface 114 is a surface where the filling port of the liquid containing bottle 100 is disposed, and is provided with a filling port 130 for refilling the liquid tank 12 described above in FIG. 1 with ink. A spout tube 130a is provided so as to connect to the filling port 130. The pouring port tube 130a is a cylindrical tube that extends outwardly almost perpendicularly to the first side surface 114, which makes it easy to pour ink into the liquid tank 12 from the filling port 130. The liquid containing bottle 100 can be reused by refilling it with ink after the ink contained therein becomes low or runs out as a result of injecting ink into the liquid tank 12.

[0020] In the first embodiment, the positional relationship between the filling port 120 and the injection port 130 is such that, in a state where the liquid containing bottle 100 is placed at rest (FIG. 3(a)), the filling port 120 is disposed on the top surface of the liquid containing bottle 100, and the injection port 130 is disposed on a first side surface 114 below the top surface, and the first side surface 114 has a tapered shape toward the filling port 120. As a result, firstly, since the injection port 130 is provided on the first side surface 114, the injection port 130 can be oriented upward from the horizontal, and ink leakage through the injection port 130 can be suppressed in a state where the liquid containing bottle 100 is placed at rest. Secondly, in a state where ink is injected into the liquid tank 12 as shown in FIG. 3(b), the filling port 120 is on the bottom surface of the liquid containing bottle 100, and the injection port 130 is above that. As a result, even if a foreign object 200 is present in the liquid containing bottle 100, the foreign object 200 will remain between the injection port 130 and the filling port 120 (indicated by the black circle 200 in Figure 3 (b)), preventing the foreign object 200 from moving to the liquid tank 12 via the injection port 130.

[0021] The position of filling port 120 when filling liquid into liquid tank 12 may be such that filling port 120 is not at the lowest surface as in the example shown in FIG. 3(c), as long as filling port 130 is above filling port 120.

[0022] In order to more reliably prevent the intrusion of foreign matter, a filter may be provided in the filling port 120 or the injection port 130. In addition, to prevent a user from confusing the injection port 130 and the filling port 120, the functions of each port may be indicated on the outer surface of the liquid containing bottle 100 in the vicinity of each port.

[0023] As described above, even if the liquid containing bottle 100 according to this embodiment has the filling port 120 in addition to the injection port 130, it is possible to reduce the risk of foreign matter being mixed into the liquid tank 12 from the injection port when filling the liquid. That is, the liquid containing bottle 100 according to this embodiment is easy to fill with liquid and reuse while ensuring operability for the user, and therefore is in a form that can promote reuse of the liquid containing bottle 100. That is, the technology described in this specification can contribute to the realization of a sustainable society such as a carbon-free / recycling-based society.

[0024] Second embodiment 4(a)-(b) are diagrams illustrating a liquid storage bottle as a liquid storage container according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. The liquid storage bottle of this embodiment has the positional relationship between filling port 120 and injection port 130 according to the above-mentioned first embodiment, and in addition, the relationship between the vertical distance between filling port 120 and injection port 130 and the opening width of injection port 130 is defined.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 4(a), the distance 27 (in the direction perpendicular to the filling port arrangement surface between the filling port and the filling port) between the top surface 112 where the filling port 120 opens and the uppermost end of the injection port 130 on the first side surface 114 is set to be equal to or larger than the opening width 28 of the injection port 130 (the diameter of the opening in this embodiment). As a result, if a foreign object 200 larger than the opening width 28 of the injection port 130 is present in the liquid-containing bottle 100, the foreign object 200 can be kept below the injection port 130 in the injection state shown in FIG. 4(b). As a result, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the large foreign object 200 blocks the injection port 130, for example, making it impossible to perform injection.

[0026] On the other hand, if the distance 27 is too large, the amount of ink remaining in the bottle 100 without being injected becomes large, which is undesirable. For this reason, in this embodiment, the distance 27 is set to 1 / 20 or more and 1 / 5 or less of the height 29 of the liquid containing bottle 100 (the distance between the top surface 112 and the surface (bottom surface 116) of the liquid containing bottle that faces the top surface 112). For example, when the height 29 of the liquid containing bottle 100 is 100 mm, the distance 27 between the injection port 130 and the filling port 120 can be set to 6 mm. As a result, a liquid containing bottle can be realized that can keep the foreign matter 200 between the injection port 130 and the filling port 120 and reduce the amount of remaining ink when ink is injected.

[0027] Third embodiment 5(a) to 5(c) are diagrams illustrating a liquid storage bottle as a liquid storage container according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. In addition to the configuration according to the first embodiment described above, the liquid storage bottle of this embodiment has a defined relationship between injection port 130, filling port 120, and the horizontal distance between injection port 130 and filling port 120, and the opening width of injection port 130.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 5(a), the distance 32 between the end of the filling port 120 closest to the inlet 130 and the end of the filling port 130 closest to the filling port 120 (the distance between the filling port and the filling port in the direction perpendicular to the direction perpendicular to the filling port arrangement surface) is set to be larger than the opening width 28 of the filling port 130. As a result, when filling / replenishing the liquid containing bottle 100 with ink through the filling port 120, if a foreign object 200 larger than the opening width 28 of the filling port 130 is present in the liquid containing bottle 100, the foreign object 200 can be kept away from the filling port 130 in the filling state shown in FIG. 5(b). As a result, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the large foreign object 200 blocks the filling port 130, for example, making it impossible to perform filling. In this embodiment, for example, when the opening width 28 is 5 mm, the shortest horizontal distance 32 between the filling port 120 and the filling port 130 is 6 mm.

[0029] (Fourth embodiment) 6(a) and (b) are diagrams illustrating a liquid-containing bottle as a liquid-containing container according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. In addition to the configuration according to the first embodiment described above, the liquid-containing bottle according to this embodiment is configured such that the angle at which the spout tube 130a extends from the inlet 130 is set. In detail, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 according to the first to third embodiments, when the liquid-containing bottle is in a stationary state, the spout tube 130a extends obliquely upward. As a result, it is possible to prevent foreign matter from entering the spout tube 130a through the inlet 130 due to the action of gravity.

[0030] In the present embodiment, when the side surface 114 is a surface perpendicular to the top surface 112 along the vertical direction, the angle of the obliquely upward direction can be represented by the angle θ1 shown in FIG. 6(a). That is, in the stationary state, the angle θ1 that the direction D1 in which the spout pipe 130a extends forms with the bottom surface 116 of the liquid-containing bottle 100 is a value in the range greater than 0° and less than 90°. Preferably, it is a value in the range greater than 70° and less than 90°. When the angle θ1 is within this range, the intrusion of foreign matter into the spout pipe 130a described above can be more effectively suppressed.

[0031] In addition, by having the spout tube 130a point upward from the horizontal in this manner, ink leakage through the injection port 130 can be suppressed, and when injecting ink into the liquid tank 12, the injection port 130 points downward from the horizontal, making it easier to inject ink into the liquid tank 12 from the injection port 130.

[0032] Fifth embodiment 7(a) and (b) are diagrams illustrating a liquid storage bottle as a liquid storage container according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure. In addition to the configuration according to the first embodiment described above, the liquid storage bottle of this embodiment is configured with a smaller area of ​​the upper surface 112 compared to the liquid storage bottles of the first to third embodiments. Accordingly, the opening area of ​​the filling port 120 is also smaller.

[0033] As a result, the volume of the space formed between the injection port 130 and the filling port 120 can be reduced, thereby suppressing the amount of ink that can remain in that space.

[0034] Sixth embodiment 8(a) and (b) are diagrams illustrating a liquid containing bottle as a liquid containing container according to a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0035] The liquid containing bottle of this embodiment has the same configuration as the first embodiment described above, but in addition, the upper surface 112 and the first side surface 114 are curved.

[0036] 8(b), when ink is injected into the liquid tank 12 from the injection port 130, any foreign matter that may be present in the liquid containing bottle 100 is concentrated and retained near the lowest position of the liquid containing bottle 100 due to gravity. This makes it possible to prevent the foreign matter from, for example, retaining and solidifying near the injection port 130.

[0037] (Other embodiments) It is clear from the above description that any combination of the first to sixth embodiments described above is included in the embodiments of the present invention as long as it is not contrary to the spirit of the present invention.

[0038] Furthermore, the shape of the liquid storage container is not limited to that of a bottle, but may be any container that has a filling port arrangement surface with a filling port and an injection port arrangement surface with an injection port, and satisfies the characteristics of each of the embodiments described above.

[0039] The present disclosure includes configurations typified by the following liquid storage container examples.

[0040] <Configuration 1> A liquid storage container having a filling port for filling the container with a liquid and an injection port for injecting the filled liquid into an external device, a filling port arrangement surface on which the filling port is provided; an injection port arrangement surface adjacent to the filling port arrangement surface and forming a liquid storage space of the liquid storage container together with the filling port arrangement surface, the injection port arrangement surface having the injection port provided thereon; Equipped with A liquid storage container, characterized in that, in a posture of the liquid storage container when filling the liquid into the external device through the filling port, the filling port is located at a higher position than the filling port.

[0041] <Configuration 2> 2. The liquid storage container according to configuration 1, wherein a distance between the injection port and the filling port in a direction perpendicular to a surface on which the filling port is disposed is greater than an opening width of the injection port.

[0042] <Configuration 3> A liquid storage container as described in configuration 2, characterized in that the distance between the injection port and the filling port in a direction perpendicular to the filling port arrangement surface is 1 / 20 or more and 1 / 5 or less of the distance between the filling port arrangement surface and a surface of the liquid storage container that faces the filling port arrangement surface.

[0043] <Configuration 4> 4. The liquid storage container according to any one of configurations 1 to 3, wherein a distance between the injection port and the filling port in a direction perpendicular to a direction perpendicular to a surface on which the filling port is disposed is greater than an opening width of the injection port.

[0044] <Component 5> A liquid storage container as described in any one of configurations 1 to 4, characterized in that the liquid storage container further comprises a spout tube connected to the injection port, and the angle that the extension direction of the spout tube makes with respect to a surface facing the filling port arrangement surface of the liquid storage container is a value in the range greater than 0° and less than 90°.

[0045] <Component 6> A liquid storage container as described in configuration 5, characterized in that the angle formed by the extension direction of the spout pipe with respect to the surface opposite the filling port arrangement surface of the liquid storage container is a value in the range of 70° or more and less than 90°.

[0046] <Component 7> 7. The liquid storage container according to any one of configurations 1 to 6, wherein the injection port arrangement surface has a shape tapered toward the filling port.

[0047] <Component 8> 8. The liquid storage container according to any one of configurations 1 to 7, wherein the filling port surface and the injection port surface are curved surfaces.

[0048] <Component 9> 9. The liquid storage container according to claim 1, wherein the liquid storage container is provided with marks indicating the injection port and the filling port. [Industrial Applicability]

[0049] The structure of the liquid storage container according to the present disclosure is applicable to liquid storage bottles or ink tanks in inkjet printers, MEMS devices, and the like. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 1 Liquid discharge device 100 Liquid bottles 112 Top surface 114 First Aspect 120 Filling port 130 Inlet

Claims

1. A liquid storage container having a filling port for filling the container with a liquid and an injection port for injecting the filled liquid into an external device, a filling port arrangement surface on which the filling port is provided; an injection port arrangement surface adjacent to the filling port arrangement surface and forming a liquid storage space of the liquid storage container together with the filling port arrangement surface, the injection port arrangement surface having the injection port provided thereon; Equipped with A liquid storage container, characterized in that, in a posture of the liquid storage container when filling the liquid into the external device through the filling port, the filling port is located at a higher position than the filling port.

2. 2. The liquid storage container according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the injection port and the filling port in a direction perpendicular to the surface on which the filling port is disposed is greater than an opening width of the injection port.

3. A liquid storage container as described in claim 2, characterized in that the distance between the injection port and the filling port in a direction perpendicular to the filling port arrangement surface is 1 / 20 or more and 1 / 5 or less of the distance between the filling port arrangement surface and a surface of the liquid storage container that faces the filling port arrangement surface.

4. 4. The liquid storage container according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the injection port and the filling port in a direction perpendicular to a direction perpendicular to the filling port arrangement surface is larger than an opening width of the injection port.

5. The liquid storage container according to claim 1, further comprising a spout tube connected to the inlet, and an angle formed by the extension direction of the spout tube with respect to a surface facing the filling port arrangement surface of the liquid storage container is in the range of greater than 0° and less than 90°.

6. 6. A liquid storage container according to claim 5, wherein the angle formed by the extension direction of the spout pipe and the surface facing the filling port surface of the liquid storage container is in the range of 70° or more and less than 90°.

7. 2. The liquid storage container according to claim 1, wherein the injection port arrangement surface is tapered toward the filling port.

8. 2. The liquid storage container according to claim 1, wherein the filling port surface and the injection port surface are curved surfaces.

9. 2. A liquid container according to claim 1, wherein the liquid container has marks indicating the injection port and the filling port.

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