Liquid container and liquid consumption device

Abstract

To stabilize a replenishment amount of liquid regardless of inclination of a liquid container.SOLUTION: A liquid container is mounted in a liquid consumption device having a liquid discharge head for discharging liquid and stores liquid to be supplied to the liquid discharge head. The liquid container has a storage chamber in which liquid is stored, an injection port which is provided in an upper section of the storage chamber and is injected with liquid therein, and a discharge port which is provided to face the inside of the storage chamber and in which liquid injected from the injection port moves in a flow passage by gas-liquid exchange and is discharged. When a direction orthogonal to a height direction and a horizontal direction of the liquid consumption device is defined as a depth direction, the depth direction position of a center of the discharge port is on a center side of the storage chamber of the depth direction position of the center of the injection port.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a liquid container such as an ink tank, and more particularly to a liquid container having an inlet for refilling with liquid. [Background technology]

[0002] As an example of this type of liquid container, Patent Document 1 describes an ink tank that has an inlet for filling with ink, an ink flow path that extends vertically downward in a straight line from the inlet, an opening corresponding to the end of the ink flow path, and a storage section. In more detail, there are two ink flow paths and two openings, and as a result, ink injected from the inlet passes through the ink flow path and the openings to replenish the storage section by means of the gas-liquid exchange function. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-104163 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in Patent Document 1, the ink inlet is located at the front end of the ink tank, and the two openings are located vertically below the inlet, which causes a problem that the gas-liquid exchange function is easily affected by changes in the position of the ink tank. For example, the ink tank may tilt when the entire device in which the ink tank is mounted is tilted during ink refilling, or when the ink tank itself is slightly tilted when mounted. In this case, the liquid level position in the container changes relative to the two openings, and gas-liquid exchange via the two openings stops, making it impossible to refill the ink any further. This results in variations in the amount of ink that can be refilled depending on the inclination of the ink tank.

[0005] Therefore, the present disclosure has an object to stabilize the amount of liquid refilled regardless of the inclination of the liquid container. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One embodiment of the present invention is a liquid container that is mounted on a liquid consuming device having a liquid ejection head that ejects liquid, and contains liquid to be supplied to the liquid ejection head, the liquid container having a storage chamber in which liquid is stored, an inlet provided at the top of the storage chamber through which liquid is injected, and an outlet provided facing the interior of the storage chamber, through which liquid injected from the inlet moves through a flow path by gas-liquid exchange and is discharged, wherein when the direction perpendicular to the height direction and left-right direction of the liquid consuming device is defined as the depth direction, the depth direction position of the center of the outlet is closer to the center of the storage chamber than the depth direction position of the center of the inlet. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to stabilize the amount of liquid refilled regardless of the inclination of the liquid container. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a mechanism of an inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] (a) Perspective view of the ink tank, (b) Exploded view of the ink tank [Diagram 3] (a) Front view of the tank case, (b) Right side view of the tank case, (c) Left side view of the tank case, (d) Top view of the tank case [Figure 4] A diagram showing the state inside the ink tank when it is tilted (rotated around the X-axis) [Diagram 5] Schematic diagram showing the interior of an ink tank according to the prior art [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the interior of an ink tank according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the following embodiments are not intended to limit the invention according to the claims more than necessary. Although the following embodiments describe a number of features, not all of these features are necessarily essential to solving the problems of the present disclosure, and the features may be combined in any manner. Furthermore, in the attached drawings, the same reference numbers are used for the same or similar configurations, and duplicated descriptions may be omitted.

[0010] In this disclosure, "recording" refers to forming meaningful information such as characters and figures. In addition, "recording" refers not only to forming information, but also to forming an image, design, pattern, etc. on a recording medium, regardless of whether it is meaningful or insignificant, and regardless of whether it is visible to humans or not, or to processing the medium. "Recording" can also be called "printing" or "printing".

[0011] "Recording media" refers not only to recording paper used in general image forming devices, but also to a wide range of transportable media, including cloth, plastic film (OHP), metal plates, glass, ceramics, wood, leather, etc. "Recording media" is sometimes called "sheets."

[0012] The term "liquid" can be broadly interpreted in the same way as the definition of "recording" above, and includes ink that is applied onto a recording medium to form an image, design, pattern, etc., processing liquid that processes the surface of the recording medium, and reaction liquid that is used for special treatment of the applied ink (for example, to impart gloss), etc. Furthermore, "ink processing" refers, for example, to solidifying or insolubilizing the coloring material in the ink that is applied to the recording medium.

[0013] Hereafter, the main scanning direction axis of the carriage is defined as the X-axis, the transport direction axis of the recording medium as the Y-axis, and the normal direction axis of the surface on which the recording device is installed as the Z-axis. These axes are perpendicular to each other. The X-axis direction is called the "left-right direction (when viewed from the front of the recording device)", the Y-axis direction is called the "longitudinal direction (depth direction) (of the recording device)", and the Z-axis direction is called the "height direction (of the recording device)". Additionally, the +X direction is called the right side, the -X direction is called the left side, the +Y direction is called the front side, the -Y direction is called the rear side (deep side), the +Z direction is called the top side, and the -Z direction is called the bottom side.

[0014] [First embodiment] The inkjet recording apparatus according to this embodiment will be outlined below with reference to FIG.

[0015] The recording device 1 includes a conveying roller 2 extending in the X direction, a pinch roller 3 biased by the conveying roller 2 and driven by the conveying roller 2, a cassette 4 on which a recording medium is placed, and a platen 5 that supports the recording medium. The recording medium placed in the cassette 4 is fed by a paper feed roller (not shown) and guided between the conveying roller 2 and the pinch roller 3. The recording medium is then conveyed in the +Y direction on the platen 5 by the rotation of the conveying roller 2. Furthermore, the recording medium is guided between a discharge roller (not shown) and a spur (not shown) driven by the discharge roller. After an image is recorded on the platen 5, the recording medium is discharged outside the machine by the rotation of the discharge roller. The recording device may be called a "liquid consuming device" in consideration of the fact that it consumes liquid such as ink to record on the recording medium.

[0016] The ink tanks 6K, 6C, 6M, and 6Y (hereinafter, when they are collectively referred to or when there is no need to distinguish between them, they will be referred to as ink tanks 6. The same notation rule applies to other components.) mounted on the recording device 1 are liquid containers that contain ink. K stands for black, C for cyan, M for magenta, and Y for yellow. The ink tanks 6C, 6M, and 6Y have the same shape, while the ink tank 6K has a different size but has the same basic structure. The ink tank 6 is provided on the front side of the recording device 1, and the user can check the remaining amount of ink in the tank case 12 (see FIG. 2) in the ink tank 6 by looking at the front of the recording device 1. The ink tanks may also be called "liquid tanks" or "liquid containers" considering that they contain liquid such as ink.

[0017] When the remaining ink level becomes low, the user can replace the ink bottle (not shown) to replenish the ink in the ink tank 6 fixed to the housing 7. The four ink tanks contain inks of different colors. Specifically, black ink is contained in the ink tank 6K, cyan ink in the ink tank 6C, magenta ink in the ink tank 6M, and yellow ink in the ink tank 6Y. The number of ink tanks is not limited to four as in this embodiment, and may be any number that corresponds to the number of ink types. The ink bottles may be called "(liquid) bottles" considering that they store liquid such as ink.

[0018] The recording head 8 is for ejecting ink onto a recording medium, and is provided so that an ejection surface, on the lower surface of which nozzles for ejecting ink are formed, faces the platen 5. Each nozzle is provided with an electrothermal conversion element (heater), which is heated by passing electricity through it to foam the ink, and the ink is ejected by the foaming energy. Instead of the electrothermal conversion element, a piezoelectric element (piezo element) may be used to eject ink. Ink is supplied to the recording head 8 through a tube 9 provided between the recording head 8 and the ink tank 6. A tube 9 is provided for each type of ink, and in this embodiment, there are four tubes 9. The recording head may be called a "liquid ejection head" in consideration of the fact that liquid such as ink is ejected from the nozzles.

[0019] The carriage 10 supports the recording head 8. The carriage 10 is guided along a guide rail 11 and is capable of reciprocating movement in the X direction (main scanning direction). During the movement of the carriage 10, ink is ejected from the nozzles of the recording head onto the recording medium on the platen 5, thereby recording an image on the recording medium. This operation is called a "recording scan." The recording operation is performed by alternately repeating the recording medium transport operation by the transport roller 2 and the recording scan.

[0020] As described above, the recording device 1 of this embodiment is a serial type inkjet recording device in which the recording head 8 is mounted on the carriage 10 that moves back and forth in the X direction. However, the technology according to the present disclosure is also applicable to other recording devices, such as an inkjet recording device equipped with a so-called full line head recording head in which multiple nozzles that eject ink in an area corresponding to the width of the recording medium are provided.

[0021] Next, the ink tank 6 will be described in detail with reference to Figure 2. Figure 2(a) is a perspective view of the ink tank, and Figure 2(b) is an exploded view of the ink tank.

[0022] The ink tank 6 is composed of a tank case 12 and left and right filters, that is, a film 13 and a film 14 whose position in the X direction is different from that of the film 13.

[0023] Tank case 12 is made of a translucent resin material, allowing the user to visually check the amount of ink remaining inside. The resin material of tank case 12 in this embodiment is specifically polypropylene. Film 13 is adhered to side portion 12a of tank case 12, and film 14 is adhered to side portion 12b, thereby covering the opening of tank case 12 and forming a closed space. The material of the contact surfaces of films 13 and 14 with tank case 12 in this embodiment is the same as that of tank case 12, and is compatible with tank case 12 by being thermally welded, forming a tightly sealed state.

[0024] Next, details of the tank case 12 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3(a) is a front view seen from the +Y direction, Fig. 3(b) is a right side view, Fig. 3(c) is a left side view, and Fig. 3(d) is a top view.

[0025] The injection part 21 is for injecting the ink in the bottle into the storage chamber 22. The injection part 21 has a cylindrical shape that protrudes in the +Z direction, and is formed integrally with the tank case 12. The tip of the injection part 21 is formed with a first injection port 24a and a second injection port 24b that are partitioned by a wall 23. The first injection port 24a and the second injection port 24b are provided so as to be on the outer side and above the storage chamber 22.

[0026] Ink flowing in from the first inlet 24a flows toward the first outlet 26a via the first inlet flow path 25a. Ink flowing in from the second inlet 24b flows toward the second outlet 26b via the second inlet flow path 25b. The first outlet 26a and the second outlet 26b are provided inside the storage chamber 22. In this manner, in this embodiment, two flow paths are provided that connect between the bottle and the storage chamber 22 in the ink tank.

[0027] When ink flows from the bottle toward the ink tank, the negative pressure inside the bottle increases, and one of the flow paths is blocked by the surface tension of the ink. When the flow path is blocked, air flows into the bottle via the other flow path (specifically, from the inlet 24 via the outlet 26 and the inlet flow path 25 of the other flow path) to release the negative pressure inside the bottle. As a result, more ink flows into the blocked flow path, and the weight of the ink exceeds the surface tension, thereby releasing the blocked state, and ink flows into the storage chamber 22. Finally, ink flows into the storage chamber 22 up to a height where gas-liquid exchange is no longer possible, that is, up to a height where the first outlet 26a and the second outlet 26b are blocked.

[0028] As described above, in order for one of the two flow paths in the ink tank to function as an inflow path for ink and the other to function as an outflow path for air, it is necessary to provide a location that can be blocked by the surface tension of ink at a position within the range from the inlet 24 to the outlet 26. At this time, the smaller the cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path, the easier it is to block, but if it is too small, it will cause a decrease in the inflow speed, so it is desirable to make it as large as possible within the range that can be blocked. Whether or not the flow path actually blocks depends on the cross-sectional shape and cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path. In this embodiment, the cross-sectional areas of representative parts of each location are about 10 square mm for the first inlet 24a and the second inlet 24b, about 13 square mm for the first inlet 25a and the second inlet 25b, and about 9 square mm for the first outlet 26a and the second outlet 26b.

[0029] The injection flow path 25 is formed so that it flows continuously from the injection port 24 to the discharge port 26 with a vertically downward component so that the ink can flow in smoothly. The injection flow path 25 of this embodiment flows vertically downward (-Z direction) from the injection port 24 (area A1 in FIG. 3(b)), passes through a portion inclined in the -Y direction (area A2 in FIG. 3(b)), and then flows vertically downward again to the discharge port 26 (area A3 in FIG. 3(b)). It is preferable that the inflection point, which is the portion where the flow path direction changes in the injection flow path 25, is formed into an R-shape to smoothly connect the inflection point, so that the ink flow is not hindered. The shape of the flow path is not limited to the shape described here, and may be any shape that flows continuously vertically downward (-Z direction). For example, the injection flow path 25 may be inclined in the -Y direction immediately from the vicinity of the injection port 24 and then reach the discharge port 26.

[0030] The buffer chamber 27 is a space that temporarily stores ink in the storage chamber 22 so that the ink does not leak out of the ink tank 6 when the recording device 1 is in a different position from when in use. In this embodiment, five buffer chambers, a first buffer chamber 27a to a fifth buffer chamber 27e, are provided, and each buffer chamber and the storage chamber 22 are continuously connected via a flow path.

[0031] Specifically, the reservoir chamber 22 is continuously connected to the first buffer chamber 27a via the first flow path 28a. The reservoir chamber 22 is continuously connected to the second buffer chamber 27b via the second flow path 28b. The reservoir chamber 22 is continuously connected to the third buffer chamber 27c via the third flow path 28c. The reservoir chamber 22 is continuously connected to the fourth buffer chamber 27d via the fourth flow path 28d. The reservoir chamber 22 is continuously connected to the fifth buffer chamber 27e via the fifth flow path 28e.

[0032] An atmosphere communication port 29 is formed on the front surface (+Y direction side) of the tank case 12. The atmosphere communication port 29 communicates with the storage chamber 22 via the first buffer chamber 27a to the fifth buffer chamber 27e and the first flow path 28a to the fifth flow path 28e described above. This makes it possible to prevent ink in the storage chamber 22 from leaking from the atmosphere communication port 29 even if the recording device 1 is in a position different from that during use.

[0033] Furthermore, the front surface of the tank case 12 is provided with a visual confirmation surface 30 that allows the user to visually confirm the amount of remaining ink. The visual confirmation surface 30 is formed from a material (e.g., transparent resin) that allows the user to visually confirm the amount of remaining ink inside the ink storage chamber 22. On the visual confirmation surface 30, a lower limit indicator 31 that indicates the lower limit of the remaining amount that is the timing for refilling the ink, and an upper limit indicator 32 that indicates the upper limit when refilling the ink are formed with a concave or convex shape.

[0034] A liquid outlet 33 is formed at the rear of the tank case 12 for allowing the ink to flow out to the recording head 8. The liquid outlet 33 and the storage chamber 22 communicate with each other via an opening 34 and an outlet flow path 35. The liquid outlet 33 is connected to the aforementioned tube 9, and the ink inside the tank case 12 is supplied to the recording head 8 via this tube 9.

[0035] 3(c), a pair of metal pins 36a, 36b are provided at the rear of the tank case 12 to detect the amount of ink remaining in the ink storage chamber 22. The metal pins 36a, 36b are each connected to an electric board (not shown). The presence or absence of ink is detected based on the difference between the electrical resistance between the metal pins when immersed in ink and when exposed.

[0036] Here, the positions of the inlet 24 (first inlet 24a, second inlet 24b) and the outlet 26 (first outlet 26a, second outlet 26b) will be described. It is desirable to set the longitudinal positions (also called Y-direction positions or depth-direction positions) of the inlet 24 and the outlet 26 in the tank case 12 to optimal positions, taking into consideration the arrangement of the buffer chamber 27, the air communication port 29, the metal pin 36, and the like. In this embodiment, the Y-direction center (Y1a) of the first inlet 24a and the Y-direction center (Y2a) of the first outlet 26a are provided at different positions in the longitudinal direction, and specifically, Y2a is closer to the center of the storage chamber 22 than Y1a. Similarly, the Y-direction center (Y1b) of the second inlet 24b and the Y-direction center (Y2b) of the second outlet 26b are provided at different positions in the longitudinal direction, and specifically, Y2b is closer to the center of the storage chamber 22 than Y1b. In this way, the Y-direction center Y1 of the inlet 24 and the Y-direction center Y2 of the outlet 26 are provided at different positions in the longitudinal direction. More specifically, the outlet 26 is provided closer to the center of the tank case 12 than the inlet 24. More specifically, the outlet 26 is provided at a position approximately at the center of the storage chamber 22 in the longitudinal direction. With this configuration, the longitudinal positions of the inlet 24 and the outlet 26 can be optimally positioned, which will be described in detail below. The depth direction (Y direction) dimension of the storage chamber 22 is greater than the left-right direction (X direction) dimension of the storage chamber 22.

[0037] In general, the position of the inlet 24 is desirably a position where the user can easily perform the ink refilling operation, and in this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3(b) etc., the inlet 24 is disposed on the front side of the tank case 12, that is, on the +Y direction side corresponding to the front side of the recording device 1. On the other hand, the outlet 26 is provided closer to the center than the inlet 24 in the longitudinal direction (Y direction) of the storage chamber 22. This longitudinal positional relationship (the positional relationship between the inlet 24 and the outlet 26) is an important feature of this embodiment.

[0038] Figures 4(a) to (c) are diagrams illustrating the state inside the storage chamber 22 when the ink tank 6 has been rotated around the X-axis and tilted. Figure 4(a) shows the ink tank 6 in a state where it is not tilted, Figure 4(b) shows the ink tank 6 in a state where it has been rotated about 10 degrees clockwise around the X-axis and tilted, and Figure 4(c) shows the ink tank in a state where it has been rotated about 10 degrees counterclockwise around the X-axis and tilted. For ease of explanation, Figures 4(a) to (c) show the ink tank with films 13 and 14 omitted.

[0039] As described above, the amount of ink that can be stored in the storage chamber 22 of the ink tank 6 corresponds to the amount when the liquid level of the ink stored by the gas-liquid exchange function is at the height of the outlet 26. On the other hand, if the ink tank 6 is tilted due to rotation around the X axis, the relative height of the outlet 26 to the liquid level changes depending on the tilt. Therefore, the amount of ink that can be stored in the ink tank 6 (referred to as V) changes depending on the tilt of the ink tank 6.

[0040] 4(a) to 4(c), in this embodiment, the Y-direction position Y2 of the discharge outlet 26 is provided as close to the center as possible of the storage chamber 22. This makes it possible to reduce variation in the ink amount V when the ink tank 6 is tilted, compared to when the Y-direction position Y2 of the discharge outlet 26 is provided at the front end (or rear end) of the storage chamber 22.

[0041] In other words, the difference in the amount of ink stored in the storage chamber 22, indicated by the dashed line, between Figures 4(b) and 4(c), which show the ink tank 6 inclined states, can be made smaller than in Patent Document 1. As a result, it is possible to suppress the variation in the refill amount due to the inclination of the ink tank, and to make the refill amount constant regardless of the inclination. As described above, in Patent Document 1, the Y-direction position Y2 of the discharge port 26 is provided at the front end (or rear end) of the storage chamber 22.

[0042] Although a configuration has been described so far in which the center Y1 in the Y direction of the injection port 24 is located on the front side and the center Y2 in the Y direction of the discharge port 26 is located on the central side, the configuration to which the technology according to the present disclosure can be applied is not limited to this. For example, in a case in which the buffer chamber 27 is located on the front side of the tank case 12 and the metal pin 36 is located on the central side of the tank case 12, the volume of the tank case 12 can be used efficiently by arranging the center Y1 in the Y direction of the injection port 24 on the central side and the center Y2 in the Y direction of the discharge port 26 on the front side.

[0043] <Example> Hereinafter, the shape of the bottom surface portion 37 constituting the storage chamber 22 together with the opening 34 will be described as an example of the first embodiment with reference to Figs.

[0044] Fig. 5 shows schematic diagrams of cross sections of various storage chambers 22, Fig. 5(a) shows a storage chamber with a horizontal bottom surface 37, and Fig. 5(b) and Fig. 5(c) show storage chambers with a part of the bottom surface 37 inclined. In detail, Fig. 5(b) shows a storage chamber in which the bottom surface 37 is composed of one inclined surface and a horizontal surface having the lowest height in the storage chamber (hereinafter referred to as the lowest horizontal surface), and Fig. 5(c) shows a storage chamber in which the bottom surface 37 is composed of two inclined surfaces and the lowest horizontal surface.

[0045] FIG. 6 shows schematic cross-sectional views of various storage chambers 22, and both FIG. 6(a) and FIG. 6(b) show storage chambers 22 whose bottom surface portion 37 is configured in an arc shape.

[0046] The opening 34 serves as an outlet through which the ink inside the storage chamber 22 flows out to the outside. For this reason, the opening 34 is usually provided at the lowest position inside the storage chamber 22, and in this embodiment, the opening 34 is provided on the side wall of the storage chamber 22 so as to be connected to the lowest horizontal plane. The opening 34 is also provided on the frontmost side (+Y direction side) in the longitudinal (depth) direction.

[0047] In this embodiment, the opening shape of the opening 34 is rectangular, and when ink is supplied to the recording head 8 with the ink level at a position lower than the upper side 34a of the opening shape, air gets mixed into the supplied ink, adversely affecting the ejection performance of the recording head 8. Therefore, it is usually necessary to issue a warning to the user so that the ink level does not fall below the upper side 34a of the opening 34, and to encourage the user to refill the ink tank 6 with ink. That is, in the past, when the ink level is at the height of the upper side 34a of the opening 34 shown in FIG. 5(a), the ink is in a state where the user cannot use the ink. Ink in this state is called unusable ink. If there is a lot of unusable ink 38, the fluctuation amount of the liquid level visible to the user due to the inclination of the ink tank (see FIG. 4(b) and FIG. 4(c)) increases. Therefore, there is a risk that the user will be confused when using the recording device 1.

[0048] Therefore, in order to reduce the amount of unusable ink, it is conceivable to make a part of the bottom surface 37b into a sloped shape as shown in Fig. 5(b). This makes it possible to reduce the amount of unusable ink 38b by an amount corresponding to the shaded portion 38b' compared to the unusable ink 38 shown in Fig. 5(a). However, such a bottom surface 37b has the disadvantage that when the ink liquid level is at a position higher than the upper side 34a of the opening 34, the amount of ink that can be used by the user (called effective ink) is reduced by an amount corresponding to the gray portion 39b shown in Fig. 5(b).

[0049] One possible measure to prevent the reduction in usable ink is to form a bottom portion with multiple inclined surfaces, as in bottom portion 37c in Fig. 5(c). Bottom portion 37c is composed of a lowest horizontal surface, a first inclined surface connected to the lowest horizontal surface, and a second inclined surface connected to the first inclined surface, with the Z-direction position (height) of upper side 34a of opening 34 as the boundary, and the second inclined surface above the boundary has a gentler inclination than the first inclined surface below. This configuration makes it possible to prevent the reduction in usable ink while preventing an increase in unusable ink 38c.

[0050] However, when the bottom portion using the aforementioned inclined surfaces is adopted, it leads to a significant reduction in the volume of the ink that could have been contained in the storage chamber 22. Also, when the bottom portion is formed from a plurality of inclined surfaces, there are portions where one inclined surface is discontinuous with another inclined surface, which may deteriorate the efficiency of ink recovery.

[0051] To solve the above problem, the bottom surface 37d in Fig. 6(a) may be configured with a lowest horizontal plane and a curved surface that is a continuous curved surface shape and has one inflection point. The height of this inflection point is equal to the height of the upper side 34a of the opening shape. Although the case with one inflection point is shown here, the bottom surface may be configured with a curved surface having multiple inflection points.

[0052] However, the configuration in Fig. 6(a) also has an issue. This issue is based on the moldability of the plastic ink tank. In other words, if the ink tank 6 warps (inside the ink tank) in a direction that reduces the capacity of the storage chamber 22 due to deformation over time, the ink tank 6 will no longer be able to store the desired ink volume, which will be detrimental to the user. Note that the "inflection point" in this paragraph refers to the point where the ink tank changes from "convex upwards" to "convex downwards."

[0053] For this reason, it is conceivable to configure the bottom surface portion with a curved surface having a convex arc shape downward, as in the bottom surface portion 37e in FIG. 6(b). With such a configuration, it is possible to reduce the amount of unusable ink compared to FIG. 5(b), and to suppress the reduction in the amount of usable ink to the same or less than that of FIG. 5(b), while suppressing the variation due to molding. In summary, by adopting the form of FIG. 6(b), it is possible to reduce the amount of unusable ink compared to FIG. 5(a), and also to reduce the reduction in the amount of usable ink compared to FIG. 5(b). Furthermore, it is possible to reduce the variation in the ink capacity of the ink container due to molding.

[0054] [Technical Features of the Disclosure] The present disclosure includes the following configurations.

[0055] (Configuration 1) A liquid container that is mounted on a liquid consuming device having a liquid ejection head that ejects liquid, and that contains liquid to be supplied to the liquid ejection head, the liquid container having a storage chamber in which liquid is stored, an inlet provided at the top of the storage chamber, through which liquid is injected, and an outlet provided facing the inside of the storage chamber, through which liquid injected from the inlet travels through a flow path by gas-liquid exchange and is discharged, characterized in that when a direction perpendicular to the height direction and left-right direction of the liquid consuming device is defined as a depth direction, the depth direction position of the center of the outlet is closer to the center of the storage chamber than the depth direction position of the center of the inlet.

[0056] (Configuration 2) The liquid container according to configuration 1, wherein liquid is supplied to the storage chamber from a bottle attached to the liquid consuming device via the inlet, the flow path, and the outlet.

[0057] (Configuration 3) The outlet is provided closer to the center of the liquid consuming apparatus than the inlet in the depth direction. 3. A liquid container according to claim 1 or 2.

[0058] (Configuration 4) The liquid container according to any one of configurations 1 to 3, wherein the outlet is provided at a position approximately in the center of the storage chamber in the depth direction.

[0059] (Configuration 5) The liquid container according to any one of configurations 1 to 4, wherein the inlet is provided on an outer side of the liquid consuming device in the depth direction compared to the outlet.

[0060] (Configuration 6) A liquid container according to any one of configurations 1 to 5, wherein the flow path is formed to have a continuous vertically downward component from the inlet to the outlet.

[0061] (Configuration 7) The injection port includes a first injection port and a second injection port, The flow path includes a first flow path and a second flow path, The outlet includes a first outlet and a second outlet, The liquid injected from the first inlet passes through the first flow path and is discharged from the first outlet, The liquid injected from the second inlet passes through the second flow path and is discharged from the second outlet. A liquid container according to any one of configurations 1 to 6.

[0062] (Configuration 8) The liquid container according to any one of configurations 1 to 7, further comprising an atmosphere vent and a buffer chamber, the atmosphere vent communicating with the storage chamber via the buffer chamber.

[0063] (Configuration 9) A liquid container according to any one of configurations 1 to 8, wherein when either the first flow path or the second flow path is blocked, air flows into the bottle via the other flow path that is not blocked.

[0064] (Configuration 10) A liquid container described in any one of configurations 1 to 9, wherein the storage chamber has a bottom surface portion and an opening through which liquid inside the storage chamber flows out, the bottom surface portion is configured to include at least a lowest horizontal surface, and the opening is provided on a side wall of the storage chamber so as to be connected to the lowest horizontal surface.

[0065] (Configuration 11) The liquid container according to any one of configurations 1 to 10, wherein the outlet is provided closer to the center of the liquid consuming device in the depth direction than the opening.

[0066] (Configuration 12) The liquid container according to any one of configurations 1 to 11, wherein the bottom surface portion is composed of the lowest horizontal surface and one inclined surface.

[0067] (Structure 13) A liquid container described in any one of structures 1 to 12, wherein the bottom surface portion is composed of the lowest horizontal surface, a first inclined surface connected to the lowest horizontal surface, and a second inclined surface connected to the first inclined surface and having a gentler slope than the first inclined surface.

[0068] (Configuration 14) A liquid container described in any one of configurations 1 to 13, wherein the opening shape of the opening is rectangular, and the height of the upper edge of the opening shape is equal to the height of the position where the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface are connected.

[0069] (Configuration 15) The liquid container according to any one of configurations 1 to 14, wherein the bottom surface portion is composed of the lowest horizontal surface and a curved surface.

[0070] (Configuration 16) A liquid container described in any one of configurations 1 to 15, wherein the opening shape of the opening is rectangular, the curved surface has one inflection point, and the height of the upper edge of the opening shape is equal to the height of the one inflection point.

[0071] (Configuration 17) A liquid container according to any one of configurations 1 to 16, wherein the curved surface has a plurality of inflection points.

[0072] (Configuration 18) A liquid container according to any one of configurations 1 to 17, wherein the curved surface is a downwardly convex arc shape.

[0073] (Configuration 19) A liquid container according to any one of configurations 1 to 18, wherein the dimension of the storage chamber in the depth direction is greater than the dimension of the storage chamber in the left-right direction.

[0074] (Configuration 20) A liquid consuming device having a liquid ejection head that ejects liquid, and a liquid container that contains the liquid to be supplied to the liquid ejection head, wherein the liquid container has a storage chamber in which liquid is stored, an inlet provided at the top of the storage chamber and through which liquid is injected, and an outlet provided facing the inside of the storage chamber and through which the liquid injected from the inlet travels through a flow path by gas-liquid exchange and is discharged, wherein when a direction perpendicular to the height direction and left-right direction of the liquid consuming device is defined as a depth direction, the depth direction position of the center of the outlet is closer to the center of the storage chamber than the depth direction position of the center of the inlet. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] 1 Recording device 6 Ink Tank 8. Recording Head 22 Storage chamber 24a 1st inlet 24b 2nd inlet 25a First injection channel 25b Second injection flow path 26a 1st outlet 26b 2nd outlet

Claims

1. A liquid container that is mounted on a liquid consumption device having a liquid ejection head that ejects liquid, and that contains liquid to be supplied to the liquid ejection head, comprising: A storage chamber in which a liquid is stored; an inlet provided at an upper portion of the storage chamber through which a liquid is injected; an outlet provided facing the inside of the storage chamber, through which the liquid injected from the inlet moves through a flow path by gas-liquid exchange and is discharged; having When a direction perpendicular to a height direction and a left-right direction of the liquid consumption device is defined as a depth direction, the depth direction position of the center of the discharge port is closer to the center of the storage chamber than the depth direction position of the center of the injection port. A liquid container characterized by:

2. A liquid is supplied to the storage chamber from a bottle attached to the liquid consumption device through the inlet, the flow path, and the outlet.

2. The liquid container according to claim 1.

3. the outlet is provided closer to the center of the liquid consuming apparatus than the inlet in the depth direction.

3. The liquid container according to claim 2.

4. The outlet is provided at a position approximately at the center of the storage chamber in the depth direction.

4. The liquid container according to claim 3.

5. the inlet is provided on an outer side of the liquid consuming apparatus in the depth direction compared to the outlet; A liquid container according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The flow path is formed to have a continuous vertical downward component from the inlet to the outlet.

4. A liquid container according to claim 2 or 3.

7. The inlet includes a first inlet and a second inlet, The flow path includes a first flow path and a second flow path, The outlet includes a first outlet and a second outlet, A liquid injected from the first inlet passes through the first flow path and is discharged from the first outlet, The liquid injected from the second inlet passes through the second flow path and is discharged from the second outlet.

7. The liquid container according to claim 6.

8. The apparatus further includes an atmosphere communication port and a buffer chamber, The atmosphere communication port communicates with the storage chamber via the buffer chamber.

8. A liquid container according to claim 7.

9. When one of the first flow path and the second flow path is blocked, air flows into the bottle through the other flow path that is not blocked.

9. The liquid container according to claim 8.

10. The storage chamber has a bottom surface and an opening through which liquid in the storage chamber flows out, The bottom surface portion is configured to include at least a lowest horizontal surface, The opening is provided in the side wall of the storage chamber so as to be connected to the lowest horizontal plane.

3. A liquid container according to claim 1 or 2.

11. the outlet is provided closer to the center of the liquid consumption apparatus than the opening in the depth direction.

11. The liquid container according to claim 10.

12. The bottom surface portion is composed of the lowest horizontal surface and one inclined surface.

11. The liquid container according to claim 10.

13. The bottom surface portion is composed of the lowest horizontal surface, a first inclined surface connected to the lowest horizontal surface, and a second inclined surface connected to the first inclined surface and having a gentler inclination than the first inclined surface.

11. The liquid container according to claim 10.

14. The opening has a rectangular shape, a height of an upper side of the opening shape is equal to a height of a position where the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface are connected to each other; 14. The liquid container according to claim 13.

15. The bottom surface portion is composed of the lowest horizontal surface and a curved surface.

11. The liquid container according to claim 10.

16. The opening has a rectangular shape, The curved surface has one inflection point, The height of the upper side of the opening shape is equal to the height of the one inflection point.

16. A liquid container according to claim 15.

17. The curved surface has a plurality of inflection points.

16. A liquid container according to claim 15.

18. The curved surface is a downwardly convex arc shape.

16. A liquid container according to claim 15.

19. The dimension of the storage chamber in the depth direction is greater than the dimension of the storage chamber in the left-right direction; 3. A liquid container according to claim 1 or 2.

20. A liquid consumption device having a liquid ejection head that ejects liquid, and a liquid container that contains the liquid to be supplied to the liquid ejection head, The liquid container comprises: A storage chamber in which a liquid is stored; an inlet provided at an upper portion of the storage chamber through which a liquid is injected; an outlet provided facing the inside of the storage chamber, through which the liquid injected from the inlet moves through a flow path by gas-liquid exchange and is discharged; having When a direction perpendicular to a height direction and a left-right direction of the liquid consumption device is defined as a depth direction, the depth direction position of the center of the discharge port is closer to the center of the storage chamber than the depth direction position of the center of the injection port. A liquid consumption device comprising:

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