Liquid storage container

Abstract

To provide a liquid storage container which suppresses leakage of liquid caused by falling.SOLUTION: A cartridge 4A includes a liquid supply section 442 for supplying liquid to a printer 1. The cartridge further includes: a first wall 48 in which the liquid supply section 442 is arranged; a second wall 47 which crosses one end of the first wall 48; a liquid storage section 450 which is arranged inside the first wall 48 and the second wall 47 and communicates with the liquid supply section 442; and an adapter 402 which is mounted outside the first wall 48 and has an insertion opening 446 corresponding to the liquid supply section 442. The second wall 47 has area smaller than that of the first wall 48. The adapter 402 has a projection section 470 projecting from the second wall 47 in a first direction from the liquid storage section 450 to the outside.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid storage container. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, liquid containers that supply liquid such as ink to a printing device have been known. Such liquid containers are provided with a liquid supply unit for supplying liquid to the printing device. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a cartridge that is used as a liquid container by being inserted into a cartridge mounting unit of the printing device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-53794 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the liquid container described in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that liquid may leak from the liquid supply unit in the following cases. In more detail, the liquid container may be accidentally dropped when attaching or detaching the liquid container to or from the printing device, or during transportation. In conventional liquid containers, the liquid supply unit is positioned offset to one side in the longitudinal direction of the bottom wall.

[0005] Therefore, when the container falls so that the rear wall, which is one of the side walls intersecting with the bottom wall and closer to the one side wall, is on the bottom, the impact of the collision between the rear wall and the ground or floor surface is easily transmitted to the liquid supply section. In particular, since the rear wall has a smaller surface area than the first side wall and the second side wall, the impact is not easily dispersed. If the impact of the fall is transmitted to the liquid supply section, liquid may leak from the liquid supply section. In other words, there has been a demand for a liquid storage container that suppresses leakage of liquid due to falling. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The liquid storage container is a liquid storage container equipped with a liquid supply unit for supplying liquid to a printer, and comprises a first wall arranged between a center and one end of the liquid supply unit in the longitudinal direction, a second wall intersecting the one end of the first wall, a liquid storage unit arranged inside the first wall and the second wall and communicating with the liquid supply unit, and an adapter attached to the outside of the first wall and having an opening corresponding to the liquid supply unit, wherein the second wall is formed to have a smaller area than the first wall, and the adapter has a protrusion that is perpendicular to the second wall and protrudes from the second wall in a first direction from the liquid storage unit side toward the outside.

[0007] The liquid storage container is a liquid storage container equipped with a liquid supply unit for supplying liquid to a printer, and a liquid storage unit communicating with the liquid supply unit, wherein the liquid supply unit has a first wall arranged between a center and one end in the longitudinal direction, a second wall intersecting the one end of the first wall, and a pair of third walls intersecting the first wall and the second wall and facing each other across the second wall, the liquid storage container is arranged inside the first wall, the second wall, and the pair of third walls, and an impact absorbing unit is arranged on at least a portion of the first wall, the second wall, and the pair of third walls, and when the impact absorbing unit is arranged on at least a portion of the first wall and the third wall, it is arranged in a region from the central axis position of the first wall to the position of the one end in the longitudinal direction. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of a printer according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the cartridge. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the cartridge. [Figure 4] FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. [Figure 6]5A to 5C are side views showing a procedure for mounting the cartridge into the cartridge mounting portion. [Figure 7] 5A to 5C are side views showing a procedure for mounting the cartridge into the cartridge mounting portion. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a mounted state of the cartridge. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a cartridge according to a second embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. [Figure 11] A cross-sectional view taken along the Xα plane and including line segment AA' in FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the impact absorbing portion. [Figure 13] 11 is a cross-sectional view showing another configuration of the impact absorbing portion. FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a cartridge according to a third embodiment. [Figure 15] 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB' in FIG. 14. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] In the embodiment described below, a large format inkjet printer and a cartridge serving as a liquid container that supplies liquid such as ink to the inkjet printer will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the inkjet printer will also be simply referred to as the printer. Furthermore, the liquid supplied to the printer by the liquid container of the present invention is not limited to ink, but may be a treatment liquid, a coating liquid, a cleaning liquid, or the like. In this specification, the above liquids will be collectively referred to as ink.

[0010] In each of the following figures, the α-axis and mutually orthogonal coordinate axes X, Y, and Z are added as necessary, the direction indicated by each arrow is the + direction, and the direction opposite to the + direction is the - direction. The α-axis is a coordinate axis that is orthogonal to the X-axis and the second wall described below, and intersects with the Y-axis and Z-axis. In addition, for the convenience of illustration, the size of each member in each of the following figures is made different from the actual size.

[0011] 1. First embodiment 1, the printer 1 includes a cartridge mounting section 6, an operation button 15, an inkjet ejection head 22, a carriage 20 on which the ejection head 22 is mounted, a main scanning mechanism 30, and a control section 31. The printer 1 performs printing by depositing ink from the ejection head 22 onto a recording medium 2.

[0012] A user of the printer 1 operates the printer 1 via the operation buttons 15 or an information terminal such as a personal computer. The control unit 31 is electrically connected to the operation buttons 15 and each component of the printer 1, and controls the operation of each component of the printer 1 in an integrated manner.

[0013] The main scanning mechanism 30 includes a timing belt 32 on which the carriage 20 is supported, and a motor 34 that drives the timing belt 32. The timing belt 32 is installed in the main scanning direction, which is the scanning direction of the carriage 20, as a support member for the carriage 20. The carriage 20 is driven by the motor 34 via the timing belt 32, and is capable of reciprocating along the X axis. In this way, the main scanning mechanism 30 moves the carriage 20 back and forth in the main scanning direction. In other words, the printer 1 is a serial type printer.

[0014] The printer 1 includes a platen roller (not shown). The platen roller transports the recording medium 2 in the +Y direction, which is the sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction. The recording medium 2 is transported in the sub-scanning direction, which is approximately the same as the length direction of the recording medium 2. The carriage 20 is capable of reciprocating in the main scanning direction, which is approximately the same as the width direction of the recording medium 2. This allows the ejection head 22 to scan relatively to the recording medium 2 in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction.

[0015] Four cartridges 4A according to this embodiment can be detachably attached to the cartridge mounting portion 6. The cartridge 4A is an example of a liquid storage container of the present invention. When the cartridge 4A is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 6, ink can be supplied from the cartridge 4A to the printer 1.

[0016] The four cartridges 4A each contain, for example, black, cyan, magenta, and yellow ink. The amount of ink contained in each cartridge 4A may be different, and for example, the amount of black ink, which tends to be used in large quantities, may be increased compared to the other colors. Note that the number of cartridges 4A that can be installed in the printer 1 is not limited to four.

[0017] A replacement cover 13 is disposed on the front side in the +Y direction of the printer 1. The cartridge 4A can be attached to or detached from the cartridge mounting portion 6 by opening the cartridge mounting portion 6 by tilting the upper part of the replacement cover 13 in the +Y direction.

[0018] The cartridge 4A has a liquid supply unit, described below, for supplying ink to the printer 1. When the cartridge 4A is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 6, ink can be supplied from the liquid supply unit of the cartridge 4A via a tube 24 to the ejection head 22 arranged in the carriage 20. The tubes 24 are individually connected to each of the four cartridges 4A. Hereinafter, the state in which the cartridge 4A is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 6 and can supply ink to the printer 1 is also referred to as the mounted state. The procedure for mounting the cartridge 4A in the cartridge mounting portion 6 will be described later.

[0019] In the printer 1, a head difference is used to supply ink from the cartridge 4A to the ejection head 22. The head difference here refers to the head difference between the ink liquid level in a liquid storage section inside the cartridge 4A, which will be described later, and the ejection head 22. In addition to the head difference, a pump mechanism or the like may also be used as a means for supplying ink from the cartridge 4A to the ejection head 22.

[0020] The ejection head 22 is disposed below the carriage 20. The ejection head 22 has a nozzle surface (not shown) on a downward surface facing the recording medium 2. On the nozzle surface, nozzle rows made up of a plurality of nozzles are individually arranged corresponding to each ink. Ink of each color is supplied to the ejection head 22 from a corresponding cartridge 4A, and is ejected as droplets from the nozzles by an actuator (not shown) in the ejection head 22. The ejected ink droplets land on and adhere to the recording medium 2.

[0021] The ejection head 22 is caused to scan relatively in the main scanning direction and sub-scanning direction relative to the recording medium 2, while depositing ink from the ejection head 22 onto the recording medium 2 at any timing. This allows images, colors, characters, patterns, etc. to be printed on the recording medium 2. The printed recording medium 2 is discharged onto a tray 11 that is positioned in the +Y direction of the printer 1.

[0022] A maintenance mechanism including a cap member 8 is disposed at the end of the ejection head 22 in the -X direction of the main scanning direction. The cap member 8 is disposed in correspondence with the home position of the ejection head 22 and the carriage 20. The maintenance mechanism (not shown) brings the cap member 8 into close contact with the nozzle surface at the home position, and cleans the ejection head 22 using a suction device or the like. There are also cases where flushing ejection is performed from the ejection head 22 toward the cap member 8.

[0023] In the ejection head 22, a piezoelectric element is used as an actuator, which is a driving means, but is not limited to this. For example, an electromechanical conversion element that displaces a vibration plate as an actuator by electrostatic adsorption, or an electrothermal conversion element that ejects ink as droplets by bubbles generated by heating may be used as the driving means.

[0024] In this embodiment, an off-carriage type printer 1 has been exemplified, but the printer 1 is not limited to this. The printer 1 may be an on-carriage type printer. The printer 1 is also not limited to a serial type printer, and may be a line head type printer in which the ejection head 22 is formed to be as wide as or wider than the width of the recording medium 2, and the ejection head 22 performs printing without moving.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 2, the cartridge 4A has a main body 41 made up of a liquid container 401 having a liquid container portion 450, and an adapter 402. In the figures described below, including FIG. 2, in which the cartridge 4A is shown by itself, the arrows of the Y and Z axes in FIG. 1 point in different directions for the sake of convenience. In particular, FIG. 1 uses the +Y and +Z directions when the printer 1 is placed on a horizontal surface. In other words, in a figure in which the printer 1 or its components appear, such as FIG. 1, the Z axis is along the vertical direction. In contrast, the above figures use the +Y and +Z directions when the cartridge 4A is oriented such that a top wall 43, described later, is along the horizontal surface.

[0026] The liquid container 401 is disposed in the +Z direction of the adapter 402. That is, the liquid container 401 and the adapter 402 are combined and integrated in a direction along the Z axis. The housings of the liquid container 401 and the adapter 402 are formed of, for example, resin. The housing of the liquid container 401 and the housing of the adapter 402 may be formed of a common material, or may be formed of different materials. A known technique such as injection molding is used to manufacture the liquid container 401 and the adapter 402. The manufacturing method of the liquid container 401 and the adapter 402 may be the same or different.

[0027] The liquid container 401 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped, and has an upper wall 43, a first wall 48, a second wall 47, a pair of opposing third walls 45, 46, and a rear wall 42. The upper wall 43, the first wall 48, the second wall 47, the pair of third walls 45, 46, and the rear wall 42 form a housing for the liquid container 401. The liquid container section 450 is disposed inside the housing.

[0028] The upper wall 43 is a surface of the liquid container 401 facing the +Z direction and is aligned along the XY plane. The first wall 48 is a surface of the liquid container 401 facing the -Z direction and is aligned along the XY plane. The second wall 47 is a surface of the liquid container 401 facing the +α direction and is aligned approximately along the XZ plane. The pair of third walls 45, 46 are disposed opposite each other in a direction along the X axis and are aligned along the YZ plane. The third wall 45 faces the -X direction, and the third wall 46 faces the +X direction. The rear wall 42 is a surface of the liquid container 401 facing the -Y direction and is aligned along the XZ plane.

[0029] The upper wall 43, the first wall 48, and the third walls 45 and 46 each have a longitudinal direction along the Y axis. In other words, each longitudinal direction is along the Y axis.

[0030] The second wall 47 intersects with one end of the first wall 48 in the longitudinal +Y direction and extends in approximately the +Z direction. The rear wall 42 intersects with the other end of the first wall 48 in the longitudinal -Y direction and extends in the +Z direction. The second wall 47 and the rear wall 42 are approximately opposed to each other in a direction along the Y axis. The areas of the second wall 47 and the rear wall 42 are smaller than those of the first wall 48 and the third walls 45, 46.

[0031] The pair of third walls 45, 46 respectively intersect with the first wall 48, the second wall 47, and the rear wall 42. The third walls 45 and 46 face each other with the first wall 48, the second wall 47, and the rear wall 42 interposed therebetween.

[0032] The adaptor 402 is located in the -Z direction of the liquid container 401 and is attached along the outer side of the first wall 48. A protrusion 470 is disposed in the +Y direction of the adaptor 402. The protrusion 470 is perpendicular to the second wall 47 and protrudes from the second wall 47 in the +α direction, which is a first direction from the inside to the outside of the liquid container 450. The protrusion 470 also protrudes from the second wall 47 in the +Y direction.

[0033] The α-axis intersects with the Y-axis at an acute angle. The angle at which the α-axis intersects with the Y-axis is, for example, about 8 degrees. That is, in this specification, the case where the liquid storage container falls so that the second wall 47 faces downward includes the case where the liquid storage container falls in the +Y direction and the +α direction.

[0034] The protruding portion 470 is substantially T-shaped in a plan view from the -Z direction. Although not shown, the protruding portion 470 includes a region extending from the adapter 402 and a region along a plane including the second wall 47. In the region of the protruding portion 470 along the plane including the second wall 47, the end portion in the +Y direction protrudes in the +Y direction further than the second wall 47 in a side view from the +X direction. As a result, when the cartridge 4A is dropped so that the second wall 47 is on the bottom, the protruding portion 470 comes into contact with the ground or the like before the second wall 47 does.

[0035] 3, the adapter 402 is attached to the first wall 48 of the liquid container 401. The first wall 48 includes a plurality of surfaces along the XY plane, although it includes a plurality of steps (not shown).

[0036] The adapter 402 includes a bottom wall 44. The bottom wall 44 faces in the -Z direction and is aligned along the XY plane. Like the first wall 48, the longitudinal direction of the bottom wall 44 is also aligned along the Y axis.

[0037] On the bottom wall 44, a supply section positioning member 448, an insertion opening 446, a cartridge identification section 430, a recessed section 90, a circuit board 50, and a corner section 89 are arranged in this order from the second wall 47 side toward the -Y direction.

[0038] The insertion opening 446 is an opening corresponding to the liquid supply unit 442, and penetrates the adapter 402 in a direction along the Z axis. The liquid supply unit 442 is disposed in the insertion opening 446, and the liquid supply unit 442 is opened in the -Z direction through the insertion opening 446. The central axis CA2 of the liquid supply unit 442 passes through the insertion opening 446.

[0039] The insertion opening 446 and the liquid supply portion 442 are located in a region RY between the central portion MP of the first wall 48 and the end portion of the second wall 47 in the direction along the Y axis, which is the longitudinal direction of the first wall 48 and the bottom wall 44. In other words, the liquid supply portion 442 is disposed in the first wall 48 between the central position in the direction along the Y axis and one end in the +Y direction.

[0040] The supply section positioning member 448 is a recess provided in the bottom wall 44. When the cartridge 4A is mounted in the cartridge mounting section 6, the supply section positioning member 448 correctly regulates the position of the cartridge 4A relative to the cartridge mounting section 6.

[0041] The cartridge identification portion 430 has a function of preventing erroneous installation when the cartridge 4A is installed in the cartridge mounting portion 6. Although not shown in detail, the cartridge identification portion 430 is provided with a plurality of ribs. The shape of the ribs differs depending on the type of ink contained in the cartridge 4A. The slot of the cartridge mounting portion 6 is provided with a plurality of grooves at positions corresponding to the cartridge identification portion 430 to engage with the plurality of ribs. Therefore, even if the cartridge 4A is inserted into the wrong slot, the plurality of ribs do not engage with the plurality of grooves, and the cartridge 4A cannot be installed.

[0042] The corner portion 89 is disposed at a corner portion where the rear wall 42 and the bottom wall 44 intersect. The corner portion 89 has a recessed portion 90 recessed therein.

[0043] The circuit board 50 is disposed in a corner portion 89. Although not shown in the figure, the circuit board 50 has multiple cartridge side terminals disposed on a front surface 50fa, and a memory device disposed on the back surface of the circuit board 50. When the insertion of the cartridge 4A into the cartridge mounting portion 6 is complete, the multiple terminals of the mounting terminal portion of the printer 1 come into one-to-one contact with the multiple cartridge side terminals, and are electrically connected. This makes it possible for the printer 1 to read information stored in the memory device. It is also possible for the printer 1 to write information to the memory device.

[0044] A cartridge guide portion 447 is provided on a surface of the adapter 402 facing the -X direction. Although not shown, a cartridge guide portion 447 is also provided on a surface of the adapter 402 facing the +X direction. This pair of cartridge guide portions 447 face each other in the direction along the X axis.

[0045] The pair of cartridge guide portions 447 extend along the Y axis. When the cartridge 4A is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 6, the pair of cartridge guide portions 447 regulate the direction in which the cartridge 4A is inserted correctly.

[0046] 4, a cartridge engaging portion 497 is disposed below the protruding portion 470 of the adapter 402. The cartridge engaging portion 497 engages with a mounting engaging portion (not shown) of the cartridge mounting portion 6 when the cartridge 4A is in the mounted state.

[0047] In the direction along the X-axis, the width of the protruding portion 470 is equal to the width of the liquid container 401. Moreover, the protruding portion 470 does not protrude beyond the liquid container 401 in either the +X direction or the -X direction. Therefore, when a plurality of cartridges 4A are mounted adjacent to each other in the cartridge mounting portion 6, it is possible to prevent interference between the protruding portions 470.

[0048] 5, the liquid supply unit 442 extends in the +Z direction along the central axis CA2 and communicates with the inside of the liquid container 450. The liquid supply unit 442 is a cylindrical member that protrudes from the container bottom wall 431, which is the bottom surface of the liquid container 401, towards the adaptor 402 in the -Z direction. When the liquid container 401 and the adaptor 402 are assembled, the liquid supply unit 442 is accommodated in the concave-shaped supply unit arrangement chamber 461 of the adaptor 402. The above-mentioned insertion opening 446 is arranged in the -Z direction of the supply unit arrangement chamber 461.

[0049] The liquid supply unit 442 has an internal flow path 449. The liquid supply unit 442 distributes ink in the liquid storage unit 450 to the printer 1 via the internal flow path 449. A supply base end 442e2 which is a base end of the liquid supply unit 442 is connected to a storage body bottom wall 431 which is the bottom wall of the liquid storage body 401. A supply tip end 442e1 is provided to protrude from the storage body bottom wall 431 and is open to the outside.

[0050] An internal flow path 449 of the liquid supply unit 442 is provided with a valve mechanism (not shown) that opens and closes the internal flow path 449. In this valve mechanism, a valve seat, a valve body, and a biasing member are arranged in this order from the supply tip portion 442e1 side. The valve seat is an annular member made of rubber or elastomer. The valve body is a columnar member that closes a valve hole formed in the valve seat. The biasing member is, for example, a coil spring that biases the valve body toward the valve seat. When the cartridge 4A is in the attached state, a liquid introduction section (not shown) of the printer 1 pushes the valve body in a direction away from the valve seat, and the valve mechanism is opened.

[0051] To mount the cartridge 4A in the cartridge mounting portion 6, first, as shown in Fig. 6, the cartridge 4A is inserted into the housing chamber 61 through the insertion / removal opening 674 of the cartridge mounting portion 6. Note that in Figs. 6, 7, and 8, the Y-axis and Z-axis arrows point in different directions compared to Figs. 2 and 3, which illustrate the cartridge 4A alone.

[0052] The mounting engagement portion of the cartridge mounting portion 6 described above is disposed on the engagement formation body 677. A liquid storage portion 699 is built into the cartridge mounting portion 6 in the -Z direction.

[0053] An insertion direction D1 of the cartridge 4A into the cartridge mounting portion 6 is the -Y direction, which is along the extending direction of the cartridge guide portion 447. When the cartridge 4A is further advanced in the insertion direction D1 from the state shown in FIG. 6, it reaches the state shown in FIG.

[0054] As shown in Fig. 7, the cartridge 4A advances to the furthest position in the insertion direction D1 relative to the cartridge mounting portion 6 and stops, completing the insertion of the cartridge 4A. At this time, as described above, the multiple terminals of the mounting terminal portion of the printer 1 come into one-to-one contact with the multiple cartridge side terminals and are electrically connected. At this point, the cartridge 4A is not yet in an mounted state, and the end of the cartridge 4A in the +Y direction, i.e., the second wall 47 side, is rotated further in the connection direction D2 to reach the mounted state shown in Fig. 8.

[0055] 8, when the second wall 47 side is rotated in the connection direction D2, the cartridge 4A rotates about a rotation fulcrum 698 as the center of rotation in the cartridge mounting portion 6 to enter an attached state. In the attached state, the cartridge engaging portion 497 of the cartridge 4A engages with the mounting engaging portion 697 of the cartridge mounting portion 6. Therefore, the attached state is maintained and the cartridge 4A is fixed to the cartridge mounting portion 6. In the attached state, the upper wall 43 is not aligned with the Y axis, and the +Y direction of the cartridge 4A is inclined toward the -Z direction.

[0056] In the mounted state, the liquid supply portion 442 of the cartridge 4A and the liquid introduction portion 642 of the cartridge mounting portion 6 are connected. As a result, the ink contained in the liquid storage portion 450 of the cartridge 4A is supplied from the liquid supply portion 442 to the liquid introduction portion 642 and stored in the liquid storage portion 699. The ink in the liquid storage portion 699 is sequentially consumed in accordance with the operation of the ejection head 22.

[0057] According to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

[0058] It is possible to suppress leakage of ink due to falling. More specifically, when the cartridge falls with the second wall 47 facing downward, in other words, when the cartridge falls in the +Y direction or +α direction, the protruding portion 470 of the adapter 402 hits the ground or floor before the second wall 47. Since the liquid supply portion 442 is not disposed in the adapter 402, the impact of the impact is unlikely to be transmitted to the liquid supply portion 442. Furthermore, even if the second wall 47 comes into contact with the ground or the like during the fall, it is highly likely that the protruding portion 470 hits first, and the impact received by the liquid supply portion 442 is mitigated. Therefore, it is possible to provide a cartridge 4A that suppresses leakage of ink due to falling.

[0059] Furthermore, since the protruding portion 470 protrudes from the second wall 47, when the cartridge 4A is first pulled out from the cartridge mounting portion 6, the protruding portion 470 can be grasped together with the upper portion of the cartridge 4A and the cartridge 4A can be easily pulled out.

[0060] 2. Second embodiment In this embodiment, cartridges 4B and 4C applicable to the printer 1 described above are exemplified. The cartridges 4B and 4C according to this embodiment differ from the cartridge 4A of the above embodiment in that the protruding portion 470 of the adapter 402 is omitted, and shock absorbing portions are provided on at least a portion of the first wall 48, the second wall 47, and the pair of third walls 45 and 46. In the following description, the same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicated descriptions are omitted. Note that the protruding portion 470 may be provided on the cartridges 4B and 4C.

[0061] 9, the cartridge 4B includes a shock absorbing portion 480. In the cartridge 4B, the shock absorbing portion 480 is disposed on the second wall 47.

[0062] The second wall 47 has a smaller area than the first wall 48 and the third walls 45 and 46, and is therefore susceptible to impact with the ground or the like when the cartridge 4B falls with the second wall 47 facing downward. In contrast, the impact is easily absorbed by the impact absorbing portion 480, and the impact received by the cartridge 4B is mitigated.

[0063] 10 and 11, the second wall 47 has a recess 481 formed in a frame shape along a peripheral edge portion 47r of the second wall 47, and a central wall portion 47m surrounded by the recess 481 in a side view from the +Y direction. The recess 481 has an outer edge portion 483. The impact absorbing portion 480 includes the recess 481 and a curved portion described later.

[0064] 12, the second wall 47 has a recess 481 including an outer edge portion 483 and a curved portion 485 including a protrusion 482 between the peripheral edge portion 47r and the central wall portion 47m, and these components are arranged in this order. Note that FIG. 12 shows an enlarged view of the range R1 in FIG. 11.

[0065] The curved portion 485 connects the recessed portion 481 and the central wall portion 47m, and is disposed between the recessed portion 481 and the central wall portion 47m. The cross-sectional shape of the curved portion 485 along the XY plane is an arc shape. The curved portion 485 has a convex portion 482. The convex portion 482 is perpendicular to the second wall 47, and protrudes from the central wall portion 47m in the +α direction, which is a first direction from the inside to the outside of the liquid storage portion 450.

[0066] As a result, when the second wall 47 falls with the second wall 47 facing downward, the plane along the X-axis in FIG. 12 is assumed to be the ground or floor. Therefore, when the product falls, the convex portion 482 is likely to collide with the ground or the like first. Therefore, the impact of the collision is not easily transmitted to the central wall portion 47m. Also, the impact of the collision is attenuated by the bending and deformation of the curved portion 485 and the concave portion 481.

[0067] The recess 481 has an outer edge 483, which is set back further inward than the central wall 47m in the -α direction opposite to the +α direction in the liquid storage section 450. Since the recess 481 has the outer edge 483, the recess 481 becomes more easily deformable, and the impact of a collision is more easily attenuated.

[0068] The cartridge 4C described below may be used instead of the cartridge 4B. As shown in Fig. 13, the cartridge 4C has a configuration in which the outer edge portion 483 of the cartridge 4B is omitted. The cartridge 4C also provides the same effects as the cartridge 4B.

[0069] According to this embodiment, it is possible to obtain the same effects as those of the above embodiment.

[0070] 3. Third embodiment In this embodiment, a cartridge 4D that can be used with the above-described printer 1 is illustrated. The cartridge 4D according to this embodiment has a different shock absorbing portion in terms of arrangement and shape compared to the cartridges 4B and 4C according to the second embodiment. In the following description, the same reference numerals are used for the same components as in the above embodiment, and duplicate descriptions will be omitted.

[0071] 14, a cartridge 4D according to this embodiment has a shock absorbing portion 490. In the cartridge 4D, the shock absorbing portion 490 is provided on the first wall 48, the third walls 45 and 46, and the upper wall 43.

[0072] The shock absorbing portion 490 is located in a region RY between the center MP of the first wall 48 and an end of the second wall 47 in the direction along the Y axis, which is the longitudinal direction of the first wall 48, in a plan view from the +Z direction. In other words, the shock absorbing portion 490 is disposed in the first wall 48, the third walls 45, 46, and the upper wall 43, in a region RY between the center position of the first wall 48 in the direction along the Y axis to the second wall 47, which is the position of one end in the +Y direction.

[0073] The shock absorbing portion 490 is provided continuously on the surfaces of the upper wall 43, the third wall 45, the first wall 48, and the third wall 46 in a side view from the +α direction. The shock absorbing portion 490 extends parallel to the direction along the boundary between the second wall 47 and the third walls 45, 46, extends parallel to the direction along the boundary between the second wall 47 and the first wall 48, and extends parallel to the direction along the boundary between the second wall 47 and the upper wall 43.

[0074] 15, the shock absorbing portion 490 has grooves 491 provided on the surfaces of the third walls 45, 46. Although not shown, the grooves 491 are also provided on the surfaces of the first wall 48 and the upper wall 43. When the second wall 47 falls with the second wall 47 facing down, the grooves 491 deform, making it easier to attenuate the shock.

[0075] According to this embodiment, it is possible to obtain the same effects as those of the above embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0076] 1...Printer, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D...Cartridge as liquid storage container, 45, 46...Third wall, 47...Second wall, 47m...Central wall portion, 47r...Peripheral edge portion, 48...First wall, 402...Adapter, 442...Liquid supply portion, 450...Liquid storage portion, 470...Protrusion portion, 480, 490...Shock absorbing portion, 481...Recess, 482...Convex portion, 483...Outer edge portion, 485...Curved portion, 491...Groove portion.

Claims

1. A liquid storage container having a liquid supply unit for supplying liquid to a printer, A first wall in which the liquid supply portion is disposed between a center and one end in a longitudinal direction; a second wall intersecting the one end of the first wall; and a liquid storage section disposed inside the first wall and the second wall and communicating with the liquid supply section; an adapter attached to an exterior of the first wall and having an opening corresponding to the liquid supply; The second wall is formed to have a smaller area than the first wall, the adapter includes a protrusion that is perpendicular to the second wall and protrudes from the second wall in a first direction from the liquid storage portion toward the outside, Liquid storage container.

2. A liquid container including a liquid supply unit for supplying liquid to a printer and a liquid storage unit communicating with the liquid supply unit, A first wall in which the liquid supply portion is disposed between a center and one end in a longitudinal direction; a second wall intersecting the one end of the first wall; and a pair of third walls that intersect the first wall and the second wall and face each other with the second wall therebetween, the liquid storage portion is disposed inside the first wall, the second wall, and the pair of third walls; a shock absorbing portion is provided on at least a portion of the first wall, the second wall, and the pair of third walls; When the shock absorbing portion is disposed on at least a portion of the first wall and the third wall, the shock absorbing portion is disposed in a region from a center position of the first wall to a position of the one end in the longitudinal direction. Liquid storage container.

3. The liquid storage container according to claim 2, The second wall is formed to have an area smaller than those of the first wall and the third wall, The shock absorbing portion is disposed on the second wall. Liquid storage container.

4. The liquid storage container according to claim 3, The second wall is a recess formed along a periphery of the second wall; a central wall portion surrounded by the recess; a curved portion that connects the recess and the central wall portion and has an arc-shaped cross section; The shock absorbing portion includes the recess and the curved portion. Liquid storage container.

5. The liquid storage container according to claim 4, the curved portion has a convex portion that is perpendicular to the central wall portion and protrudes from the central wall portion in a first direction from the liquid storage portion toward the outside. Liquid storage container.

6. The liquid storage container according to claim 4 or 5, the recess has an outer edge portion that is recessed toward the inside of the liquid storage portion from the central wall portion; Liquid storage container.

7. The liquid storage container according to claim 2 or 3, The shock absorbing portion is disposed in the region of the first wall and the third wall, The shock absorbing portion has a groove portion extending parallel to a direction along a boundary between the second wall and the third wall. Liquid storage container.

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