Liquid storage container, manufacturing method of liquid storage container, and reusing method of liquid storage container

Abstract

To provide a liquid storage container that can be easily inspected for defects, that is to say, liquid storage containers with fewer defects can be reused, contributing to resource conservation and as a result, the technology described in this specification can contribute to the realization of a sustainable society, such as carbon-free / recycling-based society.SOLUTION: A liquid storage container has a storage section for storing liquid, a discharge section for discharging liquid, and a sealing section for sealing the discharge section. The liquid storage container contains a compound whose absorption spectrum peak changes when pressure is applied, and the compound exhibits tribo-chromism.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a liquid storage container, a method for manufacturing a liquid storage container, and a method for reusing a liquid storage container. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, there has been a growing demand for the reuse of resources in consideration of the environment. For example, returnable bottles used for drinking water, etc., are collected by retailers and then sent to a recycling plant where they are cleaned and sterilized. The returnable bottles are then reused by drinking water manufacturers to refill their contents. The cleaning process includes inspecting the containers, such as bottles, for defects such as cracks. Cracks in bottles are made visible by refraction when light is shone on them, making them relatively easy to inspect visually. Returnable bottles are said to last approximately eight years from the date of manufacture, and are recycled once any defects are found during inspection.

[0003] Even in the case of inkjet ink bottles, there are some products that are genuine ink bottles sold by non-genuine manufacturers as recycled products. It is expected that the reuse of ink bottles will increase in the future. Patent Document 1 discloses a container containing a substance inside, the container wall of which has a layered structure, and which includes a layer outside the innermost layer and inside the outermost layer that undergoes a color reaction in response to the substance being stored or to the outside air. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 6-122451 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the configuration of Patent Document 1, if a defect occurs in the outer layer of the container, the color of the container changes due to a color reaction with the outside air, making it possible to determine the defect. The inventors believe that if environmental awareness continues to advance, the reuse of various containers may become mandatory. For example, in the inkjet market, it is considered necessary to take measures to conserve resources for liquid containers such as refillable ink bottles. When reusing a liquid container, it is important to prevent deterioration in quality and leakage of the liquid contained therein.

[0006] The present disclosure is directed to providing a liquid storage container that can be easily inspected for defects. The present disclosure is also directed to providing a method for manufacturing the liquid storage container. Furthermore, the present disclosure is directed to providing a method for reusing the liquid storage container. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present disclosure provides: A liquid container having a storage section that stores a liquid, a discharge section that discharges the liquid, and a sealing section that seals the discharge section, the liquid storage container contains a compound whose absorption spectrum peak changes when pressure is applied to the liquid storage container and the liquid storage container is deformed; The present invention relates to a liquid-storage container, wherein the compound exhibits tribochromism.

[0008] The present disclosure provides: A method for manufacturing a liquid storage container according to the present disclosure, comprising: providing a pellet containing the compound and a resin; and The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a liquid storage container, which includes a molding step of molding the pellet to obtain the liquid storage container.

[0009] The present disclosure provides: A method for reusing a liquid container having a container portion that contains a liquid, a discharge portion that discharges the liquid, and a sealing portion that seals the discharge portion, comprising: at least one selected from the group consisting of the storage section, the discharge section, and the sealing section contains a compound whose absorption spectrum peak changes when pressure is applied and the compound is deformed; the compound exhibits tribochromism, The reuse method includes: a cleaning step of cleaning at least one selected from the group consisting of the storage section, the discharge section, and the sealing section; and a sorting step of sorting at least one selected from the group consisting of the storage section, the discharge section, and the sealing section obtained in the cleaning step based on whether or not there is a change in the peak of the absorption spectrum. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present disclosure, there is provided a liquid storage container that can be easily inspected for defects. The present disclosure also provides a method for manufacturing the liquid storage container. The present disclosure also provides a method for reusing the liquid storage container. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a liquid ejection device according to an embodiment; [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of a liquid ejection device according to an embodiment; [Figure 3] 1 is a perspective view of an ink bottle according to an embodiment; [Figure 4] Cross-sectional diagram of direct blow molding [Figure 5] (A) to (D) Illustration of direct blow molding [Figure 6] An explanatory diagram illustrating the change in the structure of the molecule represented by formula (1) [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an ink bottle according to an embodiment. [Figure 8] An explanatory diagram explaining the sealed portion [Figure 9] An explanatory diagram of a slit valve type nozzle according to one embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a nozzle and a cap according to an embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the relationship between a slit valve and a protrusion according to an embodiment. [Figure 12] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a nozzle according to an embodiment; [Figure 13] 1 is a perspective view of a liquid tank of a liquid ejection device according to an embodiment; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] In the present disclosure, expressions such as "XX or more and YY or less" or "XX to YY" representing a numerical range mean a numerical range including the upper and lower limits, which are the endpoints, unless otherwise specified. When a numerical range is described in stages, the upper and lower limits of each numerical range can be combined arbitrarily. Furthermore, in the present disclosure, expressions such as "at least one selected from the group consisting of XX, YY, and ZZ" mean any of XX, YY, ZZ, a combination of XX and YY, a combination of XX and ZZ, a combination of YY and ZZ, or a combination of XX, YY, and ZZ.

[0013] The present disclosure provides: a storage section for storing a liquid, a discharge section for discharging the liquid, and a sealing section for sealing the discharge section; A liquid storage container having: the liquid storage container contains a compound whose absorption spectrum peak changes when pressure is applied to the liquid storage container and the liquid storage container is deformed; The present invention relates to a liquid-storage container, wherein the compound exhibits tribochromism.

[0014] The liquid container of the present disclosure is, for example, a CISS (Continuous Ink Supply System) bottle that contains inkjet ink. Note that, although the present embodiment will be described using an ink bottle as an example, the object contained in the bottle is not limited to ink, and any liquid can be contained therein. The liquid storage container can also be applied to a disposable head equipped with a substrate for ejecting ink, an ink tank in which only the ink tank is replaced, or a bag-type ink bag that stores a large amount of ink.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a liquid ejection apparatus 1001 according to this embodiment. The liquid ejection device is a serial type inkjet recording device, and has a housing 002 and a large-capacity liquid tank 003 arranged inside the housing 002. The liquid tank 003 contains ink, which is a liquid to be ejected onto a recording medium (not shown). That is, it is preferable that inkjet ink is contained inside the liquid container.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the internal configuration of the main part of the liquid ejection device 001 shown in FIG. The liquid ejection device 001 includes a transport roller 008 for transporting a recording medium (not shown), a carriage 005 provided with a liquid ejection head 004 for ejecting liquid, and a carriage motor 006 for driving the carriage 005. The recording medium may be, for example, paper, but the type of recording medium is not particularly limited as long as an image is formed on the recording medium by the liquid ejected from the liquid ejection head 004. The recording medium is transported intermittently by the transport roller 008 being driven to rotate intermittently. The carriage 005 moves back and forth in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the recording medium as the carriage motor 006 rotates. During this back and forth scanning, liquid is ejected onto the recording medium from ejection ports provided in the liquid ejection head 004, thereby recording an image or the like on the recording medium.

[0017] The liquid is stored in a liquid tank 003 and is supplied to the liquid ejection head 004 through a liquid flow path 007 . In this embodiment, for example, cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks are used as the liquids. Four liquid tanks 003a to 003d, each containing an ink of a respective color, are provided as the liquid tanks 003. The four liquid tanks 003a to 003d are arranged on the front side of the liquid ejection device 001 inside the housing 002.

[0018] Fig. 3A is a perspective view of an ink bottle according to this embodiment, and Fig. 3B is a perspective view showing the ink bottle in Fig. 3A in an unfolded state. The ink bottle 009 has a container 010, a nozzle 011 for discharging liquid ink, and a cap 012. The material of the liquid storage container is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include resins such as polyethylene terephthalate resin, polypropylene resin, polyethylene resin, polyvinyl chloride resin, polystyrene resin, etc. In this embodiment, a liquid storage container made of polypropylene will be described.

[0019] 3A and 3B, the container 010 is cylindrical, but the shape of the container is not particularly limited as long as it can contain a liquid such as ink, and may be, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped. In addition, the container is preferably hollow. The nozzle 011 is a discharge part that discharges the liquid and has an opening 021. The outlet preferably has an opening through which the liquid can be discharged from the container. In addition, in Figures 3A and 3B, the nozzle 011 has a hollow cone portion 011-1 and a hollow screw portion 020, but the shape of the nozzle is not particularly limited. The cap portion 012 is a sealing portion that seals the discharge portion. The cap portion 012 covers the opening 021 of the nozzle 011, and the nozzle 011 is covered by the cap portion 012. That is, it is preferable that the sealing portion covers at least a part of the discharge portion. When the discharge portion has an opening, it is more preferable that the sealing portion covers the opening of the discharge portion.

[0020] 3B shows an exploded view of the ink bottle in FIG. 3A. For example, it is preferable that the outer surface of the container 010 is structured to screw together with the inner surface of the nozzle 011. It is also preferable that the outer surface of the screw-on portion 011-2 of the nozzle 011 is structured to screw together with the inner surface of the cap portion 012. Specifically, a male screw 019 is formed on the outer surface of the upper part of the containing portion 010. A female screw (not shown) is formed on the inner surface of the lower part of the nozzle 011. The female screw is then threadedly engaged with the male screw 019 on the outer surface of the containing portion 010. Furthermore, a male screw is formed as the threaded portion 020 on the outer surface of the nozzle 011. A female screw (not shown) is formed on the inner surface of the lower part of the cap portion 012. The female screw is then threadedly engaged with the male screw as the threaded portion 020 on the outer surface of the nozzle 011.

[0021] The ink bottle can be filled with ink by gas-liquid exchange by removing the cap 012 and inserting the nozzle 011 into the ink filling port of the printer body. Once all the ink has been poured into the machine, the empty ink bottles are recapped and collected. Some of the collected ink bottles may have had their caps removed, or may have had their nozzles removed, or may have been crushed or deformed during the collection process.

[0022] Meanwhile, in recent years, research has been conducted into the phenomenon in which a material emits light or changes its absorption spectrum peak due to mechanical stimuli (for example, compression, stretching, shearing, bending, impact, friction, etc.). This phenomenon is called mechanochromism, and it has attracted attention as a possible application for stress detection, hazard prediction, and lifespan prediction in materials toward the realization of a safe and secure society. However, most mechanochromism is a reversible property, and many of them return to their original absorption spectrum within a few hours.

[0023] The liquid storage container contains a compound whose absorption spectrum peak changes when pressure is applied and the container is deformed. As a result, when pressure is applied to at least a portion of the liquid storage container and the container is deformed, the absorption spectrum peak of the deformed portion changes. If such a change occurs in a portion, it can be determined that a defect has occurred in the liquid storage container. This change can be confirmed by measuring the deformed portion of the liquid storage container using a spectrophotometer. Thus, by containing the compound in the liquid storage container, scratched or deformed liquid storage containers that are expected to occur during the recycling process can be screened by a simple inspection using the reuse method of the present disclosure, and liquid storage containers whose reliability has been confirmed can be reused inexpensively.

[0024] In particular, if a deformed ink bottle is reused, there is a risk of ink leakage and discoloration of components that come into contact with the ink. Therefore, when the liquid storage container is an ink bottle, it is particularly important that the ink bottle contains a compound whose absorption spectrum peak changes when pressure is applied and the bottle is deformed. It is also preferable that the entire liquid storage container contains the compound, which will be described later.

[0025] It is also preferable that at least one selected from the group consisting of the storage portion, the discharge portion, and the sealing portion contains the compound. When collecting liquid storage containers, it is expected that they will be collected in a collection box, etc. In the collection box, it is expected that foreign matter other than the liquid storage container, such as metal, may be mixed in, liquid storage containers that do not have a discharge part or a sealing part may be mixed in, the liquid storage container may be crushed, or the liquid storage container may be damaged, and therefore it is thought that defects in the liquid storage containers may easily occur.

[0026] When the storage portion contains the compound, it is possible to check for defects occurring in the storage portion. If a defect occurs in the storage portion, the liquid stored in the liquid storage container may leak from the storage portion. Even if the defect is not severe enough to cause the liquid to leak, if the defect spreads during logistics, at a retailer, or at the customer's location, the liquid may leak from the storage portion. Therefore, it is preferable to be able to check for defects occurring in the storage portion. Furthermore, when the storage portion contains the compound, and the compound is a compound whose peak in the absorption spectrum in the visible region changes when pressure is applied and the compound is deformed, it is preferable that the liquid storage container has a label portion that covers at least a portion of the storage portion, which makes it less likely for customers to mistake the liquid storage container for a defective product even if at least a portion of the storage portion is deformed and discolored when pressure is applied. The storage portion preferably contains a resin as described in the description of the liquid storage container.

[0027] If the discharge part contains the compound, it is possible to check for defects occurring in the discharge part. For example, if the liquid container is an ink bottle, the discharge part may have various functions, such as preventing the wrong color from being poured and preventing ink from dripping. Such a discharge part can be considered a high-value-added component. If a defect occurs in the discharge part, the above functions may no longer be performed. Therefore, it is preferable to be able to check for defects occurring in the discharge part. The discharge portion preferably contains a resin as described in the description of the liquid storage container.

[0028] When the sealing portion contains the compound, defects occurring in the sealing portion can be confirmed. The sealing portion seals the discharge portion of the liquid storage container and prevents the liquid from leaking or evaporating from the liquid storage container. Therefore, if a defect occurs in the sealing portion, the liquid may leak or evaporate from the liquid storage container. Therefore, it is preferable to be able to confirm defects occurring in the sealing portion. The sealing portion preferably contains the resin described in the description of the liquid storage container.

[0029] The liquid storage container preferably has an identification region containing a compound whose absorption spectrum peak changes when the identification region is deformed by application of pressure, whereby when the identification region is deformed by application of pressure, the absorption spectrum peak of the identification region changes. While there are no particular limitations on the location of the identification region on the liquid storage container, it is preferable that at least one selected from the group consisting of the storage section, the discharge section, and the sealing section have the identification region. For example, at least a portion of at least one selected from the group consisting of the storage section, the discharge section, and the sealing section may be used as the identification region. For example, it is preferable that the storage section has an identification region 013 at the base of the male screw 019 of the storage section 010 in FIG. 3B.

[0030] By providing an identification area to the liquid storage container, a marking portion can be provided by applying pressure to the liquid storage container each time it is reused. If, for example, one mark is provided each time a liquid storage container is reused, the number of times the liquid storage container can be reused can be determined by counting the number of marks when the liquid storage container is collected. By knowing the number of times the liquid storage container can be reused, liquid storage containers that have reached their limit on the number of times they can be used can be recycled, and liquid storage containers that are still usable can be reused.

[0031] There are no particular restrictions on the method of applying pressure to the identification area as long as the liquid container is not damaged. For example, a rod with a cylinder inner diameter of 30 mm is pressed with an indenter with a tip diameter of 1 mm at a pressure of 0.49 MPa. If the mark is applied and deformed to form a depression, the peak of the absorption spectrum of the identification region changes. The pressure conditions for applying the mark can be controlled by adjusting the cylinder inner diameter, indenter diameter, and pressure. For example, the cylinder inner diameter may be 25 to 50 mm. The indenter diameter may be 0.5 to 2.0 mm. Furthermore, the pressure may be 0.3 to 0.6 MPa. From the viewpoint of preventing breakage of the container, it is preferable that the thickness of the identification region is large, specifically, the thickness of the identification region is preferably 1.0 to 2.0 mm.

[0032] Some containers, such as polystyrene containers, have uneven density between stretched and compressed portions, causing light to be scattered and appear white. However, if the liquid container is white or other colored, the whiteness of the liquid container may not be apparent even if it is deformed. However, even in the case where the liquid container is white, the liquid container of the present disclosure can be easily inspected for defects. Furthermore, if the compound whose absorption spectrum peak changes when deformed by pressure is a compound whose absorption spectrum peak in the visible region changes when deformed by pressure, and if the liquid container is white, the discoloration of the deformed portion due to pressure will be more pronounced, making it easier to visually screen for defective bottles.

[0033] Fig. 7 shows a detailed configuration example of an ink bottle according to another embodiment. Fig. 7A is a diagram showing an example of a component configuration diagram of the ink bottle. Fig. 7B is a cross-sectional view of the ink bottle shown in Fig. 7A in a combined state. Inside the nozzle 22, there are provided a seal 24 having an opening, a valve 25 for opening and closing the opening of the seal 24, a spring 26 for biasing the valve 25, and a holder 27 for fixing the spring 26. When ink is supplied from the ink bottle to the liquid tank 003, the nozzle 22 is inserted into the inlet of the liquid tank 003. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the liquid tank 12 of the liquid ejection device according to one embodiment. 123 denotes a tank cover. The nozzle 22 is provided with a recess that engages with a protrusion provided on the liquid ejection device 001, and the ink bottle is positioned when the inlet 122 of FIG. 13 is inserted into the opening of the nozzle 22. Then, the ink in the ink bottle is accommodated in the tank body 121 through the inlet 122 due to the hydraulic head difference.

[0034] The ink bottle of this embodiment has two sealable portions (hereinafter referred to as "sealable portions"). Figure 8 is an explanatory diagram of the sealed portions, and the first sealed portion is sealed by fitting the cap 23 and nozzle 22 together, as shown in Figure 8A. The second seal is formed by a valve structure within nozzle 22, as shown in Figure 8B. The seals are described below.

[0035] Figure 8A is a cross-sectional view of the upper part of the ink bottle with the cap 23 attached to the nozzle 22. The right side of Figure 8A is an enlarged view of the cross-sectional view. The first sealing portion is a portion where cap seal portion 23b of cap 23 and nozzle seal portion 22d, which is a part of injection port 22a of nozzle 22, are fitted together when cap 23 is attached to nozzle 22. An example of a method for attaching the cap 23 to the nozzle 22 is to screw the nozzle 22 and the cap 23 together. Specifically, as shown in Figures 7A to 7B and 8A, this method involves screwing together a nozzle thread portion 22b having a male thread structure formed on the outside of the nozzle 22 and a cap thread portion 23a having a female thread structure formed on the inside of the lower part of the cap 23. Conversely, a cap 23 having a male thread and a nozzle 22 having a female thread may be used.

[0036] In addition, as a method other than screwing the cap 23 onto the nozzle 22, a fitting method other than the sealing portion may be used. For example, the cap 23 may be a snap-fit ​​type that fits on the outside of the nozzle 22. Alternatively, the cap 23 may be an internal snap-fit ​​type that fits on the inside of the nozzle 22.

[0037] Figure 8B is a cross-sectional view of the top of the ink bottle without the cap 23. The right side of Figure 8B is an enlarged view of the cross-sectional view. The second sealing portion is a liquid stop valve structure (valve structure) disposed inside the ink bottle's nozzle 22. As shown in Fig. 8B, the nozzle 22 is provided with a seal 24, which is an orifice portion having an opening at its tip (the upper end in Fig. 8B) into which the injection port 122 is inserted. Then, a valve 25, which is the valve element of the liquid stop valve, is biased toward the opening side by a spring 26, thereby closing the gap between the seal 24 and the valve 25 and sealing the bottle 21. In this embodiment, a spring 26 is used as the biasing member, and the spring 26 is held by a holder 27 and fixed in the internal space of the nozzle 22. The material of the seal 24 is not particularly limited, but it is preferable that the seal 24 be made of a flexible material such as rubber or elastomer. With this liquid stop valve structure, the valve 25 is biased by the spring 26 toward the opening of the seal 24. Therefore, even when the cap 23 is removed from the nozzle 22, the inside of the ink bottle can be kept sealed.

[0038] When ink is to be supplied to the liquid tank 003, the filler port 122 is inserted into the nozzle 22 through the opening of the seal 24, thereby opening the valve 25. Then, as described above, the ink in the ink bottle is supplied to the storage chamber of the tank body 121 through the filler port 122 due to the hydraulic head difference.

[0039] In this embodiment, when the cap 23 is opened from the nozzle 22 and when the cap 23 is closed onto the nozzle, the first sealing portion and the second sealing portion are temporarily opened simultaneously. This allows the inside of the bottle 21 to communicate with the atmosphere, and the pressure inside the ink bottle can be made equal to the atmospheric pressure. This will be explained in detail below.

[0040] First, when cap 23 is in the closed state, the first sealed portion is in a sealed state, as shown in FIG. 8A. Meanwhile, in the second sealed portion, protrusion 23f arranged on cap 23 is pressed in the direction opposite to the direction in which valve 25 is biased when cap 23 is closed, thereby forming a gap between seal 24 and valve 25. Thus, in Figure 8A, the second sealing portion is in an open state. That is, when cap 23 is in the closed state, the first sealing portion is sealed and the second sealing portion is open. Figure 8C is a cross-sectional view of the top of the ink bottle when the state in Figure 8A where cap 23 is attached to nozzle 22 has shifted to a state where cap 23 is beginning to open. The right side of Figure 8C is an enlarged view of the cross-sectional view.

[0041] As cap 23 is opened, it moves upward from the closed state shown in Fig. 8A to the state shown in Fig. 8C. As cap 23 moves, cap seal portion 23b and nozzle seal portion 22d separate, and the first sealing portion is opened. When the first sealing part is opened, the protrusion 23f on the cap 23 is still in the position to press the valve 25, as shown in Figure 8C. In other words, the second sealing part remains open. Therefore, as shown in Figure 8C, when the first sealing part is opened, the second sealing part can also be opened at the same time.

[0042] Thereafter, when cap 23 is further moved upward, protrusion 23f moves completely away from valve 25 as cap 23 moves, and the second sealing portion is sealed as shown in FIG. 8B. When cap 23 is closed from the open state, protrusion 23f of cap 23 pushes valve 25 in as cap 23 moves, opening the second sealing portion. At this time, the first sealing portion remains open because it is in the pre-sealing state. After that, by closing cap 23, the first sealing portion becomes sealed. The phrase "the first sealed portion and the second sealed portion are opened simultaneously" means that they are opened substantially simultaneously. When the opening of the first sealed portion causes the opening of the second sealed portion in conjunction with this, both are opened simultaneously.

[0043] With the configuration described above, when the cap 23 is opened, the first sealing portion and the second sealing portion are temporarily opened simultaneously, thereby communicating the inside of the bottle 21 with the atmosphere and equalizing the pressure inside the bottle 21 with the outside air pressure. Therefore, when the cap 23 is opened and ink is refilled from the ink bottle into the tank body 121, it is possible to prevent ink from being sprayed out due to an increase in the internal pressure of the ink bottle. It is also possible to prevent liquid from spilling from the tank body 121. Furthermore, even when the cap 23 is opened, the inside of the ink bottle remains sealed by the second sealing portion, so that leakage of liquid can be prevented even if the ink bottle is turned upside down.

[0044] Figure 9 is an explanatory diagram of a slit valve type nozzle 22 according to another embodiment, in which Figure 9A is a cross-sectional view of the nozzle 22 and Figure 9B is a plan view of the slit valve. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the nozzle 22 and the cap 23 of this embodiment. The nozzle 22 has an injection port 122c for injecting ink and a nozzle seal portion 122d made of an annular rib provided along the periphery of the injection port 122c. The inlet 122c is provided with a slit valve 124 that opens and closes according to the internal pressure of the ink bottle. The slit valve 124 has a valve body 124a made of a flexible material and three intersecting slits 124b formed in the valve body 124a, and can seal the inlet 122c when closed. The valve body 124a has six divided pieces 124c formed by the three slits 124b. The number of slits 124b is not limited to this, and may be two, four, or more. In this case, it is preferable that the multiple slits are formed so as to be 2n-fold symmetrical about the center of the valve body 124a. This allows the divided pieces 124c to open evenly, allowing the liquid in the ink bottle to be poured smoothly.

[0045] The bottom surface of cap 23 (the surface facing injection port 122c) is provided with cap seal portion 123b consisting of an annular rib and protrusion 123c protruding toward slit valve 124. When cap 23 is attached to nozzle 22, cap seal portion 123b fits with nozzle seal portion 122d, thereby sealing injection port 122c together with nozzle seal portion 122d. When injection port 122c is sealed by cap seal portion 123b and nozzle seal portion 122d, the tip of protrusion 123c faces valve element 124a of slit valve 124 at a position laterally spaced from intersection 124d of multiple slits 124b. The lateral direction here corresponds to the radial direction of nozzle 22. As will be described later, a configuration such as protrusion 123c allows the internal pressure of bottle 21 to be released if the internal pressure is higher than the external air pressure when cap 23 is opened. In this embodiment, protrusion 123c is provided integrally with cap 23, but it may also be provided separately from cap 23.

[0046] Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the relationship between slit valve 124 and protrusion 123c according to one embodiment. Figures 11A and 11B are cross-sectional views showing the relationship between the slit valve and the protrusion when the cap is opened. When cap 23 is attached to nozzle 22 and injection port 122c is sealed, as described above, protrusion 123c faces valve body 124a at a position laterally spaced from intersection 124d of slit 124b and is not in contact with valve body 124a. When cap 23 begins to be opened, cap seal portion 123b and nozzle seal portion 122d are disengaged, and injection port 122c is unsealed.

[0047] At this time, if the internal pressure of the ink bottle is higher than the atmospheric pressure, as shown in Figure 11A, valve element 124a of slit valve 124 bulges outward and deforms due to the internal pressure of bottle 21. When bulging valve element 124a comes into contact with protrusion 123c, slit 124b opens, releasing the pressure inside bottle 21 and eliminating the bulge in valve element 124a. Thereafter, when cap 23 is completely removed, slit 124b closes and injection port 122c is sealed again, as shown in FIG. 11B.

[0048] When ink is injected from the ink bottle into the liquid tank 12, the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the ink bottle is eliminated and the injection port 122c is sealed. Therefore, simply tilting the ink bottle does not apply the pressure required to open the slit 124b to the slit valve 124, preventing ink from leaking from the injection port 122c.

[0049] On the other hand, FIGS. 11C and 11D are cross-sectional views showing the relationship between the slit valve and the protrusion when the cap is closed. If the internal pressure of bottle 21 increases while cap 23 is not attached to nozzle 22, valve element 124a of slit valve 124 bulges outward and deforms, as shown in FIG. 11C. When cap 23 begins to be closed, protrusion 123c comes into contact with bulged valve element 124a before cap seal portion 123b and nozzle seal portion 122d are fitted together, as shown in FIG. 11D. This causes slit 124b to open, releasing the pressure inside bottle 21 and eliminating the bulge in valve element 124a. Slit 124b then closes, sealing injection port 122c.

[0050] At this time, since the bulge of the valve body 124a has disappeared, the protrusion 123c faces the valve body 124a at a position laterally spaced from the intersection 124d of the slit 124b, and is not in contact with the valve body 124a. With this mechanism, even if the internal pressure of the ink bottle rises, the projection 123c comes into contact with the slit valve 124 when the cap 23 is opened or closed, thereby allowing the internal pressure to be released to the outside.

[0051] The length of the protrusion 123c is not particularly limited, and can be set to an optimum length depending on the amount of deformation that the valve body 124a actually undergoes when the internal pressure of the bottle 21 increases. For example, when the amount of deformation of valve body 124a is relatively small, with injection port 122c sealed by cap seal portion 123b and nozzle seal portion 122d, the tip of protrusion 123c may come into contact with valve body 124a to an extent that does not deform valve body 124a.

[0052] When the protrusion 123c is brought into contact with the expanded valve body 124a, the tip of the protrusion 123c may be made to face the intersection 124d of the slit 124b with the cap 23 attached to the nozzle 22 (with the injection port 122c sealed). However, in this case, if protrusion 123c is thin, protrusion 123c may be inserted into slit 124b near intersection 124d when valve body 124a expands, and slit 124b may remain closed. Therefore, in this case, it is preferable that protrusion 123c has a thickness that allows slit 124b to open.

[0053] Furthermore, even if protrusion 123c is inserted as described above, slit 124b may remain closed, and as a result, even if protrusion 123c comes into contact with swollen valve body 124a, the internal pressure of bottle 21 may not be released. From this viewpoint, it is preferable that the tip of protrusion 123c faces valve element 124a of slit valve 124 at a position laterally spaced from intersection 124d of multiple slits 124b when injection port 122c is sealed.

[0054] 12A and 12B are cross-sectional views illustrating a nozzle according to one embodiment. 12A and 12B are cross-sectional views of a nozzle 22. In FIG. 12, the nozzle 22 has a conical portion 110 and a threaded portion 125. 12A, the cone portion 110 protrudes in a first direction 134 from the outer surface of the bottom wall 111 of the nozzle 22. In other words, even when the nozzle 22 is attached to the ink bottle, the cone portion 110 protrudes in the first direction 134 from the ink bottle. The cone portion 110 may protrude from the bottom wall 111 in a first direction 134 and may protrude from the bottom wall 111 in a second direction 135. The cone portion 110 is also provided so as to penetrate the bottom wall 111.

[0055] In FIG. 12, the cone portion 110 is generally cylindrical in shape, and has an outer surface 112 whose cross section is a circumferential surface. An outer surface 113 that is a part of the outer surface 112 has a tapered shape, and is inclined in a direction in which the diameter of the outer circumferential circle becomes smaller from the bottom wall 111 toward the first direction 134 . This shape allows smooth movement when the cone portion 110 is inserted into the reservoir starting from the distal end side away from the ink bottle.

[0056] A columnar part such as a cylindrical or rectangular columnar part may be used instead of the conical part 110. For example, the diameter of the outer circumferential circle may be substantially the same from the bottom wall 111 to the tip, and the outer surface may extend in the vertical direction.

[0057] The cone portion 110 has a flow passage 90 for the flow of ink and gas. The flow passage 90 penetrates the nozzle 22 along a first direction 134. 12, the flow path 90 extends along the first direction 134, but is not limited to this and may be curved. The cross-sectional shape of the flow path 90 may be circular or may be a shape other than circular.

[0058] When the nozzle 22 is attached to the container of the ink bottle, one end of the flow path 90 communicates with the container through the opening 93 . The other end of the flow path, on the nozzle distal end side away from the ink bottle, communicates with the outside of the nozzle 22 through an opening 94. The shape of the opening 93 is not particularly limited, but it may be, for example, circular. The opening 93 may be formed at any part of the base end of the cone portion 110, and is not limited to the base end surface 114.

[0059] The opening 94 is formed in a tip surface 115 that constitutes the end of the conical portion 110 in the first direction 134. The shape of the opening 94 is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, circular.

[0060] 12B is a cross-sectional view of a two-hole nozzle according to one embodiment, in which the nozzle has a first flow path 191 and a second flow path 192. The first flow path 191 and the second flow path 192 may have the same or different lengths along the ink flow direction, and the cross-sectional shapes and cross-sectional areas of the first flow path 191 and the second flow path cross section 192 may be the same or different.

[0061] The nozzle may have a flow path other than the first flow path 191 and the second flow path 192. That is, the nozzle may have a plurality of flow paths. The number of the plurality of flow paths 190 may be more than two. The length and shape of each of the plurality of flow paths 190 may be the same or different.

[0062] 12B, 1A opening 193 and 1B opening 195 formed at the base end of cone portion 110 are formed on the same plane. 1A opening 193 and 1B opening 195 may be formed on different surfaces. 2A opening 194 and 2B opening 196 are formed at distal end surface 115 that constitutes the end of cone portion 110 in first direction 134. 2A opening 194 and 2B opening 196 may be formed at any location other than distal end surface 115 as long as they are at the distal end of cone portion 110.

[0063] 12B, 1A opening 193, 1B opening 195, 2A opening 194, and 2B opening 196 are circular. However, 1A opening 193, 1B opening 195, 2A opening 194, and 2B opening 196 may have a shape other than circular.

[0064] 12A and 12B, the tip of the cone portion 110 is, for example, a portion of the cone portion 110 that is configured by the tip surface 115 and the outer surface 112. The cone portion 110 has a recess 116 on the outer surface 112. The recess 116 is defined by the tip surface 115 and an inner surface 118 (one surface of the side surface) of an annular rib 117 that protrudes in the first direction 134 from the outer edge of the tip surface 115. In other words, the tip surface 115 is recessed from the tip of the conical portion 110 (the tip of the annular rib 117).

[0065] The inner surface 118 extends from the tip surface 115 in the first direction 134 toward the outer edge of the tip surface 115. In other words, the inner surface 118 extends in the first direction 134 while inclining in a direction that widens the diameter of the recess 116. The inner surface 118 may extend along the first direction 134 without being inclined. Also, the cone portion 110 may not have the recess 116. In other words, the tip of the cone portion 110 may not be recessed.

[0066] Hereinafter, a compound whose absorption spectrum peak changes when pressure is applied and the compound is deformed will be described. For example, chromic molecules whose molecular structure changes in response to external pressure or stimuli change their absorption spectrum. The present inventors have conceived the idea of ​​using a resin material to which a polymer obtained by polymerizing chromic molecules has been added for molding a liquid storage container.

[0067] An example of the chromic molecule is a molecule represented by the following formula (1) (3-dicyclopropylmethylene-5-dicyanomethylene-4-diphenylmethylenetetrahydrofuran-2-one). [ka]

[0068] X-ray structural analysis has revealed that a polymer formed by polymerizing molecules represented by the above formula (1) changes color from yellow to red when the three-dimensional structure of the diphenylmethylene moiety is distorted by the application of pressure. Figure 6 shows how the structure of the molecule represented by the above formula (1) changes when pressure is applied. The molecule represented by formula (1) is yellow, and the molecule after pressure is applied is red. It is believed that the structure derived from the molecule represented by formula (1) in the polymer also changes in color in the same way in the polymer formed by polymerizing molecules represented by formula (1).

[0069] Chromic molecules include, for example, molecules that exhibit piezochromism and molecules that exhibit tribochromism, which are properties that change the peak of their absorption spectrum in response to mechanical stimulation. In this disclosure, irreversible tribochromism is considered appropriate for identifying defects in liquid storage containers. That is, a compound whose absorption spectrum peak changes when pressure is applied and the compound is deformed exhibits tribochromism. In this disclosure, tribochromism refers to irreversible properties that change the peak of an absorption spectrum in response to mechanical stimulation. Here, irreversible means that the peak of the absorption spectrum does not return to its original state even when left alone after being changed by mechanical stimulation. The molecule exhibiting tribochromism may be at least one selected from the group consisting of the molecule represented by the above formula (1), fluorenylidene acridan, tetraphenylpyrene, and derivatives thereof, and is preferably at least one compound selected from the group consisting of fluorenylidene acridan and tetraphenylpyrene. Furthermore, the compound whose absorption spectrum peak changes when pressure is applied and deformed is preferably a polymer of a chromic molecule. Here, the compound may be a polymer of a chromic molecule and a molecule other than a chromic molecule. For example, the compound can be obtained by introducing a reactive functional group such as a vinyl group into a chromic molecule and copolymerizing the chromic molecule with a monomer that reacts with the reactive functional group. The present disclosure is not limited to this, and other materials whose absorption wavelength changes when pressure is applied can also be used.

[0070] The content of the compound in the liquid storage container whose absorption spectrum peak changes when pressure is applied and the container is deformed is not particularly limited, but may be 0.1 to 10 mass%. Furthermore, when the storage portion contains the compound, the content of the compound in the storage portion is not particularly limited, but may be 0.1 to 10 mass%. Furthermore, when the discharge portion contains the compound, the content of the compound in the discharge portion is not particularly limited, but may be 0.1 to 10 mass%. Furthermore, when the sealing portion contains the compound, the content of the compound in the sealing portion is not particularly limited, but may be 0.1 to 10 mass%.

[0071] In a compound whose absorption spectrum peak changes when deformed by application of pressure, the position of the peak top may change, or the intensity of the peak top may change, but it is preferable that the position of the peak top changes. It is preferable that when pressure is applied to the compound, the position of the peak top of the absorption spectrum shifts by 250 to 400 nm, which makes it easier to identify defects in the liquid storage container. Furthermore, the compound whose absorption spectrum peak changes when deformed by application of pressure is preferably a compound whose absorption spectrum peak in the visible region changes when deformed by application of pressure. When the absorption spectrum peak in the visible region changes, the color changes when observed visually. Therefore, defects in the liquid storage container can be identified visually. This makes defect inspection even easier. Furthermore, it is more preferable that the peak top position of the absorption spectrum of the compound in the visible region shifts by 250 to 400 nm when pressure is applied to the compound, which makes it easier to visually identify defects in the liquid storage container.

[0072] The form in which the liquid storage container contains the compound is not particularly limited. When the liquid storage container contains a resin, it is preferable that the resin contains the compound. The present inventors have found that in the configuration of Patent Document 1, the reagent that changes the color of the container may leak out. However, unlike the configuration of Patent Document 1, by including the compound in the resin, the compound is less likely to leak out. Similarly, when at least one selected from the group consisting of the storage portion, the discharge portion, and the sealing portion contains a resin, it is preferable that the resin contains the compound.

[0073] In each of the above-described configuration examples, the liquid ejection device using an ink bottle as a liquid storage container is a serial type liquid ejection device that ejects liquid from a liquid ejection head in accordance with the reciprocating movement of a carriage. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the liquid storage container may be used in a so-called full-line type liquid ejection device that includes a liquid ejection head in which ejection ports are formed across the width of the recording medium.

[0074] A method for reusing a liquid container will be described below. The method for reusing liquid containers is as follows: A method for reusing a liquid container having a container portion that contains a liquid, a discharge portion that discharges the liquid, and a sealing portion that seals the discharge portion, comprising: at least one selected from the group consisting of the storage section, the discharge section, and the sealing section contains a compound whose absorption spectrum peak changes when pressure is applied and the compound is deformed; the compound exhibits tribochromism, The reuse method includes: a cleaning step of cleaning at least one selected from the group consisting of the storage section, the discharge section, and the sealing section; and a selection step of selecting at least one selected from the group consisting of the storage section, the discharge section, and the sealing section obtained in the cleaning step based on whether or not there is a change in the peak of the absorption spectrum.

[0075] The method for reusing a liquid storage container includes a cleaning step of cleaning at least one selected from the group consisting of the storage portion, the discharge portion, and the sealing portion. That is, the method for reusing a liquid storage container may involve reusing a portion of the components that make up the liquid storage container, or the entire liquid storage container. Hereinafter, the portion of the components that make up the liquid storage container and the entire liquid storage container will also be referred to as the liquid storage container, etc. The cleaning step makes the cleaned liquid storage container, etc., reusable. A known process can be used for the cleaning step. In this method, at least one selected from the group consisting of the storage section, the discharge section, and the sealing section is cleaned. In particular, cleaning of highly functional components is preferred. For example, by reusing functional sections such as the discharge section, which are expensive to manufacture, it is possible to conserve resources and provide customers with inexpensive ink bottles.

[0076] The method for reusing a liquid storage container includes a sorting step of sorting at least one selected from the group consisting of the storage portion, the discharge portion, and the sealing portion obtained in the cleaning step based on whether or not a peak in the absorption spectrum has changed. As described above, the sorting step can be easily performed because the liquid storage container contains a compound whose peak in the absorption spectrum changes when deformed by application of pressure. By performing the sorting step, liquid storage containers and the like with few defects can be reused.

[0077] For example, if the liquid storage container does not have the above-mentioned identification region, the liquid storage container is separated into those for which no change in the absorption spectrum peak is confirmed and those for which a change in the absorption spectrum peak is confirmed, thereby enabling the reuse of liquid storage containers with few defects. Furthermore, if the liquid storage container or the like has the above-mentioned identification area, a change in the absorption spectrum peak is confirmed for the portion other than the identification area, and liquid storage containers or the like are separated into those in which a change in the absorption spectrum peak is not confirmed and those in which a change in the absorption spectrum peak is confirmed. The marking portion in the identification area may be a marking portion provided by the reuse method of the present disclosure. On the other hand, the marking portion in the portion other than the identification area may be a defect in the liquid storage container.

[0078] Furthermore, when the compound whose absorption spectrum peak changes when deformed by application of pressure is a compound whose absorption spectrum peak changes in the visible region when deformed by application of pressure, the sorting step can be a step of sorting at least one selected from the group consisting of the storage part, the discharge part, and the sealing part obtained in the cleaning step based on the presence or absence of discoloration.

[0079] For example, if the liquid storage containers do not have the above-mentioned identification region, the liquid storage containers are separated into those in which discoloration is not visible to the naked eye and those in which discoloration is visible to the naked eye. This allows the liquid storage containers in which discoloration is not visible to the naked eye and which have few defects to be reused. Furthermore, if the liquid storage container or the like has the above-mentioned identification area, discoloration is visually checked in areas other than the identification area, and liquid storage containers or the like are separated into liquid storage containers or the like where discoloration is not visually confirmed and liquid storage containers or the like where discoloration is visually confirmed. The marking in the identification area may be a marking provided by the reuse method of the present disclosure. On the other hand, the marking in areas other than the identification area may be a defect in the liquid storage container.

[0080] The method for reusing liquid storage containers may include a recovery step of recovering the liquid storage containers. The recovery step may be a known step. For example, the method may include a step of collecting the liquid storage containers in a recovery box and recovering the collected liquid storage containers.

[0081] The method for reusing a liquid container preferably includes a marking step of applying pressure to at least a part of the liquid container to deform it, thereby changing the peak of the absorption spectrum of the compound, and providing a marking portion. The marking step changes the absorption spectrum of at least a part of the liquid container when it is reused, making it possible to know that the liquid container has been reused. The method for applying pressure to at least a part of the liquid container is not particularly limited as long as the liquid container is not damaged. For example, the method for applying pressure to the identification area described above can be used.

[0082] The location of the liquid storage container where pressure is applied and deformation is not particularly limited. For example, it may be at least a part of at least one selected from the group consisting of the storage section, the discharge section, and the sealing section, and is preferably the above-mentioned identification region. It is also preferable that the marking step forms one marking portion, and that the marking step is carried out once each time the liquid container is reused. When the liquid container is reused, the number of times that the liquid container can be reused can be determined by counting the number of markings formed in the marking process. By knowing the number of times that the liquid container can be reused, liquid containers that have reached their limit of number of uses can be recycled, and liquid containers that are still usable can be reused. That is, the method for reusing a liquid container preferably includes a step of reading the number of marking portions formed in the marking step.

[0083] A method for manufacturing a liquid container will be described below. A method for manufacturing a liquid storage container according to the present disclosure includes the steps of: providing a pellet containing the compound and a resin; and The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a liquid storage container, which includes a molding step of molding the pellet to obtain the liquid storage container.

[0084] For example, the step of preparing pellets may be a step of manufacturing pellets. An example of a method for manufacturing pellets is shown below. For example, a compound whose absorption spectrum peak changes when pressure is applied and deformed is melt-kneaded with a resin to form pellets. The resin is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include polyethylene terephthalate resin, polypropylene resin, polyethylene resin, polyvinyl chloride resin, and polystyrene resin, with polypropylene resin being preferred.

[0085] Known means can be used for the molding process. The molding process for the liquid storage container is not particularly limited, but examples include injection molding, compression molding, vacuum molding, and blow molding. Specifically, molding is performed by injecting heated and molten plastic into a mold under high pressure. Among these, injection molding or blow molding is preferred, and blow molding is more preferred. [Example]

[0086] Examples of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to schematic diagrams, but the present disclosure is not limited to these examples.

[0087] (Comparative Example 1) Assuming the recovery of the storage part 010, when the storage part is made of polypropylene, the state of deformation when a stress of approximately 500 N caused by stepping on it with a human foot was applied to the storage part was observed. When a polypropylene ink bottle was crushed by stepping on it, it naturally returned to its original shape due to elastic deformation. However, it was partially bent and hardened, and depending on the angle at which the shape was visually inspected, it was difficult to determine that it had been deformed. In other words, defect inspection could not be easily performed.

[0088] Example 1 The ink bottle according to Example 1 is manufactured by direct blow molding as follows. First, a polymer obtained by polymerizing the molecules represented by the above formula (1) is melt-kneaded with polypropylene to obtain pellets. The obtained pellets 014 are then heated and melted as shown in Figure 4, and a cylindrical parison 016, which is molten plastic, is extruded by a screw 015. In Figure 4, 017 denotes a mold.

[0089] Fig. 5A is a schematic diagram of a mold portion illustrating direct blow molding, which is an example of a manufacturing method, showing a parison 016 stretched cylindrically within the mold. As shown in Figure 5B, the mold 017 is closed to sandwich the parison 016 from both sides. Then, as shown in Figure 5C, compressed air is blown in from the air blow pin 018, and the air pressure presses the parison 016 against the inner wall of the mold. In this state, the parison 016 is cooled and solidified. Then, as shown in Figure 5D, the mold is opened, the molded product is taken out, and unnecessary burrs are cut off. , and mold the ink bottle housing.

[0090] At this time, the parison expands less in the mold at the mouth of the container. Therefore, the thickness of the mouth is molded to be greater. An identification area indicating the number of reuses is created in this area. In other words, an identification area is provided at the base of the mouth of the container 010. This makes it possible to prevent deterioration of the container quality due to marking.

[0091] The collected ink bottles are first cleaned of dirt from the interior and exterior. After that, any ink bottles that are visually confirmed to have a defective color are recycled without being reused. In addition, the marks in the identification area 013 are counted, and any bottles that have reached the reuse limit are recycled without being reused. Furthermore, by providing a product label film (not shown) in the identification area, even if at least a portion of the identification area is discolored, customers are less likely to mistake the ink bottle for a defective product. As described above, by including a compound whose absorption spectrum peak changes when the ink bottle is deformed by the application of pressure, defect inspection can be easily performed. In other words, ink bottles with fewer defects can be reused, contributing to resource conservation.

[0092] Example 2 There are various ways to inject ink from the ink bottle into the liquid tank. Nozzle parts can also have various functions. For example, nozzles with various functions such as preventing the wrong color from being injected or preventing ink dripping can be considered high-value-added parts. If a defect occurs in a nozzle that has such a function during recovery for reuse, the function may no longer be exhibited. Therefore, we came up with the idea of ​​using a compound whose absorption spectrum peak changes when pressure is applied and the compound is deformed in the molding of important functional parts.

[0093] In this example, the nozzle is molded using an injection mold (not shown). The pellets described in Example 1 are placed in the heating cylinder of an injection molding machine and heated to melt, and the melted pellets are injected into a mold with an extrusion screw. The polypropylene in the mold is then cooled until it solidifies, after which the mold is opened and the molded nozzle is removed. This makes it possible to easily inspect nozzles that are thin and vulnerable to external pressure for defects caused by pressure being applied during collection, by visually inspecting the nozzles before reuse.

[0094] Example 3 There are various types of ink bottles, including those that require you to first open the seal at the mouth of the container and then attach a nozzle before use, and those that are sealed with just a cap. These ink bottles are not always filled with ink at one time, but rather are stored with a cap tightened after some ink is filled in. Therefore, if the cap is not tightly sealed, the ink components may evaporate and affect printing performance. Furthermore, since the cap prevents ink from leaking from an opened ink bottle, it is desirable to be able to prevent ink leakage regardless of the storage position.

[0095] In this way, the cap is a component that prevents ink evaporation and ink leakage. Therefore, quality inspection of collected caps is important. Therefore, we came up with the idea of ​​using a compound that changes the peak of its absorption spectrum when pressure is applied to deform the cap. Ink bottles with protruding caps are likely to be deformed when placed in a large number of containers or mixed with foreign matter. Therefore, using a compound that changes the peak of the absorption spectrum makes it easier to detect defects.

[0096] In this example, the cap is molded using an injection mold (not shown). The pellets described in Example 1 are placed in the heating cylinder of an injection molding machine and heated to melt, and the melted pellets are injected into a mold with an extrusion screw. The polypropylene in the mold is then cooled until it solidifies, after which the mold is opened and the molded cap is removed. This allows for easy visual inspection of defects before reuse, preventing ink leakage when the ink bottle is stored horizontally and evaporation of ink components due to poor sealing, as well as deterioration. [Industrial Applicability]

[0097] In this way, if damaged and deformed ink bottles that occur during the collection process can be screened with a simple inspection during the reuse process, it will be possible to reduce the investment costs for expensive inspection equipment and reuse ink bottles whose reliability has been confirmed. As described above, the present disclosure provides a liquid container that can be easily inspected for defects. In other words, it becomes possible to reuse liquid containers with few defects, which contributes to resource conservation. As a result, the technology described in this specification can contribute to the realization of a sustainable society, such as a carbon-free / recycling-based society.

[0098] The present disclosure includes the following configurations and methods. [1] A liquid container having a storage section for storing a liquid, a discharge section for discharging the liquid, and a sealing section for sealing the discharge section, the liquid storage container contains a compound whose absorption spectrum peak changes when pressure is applied to the liquid storage container and the liquid storage container is deformed; A liquid storage container, wherein the compound exhibits tribochromism. [2] The discharge unit is a discharge unit that discharges the liquid from the storage unit, the sealing portion covers at least a portion of the discharge portion, The liquid storage container according to [1], wherein at least one selected from the group consisting of the storage portion, the discharge portion, and the sealing portion contains the compound. [3] The liquid storage container according to [1] or [2], wherein the compound has an absorption spectrum whose peak top position changes by 250 to 400 nm when pressure is applied to the compound. [4] The liquid storage container according to [3], wherein the compound has an absorption spectrum whose peak top position in the visible region changes by 250 to 400 nm when pressure is applied to the compound. [5] The liquid storage container according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the compound is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of fluorenylidene acridan and tetraphenylpyrene. [6] The liquid storage container according to any one of [1] to [5], wherein the storage section contains the compound. [7] The liquid storage container according to any one of [1] to [6], wherein the storage portion contains a resin and the compound. [8] A liquid storage container according to [6] or [7], wherein the liquid storage container has a label portion that covers at least a portion of the storage portion, and the label portion indicates characteristics of the liquid. [9] The discharge unit has a nozzle for discharging the liquid, The liquid storage container according to any one of [1] to [8], wherein the nozzle contains the compound.

[10] The liquid storage container according to any one of [1] to [9], wherein the discharge portion contains a resin and the compound.

[11] The liquid storage container according to any one of [1] to

[10] , wherein the sealing portion contains the compound.

[12] The liquid storage container according to any one of [1] to

[11] , wherein the sealing portion contains a resin and the compound.

[13] The liquid storage container includes a resin, The liquid storage container according to any one of [1] to

[12] , wherein the resin contains the compound.

[14] The liquid storage container according to any one of [1] to

[13] , wherein an ink-jet ink is stored inside the liquid storage container.

[15] A method for manufacturing a liquid storage container according to any one of [1] to

[14] , providing a pellet containing the compound and a resin; and A method for manufacturing a liquid storage container, comprising a molding step of molding the pellet to obtain the liquid storage container.

[16] A method for reusing a liquid storage container having a storage section that stores a liquid, a discharge section that discharges the liquid, and a sealing section that seals the discharge section, comprising: at least one selected from the group consisting of the storage section, the discharge section, and the sealing section contains a compound whose absorption spectrum peak changes when pressure is applied and the compound is deformed; the compound exhibits tribochromism, The reuse method includes: a cleaning step of cleaning at least one selected from the group consisting of the storage section, the discharge section, and the sealing section; a sorting step of sorting at least one selected from the group consisting of the storage section, the discharge section, and the sealing section obtained in the cleaning step based on whether or not there is a change in the peak of the absorption spectrum.

[17] The liquid storage container includes a resin, The method for reusing a liquid storage container according to

[16] , wherein the resin contains the compound.

[18] A method for reusing a liquid storage container according to

[16] or

[17] , comprising a marking step of applying pressure to at least a portion of the liquid storage container to deform it, thereby changing the peak of the absorption spectrum of the compound and providing a marking portion.

[19] The method for reusing a liquid storage container according to

[18] , further comprising a step of reading the number of the marking portions formed in the marking step. [Explanation of symbols]

[0099] 001 liquid ejection device, 002 housing, 003 liquid tank, 004 liquid ejection head, 005 carriage, 006 carriage motor, 007 liquid flow path, 008 transport roller, 009 ink bottle, 010 storage section, 011 nozzle, 012 cap section, 013 identification area, 014 pellet, 015 screw, 016 parison, 017 mold, 018 air blow pin, 019 male thread, 020 threaded section, 021 opening, 12 liquid tank, 21 storage section, 22 nozzle, 23 cap, 24 seal, 25 valve, 26 spring, 27 holder

Claims

1. A liquid container having a storage section that stores a liquid, a discharge section that discharges the liquid, and a sealing section that seals the discharge section, the liquid storage container contains a compound whose absorption spectrum peak changes when pressure is applied to the liquid storage container and the liquid storage container is deformed; A liquid storage container, wherein the compound exhibits tribochromism.

2. the discharge unit is a discharge unit that discharges the liquid from the storage unit, the sealing portion covers at least a portion of the discharge portion, The liquid storage container according to claim 1 , wherein at least one selected from the group consisting of the storage portion, the discharge portion, and the sealing portion contains the compound.

3. 2. The liquid storage container according to claim 1, wherein the compound has an absorption spectrum whose peak top position shifts by 250 to 400 nm when pressure is applied to the compound.

4. 4. The liquid storage container according to claim 3, wherein the compound has a peak top position in an absorption spectrum that shifts by 250 to 400 nm in the visible region when pressure is applied to the compound.

5. 2. The liquid storage container according to claim 1, wherein the compound is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of fluorenylidene acridan and tetraphenylpyrene.

6. The liquid container according to claim 1 , wherein the container contains the compound.

7. The liquid container according to claim 1 , wherein the container portion contains a resin and the compound.

8. The liquid container according to claim 6 , further comprising a label portion covering at least a portion of the container portion, the label portion indicating characteristics of the liquid.

9. the discharge portion has a nozzle for discharging the liquid, The liquid container according to claim 1 , wherein the nozzle contains the compound.

10. The liquid container according to claim 1 , wherein the discharge portion includes a resin and the compound.

11. The liquid storage container according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing portion includes the compound.

12. The liquid container according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing portion includes a resin and the compound.

13. the liquid container contains a resin, The liquid storage container according to claim 1 , wherein the resin contains the compound.

14. The liquid container according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid container contains inkjet ink.

15. A method for manufacturing a liquid storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 14, comprising: providing a pellet containing the compound and a resin; and A method for manufacturing a liquid storage container, comprising a molding step of molding the pellet to obtain the liquid storage container.

16. a storage section for storing a liquid, a discharge section for discharging the liquid, and a sealing section for sealing the discharge section; A method for reusing a liquid storage container, comprising: at least one selected from the group consisting of the storage section, the discharge section, and the sealing section contains a compound whose absorption spectrum peak changes when pressure is applied and the compound is deformed; the compound exhibits tribochromism, The reuse method comprises: a cleaning step of cleaning at least one selected from the group consisting of the storage section, the discharge section, and the sealing section; a sorting step of sorting at least one selected from the group consisting of the storage section, the discharge section, and the sealing section obtained in the cleaning step based on whether or not there is a change in the peak of the absorption spectrum.

17. the liquid container contains a resin, The method for reusing a liquid storage container according to claim 16 , wherein the resin contains the compound.

18. 18. The method for reusing a liquid storage container according to claim 16, further comprising a marking step of applying pressure to at least a part of the liquid storage container to deform it, thereby changing a peak in the absorption spectrum of the compound and providing a marking portion.

19. The method for reusing a liquid storage container according to claim 18 , further comprising the step of reading the number of the marking portions formed in the marking step.

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