Liquid containers

Abstract

To reduce the manufacturing cost of ink cartridges with asymmetrical shapes. [Solution] The ink cartridge 30 comprises a blow-molded container body 31. The container body 31 has a left wall 42, a right wall 43, a storage chamber 46 between the left wall 42 and the right wall 43, and a supply section 33 that connects the storage chamber 46 to the outside. A parting line 717 is located in the supply section 33. The distance along the left-right direction from the left wall 42 to the parting line 717 of the supply section 33 is referred to as the first distance D1. The distance along the left-right direction from the right wall 43 to the parting line 717 of the supply section 33 is referred to as the second distance D2. The first distance D1 is longer than the second distance D2.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid container for storing a liquid.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an ink cartridge having an ink storage chamber for storing ink inside. The ink cartridge includes a case that covers an ink storage body for storing ink. The case has a first case member and a second case member. Three types of cases having different outer shapes are manufactured from two first case members having different thicknesses and two second case members having different thicknesses.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the cartridge of Patent Document 1, a first case member and a second case member having a different thickness from the first case member are combined. Therefore, a cartridge having a desired volume is manufactured by changing the combination of the first case member and the second case member.

[0005] The case of Patent Document 1 is made of a resin material. The first case member and the second case member are molded by injection molding. The ink cartridge is manufactured by joining the molded first case member and the second case member. Therefore, the number of man-hours for manufacturing the ink cartridge is large. In addition, injection molding tends to increase the mold cost.

[0006] An object of the present disclosure is to reduce the manufacturing cost of a liquid container having an asymmetric shape. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] (1) The liquid container relating to this disclosure comprises a blow-molded housing. The housing has a left wall, a right wall, a liquid chamber between the left wall and the right wall, and a supply section that connects the liquid chamber to the outside. A parting line is located in the supply section, and the distance from the first wall of the left wall and the right wall to the parting line of the supply section along the left-right direction is referred to as the first distance. The distance from the second wall of the left wall and the right wall, which is different from the first wall, to the parting line of the supply section along the left-right direction is referred to as the second distance. The first distance is longer than the second distance.

[0008] With the above configuration, the man-hours and mold costs for manufacturing liquid containers with asymmetrical shapes can be reduced.

[0009] (2) The liquid container further comprises a valve, and the supply unit encloses the valve.

[0010] (3) The housing is located above the supply section and further has an air passage that communicates the liquid chamber with the outside, and a parting line is located in the air passage.

[0011] (4) The housing further has a rear wall facing the supply section, with the liquid chamber in between. The parting line located on the rear wall has a first portion located above the rear wall and a second portion connected to the lower end of the first portion. The parting line located on the rear wall further has a third portion located below the rear wall and connected to the lower end of the second portion. The second portion is located closer to the first wall than the parting line located on the supply section. The first portion and the third portion extend from a position close to the second wall to the second portion.

[0012] (5) Further comprising a locking portion that engages with the cartridge mounting portion. The locking portion is located closer to the second wall than the parting line located in the supply portion. The parting line is located in the locking portion.

[0013] (6) The first wall has a first region and a second region which are at different distances from the parting line of the supply section. The third distance from the first region to the parting line of the supply section is longer than the fourth distance from the second region to the parting line of the supply section.

[0014] (7) The first region is located behind the supply unit and the second region.

[0015] (8) The first wall has an oblique wall between it and the supply section that intersects the first wall at an angle. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to this disclosure, the man-hours and mold costs for manufacturing liquid containers with asymmetrical shapes can be reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0017] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the printer 10. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 30 installed in the cartridge case 110 shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the ink cartridge 30 according to the first embodiment, viewed from the upper left rear. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the ink cartridge 30 according to the first embodiment, viewed from the lower right front. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the ink cartridge 30 according to the first embodiment, viewed from the upper left front. [Figure 6]FIG. 6(a) is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing a parison 211 before blow molding. FIG. 6(b) is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing the parison 211 sandwiched between molds 213 in a state where a blow pin 212 is being inserted. FIG. 6(c) is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing the parison 211 sandwiched between molds 213 in a state where the insertion of the blow pin 212 is completed. [Figure 7] FIG. 7(a) is a plan view of an ink cartridge 30 according to the first embodiment as viewed from above. FIG. 7(b) is a plan view of the ink cartridge 30 according to the first embodiment as viewed from the rear. [Figure 8] FIG. 8(a) is a plan view of an ink cartridge 30 according to a modification of the first embodiment as viewed from above. FIG. 8(b) is a plan view of the ink cartridge 30 according to a modification of the first embodiment as viewed from the rear. [Figure 9] FIG. 9(a) is a schematic view showing a top view cross section during blow molding of a container body 31 in which a parting line 717 is located on a virtual surface 707 at a rear wall 41. FIG. 9(b) is a schematic view showing a top view cross section during blow molding of the container body 31 in which a second part 719b of the parting line is located to the left of the virtual surface 707 at the rear wall 41. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an external perspective view of an ink cartridge 1030 according to the second embodiment as viewed from the upper left rear. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is an external perspective view of an ink cartridge 1030 according to the second embodiment as viewed from the lower right front. [Figure 12] FIG. 12(a) is an external perspective view schematically showing a printer 1010 with a case cover 1730 closed. FIG. 12(b) is an external perspective view schematically showing the printer 1010 with the case cover 1730 open. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is an external perspective view of an ink cartridge 2030 according to the second embodiment as viewed from the upper left rear. [Figure 14] FIG. 14(a) is an external perspective view schematically showing a printer 1010 with a case cover 1731 closed. FIG. 14(b) is an external perspective view schematically showing the printer 1010 with the case cover 1731 open. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0018] Embodiments of this disclosure will be described below with reference to drawings as appropriate. Note that the embodiments described below are merely examples of how this disclosure is concretized, and the embodiments may be modified as appropriate without altering the gist of this disclosure.

[0019] In the following, the direction in which the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into and removed from the cartridge case 110 of the printer 10 is referred to as the "front-to-back direction." In the front-to-back direction, "forward" refers to the direction in which the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge case 110. "Backward" refers to the direction in which the ink cartridge 30 is removed from the cartridge case 110. The vertical direction is referred to as the "up-down direction." The direction perpendicular to the front-to-back direction and the up-and-down direction is referred to as the left-to-right direction.

[0020] The left-right direction is defined as "right" and "left" relative to the rear in the front-back direction. When describing how the elements constituting the ink cartridge 30 face a specific direction, the direction in which the elements face is not limited to that specific direction. For example, when "the front faces forward," the front may face both forward and upward.

[0021] [First Embodiment] As shown in Figure 1, the printer 10 includes a cartridge case 110, a sub-tank 120, an ink tube 20, a recording head 21, and an ink cartridge 30. The ink cartridge 30 is an example of a liquid container. The cartridge case 110 is an example of a cartridge mounting section. The printer 10 is an inkjet recording device that records images by ejecting ink droplets from the recording head 21 onto paper based on an inkjet recording method.

[0022] The printer 10 is equipped with a cartridge case 110. An ink cartridge 30 is inserted into and removed from the cartridge case 110. With the ink cartridge 30 installed in the cartridge case 110, an ink supply tube 102 is inserted into the supply section 33 of the ink cartridge 30. Ink can then be supplied from the ink cartridge 30 to the recording head 21 via the ink supply tube 102 and the ink tube 20.

[0023] The cartridge case 110 has an opening 112 at its rear end. The ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge case 110 facing forward through the opening 112. The ink cartridge 30 is removed from the cartridge case 110 facing backward through the opening 112. The opening 112 is opened and closed by the case cover 126. Figure 1 shows the installed state after the ink cartridge 30 has been installed in the cartridge case 110.

[0024] The ink cartridge 30 stores ink that can be used by the printer 10. The ink may be a liquid containing a colorant such as a pigment, or it may be a processing liquid containing additives for improving image quality instead of a colorant. When the ink cartridge 30 is installed in the cartridge case 110, the ink cartridge 30 and the recording head 21 are connected via an ink tube 20. The recording head 21 ejects the ink supplied from the ink cartridge 30 from a plurality of nozzles 29. Specifically, a head control board in the recording head 21 selectively applies a drive voltage to a plurality of piezoelectric elements 29A corresponding to the plurality of nozzles 29.

[0025] By selectively applying a drive voltage, ink is selectively ejected from the nozzle 29. In other words, the recording head 21 consumes the ink stored in the ink cartridge 30 installed in the cartridge case 110.

[0026] The printer 10 includes a paper feed tray 15, a paper feed roller 23, a transport roller pair 25, a platen 26, an output roller pair 27, and an output tray 16. The paper feed roller 23 feeds the paper on the paper feed tray 15 toward the transport path 24. The paper fed toward the transport path 24 reaches the transport roller pair 25. The transport roller pair 25 transports the paper that has reached the transport roller pair 25 toward the platen 26. The recording head 21 selectively ejects ink from the paper as it passes across the platen 26.

[0027] In this way, an image is recorded on the paper. The paper that has passed through the platen 26 reaches the discharge roller pair 27. The discharge roller pair 27 discharges the paper that has reached it to the output tray 16 located at the downstream end of the transport path 24.

[0028] [Ink Cartridge 30] The ink cartridge 30 is a container in which liquid ink is stored. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the ink cartridge 30 has a container body 31 and a cover 32. The container body 31 is, for example, a blow-molded product made of synthetic resin. The container body 31 is an example of a housing.

[0029] The cover 32 is attached to the front of the container body 31. The cover 32 is a rectangular parallelepiped, shorter in both the vertical and front-to-back directions than the container body 31. The cover 32 is a box shape with an opening facing the rear. The ink cartridge 30 is inserted forward with the cover 32 facing the cartridge case 110.

[0030] The container body 31 is a flattened rectangular parallelepiped in shape, with its length in the left-right direction being smaller than its length in the up-down direction and its length in the front-back direction. The container body 31 has a front wall 40, a rear wall 41, a left wall 42, a right wall 43, an upper wall 44, a lower wall 45, a storage chamber 46, a supply section 33, an atmospheric passage section 502, and an inclined wall 716. The left wall 42 is an example of a first wall. The right wall 43 is an example of a second wall. The storage chamber 46 is an example of a liquid chamber.

[0031] The front wall 40, rear wall 41, left wall 42, right wall 43, upper wall 44, lower wall 45, and inclined wall 716 partition the storage chamber 46 of the internal space of the container body 31. The front wall 40, rear wall 41, left wall 42, right wall 43, upper wall 44, lower wall 45, and inclined wall 716 are translucent enough that the liquid level of the ink in the storage chamber 46 can be seen from the outside. The supply section 33 and the atmospheric passage section 502 connect the storage chamber 46 to the outside.

[0032] The outer surface of the front wall 40 faces forward. The rear wall 41 faces the front wall 40 in the front-to-back direction. The right wall 43 connects the front wall 40 and the rear wall 41. The left wall 42 faces the right wall 43 in the left-to-right direction. The inclined wall 716 connects to the left wall 42.

[0033] The upper wall 44 connects the front wall 40 and the rear wall 41. The lower wall 45 faces the upper wall 44 in the vertical direction.

[0034] As shown in Figures 4, 5, and 7(a), the front wall 40 has an upper front wall 40T and a lower front wall 40B. The upper front wall 40T is the upper portion of the front wall 40. The lower front wall 40B is located below the front wall 40. The upper front wall 40T is located in front of the lower front wall 40B. The space behind the upper front wall 40T is also part of the storage chamber 46. The upper part of the storage chamber 46 extends forward of the lower part of the storage chamber 46.

[0035] The upper front wall 40T has a cylindrical air passage section 502. The air passage section 502 connects the area near the upper end of the storage chamber 46 to the outside. The lower front wall 40B is continuous with a cylindrical supply section 33. The supply section 33 is located below the air passage section 502.

[0036] As shown in Figure 2, the lower support member 13 is housed in the internal space of the supply unit 33. The lower support member 13 is cylindrical in shape and extends along the front-rear direction. At least a portion of the lower valve mechanism 12 is housed in the internal space of the lower support member 13. The lower valve mechanism 12 includes a sealing member 35, a valve 36, a coil spring 37, and a cap 39. The internal shape of the lower support member 13 is the external shape of the lower valve mechanism 12.

[0037] The lower valve mechanism 12 has a cylindrical shape. The sealing member 35 is an annular member made of an elastic material, such as rubber, and has a cylindrical through-hole that penetrates in the front-rear direction. The sealing member 35 is located in the internal space of the supply section 33. The sealing member 35 is in close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the supply section 33 slightly behind the supply port 34.

[0038] The valve 36 is located in the internal space of the lower support member 13. The supply unit 33 encloses the valve 36. The valve 36 is movable along the front-rear direction within the internal space of the lower support member 13. The supply port 34 is sealed when the valve 36 comes into contact with the sealing member 35.

[0039] The coil spring 37 biases the valve 36 toward the sealing member 35. The cap 39 is attached to the inner surface of the supply section 33 around the supply port 34. The cap 39 is bonded to the inner surface of the supply section 33 with adhesive. Alternatively, the cap 39 may be fixed to the inner surface of the supply section 33 by welding.

[0040] The cap 39 is conical in shape. The cap 39 has a through hole that runs through it in the front-to-back direction. The ink supply tube 102 of the cartridge case 110 enters the through hole in the cap 39. The ink supply tube 102 pushes the valve 36 backward against the biasing force of the coil spring 37. This push causes the valve 36 to move backward from the closed position to the open position.

[0041] When valve 36 is in the open position, the internal space of the lower support member 13 and the internal space of the supply pipe 104 are in communication. As a result, the ink in the storage chamber 46 flows into the internal space of the ink supply pipe 102 through the internal space of the lower support member 13. The sealing member 35 is in liquid-tight contact with the outer surface of the ink supply pipe 102.

[0042] As shown in Figures 3 and 7(a), the rear wall 41 has an upper rear wall 41T and a lower rear wall 41B. The upper rear wall 41T is located above the lower rear wall 41B, with the rear rib 714 in between. The upper rear wall 41T is connected to the upper wall 44. The lower rear wall 41B is connected to the lower wall 45.

[0043] As shown in Figures 3, 5, and 7(a), the left wall 42 has a front left wall 42F, an upper left wall 42T, and a lower left wall 42B. The front left wall 42F is located in front of the upper left wall 42T in the front-rear direction. The upper left wall 42T is located above the lower left wall 42B, with the left rib 702 in between. The upper left wall 42T is connected to the upper wall 44 at its upper end. The front end of the upper left wall 42T is connected to the upper inclined wall 716T.

[0044] The lower end of the lower left wall 42B connects to the lower wall 45. The front end of the lower left wall 42B connects to the lower inclined wall 716B. The outer surface of the upper left wall 42T and the outer surface of the lower left wall 42B are flush.

[0045] As shown in Figures 4 and 7(a), the right wall 43 has a front right wall 43F, an upper right wall 43T, and a lower right wall 43B. The upper right wall 43T is located above the lower right wall 43B, with the right rib 703 in between. The upper right wall 43T connects to the upper wall 44. The lower right wall 43B connects to the lower wall 45.

[0046] The outer surface of the upper right wall 43T and the outer surface of the lower right wall 43B are flush.

[0047] As shown in Figure 3, the upper wall 44 has a rear upper wall 44R, a middle upper wall 44C, and a convex upper wall 44P. In Figure 3, although it is not visible as it is covered by the cover 32, the front upper wall is located in front of the convex upper wall 44P in the front-rear direction. The rear upper wall 44R is the left rear portion of the upper wall 44. The middle upper wall 44C is located between the front upper wall and the rear upper wall 44R in the front-rear direction. The convex upper wall 44P is located to the right of the middle upper wall 44C and the rear upper wall 44R.

[0048] As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the convex upper wall 44P has, in order from front to back, a first upper surface 81, a second upper surface 82, a third upper surface 83, and an operating surface 68. The first upper surface 81 has a surface 81A located in the center in the left-right direction. Surface 81A is a plane that is perpendicular to the vertical direction and extends in the front-back direction. Surface 81A is located above the portion of the first upper surface 81 other than surface 81A.

[0049] The second upper surface 82 is continuous with the rear end of the first upper surface 81. The second upper surface 82 has a surface 82A located in the center in the left-right direction. Surface 82A is a plane that is inclined with respect to the front-rear direction so as to face forward and upward, and extends in the front-rear direction. Surface 82A is located above the portion of the second upper surface 82 other than surface 82A. Surface 82A is continuous with the rear end of surface 81A.

[0050] As shown in Figure 7(a), the axis of the air passage section 502 and the axis of the supply section 33 overlap in a top view. Hereinafter, the plane that includes the axes of the air passage section 502 and the supply section 33 and is perpendicular to the left-right direction will be referred to as the virtual plane 707. The parting line 717 of the container body 31 overlaps with the virtual plane 707 in the supply section 33. A parting line is a protrusion that occurs in objects manufactured by casting, injection molding, etc. The area where the protrusion has been removed is also called a parting line. The parting line 717 is located at the joint of two molds that mold the parison from the left and right directions during blow molding of the container body 31. Since the two molds separate in the left-right direction after blow molding, the parting line 717 passes through the position that protrudes the most outward in the vertical and front-back directions of the parison.

[0051] As shown in Figures 3 and 5, the third upper surface 83 is continuous with the rear end of the second upper surface 82. The third upper surface 83 has a key portion 78 and a contact surface 92. The key portion 78 is an example of a locking portion. As shown in Figure 7(a), the key portion 78 is located closer to the right wall 43 than to the virtual surface 707.

[0052] The mechanical properties of the key portion 78, such as its arrangement and shape, differ according to the characteristics of each ink cartridge 30. When an ink cartridge 30 is installed, the cartridge case 110 of the printer 10 engages with the key portion 78 and detects the mechanical properties. The printer 10 identifies the characteristics of each ink cartridge 30 from the mechanical properties of the key portion 78.

[0053] The key portion 78 protrudes upward from the third upper surface 83. The key portion 78 has a front inclined surface 84B, an upper end surface 86, and a locking surface 87. The front inclined surface 84B is continuous with the rear end of surface 82A. The front inclined surface 84B extends to the left as it moves from the front end towards the rear. The upper end surface 86 is continuous with the rear end of the front inclined surface 84B.

[0054] The front inclined surface 84B and the upper end surface 86 are located above the portion of the key portion 78 other than the front inclined surface 84B and the upper end surface 86. The upper end surface 86 is located at the upper end of the container body 31. The locking surface 87 is continuous with the rear end of the upper end surface 86. The contact surface 92 extends rearward from the lower end of the locking surface 87. The operating surface 68 is connected to the rear end of the third upper surface 83.

[0055] Surface 81A, surface 82A, front inclined surface 84B, upper end surface 86, and contact surface 92 are all located at the uppermost position of the convex upper wall 44P in the left-right direction. As shown in Figure 7(a), the parting line 717 extends along surface 81A, surface 82A, front inclined surface 84B, and upper end surface 86.

[0056] As shown in Figure 4, the lower wall 45 has a rear lower wall 45R. In Figure 4, the front lower wall is located in the front portion of the lower wall 45, although it is not visible as it is covered by the cover 32. The rear lower wall 45R is located in the rear portion. The supply section 33 is located to the right of the rear lower wall 45R.

[0057] As shown in Figure 7(a), the inclined wall 716 intersects the left wall 42 at an angle. As shown in Figure 5, the inclined wall 716 has an upper inclined wall 716T and a lower inclined wall 716B. The upper inclined wall 716T connects the front left wall 42F and the upper left wall 42T. The lower inclined wall 716B connects the front left wall 42F and the lower left wall 42B. The upper inclined wall 716T is located above the lower inclined wall 716B, with the inclined rib 718 in between.

[0058] The upper left wall 42T and the lower left wall 42B are examples of the first region. The front left wall 42F is an example of the second region. As shown in Figure 7(a), the distance from the outer surfaces of the upper left wall 42T and the lower left wall 42B to the virtual surface 707 is called the third distance D3. The distance from the outer surface of the front left wall 42F to the virtual surface 707 is called the fourth distance D4. The third distance D3 is longer than the fourth distance D4.

[0059] The angle of intersection between the upper inclined wall 716T and the upper front wall 40T is obtuse. The angle of intersection between the upper inclined wall 716T and the upper left wall 42T is obtuse. The angle of intersection between the lower inclined wall 716B and the lower front wall 40B is obtuse. The angle of intersection between the lower inclined wall 716B and the lower left wall 42B is obtuse.

[0060] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the upper left wall 42T, the upper right wall 43T, the rear upper wall 44R, and the convex upper wall 44P are continuous with the upper rear wall 41T. The lower left wall 42B, the lower right wall 43B, and the rear lower wall 45R are continuous with the lower rear wall 41B. The front left wall 42F, the front right wall 43F, the front upper wall, and the front lower wall are continuous with the upper front wall 40T. The space between the front left wall 42F, the front right wall 43F, the front upper wall, the front lower wall, and the upper front wall 40T is part of the storage chamber 46. In the left-right direction, the distance from the outer surface of the front left wall 42F to the outer surface of the front right wall 43F is shorter than the distance from the outer surface of the upper left wall 42T to the outer surface of the upper right wall 43T.

[0061] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the container body 31 has a left rib 702, a right rib 703, an upper rib 704, a rear rib 714, and a diagonal rib 718. The left rib 702 and the right rib 703 are positioned opposite each other in the left-right direction.

[0062] As shown in Figure 3, the left rib 702 is located between the upper left wall 42T and the lower left wall 42B in the vertical direction. The left rib 702 extends linearly in the front-rear direction. The left rib 702 is recessed in the left wall 42 so as to reach the interior of the storage chamber 46.

[0063] As shown in Figure 4, the right rib 703 is located between the upper right wall 43T and the lower right wall 43B in the vertical direction. The right rib 703 extends linearly in the front-rear direction. The right rib 703 is recessed in the right wall 43 so as to reach the interior of the storage chamber 46.

[0064] As shown in Figure 3, the upper rib 704 is located between the middle upper wall 44C and the rear upper wall 44R in the front-rear direction. The upper rib 704 extends linearly in the left-right direction. The upper rib 704 protrudes from the upper wall 44 so as to reach the outside of the storage chamber 46.

[0065] As shown in Figure 3, the rear rib 714 is located between the upper rear wall 41T and the lower rear wall 41B in the vertical direction. The rear rib 714 extends linearly in the horizontal direction. The rear rib 714 is recessed in the rear wall 41 so as to reach the interior of the storage chamber 46.

[0066] As shown in Figure 5, the inclined rib 718 is located between the upper inclined wall 716T and the lower inclined wall 716B in the vertical direction. The inclined rib 718 extends linearly in the front-rear and left-right directions. The inclined rib 718 is recessed in the inclined wall 716 so as to reach the interior of the storage chamber 46.

[0067] The container body 31 is integrally molded by blow molding. In blow molding, as shown in Figure 6(a), a molten cylindrical parison 211 is suspended from the blow molding machine. Next, as shown in Figures 6(b) and (c), the parison 211 is sandwiched between molds 213, and in this state, a blow pin 212 is inserted into the parison 211. Air is injected into the parison 211 from the blow pin 212. At this time, the upper end of the parison 211 is sandwiched between the outer surface of the blow pin 212 and the inner surface of the mold 213.

[0068] As a result, a supply section 33 is formed having a transfer surface in which the shape of the outer circumferential surface of the blow pin 212 is transferred as part of the inner circumferential surface. After the mold 213 is removed, the unnecessary portion of the parison is removed by punching.

[0069] In Figure 7(a), the distance from the virtual plane 707 to the left wall 42 in the left-right direction is referred to as the first distance D1. The distance from the virtual plane 707 to the right wall 43 in the left-right direction is referred to as the second distance D2. The first distance D1 is longer than the second distance D2. In other words, the container body 31 is asymmetric with respect to the virtual plane 707.

[0070] As shown in Figure 7(a), in a top view, the parting line 717 extends in the front-rear direction along the virtual surface 707 from the front end of the container body 31 to the surface 82A of the upper wall 44. Behind surface 82A, the parting line 717 extends from the front inclined surface 84B of the upper wall 44, via the upper end surface 86, to the rear end of the contact surface 92. Behind the contact surface 92, the parting line 717 extends in the front-rear direction along the virtual surface 707, through the central part of the operating surface 68 in the left-right direction. As shown in Figure 7(b), on the rear wall 41, the parting line 717 extends in the up-down direction along the virtual surface 707.

[0071] [Effects of the First Embodiment] Conventional ink cartridges are manufactured by injection molding and joining a first case member and a second case member having a different shape from the first case member. In the first embodiment, the container body 31 having an asymmetrical shape is formed in a single blow molding process. Therefore, the man-hours and mold costs for manufacturing the ink cartridge 30 are reduced.

[0072] The cartridge case 110 of the printer 10 positions the ink cartridge 30 by contacting the key portion 78. With the ink cartridge 30 positioned, the cartridge case 110 detects the mechanical properties of the key portion 78. For this reason, the key portion 78 needs to have rigidity so as not to deform even when the cartridge case 110 contacts it. In the first embodiment, the parting line 717 is located on the key portion 78, so the thickness of the parison is thickest at the key portion 78. Therefore, the rigidity of the key portion 78 is ensured.

[0073] Figure 9(a) shows a top view cross-section of the container body 31 during blow molding, where the parting line 717 is located on the virtual surface 707 on the rear wall 41. The dashed line 726 in Figure 9(a) indicates the position of the parison 721 just before the start of blow molding. In the container body 31, where the space 722 to the left of the parison 721 is larger than the space 721 to the left just before the start of blow molding, the parison 721 is greatly expanded in the space 722 to the left by the blow molding process. As a result, the wall thickness of the parison 721 becomes thinner in the space 722 to the left.

[0074] In the container body 31 of the first embodiment, the space 722 on the left side is narrowed by the inclined wall 716, which cuts off the left front corner. Therefore, the amount of extension of the parison 721 is reduced, and the thinning of the wall thickness of the parison 721 is suppressed.

[0075] In the container body 31, the amount of extension of the parison 721 is not necessarily uniform. For example, at the corners of the mold, the thickness of the parison thins as it reaches the back of the corner. The degree to which the parison thins is more pronounced the sharper the angle of the corner. By placing a slanted wall 716 at the corner of the mold, the corner of the mold becomes obtuse, thus suppressing the thinning of the parison 721.

[0076] [Modified version of the first embodiment] In the first embodiment, as shown in Figure 7(b), an example was described in which the parting line 717 extends vertically along the virtual surface 707 on the rear wall 41. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 8(b), the second portion 719b of the parting line may extend vertically to the left of the virtual surface 707 on the rear wall 41.

[0077] The parting line 719 has a first portion 719a, a second portion 719b, and a third portion 719c. The first portion 719a, when viewed from the rear, extends downward and to the right from the virtual surface 707 above the rear wall 41 and connects to the upper end of the second portion 719b. The second portion 719b extends vertically. The third portion 719c, when viewed from the rear, extends upward and to the right from the virtual surface 707 below the rear wall 41 and connects to the lower end of the second portion 719b. Since the parting line 719 overlaps with the virtual surface 707 at the supply section 33, the second portion 719b is closer to the left wall 42 than the parting line 719 located at the supply section 33.

[0078] Figure 9(b) shows a top view cross-section of the container body 31 during blow molding, where the parting line 717 is located to the left of the virtual surface 707 on the rear wall 41. The dashed line 727 in Figure 9(b) indicates the position of the parison 721 just before the start of blow molding. The parison 721 of this modified example, shown by the dashed line 727 in Figure 9(b), is located to the left of the parison 721 of the first embodiment, shown by the dashed line 726 in Figure 9(a). Therefore, in this modified example, the space 725 to the left of the parison 721 is narrower than the space 722 to the left of the parison 721 of the first embodiment. Consequently, in the space 725 of this modified example, the thinning of the wall thickness of the parison 721 is suppressed compared to the space 722 of the first embodiment.

[0079] In the first embodiment, an example was described in which the first distance D1 in the container body 31 is longer than the second distance D2, but this disclosure is not limited to the first embodiment. For example, in the container body 31, the second distance D2 may be longer than the first distance D1. In examples other than the first embodiment, the left and right sides may be swapped, and the effects of this disclosure can be obtained even if the left and right sides are swapped.

[0080] [Second Example] As shown in Figures 10 and 11, the ink cartridge 1030 has a container body 1031 and a cover 1032. The container body 1031 has a front wall 1040, a rear wall 1041, a left wall 1042, a right wall 1043, an upper wall 1044, a lower wall 1045, and a storage chamber 1046. The container body 1031 further has a supply section 1033 and an atmospheric passage section 1502.

[0081] As shown in Figure 11, the front wall 1040 has a lower front wall 1040B. In Figure 11, the upper front wall is located above the front wall 1040, and the upper front wall has an air passage 1502. The lower front wall 1040B is located below and behind the upper front wall and is continuous with the supply section 1033.

[0082] As shown in Figure 10, the left wall 1042 has, in order from front to back, a first left wall 1042A, a second left wall 1042B, a third left wall 1042C, and a fourth left wall 1042D. The outer surface of the first left wall 1042A and the outer surface of the second left wall 1042B are flush. The outer surface of the third left wall 1042C and the outer surface of the fourth left wall 1042D are flush. In the left-right direction, the outer surfaces of the first left wall 1042A and the second left wall 1042B are located to the right of the outer surfaces of the third left wall 1042C and the fourth left wall 1042D.

[0083] The first left rib 1702A is located between the first left wall 1042A and the second left wall 1042B. The second left rib 1702B is located between the second left wall 1042B and the third left wall 1042C. The third left rib 1702C is located between the third left wall 1042C and the fourth left wall 1042D. The first left rib 1702A, the second left rib 1702B, and the third left rib 1702C are recessed to the right in the left wall 1042 so as to lead into the interior of the storage chamber 1046.

[0084] As shown in Figure 11, the right wall 1043 has, in order from front to back, a first right wall 1043A, a second right wall 1043B, a third right wall 1043C, and a fourth right wall 1043D. The outer surfaces of the first right wall 1043A, the second right wall 1043B, the third right wall 1043C, and the fourth right wall 1043D are flush.

[0085] The first right rib 1703A is located between the first right wall 1043A and the second right wall 1043B. The second right rib 1703B is located between the second right wall 1043B and the third right wall 1043C. The third right rib 1703C is located between the third right wall 1043C and the fourth right wall 1043D. The first right rib 1703A, the second right rib 1703B, and the third right rib 1703C are recessed to the left in the right wall 1043 so as to lead into the interior of the storage chamber 1046.

[0086] As shown in Figure 10, the upper wall 1044 has, on the left side, a first upper wall 1044A, a second upper wall 1044B, a third upper wall 1044C, and a fourth upper wall 1044D, in order from front to back. On the right side, the upper wall 1044 has a fifth upper wall 1044E and a sixth upper wall 1044F, in order from front to back. The fifth upper wall 1044E has a key portion 1078.

[0087] The first upper rib 1704A is located between the first upper wall 1044A and the second upper wall 1044B. The second upper rib 1704B is located between the second upper wall 1044B and the third upper wall 1044C. The third upper rib 1704C is located between the third upper wall 1044C and the fourth upper wall 1044D. The first upper rib 1704A, the second upper rib 1704B, and the third upper rib 1704C all protrude upward from the upper wall 1044 so as to reach the outside of the storage chamber 1046.

[0088] As shown in Figure 11, the lower wall 1045 has, in order from front to back, a first lower wall 1045A, a second lower wall 1045B, and a third lower wall 1045C. The first lower rib 1705A is located between the first lower wall 1045A and the second lower wall 1045B. The second lower rib 1705B is located between the second lower wall 1045B and the third lower wall 1045C. The third lower rib 1705C is located inside the third lower wall 1045C. The first lower rib 1705A, the second lower rib 1705B, and the third lower rib 1705C are recessed upward in the lower wall 1045 so as to reach the interior of the storage chamber 1046.

[0089] As shown in Figures 10 and 11, the cover 1032 is attached to the front of the container body 1031.

[0090] Figures 12(a) and 12(b) show a printer 1010 in which an ink cartridge 1030 is installed. The printer 1010 has a cartridge case 1110, a paper feed tray 1015, a paper output tray 1016, and a case cover 1730. The paper feed tray 1015 and the paper output tray 1016 are attached to and detached from the front of the printer 1010. The cartridge case 1110 has an opening 1112 at the front. The ink cartridge 1030 is attached to and detached from the cartridge case 1110.

[0091] The case cover 1730 opens and closes the opening 1112 of the cartridge case 1110. When the opening 1112 of the cartridge case 1110 is closed, the front of the case cover 1730 is positioned in front of the fronts of the paper feed tray 1015 and the paper output tray 1016. The rear wall 1041 of the ink cartridge 1030 is positioned between the fronts of the paper feed tray 1015 and the paper output tray 1016 and the front of the case cover 1730 in the front-to-back direction. The left wall 1042 of the ink cartridge 1030 is positioned to the right of the right edge of the opening 1112 of the cartridge case 1110.

[0092] Figure 13 shows an ink cartridge 2030, separate from ink cartridge 1030, that is detachable from cartridge case 1110. Ink cartridge 2030 has a container body 2031 and a cover 2032. The container body 2031 has a rear wall 2041, a left wall 2042, an upper wall 2044, a storage chamber 2046, and an atmospheric passage section 2502. Although not shown in Figure 13, ink cartridge 2030 also has a front wall, a right wall, a bottom wall, and a supply section. The front wall faces the rear wall 2041 in the front-rear direction.

[0093] The right wall faces the left wall 2042 in the left-right direction. The bottom wall faces the top wall 2044 in the upper-up direction.

[0094] As shown in Figure 13, the left wall 2042 has, from front to back, a first left wall 2042A and a second left wall 2042B. The outer surfaces of the first left wall 2042A and the second left wall 2042B are flush. A left rib 2702 is located between the first left wall 2042A and the second left wall 2042B. The left rib 2702 is recessed to the right in the left wall 2042 so as to extend into the interior of the storage chamber 2046.

[0095] The upper wall 2044 has, on the left side, a first upper wall 2044A and a second upper wall 2044B, in order from front to back. On the right side, the upper wall 2044 has a third upper wall 2044C. The third upper wall 2044C has a key portion 2078. In the front-to-back direction, the position of the key portion 2078 of ink cartridge 2030 and the position of the key portion 1078 of ink cartridge 1030 are the same.

[0096] An upper rib 2704 is located between the first upper wall 2044A and the second upper wall 2044B. The upper rib 2704 protrudes upward from the upper wall 2044 so as to reach the outside of the storage chamber 2046. The cover 2032 is attached to the front of the container body 2031.

[0097] As shown in Figures 10 and 13, the ink cartridge 2030 is shorter than the ink cartridge 1030 in the front-to-back direction. The ink cartridge 2030 does not have portions corresponding to the third left wall 1042C and the fourth left wall 1042D of the ink cartridge 1030 in the front-to-back direction. As shown in Figure 14, in the configuration for attaching and detaching the ink cartridge 2030, the printer 1010 is fitted with case cover 1731 instead of case cover 1730 in Figure 12. The rear wall 2041 of the ink cartridge 2030 is located behind the front of the printer 1010 when it is fitted into the cartridge case 1110. The front of case cover 1731 is flush with the front of the printer 1010 when the opening 1112 of the cartridge case 1110 is closed.

[0098] The left wall 2042 of ink cartridge 2030 is located to the left of the right edge of the opening 1112. Viewed from the front, ink cartridge 2030 is located within the opening 1112. Thus, ink cartridge 1030 has a larger rear portion to the rear and left compared to ink cartridge 2030.

[0099] [Effects of the second embodiment] The printer 1010 allows for the installation and removal of a larger-capacity ink cartridge 1030 compared to the ink cartridge 2030 simply by replacing the case cover 1731 with the case cover 1730. Therefore, it is possible to easily and inexpensively increase the capacity of the ink cartridge. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0100] 10, 1010... Printer 30, 1030, 2030... Ink cartridges 31, 1031, 2031... Container body 33, 1033...supply section 36...valve 40, 1040...Front wall 41, 1041, 2041...rear wall 42, 1042, 2042... Left wall 42B...Bottom left wall 42F...Front left wall 42T...Top left wall 43, 1043...Right wall 44, 1044, 2044... Upper wall 45, 1045... Lower wall 46, 1046, 2046...Storage chamber 78, 1078, 2078... Key section 110, 1110... Cartridge case 112, 1112...Aperture 126, 1730, 1731... Case cover 502, 1502, 2502... Atmospheric passage section 716...slanted wall 717, 719... Parting lines 719a...Part 1 719b...Second part 719c...Third part D1...1st distance D2...Second distance D3...3rd distance D4...4th distance

Claims

1. It has a blow-molded housing, The above enclosure is The left wall and, The right wall and, The liquid chamber between the left wall and the right wall mentioned above, It has a supply unit that connects the above liquid chamber to the outside, The parting line is located in the above supply section. The first distance along the left-right direction from the first wall of the left wall and the right wall to the parting line of the supply section is: A liquid container whose length is longer than the second distance along the left-right direction from the second wall, which is different from the first wall, to the parting line of the supply section, among the left wall and the right wall mentioned above.

2. Equipped with additional valves, The above supply unit is a liquid container according to claim 1, which encloses the above valve.

3. The above housing is located above the supply unit and further has an atmospheric passage that communicates the liquid chamber with the outside, The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein the parting line is located in the above-mentioned air passage portion.

4. The above housing further has a rear wall that faces the supply unit, with the liquid chamber in between. The parting line located on the rear wall as described above is The first part located above the rear wall, The second part connects to the lower end of the first part mentioned above, It has a third portion located below the rear wall and connected to the lower end of the second portion, The second part described above is located closer to the first wall than the parting line located in the supply section. The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein the first and third parts extend from a position close to the second wall to the second part.

5. It further includes a locking mechanism that engages with the cartridge mounting section, The locking portion is located closer to the second wall than the parting line located in the supply portion. The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein the parting line described above is located in the locking portion described above.

6. The first wall has a first region and a second region, each having a different distance to the parting line of the supply section. The third distance from the first region described above to the parting line of the supply unit described above is: The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein the fourth distance from the second region to the parting line of the supply section is longer than the second region.

7. The liquid container according to claim 6, wherein the first region is located behind the supply unit and the second region.

8. The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein the first wall has an oblique wall that intersects the first wall at an angle between it and the supply section.

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