Liquid supply device

Abstract

To provide a liquid supply device that can reduce the number of mouth parts provided in a liquid container and alleviate the operational burden on a user.SOLUTION: A liquid supply device includes a liquid container having a container body, a sealing member, and a cap, and a container holding part that holds the liquid container. The container holding part includes a cap receiving part and a needle. The sealing member is made of an elastic material and has a slit. The cap is made of a rigid material and has a lid portion arranged in a state of being opposed to the sealing member. The lid portion is configured to break along a groove when the lid portion is pressed by the needle. The sealing member is configured so that the slit is stretched out when the sealing member is pressed by the needle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 17

Description

Technical Field

[0006] , , , , , , , , ,

[0005] ,

[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid supply device.

Background Art

[0002] [[ID=​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​However, the technology described in Patent Document 1 has two openings in the liquid container, which increases the difficulty of manufacturing the container and thus the cost of manufacturing the liquid container, for example, when the liquid container is manufactured by blow molding. In addition, in the technology described in Patent Document 1, when the septum is punctured with a needle, the user needs to loosen the screw-on cap that seals the top opening in order to allow air to flow into the liquid container through the needle. Therefore, there are issues that need to be improved from the standpoint of user operability.

[0007] The present invention was made to solve the above problems, and its objective is to provide a liquid supply device that can reduce the number of openings provided in a liquid container and reduce the burden on the user. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The liquid supply device according to the present invention comprises a liquid container having a container body for containing liquid, a sealing member for sealing the mouth provided on the container body, and a cap for securing the sealing member to the mouth, and a container holding part for holding the liquid container with the cap facing downward, having a cap receiving part that forms a space capable of receiving the cap, and a needle disposed in the space formed by the cap receiving part. The sealing member is made of an elastic material and has a notch. The cap is made of a hard material and has a lid portion disposed opposite to the sealing member, and the lid portion has a groove portion formed by partially reducing the thickness dimension of the lid portion. The lid portion of the cap is configured to crack along the groove portion when the needle presses against the lid portion. The sealing member is configured so that the notch portion is pushed open when the needle presses against the sealing member. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, the number of openings provided in a liquid container can be reduced, and the burden on the user during operation can be reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a liquid supply device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a magnified view of a part of the liquid supply device shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view showing the configuration of a sealing member included in a liquid supply device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the state in which the notch portion of the sealing member shown is pushed open. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view of the cap of a liquid supply device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as seen from the outside of the container body. [Figure 6] This is a perspective view of the cap of a liquid supply device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as seen from the inside of the container body. [Figure 7] This is a plan view of a cap included in a liquid supply device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the cap at the position of line AA. [Figure 9] This is an enlarged view of section B in Figure 8. [Figure 10] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the liquid supply device at the CC line. [Figure 11] This is a view of the manifold from a diagonal angle above. [Figure 12] This is a plan view of the needle of a liquid supply device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as seen from the tip side. [Figure 13] This is a perspective view of a needle included in a liquid supply device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] This is a cross-sectional view showing the cap lid cracked along the groove. [Figure 15] This is a perspective view showing the cap lid cracked along the groove. [Figure 16] This is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the notch portion of the sealing member is pressed and widened by the needle. [Figure 17] In the liquid supply device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, it is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a liquid container is set in a container holding portion. [Figure 18] It is an enlarged view of a part of the liquid supply device shown in FIG. 17. [Figure 19] It is a perspective view of a needle included in the liquid supply device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 20] In the liquid supply device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, it is a partial cross-sectional view showing an arrangement state of each part when a liquid container is set in a container holding portion. [Figure 21] It is a perspective view of a cap included in the liquid supply device according to the third embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the outside of the container body. [Figure 22] It is a perspective view of a cap included in the liquid supply device according to the third embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the inside of the container body. [Figure 23] It is a cross-sectional view of a cap included in the liquid supply device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 24] It is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state where a positional deviation occurs between the central axis of the cap and the central axis of the needle when a user sets a liquid container in a container holding portion.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this specification and the drawings, elements having substantially the same function or configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted. Also, the following description and drawings are examples for explaining the present invention, and may be omitted and simplified for convenience of explanation. Each component may be singular or plural unless otherwise specified. Also, the position, size, shape, range, etc. of each component shown in the drawings may not represent the actual position, size, shape, range, etc. for the purpose of facilitating understanding of the invention. For this reason, the present invention is not necessarily limited to the position, size, shape, range, etc. disclosed in the drawings.

[0012] <First Embodiment> Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a liquid supply device 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is an enlarged view of a part of the liquid supply device 10 shown in Figure 1. The vertical direction in Figure 1 is parallel to the vertical direction, and the left-right direction in Figure 1 is parallel to the horizontal direction. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the liquid supply device 10 comprises a liquid container 11, a container holder 12 for holding the liquid container 11, and a tank 13 for storing the liquid flowing down from the liquid container 11. The liquid supply device 10 is equipped, for example, in an automated analyzer that uses various liquids such as diluents and washing solutions. However, the liquid supply device 10 may also be equipped in devices other than automated analyzers that handle different types of liquids. In this embodiment, the liquid supply device 10 is equipped in an automated analyzer. As mentioned above, an automated analyzer is a device that rapidly and accurately analyzes multiple components contained in a sample, and is used in various fields such as biochemical testing and blood transfusion testing. Generally, one automated analyzer is equipped with multiple liquid supply devices 10. In addition, among the components of the liquid supply device 10, the liquid container 11 is replaceable, and the container holder 12 and the tank 13 are permanently installed in predetermined locations on the liquid supply device 10.

[0013] (liquid container) The liquid container 11 is configured to be detachably attached to the container holder 12. When setting the liquid container 11 in the container holder 12, it is inserted into the container holder 12 from top to bottom. When removing the liquid container 11 from the container holder 12, it is pulled upward from the container holder 12. The attachment and detachment of the liquid container 11 to the container holder 12 is performed by the user. Figures 1 and 2 show the liquid container 11 in the process of being set (inserted) into the container holder 12.

[0014] The liquid container 11 comprises a container body 15, a sealing member 16, and a cap 17. The container body 15 is composed of a bottle that holds the liquid. The bottle, which constitutes the container body 15, is treated, for example, as a disposable replacement bottle. In this case, the sealing member 16 and the cap 17 are treated as disposable components in the same way as the replacement bottle. However, the container body 15 may be reused after being cleaned or otherwise treated, rather than being disposable. The bottle, which constitutes the container body 15, is manufactured, for example, by blow molding. The container body 15 is a hollow body with a volume capable of holding a predetermined amount of liquid.

[0015] The container body 15 integrally includes a mouth portion 21 and a handle portion 22 (see Figure 1). The mouth portion 21 is positioned downward when the liquid container 11 is set in the container holding portion 12. The mouth portion 21 is formed in a cylindrical shape. A male screw portion 23 (see Figure 2) is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the mouth portion 21. The handle portion 22 is positioned on the opposite side of the mouth portion 21 in the vertical direction of Figure 1. The handle portion 22 is the part for the user to hold the liquid container 11 by hand when setting the liquid container 11 in the container holding portion 12. In addition, a tab 24 (see Figure 1) is integrally formed on the liquid container 11. The tab 24 is a part for detecting whether or not the liquid container 11 is set in the container holding portion 12, that is, the presence or absence of the liquid container 11, by a sensor (not shown).

[0016] In this example, a tab 24 is provided on the liquid container 11, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, the presence or absence of the liquid container 11 in the container holder 12 may be detected via a separate component. The case portion 51 of the container holder 12, described later, is provided with a separate component that contacts and rotates with the liquid container 11 when the liquid container 11 is set in place. A sensor that detects the rotation of this separate component may be used to detect whether or not the liquid container 11 is set in the container holder 12. As the sensor, an optical sensor consisting of a light-emitting unit that emits light and a light-receiving unit that detects the light from the light-emitting unit may be used. When the liquid container 11 is set and the separate component rotates, the separate component blocks the light from the light-emitting unit. This makes it possible to detect whether or not the liquid container 11 is set in the container holder 12. The separate component is preferably an opaque material that does not transmit light.

[0017] (Sealing member) The sealing member 16 is a member that seals the mouth 21 of the liquid container 11. The sealing member 16 is made of an elastic material such as synthetic rubber. In other words, the sealing member 16 is a rubber-like elastic body. The sealing member 16 is positioned in contact (tightly attached) with the end face 21a (see Figure 2) of the mouth 21.

[0018] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the sealing member 16 included in the liquid supply device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 3, the sealing member 16 is formed in a disc shape having a predetermined thickness. A slit-shaped notch 26 is formed in the sealing member 16. The notch 26 is formed to penetrate the sealing member 16 through to its thickness. However, the surfaces forming the notch 26 are in contact (tightly adhered) due to the elasticity of the sealing member 16.

[0019] The sealing member 16 has a plurality of notches 26 (26a to 26d) that extend radially outward from the center of the sealing member 16. In this embodiment, as an example, four notches 26a to 26d are formed in the sealing member 16. The four notches 26a to 26d are formed rotationally symmetrically. Also, the four notches 26a to 26d are formed in a cross shape.

[0020] The sealing member 16 is configured such that, when the needle 70 (see Figures 1 and 2) presses against the sealing member 16, the notches 26a to 26d are pushed open, as shown in Figure 4. Furthermore, the sealing member 16 is configured such that when the needle 70 is withdrawn from the sealing member 16, the notches 26a to 26d close due to the elasticity of the sealing member 16. The configuration of the needle 70 will be described in detail later.

[0021] Here, as shown in Figure 3, if the thickness of the sealing member 16 is t (mm), it is preferable that the thickness t of the sealing member 16 is 3 mm or more and 7 mm or less. Also, if the radius of the needle 70 is r (mm), it is preferable that the length L (mm) of each notch 26a to 26d satisfies the following equation (1). The radius r of the needle 70 is the radius of the needle shaft portion 71 of the needle 70 shown in Figures 12 and 13. r+t≦L≦5t …(1)

[0022] By ensuring that the length L of each notch 26a to 26d satisfies equation (1) above, the following effects can be obtained. First, when the four notches 26a to 26d are expanded by the needle 70, a predetermined gap can be formed between each notch 26a to 26d. This predetermined gap is formed around the needle 70 when viewed from the central axis direction of the needle 70, as each notch 26a to 26d is expanded into a V-shape. Therefore, the predetermined gap formed between each notch 26a to 26d can be used as a passage for air and liquid. Furthermore, when the needle 70 is withdrawn from the sealing member 16, the elasticity of the sealing member 16 returns each notch 26a to 26d to its original state (the state before being expanded by the needle 70), thereby closing the predetermined gap. Therefore, when the needle 70 is withdrawn from the sealing member 16, leakage of liquid from the notches 26a to 26d can be suppressed.

[0023] In this embodiment, four notches 26a to 26d are formed in a cross shape on the sealing member 16, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, three notches may be formed so as to divide the sealing member 16 into three equal parts in the circumferential direction, with the center of the sealing member 16 as the starting point. Alternatively, five or more notches may be formed on the sealing member 16.

[0024] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the notches 26 are formed to penetrate the sealing member 16 in the thickness direction, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the notches 26 may be formed with a depth that does not penetrate the sealing member 16 in the thickness direction, leaving a thin-walled portion on the inner side in the depth direction of the notches 26. In this case, the sealing performance (sealing performance) of the opening 21 by the sealing member 16 can be improved when transporting or storing the liquid container 11. Also, when the needle 70 (see Figures 1 and 2) presses against the sealing member 16, the thin-walled portion is pressed against by the needle 70 and ruptures. Therefore, each of the notches 26a to 26d can be expanded by the needle 70.

[0025] (cap) The cap 17 is a component attached to the opening 21 of the container body 15 in order to secure the sealing member 16 to the opening 21. The cap 17 is made of a rigid material. Specifically, the cap 17 is made of a rigid resin such as polypropylene.

[0026] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the cap 17 of the liquid supply device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the outside of the container body 15 (bottom side of Figure 1). Figure 6 is a perspective view of the cap 17 of the liquid supply device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the inside of the container body 15 (top side of Figure 1). Figure 7 is a plan view of the cap 17 of the liquid supply device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the cap 17 at the position of line AA shown in Figure 7. Figure 9 is an enlarged view of section B in Figure 8.

[0027] As shown in Figures 5 to 9, the cap 17 has a cylindrical side wall 28, a lid portion 29 formed to close one opening of the side wall 28, an annular portion 30 formed to protrude radially inward from the inner surface of the side wall 28, and a flange portion 31 formed to protrude radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the side wall 28. The cap 17 is a single molded product of resin.

[0028] On the inner circumference of the side wall 28, a female threaded portion 32 is formed along with the annular portion 30 described above. The female threaded portion 32 is the part that engages with the male threaded portion 23 of the mouth 21 when attaching the cap 17 to the mouth 21 of the container body 15. As shown in Figure 2, the cap 17 is fastened and fixed to the mouth 21 of the liquid container 11 by engaging the female threaded portion 32 with the male threaded portion 23 of the mouth 21 and tightening the cap 17. The annular portion 30 is the part that presses the sealing member 16 against the end face 21a of the mouth 21 when the cap 17 is tightened as described above. When attaching the cap 17 to the mouth 21 of the container body 15, the mouth 21 is positioned facing upward. In that case, the sealing member 16 is positioned between the end face 21a of the mouth 21 and the annular portion 30 of the cap 17, and by tightening the cap 17 in that state, it is fixed in close contact with the end face 21a of the mouth 21.

[0029] As shown in Figure 2, the lid portion 29 is positioned facing the sealing member 16. When the cap 17 is viewed from the front, the lid portion 29 is formed in a circular shape. The lid portion 29 is also formed in a disc shape. When the cap 17 is attached to the opening portion 21, the lid portion 29 is positioned at a predetermined distance (described later) from the sealing member 16.

[0030] A groove 35 is formed in the lid portion 29. The groove 35 is formed by partially reducing the thickness dimension of the lid portion 29. Therefore, the portion of the lid portion 29 in which the groove 35 is formed has weaker mechanical strength than the portion in which the groove 35 is not formed. However, the lid portion 29 does not have any portion that penetrates the lid portion 29 in the thickness direction, including the portion in which the groove 35 is formed. Therefore, when the mouth portion 21 of the container body 15 is sealed with the sealing member 16 and the cap 17 is tightened, the mouth portion 21 is double-sealed by the sealing member 16 and the cap 17. This improves the sealing performance of the liquid container 11 during transport and storage.

[0031] The lid portion 29 has a plurality of grooves 35 (35a to 35f) that extend radially outward from the center of the lid portion 29. The grooves 35 (35a to 35f) are formed so that when the needle 70 presses against the lid portion 29, the lid portion 29 splits along the grooves 35 (35a to 35f). In this embodiment, as an example, six grooves 35a to 35f are formed in the lid portion 29. The six grooves 35a to 35f are formed rotationally symmetrically. Also, the six grooves 35a to 35f are formed radially. The cross-sectional shape of the grooves 35 (35a to 35f) is preferably V-shaped, but other shapes, such as U-shaped, may also be used.

[0032] The lid portion 29 has a first surface 36 (see Figures 6 and 8) positioned opposite the sealing member 16, and a second surface 37 (see Figures 5 and 8) positioned on the opposite side of the first surface 36. When the cap 17 is attached to the mouth portion 21 of the container body 15, the first surface 36 of the lid portion 29 becomes the inner surface of the lid portion 29 facing inward towards the container body 15, and the second surface 37 of the lid portion 29 becomes the outer surface of the lid portion 29 facing outward towards the container body 15.

[0033] In contrast, the six grooves 35a to 35f are formed on both the first surface 36 and the second surface 37. The depth of each groove 35a to 35f on the first surface 36 is the same as the depth of each groove 35a to 35f on the second surface 37. However, the depth of each groove 35a to 35f on the first surface 36 may be different from the depth of each groove 35a to 35f on the second surface 37. The six grooves 35a to 35f are formed at corresponding positions on the first surface 36 and the second surface 37. The corresponding positions on the first surface 36 and the second surface 37 mean positions that overlap with each other when the cap 17 is viewed from the front, i.e., the same positions.

[0034] A thin-walled portion 38 (see Figures 5 and 6) is formed in the center of the lid portion 29 to suppress displacement of the needle 70. The thin-walled portion 38 is formed on both the first surface 36 and the second surface 37, similar to the six grooves 35a to 35f described above. The thin-walled portion 38 is also formed in a nearly circular shape. The depth of the thin-walled portion 38 on the first surface 36 is the same as the depth of each groove 35a to 35f on the first surface 36, and the depth of the thin-walled portion 38 on the second surface 37 is the same as the depth of each groove 35a to 35f on the second surface 37.

[0035] Furthermore, a second groove 39 is formed on the second surface 37 of the lid portion 29, as shown in Figure 5. In contrast, the first surface 36 of the lid portion 29 does not have a second groove 39, as shown in Figure 6. The second groove 39 is formed to make the lid portion 29 more likely to break along the groove 35 (35a to 35f) when the needle 70 presses against it. The second groove 39 is also formed to prevent a part of the lid portion 29 that has broken along the groove 35 (35a to 35f) from separating from the cap 17 when the needle 70 presses against it.

[0036] The depth of the second groove 39 on the second surface 37 is the same as the depth of each of the grooves 35a to 35f on the second surface 37. The second surface 37 is formed in such a way that it connects the radially outer ends of the multiple grooves 35a to 35f formed on the second surface 37. In this embodiment, six grooves 35a to 35f are formed on the second surface 37. The second groove 39 is formed in a hexagon shape when viewed from the front of the cap 17. However, the shape of the second groove 39 is not limited to a hexagon and may be a polygon corresponding to the number of grooves formed on the second surface 37. For example, although not shown in the figures, if four grooves are formed in a cross shape on the second surface 37, the second groove 39 will be formed in a square shape. Also, the second groove 39 may be circular regardless of the number of grooves formed on the second surface 37.

[0037] Multiple notches 41 are formed in the flange portion 31. In this embodiment, as an example, two notches 41 are formed on the circumference of the flange portion 31. The two notches 41 are formed with a 180° offset in the circumferential direction of the cap 17. Each notch 41 is formed with a predetermined width in the circumferential direction. The notch positions, which are the positions of each notch 41 in the circumferential direction of the cap 17, are determined for each type of liquid stored in the container body 15. The number of notches 41 may be one or three or more. When the cap 17 is fastened and fixed to the mouth portion 21 of the container body 15 by the interlocking of screws, the position of the notches 41 in the circumferential direction of the cap 17 is determined to a predetermined position by either having a part of the cap 17 abut against the end face 21a of the mouth portion 21 (see Figure 2) or by managing the tightening torque of the cap 17.

[0038] The notch 41 in the flange portion 31 is formed to prevent the incorrect insertion of the liquid container 11. Incorrect insertion of the liquid container 11 means that a liquid container 11 other than the liquid container 11 that should be inserted (set) into the container holding portion 12 is inserted into the container holding portion 12. Specifically, the following case can be considered. For example, consider the case where there is a liquid container 11 that contains a first diluent and a liquid container 11 that contains a second diluent which is of a different type (components, etc.) from the first diluent. In this case, the liquid container 11 that contains the first diluent should be inserted into the container holding portion 12, but the user may mistakenly insert the liquid container 11 that contains the second diluent. This is incorrect insertion of the liquid container 11. Incorrect insertion of the liquid container 11 is prevented by the interference between the flange portion 31 and the key 56 (see Figure 10), which will be described later.

[0039] (Container holding part) The container holder 12 holds the liquid container 11 with the cap 17 facing downwards. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the container holder 12 has a housing 45 and a manifold 46. The manifold 46 is fastened to the lower part of the housing 45 by a plurality of bolts 47. In addition, a ring-shaped sealing member 48 is attached inside the fastening position of the bolts 47. The sealing member 48 is a member that suppresses leakage of gas or liquid at the contact interface between the housing 45 and the manifold 46.

[0040] (housing) The housing 45 has sufficient rigidity to hold the container body 15 containing a predetermined amount of liquid. The housing 45 integrally includes a case portion 51 that forms a space capable of accommodating the container body 15, a container receiving portion 52 provided at the bottom of the case portion 51, and a connecting portion 53 that connects to the manifold 46.

[0041] The container receiving portion 52 is the part that receives and supports the liquid container 11 inserted (set) into the container holding portion 12 from below. Specifically, the container receiving portion 52 is the part that receives and supports the bottom surface of the container body 15 from below, outside the opening portion 21. As a result, the container receiving portion 52 bears the entire mass of the liquid container 11. The entire mass of the liquid container 11 includes the mass of the liquid contained in the container body 15.

[0042] The container receiving portion 52 is formed in a substantially annular shape, as shown in Figure 10. Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of the liquid supply device 10 shown in Figure 1 at the CC line. Multiple key mounting portions 55 are formed on the same circumferential surface as the container receiving portion 52. Each key mounting portion 55 is a part to which a key 56 is detachably attached. The key 56 is a component for preventing the incorrect insertion of the liquid container 11 described above. The key 56 is attached in a position that avoids interference with the flange portion 31, depending on the type of liquid contained in the container body 15. The key mounting portions 55 and the key 56, together with the container receiving portion 52 described above, are elements that constitute the housing 45 of the container holding portion 12.

[0043] Each key mounting portion 55 is formed by recessing a part of the circumferential surface described above into a concave shape. In this embodiment, as an example, six key mounting portions 55 are provided. The six key mounting portions 55 are formed at equal intervals (60° intervals) in the circumferential direction. Also in this embodiment, as an example, one key 56 is attached to two of the six key mounting portions 55. The number of keys 56 is the same as the number of notches 41 formed in the flange portion 31 of the cap 17. Each key 56 is attached to the key mounting portion 55 by a bolt 57. For this reason, each key mounting portion 55 is provided with a screw hole 58 that engages with the male thread of the bolt 57. Furthermore, the recess dimensions of each key mounting portion 55 are set so that when the key 56 is attached to the key mounting portion 55 by the bolt 57, the head of the bolt 57 is positioned lower than the upper surface of the container receiving portion 52. The keys 56 are positioned so as to protrude radially inward from the container receiving portion 52. The protrusion dimension of the key 56 is set so that if the liquid container 11 is inserted incorrectly, the key 56 will interfere with (contact) the flange portion 31 of the cap 17.

[0044] As shown in Figure 2, the connecting portion 53 is formed radially outward from the container receiving portion 52. The connecting portion 53 is also formed in an annular shape. The connecting portion 53 is provided with a screw hole (female thread) that engages with the male thread of the bolt 47. The housing 45 and the manifold 46 are fixed to each other by tightening the bolt 47 that engages with the screw hole of the connecting portion 53.

[0045] (Manifold) Figure 11 shows the manifold 46 viewed from an oblique angle above. As shown in Figure 11, the manifold 46 is a hollow member integrally comprising a cap receiving portion 60, a first mounting portion 61, a second mounting portion 62, and a needle mounting portion 63. The cap receiving portion 60 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The cap receiving portion 60 forms a space capable of receiving the cap 17 described above. The needle 70 is positioned in the space formed by the cap receiving portion 60 (see Figure 2). The needle 70, together with the housing 45 and the manifold 46, is an element that constitutes the container holding portion 12. The upper end of the cap receiving portion 60 is fitted inside the connecting portion 53 described above.

[0046] The first mounting portion 61 is the part for attaching the manifold 46 to the housing 45. The first mounting portion 61 has a through hole 61a for inserting the shaft portion (male thread portion) of the bolt 47 described above. In this embodiment, as an example, four through holes 61a are formed in the first mounting portion 61. In this case, the manifold 46 is fastened and fixed to the connecting portion 53 of the housing 45 using four bolts 47.

[0047] The second mounting portion 62 is the part for attaching the manifold 46 to the tank 13. As shown in Figure 1, the second mounting portion 62 is fixed to the upper end of the tank 13 by a fastener 65. The fastener 65 fixes the second mounting portion 62 to the upper end of the tank 13 by, for example, the fastening force produced by the interlocking of screws.

[0048] The needle mounting portion 63 is the part for attaching the needle 70 to the manifold 46. Multiple communication holes 64 are formed around the needle mounting portion 63. These multiple communication holes 64 are holes that connect the space above the needle mounting portion 63 and the space below the needle mounting portion 63 inside the manifold 46. Communication means that the spaces are connected. In this embodiment, as an example, four communication holes 64 are formed around the needle mounting portion 63.

[0049] The needle mounting portion 63 is provided with a fixing hole 63a for fixing the needle 70. The fixing hole 63a is made up of a screw hole (female thread) when the needle 70 is fastened and fixed to the needle mounting portion 63 by the interlocking of screws. In that case, the needle 70 has a male thread that engages with the fixing hole 63a. The mounting structure (fixing structure) of the needle 70 to the needle mounting portion 63 is not limited to fastening with screws, but may also be other structures such as adhesive or press-fitting.

[0050] Furthermore, the manifold 46 is provided with a sensor mounting hole 66. The sensor mounting hole 66 is for mounting a remaining amount sensor, which will be described later and is not shown.

[0051] Figure 12 is a plan view of the needle of the liquid supply device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the tip side. Figure 13 is a perspective view of the needle of the liquid supply device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figures 12 and 13, the needle 70 integrally comprises a needle shaft portion 71, a needle flange portion 72, and a needle base portion 73. The needle 70 is preferably made of a chemical-resistant metal. The tip of the needle 70 (needle shaft portion 71) is positioned upward. The tip of the needle 70 is also formed in a conical shape.

[0052] The needle 70 has a hollow section 74. The hollow section 74 is formed along the central axis of the needle 70, from the needle shaft 71 through the needle flange 72 to the needle base 73, except for the conical portion at the tip of the needle 70. In other words, the needle 70 has a hollow structure.

[0053] A notched hole 75 is formed at the tip of the needle 70. The notched hole 75 is formed at the tip of the needle 70 as a hole that communicates with the hollow portion 74. In this embodiment, as a preferred example, multiple notched holes 75 are formed at the tip of the needle 70. Also in this embodiment, as an example, four notched holes 75 are formed at the tip of the needle 70. The four notched holes 75 are formed at equal intervals with a 90° angular pitch in the circumferential direction. As shown in Figure 12, the notched holes 75 are formed in a semi-elongated shape. The notched holes 75 are formed to cut out a part of the conical surface at the tip of the needle 70.

[0054] The needle flange portion 72 is formed to protrude radially outward from the needle 70 beyond the needle shaft portion 71 and the needle base portion 73. The needle flange portion 72 is the part that abuts against the upper surface of the needle mounting portion 63 when the needle 70 is attached to the needle mounting portion 63 of the manifold 46 described above.

[0055] The needle base 73 is formed on the opposite side of the needle shaft 71, with the needle flange 72 in between. The needle base 73 is also formed at the rear end of the needle 70. The needle base 73 is the part that is inserted into the fixing hole 63a of the needle mounting portion 63 of the manifold 46 when attaching the needle 70 to the needle mounting portion 63 of the manifold 46 described above. The needle base 73 is also the part where the male thread is formed when fastening and fixing the needle 70 to the needle mounting portion 63 of the manifold 46 described above by thread-to-thread engagement.

[0056] As shown in Figure 2, the needle 70, configured as described above, is attached to the needle mounting portion 63 of the manifold 46. The needle shaft portion 71 of the needle 70 is positioned so that its tip is facing upward and it stands vertically from the needle mounting portion 63. The needle shaft portion 71 of the needle 70 is positioned in the center of the space formed by the cap receiving portion 60 of the manifold 46.

[0057] Next, the procedure for setting the liquid container 11 in the container holding section 12 in the liquid supply device 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0058] First, the user inserts an unused liquid container 11 into the container holder 12. Specifically, the user holds the handle 22 of the liquid container 11 in their hand and inserts the liquid container 11 into the case portion 51 of the container holder 12 from above the housing 45. At this time, the mouth portion 21 of the liquid container 11 and the cap 17 attached to the mouth portion 21 are positioned facing downwards. The mouth portion 21 of the liquid container 11 is sealed by the sealing member 16 and the cap 17. The lid portion 29 of the cap 17 is positioned below the sealing member 16.

[0059] Here, when inserting the liquid container 11 into the container holder 12 as described above, the positions of the two notches 41 provided on the flange portion 31 of the cap 17 and the two keys 56 attached to the key mounting portion 55 of the housing 45 may not align. Specifically, this occurs when the type of liquid contained in the liquid container 11 that should be set in the container holder 12 differs from the type of liquid contained in the liquid container 11 that the user attempted to set in the container holder 12, due to user error. In this case, the flange portion 31 of the cap 17 contacts (interferes with) the key 56 of the housing 45 before the tip of the needle 70 contacts the lid portion 29 of the cap 17. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the wrong liquid container 11 from being set in the container holder 12 due to user error, i.e., to prevent the incorrect insertion of the liquid container 11.

[0060] In contrast, as shown in Figure 10, when the positions of the two notches 41 provided in the flange portion 31 of the cap 17 and the two keys 56 attached to the key mounting portion 55 of the housing 45 are aligned, the flange portion 31 of the cap 17 does not come into contact with (interfere with) the keys 56 of the housing 45. In this case, the needle 70 comes into contact with the lid portion 29 of the cap 17. Specifically, the tip of the needle 70 comes into contact with the central part of the lid portion 29. In this embodiment, a thin-walled portion 38 is provided in the center of the lid portion 29, and a thick-walled portion (the part other than the groove portion 35) exists around this thin-walled portion 38. Therefore, when the tip of the needle 70 comes into contact with the lid portion 29, the thick-walled portion around the thin-walled portion 38 suppresses misalignment of the needle 70.

[0061] Furthermore, as described above, when the user pushes the liquid container 11 downwards with the tip of the needle 70 in contact with the center of the lid 29, the center of the lid 29 is pressed upwards by the tip of the needle 70 due to the pushing force. This creates a hole in the thin-walled portion 38 formed in the center of the lid 29, and this hole is widened by the tip of the needle 70. As a result, the lid 29 of the cap 17 breaks along the grooves 35 (35a to 35f), as shown in Figures 14 and 15. In other words, the lid 29 is broken into six parts along the grooves 35 (35a to 35f). Also, the portion of the lid 29 of the cap 17 where the grooves 35 (35a to 35f) are formed is bent upwards. This creates a gap 77 (see Figure 15) around the needle shaft 71 of the needle 70. These gaps 77 are formed one for each groove 35 (35a to 35f). The gaps 77 are formed when the lid 29 splits along the groove 35 and a part of the lid 29 is bent upward.

[0062] Here, the lid portion 29 of the cap 17 has a second groove 39 formed on the second surface 37, but not on the first surface 36. Therefore, when a user pushes the liquid container 11 downwards, the hexagonal portion of the lid 29 surrounded by the second groove 39 is prone to breaking along the groove 35, but this hexagonal portion is retained by the cap 17 as part of the lid 29 and does not separate as fragments. Therefore, when the lid portion 29 of the cap 17 is broken along the groove 35 by the pressure of the needle 70, the generation of fragments can be suppressed.

[0063] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 14, a space corresponding to a predetermined distance 76 is secured inside the cap 17 so that a portion of the lid 29 that has split along the groove 35 does not interfere with (contact) the sealing member 16. The predetermined distance 76 is a distance greater than or equal to the length of the groove 35 (35a to 35f) with the center of the lid 29 as the starting point. As a result, a portion of the lid 29 that has split along the groove 35 does not obstruct the opening and closing operation of the sealing member 16 by inserting and removing the needle 70. The opening and closing operation of the sealing member 16 refers to the operation in which the notches 26 (26a to 26d) formed in the sealing member 16 are pushed open by the needle 70, and the operation in which the notches 26 (26a to 26d) are closed by the withdrawal of the needle 70.

[0064] Furthermore, as described above, when the user pushes the liquid container 11 downwards, the tip of the needle 70 splits the lid portion 29 of the cap 17 along the groove portion 35, then contacts the center of the sealing member 16 and presses the sealing member 16. As a result, the notches 26 (26a to 26d) formed in the sealing member 16 are pushed open by the needle 70, as shown in Figures 4 and 16. At this time, a gap 78 (see Figure 16) is formed around the needle shaft portion 71 of the needle 70 as the notches 26 (26a to 26d) are opened. One gap 78 is formed for each notch 26 (26a to 26d).

[0065] Figure 17 is a cross-sectional view showing a liquid supply device 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which the liquid container 11 is set in the container holding part 12. Figure 18 is an enlarged view of a part of the liquid supply device 10 shown in Figure 17. As shown in Figures 17 and 18, when the liquid container 11 is set in the container holder 12, the tip (upper end) of the needle 70 is positioned so as to penetrate the lid portion 29 of the cap 17 and the sealing member 16 from below. When the liquid container 11 is set in the container holder 12 in this way, the tip of the needle 70 enters the mouth portion 21 of the container body 15. As a result, the tip of the needle 70 comes into contact with the liquid (not shown) contained in the liquid container 11. In addition, a gap 77 (see Figure 15) is formed around the needle shaft portion 71 of the needle 70 as the lid portion 29 of the cap 17 splits along the groove portion 35, and a gap 78 (see Figure 16) is formed as the notch portion 26 of the sealing member 16 is pushed open.

[0066] Therefore, an air passage 79 (see Figure 18) is formed inside the cap receiving section 60 of the manifold 46, passing through the aforementioned gaps 77 and 78, and air flows into the container body 15 through this passage 79. As a result, the liquid contained in the container body 15 flows out of the container body 15 due to its own weight. Specifically, the liquid inside the container body 15 flows out of the container body 15 towards the tank 13 mainly by following two paths.

[0067] The first pathway is the pathway through which the liquid flows out from the notched hole 75 at the tip of the needle 70, following the hollow portion 74 of the needle 70. The second pathway is the pathway through the gaps 77, 78 and the communication hole 64 described above. The liquid flowing out of the container body 15 via the first and second pathways flows into the tank 13 through the internal space on the lower side of the manifold 46. As a result, the liquid flowing out of the container body 15 accumulates in the tank 13.

[0068] Subsequently, when the surface height (liquid level) of the liquid accumulated in the tank 13 reaches a predetermined height H shown in Figure 18, the liquid comes into contact with the lower surface of the flange portion 31. As a result, a portion of the flow path 79 is blocked by the liquid, preventing air from flowing into the container body 15. Therefore, the outflow of liquid from the container body 15 to the tank 13 stops.

[0069] Subsequently, the liquid in tank 13 is pumped out to the outside by tubes and pumps, and when the liquid surface height falls below the predetermined height H, air flows into the container body 15 through the flow path 79. As a result, liquid flows out from the container body 15 towards tank 13. This outflow of liquid is repeated each time the liquid in tank 13 is pumped out to the outside. Therefore, as long as there is liquid remaining in the container body 15, the inside of tank 13 remains filled with liquid, and the liquid surface height is maintained at the predetermined height H.

[0070] In contrast, if there is no liquid remaining in the container body 15, that is, if the container body 15 is empty, liquid will no longer flow from the container body 15 into the tank 13 even if the liquid surface height falls below a predetermined height H. Therefore, as the liquid in the tank 13 is sent to the outside by the tube and pump, the amount of liquid remaining in the tank 13 decreases. Consequently, the user needs to replace the empty container body 15 with an unused one. Furthermore, the user needs to be encouraged to replace the container body 15.

[0071] Therefore, a remaining liquid sensor (not shown) is attached to the tank 13 to detect the remaining amount of liquid in the tank 13. As described above, the remaining liquid sensor is attached to a sensor mounting hole 66 provided in the manifold 46. When the remaining amount of liquid in the tank 13 falls below a predetermined amount, the remaining liquid sensor outputs a detection signal to the control unit (not shown) of the automatic analyzer. The control unit of the automatic analyzer then controls the display screen of the display unit of the automatic analyzer to display a message prompting the user to replace the container body 15. Furthermore, if the automatic analyzer is equipped with multiple liquid supply devices 10, the control unit displays information on the display screen of the display unit, along with the above message, to identify the liquid supply device 10 in which the remaining amount of liquid in the tank 13 has fallen below a predetermined amount. As a result, the user can recognize which liquid supply device 10 has caused the remaining amount of liquid in the tank 13 to fall below a predetermined amount by checking the display screen of the display unit, and perform the replacement of the container body 15 based on this recognition result.

[0072] The following describes the procedure for the user to replace the liquid container 11. First, the user holds the handle 22 of the liquid container 11 set in the liquid supply device 10 when the amount of liquid remaining in the tank 13 falls below a predetermined amount, and pulls the liquid container 11 up from the container holder 12. At this time, the needle 70 is pulled out from the sealing member 16 and the lid 29 of the cap 17. As a result, the sealing member 16 returns to its original shape (the shape before being pressed by the needle 70) due to the elasticity of the sealing member 16. Also, the notches 26 (26a~26d) formed in the sealing member 16 return to a closed state as shown in Figure 3. This allows the opening 21 of the container body 15 to be sealed with the sealing member 16, thereby preventing liquid leakage, for example, if a small amount of liquid remains in the container body 15, or if a human error occurs, such as the user pulling up a different liquid container 11 than the one that should be replaced.

[0073] Subsequently, the user sets the unused liquid container 11 into the container holder 12 using the same procedure as described above. This completes the replacement of the liquid container 11.

[0074] As described above, the liquid supply device 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a container body 15 having a sealing member 16 with a notch 26 and a cap 17 with a groove 35 in its lid 29. The lid 29 of the cap 17 is split along the groove 35 (35a to 35f) when the needle 70 presses against the lid 29, and the sealing member 16 is configured such that the notch 26 (26a to 26d) is pushed open when the needle 70 presses against the sealing member 16. As a result, by providing only one opening 21 in the liquid container 11, it is possible to achieve the inflow of air into the liquid container 11 and the outflow of liquid from the liquid container 11. Therefore, the number of openings provided in the liquid container can be reduced compared to the conventional method of providing openings at the top and bottom of the liquid container. Consequently, for example, when the container body 15 is manufactured by blow molding, the manufacturing of the container body 15 becomes easier and the manufacturing cost is reduced. In addition, the user does not need to loosen the screw-on cap that seals the top of the liquid container. Therefore, the burden on the user can be reduced.

[0075] Furthermore, the sealing member 16 has a plurality of notches 26 (26a to 26d) formed radially outward from the center of the sealing member 16, and the plurality of notches 26 (26a to 26d) are formed rotationally symmetrically. On the other hand, the lid portion 29 of the cap 17 has a plurality of grooves 35 (35a to 35f) formed radially outward from the center of the lid portion 29, and the plurality of grooves 35 (35a to 35f) are formed rotationally symmetrically. As a result, when the sealing member 16 is pressed with the needle 70, the notches 26 (26a to 26d) of the sealing member 16 can be evenly spread in the circumferential direction. Also, when the lid portion 29 of the cap 17 is pressed with the needle 70, the lid portion 29 can be evenly split along each of the grooves 35a to 35f in the circumferential direction.

[0076] Furthermore, the cap 17 has a cylindrical side wall 28 and an annular portion 30 that protrudes radially inward from the inner surface of the side wall 28. The sealing member 16 is pressed against the end face 21a of the mouth portion 21 by the annular portion 30. As a result, when the cap 17 is tightened, the sealing member 16 is brought into close contact with the end face 21a of the mouth portion 21, and the opening of the mouth portion 21 is sealed by the sealing member 16.

[0077] Furthermore, the flange portion 31 of the cap 17 has a notch 41 formed therein, the position of which is determined according to the type of liquid contained in the container body 15. On the other hand, the container holding portion 12 has a key 56 that is attached in a position to avoid interference with the flange portion 31 according to the type of liquid contained in the container body 15, and a plurality of key mounting portions 55 to which the key 56 is detachably attached. The mounting position of the key 56 can be changed for the plurality of key mounting portions 55 according to the type of liquid contained in the container body 15. This prevents the incorrect insertion of the liquid container 11. Also, when multiple liquid supply devices 10 are provided in the automatic analyzer, the mounting position of the key 56 can be freely changed according to the type of liquid contained in the container body 15 of each liquid supply device 10. For this reason, even if the type of liquid contained in the container body 15 of each liquid supply device 10 is different, parts other than the cap 17 can be standardized. In this example, an example in which the key 56 is detachably attached to the key mounting portion 55 has been described, but it is not limited to this. For example, the key 56 may be molded integrally with the container receiving portion 52.

[0078] Furthermore, the tip of the needle 70 is formed in a conical shape. This allows the pressing force of the needle 70 to be concentrated on the center of the lid portion 29 of the cap 17 and the center of the sealing member 16 when setting the liquid container 11 into the container holder 12. As a result, when setting the liquid container 11 into the container holder 12, the user can insert the tip of the needle 70 into the opening 21 through the lid portion 29 of the cap 17 and the sealing member 16 simply by pushing the liquid container 11 downwards with relatively little force.

[0079] Furthermore, the needle 70 has a hollow section 74, and a notched hole 75 communicating with the hollow section 74 is formed at the tip of the needle 70. This allows the hollow section 74 of the needle 70 to be used as one of the flow paths for the liquid that flows out from the container body 15 towards the tank 13 when the tip of the needle 70 is inserted into the opening 21 of the container body 15.

[0080] <Second Embodiment> Next, a liquid supply device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The liquid supply device according to the second embodiment of the present invention has a different needle configuration compared to the first embodiment described above.

[0081] Figure 19 is a perspective view of a needle in a liquid supply device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 20 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the arrangement of each part when a liquid container is set in the container holding section of the liquid supply device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0082] As shown in Figure 19, the needle 80 integrally comprises a needle shaft portion 81, a needle flange portion 82, and a needle base portion 83. The tip of the needle 80 (needle shaft portion 81) is formed in a conical shape. The needle 80 has a hollow portion 84. The hollow portion 84 is formed along the central axis of the needle 80, from the needle shaft portion 81 through the needle flange portion 82 to the needle base portion 83, except for the conical portion at the tip of the needle 80. In other words, the needle 80 has a hollow structure. The above configuration is basically the same as that of the needle 70 in the first embodiment described above.

[0083] An elongated hole 85 is formed in the needle shaft portion 81 of the needle 80, excluding the tip (conical portion), as a hole communicating with the hollow portion 84. The elongated hole 85 is formed vertically in the peripheral wall of the needle shaft portion 81. Furthermore, two elongated holes 85 are provided in one needle 80. The two elongated holes 85 are located opposite each other across the central axis of the needle 80.

[0084] The needle flange portion 82 is formed to protrude radially outward from the needle 80 beyond the needle shaft portion 81 and the needle base portion 83. The needle flange portion 82 is the part that abuts against the upper surface of the needle mounting portion 63 when the needle 80 is attached to the needle mounting portion 63 of the manifold 46 described above.

[0085] The needle base 83 is formed on the opposite side of the needle shaft 81, with the needle flange 82 in between. The needle base 83 is also formed at the rear end of the needle 80. The needle base 83 is the part that is inserted into the fixing hole 63a of the needle mounting portion 63 of the manifold 46 when attaching the needle 80 to the manifold 46 described above. In this embodiment, for example, a male screw is formed on the needle base 83, assuming that the needle 80 is fastened and fixed to the needle mounting portion 63 of the manifold 46 by the interlocking of screws.

[0086] As shown in Figure 20, the needle 80, which has the above configuration, is attached to the needle mounting portion 63 of the manifold 46. The needle shaft portion 81 of the needle 80 is positioned so that its tip is facing upward and it stands vertically from the needle mounting portion 63. The needle shaft portion 81 of the needle 80 is positioned in the center of the space formed by the cap receiving portion 60 of the manifold 46.

[0087] In the liquid supply device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, when the liquid container 11 is set in the container holding part 12, as shown in Figure 20, the lid portion 29 of the cap 17 is split along the groove portion 35 (35a to 35f) when the needle 80 presses the lid portion 29, and the sealing member 16 is configured such that the notches 26 (26a to 26d) are spread open when the needle 80 presses the sealing member 16 (see Figures 4, 14, 15, 17, 18, and 20). Therefore, similar to the first embodiment, the number of openings provided on the liquid container can be reduced, and the burden on the user can be reduced.

[0088] Furthermore, the liquid supply device according to the second embodiment of the present invention differs from the liquid supply device 10 according to the first embodiment only in the configuration of the needle 80, and therefore, in addition to the effects described above, the same effects as the first embodiment can be obtained.

[0089] Furthermore, the tip of the needle 80 is formed in a conical shape. As a result, similar to the first embodiment described above, the user can insert the tip of the needle 80 into the opening 21 through the lid portion 29 of the cap 17 and the sealing member 16 simply by pushing the liquid container 11 downward with relatively little force.

[0090] Furthermore, the needle 80 has a hollow section 84, and the needle shaft 81, excluding the tip (conical portion), has an elongated hole 85 that leads to the hollow section 84. This allows the hollow section 84 of the needle 80 to be used as one of the flow paths for the liquid flowing from the container body 15 towards the tank 13 when the tip of the needle 80 is inserted into the opening 21 of the container body 15.

[0091] However, in the second embodiment, as shown in Figure 20, when the tip of the needle 80 is inserted into the mouth 21 of the container body 15, a part of the sealing member 16 that is expanded by the needle 80 may block a part of the elongated hole 85. As a result, the liquid flow path using the hollow part 84 of the needle 80 may be partially narrowed. Also, when pulling the needle 80 out of the lid 29 of the cap 17 in order to replace the liquid container 11, a part of the lid 29 that is split along the groove 35 (35a to 35f) may get caught on the upper edge of the elongated hole 85. As a result, when lifting the liquid container 11 from the container holding part 12, the part of the lid 29 mentioned above may get caught on the upper edge of the elongated hole 85, which may worsen the workability.

[0092] In contrast, in the first embodiment described above, the tip of the needle 70 is formed in a conical shape, and a notch hole 75 is formed on the conical surface of the needle 70. Therefore, when the tip of the needle 70 is inserted into the mouth 21 of the container body 15, a part of the sealing member 16 that is expanded by the needle 70 does not block the notch hole 75. Also, when the needle 70 is pulled out from the lid 29 of the cap 17 in order to replace the liquid container 11, a part of the lid 29 that is split along the groove 35 (35a to 35f) does not get caught in the notch hole 75. For this reason, it is preferable to adopt the needle configuration of the needle 70 used in the first embodiment described above.

[0093] <Third Embodiment> Next, a liquid supply device according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The liquid supply device according to the third embodiment of the present invention has a different cap configuration compared to the first embodiment described above.

[0094] Figure 21 is a perspective view of the cap 87 of the liquid supply device according to the third embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the outside of the container body, and Figure 22 is a perspective view of the cap 87 of the liquid supply device according to the third embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the inside of the container body. Figure 23 is a cross-sectional view of the cap 87 of the liquid supply device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

[0095] The cap 87 shown in Figures 21 to 23 is a component that fastens the sealing member 16 to the mouth 21 of the container body 15. The cap 87 is made of a rigid material. Specifically, the cap 87 is made of a rigid resin such as polypropylene.

[0096] The cap 87 has a cylindrical side wall 88, a lid portion 89 formed to close one opening of the side wall 88, an annular portion 90 formed to protrude radially inward from the inner surface of the side wall 88, and a flange portion 91 formed to protrude radially outward from the outer surface of the side wall 88. The cap 87 is a one-piece molded product of resin.

[0097] On the inner circumference of the side wall 88, a female threaded portion 92 is formed along with the annular portion 90 described above. The female threaded portion 92 is the part that engages with the male threaded portion 23 (see Figure 2) of the mouth 21 when attaching the cap 87 to the mouth 21 of the container body 15. The cap 87 is fastened and fixed to the mouth 21 of the liquid container 11 by engaging the female threaded portion 92 with the male threaded portion 23 of the mouth 21 and tightening the cap 87. The annular portion 90 is the part that presses the sealing member 16 against the end face 21a of the mouth 21 when the cap 87 is tightened as described above. When attaching the cap 87 to the mouth 21 of the container body 15, the mouth 21 is positioned facing upward. In that case, the sealing member 16 is positioned between the end face 21a of the mouth 21 and the annular portion 90 of the cap 87, and by tightening the cap 87 in that state, it is fixed in close contact with the end face 21a of the mouth 21.

[0098] As shown in Figure 24, the lid portion 89 is positioned opposite the sealing member 16. When the cap 87 is viewed from the front, the lid portion 89 is formed in a circular shape. In addition, as shown in Figure 21, a number of ribs 93 (four in the illustrated example) are formed around the lid portion 89. The ribs 93 are formed in a manner that connects the side wall 88 and the lid portion 89 in the radial direction of the cap 87.

[0099] Furthermore, the lid portion 89 has a first surface 95 positioned opposite the sealing member 16, a second surface 96 positioned on the opposite side of the first surface 95, and a square pyramidal tapered portion 97. When the cap 87 is attached to the mouth portion 21 of the container body 15, the first surface 95 of the lid portion 89 becomes the inner surface of the lid portion 89 positioned facing the inside of the container body 15, and the second surface 96 of the lid portion 89 becomes the outer surface of the lid portion 89 positioned facing the outside of the container body 15. The tapered portion 97 is formed such that the side facing the first surface 95 is convex and the side facing the second surface 96 is concave.

[0100] Multiple grooves 98 (98a to 98d) are formed in the tapered portion 97 of the lid portion 89. The grooves 98 (98a to 98d) are formed by partially reducing the thickness dimension of the tapered portion 97 of the lid portion 89. The grooves 98 (98a to 98d) are formed so that when the needle 70 presses against the lid portion 89, the lid portion 89 will crack along the grooves 98 (98a to 98d). Figures 21 to 23 show the structure of the cap 87 before the lid portion 89 cracks along the grooves 98 (98a to 98d).

[0101] In this embodiment, as an example, four grooves 98a to 98d are formed in the tapered portion 97 of the lid portion 89. The four grooves 98a to 98d are formed rotationally symmetrically. Furthermore, the four grooves 98a to 98d are formed radially so as to extend radially outward from the center of the lid portion 89.

[0102] The four grooves 98a to 98d are formed in both directions on the first surface 95 and the second surface 96. Specifically, the four grooves 98a to 98d are formed along the ridge of the tapered portion 97, which is convex on the side of the first surface 95, and along the ridge of the tapered portion 97, which is concave on the side of the second surface 96. In other words, the four grooves 98a to 98d are formed at corresponding positions on the first surface 95 and the second surface 96.

[0103] The depth dimensions of each groove 98a to 98d on the first surface 95 side are the same as the depth dimensions of each groove 98a to 98d on the second surface 96 side. However, the depth dimensions of each groove 98a to 98d on the first surface 95 side may be different from the depth dimensions of each groove 98a to 98d on the second surface 96 side.

[0104] A thin-walled portion 99 is formed in the center of the tapered portion 97 to suppress displacement of the needle 70. The thin-walled portion 99 is formed in both directions on the first surface 95 and the second surface 96, similar to the four grooves 98a to 98d described above. The thin-walled portion 99 is also formed in a nearly circular shape. The depth dimension of the thin-walled portion 99 on the first surface 95 side is the same as the depth dimension of each groove 98a to 98d on the first surface 95 side, and the depth dimension of the thin-walled portion 99 on the second surface 96 side is the same as the depth dimension of each groove 98a to 98d on the second surface 96 side.

[0105] As shown in Figures 21 and 22, the flange portion 91 has a plurality of notches 100 formed therein. In this embodiment, as an example, two notches 100 are formed on the circumference of the flange portion 91. The two notches 100 are formed with a 180° offset in the circumferential direction of the cap 87. Each notch 100 is also formed with a predetermined width in the circumferential direction. The notch positions, which are the positions of each notch 100 in the circumferential direction of the cap 87, are determined for each type of liquid stored in the container body 15. The number of notches 100 may be one or three or more. The notches 100 of the flange portion 91 are formed to prevent the incorrect insertion of the liquid container 11. The principle for preventing the incorrect insertion of the liquid container 11 is the same as in the first embodiment described above, so an explanation is omitted.

[0106] In the liquid supply device according to the third embodiment of the present invention, when a user sets the liquid container 11 in the container holding section 12, a positional misalignment S may occur between the central axis of the cap 87 and the central axis of the needle 70, as shown in Figure 24. This positional misalignment S can be minimized by increasing the positioning accuracy of the container body 15 relative to the case section 51 when inserting the container body 15 of the liquid container 11 into the case section 51 of the container holding section 12. However, increasing the positioning accuracy of the container body 15 relative to the case section 51 makes it difficult to insert the container body 15 into the case section 51. Increasing the positional accuracy increases the manufacturing costs of the liquid container 11, cap 87, and case section 51. Therefore, in order to allow the container body 15 to be smoothly inserted into the case section 51 and to suppress the increase in manufacturing costs of the liquid container 11, cap 87, and case section 51, it is necessary to relax the above-mentioned positioning accuracy.

[0107] In contrast, in the liquid supply device according to the third embodiment of the present invention, a tapered portion 97 is formed on the lid portion 89 of the cap 87, and grooves 98 (98a to 98d) are formed in this tapered portion 97. Therefore, if a misalignment S occurs between the central axis of the cap 87 and the central axis of the needle 70, the inclined surface of the tapered portion 97 will come into contact with the tip of the needle 70. At this time, the inclined surface of the tapered portion 97 functions as a guide surface that leads the tip of the needle 70 to the center (thin-walled portion 99) of the tapered portion 97. Furthermore, if the tip of the needle 70 comes into contact with the inclined surface (concave surface) of the tapered portion 97 while the user is inserting the container body 15 into the case portion 51, a lateral force F is applied to the cap 87 that attempts to reduce the misalignment S. The cap 87 is attached to the mouth portion 21 of the container body 15. Therefore, when a lateral force F is applied to the cap 87, the position of the container body 15 is corrected together with the cap 87. Therefore, the misalignment S is eliminated during the process of the user setting the liquid container 11 into the container holder 12. As a result, the tip of the needle 70 can be brought into contact with the center of the lid 89.

[0108] Furthermore, as described above, when the user pushes the liquid container 11 downwards with the tip of the needle 70 in contact with the center of the lid 89, the lid 89 of the cap 87 is pressed by the needle 80 and breaks along the groove 98 (98a to 98d). Specifically, when the center of the lid 89 is pressed by the tip of the needle 80, a hole is made in the thin-walled portion 99 formed in the center of the lid 89, and this hole is expanded by the tip of the needle 80, causing the tapered portion 97 of the lid 89 to break into four parts along the groove 98 (98a to 98d). Therefore, even if the positioning accuracy of the container body 15 relative to the case portion 51 is relaxed, the tip of the needle 80 can be reliably brought into contact with the center of the lid 89, and the tapered portion 97 of the lid 89 can be broken along the groove 98 (98a to 98d). Furthermore, the inclined surface of the tapered portion 97 functions as a guide surface that directs the tip of the needle 80 to the center of the lid portion 89. This allows the user's pressing force required to break the tapered portion 97 of the lid portion 89 along the groove portion 98 (98a to 98d) to be kept constant. Thus, a user-friendly liquid supply device can be provided.

[0109] In the third embodiment of the present invention, the tapered portion 97 of the lid portion 89 is formed in a square pyramidal shape, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the tapered portion of the lid portion 89 may be a pyramidal shape other than a square pyramidal shape, or a conical shape. Also, the number of grooves 98 formed in the tapered portion of the lid portion 89 may be changed according to the shape of the tapered portion. Furthermore, the liquid supply device according to the third embodiment of the present invention may be configured to include a needle 80 instead of a needle 70.

[0110] <Examples of variations, etc.> The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but also includes various modified and improved forms to the extent that specific effects can be obtained by the constituent elements of the invention or combinations thereof.

[0111] For example, in each of the above embodiments, the needle is configured to have a hollow portion as a preferred example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the needle may be configured not to have a hollow portion.

[0112] Furthermore, in the above embodiments, the tip of the needle is conical as a preferred example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the tip of the needle may be pyramidal. Also, the tip of the needle may be any shape as long as it is shaped such that when the lid portion 29 of the cap 17 is pressed with the tip of the needle, the lid portion 29 can be split along the groove portion 35.

[0113] Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, a preferred example is that grooves 35 are formed on both sides (first surface 36 and second surface 37) of the lid portion 29 of the cap 17, but the present invention is not limited to this, and grooves 35 may be formed on one side of the lid portion 29 of the cap 17. The same applies to the grooves 98 formed in the tapered portion 97 of the lid portion 89 in the third embodiment described above. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0114] 10…Liquid supply device, 11…Liquid container, 15…Container body, 16…Sealing member, 17…Cap, 21…Mouth, 21a…End face, 28…Side wall, 38, 99…Thin-walled section, 39…Second groove section, 30…Ring section, 31…Flange section, 35 (35a~35f), 70, 80…Needle, 74, 84…Hollow section, 75…Notch hole (hole), 85…Elongated hole (hole), 98 (98a~98d)…Groove section, 36, 95…First surface, 37, 96…Second surface, 41…Notch section, 55…Key mounting section, 56…Key, 97…Tapered section

Claims

1. A liquid container comprising: a container body for containing liquid; a sealing member for sealing the opening provided on the container body; and a cap for securing the sealing member to the opening; A container holding part for holding the liquid container with the cap facing downward, comprising: a cap receiving part that forms a space capable of receiving the cap; and a needle disposed in the space formed by the cap receiving part, Equipped with, The sealing member is made of an elastic material and has a notched portion, The cap is made of a hard material and has a lid portion that is positioned opposite the sealing member, and the lid portion has a groove portion formed by partially reducing the thickness dimension of the lid portion. The lid portion of the cap is configured to split along the groove portion when the needle presses against the lid portion, thereby forming a first gap. The sealing member is configured such that when the needle presses against the sealing member, the notch is pushed open to form a second gap. An air passage is formed that allows air to flow into the container body through the first gap and the second gap, and the liquid in the liquid container flows out into the cap receiving section through the first gap and the second gap by its own weight as air flows in through the air passage. Liquid supply device.

2. The sealing member has a plurality of notches extending radially outward from the center of the sealing member, and the plurality of notches are formed rotationally symmetrically. The lid portion has a plurality of grooves extending radially outward from the center of the lid portion, and the plurality of grooves are formed in a rotationally symmetrical manner. The liquid supply device according to claim 1.

3. A thin-walled portion is formed in the center of the lid to suppress misalignment of the needle. The liquid supply device according to claim 2.

4. The cap has a cylindrical side wall and an annular portion formed to protrude radially inward from the inner surface of the side wall. The sealing member is pressed against the end face of the opening by the annular portion. The liquid supply device according to claim 1.

5. The cap has a flange portion formed to protrude radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the side wall, and the flange portion has a notch portion whose position is determined according to the type of liquid contained in the container body. The container holding portion has a key that is attached in a position to avoid interference with the flange portion, depending on the type of liquid contained in the container body. The liquid supply device according to claim 4.

6. The container holding portion has a plurality of key mounting portions to which the key is detachably attached, and is configured so that the mounting position of the key can be changed according to the type of liquid. The liquid supply device according to claim 5.

7. A distance greater than or equal to the length of the groove, with the center of the lid as the starting point, is ensured between the sealing member and the lid. The liquid supply device according to claim 1.

8. The lid portion has a first surface positioned opposite to the sealing member and a second surface positioned on the opposite side of the first surface. The plurality of grooves are formed at corresponding positions on the first and second surfaces, and the second groove is formed on the second surface in a manner that connects the radially outer ends of the plurality of grooves. The liquid supply device according to claim 2.

9. The lid portion has a first surface positioned opposite to the sealing member, a second surface positioned on the opposite side of the first surface, and a tapered portion formed such that the side of the first surface is convex and the side of the second surface is concave, and the groove portion is formed in the tapered portion. The liquid supply device according to claim 1.

10. The tip of the aforementioned needle is cone-shaped. The liquid supply device according to claim 1.

11. The needle has a hollow portion, A hole is formed in the tip or peripheral wall of the needle, which communicates with the hollow portion. The liquid supply device according to claim 10.

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