container

Abstract

To provide a container which can make volume of a gas layer of a storage chamber constant with respect to storage amount of various recording materials.SOLUTION: An ink cartridge 30 includes a container body 31 having a supply port 47 and a storage chamber 46. 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, and a lower wall 45. The left wall 43 and the right wall 44 have recesses 50L, 50R. Internal surfaces 50LB, 50RB of the recesses 50L, 50R partition the storage chamber 46.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a container that stores a liquid recording material and can be attached to an image forming apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] There is known a printer including a recording head that discharges ink supplied from an ink cartridge (for example, see Patent Document 1) through a nozzle. In such a printer, when the ink stored in the ink cartridge is consumed, a new ink cartridge is attached.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Ink cartridges are available in various types with different initial ink storage amounts in consideration of usage and price. If a plurality of types of ink cartridges with different volumes of the storage chamber are produced according to the difference in the initial ink storage amount, the cost increases and material management becomes troublesome. On the other hand, if the ink cartridge has a common structure, that is, the volume of the storage chamber is the same and the ink storage amount is changed, the volume occupied by the gas layer in the storage chamber varies. For example, when the ink cartridge is transported, if the volume occupied by the gas layer in the storage chamber is large, the ink may foam due to vibration or the like, resulting in poor ink outflow and a tendency for ink to remain in the storage chamber. In addition, gas may dissolve in the ink, causing bubbles to occur in the head or flow path in the printer.

[0005] On the other hand, if other components are placed in the storage chamber, or if walls are erected to partition it, ink is more likely to remain in the corners of those components or walls. Also, when reusing ink cartridges, it becomes difficult to remove the ink remaining in the storage chamber.

[0006] This invention has been made in view of the circumstances described above, and its purpose is to provide a container that can keep the volume of the gas layer in the storage chamber constant regardless of the amount of recording material stored. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] (1) The present invention relates to a container for storing liquid recording material and which can be attached to an image forming apparatus. The container comprises a container body having a supply port facing forward and a storage chamber. The container body has a liquid flow path extending in the front-rear direction connecting a communication port opening to the storage chamber and the supply port, a front wall, a rear wall paired with the front wall in the front-rear direction, a first side wall connecting the front wall and the rear wall, a second side wall paired with the first side wall in the left-right direction intersecting the front-rear direction, an upper wall connecting the front wall and the rear wall, and a lower wall paired with the upper wall in the up-down direction intersecting the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. At least one of the first side wall and the second side wall has a recess having an outer surface recessed from the outer surface of the first side wall or the second side wall, and an inner surface bulging from the inner surface of the first side wall or the second side wall. At least a portion of the recess is located above the supply port in the vertical direction. The inner surface of the recess partitions the storage chamber.

[0008] Because the recess reduces the volume of the storage chamber, the volume of the gas layer can be kept constant when various capacities of recording material are stored in the storage chamber without significantly altering the external shape of the container body. Since at least a portion of the recess is located above the supply port, the recording material stored in the storage chamber partitioned on the inner surface of the recess flows out through the supply port without any residue remaining. Furthermore, the container body can be molded by blow molding. In addition, recording material is less likely to remain in the storage chamber, and any remaining ink from the storage chamber is easier to remove during reuse.

[0009] (2) The first side wall and the second side wall may be translucent so that the liquid level of the recording material stored in the storage chamber can be seen from the outside.

[0010] The liquid level of the recording material stored in the storage chamber can be checked through the first or second side wall.

[0011] (3) The first side wall and the second side wall each have the recess, and the inner surfaces of each recess may face each other.

[0012] The volume of the storage chamber can be adjusted more easily by the recess. Furthermore, the container body is well-balanced.

[0013] (4) The angle that the intersecting surface of the inner surface of the recess intersects with the inner surface of the first side wall or the second side wall makes with respect to the inner surface of the first side wall or the second side wall may be greater than 90 degrees.

[0014] Recording material is less likely to remain on the intersecting surfaces.

[0015] (5) Of the inner surfaces of the recess, the upper intersecting surface that intersects with the inner surface of the first side wall or the second side wall and faces upward may intersect with a virtual horizontal plane and be inclined with respect to the front-rear direction.

[0016] At the upper intersection, gravity causes the recording material to flow downwards.

[0017] (6) The recessed portion overlaps with the center of the front wall and the rear wall in the front-rear direction, and the length of the recessed portion in the front-rear direction may be half or more of the length of the front-rear distance between the front wall and the rear wall.

[0018] The volume of the storage chamber can be adjusted more easily by the recess.

[0019] (7) The recess may not open into any of the front wall, rear wall, upper wall, or lower wall.

[0020] The rigidity of the container body is high.

[0021] (8) The recess may open to at least one of the front wall, the rear wall, the upper wall, and the lower wall.

[0022] (9) The dimension of the container body in the left - right direction may be smaller than the dimension in the up - down direction and the dimension in the front - rear direction.

[0023] (10) The recess may be located above the communication port in the up - down direction.

[0024] (11) The inner surface of the recess may be connected to the communication port.

[0025] (12) The communication port may open to a space in the storage chamber where at least one side in the left - right direction is partitioned by the inner surface of the recess.

[0026] (13) The container may further have a sub - recess having an outer surface recessed from the outer surface of the recess.

[0027] (14) The inner surface of the sub - recess may partition the storage chamber.

[0028] (15) There may be no space between the inner surface of the sub - recess and the other of the first side wall or the second side wall.

[0029] (16) The ridge line between the inner surface of the recess and the inner surface of the first side wall or the second side wall may be inclined upward as it moves away from the communication port with respect to the horizontal direction.

[0030] Since the bubbles move away from the communication port along the ridge line, it is difficult for the bubbles to enter the liquid flow path.

[0031] (17) The surface partitioning the liquid flow path may include an inclined surface inclined upward toward the communication port.

[0032] The inclined surface guides air bubbles located in the liquid channel towards the communication port, making it easier for them to enter the storage chamber.

[0033] (18) The communication port of the liquid flow path may open facing upward in the vertical direction.

[0034] (19) The dimensions of the communication port of the liquid flow path in the left-right direction may be smaller than the dimensions of the supply port in the left-right direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0035] According to the present invention, a container is realized that can maintain a constant volume of the gas layer in the storage chamber regardless of the amount of recording material stored. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0036] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the printer 10. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the ink cartridge 30. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 30. [Figure 4] Figure 4(A) is a cross-sectional view showing the IVA-IVA section in Figure 3, and Figure 4(B) is a cross-sectional view showing the IVB-IVB section in Figure 3. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 90. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the IVA-IVA cross-section of the ink cartridge 30 in a horizontally positioned state. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 30. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the modified ink cartridge 30. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a perspective view of the modified ink cartridge 30. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an ink cartridge 30 according to a modified example. [Figure 11] Figure 11 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an ink cartridge 30 according to a modified example. [Figure 12] Figure 12 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an ink cartridge 30 according to a modified example. [Figure 13] Figure 13 is a perspective view of the modified ink cartridge 30. [Figure 14] Figure 14 is a perspective view of an ink cartridge 30 according to a modified example. [Figure 15] Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of a modified ink cartridge 30. [Figure 16] Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view of an ink cartridge 30 according to a modified example. [Figure 17] Figure 17 is a cross-sectional view showing the XVII-XVII section of Figure 16. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0037] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings as appropriate. It should be noted that the embodiments described below are merely examples of how the present invention is concretized, and the embodiments can be modified as appropriate without changing the gist of the present invention.

[0038] In the following, the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into and removed from the cartridge mounting section 110 in a horizontal direction (a direction perpendicular to the direction of gravity). Therefore, the explanation is based on the assumption that the front-to-back direction 8 and the left-to-right direction 9 are horizontal, but the front-to-back direction 8 does not necessarily have to be horizontal. Also, the vertical direction perpendicular to the front-to-back direction 8 is defined as the up-and-down direction 7. The direction perpendicular to the up-and-down direction 7 and the front-to-back direction 8 is defined as the left-to-right direction 9. The state in which the ink cartridge 30 is mounted in the cartridge mounting section 110 and used is the state in which the ink cartridge 30 is inserted to the mounting position in the cartridge mounting section 110. The mounting position is the position in which the ink needle 102 provided in the cartridge mounting section 110 is inserted into the ink supply section 34 provided in the ink cartridge 30 and connected to each other. Furthermore, in the following, the orientation of the ink cartridge 30 in the state in which the ink cartridge 30 is mounted in the cartridge mounting section 110 and used is referred to as the "usage position".

[0039] Furthermore, in the following explanation, "front" refers to the direction in which the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting section 110 in the front-rear direction 8, and "rear" refers to the direction in which the ink cartridge 30 is removed from the cartridge mounting section 110 in the front-rear direction 8. "Facing forward" includes facing a direction that includes a front component, and "facing rear" includes facing a direction that includes a rear component. Also, "facing downward" includes facing a direction that includes a downward component, and "facing upward" includes facing a direction that includes an upward component. For example, "the front is facing forward" means that the front is facing forward, or the front is facing in a direction that is inclined relative to the front.

[0040] [Overview of Printer 10] As shown in Figure 1, the printer 10 is an image forming device that records images by ejecting ink droplets onto paper based on an inkjet recording method, and is, for example, an inkjet printer. The printer 10 is equipped with a cartridge mounting section 110. An ink cartridge 30 (an example of a container) is mounted in the cartridge mounting section 110. An opening 112 is formed on one side of the cartridge mounting section 110. The ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting section 110 from the front through the opening 112, or pulled out from the cartridge mounting section 110 from the rear through the opening 112. Note that Figure 1 shows the state in which the ink cartridge 30 has been mounted in the cartridge mounting section 110. In other words, in Figure 1, the ink cartridge 30 is in the mounted state. The orientation of the ink cartridge 30 in this state is the orientation for use.

[0041] The ink cartridge 30 stores a liquid, for example, ink (an example of a recording material) that can be used in the printer 10. When the ink cartridge 30 is installed in the cartridge mounting section 110, the ink cartridge 30 and the recording head 21 are connected via the ink tube 20. The recording head 21 ejects the ink supplied from the ink cartridge 30 from a plurality of nozzles 29. Specifically, the head control board of the recording head 21 selectively applies a drive voltage to a plurality of piezoelectric elements 29A provided corresponding to the plurality of nozzles 29. As a result, ink is selectively ejected from the nozzles 29. In other words, the recording head 21 consumes the ink stored in the ink cartridge 30 installed in the cartridge mounting section 110.

[0042] 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 eventually 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 onto the paper as it passes over the platen 26. This records an image on the paper. The paper that has passed over the platen 26 reaches the output roller pair 27. The output roller pair 27 ejects the paper that has reached the output roller pair 27 to the output tray 16 located at the downstream end of the transport path 24.

[0043] [Cartridge mounting section 110] As shown in Figure 1, the cartridge mounting section 110 comprises a cartridge case 101 and an ink needle 102. An ink cartridge 30 can be housed in the cartridge mounting section 110.

[0044] As shown in Figure 1, the cartridge case 101 is box-shaped and forms the housing of the cartridge mounting section 110. The opening 112 may be exposed to the user interface surface of the printer 10, which is the surface that the user faces when using the printer 10.

[0045] The ink needle 102 is a hollow tube and is located at the bottom of the end surface 103 of the cartridge case 101. On the end surface 103 of the cartridge case 101, the ink needle 102 is positioned to correspond to the supply port 47 of the ink cartridge 30 installed in the cartridge mounting section 110. The ink needle 102 protrudes from the end surface 103 of the cartridge case 101 along the front-rear direction 8, and its tip opens towards the rear. The tip of the ink needle 102 may be flat or pointed.

[0046] [Ink Cartridge 30] The ink cartridge 30 is a container in which liquid ink is stored. As shown in Figure 2, the ink cartridge 30 has a container body 31 and a cover 32.

[0047] As shown in Figure 2, the container body 31 has a thin, flat cube shape in which the left-right dimension 9 is smaller than the up-down dimension 7 and the front-back dimension 8.

[0048] The container body 31 has a front wall 40, a rear wall 41 that is paired with the front wall 40 in the front-rear direction 8, a left wall 42 (an example of a first side wall) that connects the front wall 40 and the rear wall 41, a right wall 43 (an example of a second side wall) that is paired with the left wall 42 in the left-right direction 9, an upper wall 44 that connects the front wall 40 and the rear wall 41, and a lower wall 45 that is paired with the upper wall 44 in the up-down direction 7. The outer surface of the front wall 40 faces forward. The outer surface of the rear wall 41 faces backward. The outer surface of the left wall 42 faces left. The outer surface of the right wall 43 faces right. The outer surface of the upper wall 44 faces upward. The outer surface of the lower wall 45 faces downward.

[0049] The front wall 40, rear wall 41, left wall 42, right wall 43, upper wall 44, and lower wall 45 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, and lower wall 45 are translucent enough that the liquid level of the ink stored in the storage chamber 46 can be seen from the outside. The container body 31 is, for example, a molded product of synthetic resin.

[0050] Below the front wall 40, there is an opening for ink to flow out, a supply port 47. In this embodiment, the supply port 47 is open to the outside, but the supply port 47 may be opened and closed by a valve or the like. The supply port 47 faces forward. The shape of the supply port 47 is not particularly limited and can be, for example, rectangular or circular.

[0051] As shown in Figure 3, an ink channel 48 (an example of a liquid channel) extends from the supply port 47 along the front-to-back direction 8 inside the container body 31. The ink channel 48 connects the supply port 47 to a communication port 39 located at the lower end of the storage chamber 46. The communication port 39 is located near the center of the front-to-back direction 8 at the lower end of the storage chamber 46 and opens upward in the vertical direction 7. The shape of the communication port 39 is not particularly limited and can be rectangular or circular, for example. In front of the communication port 39 is an inclined surface 38 that demarcates the upper end of the ink channel 48. The inclined surface 38 faces backward and downward, and slopes upward as it moves backward. Ink stored in the storage chamber 46 flows from the communication port 39 into the ink channel 48 and out through the supply port 47. Bubbles located in the ink channel 48 move upward along the inclined surface 38 and enter the storage chamber 46 through the communication port 39.

[0052] An atmospheric vent 49 is formed in the upper wall 44, connecting the area near the upper end of the storage chamber 46 to the outside. Air can flow between the outside and the storage chamber 46 through the atmospheric vent 49. The atmospheric vent 49 causes the gas layer in the storage chamber 46 to become equal to the outside atmospheric pressure. The atmospheric vent 49 may be blocked by a valve or a semipermeable membrane.

[0053] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, recesses 50L and 50R are located in the left wall 42 and the right wall 43, respectively. Recesses 50L and 50R are formed symmetrically on both sides of the left wall 42 and the right wall 43, respectively. The outer shape of recesses 50L and 50R is rectangular when viewed from the left-right direction 9. Each recess 50L and 50R overlaps with the center C between the front wall 40 and the rear wall 41 in the front-rear direction 8 on either the left wall 42 or the right wall 43. The length L1 (maximum length) of recesses 50L and 50R in the front-rear direction 8 is at least half the length L2 (maximum length) of the front-rear direction 8 between the front wall 40 and the rear wall 41 (L1 > (1 / 2 × L2)).

[0054] In the left wall 42 and the right wall 43, the lower ends of recesses 50L and 50R are at the same position as the lower end of the storage chamber 46 in the vertical direction 7. The communication port 39 is located between the front and rear ends of recesses 50L and 50R in the front and rear direction 8. Recesses 50L and 50R are located above the upper ends of the communication port 39 and the supply port 47. In the left wall 42 and the right wall 43, recesses 50L and 50R do not open into the front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the upper wall 44, or the lower wall 45. The statement that recesses 50L and 50R do not open into any of the front wall 40, rear wall 41, upper wall 44, and lower wall 45 means that the space recessed from the outer surface 42A of the left wall 42 by recess 50L, or the space recessed from the outer surface 43A of the right wall 43 by recess 50R, is not visible from any direction (up and down 7 or front and back 8) because it overlaps with any of the front wall 40, rear wall 41, upper wall 44, and lower wall 45.

[0055] As shown in Figures 2 and 4, in the left wall 42, the recess 50L is recessed to the right in the left-right direction 9 from the outer surface 42A of the left wall 42. Therefore, the outer surface 42A of the left wall 42 has a rectangular frame shape. The recess 50L has an outer surface 50LA facing outward and an inner surface 50LB facing the storage chamber 46. The outer surface 50LA is recessed to the right from the outer surface 42A of the left wall 42. The inner surface 50LB bulges to the right from the inner surface 42B of the left wall 42. The inner surface 50LB, together with the inner surface 42B, partitions the storage chamber 46.

[0056] The recess 50L has a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape. The outer surface 50LA has a front inclined surface 51, a rear inclined surface 52, an upper inclined surface 53, a lower inclined surface 54, and an end surface 55. The outer shape of the end surface 55 is rectangular when viewed from the left-right direction 9 and is parallel to the outer surface 42A of the left wall 42. The front inclined surface 51 connects the front end of the end surface 55 to the outer surface 42A, and its normal vector points to the left and rear. The rear inclined surface 52 connects the rear end of the end surface 55 to the outer surface 42A, and its normal vector points to the left and front. The upper inclined surface 53 connects the upper end of the end surface 55 to the outer surface 42A, and its normal vector points to the left and downward. The lower inclined surface 54 connects the lower end of the end surface 55 to the outer surface 42A, and its normal vector points to the left and upward. The angle A1 that each of the front inclined surface 51, rear inclined surface 52, upper inclined surface 53, and lower inclined surface 54 makes with respect to the outer surface 42A is less than 270 degrees.

[0057] The inner surface 50LB has a front inclined surface 56, a rear inclined surface 57, an upper inclined surface 58, a lower inclined surface 59, and an end surface 60. The outer shape of the end surface 60 is rectangular when viewed from the left-right direction 9 and is parallel to the inner surface 42B of the left wall 42. The front inclined surface 56 connects the front end of the end surface 60 to the inner surface 42B, and its normal vector points to the right and forward. The rear inclined surface 57 connects the rear end of the end surface 60 to the inner surface 42B in the front-rear direction 8, and its normal vector points to the right and backward. The upper inclined surface 58 connects the upper end of the end surface 60 to the inner surface 42B, and its normal vector points to the right and upward. The lower inclined surface 59 connects the lower end of the end surface 60 to the inner surface 42B, and its normal vector points to the right and downward. The angle A2 that each of the front inclined surface 56, rear inclined surface 57, upper inclined surface 58, and lower inclined surface 59 makes with respect to the inner surface 42B is greater than 90 degrees. The front inclined surface 56, rear inclined surface 57, upper inclined surface 58, and lower inclined surface 59 are examples of intersecting surfaces.

[0058] As shown in Figures 2 and 4, in the right wall 43, the recess 50R is recessed to the left in the left-right direction 9 from the outer surface 43A of the right wall 43. Therefore, the outer surface 43A of the right wall 43 has a rectangular frame shape. The recess 50R has an outer surface 50RA facing outward and an inner surface 50RB facing the storage chamber 46. The outer surface 50RA is recessed to the right from the outer surface 43A of the right wall 43. The inner surface 50RB bulges to the left from the inner surface 43B of the right wall 43. The inner surface 50RB, together with the inner surface 43B, partitions the storage chamber 46.

[0059] The recess 50R has a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape. The outer surface 50RA has a front inclined surface 61, a rear inclined surface 62, an upper inclined surface 63, a lower inclined surface 64, and an end surface 65. The outer shape of the end surface 65 is rectangular when viewed from the left-right direction 9 and is parallel to the outer surface 43A of the right wall 43. The front inclined surface 61 connects the front end of the end surface 65 to the outer surface 43A, and its normal vector points to the left and rear. The rear inclined surface 62 connects the rear end of the end surface 65 to the outer surface 43A, and its normal vector points to the left and front. The upper inclined surface 63 connects the upper end of the end surface 65 to the outer surface 43A, and its normal vector points to the left and downward. The lower inclined surface 54 connects the lower end of the end surface 65 to the outer surface 43A, and its normal vector points to the left and upward. The angle A1 that each of the front inclined surface 61, rear inclined surface 62, upper inclined surface 63, and lower inclined surface 64 makes with respect to the outer surface 43A is less than 270 degrees.

[0060] The inner surface 50RB has a front inclined surface 66, a rear inclined surface 67, an upper inclined surface 68, a lower inclined surface 69, and an end surface 70. The outer shape of the end surface 70 is rectangular when viewed from the left-right direction 9 and is parallel to the inner surface 43B of the right wall 43. The front inclined surface 66 connects the front end of the end surface 70 to the inner surface 43B, and its normal vector points to the left and forward. The rear inclined surface 67 connects the rear end of the end surface 70 to the inner surface 43B in the front-rear direction 8, and its normal vector points to the left and backward. The upper inclined surface 68 connects the upper end of the end surface 70 to the inner surface 43B, and its normal vector points to the left and upward. The lower inclined surface 69 connects the lower end of the end surface 70 to the inner surface 43B, and its normal vector points to the left and downward. The angle A2 that each of the front inclined surface 66, rear inclined surface 67, upper inclined surface 68, and lower inclined surface 69 makes with respect to the inner surface 43B is greater than 90 degrees. The front inclined surface 66, rear inclined surface 67, upper inclined surface 68, and lower inclined surface 69 are examples of intersecting surfaces.

[0061] The inner surface 50LB of the recess 50L in the left wall 42 and the inner surface 50RB of the recess 50R in the right wall 43 face each other in the left-right direction 9, and each partitions the storage chamber 46. That is, ink can be stored between the inner surface 50LB and the inner surface 50RB.

[0062] The communication port 39 opens into the space within the storage chamber 46 that is partitioned in the left-right direction 9 by the inner surfaces 50LB and 50RB. The inner surfaces 50LB and 50RB are connected to the left-right edges 9 of the communication port 39. As shown in Figure 4(B), the length W1 along the left-right direction 9 between the end face 60 of the inner surface 50LB and the end face 70 of the inner surface 50RB is smaller than the length W2 along the left-right direction 9 of the left and right ends of the communication port 39 (W1 <W2)。

[0063] The cover 32 is a cube-shaped container smaller than the container body 31 and has a box-like shape that opens towards the rear. The cover 32 is attached to the container body 31 so as to cover the portion of the front wall 40 of the container body 31 that is above the supply port 47. The front end 32A of the cover 32 is located 8 degrees forward of the supply port 47.

[0064] Ink is stored in the storage chamber 46 of the container body 31. As shown in Figure 3, in the initial state, i.e., in an unused ink cartridge 30, the ink level P1 in the storage chamber 46 is located above the upper end of the recesses 50L and 50R. For example, an ink cartridge 30 having recesses 50L and 50R will have a smaller storage chamber 46 volume than an ink cartridge without recesses 50L and 50R.

[0065] If, as shown in Figure 5, the ink cartridge 90, which does not have recesses 50L and 50R, has the same amount of ink as shown in Figure 3 initially stored in its storage chamber, then the liquid level P2 in the ink cartridge 90 (shown by the dashed line in Figure 5) will be lower than the liquid level P1 in the ink cartridge 30 shown in Figure 3, because the volume of the storage chamber 46 is larger due to the absence of recesses 50L and 50R. Conversely, if the ink cartridge 90, which does not have recesses 50L and 50R, has a larger amount of ink than shown in Figure 3 initially stored in it, the liquid level P3 will be at the same position as the liquid level P1 in the ink cartridge 30 shown in Figure 3.

[0066] The ink stored in the storage chamber 46 of the ink cartridge 30 is consumed by the recording head 21, and the ink level in the storage chamber 46 gradually drops to below the upper inclined surface 58 of the recess 50L and the upper inclined surface 68 of the recess 50R. At this time, the ink flows downward along the upper inclined surfaces 58 and 68.

[0067] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6, when the ink cartridge 30 is placed horizontally, that is, when the left wall 42 and the right wall 43 of the container body 31 are aligned vertically 7, the recesses 50L and 50R are aligned vertically 7. In the horizontal position, at least a portion of the recess 50L or recess 50R is located above the ink level in the storage chamber 46. When the ink cartridge 30 changes position from the horizontal position to the mounted position (the position shown in Figure 2), the ink in the storage chamber 46 flows downward through the spaces in front of and behind the recesses 50L and 50R. At the same time, it flows downward through the space between the recesses 50L and 50R. This flow of ink causes agitation of the ink in the storage chamber 46.

[0068] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 7, we assume that when the ink in the storage chamber 46 of the ink cartridge 30 is consumed and the liquid level drops to the space between the recesses 50L and 50R, bubbles are generated in the ink. The length of the space between the recesses 50L and 50R in the left-right direction 9 (e.g., length W1) is smaller than the length of the space other than the recesses 50L and 50R in the left-right direction 9 (e.g., length W2), so bubbles A (shown as a mesh in Figure 7) tend to accumulate in the wider space. As a result, as shown in Figure 7, bubbles A do not tend to accumulate directly above the communication port 39, so bubbles A do not easily enter the ink flow path 48 from the communication port 39.

[0069] [Effects of the Embodiment] According to the embodiment described above, in the ink cartridge 30, compared to an ink cartridge without recesses 50L and 50R, the volume of the storage chamber 46 is reduced by the recesses 50L and 50R, so the volume of the gas layer can be kept constant without significantly changing the external shape of the container body 31. Furthermore, by changing the size and number of recesses 50L and 50R in the container body 31, the volume of the gas layer can be kept constant even when various capacities of ink are stored in the storage chamber 46.

[0070] Since at least a portion of the recesses 50L and 50R are located above the supply port 47, the ink stored in the storage chamber 46 partitioned by the end face 60 of recess 50L and the end face 70 of recess 50R flows out from the supply port 47 without any residue remaining.

[0071] Furthermore, when blow molding is used as the molding method for the container body 31, blow pressure is generated between the recesses 50L and 50R in the internal space of the container body 31, making it easier to maintain a consistent wall thickness of the container body 31. Since ink is stored between the recesses 50L and 50R, ink is less likely to remain in the storage chamber 46, and any remaining ink from the storage chamber 46 can be easily removed by washing with water or other means during reuse.

[0072] Furthermore, since the left wall 42 and the right wall 43 of the container body 31 are translucent, the liquid level of the ink stored in the storage chamber 46 can be seen from the outside.

[0073] Furthermore, since the inner surface 50LB of the recess 50L and the inner surface 50RB of the recess 50R are opposite each other, the volume of the storage chamber 46 can be easily adjusted. In addition, the weight balance of the container body 31 is good.

[0074] Furthermore, since angle A2 is greater than 90 degrees, ink is less likely to remain on the front inclined surface 56, the rear inclined surface 57, the upper inclined surface 58, the lower inclined surface 59, the front inclined surface 66, the rear inclined surface 67, the upper inclined surface 68, and the lower inclined surface 69.

[0075] Furthermore, each recess 50L and recess 50R overlaps with the center C between the front wall 40 and the rear wall 41 in the front-rear direction 8 on the left wall 42 or the right wall 43, and since the length L1 is more than half of the length L2, the area occupied by the recess 50L or recess 50R on the left wall 42 and the right wall 43 becomes larger, making it easier to adjust the volume of the storage chamber 46.

[0076] Since the recesses 50L and 50R do not open into the front wall 40, rear wall 41, upper wall 44, or lower wall 45, the rigidity of the container body 31 is high.

[0077] The inclined surface 38 that partitions the ink channel 48 makes it easier for air bubbles located in the ink channel 48 to be guided to the communication port 39 and enter the storage chamber 46.

[0078] [Differentiation] In the embodiment described above, the upper inclined surface 58 of the recess 50L and the upper inclined surface 68 of the recess 50R extend along the front-rear direction 8. However, as shown in Figure 8, the upper inclined surface 58 of the recess 50L may intersect with a virtual horizontal plane 6 (a virtual plane extending in the front-rear direction 8 and the left-right direction 9) and be inclined with respect to the front-rear direction 8. As a result, on the upper inclined surface 58, the ink flows downward due to gravity. Although not shown in the figure, the upper inclined surface 68 of the recess 50R may also intersect with the virtual horizontal plane 6 and be inclined with respect to the front-rear direction 8.

[0079] In the embodiments described above, the recesses 50L and 50R each have a single flat end face 55, 65, but as shown in Figure 9, they may each have a sub-recess 71 that is further recessed from the end faces 55, 65. That is, the recesses 50L and 50R may be recessed in two stages from the outer surfaces 42A, 43A. Furthermore, the recesses 50L and 50R may be recessed in three or more stages from the outer surfaces 42A, 43A.

[0080] If there are sub-recesses 71, as shown in Figure 10(A), the inner surfaces of two sub-recesses 71 facing each other in the left-right direction 9 may partition the storage chamber 46. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 10(B), the inner surfaces of two sub-recesses 71 facing each other in the left-right direction 9 may be in contact and not partition the storage chamber 46.

[0081] In the embodiment described above, the lower ends of the recesses 50L and 50R in the left wall 42 and the right wall 43 were at the same position as the lower end of the storage chamber 46 in the vertical direction 7. However, as shown in Figure 11, the lower ends of the recesses 50L and 50R are not connected to the lower end of the storage chamber 46 in the vertical direction 7 and may be located above the lower end of the storage chamber 46. In this case, the inner surfaces of the recesses 50L and 50R are not continuous with the communication opening 39.

[0082] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 12, the lower ends of recesses 50L and 50R may be lower than the lower end of the storage chamber 46 in the vertical direction 7. That is, the lower ends of recesses 50L and 50R may be lower than the communication port 39, and the inner surfaces of recesses 50L and 50R may partition the ink flow path 48. In this case, the communication port 39 may be longer than recesses 50L and 50R in the front-rear direction 8. Also, a portion of recesses 50L and 50R is located above the supply port 47. Furthermore, regardless of the position and shape of recesses 50L and 50R, the inclined surface 38 does not have to be provided in the ink flow path 48.

[0083] In the embodiment described above, one recess 50L is located on the left wall 42 and one recess 50R is located on the right wall 43. However, as shown in Figure 13, multiple recesses 72 may be located on the right wall 43. Although not shown in the figure, multiple recesses 72 may also be located on the left wall 42. In this case, the recesses 72 on the left wall 42 and the recesses 72 on the right wall 43 may be arranged symmetrically or not.

[0084] In the embodiment described above, the outer shapes of recesses 50L and 50R are rectangular, but the outer shapes of recesses 50L and 50R may be polygons other than rectangular, or other shapes such as circles, ellipses, or star shapes.

[0085] In the embodiment described above, recesses 50L or 50R are located in the left wall 42 and the right wall 43, respectively, but recesses may be located in only one of the left wall 42 or the right wall 43. Also, as shown in Figure 14, recess 50R may open into the rear wall 41, or into the front wall 40, the upper wall 44, or the lower wall 45. Similarly, recess 50L may open into the rear wall 41, or into the front wall 40, the upper wall 44, or the lower wall 45.

[0086] In the embodiment described above, the lower ends of the recess 50L and the recess 50R extend along the front-rear direction 8 (which coincides with the horizontal direction), but the lower end of the recess 50L or the lower end of the recess 50R may be inclined with respect to the front-rear direction 8. As shown in Figure 15, the ridge line 59A (lower end of recess 50L) between the downward inclined surface 59 of the recess 50R and the inner surface 42B of the left wall 42 is inclined with respect to the front-rear direction 8 so as it moves away from the communication opening 39 towards the rear. As a result, air bubbles move along the ridge line 59A so as to move away from the communication opening 39 towards the rear, making it difficult for air bubbles to enter the ink flow path 48. Alternatively, the ridge line 59A may be inclined so as it moves away from the communication opening 39 towards the front, or it may be inclined in a V-shape so as it moves away from the communication opening 39 towards the rear.

[0087] In the embodiments described above, recesses 50L and 50R have inclined surfaces on the top, bottom, left, and right of their end faces 60 and 70, respectively, but each inclined surface may be provided arbitrarily. For example, as shown in Figures 16 and 17, recess 50L does not have a downward inclined surface 59. In this case, the end face 60 of recess 50L is continuous with the lower end face 46A of the storage chamber 46. Similarly, recess 50R does not have a downward inclined surface 69, and the end face 70 of recess 50R is continuous with the lower end face 46A of the storage chamber 46. In this case, the communication port 39 is located between the end face 60 and the end face 70 in the left-right direction 9 on the lower end face 46A. The dimension W3 of the communication port 39 along the left-right direction 9 may be smaller than the dimension W4 of the supply port 47 along the left-right direction 9 (W3 <W4)。

[0088] In the embodiment described above, ink is stored in the container body 31, but the container body 31 may also store other recording materials besides ink, such as a pre-treatment liquid that is dispensed onto paper or the like before the ink during printing. [Explanation of symbols]

[0089] 10. Printer (image forming apparatus) 30... Ink cartridge (container) 31. Container body 38...Slope surface 39...Communication opening 40...Front wall 41...back wall 42...Left wall (first side wall) 42A...External surface 42B...Interior 43...Right wall (second side wall) 43A...External surface 43B...Interior 44..Upper wall 45... Lower wall 46...Storage chamber 47... Supply port 48. Ink channel (liquid channel) 50L, 50R... recessed 51...Anterior inclined surface (outer surface) 52... Rear inclined surface (outer surface) 53...Upper slope (outer surface) 54...Downward slope (outer surface) 55...End face (outer face) 56... Front inclined surface (inner surface, intersecting surface) 57... Rear inclined surface (inner surface, intersecting surface) 58. Upper inclined surface (inner surface, upper intersecting surface) 59. Downward inclined surface (inner surface, intersecting surface) 60... End face (inner surface) 61... Front inclined surface (outer surface) 62... Rear inclined surface (outer surface) 63...Upper slope (outer surface) 64...Downward slope (outer surface) 65...End face (outer face) 66... ​​Front inclined surface (inner surface, intersecting surface) 67... Rear inclined surface (inner surface, intersecting surface) 68. Upper inclined surface (inner surface, upper intersecting surface) 69. Downward inclined surface (inner surface, intersecting surface) 70... End face (inner surface) 71... Sub-recess

Claims

1. A container for storing liquid recording material and which can be attached to an image forming apparatus, The container body has a supply port and storage chamber facing forward, The container body described above is A liquid flow path extending in the front-to-back direction connects the communication port opening to the above-mentioned storage chamber and the above-mentioned supply port, Front wall and, In the front-to-back direction described above, the rear wall is paired with the front wall, A first side wall connecting the front wall and the rear wall, A second side wall that is paired with the first side wall in the left-right direction intersecting the front-rear direction, An upper wall connecting the above front wall and the above rear wall, It has a lower wall that is paired with the upper wall in the vertical direction that intersects the front-to-back direction and the left-to-right direction described above, The first side wall and the second side wall each have a recess having an outer surface that is recessed from the outer surface of the first side wall or the second side wall, and an inner surface that bulges out from the inner surface of the first side wall or the second side wall. At least a portion of the above-mentioned recess is located above the above-mentioned supply port in the vertical direction, The inner surface of the above recess divides the above storage chamber opposite to it. The upper end of the recess is located below the liquid level of the recording material stored in the storage chamber in the initial state when the container is mounted on the image forming apparatus.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the first side wall and the second side wall are translucent, allowing the liquid level of the recording material stored in the storage chamber to be visible from the outside.

3. The container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the length along the left-right direction between the bulging end surface on the inner surface of the recess of the first side wall and the bulging end surface on the inner surface of the recess of the second side wall is smaller than the length along the left-right direction between the left and right ends of the communication opening.

4. The container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the angle formed by the intersecting surface of the inner surface of the recess that intersects with the inner surface of the first side wall or the second side wall with respect to the inner surface of the first side wall or the second side wall is greater than 90 degrees.

5. The container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, of the inner surfaces of the recess, the upper intersecting surface that intersects with the inner surface of the first side wall or the second side wall and faces upward intersects with a virtual horizontal plane and is inclined with respect to the front-rear direction.

6. The above-mentioned recess overlaps with the center of the front wall and the rear wall in the front-to-back direction. The container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the length of the recess in the front-rear direction is at least half the length of the front wall and the rear wall in the front-rear direction.

7. The container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the recess described above does not open into any of the front wall, rear wall, upper wall, or lower wall.

8. The container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the recess opens into at least one of the front wall, the rear wall, the upper wall, and the lower wall.

9. The container body is the container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the left-right dimension is smaller than the up-down dimension and the front-to-back dimension.

10. The container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the recess is located above the communication opening in the vertical direction.

11. The container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the inner surface of the recess is connected to the communication opening.

12. The container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the above-mentioned communication opening opens into a space in the storage chamber that is partitioned in at least one direction in the left-right direction by the inner surface of the recess.

13. The container according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a sub-recess having an outer surface that is recessed from the outer surface of the above-mentioned recess.

14. The container according to claim 13, wherein the inner surface of the above-mentioned sub-recess partitions the above-mentioned storage chamber.

15. The container according to claim 13, wherein there is no space between the inner surface of the sub-recess and the other of the first side wall or the second side wall.

16. The container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ridge line between the inner surface of the recess and the inner surface of the first side wall or the second side wall is inclined upward with respect to the horizontal direction as it moves away from the communication opening.

17. The container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the surface that partitions the liquid flow path includes an inclined surface that slopes upward toward the communication opening.

18. The container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the communication port of the liquid flow path opens upward in the vertical direction.

19. The container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the dimensions of the communication port of the liquid flow path in the left-right direction are smaller than the dimensions of the supply port in the left-right direction.

Images