Methods for reusing liquid containers and adapters

Abstract

To reduce the possibility that an adapter is inadvertently removed from a liquid supply member.SOLUTION: A liquid storage body comprises: a liquid storage part for storing liquid; a liquid supply member which is connected to the liquid storage part, and includes a supply path for supplying the liquid stored in the liquid storage part to a printer side; and an adapter having a plurality of engagement parts to be engaged with the liquid supply member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the technology of a liquid container and a method for reusing an adapter. [Background Art]

[0002] Conventionally, there has been known a liquid container including a bag-shaped member, a liquid supply port connected to the bag-shaped member, and an adapter that internally fixes the liquid supply port (Patent Document 1). [Prior Art Documents] [Patent Documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-153949 [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention]

[0004] In the conventional technology, the adapter is constituted by two components, a first member and a second member, and the first member and the second member are coupled by a coupling component in a state where the liquid supply port is sandwiched between the first member and the second member. In the conventional technology, since the liquid supply port is sandwiched between the first member and the second member to fix the liquid supply port, the liquid supply port is not directly engaged with the adapter. For this reason, there is a possibility that the adapter may come off from the liquid supply port. [Means for Solving the Problem]

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a liquid container attachable to and detachable from a printing apparatus. The liquid container includes: a liquid supply member connected to the liquid storage portion, the liquid supply member having a supply path for supplying the liquid stored in the liquid storage portion to the printing apparatus side; and an adapter having a plurality of engaging portions that engage with the liquid supply member.

[0006] A second embodiment of this disclosure provides a method for reusing an adapter that engages with a liquid supply member of a liquid container. This reuse method involves applying an external force to the plurality of engaging portions of the liquid container in the above embodiment using a jig having projections corresponding to the plurality of engaging portions, thereby elastically deforming the snap-fit ​​portion and displacing it to release the engagement of the engaging portions. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] A perspective view of the printing apparatus according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] A schematic diagram of the printing apparatus as seen from the front. [Figure 3] A schematic plan view of the liquid supply unit from above. [Figure 4] A schematic perspective view of the liquid supply section. [Figure 5] A schematic exploded perspective view showing the first liquid container removed from the first case. [Figure 6] A schematic exploded perspective view showing the adapter detached from the liquid supply component. [Figure 7] A perspective view of the adapter and liquid supply member engaged with each other. [Figure 8] This diagram shows the liquid supply component connection removed from the diagram shown in Figure 7. [Figure 9] A diagram illustrating the details of the engaging and engaged parts. [Figure 10] A flowchart showing how to reuse the adapter. [Figure 11] A diagram illustrating the process by which the engaging portion is separated from and removed from the liquid supply member. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] A. Embodiments: A1. Configuration of the liquid injection device: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the printing apparatus 10 of this embodiment. Figure 1 shows arrows X, Y, and Z indicating three mutually orthogonal directions. Arrows X, Y, and Z are also shown in the other figures as appropriate, corresponding to Figure 1.

[0009] The directions indicated by arrows X, Y, and Z correspond to the orientation of the printing device 10 when it is in its normal operating state. The normal operating state of the printing device 10 is when the printing device 10 is positioned on a horizontal plane. Hereafter, the directions indicated by arrows X, Y, and Z will be referred to as the "X direction," "Y direction," and "Z direction," respectively. The Z direction is the vertical direction. Of the X directions, one direction will be called the "+X direction," and the other direction will be called the "-X direction." Similarly, for the Y and Z directions, one direction will be called the "+Y direction" and the "+Z direction," and the other direction will be called the "-Y direction" and the "-Z direction." In the following explanation, the -Y direction will also be called the "forward direction," and the +Y direction will also be called the "backward direction." The -X direction will also be called the "right direction," and the +X direction will also be called the "left direction." The -Z direction will also be called the "up direction," and the +Z direction will also be called the "down direction."

[0010] The printing device 10 is an inkjet printer. The liquid consumed by ejection in the printing device 10 is ink. The printing device 10 ejects ink droplets to form a printed image on the medium MP shown in Figure 2, which will be described later. The medium MP is, for example, cloth or printing paper. The printing device 10 of this embodiment includes a housing 10c, which is a hollow resin box that constitutes the exterior of the printing device 10. The housing 10c has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The front part 12 of the housing 10c is provided with an operating part 13, a medium discharge port 14, a medium receiving part 15, and a cover member 18.

[0011] The operation unit 13 has a display unit that displays information to the user and a plurality of operation buttons that accept user input. The media outlet 14 is the outlet for the media MP that is fed out from inside the printing device 10. The media outlet 14 is a wide, slit-shaped opening in the X direction. The media receiving unit 15 protrudes in a canopy-like manner in the -Y direction below the media outlet 14 and receives the media MP discharged from the media outlet 14.

[0012] The cover member 18 is a resin plate-shaped member that constitutes part of the exterior of the printing device 10. The cover member 18 is detachably attached to the housing 10c. The cover member 18 covers and protects the mounting body 105 shown in Figure 2, which is housed inside the printing device 10.

[0013] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the printing apparatus 10 as viewed from the front. As shown in Figure 2, the printing apparatus 10 comprises a control unit 20, an ejection unit 30, a transport roller 36, a liquid supply unit 40, and a case storage unit 60.

[0014] The case storage portion 60 is arranged inside the cover member 18 shown in FIG. 1, and is arranged at the lowermost stage of the printing apparatus 10. Four mounting bodies 105 are stored in the case storage portion 60. Specifically, the four mounting bodies 105 include three first mounting bodies 105a and one second mounting body 105b. The first mounting body 105a and the second mounting body 105b have different sizes from each other. The second mounting body 105b is larger than the first mounting body 105a. The mounting body 105 is constituted by a case 61 and a liquid container 100 stored in the case 61. Similar to the mounting body 105, the four cases 61 include three first cases 61a and one second case 61b. The four liquid containers 100 include three first liquid containers 100a and one second liquid container 100b. The first mounting body 105a is configured by storing the first liquid container 100a in the first case 61a. The second mounting body 105b is configured by storing the second liquid container 100b in the second case 61b. The second liquid container 100b differs from the first liquid container 100a in that the width of a liquid storage portion described later is larger and the liquid storage capacity is larger than that of the first liquid container 100a. For example, each of the three first liquid containers 100a may store cyan, magenta, and yellow inks, and the second liquid container 100b may store black ink.

[0015] The discharge execution unit 30 includes a liquid discharge unit 31, a plurality of tubes 32, and a carriage 34. A nozzle 33 that opens downward is provided on the bottom surface of the liquid discharge unit 31. The liquid discharge unit 31 discharges liquid from the nozzle 33, for example, by applying pressure to ink via a piezoelectric element. The liquid discharge unit 31 is mounted on the carriage 34. The carriage 34 linearly reciprocates in the X direction. The conveyance roller 36 is provided spanning in the X direction below the liquid discharge unit 31. The conveyance roller 36 conveys the medium MP. The plurality of tubes 32 are arranged in the Y direction and connected to the liquid discharge unit 31.

[0016] The liquid supply unit 40 includes four supply pipes 42, a joint portion 43, and a suction portion 45. Each of the four supply pipes 42 is connected to a respective one of the four liquid containers 100. The joint portion 43 connects each of the four supply pipes 42 to a respective one of the plurality of tubes 32. The ink stored in the liquid container 100 is supplied to the liquid discharge portion 31 via the four supply pipes 42, the joint portion 43, and the plurality of tubes 32. The suction portion 45 generates pressure for delivering ink from the liquid container 100 to the supply pipe 42.

[0017] The control unit 20 controls driving of each unit in the printing apparatus 10. The control unit 20 is configured by a microcomputer including at least a central processing unit and a main storage device, and exhibits various functions when the central processing unit reads and executes various programs into the main storage device.

[0018] Figure 3 is a schematic plan view of the liquid supply unit 40 as viewed from above. Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of the liquid supply unit 40. As shown in Figure 3, the mounting body 105 is inserted into the case storage portion 60 from the outside in the +Y direction. Four mounting bodies 105 are arranged in the X direction and stored in the case storage portion 60. In Figure 3, an arrangement area LA, which is the arrangement position of the mounting body 105 in the case storage portion 60, is indicated by a one-dot chain line.

[0019] In addition to the configuration described above, the liquid supply unit 40 includes four switching mechanisms 50 and a pressure transmission pipe 46. The four switching mechanisms 50 are arranged on the +Y direction side of the arrangement area LA. Each of the four switching mechanisms 50 is arranged corresponding to a respective one of the four arrangement areas LA. Specifically, the four switching mechanisms 50 include three first switching mechanisms 50a and one second switching mechanism 50b. Each of the three first switching mechanisms 50a corresponds to a respective one of the three first liquid containers 100a. The second switching mechanism 50b corresponds to the second liquid container 100b.

[0020] As shown in Figure 4, each switching mechanism 50 has a liquid introduction section 51 and a device-side terminal 58. The liquid introduction section 51 is detachably connected to the liquid container 100. The liquid introduction section 51 has a tubular shape that extends linearly in the -Y direction. The liquid introduction section 51 is connected to the liquid container 100 by inserting its tip 51t into the liquid supply section of the liquid container 100, which will be described later. The liquid contained in the liquid container 100 then flows through the inside of the liquid introduction section 51. The pressure transmission pipe 46 transmits the pressure generated by the suction section 45.

[0021] The device-side terminal 58 is formed from an elastic plate-like member. The device-side terminal 58 is electrically connected to the control unit 20 shown in Figure 2 via wiring or the like.

[0022] A2. Composition of the liquid container: Figure 5 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing the first liquid container 100a removed from the first case 61a. Figure 6 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing the adapter 130 removed from the liquid supply member 120. The second mounting body 105b has the same configuration as the first mounting body 105a. Therefore, the first mounting body 105a will be described as a representative example below, and the description of the second mounting body 105b will be omitted.

[0023] Case 61 is a tray-shaped container with an open top. Case 61 is made of a resin material such as polypropylene. A liquid container 100 is removably housed in Case 61 from above. Two cylindrical guide portions 62 are provided at the +Y end of Case 61, rising upward from the bottom surface of Case 61. The two guide portions 62 guide the adapter 130, which will be described later, when the liquid container 100 is housed in Case 61.

[0024] The liquid container 100 comprises a liquid container 110 and an adapter 130 shown in Figure 5, and a liquid supply member 120 connected to the liquid container 110 shown in Figure 6. The liquid container 110 shown in Figure 5 is a bag for containing liquid. The liquid container 110 is flexible. The liquid container 110 is formed by attaching multiple films together. The liquid container 110 and the liquid supply member 120 are joined by overlapping the multiple films constituting the liquid container 110 and joining parts of their peripheries together, and other parts of their peripheries to the liquid supply member 120 by methods such as heat welding. In this embodiment, the liquid container 110 is a so-called gusset-type bag formed from a first surface 111 film (described later), a second surface 112 film (described later), and two films that form gussets, each positioned at both ends in the X direction. Note that the liquid container 110 is not limited to a gusset type, and may be a so-called pillow-type bag formed from two films. The film constituting the liquid containment section 110 is made of a material having flexibility and gas barrier properties. For example, the film material can be polyethylene terephthalate (PET), nylon, polyethylene, etc. Alternatively, the film may be formed using a laminated structure in which multiple films made of these materials are laminated together. In such a laminated structure, for example, the outer layer may be made of PET or nylon which has excellent impact resistance, and the inner layer may be made of polyethylene which has excellent ink resistance. Furthermore, a film having a layer coated with aluminum or the like may be used as one of the components of the laminated structure.

[0025] The liquid storage section 110 has a first surface 111 that forms the top surface and a second surface 112 that forms the bottom surface. The first surface 111 and the second surface 112 face each other in the Z direction. The first surface 111 and the second surface 112 form the largest main surface among the surfaces constituting the liquid storage section 110. The liquid storage section 110 has one end 621 and the other end 622 that faces the first end 621. The first end 621 is the end on the +Y direction side. The other end 622 is the end on the -Y direction side. As the liquid in the liquid storage section 110 is consumed, the volume of the liquid storage section 110 decreases as the first surface 111 and the second surface 112 deform to move closer to each other.

[0026] Here, in the liquid container 100, the Z direction where the first surface 111 and the second surface 112 face each other is the thickness direction, the Y direction where one end 621 and the other end 622 face each other is the length direction, and the X direction perpendicular to the thickness direction and the length direction is the width direction. In this embodiment, when the liquid container 100 is mounted on the printing device 10 in a normal operating state, the thickness direction is the vertical direction.

[0027] As shown in Figure 6, the liquid supply member 120 is attached to one end 621 of the liquid storage section 110. The liquid supply member 120 includes a supply passage 123 that communicates with the inside of the liquid storage section 110, a connecting portion 128, and an engaged member 129.

[0028] The supply channel 123 is a flow path that supplies the liquid contained in the liquid storage unit 110 to the printing device 10. In the direction of liquid supply from the liquid storage unit 110 to the printing device 10, the upstream end of the supply channel 123 is located inside the liquid storage unit 110, and the downstream end of the supply channel 123 is located outside the liquid storage unit 110.

[0029] The connecting portion 128 is a part that is connected to one end 621 of the liquid storage portion 110 by heat welding. The upstream side of the supply passage 123 is formed within the connecting portion 128.

[0030] The engaged member 129 is connected to the +Y direction end of the connecting portion 128. The engaged member 129 comprises a cylindrical liquid supply portion 121 and engagement forming portions 239 located on both sides of the liquid supply portion 121 in the width direction of the liquid container 100. The liquid supply portion 121 forms the downstream side of the supply passage 123 and is connected to the liquid introduction portion 51 shown in Figure 4. The tip opening of the liquid supply portion 121 is sealed by film FM in its initial state before being mounted on the printing device 10.

[0031] The engagement forming portion 239 is generally a plate-shaped member. The engagement forming portion 239 has two positioning holes 122 that penetrate in the Z direction, which is the thickness direction. The two positioning holes 122 position the adapter 130 relative to the liquid supply member 120 when the adapter 130 is engaged with and attached to the liquid supply member 120. The two positioning holes 122 are located in the liquid supply member 121 These are positioned on both sides of the liquid storage section 110 in the width direction, with the adapter 130 in between. The engagement forming portion 239 is the part that engages with the adapter 130. Details of this engagement with the adapter 130 will be described later.

[0032] The adapter 130 shown in Figure 6 comprises a first adapter surface 130fa having a recess 131 for receiving the liquid supply portion 121 of the liquid supply member 120, and a second adapter surface 130fb located on the opposite side of the first adapter surface 130fa. The recess 131 opens in the +Y and +Z directions.

[0033] The adapter 130 engages with the liquid supply member 120 by moving it relative to the liquid supply member 120 so that it approaches the liquid supply member 120, with the adapter's first surface side 130fa facing the liquid supply member 120. A circuit board 132 is attached to the adapter 130. The circuit board 132 is positioned in a recess 89 formed at the corner where the adapter's second surface side 130fb and the front surface intersect. On the surface of the circuit board 132 are container terminals that contact the device-side terminals 58 shown in Figure 4 when the liquid container 100 is mounted on the printing device 10. On the back surface of the circuit board 132 is a storage device that stores various information about the liquid container 100. This storage device is electrically connected to the container terminals by wiring. The various information stored in the storage device includes, for example, information representing the type of liquid container 100, the amount of liquid it contains, and its identification number. When installed, the storage device and the control unit 20 of the printing device 10 can exchange various types of information.

[0034] A3. Detailed configuration of the adapter and liquid supply component: Figure 7 is a perspective view of the adapter 130 and liquid supply member 120 engaged with each other. Figure 8 is a view of Figure 7 with the connection portion 128 of the liquid supply member 120 removed. Figure 8 also shows the first projection 324A to the third projection 324C of the engagement release jig, which is a fixture. The first projection 324A is used to release the engagement of the first engagement portion 134A, which will be described later, the second projection 324B is used to release the engagement of the second engagement portion 134B, which will be described later, and the third projection 324C is used to release the engagement of the third engagement portion 134C, which will be described later. When using the first projection 324A to the third projection 324C without distinction, projection 324 is used.

[0035] As shown in Figure 7, the connection section 128 has two inlet sections 223. The inlet sections 223 are located within the liquid containment section 110. The inlet sections 223 form the upstream end of the supply path 123. The liquid from the liquid containment section 110 that flows into the inlet sections 223 is supplied to the printing device 10 side from the liquid supply section 121.

[0036] As shown in Figure 7, the first surface 130fa of the adapter 130 has two positioning protrusions 133 that extend in the Z direction, which is the direction in which the adapter 130 is attached to the liquid supply member 120. The two positioning protrusions 133 are inserted into two corresponding positioning holes 122. This restricts the movement of the adapter 130 relative to the liquid supply member 120 in a direction intersecting the attachment direction, thereby positioning the adapter 130 in a direction intersecting the attachment direction.

[0037] As shown in Figure 8, the adapter 130 further has a plurality of engaging portions 134A, 134B, and 134C that engage with the engagement forming portion 239 of the liquid supply member 120 facing each other in the Z direction. The plurality of engaging portions 134A, 134B, and 134C are the first engaging portion 134A, the second engaging portion 134B, and the third engaging portion 134C. When the plurality of engaging portions 134A to 134C are used without distinction, they are simply called the engaging portion 134. The engaging portion 134 is a snap-fit ​​portion that engages and disengages by elastic deformation. The first engaging portion 134A engages with the engaged member 129 at the +Y direction end of the engaged member 129, facing each other in the Z direction. The second engaging portion 134B and the third engaging portion 134C engage with the engaged member 129 at both ends in the width direction (X direction) on either side of the engaged member 129, facing the engaged member 129 in the Z direction. The detailed configuration of the engaging portion 134 will be described later.

[0038] As shown in Figure 8, the engagement forming portion 239 of the liquid supply member 120 has a plurality of engaged portions 124A, 124B, and 124C. The plurality of engaged portions 124A, 124B, and 124C are the first engaged portion 124A, the second engaged portion 124B, and the third engaged portion 124C. When the plurality of engaged portions 124A to 124C are used without distinction, they are simply called the engaged portion 124.

[0039] The first engaged portion 124A engages with the first engaged portion 134A. The second engaged portion 124B engages with the second engaged portion 134B. The third engaged portion 124C engages with the third engaged portion 134C. The first engaged portion 124A is an extension member that extends from the +Y direction end of the engaging portion body 127 toward the -Z direction. The first engaged portion 134A engages by catching on the -Z direction end surface of the extension member, the first engaged portion 124A. The second engaged portion 124B is composed of a projection protruding from the -Z direction surface 127fa of the engaging portion body 127 and the engaging portion body 127 to which the projection is connected. The projection constituting the second engaged portion 124B protrudes from the -X direction peripheral edge of the surface 127fa. The second engaging portion 134B engages by catching on the tip surface of the projection of the second engaged portion 124B on the -Z direction side. The third engaged portion 124C is a part of the plate-shaped engaging portion body 127 of the engagement forming portion 239. Specifically, the third engaged portion 124C is the peripheral edge of the engaging portion body 127 on the +X direction side. The third engaging portion 134C engages by catching on the surface 127fa of the engaging portion body 127 on the -Z direction side.

[0040] In the Z-direction, which is the direction in which the engaging portion 134 and the engaged member 129 engage, the length of the first engaged portion 124A is the largest, and the length of the third engaged portion 124C is the smallest.

[0041] Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating the details of the engaging portion 134 and the engaged portion 124. The engaging portion 134 has a main body portion 137 extending along the Z direction, which is the thickness direction of the liquid container 100, and a hook portion 135 connected to the +Z direction end of the main body portion 137. The main body portion 137 is the -Z direction end, and displaces the hook portion 135 by elastically deforming in the direction of arrows RrA to RrC, with the base end connected to the adapter body of the adapter 130 as the pivot point. The hook portion 135 is a claw-shaped member that protrudes from the main body portion 137 in a direction intersecting the thickness direction.

[0042] Each engagement portion 135 has an engagement surface 138 that engages with each engaged portion 124A to 124C of the engagement forming portion 239 facing in the Z direction. In other words, the multiple engagement portions 134A to 134B engage with each engaged portion 124A to 124C of the engagement forming portion 239 of the liquid supply member 120 with the engagement surface 138 facing in the Z direction. The engagement surface 138 contacts the engaged portion 124 of the liquid supply member 120, thereby restricting the movement of the liquid supply member 120 in the +Z direction. The normal direction of the engagement surface 138 is the -Z direction, and this normal direction of the engagement surface 138 is the engagement direction of the first engaged portion 134A to the third engaged portion 124C with respect to the first engaged portion 124A to the third engaged portion 124C. In other words, the engagement direction is the direction from each of the multiple engagement portions 134A to 134C toward the first engaged portion 124A to the third engaged portion 124C of the liquid supply member 120. In this embodiment, the engagement direction is the downward direction among the vertical directions when the liquid container 100 is mounted on the printing device 10. The engagement direction of the liquid supply member 120 toward the engaged member 129 at each of the first engagement portion 134A to the third engagement portion 134C is the same direction, and in this embodiment it is the -Z direction. Since the engagement direction of each of the multiple engagement portions 134A to 134C is the same, engagement and disengagement of the engagement portion 134 and the liquid supply member 120 can be easily performed. Note that the engagement surface 138 does not have to be a flat surface as in this embodiment, but may be a curved surface, for example. In this case, the normal direction of the engagement surface 138 is the normal direction of the tangent plane to the engagement surface 138 that passes through the contact point with the engaged portion 124 of the liquid supply member 120.

[0043] The hook portion 135 further has an inclined surface 136 that is inclined with respect to the -Z direction, which is the engagement direction. The inclined surface 136 is inclined with respect to the engagement direction such that it is located on the side of the hook portion 135 that is protruding as it moves toward the -Z direction, which is the engagement direction.

[0044] The direction in which the engaging portion 134 engages with the engaged portion 124 is a direction that intersects the engagement direction, which is the -Z direction, and is also the direction in which the engaging surface 138 protrudes from the main body portion 137. Specifically, the engagement direction of the first engaging portion 134A is the -Y direction. The engagement direction of the second engaging portion 134B is the +X direction. The engagement direction of the third engaging portion 134C is the -X direction. Thus, the engagement directions of the liquid supply member 120 with the engaged portions 124A to 124C of the first engaging portion 134A to the third engaging portion 134C, which are snap-fit ​​portions, are different from each other. Because the engagement directions are different from each other, even if an external force is applied to the engaging portion 134 due to an impact such as dropping, the possibility of unintentionally releasing the engagement between all the engaging portions 134A to 134C and the liquid supply member 120 can be reduced.

[0045] The position where the first engaging portion 134A engages with the first engaged portion 124A is also called the first engagement position EP1. The position where the second engaging portion 134B engages with the second engaged portion 124B is also called the second engagement position EP2. The position where the third engaging portion 134C engages with the third engaged portion 124C is also called the third engagement position EP3. When the first engagement position EP1 to the third engagement position EP3 are used without distinction, the engagement position EP is used. With respect to the Z direction along the engagement direction -Z direction, the first engagement position EP1 to the third engagement position EP3 of the snap-fit ​​portion, the first engaging portion 134A to the third engaging portion 134C, are all different. Specifically, the first engagement position EP1 is located furthest towards the +Z direction, and the third engagement position EP3 is located furthest towards the -Z direction. Since the first engagement position EP1 to the third engagement position EP3 are different in the Z direction along the engagement direction -Z direction, even if force is unintentionally applied to one engagement part 134, it is possible to suppress the application of force to the other engagement parts 134. This reduces the possibility that the engagement between multiple engagement parts 134A to 134C and the liquid supply member 120 will be unintentionally released.

[0046] A4. How to reuse the adapter: The adapter 130 shown in Figure 6 can be reused by disengaging it from the liquid supply member 120 and removing it from the liquid supply member 120. The method for reusing the adapter 130 is described below.

[0047] The protruding heights of the first projections 324A to the third projections 324C of the engagement release jig are different so that the release timing for disengaging the first engagement portion 134A to the third engagement portion 134C and the corresponding first engaged portion 124A to the third engaged portion 124C is simultaneous. Specifically, the protruding height of the first projection 324A is the lowest, and the protruding height of the third projection is the highest. As shown in Figure 9, the height position of the hook portion 135 of the first engagement portion 134A to the third engagement portion 134C in the +Z direction with respect to a predetermined reference plane is highest for the first engagement portion 134A and lowest for the third engagement portion 134C. Therefore, the heights of the first projections 324A to the third projections 324C are set to have the opposite relationship to this height position relationship. This allows the timing of the release of engagement to be the same, as the first projection 324A to the third projection 324C contact each of the hooking portions 135 of the first engagement portion 134A to the third engagement portion 134C.

[0048] Figure 10 is a flowchart showing how to reuse the adapter 130. Figure 11 is a diagram illustrating the process by which the engaging portion 134 of the adapter 130 is separated from the liquid supply member 120 and removed.

[0049] As shown in Figure 10, in the method for reusing the adapter 130, first in step S10, the liquid container 100 and a disengagement jig (not shown) are prepared. Next, in step S20, the projection 324 of the disengagement jig is moved relative to the corresponding engagement portion 134 of the adapter 130. For example, the projection 324 of the disengagement jig is moved from the first surface side 130fa of the adapter shown in Figure 6 in the engagement direction, which is the -Z direction.

[0050] As shown in Figure 10, in step S30, an external force is applied to the hook portion 135 using the projection 324 of the engagement release jig, causing the hook portion 135 to be displaced in the release direction. As shown in the left diagram of Figure 11, in step S30, the projection 324 is pushed in the -Z direction, which is the engagement direction, toward the inclined surface 136 of the hook portion 135, and comes into contact with the inclined surface 136. From this state, by further pushing the projection 324 in the -Z direction, which is the engagement direction, the hook portion 135 is displaced in the release direction Dd. The release direction Dd is the opposite direction to the protruding direction Pd of the hook portion 135, more specifically the engagement surface 138. The displacement of the hook portion 135 in the release direction Dd is achieved by the elastic deformation of the main body portion 137 in the direction of arrow Rr, with the base end of the main body portion 137 as the pivot point, as shown in the center diagram of Figure 11. Note that the direction of arrow Rr refers collectively to arrows RrA to RrC shown in Figure 9. The point in time shown in the center of Figure 11 is when the hook portion 135 disengages from the engaged portion 124 and the engagement is released. The release of engagement between the hook portions 135 of the first engaged portion 134A to the third engaged portion 134C and the first engaged portion 124A to the third engaged portion 124C occurs simultaneously.

[0051] As shown in Figure 10, after the engagement between the hook portion 135 of the engaging portion 134 and the engaged portion 124 is released, in step S40, the adapter 130 is moved relative to the liquid supply member 120, thereby removing the adapter 130 from the liquid supply member 120. Specifically, as shown in the right-hand figure of Figure 11, with the engagement between the hook portion 135 and the engaged portion 124 released, the adapter 130 is moved relative to the liquid supply member 120 in the engagement direction, -Z. The -Z direction can also be called the removal direction of the adapter 130. As a result, the multiple snap-fit ​​engaging portions 134A to 134C move along the sides of the corresponding engaged portions 124, separating from the engaged portions 124A to 124C of the liquid supply member 120. Here, the timing at which the multiple engaging portions 134A to 134C separate from the engaged portions 124A to 124C of the liquid supply member is different from each other. Specifically, the longer the length of the engaged portions 124A to 124C along the -Z direction, which is the removal direction, the later the timing at which the engaging portion 134 separates from the engaged portion 124 of the liquid supply member 120. In this embodiment, the timing at which the third engaging portion 134C separates from the third engaged portion 124C is the earliest, and the timing at which the first engaging portion 134A separates from the first engaged portion 124A is the latest.

[0052] The adapter 130 removed from the liquid supply member 120 is reused. For example, the adapter 130 is reused by being attached by engagement to a newly manufactured liquid supply member 120 or to a liquid supply member 120 attached to a liquid container 110 that has been refilled with liquid.

[0053] According to the above embodiment, as shown in Figure 8, the liquid container 100 is engaged with the liquid supply member 120 by a plurality of engaging parts 134A to 134C, thus reducing the possibility of the adapter 130 and the liquid supply member 120 becoming detached. Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, as shown in Figure 14, by applying external force to the hooking part 135 using an engagement release jig, the hooking part 135 can be easily displaced in the release direction Dd, and the adapter 130 can be easily removed from the liquid supply member 120. On the other hand, since it is not easy to apply external force to the hooking parts 135 of the plurality of engaging parts 134 and displace them in the release direction Dd without using an engagement release jig, the possibility of the adapter 130 being unintentionally removed from the liquid supply member 120 can be reduced. Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, since the timing of the separation of the multiple hooking portions 135 from the engaged portion 124 of the liquid supply member 120 is different, even if one hooking portion 135 separates from the engaged portion 124, the remaining hooking portions 135 do not separate from the engaged portion 124. This makes it easy to release the engagement between the adapter 130 and the engaged portion 124 of the liquid supply member 120 using the release jig, while further reducing the possibility of the adapter 130 being unintentionally removed from the liquid supply member 120 without using the release jig.

[0054] B. Other embodiments: B1. Other Embodiments 1: In the above embodiment, the engagement directions of the first engagement portion 134A to the third engagement portion 134C were the same in the -Z direction, but at least two engagement directions may be different. Also, in the above embodiment, the first engagement positions EP1 to the third engagement positions EP3 of the multiple engagement portions 134A to 134C were different in the Z direction along the engagement direction, but at least two engagement positions EP may be the same. Furthermore, even if the engagement direction of the first engagement portion 134A to the third engagement portion 134C is in a direction other than the -Z direction, this does not depart from the spirit of the present disclosure. Also, in the above embodiment, as shown in Figure 9, the engagement directions of the liquid supply member 120 with respect to the engagement forming portion 239 of the multiple engagement portions 134A to 134C were different, but at least two engagement directions may be the same. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the timings at which the first engaging portion 134A to the third engaging portion 134C separate from the first engaged portion 124A to the third engaged portion 124C of the liquid supply member 120 were different, but the timings at which at least two of the first engaging portion 134A to the third engaging portion 134C separate may be the same.

[0055] C. Other forms: This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be implemented in various forms without departing from its spirit. For example, this disclosure can also be implemented in the following forms (aspects). The technical features in the embodiments described above that correspond to the technical features in each of the forms described below can be replaced or combined as appropriate in order to solve some or all of the problems of this disclosure, or to achieve some or all of the effects of this disclosure. Furthermore, if such technical features are not described as essential in this specification, they can be deleted as appropriate.

[0056] (1) According to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, a liquid container that is detachable from a printing apparatus is provided. The liquid container comprises a liquid supply member connected to the liquid container, having a supply path for supplying the liquid contained in the liquid container to the printing apparatus, and an adapter having a plurality of engaging portions that engage with the liquid supply member. According to this embodiment, since the adapter engages with the liquid supply member by the plurality of engaging portions, the possibility of disengaging between the adapter and the liquid supply member can be reduced.

[0057] (2) In the above embodiment, each of the plurality of engaging parts has an engaging surface that restricts the movement of the liquid supply member, and each of the plurality of engaging parts engages with the liquid supply member with the engaging surface facing the liquid supply member, and the engagement direction of each of the plurality of engaging parts with respect to the liquid supply member, the engagement direction from each of the engagement surfaces of the plurality of engaging parts toward the liquid supply member is the normal direction of the respective engagement surface, and the engagement directions of each of the plurality of engaging parts may be the same. With this embodiment, since the engagement directions of each of the plurality of engaging parts are the same, engagement and disengagement with the liquid supply member are easy.

[0058] (3) In the above embodiment, each of the plurality of engaging portions is a snap-fit ​​portion, and the engagement positions of each of the plurality of snap-fit ​​portions may be different from each other in the direction along the engagement direction. With this embodiment, since the positions of the hooking portions in the direction along the engagement direction are different from each other, the possibility of unintentionally disengaging the plurality of engaging portions from the liquid supply member can be reduced.

[0059] (4) In the above embodiment, the direction in which each of the multiple snap-fit ​​portions engages with the liquid supply member may be a direction intersecting the engagement direction and different from each other. In this embodiment, since the engagement directions are intersecting the engagement direction and different from each other, the possibility of unintentionally disengaging the multiple engagement portions from the liquid supply member can be reduced.

[0060] (5) A second embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for reusing an adapter that engages with a liquid supply member of a liquid container. This reuse method may involve applying an external force to the plurality of engaging portions in the liquid container of the above embodiment using a jig having projections corresponding to the plurality of snap-fit ​​portions, thereby elastically deforming the snap-fit ​​portions and displacing them to release their engagement. In this embodiment, by applying an external force to the catch portion using the jig, the snap-fit ​​portion can be easily displaced in the direction of releasing the engagement, and the adapter can be removed from the liquid supply member, while reducing the possibility of the adapter being unintentionally removed from the liquid supply member without using the jig.

[0061] (6) In the above embodiment, the timing of disengaging the multiple snap-fit ​​portions is simultaneous, and the timing of the multiple snap-fit ​​portions separating from the liquid supply member may be different from each other. With this embodiment, by having the timing of the multiple snap-fit ​​portions separating from the liquid supply member be different, it is possible to make it easy to disengage the adapter from the liquid supply member using a jig, while further reducing the possibility of the adapter being unintentionally removed from the liquid supply member without using a jig.

[0062] This disclosure can also be implemented in various forms other than those described above. For example, it can be implemented in the form of a method for manufacturing a liquid container, a method for removing an adapter from a liquid supply member, and so on. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0063] 1…Adapter, 10…Printing device, 10c…Housing, 12…Front section, 13…Operation section, 14…Media outlet, 15…Media receiving section, 18…Cover member, 20…Control unit, 30…Discharge execution unit, 31…Liquid discharge unit, 32…Tube, 33…Nozzle, 34…Carriage, 36…Conveyor roller, 40…Liquid supply unit, 42…Supply piping, 43…Joint section, 45…Suction unit, 46…Pressure transmission piping, 50…Switching mechanism, 50a…First switching mechanism, 50b…Second switching unit Structure, 51...Liquid introduction section, 51t...Tip section, 58...Device side terminal, 60...Case housing section, 61...Case, 61a...First case, 61b...Second case, 62...Guide section, 89...Recess, 100...Liquid container, 100a...First liquid container, 100b...Second liquid container, 105...Mounting body, 105a...First mounting body, 105b...Second mounting body, 110...Liquid container section, 111...First surface, 112...Second surface, 120...Liquid supply member, 121...Liquid supply section, 122... Positioning hole, 123... Supply path, 124... Engaged part, 124A... First engaged part, 124B... Second engaged part, 124C... Third engaged part, 127... Engaged part body, 127fa... Surface, 128... Connection part, 129... Engaged member, 130... Adapter, 130fa... First side of adapter, 130fb... Second side of adapter, 131... Recess, 132... Circuit board, 133... Projection, 134... Engaged part, 134A... First engaged part, 134B... Second engaged part, 134C …Third engaging part, 135…Catching part, 136…Inclined surface, 137…Main body part, 138…Engaging surface, 223…Introduction part, 239…Engagement forming part, 324…Protrusion, 324A…First projection, 324B…Second projection, 324C…Third projection, 621…One end, 622…Other end, Dd…Release direction, EP…Engagement position, EP1…First engagement position, EP2…Second engagement position, EP3…Third engagement position, FM…Film, LA…Placement area, MP…Media, Pd…Protrusion direction

Claims

1. A liquid container that can be attached to and removed from a printing device, A liquid storage section for storing liquid, A liquid supply member connected to the liquid storage section, having a supply path for supplying the liquid stored in the liquid storage section to the printing device, The adapter comprises a plurality of engaging portions that engage with the liquid supply member, Each of the aforementioned multiple engaging portions has an engaging surface that restricts the movement of the liquid supply member, Each of the plurality of engagement portions engages with the liquid supply member with its engagement surface facing it. The engagement direction of each of the plurality of engagement portions toward the liquid supply member is the direction normal to the respective engagement surface of each of the plurality of engagement portions toward the liquid supply member, The engagement direction of each of the aforementioned multiple engagement parts is the same, and furthermore, Each of the aforementioned multiple engaging portions is a snap-fit ​​portion, A liquid container in which the engagement positions of each of the multiple snap-fit ​​portions are different from each other in the direction along the aforementioned engagement direction.

2. A liquid container according to claim 1, A liquid container in which the respective engagement directions of the plurality of snap-fit ​​portions with respect to the liquid supply member are directions that intersect with the engagement direction and are different from each other.

3. A method for reusing an adapter that engages with a liquid supply member of a liquid container, A method for reusing a liquid container according to claim 1, comprising applying an external force to the plurality of snap-fit ​​portions of the liquid container using a jig having corresponding protrusions, thereby elastically deforming the snap-fit ​​portions and displacing them to release their engagement.

4. A reuse method according to claim 3, The release timing for disengaging the multiple snap-fit ​​portions is simultaneous. A reuse method in which the timing at which the multiple snap-fit ​​portions separate from the liquid supply member is different from that of the other.

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