JP2004249511A - Liquid-containing bag, liquid cartridge, liquid ejector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid-containing bag capable of containing a large quantity of liquid while exhibiting excellent durability against vibration and impact and high degree of freedom in arrangement. <P>SOLUTION: In an ink pack 11, two sheets of rectangular polyethylene film are superposed and then two long sides are thermally bonded at thermal bonding parts 112 and 114 or two short sides are thermally bonded at thermal bonding parts 111 and 113 in a belt form with a specified width, respectively. The ink pack 11 is provided, substantially in the central part of one short side, with a plug body 21 constituting an ink outlet. The bonding parts 112 and 114 are bonded incompletely in a belt form with a specified width to form incomplete bonding parts 131 and 132 and ink containing sections 201, 202 and 203 are sectioned. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a liquid storage bag and a liquid cartridge which are detachably attached to a liquid ejecting apparatus such as an ink jet recording apparatus and supplies liquid to a liquid ejecting head, and a liquid ejecting apparatus using the liquid cartridge. Here, the liquid ejecting device is not limited to a recording device such as a printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile that uses an ink jet recording head and discharges ink from the recording head to perform recording on a recording medium. In this case, a liquid corresponding to the application is ejected from a liquid ejecting head corresponding to the recording head to a medium to be ejected corresponding to a recording medium, and a device for attaching the liquid to the medium to be ejected is used. As the liquid ejecting head, in addition to the recording head, for example, a color material ejecting head used for manufacturing a color filter such as a liquid crystal display, and an electrode material (conductive paste) used for forming an electrode such as an organic EL display or a surface emitting display (FED). A) A jetting head, a biological organic matter jetting head used for biochip production, a sample jetting head as a precision pipette, and the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the ink jet recording apparatus known as a representative existence of the liquid ejecting apparatus, for example, for industrial applications such as signboard printing and textile printing, and for mass printing for business use, it is separated from a carriage equipped with a recording head. 2. Description of the Related Art A large-sized recording apparatus of a type in which a relatively large amount of ink cartridges are provided at a location and ink is supplied from the ink cartridges to a recording head via a supply tube has been commercialized. In such a system, usually, an ink pack is housed in a hard case of an ink cartridge, which is filled with ink and provided with an ink supply port. In addition, in an ink jet recording apparatus using a large-capacity ink cartridge, recording is performed from the ink cartridge for the purpose of adjusting the pressure of ink applied to the nozzle portion of the recording head and the purpose of preventing printing from being interrupted when the ink cartridge is replaced. A sub tank is provided in an ink supply path leading to the head.
[0003]
In the ink jet recording apparatus of the above type, the ink droplets are stored in an ink cartridge in order to avoid mixing of air bubbles into the ink, evaporation of the water of the ink, and change in physical properties of the ink, which cause deterioration of the discharging performance when the ink droplet is discharged. An aluminum laminate film or the like which does not easily transmit air or moisture is used as the material of the ink pack. In the case of increasing the ink capacity of the ink pack having such a configuration, there is a problem that the ink pack is easily damaged by vibration or drop impact during transportation or the like. In order to solve this problem, an ink cartridge has been proposed in which an ink cartridge holding member is provided in the ink cartridge so as to withstand vibration and impact during transportation (for example, Patent Document 1). For the same purpose, there is also proposed an ink pack in which a packaging material is provided with a function as a holding member for the ink pack so as to be able to withstand vibrations and shocks for those handled without being stored in a case (for example, , Patent Document 2).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2002-19136 A
[Patent Document 2]
JP 2001-58674 A
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the ink cartridges and ink packs configured as in Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2, it is necessary to provide a member for holding down the ink pack, which may increase costs. In addition, the use of the holding member or the packing material leads to an increase in waste, and also has an aspect that it takes time to disassemble and the like when used for recycling.
[0006]
In addition, the ink pack composed of a flexible film is formed into a simple rectangular flat bag called a pillow type in order to make it easy to manufacture and to have a structure in which vibration and impact are not concentrated. However, since it is difficult to provide a thickness with such a shape, even if an attempt is made to accommodate a large amount of ink, the capacity is limited due to restrictions in the thickness direction. Therefore, the only way to accommodate more ink is to increase the size of the rectangular ink pack by lengthening its sides, but this method also increases the size of the ink cartridge. It becomes difficult to arrange the recording device in a limited space. In addition to the ink pack of the ink jet recording apparatus, for example, a color material storage bag for storing a color material in a color material ejection head used for manufacturing a color filter such as a liquid crystal display, or a sample or a reagent in a sample ejection head as a precision pipette. The same problem as described above also exists in a sample storage bag for storing a sample.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has a liquid storage bag that can store a large amount of liquid, has excellent durability against vibration and impact, and has a high degree of freedom in arrangement. It is intended to provide.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A liquid storage bag according to a first aspect of the present invention is a liquid storage bag formed of a flexible material that stores liquid to be supplied to a liquid ejection head of a liquid ejection device, and includes two or more liquid accommodation portions. And a communication passage for allowing liquid to flow between the liquid storage units, and a liquid outlet provided in one of the liquid storage units. In the first aspect of the present invention, in a liquid storage bag formed of a flexible material, a plurality of liquid storage portions are provided, and the respective liquid storage portions are connected by a communication path, so that the liquid can be discharged from one liquid outlet. Was taken out and supplied to the liquid jet head. With this configuration, the liquid container according to the first embodiment of the present invention has the following advantages.
[0009]
First, since the liquid storage portion is divided into a plurality of parts, the durability against vibration and impact is greatly improved. For example, even when an impact such as a drop is applied during transportation, the impact force is distributed to each liquid storage unit, so that a large amount of liquid is not filled in one liquid storage bag as compared to a case where one liquid storage bag is filled. Leakage of liquid due to damage is unlikely to occur. In addition, the communication path acts to release the liquid to another liquid storage section when the liquid pressure of one liquid storage section becomes high at the time of impact or the like, and to alleviate the pressure in the liquid storage section. Therefore, it is possible to reliably store a large amount of liquid, and it is possible to respond to a request for increasing the capacity of the liquid storage bag.
[0010]
Secondly, since the liquid storage section is divided into a plurality of parts, the degree of freedom in the arrangement of the liquid storage bags can be greatly increased. For example, since the liquid storage sections can be stacked and arranged by folding the liquid storage bag, the bulkiness can be increased several times as compared with the case of a single liquid storage section, while the mounting area can be reduced. Will be possible. Therefore, the degree of freedom in the layout of the liquid cartridge for storing the liquid storage bag and the liquid ejecting apparatus to which the liquid cartridge is mounted can be greatly increased.
[0011]
Thirdly, the liquid supply system of the existing liquid ejecting apparatus is configured such that the liquid is taken out from one liquid outlet by providing the communication path connecting the plurality of liquid storage units while obtaining the above-described operation. Can be used.
[0012]
The liquid storage bag according to a second aspect of the present invention is the liquid storage bag according to the first aspect, wherein the liquid storage bag is formed of two rectangular films, and the edges of the two superimposed films are formed as a liquid outlet. The liquid storage portion is partitioned by a band-shaped weld formed so as to connect between the welded portions of the two edges except for the portion provided with the ridge, and a non-welded portion is formed in the band-shaped weld. Are provided to form the communication path. According to the second aspect, in addition to the same operation and effect as the first aspect, since the communication path with the liquid storage portion can be formed by the same welding method as that used in the conventional liquid storage bag, special members and No means required.
[0013]
The liquid storage bag according to a third aspect of the present invention is the liquid storage bag according to the first aspect, wherein the liquid storage bag is formed of one rectangular film, and three edges overlapped by folding the rectangular film. Are welded to each other except for the portion where the liquid outlet is provided, and the liquid containing portion is partitioned by a band-shaped weld formed so as to connect between the welded portions on the two edges, and the band-shaped weld is formed. Is characterized in that a non-welded portion is provided in the welding to form the communication passage. In the liquid storage bag according to the third aspect, the same function and effect as in the second aspect can be obtained in a liquid storage bag formed by laminating and welding one rectangular film.
[0014]
A liquid storage bag according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the liquid storage bag according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the communication path is provided with blockage prevention means. In the liquid storage bag according to the fourth aspect, since the blocking prevention means is provided in the communication path, the communication path is not closed even when the liquid storage bag is folded, and the flow of the liquid is not hindered.
[0015]
A liquid storage bag according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the liquid storage bag according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, wherein a cutout for folding is formed in the welded portion. According to the fifth aspect, the notch allows the liquid storage bag to be easily folded. Further, unnecessary tension is not applied to the liquid storage bag even in a state where the liquid is filled, so that durability against impact can be enhanced.
[0016]
A liquid cartridge according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the liquid storage bag according to any one of the first to fifth aspects is housed in a case. According to this feature, in the liquid cartridge, the same functions and effects as the first to fifth aspects can be obtained.
[0017]
The liquid cartridge according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the liquid cartridge according to the sixth aspect, wherein the liquid storage bag is bent at at least one location between adjacent liquid storage portions and stored in the case. Features. The liquid cartridge in which the liquid storage bag is folded and stored can increase the thickness direction while reducing the mounting area. Therefore, the degree of freedom of the layout of the liquid cartridge for storing the liquid storage bag and the liquid ejecting apparatus to which the liquid cartridge is mounted can be greatly increased.
[0018]
A liquid ejecting apparatus according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is provided with the liquid cartridge according to the sixth or seventh aspect. Thereby, the degree of freedom of the layout of the liquid ejecting apparatus to which the liquid cartridge is mounted is increased.
[0019]
A liquid ejecting apparatus according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the eighth aspect, further comprising a pressurized supply system for supplying a liquid while the inside of the liquid cartridge is in a pressurized state. According to this feature, by providing the pressurized supply system, the liquid supply can be performed smoothly, for example, even when the liquid storage bag is folded, the liquid in the liquid storage bag is not completely left. Can be used up.
[0020]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, (1) outline of the ink jet recording apparatus: (2) ink pack: (3) manufacturing method of ink pack: (4) other embodiments of ink pack will be described in this order.
<Overview of inkjet recording device>
FIG. 1 shows an outline of an ink jet recording apparatus 100, in which a main body cover is removed to clarify an internal structure. In FIG. 1, a carriage 1 reciprocates in a main scanning direction along a carriage guide shaft 4 via a timing belt 3 driven by a drive motor 2. A recording head 5 is provided on the side of the carriage 1 facing the recording medium P.
[0021]
The ink jet recording apparatus 100 is configured to be able to use an ink pack (not shown here) as a liquid storage bag according to the present invention and ink cartridges 9a to 9d as liquid cartridges. A cartridge holder 8 is provided on the side of the main body of the recording apparatus, and ink cartridges 9a to 9d each include an ink pack (not shown) as a liquid storage bag filled with ink such as black, yellow, magenta, and cyan. It is stored. Further, sub-tanks 7a to 7d for supplying ink to the recording head 5 are mounted on the carriage 1 corresponding to the ink cartridges 9a to 9d of the respective colors. The ink cartridges 9a to 9d to the sub-tanks 7a to 7d are connected by a flexible supply tube 10 so that ink can be supplied.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 2, the ink cartridge 9 (9 a to 9 d) includes a hard case 31 provided with a lid 33, an ink pack 11 provided with a plug 21 as an ink outlet, and filled with ink. It is composed of The hard case 31 includes a plug insertion portion 35 into which the plug 21 of the ink pack 11 is inserted, and an air introduction portion 37 through which air is supplied by an air pressurizing pump 61 described later. Although not shown, in order to increase airtightness in a state where the lid 33 and the hard case 31 are combined, an airtight film that can be welded to the lid 33 and the hard case 31 is inserted between the lid 33 and the hard case 31 or a plug is inserted. A sealing member such as an O-ring can be provided in the portion 35.
[0023]
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an ink supply system in the ink jet recording apparatus 100 shown in FIG. The ink cartridges 9a to 9d, the sub-tanks 7a to 7d, and the supply tubes connected thereto are provided for each color. However, in the following description, the ink cartridges 9, the sub-tank 7, and the supply tubes 10 are used. Used generically.
[0024]
3, each ink cartridge 9 is connected to an air pressurizing pump 61 via a pressure detector 65 and a pressure adjusting valve 63. As described above, the schematic configuration of the ink cartridge 9 is such that the hard case 31 having the lid member 33 forming the outer shell is formed in an airtight state, and the inside thereof is formed of a flexible material in which ink is sealed. Stored ink pack 11. Then, pressurized air is supplied to the pressure chamber 51 formed between the ink cartridge 9 and the ink pack 11 via the pressure detector 65. That is, the air pressurized by the air pressurizing pump 61 is supplied to the pressure adjusting valve 63 and further supplied to each ink cartridge 9 via the pressure detector 65.
[0025]
The pressure adjusting valve 63 has a function of releasing the pressure and maintaining the pressure applied to each ink cartridge 9 within a predetermined range when the air pressure pressurized by the air pressurizing pump 61 reaches a predetermined value or more. . The pressure detector 65 detects the air pressure pressurized by the air pressurizing pump 61 and controls the driving of the air pressurizing pump 61. For example, when detecting that the air pressure pressurized by the air pressurizing pump 61 has reached a predetermined pressure, the pressure detector 65 stops the driving of the air pressurizing pump 61 and sets the air pressure to the predetermined pressure. , The air pressure pump 61 is driven. Therefore, the air pressure applied to each ink cartridge 9 is maintained in a predetermined range. With the above configuration, each ink pack 11 stored in each ink cartridge 9 is pressurized, and ink is supplied from each ink cartridge 9 to each sub tank 7 at a predetermined pressure.
[0026]
The ink pressurized in each ink cartridge 9 is supplied to each sub-tank 7 mounted on the carriage 1 via each supply valve 53 and each supply tube 10. A float member 77 is disposed inside the sub-tank 7, and a permanent magnet 75 is attached to a part of the float member 77. Further, a magneto-electric conversion element such as a Hall element 73 is mounted on the substrate 71 on the side wall of the sub-tank 7, and an electric signal thereof is configured to operate the supply valve 53.
[0027]
Here, the float member 77, the permanent magnet 75, and the Hall element 73 function as ink amount detecting means in the sub-tank 7, and correspond to the permanent magnet 75 disposed on the float member 77 and the magnetic force dose by the permanent magnet 75. Then, an electrical signal is generated by the Hall element 73, which is a magnetic sensor, and the amount of ink is detected.
That is, when the amount of ink in the sub tank 7 decreases, the position of the float member 77 in the sub tank 7 moves in the direction of gravity, and accordingly, the position of the permanent magnet 75 also moves in the direction of gravity. A change in the electrical signal of the Hall element 73 due to the movement of the permanent magnet 75 is sensed as the amount of ink in the sub tank 7, and the supply valve 53 is opened. When the supply valve 53 is opened, the ink pressurized in the ink cartridge 9 is sent out into the sub tank 7. Then, when the ink amount in the sub tank 7 reaches a predetermined capacity, the supply valve 53 is closed based on an electric signal of the Hall element 73. In this way, the ink acts to intermittently replenish the ink from the ink cartridge 9 to the sub-tank 7, so that a substantially constant level of ink is always stored in each sub-tank 7.
[0028]
Each sub-tank 7 is connected to the recording head 5 via a valve 55 and a connection tube 57, and is supplied with ink. When the recording head 5 is driven by a known method, ink droplets are ejected from nozzle openings (not shown) formed on the nozzle forming surface of the recording head 5.
[0029]
<Ink pack>
4A and 4B show the ink pack 11 according to one embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 4A is a plan view and FIG. 4B is a side view. In addition, for convenience of explanation, the welded portion is indicated by oblique lines. The ink pack 11 uses a flexible material formed in a rectangular shape. As the flexible material, a material having excellent gas barrier properties, for example, a film obtained by laminating aluminum or the like on the surface of a polyethylene film or the like is suitably used.
[0030]
In the ink pack 11, two rectangular flexible films are overlapped, and two edges (edges) in the longitudinal direction are formed at the welded portions 112 and 114, and two edges in the short direction are formed. The parts are heat-welded in a band shape with a predetermined width at the welding parts 111 and 113, respectively. At approximately the center of one side (the side of the welding portion 111) in the short direction of the ink pack 11, a stopper 21 constituting an ink outlet is attached. The inside of the plug 21 is filled with a sealing member 22 (see FIGS. 5 and 6 described later), so that the ink is sealed so as not to leak until the ink pack 11 starts to be used.
[0031]
Further, incomplete welding is performed in a band shape with a predetermined width so as to connect the welding portion 112 and the welding portion 114, so that the incomplete welding portion 131 and the incomplete welding portion 132 are formed, and the ink containing portion 201, 202 and 203 are sectioned. In addition, "incomplete welding" means that a portion where the upper and lower two polyethylene films are not welded (a non-welded portion) remains. The incompletely non-welded portion forms communication paths 151 and 152 that allow ink to flow between the ink storage units 201 and 202 and between the ink storage units 202 and 203.
[0032]
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a cross-sectional structure of the ink cartridge 9 containing the ink pack 11 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the ink pack 11 of the present invention is folded at the incompletely welded portions 131 and 132 and stored in the ink cartridge 9. This makes it possible to greatly improve the durability against vibrations and shocks, and it is possible to prevent the ink pack 11 from being damaged during transportation or the like without using a special protection member. In addition, the ink cartridge 9 of the present invention in which the ink pack 11 is stored in a folded state can reduce the installation plane area by increasing the thickness (height). Layout can be given a degree of freedom.
[0033]
In the ink cartridge 9, the ink pack 11 is folded and stored at the incompletely welded portions 131 and 132. However, since the ink pack 11 is made of a flexible material, the communication paths 151 and 152 are bent and collapsed. Even so, there is almost no adverse effect that the free circulation of the ink 99 is hindered because the flexibility is maintained. However, in order to ensure the movement of the ink from the ink storage unit 203 to the ink storage unit 202 and further to the ink storage unit 201, and to maintain a good communication state, the blocking prevention means is inserted into the communication paths 151 and 152. can do. FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional state of the ink cartridge 9 in which a reinforcing tube 181 as a blocking prevention means is inserted into the communication paths 151 and 152 of the ink pack 11. The reinforcing tube 181 (see FIG. 7A) is a short tube, and is formed of a material such as a synthetic resin having a certain degree of flexibility.
[0034]
FIG. 7 shows an example of the blocking prevention means. The blocking prevention means may be a semicircular shape as shown in FIG. 2B or an H-shaped cross section as shown in FIG. 2C, other than the reinforcing tube 181 in FIG. These are examples, and the blocking prevention means may be any as long as it can secure a liquid flow space when the communication passages 151 and 152 are bent. The blocking prevention means is preferably one that can secure a space for ink circulation inside even if it is curved and deformed to some extent following the bending of the incompletely welded portions 131 and 132 of the ink pack 11. Further, when the incompletely welded portions 131 and 132 are formed by thermal welding, it is preferable to use a material which is welded and positioned to the outer surface of the blockage preventing means and the flexible film.
[0035]
<Method of manufacturing ink pack>
The ink pack 11 can be manufactured, for example, by the following procedure. First, three edges (edges) of a short side (welded portion 111) and two longitudinal sides (welded portions 112 and 114) extending at right angles from both ends thereof are heated in a belt shape with a predetermined width. Weld to form a bag. The welding portion 111 may be welded by sandwiching the plug 21. Next, ink is filled using the opening on the remaining one side of the formed bag. After filling a predetermined amount of ink, the incompletely welded portions 131 and 132 were thermally welded, and finally the remaining one side (welded portion 113) was joined by thermal welding, whereby the ink was sealed in the ink pack 11. State. Thus, the ink pack 11 divided into the three ink storage units 201, 202, and 203 is completed. The incompletely welded portions 131 and 132 may be thermally welded before the ink is filled.
[0036]
<Other embodiments>
FIG. 8 is a plan view showing an ink pack 12 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Here, for convenience of explanation, the welded portions are indicated by oblique lines. In this ink pack 12, two rectangular flexible films are overlapped, and the edges of two sides in the longitudinal direction thereof are welded portions 116 and 118, and the two sides in the short direction are the welded portions 115. Each of the belts 117 is heat-welded in a belt shape with a predetermined width. On one side in the short direction of the ink pack 12 (the side where the welded portion 115 is located), a plug 21 constituting an ink outlet is attached at a deviated position.
[0037]
Further, it is incompletely welded in a band shape with a predetermined width so as to connect the welded portion 116 and the welded portion 118, and an incompletely welded portion 134 is formed. Furthermore, it is incompletely welded in a band shape with a predetermined width so as to connect the welded portion 115 and the welded portion 117, and an incompletely welded portion 133 is formed. The incompletely welded portions 133 and 134 are formed so as to cross each other. The four ink storage chambers 204 to 207 are defined by these incompletely welded portions 133 and 134. Then, the incomplete non-welded portions communicate with the ink storage units 204 and 205, the ink storage units 205 and 206, and the ink storage units 206 and 207, respectively, and communicate with the communication passages 153, 154, and 155 that allow the ink to flow. Has become.
[0038]
The ink pack 12 can have a thickness by being folded in two steps at the incompletely welded portion 133 or the incompletely welded portion 134, and can be stored in the ink cartridge 9 in that state. In order to provide more bulkiness, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 9, a cut 190 may be made in the middle of the incompletely welded portion 133 (portion without the communication passage 154). As a result, the ink storage portion 204 and the ink storage portion 205 overlap, the ink storage portion 207 and the ink storage portion 206 are folded back at the incompletely welded portion 134 so as to overlap, and further the incompletely welded portion 133 (the portion without the cut 190). By folding, it can be folded in a four-tiered state, and can be stored in the ink cartridge 9 in this state. Note that, also in the present embodiment, it is possible to provide a blocking prevention unit in the communication paths 153, 154, and 155.
[0039]
FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the ink pack 13 according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 11 is a side view showing a state where the ink pack 13 is folded. Here also, for convenience of explanation, the welded portion is indicated by oblique lines. In FIG. 11, the outline of the ink cartridge 9 is indicated by a virtual line. In the ink pack 13, two rectangular flexible films are overlapped, and the edges of two sides in the longitudinal direction are welded portions 120 and 122, and the edges of the two sides in the short direction are welded. The parts 119 and 121 are heat-welded in a strip shape with a predetermined width. At the center of one side of the ink pack 13 in the lateral direction (the side where the welding portion 119 is located), a plug 21 constituting an ink outlet is attached.
[0040]
In addition, a gap between the welding portion 119 and the welding portion 121 is incompletely welded in a band shape with a predetermined width at two places, and incomplete welding portions 135 and 136 are formed. The three ink storage chambers 208 to 210 are defined by these incompletely welded portions 135 and 136. The incompletely non-welded portions are communication paths 156, 157, 158, and 159 that connect the ink storage sections 208 and 209 and the ink storage sections 209 and 210, respectively, and allow ink to flow therethrough. As described above, in the present embodiment, not one communication path connecting the two ink storage units is provided but a plurality of communication paths. Thereby, the movement of the ink from the ink storage units 208 and 210 to the ink storage unit 209 is performed smoothly.
[0041]
Since the ink pack 13 is folded back at the incompletely welded portion 135 and the incompletely welded portion 136, and can be given a thickness by folding the housing portion 208, the housing portion 209, and the housing portion 210 in a three-tiered state, In this state, it can be stored in the ink cartridge 9 as shown in FIG. In addition, also in this embodiment, it is possible to arrange | position a blockage prevention means in each communication path 156-159.
[0042]
FIGS. 12A and 12B are drawings showing an outline of an ink pack 14 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 12A is a plan view and FIG. 12B is a side view. The ink pack 14 according to the present embodiment is different from the ink pack 11 according to the first embodiment in that the ink pack 11 is formed by overlapping and welding two rectangular films to form a bag. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, one rectangular film is folded back from the center to two and overlapped, and the edges are welded to form a bag.
That is, the rectangular film is bent at the bent portion 191, and the edges of the two long sides are welded to form the welded portions 124 and 125, and the edge of one side in the short direction is almost at the center. Welding is performed so as to sandwich the plug 21 constituting the ink outlet, thereby forming a welded portion 123. Further, it is incompletely welded in a band shape with a predetermined width so as to connect the welded portion 124 and the welded portion 125, and the incompletely welded portion 137 and the incompletely welded portion 138 having the communication passages 160 and 161 are formed. , Ink storage units 211, 212, and 213 are defined. Thus, the ink pack 14 including the three ink storage units 211, 212, and 213 can be formed from one film. The ink pack 9 can be used as the ink cartridge 9 by being housed in the hard case 31 according to the ink pack 11 of the first embodiment.
[0043]
As described above, the present invention has been described with respect to various embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be applied to other embodiments within the scope of the invention described in the claims. It is. For example, in FIG. 2, the folded ink packs 11 are arranged so that the stacking direction is vertical, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the ink packs 11 may be arranged so that the stacking direction is horizontal.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an outline of an ink jet recording apparatus.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the ink cartridge.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an ink supply system.
4A and 4B show an ink pack according to the first embodiment, wherein FIG. 4A is a plan view and FIG. 4B is a side view.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the ink cartridge.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the ink cartridge.
FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of blockage prevention means.
FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating an ink pack according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a plan view showing an ink pack according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a plan view showing an ink pack according to a third embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a view showing a state where an ink pack according to a third embodiment is folded.
12A and 12B show an ink pack according to a fourth embodiment, wherein FIG. 12A is a plan view and FIG. 12B is a side view.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 carriage, 2 drive motor, 3 timing belt,
4 carriage guide shaft, 5 recording head, 7a-7c sub tank,
8 cartridge holder, 9 ink cartridge, 10 supply tube,
11 to 14 ink packs, 21 stoppers, 22 sealing members,
31 hard case, 33 lid material, 35 plug insertion part, 37 air introduction part,
51 pressure chamber, 53 supply valve, 55 valve, 57 connection tube,
61 air pressurized pump, 63 pressure regulating valve, 65 pressure detector,
71, substrate, 73 Hall element, 75 permanent magnet, 77 float,
111-125 weld, 131-138 incomplete weld,
201 to 213 ink storage unit,

Claims (9)

A liquid storage bag formed of a flexible material that stores liquid to be supplied to a liquid ejection head of a liquid ejection device,
Two or more liquid reservoirs;
A communication passage for allowing a liquid to flow between the liquid storage units,
A liquid outlet provided in one of the liquid storage units,
A liquid storage bag, comprising: In claim 1, the liquid storage bag is composed of two rectangular films,
The edges of the two superimposed films are welded to each other except for the portion where the liquid outlet is provided,
The liquid accommodating portion is defined by a band-shaped weld formed so as to connect between the welded portions of the two edges, and the band-shaped weld is provided with a non-welded portion to form the communication path. A liquid storage bag. In claim 1, the liquid storage bag is formed of a single rectangular film,
The three edges superimposed by folding the rectangular film are welded to each other except for a portion provided with a liquid outlet,
The liquid accommodating portion is defined by a band-shaped weld formed so as to connect between the welded portions of the two edges, and the band-shaped weld is provided with a non-welded portion to form the communication path. A liquid storage bag. The liquid storage bag according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the communication path is provided with blocking prevention means. The liquid storage bag according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein a cutout for folding is formed in the welded portion. A liquid cartridge containing the liquid storage bag according to any one of claims 1 to 5 in a case. 7. The liquid cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the liquid storage bag is bent at at least one location between adjacent liquid storage portions and stored in a case. A liquid ejecting apparatus equipped with the liquid cartridge according to claim 6. 9. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a pressurized supply system for supplying a liquid while the inside of the liquid cartridge is in a pressurized state.

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