CN114074479A - Ink replenishing container - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a technology capable of easily reusing an ink replenishing container. An ink replenishing container for replenishing ink to a printer includes: an ink container and an outer container, the ink container being configured to be capable of containing ink, the ink container including: a container body having a first opening through which ink can flow; and an ink lead-out portion connected to the first opening portion and circumferentially surrounding a part of the container main body portion including the first opening portion, the exterior container including: a container body housing portion capable of housing a container body portion; and a second opening portion which is detachably connected to the ink lead-out portion and which is configured to allow insertion and removal of the container main body portion.

Description

Ink replenishing container

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an ink replenishing container for replenishing ink to a printer.

Background

Conventionally, as an ink jet printer, a printer in which a user supplies ink to an ink tank using an ink supply container has been used. As an example of an ink refill container used in this case, patent document 1 discloses an ink refill container including a container main body portion for containing ink; an ink outlet forming portion mounted at an opening portion of the container main body portion through a ratchet mechanism; and a cap detachably attached to the ink outlet forming portion by a screw. The ink refill container can be reused after use. Specifically, in the used ink replenishing container, the ratchet mechanism is released (broken) to separate the container body portion from the ink outlet forming portion, the cleaned container body portion is replenished with ink, and thereafter the ink outlet forming portion is attached to the container body portion, whereby the ink replenishing container can be reused.

[ Prior art documents ]

[ patent document ]

[ patent document 1] Japanese patent laid-open No. 2019-51605

However, in the ink replenishing container of patent document 1, even if the container main body and the ink outlet forming portion are cleaned after the container main body and the ink outlet forming portion are separated, it takes much labor and time to sufficiently remove the remaining ink or foreign matter. Therefore, reuse of the ink refill container is difficult.

Disclosure of Invention

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink replenishment container for replenishing ink to a printer. The ink replenishing container includes: an ink container and an outer container, wherein the ink container is configured to be able to contain the ink, and the ink container includes: a container body portion having a first opening through which the ink can flow; and an ink lead-out portion connected to the first opening portion and circumferentially surrounding a part of the container main body portion including the first opening portion, the external container including: a container body housing portion capable of housing the container body portion; and a second opening portion configured to be detachably connected to the ink lead-out portion and configured to be able to insert and remove the container main body portion.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a printer in which ink is replenished from an ink replenishing tank according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the ink refill container in the upright state.

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the ink refill container.

Fig. 4 is an exploded sectional view of the ink refill container.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing a section through the center axis of the ink refill container.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view showing a partial region shown in fig. 5 in an enlarged manner.

Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the structure of the ratchet portion of the first embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing the structure of an ink replenishment container according to a second embodiment.

[ description of reference numerals ]

10: an ink replenishing container; 10 a: an ink replenishing container; 20: a connecting member; 21: a perforation line; 100: an ink container; 140: a container body portion; 141: a main housing section; 142: a shoulder portion; 143: a first opening portion; 144: an ink accommodating portion; 150: an ink lead-out section; 151: a sidewall portion; 152: an external thread; 153: an internal thread; 154: a top surface portion; 155: a protrusion; 156: an expanding portion; 157: teeth; 200: an outer container; 202: an accommodating portion; 210: a container main body housing section; 211: a main housing section; 212: a shoulder portion; 220: a second opening portion; 222: an external thread; 223: a claw; 300: a cover; 310: a cylindrical portion; 311: a fastening part; 320: a dome portion; 321: a plug portion; 400: a ratchet portion; 500: a printer; 510: a box body; 512: a cover; 520: a bracket; 522: a print head; 530: an ink tank; 532: an ink inlet flow path member; 534: a tube; ar 1: a partial region; c: a central axis; OP 1: a first opening; OP 2: a second opening; OP 3: a third opening; r1: a first rotational direction; r2: a second direction of rotation.

Detailed Description

A. The first embodiment:

A1. the integral structure is as follows:

fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a printer 500 that is configured to be refilled with ink from an ink refill container 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printer 500 is configured as an inkjet printer that performs printing by discharging ink onto the print medium P. In fig. 1, X, Y, and Z axes orthogonal to each other are depicted. The X axis corresponds to the width direction of the printer 500, the Y axis corresponds to the depth direction of the printer 500, and the Z axis corresponds to the height direction of the printer 500. The printer 500 is installed on a horizontal installation surface defined by the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. In the present embodiment, the "X-axis direction" refers to a general term of the + X direction and the-X direction. Similarly, "Y-axis direction" refers to a general term of + Y direction and-Y direction, and "Z-axis direction" refers to a general term of + Z direction and-Z direction.

The printer 500 has a cabinet 510. Inside the housing 510, a carriage 520 is provided that is movable in the main scanning direction (X-axis direction). A print head 522 for ejecting ink onto the print medium P is provided on the lower surface of the carriage 520. A lid 512 that can be opened and closed is provided at one end of the front surface of the case 510. A plurality of ink tanks 530 are provided in the interior of the case 510 covered with the cover 512.

Each ink tank 530 is connected to the printhead 522 of the carriage 520 through a tube 534. The ink in each ink tank 530 is supplied to the printhead 522 via a tube 534. These ink tanks 530 are ink tanks of an ink replenishment type. A cylindrical ink inlet flow path member 532 for replenishing ink to the ink tank 530 is provided on the top surface of each ink tank 530. These ink tanks 530 are stationary ink tanks that are not mounted on the carriage 520. The front surface of each ink tank 530 is formed of a translucent member, and the ink remaining amount of each ink tank 530 is visible from the outside. When the remaining amount of ink is small, the cover 512 is opened to replenish the ink from the ink inlet channel member 532 of the ink tank 530.

In this specification, the term "replenishment of ink" refers to an operation of supplying ink to the ink tank 530 to increase the remaining amount of ink. However, it is not necessary to fill the ink tank 530 with ink by "replenishment of ink". "replenishment of ink" also includes an operation of filling the empty ink tank 530 with ink when the printer 500 is used for the first time.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the ink refill container 10 in a front state. Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the ink refill container 10. Fig. 4 is an exploded sectional view of the ink refill container 10. The "upright state of the ink replenishment container 10" means a state in which the bottom of the external container 200 is placed on a horizontal surface such as a table with the bottom being positioned downward. The upper end side of the ink replenishment container 10 in this upright state is referred to as the "front end side", and the lower end side is referred to as the "rear end side". The + Z direction in each of fig. 2 and subsequent figures indicates a vertically downward direction in the upright state of the ink replenishment tank 10. In fig. 2, a center axis C of the ink refill container 10 is indicated by a one-dot chain line. In the present specification, a direction parallel to the center axis C of the ink replenishment container 10 is referred to as an "axial direction", and a direction perpendicular to the center axis C is referred to as a "radial direction". Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the ink refill container 10 in a cross-section passing through the center axis C.

As shown in fig. 2 to 4, the ink replenishing container 10 includes an ink container 100, an outer container 200, and a lid 300.

The ink container 100 is a container configured to directly contain ink. The ink container 100 includes a container main body 140 and an ink lead-out portion 150. The container body 140 is configured to be able to contain ink. The container body 140 includes: a cylindrical main housing part 141 having one end formed as a bottom; a cylindrical shoulder portion 142 that is adjacent to the main housing portion 141 on the distal end side and has an inner diameter that narrows toward the distal end; and a first opening 143 adjacent to the shoulder 142 on the front end side. The main container 141 is formed in a cup shape capable of containing ink. In fig. 3 and 4, the container body 140 has a bottomed cylindrical external shape, but the container body 140 has high flexibility, and therefore can be deformed into various shapes and have various external shapes. An ink containing portion 144 containing ink is formed inside the container body 140. The first opening 143 is a cylindrical portion having an inner diameter that decreases from the rear end side toward the front end side, and has a first opening OP1 formed at the foremost end. The filling of the ink into the main containing portion 141 and the supply (replenishment) of the ink from the main containing portion 141 are performed via the first opening OP 1. Here, in the present embodiment, the center axis of the first opening OP1 coincides with the center axis C. Therefore, the direction of the flow of the ink when the filling and the supply of the ink via the first opening OP1 are performed coincides with the direction parallel to the central axis C, that is, the axial direction. As shown in fig. 2, in the ink refill container 10 in the finished state, the container main body 140 is accommodated inside the outer container 200. In the present embodiment, the material of the container body 140 is polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The material is not limited to polyethylene terephthalate, and may be a resin material such as nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene, or polystyrene, or a metal material such as an iron material or aluminum material.

When the printer 500 is refilled with ink, the ink lead-out unit 150 leads out the ink in the container main body 140 to the outside. The ink lead-out portion 150 has a cylindrical external shape with a bottom. In other words, the cup-shaped outer shape is formed so as to open in the + Z direction. The center portion inside the ink lead-out portion 150 is connected to the tip of the first opening 143. The ink lead-out portion 150 circumferentially surrounds a part of the front end side of the container main body portion 140 (first opening 143) including the first opening OP 1. The ink lead-out portion 150 includes a side wall portion 151, a top surface portion 154, a protruding portion 155, and an enlarged diameter portion 156.

The side wall portion 151 has a cylindrical outer shape and circumferentially surrounds the first opening 143. A male screw 152 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the side wall portion 151. The male screw 152 is screwed to an engagement portion 311 described later provided in the cap 300. The external thread 152 corresponds to a third thread part of the present invention. On the inner peripheral surface of the side wall portion 151, a female screw 153 is formed. The female screw 153 is screwed to a male screw 222 provided in the outer container 200, which will be described later. The internal thread 153 corresponds to the first thread part of the present invention.

The top surface portion 154 is continuous with the front end side end surface of the side wall portion 151, and has a substantially disk-like outer shape. A projection 155 is formed at the center of the top surface 154. The protruding portion 155 protrudes further toward the tip side (the (-Z direction) than the top surface portion 154. The protruding portion 155 has a substantially cylindrical outer shape, and a third opening OP3 is formed in an end surface on the most distal end side. The third opening OP3 functions as an inlet and outlet for ink. In the present embodiment, the axis of the third opening OP3 coincides with the axis of the first opening OP1 and the central axis C. The axis of the third opening OP3 may be offset from at least one of the axis of the first opening OP1 and the central axis C. In the present embodiment, when ink is replenished to the printer 500, the ink replenishing tank 10 is inserted and removed in the axial direction. Further, a valve structure may be provided inside the protruding portion 155. As this valve structure, for example, a slit valve formed of silicone rubber or synthetic rubber having rubber elasticity may be used.

The enlarged diameter portion 156 has a substantially cylindrical outer shape having an inner diameter and an outer diameter larger than those of the side wall portion 151. The enlarged diameter portion 156 is connected to the rear end of the side wall portion 151. On the inner circumferential surface of the enlarged diameter portion 156, a plurality of teeth 157 are arranged in a circumferential direction at predetermined intervals. The teeth 157 constitute a part of a ratchet portion 400 described later. In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 4, the axial position of the enlarged diameter portion 156 and the position of the boundary between the shoulder portion 142 and the first opening 143 almost coincide with each other.

In the present embodiment, the material of the ink lead-out portion 150 is polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The resin is not limited to polyethylene terephthalate, and may be a resin such as nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene, or polystyrene.

The outer container 200 accommodates the container body 140 and constitutes an outer case of the ink refill container 10. The outer container 200 includes a container body housing portion 210 and a second opening portion 220.

The container body housing section 210 includes a main housing section 211 and a shoulder section 212. The main housing portion 211 has a bottomed cylindrical external shape. The container 202, which is an inner space of the main container 211, contains a part of the container body 140. The shoulder portion 212 is adjacent to the main housing portion 211 at the distal end side, and has a cylindrical external shape whose inner diameter becomes narrower toward the distal end. The diameter of the main receiving portion 211 is larger than that of the main receiving portion 141. The container main body accommodating portion 210 substantially accommodates the main accommodating portion 141, the shoulder portion 142, and a part of the rear end side of the first opening portion 143 in the ink container 100.

The second opening 220 has a cylindrical outer shape and is connected to an end portion on the front end side of the container main body housing portion 210. The front end of the second opening portion 220 is formed as a second opening OP 2. In the present embodiment, the diameter of the second opening 220 is smaller than the diameter of the main housing portion 141 having the largest diameter in the container body 140. However, since the main housing portion 141 has elasticity and is configured to be deformable, the container body 140 can be inserted into the container body housing portion 210 from the second opening OP2 in a state where the main housing portion 141 is collapsed. Similarly, the container body 140 in the container body housing 210 can be taken out from the second opening OP2 in a state where the main housing 141 is collapsed. A male screw 222 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the second opening portion 220. The male screw 222 is screwed to the female screw 153 of the ink lead-out portion 150. The second opening portion 220 is detachably connected to the ink lead-out portion 150 by screwing the male screw 222 and the female screw 153. In other words, the external thread 222 is screwed with the internal thread 153, whereby the external container 200 and the ink container 100 are detachably connected. The male screw 222 corresponds to a second screw portion in the present invention. A claw 223 is formed at a boundary portion between the shoulder portion 212 and the second opening portion 220 in the outer surface of the outer container 200. The pawl 223 constitutes a part of a ratchet portion 400 described later.

The cap 300 is detachably attached to the ink lead-out portion 150, and seals the third opening OP 3. As shown in fig. 2, the ink lead-out portion 150 cannot be visually recognized from the outside in a state where the cover 300 is attached. The cap 300 includes a cylindrical portion 310 and a dome portion 320.

The cylindrical portion 310 has a cylindrical external shape. As shown in fig. 4, an engagement portion 311 is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 310. In the present embodiment, the engagement portion 311 is formed of a female screw. The engagement portion 311 is screwed to the male screw 152 of the ink lead-out portion 150 by the operation of the user. The dome portion 320 has a dome-like appearance. The dome portion 320 is connected to an end portion of the cylindrical portion 310 on the front end side. A stopper 321 is formed at the center of the inner side of the dome 320. The plug 321 has a stepped cylindrical shape protruding in the + Z direction. In a state where the cap 300 is attached to the ink lead-out portion 150, the plug portion 321 seals the third opening OP 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing a section through the center axis C of the ink refill container 10. As shown in fig. 5, the plug 321 is inserted from the third opening OP3 into a part of the inside of the ink container 100, and seals the third opening OP 3. As shown in fig. 5, the main housing portion 141 is housed in the housing portion 202 of the outer container 200. In this way, the outer container 200 does not directly contain ink, but indirectly contains ink. That is, the outer container 200 contains ink in a state where ink is contained in the ink container 100 (ink containing portion 144). Therefore, the ink is prevented from adhering to the inner peripheral surface of the housing portion 202 or the inner peripheral surface of the second opening portion 220.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view showing a partial area Ar1 shown in fig. 5 in an enlarged manner. As shown in fig. 6, the male screw 152 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the ink lead-out portion 150 is screwed to the engagement portion 311 of the cap 300. The female screw 153 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the ink lead-out portion 150 is screwed to the male screw 222 of the outer container 200 (second opening portion 220). Therefore, the outer container 200 and the ink container 100 are connected through the ink lead-out portion 150, and the outer container 200 and the ink container 100 are connected to the cap 300. Since the diameter of the enlarged diameter portion 156 is larger than that of the side wall portion 151, the enlarged diameter portion 156 is formed in a flange shape, and an end surface of the enlarged diameter portion 156 in the-Z direction is exposed. As shown in fig. 6, the end surface of the cap 300 in the + Z direction abuts on the end surface of the enlarged diameter portion 156 in the-Z direction. This restricts excessive tightening of the cap 300.

A2. Detailed structure and screwing direction of the ratchet portion 400:

fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the structure of the ratchet portion 400 according to the first embodiment. Fig. 7 schematically shows a structure of the ratchet portion 400 when viewed in the-Z direction. The ratchet portion 400 is composed of a plurality of teeth 157 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the diameter-enlarged portion 156 and a pawl 223 formed on the outer container 200 at the boundary between the shoulder portion 212 and the second opening portion 220. The ratchet portion 400 restricts the rotation of the outer container 200 in the second rotation direction R2 with respect to the ink container 100 (ink lead-out portion 150), and allows the rotation in the first rotation direction R1 opposite to the second rotation direction R2. The second rotation direction R2 is a direction in which the screwing of the internal thread 153 of the ink lead-out portion 150 and the external thread 222 of the outer container 200 is released. That is, the removal of the ink container 100 from the outer container 200 is restricted by the ratchet portion 400.

In the present embodiment, the rotational direction (first rotational direction R1) in which the female screw 153 for the ink lead-out section 150 is screwed into the male screw 222 of the outer container 200 and the rotational direction (second rotational direction R2) in which the male screw 152 for the ink lead-out section 150 is screwed into the engagement section 311 of the cap 300 are set to be opposite to each other. Therefore, when the user rotates the cap 300 in the second rotation direction R2 so as to tighten the cap more strongly than usual, the ratchet part 400 breaks the teeth 157, for example, and releases the rotation restriction in the second rotation direction R2. In this way, the screwing of the internal thread 153 of the ink lead-out portion 150 and the external thread 222 of the outer container 200 is released, and the ink container 100 can be taken out from the outer container 200.

A3. The ink refill container 10 reuse method:

in the ink replenishing container 10 in which the ink has been used, the user rotates the cap 300 in a direction to be screwed more strongly than usual while keeping the cap 300 attached to the ink lead-out portion 150. Then, as described above, the ratchet portion 400 is broken, and the cap 300 and the ink lead-out portion 150 are rotated in the second rotation direction R2 in a state of being integrated, so that the screwing of the ink lead-out portion 150 and the outer container 200 is released. Then, the user pulls out the container body 140 of the ink container 100 from the outer container 200. At this time, since the third opening OP3 of the ink container 100 is sealed by the lid 300 (the plug portion 321), the leakage of the residual ink from the ink container 100 taken out of the outer container 200 can be suppressed. Therefore, contamination of the user or the surrounding environment by the residual ink can be suppressed.

The user prepares a new ink container 100 and inserts the container body 140 into the housing 202 through the second opening OP2 of the outer container 200. At this time, the container main body 140 of the ink container 100 is elastically deformed to have a diameter smaller than that of the second opening OP2, and then inserted. Then, the user connects the ink container 100 to the outer container 200 by screwing the female screw 153 of the ink lead-out portion 150 to the male screw 222 of the outer container 200. The user injects ink into the container main body 140 through the third opening OP 3. When the ink injection is completed, the user mounts the cover 300 on the ink lead-out portion 150. The cap 300 used at this time may be the cap 300 used for the used ink refill container 10, or may be a new cap 300. By reusing the outer container 200 in this manner, a new ink replenishing container 10 filled with ink is completed.

According to the ink replenishing container 10 of the first embodiment described above, the ink container 100 can be easily detached from the outer container 200 by releasing the connection of the ink lead-out portion 150 and the outer container 200 in the empty ink replenishing container 10 after the ink is used. Therefore, the ink container 100 to which the residual ink adheres and the outer container 200 to which the residual ink hardly adheres can be easily separated, and the ink refill container 10 (outer container 200) can be easily reused.

Further, by releasing the screwing of the internal thread 153 of the ink lead-out portion 150 with the external thread 222 of the external container 200, the connection between the ink lead-out portion 150 and the external container 200 can be easily released, and the ink container 100 can be easily taken out from the external container 200.

Further, since the cap 300 is provided with the engaging portion 311 engageable with the ink lead-out portion 150 and the plug portion 321 capable of sealing the third opening OP3, the ink container 100 can be taken out from the outer container 200 while the cap 300 is engaged (attached) to the ink lead-out portion 150. Therefore, when the ink container 100 and the outer container 200 are separated from each other, the residual ink can be prevented from adhering to the operator or the surrounding environment and contaminating the operator or the surrounding environment.

The ink replenishing container 10 further includes a ratchet portion 400, and the ratchet portion 400 restricts rotation in a direction of releasing the screwing of the female screw 153 of the ink lead-out portion 150 and the male screw 222 of the outer container 200, that is, rotation in the second rotation direction R2. Since the rotation in the second rotation direction R2 is a rotation in a direction in which the cap 300 is screwed into the ink lead-out portion 150, when the cap 300 is screwed into the ink lead-out portion 150, the connection between the ink container 100 (ink lead-out portion 150) and the outer container 200 can be prevented from being released. On the other hand, when the cap 300 is removed, the connection between the outer container 200 and the ink container 100 (ink lead-out portion 150) is maintained. Further, by strongly tightening the cap 300, the ratchet portion 400 can be broken and the ink container 100 can be detached from the outer container 200. Further, when the ink container 100 is removed from the outer container 200, the cap 300 is engaged with (attached to) the ink lead-out portion 150, and therefore, it is possible to prevent residual ink from adhering to an operator or the surrounding environment and contaminating the operator or the surrounding environment.

B. Second embodiment:

fig. 8 is a sectional view showing the structure of an ink replenishment container 10a according to a second embodiment. Fig. 8 shows a cross section passing through the center axis C of the ink refill container 10a, as in fig. 5. The ink replenishment container 10a according to the second embodiment is different from the ink replenishment container 10 according to the first embodiment in that the ratchet portion 400 is not provided and the coupling member 20 is provided. Since the other components of the ink replenishment container 10a according to the second embodiment are the same as those of the ink replenishment container 10 according to the first embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

The ink refill container 10a according to the second embodiment does not include the ratchet portion 400. That is, the teeth 157 are not formed on the inner circumferential surface of the enlarged diameter portion 156. Further, no claw 223 is formed on the outer surface of the outer container 200 at the boundary portion between the main housing portion 211 and the shoulder portion 212.

The connecting member 20 has a film-like external shape, and is closely disposed so as to surround the entire circumference of the outer surface of the ink refill container 10a along the center axis C over the rear end side of the ink lead-out portion 150 and the front end side of the outer container 200. The connection member 20 connects the ink lead-out portion 150 and the outer container 200. Such a connecting member 20 can prevent the ink container 100 from falling off the outer container 200 when ink is replenished or when the cap 300 is removed.

The connection member 20 is provided with a perforated line 21 formed in advance in the axial direction (Z-axis direction). The user can break the connecting member 20 through the perforation line 21 and detach it. Therefore, when the ink refill container 10a is reused, the connection between the ink container 100 and the outer container 200 can be easily released. In addition, deformation or damage of the outer container 200 at the time of the release can be suppressed.

The ink replenishment container 10a of the second embodiment described above has the same effects as the ink replenishment container 10 of the first embodiment. Further, since the ink lead-out portion 150 and the outer container 200 are connected by the film-like connecting member 20, the ink container 100 and the outer container 200 can be connected and fixed by a simple means, and they can be prevented from falling off from each other when ink is replenished. Further, since the film-like connecting member 20 is easily broken or removed, the connection between the ink lead-out portion 150 and the outer container 200 can be easily released in the empty ink replenishment container 10a after the use of the ink. Therefore, the ink container 100 can be easily taken out from the outer container 200. Further, since partial destruction is not necessary unlike the fixing structure such as the ratchet of the first embodiment, for example, deformation or breakage of the outer container 200 can be suppressed when the ink container 100 is detached from the outer container 200.

C. Other embodiments are as follows:

(C1) in each embodiment, the connection between the ink lead-out portion 150 and the outer container 200 is realized by screwing the female screw 153 and the male screw 222, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the ink lead-out portion 150 and the outer container 200 may be detachably connected by any type of connection means such as snap-fitting.

(C2) In various embodiments, the cover 300 may be omitted. In this configuration, the male screw 152 may be omitted from the ink lead-out portion 150.

(C3) In the first embodiment, the rotational direction (the first rotational direction R1) in which the ink lead-out portion 150 is screwed into the outer container 200 and the rotational direction (the second rotational direction R2) in which the ink lead-out portion 150 is screwed into the cap 300 are opposite to each other, but may be the same direction instead. In this configuration, these screwing directions may be the second rotation direction R2. With this arrangement, even if the direction of releasing the screwing of the cap 300 and the ink lead-out portion 150 (the direction of releasing the screwing of the engagement portion 311 and the male screw 152) is the same as the direction of releasing the screwing of the ink lead-out portion 150 and the outer container 200 (the direction of releasing the screwing of the female screw 153 and the male screw 222), when the cap 300 is removed from the ink lead-out portion 150, the connection between the ink lead-out portion 150 and the outer container 200 can be restricted from being released. Therefore, when the cap 300 is removed to replenish the ink, the ink lead-out portion 150 and the ink container 100 can be prevented from falling off the outer container 200. On the other hand, as in the first embodiment, the connection between the ink container 100 (ink lead-out portion 150) and the outer container 200 can be released by attempting to tighten the cap 300 and breaking the ratchet portion 400. Further, the engagement between the ink container 100 and the outer container 200 can be easily released without providing the ratchet portion 400. In that case, if the direction of unscrewing the cap 300 from the ink lead-out portion 150 is reversed from the direction of unscrewing the ink lead-out portion 150 from the outer container 200, the ink lead-out portion 150 and the ink container 100 can be easily prevented from coming off the outer container 200 when the cap 300 is removed from the ink lead-out portion 150. In the configuration without the ratchet portion 400, even if the direction of releasing the screwing between the cap 300 and the ink lead-out portion 150 is the same as the direction of releasing the screwing between the ink lead-out portion 150 and the outer container 200, when the cap 300 is removed from the ink lead-out portion 150, the ink lead-out portion 150 and the ink container 100 can be prevented from falling off from the outer container 200 by changing the colors of the respective members, or by showing a representation or a mode of calling attention such as an opening and closing direction.

(C4) In each embodiment, the ink container 100 (container body 140) and the outer container 200 (main container 211) have a bottomed cylindrical external shape, but the present invention is not limited to this. At least one of them may have a cylindrical external shape of a rectangular parallelepiped having a bottom.

(C5) In each embodiment, the diameter of the second opening 220 is smaller than the diameter of the main container 141 having the largest diameter in the container body 140, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The diameter of the second opening 220 may be the same as or larger than the diameter of the main housing part 141. According to this structure, the container body 140 does not need to have elasticity (contractibility), and therefore, the container body 140 can be configured to have relatively high rigidity, and deterioration with age due to deformation can be suppressed.

(C6) In the second embodiment, the perforated line 21 may be omitted. The connection member 20 of the second embodiment is arranged to surround the entire outer surface of the ink refill container 10a along the center axis C over the rear end side of the ink lead-out portion 150 and the front end side of the outer container 200, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the connecting member 20 may be formed by one or more adhesive tapes attached to the outer peripheral surface of the outer container 200 over the enlarged diameter portion 156. In this configuration, when one adhesive tape is used, one adhesive tape may be attached to a boundary portion between the ink lead-out portion 150 (the diameter-enlarged portion 156) and the outer container 200 over the entire circumference, or may be attached to a boundary portion between the ink lead-out portion 150 (the diameter-enlarged portion 156) and the outer container 200 in a part of the entire circumference.

(C7) The present invention is not limited to an ink container such as an ink refill container, and can be applied to other types of liquid containers that contain any type of liquid other than ink. D. Other modes are as follows:

the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit thereof. For example, the present invention can be realized by the following embodiments. Technical features in the above-described embodiments corresponding to technical features in the respective embodiments described below can be appropriately replaced or combined in order to solve part or all of the problems of the present invention or achieve part or all of the effects of the present invention. In addition, as long as the technical features are not essential to the description in the present specification, they can be deleted as appropriate.

(1) According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink replenishment container for replenishing ink to a printer. The ink replenishing container includes: an ink container and an outer container, wherein the ink container is configured to be able to contain the ink, and the ink container includes: a container body portion having a first opening through which the ink can flow; and an ink lead-out portion connected to the first opening portion and circumferentially surrounding a part of the container main body portion including the first opening portion, the external container including: a container body housing portion capable of housing the container body portion; and a second opening portion configured to be detachably connected to the ink lead-out portion and configured to be able to insert and remove the container main body portion.

According to this aspect, the ink container can be easily detached from the outer container by releasing the connection between the ink lead-out portion and the outer container in the empty ink refill container after the ink is used. Therefore, the ink container to which the residual ink adheres and the outer container to which the residual ink hardly adheres can be easily separated, and the ink refill container (outer container) can be easily reused.

(2) In the ink replenishing container according to the above aspect, the ink lead-out portion may have a first screw portion provided on an inner peripheral surface, the outer container may have a second screw portion to which the first screw portion is screwed, and the outer container may be detachably connected to the ink lead-out portion by the first screw portion and the second screw portion being screwed to each other.

According to this aspect, the ink container can be easily taken out from the outer container by releasing the screwing of the first screw portion and the second screw portion.

(3) In the ink refill container according to the above aspect, the ink refill container may further include a lid including: an engaging portion engageable with the ink lead-out portion; and a plug portion capable of sealing the first opening portion.

According to this aspect, the ink container can be taken out from the outer container while the cap is engaged (attached) to the ink lead-out portion. Therefore, when the ink container and the outer container are separated from each other, the residual ink can be prevented from adhering to the operator or the surrounding environment and contaminating the operator or the surrounding environment.

(4) In the ink replenishing container according to the above aspect, the ink lead-out portion and the outer container may have a ratchet portion that restricts rotation of the ink lead-out portion and the outer container in a direction in which the screwing of the first screw portion and the second screw portion is released by engagement of teeth and pawls, the ink lead-out portion may have a third screw portion provided on an outer peripheral surface, and the engagement portion may have a fourth screw portion provided on an inner peripheral surface and screwed to the third screw portion.

According to this aspect, even if the direction of unscrewing the cap and the ink lead-out portion (the direction of unscrewing the third screw portion and the fourth screw portion) is the same as the direction of unscrewing the ink lead-out portion and the outer container (the direction of unscrewing the first screw portion and the second screw portion), when the cap is removed from the ink lead-out portion, it is possible to restrict the connection between the ink lead-out portion and the outer container from being released. Therefore, when the cap is removed to replenish the ink, the ink lead-out portion and the ink container can be prevented from dropping from the outer container.

(5) In the ink refill container according to the above aspect, a first rotational direction in which the first screw portion is screwed into the second screw portion and a second rotational direction in which the third screw portion is screwed into the fourth screw portion may be opposite to each other, and the second rotational direction may be aligned with a rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction that is restricted by the ratchet portion.

According to this aspect, when the cap is removed, the connection between the outer container and the ink container (ink lead-out portion) is maintained. On the other hand, by strongly tightening the cap, the ratchet portion can be broken and the ink container can be detached from the outer container. Further, when the ink container is removed from the outer container, the cap is engaged (attached) with the ink lead-out portion, and therefore, it is possible to suppress contamination due to adhesion of residual ink to an operator or the surrounding environment.

(6) In the ink replenishing container according to the above aspect, the ink lead-out portion and the outer container may be connected to each other by a film-like connecting member.

According to this aspect, the ink container and the outer container can be connected and fixed by a simple means, and the ink container and the outer container can be prevented from falling off from each other when ink is replenished. Further, since the film-like connecting member is easily broken or removed, the connection between the ink lead-out portion and the outer container can be easily released in an empty ink replenishing container after the ink is used. Therefore, the ink container can be easily taken out from the outer container. Further, since it is not necessary to partially break the ink container unlike a fixing structure such as a ratchet, deformation or breakage of the outer container can be suppressed when the ink container is detached from the outer container.

Claims (6)

1. An ink replenishing container for replenishing ink to a printer, the ink replenishing container comprising: an ink container and an outer container, wherein,

the ink container is configured to be capable of containing the ink, and includes: a container body portion having a first opening through which the ink can flow; and an ink lead-out portion connected to the first opening portion and surrounding a part of the container main body portion including the first opening portion in a circumferential direction,

the outer container has: a container body housing portion capable of housing the container body portion; and a second opening portion configured to be detachably connected to the ink lead-out portion and configured to be able to insert and remove the container main body portion.

2. The ink refill container according to claim 1,

the ink lead-out portion has a first screw portion provided on an inner peripheral surface,

the outer container has a second screw portion screwed with the first screw portion,

the outer container is detachably connected to the ink lead-out portion by the first screw portion and the second screw portion being screwed together.

3. The ink refill container according to claim 1 or 2,

further provided is a lid having: an engaging portion engageable with the ink lead-out portion; and a plug portion capable of sealing the first opening portion.

4. The ink refill container according to claim 3 when dependent on claim 2,

the ink lead-out section and the exterior container have a ratchet section that restricts rotation of the ratchet section in a direction in which the first thread section and the second thread section are unscrewed by engagement of teeth and pawls,

the ink lead-out part is provided with a third screw thread part arranged on the outer circumferential surface,

the engaging portion has a fourth screw portion provided on an inner peripheral surface thereof and screwed with the third screw portion.

5. The ink refill container according to claim 4,

a first rotational direction for screwing the first thread portion with the second thread portion and a second rotational direction for screwing the third thread portion with the fourth thread portion are opposite to each other,

the second rotational direction coincides with a rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction that is restricted by the ratchet portion.

6. An ink refill container according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the ink lead-out portion and the outer container are connected to each other by a film-like connecting member.

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