JP2000255081A - Liquid container, liquid injector/filler and liquid injecting/filling method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance productivity when liquid is injected into a liquid container. SOLUTION: The containing box 101 and the cover 103 of a liquid container having a body 102 for absorbing and retaining a liquid are provided, respectively, with a plurality of ribs 101b 103b. The absorbing body 102 is secured while abutting against the ribs 101b, 103b and a space for containing the liquid temporarily before being absorbed into the absorbing body 102 is formed between the absorbing body 102, the containing box 101 and the cover 103.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus for performing recording on a recording medium by discharging ink, for example, a liquid container for storing recording ink, a liquid filling apparatus and a liquid filling method. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a liquid having a porous absorber for absorbing a liquid is provided in a container having a wall formed with an air communication port communicating with the atmosphere and a supply port for supplying the liquid to the outside. As one method of injecting and filling a liquid into a storage container, a predetermined amount of liquid to be stored in the liquid storage container, that is, impregnation into the absorber, is established by evacuating the liquid storage container to a negative pressure with respect to the atmospheric pressure. Methods for injecting possible liquid volumes are known.

[0003]

However, according to the conventional method, when the liquid does not uniformly impregnate all corners of the absorber and an unabsorbed portion is generated, a predetermined amount of liquid is not impregnated into the absorber, and the liquid is not impregnated. There is a problem that the quality (liquid amount, liquid supply characteristics) of the storage container becomes unstable.

[0004] Further, if the liquid injection and filling device is used to excessively inject the liquid to uniformly impregnate all corners of the absorber, a large amount of excess liquid that cannot be completely impregnated into the absorber remains in the liquid container. However, there is also a problem that it takes a long time to remove the liquid for removing the liquid.

[0005] Further, as another problem, generally,
A liquid storage container having a container body in which an absorber is stored and a lid member has a lid fixed by heat welding or bonding after the absorber is inserted into the container in a separate step. The airtightness of the container may be poor due to insufficient fixation of the container and the lid, or the airtightness of the container may be destroyed by receiving an impact or the like during the distribution process. Such cracks, cracks, peeling of the welded parts occur,
When the container with impaired airtightness is distributed to the market after the product is completed, the internal liquid evaporates from a crack or the like, or the liquid leaks and the quality is significantly impaired. Such a liquid storage container is basically such a defective product, but the liquid injection and filling device performs liquid injection and filling on such a defective product container, thereby increasing the productivity of the liquid storage container. Was impaired.

Further, a separate container airtightness inspection device is required separately in order to cover the malfunction of the device.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid storage container, a liquid injection / filling apparatus, and a liquid injection / filling method which improve the productivity of a liquid storage container filled with a liquid.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a liquid container according to the present invention contains an absorber therein.
In a liquid container having an air communication port formed on the upper wall surface and a liquid supply port serving as a liquid supply port formed on the lower wall surface, the liquid supplied from the liquid supply port is filled with the absorber. A plurality of ribs provided on an inner wall surface side of a wall constituting the liquid storage container so that a space temporarily accommodated before impregnation is formed between the absorber and the wall. .

In the liquid container of the present invention configured as described above, a space is formed between the liquid container and the absorber by a plurality of ribs formed in the liquid container, and the space is formed in the absorber. The liquid before impregnation is temporarily retained. Therefore, the absorber is completely immersed in the liquid, and the liquid is impregnated from the entire surface of the absorber.

[0010] The volume of the space is such that a predetermined amount of the liquid is injected into the liquid container, and the liquid is not completely impregnated into the absorber, and the entire surface of the absorber is temporarily covered with the liquid. It may be an amount.

The liquid filling and filling apparatus of the present invention is a liquid filling and filling apparatus for injecting liquid into the liquid container of the present invention, wherein a negative pressure generating means for reducing the pressure inside the liquid container to a negative pressure; Detecting means for detecting a negative pressure generated by the negative pressure generating means; and a negative pressure detected by the detecting means, wherein the liquid is not completely impregnated in the absorber, and the absorber is temporarily impregnated with the liquid. Liquid injecting means for injecting liquid into the liquid storage container by using a negative pressure generated by the negative pressure generating means, when the negative pressure is injected into the liquid storage container by an amount that covers the entire surface of the liquid; Having.

The liquid filling and filling apparatus of the present invention having the above-described configuration uses the negative pressure generated in the liquid storage container by the negative pressure generating means to store the liquid in an amount covering the entire surface of the absorber. Inject into container. Therefore, the absorber is temporarily immersed in the liquid, and the liquid is impregnated from the entire surface of the absorber.

In the liquid filling and filling apparatus, a negative pressure is generated by the negative pressure generating means inside the liquid container which is substantially sealed with the lid and the container box for storing the absorber. Thereafter, in a state where the air communication port and the liquid supply port are closed, the liquid may be injected when the amount of change in the negative pressure at a predetermined time is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, It may have a suction means for sucking the liquid remaining in the space that the absorber cannot absorb completely.

The liquid filling and filling method according to the present invention is a liquid filling and filling method for injecting liquid into a liquid container according to the present invention, wherein a negative pressure generating step for reducing the pressure inside the liquid container to a negative pressure; A detecting step of detecting the negative pressure generated in the negative pressure generating step, and the negative pressure detected in the detecting step is a state in which the liquid is not completely impregnated in the absorbent, and the liquid is not temporarily impregnated in the absorbent. A liquid injection step of injecting the liquid into the liquid storage container by using the negative pressure generated in the negative pressure generation step, when the negative pressure is injected into the liquid storage container by an amount that covers the entire surface of the liquid; including.

In the liquid filling and filling method according to the present invention including the above-mentioned steps, the liquid is stored in an amount covering the entire surface of the absorber by utilizing the negative pressure generated inside the liquid storage container in the negative pressure generating step. Inject into container. Therefore, the absorber is temporarily immersed in the liquid, and the liquid is impregnated from the entire surface of the absorber.

Further, the liquid container is substantially sealed with a container box for accommodating the absorber and a lid fixed thereto, and the liquid injection step is performed by a negative pressure generating step. After generating a negative pressure inside, when the amount of change in the negative pressure in a predetermined time is equal to or less than a predetermined amount with the air communication port and the liquid supply port closed, liquid is injected. Before the liquid injected into the liquid container is almost completely impregnated into the negative pressure generating member, a dipping step of completely dipping the negative pressure generating member with the liquid, After the immersion step, a step of substantially completely impregnating the liquid into the negative pressure generating member may be included.

Further, the liquid filling and filling method of the present invention may include a suction step of sucking the liquid remaining in the space because the absorber cannot be completely absorbed.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective perspective view of a liquid container 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the liquid container 1 shown in FIG.

The liquid container 1 is provided with a plurality of ribs 101b on an inner side wall and a liquid supply port 101a on a bottom surface.
Is formed, and a plurality of ribs 103b are provided on the surface facing the inside, and the atmosphere communication port 103 is provided.
An outer wall portion is formed by the lid 103 formed with “a”, and an absorber 102 that can be impregnated with a liquid made of a porous material such as urethane sponge is provided inside.

In the liquid container 1, an absorber 102 is stored in a container box 101, and the container box 101 and the lid 103 are welded to each other to form a liquid supply port 101a and an air communication port 103.
It is substantially sealed except for a.

Next, FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the liquid storage container 1 at the section A shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 shows a sectional view at the section B.

In a state where the absorber 102 is sealed by closing the absorber 102 with the lid 103 after the absorber 102 is put in the container box 101, the absorber 102 is a rib 101 of the container box 101.
The liquid storage container 1 is held at a predetermined position by abutting on the rib 103 b of the lid 103 and the rib 103 b of the lid 103. With this holding state, a gap space 101c is formed between the absorber 102 and the liquid storage container 1.

As will be described later, the gap space 101c is a space in which the liquid is temporarily stored before impregnating the absorber 102.

Next, a method for injecting and filling liquid into the liquid container 1 will be described.

FIG. 5 is a schematic structural view of an example of a liquid injection and filling device used for injecting liquid into the liquid storage container 1.

The liquid injecting and filling apparatus includes a pressure control system 30 for evacuating the liquid container 1, a liquid injecting system 31 for injecting the liquid into the evacuated liquid container 1, and a container for holding the liquid container 1. And a holding system 32.

The pressure control system 30 is connected to a vacuum pump 20 for evacuating, a buffer container 19 for stabilizing the vacuum pressure, a vacuum control valve 18 for controlling the vacuum pressure, and an atmosphere communication port 103a of the liquid container 1. Air communication port nozzle 13,
An air cylinder 14, which drives the air communication nozzle 13;
A pressure gauge 15 for measuring a vacuum pressure in the liquid container 1,
An air release control valve 16 for releasing the pressure in the liquid container 1 to the atmosphere, a silencer 17 for reducing noise due to a sudden pressure change at the time of release to the atmosphere, and a vacuum line 21 as a pipe connecting these components are provided. Have.

The liquid injection system 31 includes a source container 9 for storing the liquid to be injected into the liquid storage container 1, a liquid injection cylinder 6 for sucking and pumping the liquid from the source container 9, and a liquid injection cylinder 6 from the liquid injection cylinder 6 to the source container 9. Opening / closing control valve 5 for preventing return of liquid to liquid, general feed screw type positioning mechanism 7 for controlling advance / retreat of piston of liquid liquid injection cylinder 6, drive servo motor 8 for driving positioning mechanism 7, liquid container 1 Liquid injection nozzle 2 connected to the liquid supply port 101a, an air cylinder 3 for driving the liquid injection nozzle 2, a liquid injection control valve 4 for controlling the amount of liquid pumped from the liquid injection cylinder 6, and a pipe connecting these. The liquid line 22 is:

The container holding system 32 includes a holding jig 10 for holding the liquid container 1, a holding clamp 11 for holding the liquid container 1 at a position facing the holding jig 10, and a clamp for driving the holding clamp 11. And a driving air cylinder 12.

Next, the liquid injection operation of the liquid injection and filling apparatus will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 showing a state of liquid injection into the liquid container 1 at each stage shown in FIG. explain.

The numbers on the right side of FIG. 6 indicating the liquid injection status correspond to the numbers on FIG.

First, the liquid container 1 is supplied to the holding jig 10 (step 201), and is positioned and held by the holding clamp 11 (step 202). Thereby, as shown in FIG. 7, the liquid storage container 1 is disposed between the air communication nozzle 13 and the liquid injection nozzle 2.

Next, as shown in FIG. 7, after the air communication port nozzle 13 is brought into contact with the air communication port 103a, the air release control valve 16 is closed (step 203), and the liquid injection nozzle 2 is turned on. After contacting the liquid supply port 101a,
The liquid injection control valve 4 is closed to seal the liquid container 1 (step 204).

Next, by opening the evacuation control valve 18 (step 208), the evacuation of the liquid container 1 is started as shown in FIG. The negative pressure state goes higher. at the same time,
The opening / closing control valve 5 is opened (Step 205), and the piston of the liquid injection cylinder 6 is retracted by the positioning mechanism 7, whereby the liquid is sucked from the original container 9 storing the liquid (Step 206), and a predetermined amount of injection is provided. After the liquid is temporarily stored in the liquid injection cylinder 6, the open / close control valve 5 is closed (step 207). Next, it is determined by the pressure gauge 15 whether the pressure in the liquid container 1 has reached a predetermined negative pressure P _H (−720 mmHg in the case of the present embodiment) (step 209). _{When the} pressure reaches _H , the evacuation control valve 18 is closed to stop evacuation (step 210). If not reached, a predetermined negative pressure P _H
Vacuum is applied to reach.

Next, the timer count starts immediately after closing the evacuation control valve 18 by reaching a predetermined negative pressure P _H (step 211), as shown in FIG. 7 of,
The liquid container 1 is kept closed. Then, after a lapse of a predetermined time T2 (5 seconds in the present embodiment), the negative pressure in the container is measured again by the pressure gauge 15, and a predetermined negative pressure P _L (−700 mmHg in the present embodiment) It is determined whether or not the above state is maintained (step 21)
2) It corresponds to the stage. If the predetermined negative pressure P _L is maintained, the liquid container 1 is determined to be a non-defective product with normal airtightness, and the process proceeds to the next step. If the liquid storage container 1 is not maintained at a pressure equal to or higher than the predetermined negative pressure P _L , the liquid storage container 1 is determined to be defective in which the airtightness has been broken, and an abnormality alarm is issued without proceeding to the next step. Then, an operation such as discarding the container is executed (step 213).

The relationship between the states will be described with reference to the graph shown in FIG.
8 evacuated liquid container 1 is started by opening the gradually liquid container 1 the pressure in go negative pressure becomes high, measured became a predetermined negative pressure P _H after time T1 Upon receiving the detection, the evacuation control valve 18 is closed to stop evacuation. When this state is maintained, the negative pressure in the container thereafter gradually decreases gradually as shown by the solid line in the graph in a normally airtight container as shown in T2 of the graph. Is abnormal, it drops sharply as indicated by the broken line in the graph.

The airtightness of the container as compared to the negative pressure P _L negative pressure measured by the pressure measuring gauge 15 of a predetermined vessel after holding the T2 time it is determined whether good or defective. If the airtightness is normal, the negative pressure after T2 time becomes Po, and it is determined that Po ≧ P _L , and the process proceeds to the next step.

If the airtightness is abnormal, the negative pressure after T2 time is Px
Then, it is determined that Px is less than P _{L, and it} is determined that there is an abnormality, and the process does not proceed to the next step. The negative pressure P _L and time T2 for determining whether the airtightness is normal or abnormal are determined by actually drawing a curve similar to that in FIG.

Returning to FIG. 6 and FIG.

Next, almost simultaneously with opening the liquid injection control valve 4 (step 214), the positioning mechanism 7 advances the piston of the liquid injection cylinder 6 forward. As a result, the liquid is injected into the liquid container 1 through the liquid injection nozzle 2 at a predetermined injection speed (10 cc / sec in the present embodiment) (step 215). 4 is closed (step 216). At this time, the flow of the liquid in the liquid container 1 is initially set at the supply port 101a.
The liquid in the vicinity of is absorbed by the absorber 102 due to the liquid injection pressure.
However, after that, the filling does not proceed to the inside of the absorber 102, and the space 101c (= the space temporarily accommodated before the liquid is impregnated into the absorber 102) has less flow resistance. ). Since the interface of the liquid in the liquid storage container 1 is smaller than the amount of liquid that can be filled in the absorber 102, the volume of the interstitial space 101c is smaller than the amount of liquid that can be filled in the absorber 102. Completely, and as shown in FIG.
The whole is completely covered with liquid.

Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the atmosphere release control valve 16 is opened (step 217), whereby the silencer 17 which is the atmosphere release source is connected to the atmosphere communication nozzle 13
Atmospheric pressure enters the liquid container 1 through the liquid storage container 1. According to Pascal's principle, the absorber 102
The liquid temporarily accommodated in the upper part of the container is subjected to a pressure of a difference between the atmospheric pressure and the negative pressure remaining inside the absorber 102, and the liquid permeates and fills every corner of the absorber 102. You.

Next, as shown in FIG. 7, when the liquid injection control valve 4 is opened (step 218), the piston of the liquid injection cylinder 6 is retracted by the positioning mechanism 7 almost simultaneously with the absorption of the liquid through the liquid injection nozzle 2. Body 10
The liquid in the liquid storage container 1 that has not been completely filled in the liquid storage container 1 is removed at a predetermined draining speed (0.1 cc / in the case of the present embodiment).
Second), the liquid is drained (step 219), and after a predetermined amount of liquid is extracted, the liquid injection control valve 4 is closed (step 220).

Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the contact of the liquid injection nozzle 2 with the supply port 101a is released (step 221), and the contact of the air communication nozzle 13 with the air communication port 103a is released (step 221). After step 222), the positioning and holding by the holding clamp 11 is released (step 223), and the liquid storage container 1 is discharged from the holding jig 10 (step 224), and a series of operations is completed as described above.

As described above, the amount of the liquid impregnated in the absorber 102 under the vacuum pressure and the liquid storage container 1 are not impregnated in this state, but are temporarily held in the interstitial space 101c, so that the liquid Is the amount of liquid to be impregnated into the absorber 102, so that the surplus liquid can be prevented from remaining.

Further, by injecting the liquid into the liquid container 1 having the ribs 101b and 103b, the absorber 102 is completely covered with the liquid under the vacuum pressure at the time of injecting the liquid, and is opened to the atmosphere from this state. Thus, the liquid is impregnated from the entire surface of the absorber 102, and the liquid can be uniformly impregnated to every corner of the absorber 102. In addition, in the case of this liquid injection and filling method, since the injection amount of the liquid is a predetermined injection amount, the step of extracting the remaining surplus liquid is not required, and the time of the liquid injection step can be shortened.

Further, since the airtightness of the liquid storage container 1 is checked before the liquid is injected, waste such as injecting the liquid into the poorly airtight liquid storage container 1 can be eliminated.

[0048]

As described above, according to the present invention, a space is formed between the liquid container and the absorber by fixing the absorber to the rib formed on the liquid container. Then, the liquid before impregnating the absorber is temporarily held. For this reason, the absorber is immersed in the liquid, and the liquid is impregnated from the entire surface of the absorber. As a result, it is possible to impregnate evenly every corner of the absorber and minimize the time required for the liquid extracting step for removing excess liquid, and to stabilize the quality of the liquid storage container, The amount and liquid supply characteristics are improved, and the shortening of the process time leads to a significant improvement in productivity.

In the liquid filling / filling apparatus and the liquid filling / filling method of the present invention, the liquid is injected into the liquid container only when the negative pressure in the liquid container is maintained for a predetermined time. In the storage container, the liquid injection and filling step is not performed on an airtight defective product that cannot maintain a negative pressure for a predetermined time, and the apparatus does not perform an extra operation, thereby improving the productivity of the apparatus. In addition, since the airtightness inspection can be performed without adding a mechanism of the liquid injection and filling device, a dedicated container airtightness inspection device is not required separately, and the cost of the device is greatly reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an example of a perspective perspective view of a liquid storage container of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the liquid storage container shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the liquid storage container in section A shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the liquid storage container in section B shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of an example of a liquid injection and filling device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a liquid injection filling method of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a state of liquid injection into a liquid storage container at each stage shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a graph showing a negative pressure state in the liquid container of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Liquid container 2 Liquid injection nozzle 3 Air cylinder 4 Liquid injection control valve 5 Opening / closing control valve 6 Liquid injection cylinder 7 Positioning mechanism 8 Drive servomotor 9 Former container 10 Holding jig 11 Holding clamp 12 Clamp drive air cylinder 13 Atmospheric communication port Nozzle 14 Air cylinder 15 Pressure gauge 16 Atmospheric release control valve 17 Silencer 18 Vacuum control valve 19 Buffer container 20 Vacuum pump 21 Vacuum line 30 Pressure control system 31 Liquid injection system 32 Container holding system 101 Container box 101a Liquid supply port 101b Rib 101c Crevice space 102 Absorber 103 Cover 103a Atmospheric communication port 103b Rib

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A liquid container in which an absorber is housed inside, and an air communication port is formed on an upper wall surface and communicates with the atmosphere, and a liquid supply port serving as a liquid supply port is formed on a lower wall surface. A wall surface constituting the liquid container so that a space temporarily accommodated before the liquid supplied from the liquid supply port is impregnated into the absorber is formed between the absorber and the wall surface A liquid container having a plurality of ribs provided on an inner wall surface side of the liquid container. 2. The capacity of the space is such that a predetermined amount of the liquid is injected into the liquid storage container, and the liquid is not completely impregnated in the absorber. The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein an amount of the entire surface of the container is covered with the liquid. 3. A liquid injection and filling device for injecting liquid into a liquid storage container according to claim 1, wherein the negative pressure generating means for setting the pressure inside the liquid storage container to a negative pressure; Detecting means for detecting the negative pressure generated by the pressure generating means; and the negative pressure detected by the detecting means temporarily covers the entire surface of the absorber in a state where the liquid is not completely impregnated in the absorber. Liquid injection means for injecting the liquid into the liquid storage container by using the negative pressure generated by the negative pressure generating means when the negative pressure is injected into the liquid storage container by an amount covered by the liquid. Liquid injection and filling equipment. 4. The method according to claim 4, wherein said negative pressure generating means generates a negative pressure inside said liquid storage container in which a container box for storing said absorber and a lid are fixed and substantially sealed. The liquid injection filling according to claim 3, wherein the liquid is injected when the amount of change in the negative pressure at a predetermined time is equal to or less than a predetermined amount in a state where the air communication port and the liquid supply port are closed. apparatus. 5. The liquid injecting and filling apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising suction means for sucking the liquid remaining in the space because the absorber cannot completely absorb the liquid. 6. A liquid injection and filling method for injecting a liquid into a liquid container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a negative pressure generating step of setting a pressure inside the liquid container to a negative pressure; A detecting step of detecting a negative pressure generated in the pressure generating step, and the negative pressure detected in the detecting step temporarily covers the entire surface of the absorber in a state where liquid is not completely impregnated in the absorber. A liquid injecting step of injecting the liquid into the liquid container using the negative pressure generated in the negative pressure generating step when the negative pressure is injected into the liquid container by an amount covered by the liquid. Liquid injection filling method. 7. The liquid storage container is a container in which the absorber is stored and a lid is fixed and substantially sealed, and the liquid injection step is performed by the negative pressure generation step. After the negative pressure is generated inside the liquid storage container, the amount of change in the negative pressure in a predetermined time is equal to or less than a predetermined amount while the atmosphere communication port and the liquid supply port are closed. 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the liquid is injected in the case. 8. The liquid injecting step includes, before the liquid injected into the liquid container is substantially completely impregnated in the negative pressure generating member, the liquid is completely immersed in the negative pressure generating member. The liquid injection and filling method according to claim 6, further comprising: a dipping step of performing the dipping step; and a step of substantially completely impregnating the negative pressure generating member with the liquid after the dipping step. 9. A suction step for sucking liquid remaining in the space because the absorber cannot be completely absorbed.
The liquid injection filling method according to any one of the above.