JP2001026117A - Liquid holder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate unsealing operation by providing means for coupling a liquid container and a cap with a plurality of protrusions formed oppositely to the supply opening of the liquid container in the diametral direction, and a plurality of holes to be fitted with the protrusions made in the cap thereby reducing the unsealing force of the cap. SOLUTION: The liquid holder comprises a cap 1, a container 10 for containing liquid, e.g. ink, and means for coupling the cap 1 and the liquid container 10 wherein the cap 1 covers the supply opening 13 of the liquid container 10. The coupling means comprises a plurality of protrusions, i.e., caulking ribs 15, 16, formed oppositely to the supply opening 13 of the liquid container 10 in the diametral direction, and a plurality of holes 5, 6 to be fitted with the caulking ribs 15, 16 made in the cap 1. The liquid holder further comprises a handle 3 constituting a lever-like operating part for uncoupling the coupling means by turning the cap 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid holding container for holding a liquid to be supplied to a recording element of an ink jet recording apparatus for performing recording by discharging ink, and a cap for sealing a supply port of the liquid holding container. And a liquid holding device having the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a liquid as a recording liquid used in an ink jet recording apparatus is contained in a liquid holding container. When a new recording liquid is supplied to the ink jet recording apparatus, the liquid holding container is opened and the liquid is opened. The liquid in the holding container is used.

FIG. 12 shows an example of such a conventional liquid holding apparatus including a liquid holding container and a cap of an ink jet recording apparatus.

In a conventional liquid holding device, as shown in FIG. 12, a supply port 102 is provided in a liquid holding container 101 serving as a container for holding a liquid, and a cap for sealing the supply port 102 is provided. 103 is fixed to the liquid holding container 101 at the welding portion 105 and the cap 10
Elastic body 10 provided on the surface in contact with supply port 102
4 to prevent the liquid from leaking out.
1 is sealed.

In such a liquid holding device, when opening the sealed liquid holding container 101, the cap 1
By rotating 03 and shearing the weld 105,
The cap 103 is detached from the liquid holding container 101 and removed.

[0006] As a method of fixing the cap 103 to the liquid holding container 101, the liquid holding container 1 is attached to the edge of the cylindrical portion of the cap 103 for covering the supply port 102.
A plurality of welding portions 105 are formed so as to protrude toward the liquid holding container 101.
, And the ultrasonic device is brought into contact with the welding portion 105 and the liquid holding container 101, and the welding portion 105 and the liquid holding container 10 are brought into contact with each other.
A method is adopted in which the contact surface with No. 1 is welded by ultrasonic welding.

Generally, ultrasonic welding is an ultrasonic vibration transmitting body that vibrates at a high frequency (hereinafter referred to as a welding horn).
Is brought into contact with the member, whereby the member is also vibrated at a high frequency, and the frictional heat causes the resin vibrating portion to be melted and fixed.

[0008]

However, according to such a conventional method, when the liquid holding container 101 is actually used, the removed cap 103 is discarded. Also, even if the cap 103 is collected and reused, the welding rib 105 has already been plastically deformed after the sealing rib is opened, so the cap 103 is again ultrasonically welded to the liquid holding container 101. Cannot be fixed. Further, the fixed cap 103 has a variation in welding strength, and the variation in opening operation force tends to be large.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems in the prior art by making the cap reusable without plastically deforming the cap in connecting the cap and the liquid holding container, and further increasing the cap welding strength. It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid holding device capable of reducing a cap opening force and improving an opening operation without sacrificing.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, a liquid holding apparatus according to the present invention comprises a liquid holding container having a liquid holding portion for holding a liquid and a supply port for externally supplying the liquid. A cap for covering the supply port, connecting means for connecting the liquid holding container and the cap, wherein a plurality of the connecting means are provided diametrically opposed to the supply port of the liquid holding container. And a plurality of holes provided in the cap so that the projections fit.

Further, in the liquid holding device according to the present invention, the cap has an exterior part for covering the supply port and an operation part for rotating the cap to release the connection, and The hole is opposed to the rotation center of the rotation operation, and is located on a center line connecting the operating portion and the rotation center.

Further, in the liquid holding device according to the present invention, the cross-sectional area of the hole far from the operation section is larger than the cross-sectional area of the hole close to the operation section among the plurality of holes located opposite the rotation center. Is also large.

Still further, in the liquid holding device of the present invention, among the plurality of holes located opposite to the center of rotation, one of the holes near the operation unit is one, and the hole far from the operation unit is one. The number is two or more.

[0014] The liquid holding device of the present invention is characterized in that an elastic body is mounted inside the exterior part of the cap.

Further, the liquid holding device of the present invention is characterized in that the projection is fitted to the hole so as to be opposed to the center of rotation of the supply port to which the cap is fitted. I do.

Further, in the liquid holding device of the present invention, the projecting portion is provided so as to face a center of rotation of the supply port in which the cap is fitted, and the projecting portion is fitted in the large hole. The cross-sectional area of the portion is larger than the cross-sectional area of the protruding portion fitted into the small hole.

Still further, in the liquid holding device according to the present invention, the number of the protrusions provided opposite to the center of rotation of the supply port into which the cap fits fits into the hole. Characterized in that it has only

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A liquid holding apparatus according to the present invention having the above-described configuration has a liquid holding container having a liquid holding portion for holding a liquid and a supply port for externally supplying the liquid. A cap for covering, connecting means for connecting the liquid holding container and the cap, and the connecting means,
The liquid holding container has a plurality of protrusions provided to face in a diametric direction of a supply port, and a plurality of holes provided in the cap so that the protrusions fit, and The cap has an exterior part for covering the supply port and an operation part for rotating the cap to release the connection, and the plurality of holes are opposed to a rotation center of the rotation operation. And, among the plurality of holes positioned on the center line connecting the operation unit and the rotation center and facing the rotation center, the cross-sectional area of the hole far from the operation unit is larger than the operation unit. Since the cross-sectional area of the cap is larger than that of the close hole, the cap can be reused without any plastic deformation of the cap, and the cap opening force can be reduced without sacrificing the cap welding strength. And improve the opening operation It can be.

An embodiment of a liquid holding device according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS.

(Embodiment 1) FIGS. 1 to 4 show Embodiment 1 of the liquid holding apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 1 (a) is a plan view of a cap of the liquid holding device of the present invention, FIG. 1 (b) is a side view, FIG. 1 (c) is a side sectional view, and FIG. FIG. FIG.
2A is a front view of a liquid holding container of the liquid holding device of the present invention, FIG. 2B is a bottom view, and FIG. 2C is a side sectional view in an inverted state. 3 (a), 3 (b), and 3 (c) are side sectional views illustrating an assembly procedure for connecting the cap to the liquid holding container in the present invention. 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating a procedure for removing the cap of the liquid holding device of the present invention from the liquid holding container and opening the supply port. FIG. 4A is a plan view, and FIG. FIG.

First, as schematically shown in FIG. 3, the liquid holding apparatus of the present invention comprises a cap 1, a liquid holding container 10 for holding a liquid such as ink, and a cap 1 and a liquid holding container 10. And connecting means 14 for connecting,
The cap 1 covers the supply port 13 of the liquid holding container 10. In the present invention, the connecting means 14 is the liquid holding container 10.
The cap 1 is provided with a plurality of protruding portions, which are provided to face each other in the diametrical direction of the supply port 13, and the cap 1 is fitted so that the protruding portions 15, 16 are fitted.
And a handle 3 that constitutes a lever-shaped operating portion for rotating the cap 1 to release the connection of the connecting means 14. .

The structure of the cap 1 in the liquid holding apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in (b), (c) and (d), the cap 1
Is a circular outer portion 2 forming a cap portion covering the supply port 13 of the liquid holding container 10 to be closed, and a handle 3
And concave portions 4, 4 formed on both sides of the exterior portion 2 so as to face each other in the diametrical direction. The handle 3 is formed so as to extend in one direction from one of the concave portions 4 in a lever shape.
An elastic body 9 is provided inside the exterior part 2, and holes 5, 6 are provided in the recesses 4, 4 on both sides of the exterior part 2 so as to face each other. The exterior part 2, the handle 3, the recess 4, and the like are integrally formed from a suitable synthetic resin material such as a thermoplastic resin.

Therefore, the holes 5 and 6 of the cap 1 are disposed so as to face each other with respect to the center of rotation C of the cap 1, and the hole 5 is provided in the recess 4 on the handle 3 side,
A hole 6 is provided in another recess 4 opposite the handle 3. The handle 3 functions as an operation unit for rotating the cap 1 around the rotation center C.

Next, a liquid holding container 10 used in correspondence with the cap 1 of the liquid holding device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 (a), 2 (b) and 2 (c). As described above, the liquid holding container 10 includes a hollow container main body 11 as a liquid holding unit that stores a liquid such as ink, and an ink absorber 12 for holding the ink is stored in the container main body 11. A supply port 13 for supplying ink to a part of the bottom surface of the container body 11 is provided. Further, on the bottom surface of the container main body 11 of the liquid holding container 10, at the position facing the supply port 13 as a center, there are provided welding ribs 15 and 16 such as welding ribs as projections.

The swaging ribs 15 and 16 of the liquid holding container 10 are welding ribs in which the swaging rib 15 is fitted in the holes 5 of the cap 1 and the swaging ribs 16 are formed as welding ribs in which the swaging ribs 16 are fitted in the holes 6. I have. Also, such a liquid holding container 10 can be formed by molding from a suitable synthetic resin material such as a thermoplastic resin.

The cap 1 and the liquid holding container 10 in the liquid holding apparatus of the present invention configured as described above are assembled in the following procedure.

3 (a), 3 (b) and 3 (c) are side sectional views for explaining an assembling procedure for connecting the cap 1 of the liquid holding device of the present invention to the liquid holding container 10. First, FIG. FIG.
As shown in (a), the supply port 1 of the liquid holding container 10
3 so as to cover the elastic body 8 of the cap 1
Is placed. At this time, the hole 5 of the cap 1 is fitted to the caulking rib 15 of the liquid holding container 10, and the hole 6 of the cap 1 is fitted to the caulking rib 16 of the liquid holding container 10.

In this manner, the cap 1 is placed on the liquid holding container 10 and the holes 5 and 6 are inserted into the casings 15 and 1.
6, the welding horn 21 is fitted from the holes 5, 6 of the recesses 4, 4 provided on both sides of the exterior part 2 of the cap 1, as shown in FIG. And comes into contact with the tip portions of the caulking ribs 15 and 16 projecting therefrom.

As shown in the figure, the ultrasonic welding horn 21 preferably has a forked horn at the tip, and ultrasonic vibration is transmitted from the tip of the ultrasonic welding horn 21.

In this manner, the tips of the caulking ribs 15 and 16 of the liquid holding container 10 are connected to the ultrasonic welding horn 21.
The cap 1 is firmly fixed to the liquid holding container 10 by being caulked against the cap 1 and the recesses 4, 4 around the holes 5, 6 are strongly pressed against the bottom surface of the liquid holding container 10.

In this embodiment, the ultrasonic welding horn 2 is used for connecting the liquid holding cap 1 and the liquid holding container 10 to each other.
Although the method of caulking by the method 1 is adopted, caulking by torsional vibration or thermal caulking by a heat welding horn may be used, and it is needless to say that it can be fixed using another similar caulking or fixing means.

Next, the procedure for opening means for removing the cap 1 from the liquid holding container 10 will be described.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams for explaining the procedure for removing the liquid holding container cap 1 from the liquid holding container 10 and opening the supply port 13. FIG. 4A is a plan view, and FIG. It is a side view.

As shown in FIG. 4 (a), the handle 3 of the liquid holding container cap 1 of the present invention is pushed in the direction of the arrow (counterclockwise) with the knurled portion (point of force P). Around the rotation center (fulcrum C), FIG.
Rotate counterclockwise at. As a result, the umbrella-shaped portions of the distal ends of the caulking ribs 15, 16 crushed during ultrasonic welding are broken, or the caulking ribs 15, 16 are sheared at the contact surface between the cap 1 and the liquid holding container 10. By the holes 5, 6 and Casimellibe 15,
16 is disengaged from the liquid holding container 10
Will be removed from the At this time, what is destroyed is the portions of the liquid holding container 10 which are the caulking ribs 15 and 16, and the cap 1 is not damaged at all.
After the cap 1 has been used, it can be collected from the user and reused in the assembly process of the liquid holding container 10 again.

Accordingly, by using the cap 1 and the liquid holding container 10 of the liquid holding device of the present invention, the waste which has been conventionally thrown away can be reused, thereby reducing the amount of dust and being environmentally friendly. It can be used to send products to the world.

(Embodiment 2) FIGS. 5 to 7 show Embodiment 2 of the cap and the liquid holding container of the liquid holding apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the cap of the liquid holding device of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the liquid holding container of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a view showing a state in which the liquid holding container in which the cap is incorporated is dropped on a hard place such as a floor surface. In many cases, the liquid holding container hits the exterior part 2 opposite to the handle 3 of the cap 1, In many cases, a large destructive force is exerted by dropping, however, since the cross-sectional area of the crimper 16 is large as shown in the figure, the crimper 16 is not broken and the cap 1 shown in FIG. When the handle is removed, when the handle 3 is pressed counterclockwise because the cross-sectional area of the caulking rib 15 is reduced, the caulking rib 15 having a weak caulking strength is first broken (sheared or broken), and then the caulking rib 16 is removed. Similarly, it is possible to smoothly remove the cap 1 with a two-step click feeling of breaking (shearing or breaking).

As a result, the setting range of the mounting strength of the cap 1 which satisfies both the requirements of preventing the cap 1 from being erroneously opened due to the dropping and reducing the opening operation force can be expanded.

(Embodiment 3) FIGS. 8 and 9 show Embodiment 3 of the cap 1 and the liquid holding container 10 of the liquid holding apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 8 shows the cap of the liquid holding apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a plan view, and FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the liquid holding container of the liquid holding device of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 8, one hole 5 is provided in the concave portion 4 of the cap 1 on the handle 3 side, and two holes 6 and 7 are provided in the other concave portion 4. .

As shown in FIG. 9, on the bottom surface of the liquid holding container 10, there is provided a caulking rib 15 on one side around the supply port 13 corresponding to the holes 5, 6, 7 of the cap 1.
And the other side of the rivet 15 facing the rivet 15 is provided.

Thus, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the crimper 1 is disposed opposite the center of rotation of the cap 1.
By providing the number of 5, 16, 17 one at the handle 3 side and two at the side opposite to the handle 3 side,
The same effect as that of the second embodiment can be obtained.

(Embodiment 4) FIGS. 10 and 11 show Embodiment 4 of the cap and the liquid holding container of the liquid holding device of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a plan view of the cap of the liquid holding device of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the liquid holding container of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 10, one hole 5 is provided in one concave portion 4 of the cap 1, and three holes 6, 7, 8 are provided in the other concave portion 4.

As shown in FIG. 11, a hole 5 in the cap 1 and holes 6, 7,
8 and Casimelliv 15 around the supply port 13
And Casimellivs 16 and 1 facing this Casimeribe 15
7 and 18 are provided.

Therefore, such a hole 5 of the cap 1
6, 7, 8;
6, 17, and 18, similar effects can be obtained as in the above-described second and third embodiments.

As described above, according to the present invention,
The cap can be collected and reused by incorporating the cap in the liquid holding container into the liquid holding container by ultrasonic welding without plastic deformation of the cap, and then opening the cap by the user.

Further, by changing the cross-sectional area and the number of the caulking ribs, it is possible to obtain the coupling strength of the cap satisfying both the drop resistance and the operability.

[0050]

According to the first aspect of the present invention having the above-described structure,
The liquid holding device described, a liquid holding unit that holds a liquid,
A liquid holding container having a supply port for externally supplying a liquid, a cap for covering the supply port, connecting means for connecting the liquid holding container and the cap, wherein the connecting means comprises the liquid holding container Since there are a plurality of protrusions provided diametrically opposite the supply port and a plurality of holes provided in the cap so that the protrusions fit, the cap is plastically deformed. By incorporating the capseribu of the liquid holding container into the liquid holding container of the cap by ultrasonic welding, and then opening it by the user,
The cap can be collected and reused. Also, by changing the cross-sectional area and the number of the caulking ribs, it is possible to obtain the coupling strength of the cap that satisfies both the drop resistance and the operability.

The liquid holding device according to the second aspect of the present invention comprises:
The cap has an exterior part for covering the supply port and an operation part for rotating the cap to release the connection, and the plurality of holes are arranged with respect to a rotation center of the rotation operation. The cap is removed by suitably shearing and breaking the welding rib on the contact surface with the liquid holding container because the cap is opposed to and located on the center line connecting the operating portion and the rotation center. It allows reuse.

The liquid holding device according to the third aspect of the present invention comprises:
When the cross-sectional area of the hole far from the operation unit is larger than the cross-sectional area of the hole close to the operation unit among the plurality of holes positioned opposite to the center of rotation, the hole hits the floor surface or the like by dropping. The welding rib is hardly broken, and when removed, the welding rib is broken from the small welding rib, and the cap can be suitably removed.

The liquid holding device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention comprises:
Of the plurality of holes located opposite to the center of rotation, the number of holes near the operation unit is one, and the number of holes far from the operation unit is two or more. It is broken from a small number of welding ribs and can be suitably removed.

The liquid holding device according to claim 5 of the present invention is
Since the elastic body is mounted in the exterior part of the cap, leakage of the liquid can be completely prevented.

A liquid holding device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention comprises:
Since the projection is fitted in the hole facing the center of rotation of the supply port in which the cap fits, only the welding rib is broken and the cap is not damaged at all. And the cap can be reused.

A liquid holding device according to a seventh aspect of the present invention comprises:
The projecting portion is provided so as to face the center of rotation of the supply port in which the cap fits, and the cross-sectional area of the projecting portion fitting in the large hole fits in the small hole. Since the cross-sectional area is made larger than the cross-sectional area of the protruding portion, erroneous opening of the cap due to dropping can be prevented, and the setting force of the cap can be expanded by reducing the opening operation force.

The liquid holding device according to claim 8 of the present invention is
The number of the protrusions provided opposite to the center of rotation of the supply port in which the cap fits has a number enough to fit in the hole, thus reducing the cap opening force,
Opening operability can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing a cap of a liquid holding device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) is a plan view of the cap, (b) is a side view, (c) is a side sectional view, and (d) is It is a bottom view.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams showing a liquid holding container according to the first embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 2A is a side view of the liquid holding container, FIG. 2B is a bottom view, and FIG. It is a sectional side view which shows the liquid holding container of the upside down state along the A line.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view for explaining an assembling procedure for connecting a cap of the liquid holding device of the present invention to a liquid holding container, and FIG.
Is a side sectional view before coupling the cap to the liquid holding container,
(B) is a similar side sectional view just before the cap is put on the liquid holding container to act on the ultrasonic welding horn, and (c) is a side sectional view when the cap is connected to the liquid holding container.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a procedure for removing a cap of the liquid holding device of the present invention from a liquid holding container and opening a supply port;
(A) is a plan view and (b) is a side view with a part cut away.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a cap of a liquid holding device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of a liquid holding container in Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a state in which the liquid holding container in which the cap of the liquid holding device according to the present invention is incorporated falls on the floor surface.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a cap of a liquid holding device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of a liquid holding container according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a cap of a liquid holding device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of a liquid holding container in Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a partially cutaway side view showing a configuration example of a conventional cap and a liquid holding container.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 cap 2 exterior portion 3 handle 4 concave portion 5 hole 6 hole 7 hole 8 hole 9 elastic body 10 liquid holding container 11 container body 12 ink absorber 13 supply port 14 connecting means 15 casmerive 16 casmerive 17 casmerive 18 casmerive

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A liquid holding container having a liquid holding portion for holding a liquid and a supply port for externally supplying the liquid, a cap for covering the supply port, and a connecting means for connecting the liquid holding container and the cap. , And the connecting means includes:
The liquid holding container has a plurality of protrusions provided to face each other in a diameter direction of the supply port, and a plurality of holes provided in the cap so that the protrusions fit. Liquid holding device. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cap has an exterior part for covering the supply port and an operation part for rotating the cap to release the connection. 2. The liquid holding device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid holding device is opposed to a moving center and is located on a center line connecting the operating portion and the rotation center. 3. A cross-sectional area of a hole distant from the operation unit among a plurality of holes positioned opposite to the center of rotation is larger than a cross-sectional area of a hole close to the operation unit. Item 2. The liquid holding device according to Item 1. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein, of the plurality of holes located opposite to the center of rotation, one hole is provided at a portion close to the operation unit, and the number of holes far from the operation unit is two or more. The liquid holding device according to claim 1, wherein: 5. The liquid holding device according to claim 1, wherein an elastic body is mounted in an exterior portion of the cap. 6. The projection according to claim 1, wherein the projection is fitted in the hole so as to face the center of rotation of the supply port in which the cap fits. The liquid holding device according to claim 1. 7. The projecting portion is provided so as to face a center of rotation of the supply port in which the cap is fitted, and a cross-sectional area of the projecting portion fitted in the large hole is small. 7. The liquid holding device according to claim 6, wherein the cross-sectional area of the protrusion is larger than the cross-sectional area of the protrusion. 8. The number of the projecting portions provided opposite to the center of rotation of the supply port into which the cap is fitted,
7. The liquid holding device according to claim 6, wherein the liquid holding device has a number enough to fit in the hole.