JP2005047258A - Liquid container and liquid ejector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid container and a liquid ejector wherein pressure difference of ink in each ink tank can be reduced in an ink cartridge containing a plurality of ink packs efficiently. <P>SOLUTION: The ink cartridge 11 comprises a plurality of ink packs 12, and a case 13 for containing them. Quantity of ink being contained in respective ink packs 12 is not uniform and an ink pack 12 containing a large quantity of ink is arranged on the outside whereas an ink pack 12 containing a small quantity of ink is arranged on the inside. Each ink pack 12 in the ink cartridge 11 is inclining at a specified angle against the containing case 13 and contained while overlapping a part of an adjacent ink pack 12. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid collector and a liquid ejecting apparatus.

  As a liquid ejecting apparatus, an ink jet printer that performs printing by ejecting ink from nozzles is known. This printer has a carriage that can reciprocate, and the carriage is provided with a recording head in which a plurality of nozzles are formed. Then, while the carriage reciprocates, ink is ejected from the nozzles and printing is performed. In addition, such a printer is provided with an exchangeable ink cartridge that contains ink to be supplied to the nozzles.

  By the way, in the case of a printer that prints on large paper, a large amount of ink is used, so an ink cartridge that accommodates a large volume of ink is required. When the ink cartridge is mounted on the carriage and moved, a large load is applied to the driving portion. Therefore, a printer that prints on a large sheet of paper has a configuration in which the ink cartridge is not mounted on the carriage (so-called off-carriage type). .

  The ink cartridge used for the off-carriage type is composed of an ink pack that stores ink and a case that stores this ink pack. More specifically, the ink pack is usually formed by sandwiching a lead-out member having an ink lead-out port between two laminate films and welding these films. The case is made of plastic or the like, and accommodates the ink pack with the lead-out member protruding outward (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  As shown in Patent Document 1, one ink pack is usually accommodated in one case. Accordingly, in a printer having a plurality of colors of ink, it is necessary to mount ink cartridges corresponding to the number of the colors, so that the corresponding space is required and it is difficult to reduce the size.

  Further, in the ink cartridge of Patent Document 2, a plurality of ink packs that store different color inks are stored in one case. Further, by arranging a part of each ink pack in an overlapping manner, the storage efficiency of the ink pack is improved and the ink cartridge is miniaturized.

JP 2002-120382 A JP 2003-053984 A

  However, as in the ink cartridge of Patent Document 2, when a plurality of ink packs are stored in a single case, one ink pack comes into contact with and presses against an adjacent ink pack. Since the ink bag constituting the ink pack is made of a flexible material such as a laminate film as described above, such a pressure affects the pressure inside the ink pack, and the difference in pressure for each ink pack. Has the problem that it will occur.

  Normally, in an ink jet printer, if the pressure head of the ink is too high, the ink leaks from the nozzle. Therefore, in the off-carriage type printer, the ink cartridge is installed at a position below the nozzle so that the pressure head of the ink falls within a predetermined range (negative pressure). However, when there is a pressure difference for each ink pack, in order to obtain a sufficient negative pressure in all the ink packs, it is necessary to secure a further sufficient height difference between the nozzle and the ink cartridge, and the apparatus is correspondingly increased. This causes problems such as an increase in size.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the above-mentioned subject, The objective is to suppress the pressure difference of each liquid storage bag small in the several liquid storage bag efficiently accommodated in one liquid container. An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid container and a liquid ejecting apparatus.

  The liquid container of the present invention is a liquid container in which a plurality of liquid containing bags containing liquid are housed in a liquid containing case in a state of being overlapped with a part of an adjacent liquid containing bag. The amount of the liquid stored has a plurality of levels, and each of the liquid storage bags is placed in the liquid storage case based on the amount of the liquid so that the difference in pressure in each liquid storage bag is minimized. It is arranged inside.

  According to this, since the amount of the stored liquid is large, the liquid storage bag having a high internal pressure is arranged at a position where the influence of the pressure from the adjacent liquid storage bag is small, and the amount of the stored liquid is small. Therefore, the liquid storage bag having a low internal pressure is arranged at a position where the influence of the pressure from the adjacent liquid storage bag is large. For this reason, in the liquid container efficiently storing a plurality of liquid storage bags, the pressure difference between the liquids stored in the liquid storage bags can be reduced.

  The liquid container of the present invention is the liquid container in which at least three liquid storage bags storing liquid are arranged and stored in a liquid storage case in a state of overlapping with a part of the adjacent liquid storage bag. The amount of the liquid stored in the liquid storage bag has a plurality of levels, and the liquid storage bag storing the largest amount of the liquid is arranged at a position other than the center of the array.

  According to this, the liquid storage bag having the highest internal pressure because the amount of the stored liquid is the largest is arranged avoiding the center where the influence of the pressure from the adjacent liquid storage bag is the largest. For this reason, in the liquid container that efficiently stores at least three liquid storage bags, the pressure difference between the liquids stored in the liquid storage bags can be reduced.

  In this liquid container, a liquid storage bag containing the largest amount of the liquid may be disposed at one end of the array.

  According to this, the liquid storage bag having the highest internal pressure because the amount of stored liquid is the largest is arranged at one end where the influence of the pressure from the adjacent liquid storage bag is the smallest. For this reason, in the liquid container that efficiently stores at least three liquid storage bags, the pressure difference between the liquids stored in the liquid storage bags can be reduced.

  In this liquid container, the liquid storage bag containing the least amount of the liquid may be arranged at the center of the array.

  According to this, since the amount of the accommodated liquid is the smallest, the liquid storage bag having the lowest internal pressure is arranged in the center where the influence of the pressure from the adjacent liquid storage bag is the largest. For this reason, in the liquid container that efficiently stores at least three liquid storage bags, the pressure difference between the liquids stored in the liquid storage bags can be reduced.

  In this liquid container, the liquid storage bags may be arranged from both ends of the array toward the center in the descending order of the amount of the liquid stored in the liquid storage bag.

  According to this, since the amount of the accommodated liquid is large, the liquid storage bag having a higher internal pressure is arranged on the outside where the influence of the pressure from the adjacent liquid storage bag is small. For this reason, in the liquid container that efficiently stores at least three liquid storage bags, the pressure difference between the liquids stored in the liquid storage bags can be reduced.

  In this liquid container, the liquid container bags may be arranged from the center of the array toward both ends in the order of decreasing amount of the liquid stored in the liquid container bag.

  According to this, since the quantity of the accommodated liquid is small, the liquid containing bag having a lower internal pressure is arranged on the inner side where the influence of the pressure from the adjacent liquid containing bag is large. For this reason, in the liquid container that efficiently stores at least three liquid storage bags, the pressure difference between the liquids stored in the liquid storage bags can be reduced.

  In this liquid container, the liquid container bag may include a bag body made of a flexible film and a liquid outlet member in which a liquid outlet port for leading the liquid inside the bag body is formed.

  According to this, in the state in which the liquid is stored, the liquid storage bag has a spindle shape in which the central portion of the flexible film is most expanded. For this reason, it becomes possible to store a plurality of liquid storage bags efficiently by stacking and storing the side end portions of the adjacent liquid storage bags in the expanded central portion of the liquid storage bag. Accordingly, the liquid container can be reduced in size, and consequently the liquid ejecting apparatus including the liquid container can be reduced in size.

  In this liquid container, the liquid container bag may be formed by welding four sides of two flexible films.

  According to this, in the state in which the liquid is stored, the liquid storage bag has a spindle shape in which the central portion of the flexible film is most expanded. For this reason, it becomes possible to store a plurality of liquid storage bags efficiently by stacking and storing the side end portions of the adjacent liquid storage bags in the expanded central portion of the liquid storage bag. Accordingly, the liquid container can be reduced in size, and consequently the liquid ejecting apparatus including the liquid container can be reduced in size.

  In the liquid container, the liquid storage case may be provided with a support portion that supports the liquid storage bag so that the central axes of the liquid outlets are all aligned on the same horizontal plane.

  According to this, since the central axes of the liquid outlet ports of the plurality of liquid storage bags stored in one liquid storage body are on the same horizontal plane, the liquid level of each liquid storage bag can be made the same. . Therefore, the difference in pressure between the liquids stored in the liquid storage bags can be reduced.

  In the liquid container, a plurality of liquid storage bags may be stored at a predetermined angle with respect to the liquid storage case.

  According to this, since the plurality of liquid storage bags are stored at a predetermined angle, particularly in the spindle-shaped liquid storage bag, the side of the liquid storage bag adjacent to the expanded central portion of the liquid storage bag By storing the end portions in an overlapping manner, the liquid storage bag can be stored efficiently. Accordingly, the liquid container can be reduced in size, and consequently the liquid ejecting apparatus including the liquid container can be reduced in size.

  In this liquid container, the liquid storage case may be provided with posture holding means for holding the posture in which the liquid storage bag is inclined at the predetermined angle.

  According to this, the attitude | position holding means can maintain the attitude | position which the liquid storage bag inclined by the predetermined angle. For this reason, it becomes possible to prevent the posture of the liquid storage bag from collapsing and the pressure of the liquid stored in each liquid storage bag from varying.

  In this liquid container, at least four of the liquid storage bags may be arranged in the liquid storage case, and the liquid storage bags may be densely arranged from the center of the array to both ends.

  According to this, since the distance from the adjacent liquid storage bag becomes larger as the inner liquid storage bag is more easily affected by the press due to the contact with the liquid storage bags on both sides, the influence of the press can be reduced. As a result, in a liquid container that efficiently stores a plurality of liquid storage bags, the pressure difference between the liquids stored in the liquid storage bags can be reduced.

  In the liquid container, the liquid may be ink.

  According to this, since the amount of stored ink is large, the liquid storage bag having a high internal pressure is disposed at a position where the influence of pressing from the adjacent liquid storage bag is small, and the amount of stored ink is small. Therefore, the liquid storage bag having a low internal pressure is arranged at a position where the influence of the pressure from the adjacent liquid storage bag is large. For this reason, in an ink cartridge that efficiently stores a plurality of liquid storage bags, the pressure difference between the inks stored in the liquid storage bags can be reduced.

  The liquid ejecting apparatus of the invention includes the liquid container.

  According to this, in the liquid container that efficiently stores the plurality of liquid storage bags, the pressure difference between the liquids stored in the liquid storage bags can be reduced.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a liquid container embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the ink cartridge 11 as a liquid container has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. As shown in FIG. 4, the ink cartridge 11 includes an ink pack 12 as a plurality of liquid storage bags that store ink as a liquid, and a storage case 13 as a liquid storage case for storing these.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the ink pack 12 includes a bag portion 16 as a flexible bag body and an ink lead-out member 15 as a liquid lead-out member. The bag portion 16 is formed by, for example, stacking two flexible laminate films obtained by vapor-depositing aluminum on a polyethylene film having gas barrier properties and thermally welding the four sides thereof. More specifically, the bag portion 16 heat-welds three sides of the two laminated laminate films as weld portions 16a, 16b, and 16c, and the remaining one side as a weld portion 16d from which the ink lead-out member 15 protrudes. In such a state that they are arranged, they are heat-welded to form a bag shape. As a result, the ink pack 12 is formed in a soft case shape (so-called pillow type), and the ink is contained in a sealed state therein.

  The ink lead-out member 15 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and the inside thereof forms an ink supply port 15a as a liquid lead-out port. Then, the ink stored in the ink pack 12 is taken out through the ink supply port 15a. Further, an annular groove portion 15b and an annular protrusion 15c provided adjacent to the groove portion 15b are formed in the approximate center of the outer peripheral surface of the ink lead-out member 15. Further, the ink supply port 15a is provided with a valve mechanism (not shown) that is opened only when ink is supplied, so that the ink in the bag portion 16 does not leak.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, the housing case 13 is composed of a substantially box-shaped case main body portion 21 having an opening in the upper portion and a substantially plate-shaped lid case 22 covering the opening of the case main body portion 21. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 2, on the front surface 13 a of the storage case 13, six support portions 23 that are the same as the number of ink packs 12 to be stored are equally spaced A along a straight line L 1 parallel to the bottom surface of the storage case 13. It is provided side by side. These support portions 23 are provided at substantially the center of the case main body portion 21, and an opening 23 c is provided at the center of each support portion 23. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, these support parts 23 are provided with a lower support part 23 a constituting the lower half of the case body part 21 and an upper support part 23 b constituting the upper half of the cover part 22. ing. The support portion 23 supports the ink lead-out member 15 of each ink pack 12 described above. Accordingly, the support unit 23 is configured so that the lower and upper support units 23a, 23a, and 23b are attached to the lower and upper support units 23a and 23a after the lid case 22 is attached in a state where the ink lead-out member 15 of the ink pack 12 is supported by the lower support unit 23a of the case body unit 21. 23b is configured to be aligned.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the lower support portion 23a is provided with a semi-arc-shaped protrusion 24 and a semi-arc-shaped groove 25, which are the groove 15b of the ink lead-out member 15 and the protrusion, respectively. Engage with the ridge 15c. Moreover, the upper support part 23b is provided with a not-shown protrusion and a groove not shown in the same manner as the lower support part 23a. Therefore, when the ink lead-out member 15 of the ink pack 12 is supported by the lower and upper support portions 23a and 23b, the ink pack 12 is accommodated in the ink cartridge 11 without moving back and forth and left and right.

  As shown in FIG. 5, three ribs 27 as posture holding means for holding the posture of the ink pack 12 are provided in parallel with the front surface 13 a on the inner side surface on the left side of the case main body 21. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the leftmost ink pack 12 stored in the storage case 13 is disposed along these ribs 27. As a result, the ink pack 12 maintains a posture inclined by an angle θ (θ≈15 ° in the present embodiment) with respect to the straight line L1 (and the bottom surface of the storage case 13) connecting the support portions 23. Become. Further, since the support portion 23 is provided at a position substantially half the height of the case main body portion 21, the ink pack 12 is in contact with the lid case 22 in the posture inclined at the angle θ, The welded portion 16 c comes into contact with the bottom surface of the case main body portion 21. An engagement hole 29 for engaging with the lid case 22 is provided on the back surface 13 b of the case main body 21.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, an engagement protrusion 31 is formed on the lid case 22, and the engagement protrusion 31 is provided with a protrusion 31 a that protrudes toward the back surface 13 b.
The protrusion 31 a is fitted into the engagement hole 29 of the case main body 21 to integrally fix the lid case 22 to the case main body 21.

  In the ink cartridge 11 of the present embodiment, six ink packs 12 having the same shape, each containing six colors of ink of black, yellow, magenta, light magenta, cyan, and light cyan, are stored side by side. Here, when ink is stored in each ink pack 12, the amount of ink to be stored is not uniform and is divided into three levels according to the frequency of use, and any one of these is selectively stored. In the present embodiment, the most frequently used black and light cyan ink amounts are the highest (level 1), and the next most frequently used light magenta and yellow ink amounts are the next highest (level 2). The lowest cyan and magenta ink amount is the lowest (level 3).

  When these ink packs 12 are arranged in the storage case 13, the level 1 (maximum amount) black and light cyan ink packs 12 are positioned at both ends, and then the level 2 light magenta and yellow inks. The pack 12 is positioned inside its adjacent interior. Furthermore, level 3 (the smallest amount) of cyan and magenta are mounted on the remaining innermost side (center of the array). That is, the ink pack 12 containing a large amount of ink is arranged outside the array, and the ink pack containing a small amount of ink is arranged at the center of the array. In this specification, when the number of ink packs 12 to be mounted is an odd number, the innermost one of the array is called the center of the array, and when the number of ink packs 12 to be mounted is an even number, the innermost 2 One is called the center of the array.

  The ink pack 12 is mounted on the storage case 13 in the order described in detail below, and is assembled to the ink cartridge 11.

  As shown in FIG. 7, an ink pack 12 (for example, black) in which the amount of stored ink is level 1 is mounted on the leftmost side of the case main body 21. That is, the ink pack 12 is fitted to the lower support portion 23 a on the leftmost side of the case main body 21, and the ink pack 12 is attached to the case main body 21. The ink pack 12 is inclined at a predetermined angle θ.

  Next, in the state where the ink pack 12 (for example, light magenta) in which the amount of stored ink is level 2 is fitted into the second lower support portion 23a from the left, the case main body portion Attach to 21. Then, the ink pack 12 is tilted so that the posture is substantially the same as that of the previously stored ink pack 12. At this time, the welded portion 16a which is a side end portion of the mounted ink pack 12 is located at the most expanded center portion of the bag portion 16 of the ink pack 12 accommodated earlier. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, each ink pack 12 is arranged so that about half of the ink pack 12 overlaps with about half of the adjacent ink pack 12. That is, the ink storage areas of the ink pack are arranged so as to overlap each other.

  Thereafter, similarly, the ink outlet member 15 of the ink pack 12 (for example, cyan) in which the amount of stored ink is level 3 is supported on the lower support portion 23a third from the left (center of the array). Then, the ink pack 12 is installed. Subsequently, the ink support member 15 of the ink pack 12 (for example, magenta) whose ink amount is stored at level 3 is supported by the lower support portion 23a fourth from the left (center of the array). The pack 12 is installed. Further, similarly, the ink pack 12 (for example, yellow) in which the amount of stored ink is level 2 is mounted fifth from the left. Finally, as shown in FIG. 4, the right support member 23a on the rightmost side supports the ink lead-out member 15 of the ink pack 12 (for example, light cyan) whose stored ink amount is level 1, and this ink. The pack 12 is installed.

  As in this embodiment, when a plurality of ink packs 12 are arranged so as to partially overlap the adjacent ink packs 12, the ink pack 12 located on the inner side is affected by both sides, Experiments have shown that the pressure in the ink pack 12 increases. On the other hand, since the internal pressure of the ink pack 12 increases as the amount of ink in the ink pack 12 increases, the pressure difference due to the mounting position of each ink pack 12 can be reduced by arranging the ink pack 12 according to the ink amount as described above. Is possible.

  As shown in FIG. 4, after all six ink packs 12 are stored in the case main body 21, the engagement protrusions 31 of the lid case 22 are engaged with the engagement holes 29 of the case main body 21, so that the case main body The lid case 22 is attached to the case body 21 so as to cover the opening of the case 21. At this time, the six ink lead-out members 15 are supported so that the central axes of the respective ink supply ports 15a are arranged on a horizontal plane including the horizontal straight line L1. As described above, the ink cartridge 11 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is assembled.

  Next, an ink jet printer equipped with the above-described ink cartridge 11 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an ink jet printer (hereinafter simply referred to as a printer) 40 as a liquid ejecting apparatus is provided with a carriage 41 that reciprocates in the X direction. A recording head 42 as a liquid ejecting head having a plurality of nozzles is provided on the lower surface of the carriage 41. A cartridge mounting portion 43 is provided on one side of the front surface of the printer 40 at a position below the nozzle. The cartridge mounting portion 43 is formed with a substantially rectangular insertion port 43a into which the above-described ink cartridge 11 is inserted.

  A plurality of supply needles 45 are arranged in the cartridge mounting portion 43 of the printer 40 so as to face the ink cartridge 11. Each supply needle 45 is arranged at the center of each support portion 23 of the ink cartridge 11, that is, at a position where it can be inserted into each ink supply port 15 a of each ink pack 12 when the ink cartridge 11 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 43. Has been.

  Accordingly, when the ink cartridge 11 is inserted into the insertion opening 43a and is attached to the cartridge attachment portion 43, the supply needle 45 of the cartridge attachment portion 43 is located at the center of each support portion 23 of the ink cartridge 11, that is, the opening portion 23c. Is inserted into the ink supply port 15a of the ink pack 12, and the valve mechanism in the ink supply port 15a is opened. As a result, ink is supplied from the ink pack 12 of the ink cartridge 11 to the recording head 42 of the carriage 41 via the supply needle 45 and the supply tube 46. Then, ink is ejected from the nozzles of the recording head 42 toward the paper P, and printing is performed. When ink is consumed by printing, the remaining amount of ink stored in each ink pack 12 is different from the initial amount (when ink is stored), but if the amount of ink decreases, Since the pressure drops, problems such as ink leakage do not occur.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) In the present embodiment, in the ink cartridge 11 in which a plurality of ink packs 12 are efficiently arranged and stored, the larger the amount of ink stored in the ink pack 12, the more the ink pack 12 is disposed at both ends and the ink pack 12 is stored. The smaller the ink amount, the closer to the center. In other words, the ink pack 12 that contains a large amount of ink and has a high internal pressure is arranged on the outside where the influence of pressing from both sides is small, and the ink pack 12 that contains a small amount of ink and has a low internal pressure has both sides. It was arranged on the inner side where the influence of pressing from is large. Therefore, the pressure difference between the inks stored in the ink packs 12 can be reduced.
(2) In this embodiment, since the pressure difference between the inks stored in each ink pack 12 can be reduced, the height difference between the nozzle and the ink cartridge 11 is minimized without causing ink to leak from the nozzle of the recording head 42. Can be suppressed. Therefore, the ink cartridge 11 and the printer 40 can be reduced in size.
(3) In this embodiment, since the ink pack 12 is formed by welding four sides of two flexible films, the ink pack 12 has a central portion of the flexible film in a state where ink is stored. It becomes the most expanded spindle shape. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently store a plurality of ink packs 12 by storing the side end portions of the adjacent ink packs 12 in the expanded center portion of the ink packs 12. As a result, the ink cartridge 11 can be reduced in size, and the printer 40 including the ink cartridge 11 can be reduced in size.
(4) In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, in the ink cartridge 11, the central axis of the ink supply port 15a of the ink pack 12 is on a horizontal plane including the horizontal straight line L1, and the ink supply port 15a has the same height. It is arranged with. For this reason, the height of the liquid level of each ink pack 12 can be made the same. As a result, the pressure of the ink stored in each ink pack 12 can be made substantially the same.
(5) In the present embodiment, the ink pack 12 accommodated in the ink cartridge 11 is disposed with a predetermined angle θ with respect to the accommodation case 13. For this reason, it is possible to efficiently store the ink pack 12 by storing the side end portions (welded portions 16a and 16c) of the adjacent ink packs 12 in the center portion where the ink pack 12 is expanded. . Accordingly, the ink cartridge 11 can be reduced in size, and the printer 40 including the ink cartridge 11 can be reduced in size.
(6) In the present embodiment, the case body 21 is provided with ribs 27. Accordingly, the ink pack 12 initially accommodated in the ink cartridge 11 is held in an inclined posture by the rib 27. The ink pack 12 inserted thereafter is held in an inclined posture by the previously inserted ink pack 12. Thereby, each ink pack 12 can maintain the posture inclined by the predetermined angle θ without breaking the posture, and the pressure of the ink stored in each ink pack 12 can be prevented from varying.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part similar to 1st Embodiment, and the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 8, on the front surface 13 a of the storage case 13, the same six support portions 23 as the number of ink packs 12 to be stored are arranged along a straight line L <b> 1 parallel to the bottom surface of the storage case 13. ing. These support portions 23 are provided at substantially the center of the case main body portion 21, and an opening 23 c is provided at the center of each support portion 23. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, when the ink lead-out member 15 is supported by the support portion 23, the ink pack 12 is arranged so that about half of it overlaps with about half of the adjacent ink pack 12.

In the present embodiment, the intervals between the six support portions 23 are not equal, and the intervals A, B, and C are slightly wider toward the center. That is, the central interval C is wider than the outer interval B, and the interval B is wider than the interval A at both ends.
For this reason, as the ink pack 12 is closer to the center, the region overlapping with the adjacent ink pack 12 becomes narrower.

  As described above, when a plurality of ink packs 12 are arranged so as to partially overlap the adjacent ink packs 12, the ink packs 12 located on the inner side are affected by both sides, and the ink packs are affected. Experiments have shown that the pressure in 12 increases. On the other hand, it has been found from experiments that the influence from both sides is weakened by setting the intervals A, B, and C as shown in FIG. 9 and the ink pressure of each ink pack 12 becomes more uniform.

  Further, the six ink packs 12 stored in the ink cartridge 11 store six colors of ink in the same shape of the ink pack 12. Also in this embodiment, the amount of ink stored in each ink pack 12 is not uniform and is divided into three levels. The ink pack 12 storing a large amount of ink is arranged on the outer side, and a small amount of ink is stored. The accommodated ink pack 12 is disposed on the inner side.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

  Compared with the ink packs 12 at both ends, the inner ink pack 12 has a greater distance from the adjacent ink pack 12, so the influence of pressing by the outer ink pack 12 can be reduced. For this reason, the pressure difference in each ink pack 12 can be further reduced.

(Example of change)
Each embodiment mentioned above may be changed as follows.
In the above-described embodiment, six ink packs 12 are stored in one ink cartridge 11, but the number of ink packs 12 stored may be other than that.

In the embodiment, the six ink packs 12 housed in one ink cartridge 11 have the same shape, but the size, shape, material, etc. may be different.

In the above embodiment, the amount of ink stored in the six ink packs 12 is divided into three levels, but may be two levels or four levels or more.

In the above embodiment, the inks stored in the six ink packs 12 are black, yellow, magenta, light magenta, cyan, and light cyan. However, other inks may be used, for example, black, yellow, magenta, cyan, and red. Or a combination of violet (blue). In this case, six ink packs 12 of the same shape, each containing ink of each color of yellow, magenta, black, red, cyan, and violet (blue), are stored in this order. Here, when ink is stored in each ink pack 12, the amount of ink stored is not uniform, and is stored at six levels according to the frequency of use. Specifically, the amount of ink in the ink pack containing cyan ink is the largest amount (level 1), the ink pack containing magenta ink is the next largest amount (level 2), and then the black ink is used. The ink pack containing the next largest amount (level 3), the ink pack containing the yellow ink next (level 4), and the ink pack containing the violet (blue) ink next It is a large amount (level 5), and the amount of ink in the ink pack containing red ink is the smallest amount (level 6). According to this cartridge, the ink pack containing the red ink with the smallest ink amount is positioned at the center portion, and the position of the ink pack of the cyan ink having the largest ink amount is arranged at a position different from the center portion. The effect of pressure between ink packs can be reduced.

In the above embodiment, the ink supply ports 15a of the ink packs 12 housed in one ink cartridge 11 are arranged in the horizontal direction, but this may be in a direction other than horizontal, such as the vertical direction.

In the above-described embodiment, the ink pack 12 is stored in an inclined posture, but other postures may be used. For example, another ink pack 12 may be stored so as to be stacked above the horizontally arranged ink pack 12.

In the above-described embodiment, the ink packs 12 are arranged in one row with respect to the containing case 13, but a plurality of rows may be used.

In the above-described embodiment, the ribs 27 that are posture holding means for holding the inclined posture of the ink pack 12 are provided integrally with the case main body 21, but may be provided separately.

In the embodiment, the shape of the ink pack 12 is a pillow type in which four sides of two flexible films are welded. For example, this is a so-called gusset in which four flexible films are welded. A type of type may be used.

In the above-described embodiment, the ink jet printer has been described as the liquid ejecting apparatus, but other liquid ejecting apparatuses may be used. For example, printing apparatuses including facsimiles, copiers, etc., liquid ejecting apparatuses that eject liquids such as electrode materials and color materials used in the manufacture of liquid crystal displays, EL displays, and surface-emitting displays, and bioorganic substances used in biochip manufacturing It may be a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting or a sample ejecting apparatus as a precision pipette.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a printer in which an ink cartridge is mounted. FIG. 3 is a perspective view from above of the ink cartridge according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view from below of the ink cartridge of FIG. 2. The perspective view which removed the upper case of the ink cartridge. The perspective view of the lower case of the ink cartridge. FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the ink cartridge. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an assembly process of the ink cartridge. The perspective view from the upper part of the ink cartridge of 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the ink cartridge.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Ink cartridge as a liquid container, 12 ... Ink pack as a liquid storage bag, 13 ... Storage case as a liquid storage case, 15 ... Ink lead-out member as a liquid lead-out member, 15a ... Ink supply as a liquid lead-out port Mouth, 40 ... Printer as a liquid ejecting apparatus.

Claims (14)

In a liquid container that houses a plurality of liquid containing bags containing liquid in a liquid containing case in a state of overlapping with a part of the adjacent liquid containing bags,
The amount of the liquid stored in each liquid storage bag has a plurality of levels, and based on the amount of the liquid, the difference in pressure in each liquid storage bag is minimized. Each of the liquid containers is arranged in the liquid container case. In a liquid container in which at least three liquid storage bags containing liquid are arranged and stored in a liquid storage case in a state of overlapping with a part of an adjacent liquid storage bag,
The amount of the liquid stored in each of the liquid storage bags has a plurality of levels, and the liquid storage bag in which the amount of the liquid is stored most is arranged outside the center of the array. body. The liquid container according to claim 2,
A liquid container comprising a liquid storage bag storing the largest amount of the liquid at one end of the array. The liquid container according to claim 2 or 3,
A liquid container comprising a liquid storage bag containing the least amount of the liquid arranged in the center of the array. In the liquid container according to any one of claims 2 to 4,
The liquid container, wherein the liquid container is arranged from both ends of the array toward the center in the descending order of the amount of the liquid stored in the liquid container. The liquid container according to any one of claims 2 to 5,
The liquid container, wherein the liquid container is arranged from the center of the array toward both ends in the order of decreasing amount of the liquid stored in the liquid container. In the liquid container according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The liquid container includes a bag body made of a flexible film and a liquid outlet member having a liquid outlet opening for leading out the liquid inside the bag body. In the liquid container according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The liquid container is formed by welding four sides of two flexible films. The liquid container according to claim 7 or 8,
A liquid container, wherein the liquid container case is provided with a support portion that supports the liquid container bag so that the central axes of the liquid outlets are all aligned on the same horizontal plane. In the liquid container according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
A liquid container, wherein a plurality of liquid storage bags are stored at a predetermined angle with respect to the liquid storage case. The liquid container according to claim 10,
The liquid container is provided with posture holding means for holding the posture in which the liquid containing bag is inclined at the predetermined angle. In the liquid container according to any one of claims 2 to 11,
In the liquid storage case, at least four of the liquid storage bags are arranged,
The liquid container is characterized in that the liquid container is densely arranged from the center of the array to both ends. In the liquid container according to any one of claims 1 to 12,
The liquid container is characterized in that the liquid is ink. A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising the liquid container according to claim 1.

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