JP2007152821A - Liquid container - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid container capable of detecting the residual quantity of a liquid reaching a predetermined value. <P>SOLUTION: The liquid container 1 is equipped with an ink detection element 11 which intervenes between an ink pack 7 and an ink supply port 9. The ink detection element 11 is equipped with a sensor room 21 equipped with an ink inlet 11a connected to the ink pack 7 and an ink outlet 11b connected to the ink supply port 9, a pressure-receiving plate 27 held movably in responding to the quantity of the ink stored in the sensor room 21, a recess 27a formed in the pressure-receiving plate 27 so that a detection space may be dividedly formed in cooperation with an ink guiding passage 33 provided in the sensor room 21 if the quantity of the ink stored in the sensor room 21 gets below the predetermined one and a piezoelectric-type sensor 35 for impressing a vibration to the ink guiding passage 33 and detecting a free oscillation state accompanied with the impressed vibration. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid container, and for example, relates to a liquid container that supplies a predetermined liquid to a liquid consuming device such as a liquid ejecting head that discharges a minute amount of liquid droplets.

  Liquid ejecting heads in liquid ejecting apparatuses such as textile printing apparatuses, micro dispensers, and commercial recording apparatuses that require ultra-high quality printing are supplied with the liquid to be ejected from the liquid storage container. If it is operated in a non-operating state, the ejection head is damaged due to so-called idling. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the remaining amount of liquid in the container to prevent this.

Thus, taking an example of a recording apparatus, various types of ink cartridges that are liquid containers and equipped with a liquid detection unit for detecting the remaining amount of ink have been proposed.
As a specific configuration of such a liquid detection unit, for example, as in the invention described in Patent Document 1, one of the flat surfaces facing each other of the flexible bag for storing the liquid is used for liquid storage. A recess is formed, and a piezoelectric vibrator is placed on the outer surface of the recess, and a rigid body is placed on the other surface, and detection is based on the vibration state due to the liquid volume (liquid depth) between the rigid body and the piezoelectric vibrator. It has also been proposed to do.

JP 2004-136670 A

  However, although the liquid detection unit described in Patent Document 1 can detect the remaining amount of liquid with relatively high accuracy, the remaining amount of ink stored in the flexible bag is changed to the deformation of the flexible bag. Since the rigid body is moved by following the movement, there is a possibility that the detection accuracy may be lowered due to the influence of the bag bending, wrinkles and the like.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid container having a function of detecting that the remaining amount of liquid has reached a predetermined amount, in order to solve the above problems.

The above object of the present invention is to provide a liquid container for discharging the liquid pressurized and stored by the pressurizing means from the liquid discharge port, a liquid supply port for supplying the liquid to an external liquid consumption device, A liquid storage container comprising a liquid detection unit interposed between the liquid storage unit and the liquid supply port,
The liquid detector is
A liquid detection chamber having a liquid inlet connected to the liquid outlet of the liquid storage unit and a liquid outlet connected to the liquid supply port;
A moving member that moves in response to the liquid capacity of the liquid detection chamber;
A recess provided in the moving member so as to partition and form a detection space in cooperation with the recess provided in the liquid detection chamber when the liquid storage amount of the liquid detection chamber becomes a predetermined amount or less;
Piezoelectric detection means for applying a vibration to the recess and detecting a free vibration state associated with the applied vibration;
It is achieved by the liquid container characterized by comprising.

According to the above configuration, when the liquid capacity in the liquid detection chamber becomes a predetermined amount or less, the recess of the moving member cooperates with the recess to form a detection space that is a vibration action region. The frequency of the acoustic impedance corresponding to the total volume appears. This frequency is lower than the frequency due to the acoustic impedance when the moving member is away from the recess, and the difference is significant.
Therefore, the change in the free vibration state detected by the piezoelectric detection means becomes significant, and the time or state when the liquid storage amount in the liquid detection chamber reaches a predetermined level can be detected accurately and reliably.

  In addition, the recess provided in the liquid detection chamber increases the volume of the detection space by partitioning the detection space in cooperation with the recess provided in the moving member. For this reason, the residual vibration becomes small and cannot be detected, or even if it can be detected, the difference in frequency of the residual vibration between when the recess is open in the liquid detection chamber and when it is shut off is small. There is no possibility that the difference cannot be determined.

  That is, the volume of the detection space, which is the vibration action region, changes due to the movement of the moving member, and the acoustic impedance differs, so that the liquid storage amount in the liquid storage chamber reaches a predetermined level by detecting the difference in the frequency of residual vibration. This can be detected with high accuracy.

In the liquid container having the above structure, it is preferable that at least one surface of the recess is formed of a member having elasticity.
According to such a configuration, the detection space in which the concave portion of the liquid detection chamber forms a partition in cooperation with the concave portion of the moving member has a volume change characteristic due to elastic deformation of the elastic member that forms at least one surface of the concave portion ( (Compliance) suppresses the attenuation of the residual vibration, makes it easy to detect the amplitude of the residual vibration, and can improve the detection accuracy.

Furthermore, in the liquid container having the above structure, the elastic member is preferably a film.
According to such a configuration, for example, when a recess is provided in a plate-like moving member, a volume change characteristic due to elastic deformation (only by closing the opening formed through the moving member with a film as an elastic member ( It is possible to easily form a recess with compliance.

In the liquid container having the above-described configuration, it is preferable that the recess communicates with the liquid detection chamber.
According to such a configuration, by forming one surface of the recess with an elastic member, the recess can be communicated with the liquid detection chamber, which is a liquid space having a large volume, without ensuring the compliance of the recess. However, it is possible to suppress the attenuation of the residual vibration in the detection space that forms the partition in cooperation with the recess, to secure the amplitude of the residual vibration at the time of detection, and to improve the detection accuracy.

In the liquid container having the above-described configuration, it is desirable that the recess is constituted by two flow paths that allow the recess to communicate with the liquid detection chamber.
According to such a configuration, in order to fill the liquid detection chamber with the liquid, when suction is performed from the liquid supply port connected to the liquid consumption device, the suction force is applied to the two flow paths provided in the moving member. The liquid is supplied to the liquid supply port retroactively through the path on which the suction force acts.
That is, since the liquid is surely filled into the recess of the liquid detection chamber, which is the vibration action region, and no bubbles remain in the recess, it is possible to prevent a decrease in detection accuracy due to the remaining bubbles.

Further, in the liquid container of the above configuration, the liquid detection chamber is configured by sealing an opening formed on the upper surface with a film that can be deformed according to the amount of liquid stored,
It is desirable that the piezoelectric detection means is disposed at the bottom of the liquid detection chamber.
According to such a configuration, the liquid detection chamber can be easily deformed in response to a change in the liquid storage amount (pressure change) and can be easily configured as a sealed space, and liquid leakage can be prevented with a simple structure. Can do.

Furthermore, in the liquid container having the above-described configuration, it is desirable that the moving member is moved by deformation of the film corresponding to a change in the amount of liquid stored in the liquid detection chamber. In the liquid container having the above structure, it is desirable that the moving member is fixed to the film.
According to such a configuration, the moving member can smoothly follow the liquid level and pressure by easy deformation of the film.

Furthermore, in the liquid container configured as described above, it is desirable that the moving member has a surface substantially parallel to the vibration surface in a region facing the vibration surface of the piezoelectric detection means.
According to such a configuration, it is possible to easily form a detection space that changes the volume in response to the amount of liquid.

Furthermore, in the liquid container having the above-described configuration, it is desirable that the moving member is urged by an urging unit in a direction in which the piezoelectric detection unit is disposed. In the liquid container having the above-described configuration, it is desirable that the urging means is constituted by an elastic member.
According to such a configuration, by adjusting the urging force by the urging means, it is possible to change the time when the recess of the moving member cooperates with the recess of the liquid detection chamber to form the detection space, and to detect it. The internal pressure (residual liquid amount) of the power detection chamber can be easily set.

  Furthermore, in the liquid container having the above-described configuration, it is desirable that the time when the recess cooperates with the recess to form a detection space is set to a state where the liquid in the liquid container is exhausted. Moreover, in the liquid container having the above-described configuration, it is desirable that the time when the recess cooperates with the recess to form the detection space is set to a state where the liquid in the liquid container is substantially exhausted. .

  According to such a configuration, for example, when a liquid storage container is used as an ink cartridge, the piezoelectric detection unit of the liquid detection unit detects the ink end detection to detect that the remaining amount of ink in the liquid storage unit has become zero. It can be effectively used as a mechanism or an ink near-end detection mechanism for detecting a state that will soon become zero.

  According to the liquid storage container of the present invention, when the liquid storage amount in the liquid detection chamber becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value, the recess of the moving member cooperates with the recess of the liquid detection chamber to form a detection space. Thus, the change in the free vibration state detected by the sensor becomes significant, and the time or state when the liquid storage amount in the liquid detection chamber reaches a predetermined level can be detected accurately and reliably.

Furthermore, since the recess of the liquid detection chamber increases the volume of the detection space by forming a detection space in cooperation with the recess of the moving member, the residual vibration is small due to insufficient volume of the vibration action region. It becomes impossible to detect, or even if it can be detected, the difference in frequency of residual vibration between when the recess is open in the liquid detection chamber and when it is shut off is so small that the difference cannot be determined. There is nothing to do.
Accordingly, the volume of the detection space, which is the vibration action region, changes due to the movement of the moving member, and the acoustic impedance differs. Therefore, by detecting the difference in the frequency of the residual vibration, the liquid storage amount in the liquid storage chamber reaches a predetermined level. This can be detected with high accuracy.

Hereinafter, a liquid container according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a liquid storage container according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state in which the amount of liquid stored in a liquid detection chamber is a predetermined value or less. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the liquid container shown in FIG. 1 when the liquid container is in a pressurized state.

The liquid container 1 of the first embodiment is detachably mounted on a cartridge mounting portion of an ink jet recording apparatus (liquid consumption apparatus) (not shown), and supplies ink (liquid) to a print head mounted on the recording apparatus. This is an ink cartridge.
As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid storage container 1 is stored in the pressurization chamber 3 by storing a container main body 5 in which a pressurization chamber 3 to be pressurized by a pressurizing unit (not shown) is partitioned and ink. And an ink pack (liquid container) 7 for discharging ink stored by pressurization of the pressurizing chamber 3 from a discharge port (liquid discharge port) 7b, and a print head of an ink jet recording apparatus which is an external liquid consumption device An ink supply port (liquid supply port) 9 for supplying ink to the ink, and an ink detection unit (liquid detection unit) 11 that is interposed between the ink pack 7 and the ink supply port 9 to detect the remaining amount of ink. It has.

The container body 5 is a housing integrally formed of resin, and a pressurized chamber 3 in a sealed state and a pressurizing means (not shown) supply pressurized air to the pressurized chamber 3 as indicated by an arrow A. A pressurizing port 13 that is a pressurized gas injecting unit for detecting the ink and a detecting unit accommodating chamber 15 that accommodates the ink detecting unit 11. The detector housing chamber 15 is a region that is cut off from the pressure of the pressurized gas supplied to the pressurizing chamber 3.
The container body 5 is not necessarily an integrally formed resin member as long as the pressurizing chamber 3 can be sealed.

  The ink pack 7 is formed on one end side of a flexible bag 7a formed by laminating the peripheral portions of aluminum laminated multilayer films in which an aluminum layer is laminated on a resin film layer having flexibility. The cylindrical discharge port 7b to which the ink inlet (liquid inlet) 11a of the ink detector 11 is connected is joined. The ink pack 7 uses an aluminum laminated multilayer film to ensure high gas barrier properties.

The ink pack 7 and the ink detection unit 11 are connected to each other by fitting and connecting the ink inflow port 11a to the discharge port 7b. That is, by releasing the fitting between the discharge port 7b and the ink inflow port 11a, they can be separated from each other.
The discharge port 7b is equipped with a packing 17 for airtight connection with the ink inflow port 11a. The ink pack 7 is filled with ink that has been adjusted in advance to a high degree of deaeration before the ink detector 11 is connected.

  The ink detection unit 11 has a concave space 19a in which an ink inlet 11a connected to the discharge port 7b of the ink pack 7 and an ink outlet (liquid outlet) 11b connected to the ink supply port 9 are communicated. A detection unit case 19, a flexible film 23 in which the opening of the concave space 19a is sealed to define a sensor chamber (liquid detection chamber) 21, a pressure detection unit 25 provided at the bottom of the concave space 19a, A pressure receiving plate (moving member) 27 fixed to the flexible film 23 so as to face the pressure detecting portion 25, and the pressure receiving plate 27 and the upper wall of the detecting portion receiving chamber 15 are press-fitted to the sensor chamber. And a compression coil spring (biasing member) 29 that elastically urges the pressure receiving plate 27 and the flexible film 23 in a direction in which the volume of 21 is reduced.

  The detection unit case 19 is integrally formed with an ink inlet 11a on one end side of the peripheral wall that defines the concave space 19a, and communicates with the ink supply port 9 on the peripheral wall facing the ink inlet 11a. An ink outlet 11b is formed through. Although not shown, the ink supply port 9 is equipped with a valve mechanism that opens the flow path by inserting an ink supply needle provided in the cartridge mounting portion when the ink supply port 9 is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion of the ink jet recording apparatus. The

  The pressure detection unit 25 in the ink detection unit 11 includes a bottom plate 31 that is in contact with the pressure receiving plate 27 in close contact with the urging force of the compression coil spring 29 when ink is not led out from the ink pack 7 to the ink supply port 9, and The ink guide path 33 which is a recess formed in the bottom plate 31, the recess 27 a provided in the pressure receiving plate 27 so as to define the detection space in cooperation with the ink guide path 33, and the ink guide path 33 vibrate. And a piezoelectric sensor (piezoelectric detection means) 35 for detecting the state of free vibration accompanying the vibration.

The piezoelectric sensor 35 can detect different free vibration states (changes in amplitude and frequency of residual vibration) depending on whether or not the ink guide path 33 is covered by the pressure receiving plate 27.
Therefore, for example, the control unit provided in the ink jet recording apparatus detects the deformation of the flexible film 23 supporting the pressure receiving plate 27 according to the state of free vibration detected by the piezoelectric sensor 35. The pressure in the sensor chamber 21 can be detected.

The biasing direction of the compression coil spring 29 is the direction in which the volume of the sensor chamber 21 is reduced as described above, and at the same time the piezoelectric sensor 35 is disposed.
As shown in FIG. 1, the ink guide path 33, which is a recess formed in the bottom plate 31, forms a detection space in cooperation with the recess 27 a of the pressure receiving plate 27 when the pressure receiving plate 27 is in close contact with the bottom plate 31. As shown in FIG. 2, when the pressure receiving plate 27 is separated from the bottom plate 31, the sensor chamber 21 is opened. The pressure receiving plate 27 has a surface substantially parallel to the vibration surface in a region facing the vibration surface of the piezoelectric sensor 35.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the ink detector 11 pressurizes the ink pack 7 with the pressurized air supplied to the pressurizing chamber 3, and when ink is supplied from the ink pack 7 to the sensor chamber 21, The flexible film 23 bulges upward and deforms in accordance with the change in the ink storage amount (liquid level) in the sensor chamber 21. Due to the deformation of the flexible film 23, the pressure receiving plate 27 constituting a part of the partition wall of the sensor chamber 21 moves upward, and the pressure receiving plate 27 is separated from the bottom plate 31. When the pressure receiving plate 27 is separated from the bottom plate 31, the ink guide path 33 is opened to the sensor chamber 21, and ink is supplied from the ink supply port 9 to the recording head through the sensor chamber 21. .

Even if the pressure chamber 3 is in a predetermined pressure state, if the amount of ink stored in the ink pack 7 is reduced, the amount of ink supplied from the ink pack 7 to the sensor chamber 21 is reduced. As a result, the pressure in the sensor chamber 21 decreases, so that the pressure receiving plate 27 approaches the bottom plate 31 having the ink guide path 33.
In the present embodiment, when the pressure in the sensor chamber 21 decreases, the pressure receiving plate 27 is brought into close contact with the bottom plate 31, and the point in time when the recess 27 a cooperates with the ink guide path 33 to form a detection space is defined as the ink pack 7. The ink is set to be exhausted.

  The flexible film 23 functions as a diaphragm that applies displacement to the pressure receiving plate 27 in accordance with the pressure of the ink supplied to the sensor chamber 21. In order to be able to detect a minute pressure change of the ink and improve the detection accuracy, the flexible film 23 is preferably provided with sufficient flexibility.

  In the liquid storage container 1 of the present embodiment described above, when the ink storage amount (liquid storage amount) in the sensor chamber 21 becomes a predetermined value or less, the recess 27a of the pressure receiving plate 27 vibrates in cooperation with the ink guide path 33. Since the detection space, which is the action area, is partitioned, an acoustic impedance frequency corresponding to the total volume of the ink guide path 33 and the recess 27a appears. This frequency is lower than the frequency due to the acoustic impedance when the pressure receiving plate 27 is separated from the bottom plate 31, and the difference is remarkable.

  Therefore, the change in the free vibration state detected by the piezoelectric sensor 35 becomes prominent, and the time or state when the ink storage amount in the sensor chamber 21 reaches a predetermined level can be accurately and reliably detected.

  Further, the ink guide path 33 provided in the sensor chamber 21 increases the volume of the detection space by partitioning the detection space in cooperation with the recess 27a provided in the pressure receiving plate 27. Due to the lack of volume in the area, the residual vibration becomes small and cannot be detected, or even if it can be detected, the frequency difference of the residual vibration between when the sensor chamber 21 is open and when it is shut off is small. Therefore, the difference cannot be discriminated.

That is, the volume of the detection space, which is the vibration action region, is changed by the movement of the pressure receiving plate 27 and the acoustic impedance is different. It is possible to detect with high accuracy that the value has been reached.
Therefore, the liquid container 1 of the present embodiment can have a function of detecting that the remaining amount of ink has reached a predetermined amount.

Further, in the liquid storage container 1 of the present embodiment, the sensor chamber 21 is configured by sealing an opening formed on the upper surface with a flexible film 23 that can be deformed according to the amount of ink stored, and a piezoelectric sensor. Reference numeral 35 denotes a configuration arranged at the bottom of the sensor chamber 21.
For this reason, the sensor chamber 21 can be easily deformed in response to a change in ink storage amount (pressure change) and can be easily configured as a sealed space, and liquid leakage can be prevented with a simple structure.

Further, in the liquid storage container 1 of the above embodiment, the pressure receiving plate 27 is fixed to the flexible film 23 and moves by deformation of the flexible film 23 corresponding to the change in the ink storage amount of the sensor chamber 21.
Therefore, the pressure receiving plate 127 can smoothly follow the liquid level and pressure by the easy deformation of the flexible film 23.

Furthermore, in the liquid storage container 1 of the present embodiment, the pressure receiving plate 27 has a surface that is substantially parallel to the vibration surface in a region facing the vibration surface of the piezoelectric sensor 35, so that it responds to the liquid level. A detection space for changing the volume can be easily formed.
Further, in the liquid container 1 of the present embodiment, the pressure receiving plate 27 is urged in the direction in which the piezoelectric sensor 35 is disposed by a compression coil spring 29 that is an urging means constituted by an elastic member.
Therefore, by adjusting the urging force of the compression coil spring 29, the timing at which the recess 27a of the pressure receiving plate 27 cooperates with the ink guide path 33 to form the detection space can be arbitrarily changed, and the sensor chamber to be detected The internal pressure (residual liquid amount) of 21 can be easily set.

  In the liquid container 1 of the present embodiment, the time when the recess 27a of the pressure receiving plate 27 forms a detection space in cooperation with the ink guide path 33 is set to a state where the ink in the ink pack 7 is exhausted. Therefore, when used as an ink cartridge as described above, the piezoelectric sensor 35 of the ink detection unit 11 is effective as an ink end detection mechanism for detecting that the ink remaining amount in the ink pack 7 has become zero. It can be used for.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a liquid container according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 3, the liquid storage container 101 of the second embodiment is an improvement of a part of the liquid storage container 1 shown in FIG. 1, and an opening formed through the pressure receiving plate 127 is formed in the pressure receiving container. The recess 127a is formed by closing the plate 127 with the flexible film 23 to which the plate 127 is fixed. Since the other configuration is the same as that of the liquid container 1 shown in FIG. 1, the same reference numerals are given and detailed description is omitted.

Since the flexible film 23 is a so-called elastic member, in the liquid container 101 of the second embodiment, one surface of the recess 127a of the pressure receiving plate 127 is formed of an elastic member.
Therefore, according to the liquid container 101 of the second embodiment, the detection space formed by the ink guide path 33 of the sensor chamber 21 in cooperation with the recess 127a of the pressure receiving plate 127 is one surface of the recess 127a. It is possible to suppress the attenuation of the residual vibration by the volume change characteristic (compliance) due to the elastic deformation of the flexible film 23 forming the film, making it easy to detect the amplitude of the residual vibration, and further improving the detection accuracy. it can.

As an elastic member for ensuring compliance in the recess 127a, in addition to using the flexible film 23 as described above, for example, the pressure receiving plate itself may be formed of rubber or plastic having a predetermined elastic characteristic. Conceivable.
However, when the flexible film 23 is used as an elastic member for forming the wall surface of the recess 127a as in the pressure receiving plate 127 in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the plate-shaped pressure receiving plate 127 is used. By simply closing the opening formed so as to penetrate through the flexible film 23 as an elastic member, it is possible to easily form the recess 127a that ensures compliance, and to improve productivity.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a liquid container according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 4, the liquid storage container 102 of the third embodiment is an improvement on a part of the liquid storage container 1 shown in FIG. 1, and a single recess 227 a formed in the pressure receiving plate 227. In addition, a single communication passage 227b that allows the sensor chamber 21 and the recess 227a to communicate with each other on the ink outlet 11b side is additionally formed. Since the configuration other than the addition of the communication path 227b is the same as that of the liquid container 1 shown in FIG.

  According to the liquid container 102 of the third embodiment, the recess 227a formed in the pressure receiving plate 227 is communicated with the sensor chamber 21, which is a liquid space having a large volume, by the communication passage 227b, whereby the second embodiment described above. Instead of forming one surface of the recess 127a with the flexible film 23, which is an elastic member, like the pressure receiving plate 127 in the embodiment, the ink guide path 33 forms a partition in cooperation with the recess 227a. Attenuation of the residual vibration in the detection space can be suppressed, and the amplitude of the residual vibration at the time of detection can be ensured.

Therefore, the detection space in which the ink guide path 33 of the sensor chamber 21 forms a partition in cooperation with the recess 227a of the pressure receiving plate 227 can suppress the attenuation of the residual vibration and can easily detect the amplitude of the residual vibration. The detection accuracy can be further improved.
Therefore, the liquid storage container 102 of the present embodiment can have a function of detecting that the remaining amount of ink has reached a predetermined amount.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a liquid container according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 5, the liquid storage container 103 of the fourth embodiment is an improvement on a part of the liquid storage container 1 shown in FIG. 1, and the pressure receiving plate 327 cooperates with the ink guide path 33. Thus, two recesses 327a and 327b are provided so as to partition the detection space, and communication passages 327c and 327d that communicate with the sensor chamber 21 are formed in the respective recesses 327a and 327b. Since the configuration other than the pressure receiving plate 327 is the same as that of the liquid container 1 shown in FIG. 1, the same reference numerals are given and detailed description is omitted.

In the liquid container 103 according to the fourth embodiment, the detection spaces in which the two recesses 327a and 327b formed in the pressure receiving plate 327 form a partition in cooperation with the ink guide path 33 that is a recess are respectively connected to the communication path 327c. , 327d, two flow paths communicating with the sensor chamber 21 are formed.
Thus, the ink guide path 33 provided in the sensor chamber 21 cooperates with the two recesses 327a and 327b provided in the pressure receiving plate 327 to partition the detection space, thereby increasing the volume of the detection space. For this reason, the residual vibration frequency becomes small due to insufficient volume of the vibration action region and becomes undetectable, or even if it can be detected, the frequency of the residual vibration when the sensor chamber 21 is open and when it is shut off. The difference is so small that the difference cannot be discriminated.

  That is, the two recesses 327a and 327b formed in the pressure receiving plate 327 are communicated with the sensor chamber 21 which is a large volume liquid space via the communication passages 327c and 327d, respectively, so that the ink guide passage 33 is recessed. It is possible to secure the amplitude of the residual vibration at the time of detection by suppressing the attenuation of the residual vibration in the detection space that is partitioned in cooperation with the places 327a and 327b.

  Further, in order to fill the sensor chamber 21 with ink, when the ink is sucked from the ink supply port 9 connected to the ink jet recording apparatus, the suction force is formed in the communication path 327d formed in the pressure receiving plate 327, the recess 327b, Via the ink guide path 33, the recess 327 a and the communication path 327 c, the ink acts on the discharge port 7 b of the ink pack 7 connected to the sensor chamber 21. Made.

That is, since the ink guide path 33 that is the vibration action region is reliably filled with ink and bubbles do not remain in the ink guide path 33, it is possible to prevent a decrease in detection accuracy due to remaining bubbles.
Therefore, the liquid storage container 103 of the present embodiment can have a function of detecting that the remaining amount of ink has reached a predetermined amount, and even if the ink guide path 33 has a shape that is difficult to fill with ink, It is possible to reliably fill the ink and to detect the ink storage amount with high accuracy.

The configurations of the liquid detection unit, the liquid detection chamber, the moving member, the recess, the recess, the piezoelectric detection unit, and the like in the liquid storage container of the present invention are not limited to the configurations of the above embodiments, and the present invention Needless to say, various forms can be adopted based on the above.
For example, in each of the above embodiments, the compression coil spring 29 is used as a biasing means that biases the flexible film 23 and the pressure receiving plate 27 (127, 227, 327) toward the piezoelectric sensor 35 side.
However, instead of the compression coil spring 29, an urging means constituted by rubber or another elastic member may be used.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the time when the pressure receiving plate 27 (127, 227, 327) forms a detection space in cooperation with the ink guide path 33 is a state where the ink in the ink pack 7 is completely exhausted. The piezoelectric sensor 35 is set to function as an ink end detection mechanism for detecting that the remaining amount of ink in the ink pack 7 has become zero.
However, when the pressure receiving plate 27 (127, 227, 327) forms the detection space in cooperation with the ink guide path 33, the ink in the ink pack 7 is almost exhausted (a predetermined small amount remains). In other words, the piezoelectric sensor 35 can be used as an ink near-end detection mechanism for detecting a state where the ink remaining amount in the ink pack 7 is almost zero.

  Further, in the liquid container according to the present invention, the concave portion, which is a vibration action region in which the detection space is partitioned in cooperation with the concave portion of the moving member and the pressure detection portion acts on the vibration, is shown in each of the above embodiments. The ink guide path 33 is not limited to this. The recess according to the present invention may be formed in a simple notch shape that opens to the upper surface of the bottom plate 31 instead of the tubular passage.

The use of the liquid container of the present invention is not limited to the ink cartridge of the ink jet recording apparatus. The present invention can be used for various liquid consuming devices including a liquid ejecting head that discharges a minute amount of liquid droplets.
Specific examples of the liquid consuming device include, for example, an electrode material (conductive) used for forming an electrode such as a device having a color material ejecting head used for manufacturing a color filter such as a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, and a surface emitting display (FED). Examples thereof include an apparatus having a paste) ejection head, an apparatus having a bio-organic matter ejection head used for biochip manufacturing, an apparatus having a sample ejection head as a precision pipette, a textile printing apparatus, and a micro dispenser.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the liquid storage container which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention, and shows the state by which the liquid storage capacity of the liquid detection chamber became below predetermined. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view when the liquid storage part of the liquid storage container shown in FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the liquid storage container which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the liquid storage container which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the liquid container which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Liquid storage container, 3 ... Pressurization chamber, 5 ... Container main body, 7 ... Ink pack (liquid storage part), 7a ... Flexible bag, 7b ... Discharge port (liquid discharge port), 9 ... Ink supply port (Liquid supply port), 11... Ink detection unit (liquid detection unit), 11 a... Ink inlet (liquid inlet), 11 b .. ink outlet (liquid outlet), 13. Chamber, 19 ... detector case, 19a ... concave space, 21 ... sensor chamber (liquid detection chamber), 23 ... flexible film, 25 ... pressure detector, 27 ... pressure receiving plate (moving member), 27a ... concave, 29 ... Compression coil spring (biasing means), 31 ... Bottom plate, 33 ... Ink guide path (recess), 35 ... Piezoelectric sensor (piezoelectric detection means)

Claims (13)

A liquid container that discharges the liquid pressurized and stored by the pressurizing means from the liquid discharge port, a liquid supply port for supplying the liquid to an external liquid consumption device, the liquid container, and the liquid A liquid storage container provided with a liquid detection unit interposed between the supply port,
The liquid detector is
A liquid detection chamber having a liquid inlet connected to the liquid outlet of the liquid storage unit and a liquid outlet connected to the liquid supply port;
A moving member that moves in response to the liquid capacity of the liquid detection chamber;
A recess provided in the moving member so as to partition and form a detection space in cooperation with the recess provided in the liquid detection chamber when the liquid storage amount of the liquid detection chamber becomes a predetermined amount or less;
Piezoelectric detection means for applying vibration to the recess and detecting a free vibration state associated with the applied vibration;
A liquid container characterized by comprising:   The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein the recess is formed of a member having at least one surface having elasticity.   The liquid container according to claim 2, wherein the elastic member is a film.   The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein the recess communicates with the liquid detection chamber.   5. The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein the recess includes two flow paths that allow the recess to communicate with the liquid detection chamber. The liquid detection chamber is configured by sealing an opening formed on the upper surface with a film that can be deformed according to the amount of liquid contained,
The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric detection unit is disposed at a bottom of the liquid detection chamber.   The liquid storage container according to claim 6, wherein the moving member is moved by deformation of the film corresponding to a change in a liquid storage amount of the liquid detection chamber.   The liquid container according to claim 7, wherein the moving member is fixed to the film.   The said moving member has a surface which becomes substantially parallel with respect to the said vibration surface in the area | region which opposes the vibration surface of the said piezoelectric type detection means. Liquid container.   10. The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein the moving member is biased by a biasing unit in a direction in which the piezoelectric detection unit is disposed.   The liquid container according to claim 10, wherein the urging means is constituted by an elastic member.   12. The time when the recess forms a detection space in cooperation with the recess is set to a state where the liquid in the liquid storage portion is exhausted. The liquid container according to item.   12. The time point at which the concave portion cooperates with the concave portion to form a detection space is set to a state in which the liquid in the liquid storage portion is substantially exhausted. The liquid container according to one item.

Images