JP2008000952A - Liquid container and method for detecting residual quantity of liquid in liquid container - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid container equipped with a means which accurately detects a residual quantity of a liquid in the liquid container of a simple constitution that prevents the liquid from leaking outside, particularly a means which simply improves an accuracy for detecting the residual quantity just before the liquid runs out, and to provide a method for detecting the residual quantity of the liquid in the liquid container. <P>SOLUTION: The liquid container is made to be a two-chamber constitution of different volumes. Detection of the residual quantity is started as triggered in the wake of the fact that the liquid in the chamber of a small volume is used after the liquid in the chamber of a large volume is used. A detection error of the residual quantity of the liquid is made small accordingly. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid storage container and a liquid remaining amount detection method for a liquid storage container that employ a configuration in which the remaining amount of liquid in a removable liquid storage container can be grasped with little error.

  Conventionally known liquid storage containers include a liquid storage container in which a foam or fiber entanglement is stored as a liquid holding member and filled with liquid, or a configuration in which liquid is stored directly in a space where the liquid storage container is located. is there.

  Since the latter does not use a liquid holding member, there is an advantage that the liquid that cannot be supplied to the outside and remains inside is reduced. And what gave the negative pressure for making it difficult to leak to this structure has the technique described in patent document 1 shown to FIG. 15 (A), (B), (C).

  Patent Document 1 discloses the configuration of an ink tank used in an ink jet printer. Since the spring member 3 and the plate-like member 4 are arranged inside the flexible ink bag 1, when the ink in the ink bag is supplied to the outside, the bag tries to shrink, but on the other hand, the compressed spring The member 3 generates a negative pressure inside by trying to expand and restore the bag. The arrangement of the flexible ink bag 1 is not limited to that shown in FIG. 15 (B), and one surface may be fixed as shown in FIG. 15 (C).

  As a similar configuration, there is a liquid storage container described in FIG. 16 (Patent Document 2). In the configuration shown in FIG. 15, a flexible bag capable of reducing the internal volume is used to supply the liquid to the outside without introducing the atmosphere into the liquid storage space. However, the configuration of FIG. 16 is greatly different in that an appropriate volume of liquid is supplied to the outside by taking the atmosphere into the liquid storage space.

  Therefore, in the latter configuration, the liquid can be directly stored in the rigid housing internal space (the space formed by the main body 6 and the lid 7 in virtual terms in FIG. 15), which has an advantage of high storage efficiency.

  On the other hand, the negative pressure has a concern that the liquid leaks to the outside because the air intake 18 is provided in a portion in contact with the liquid and the meniscus force is used. Furthermore, there is also a concern about negative pressure fluctuation (positive pressure in some cases) caused by expansion and contraction of the air taken in due to environmental changes (temperature and pressure).

  To solve these problems, as shown in FIG. 16, a hydrophobic gas permeable membrane 19 is used for liquid leakage, and a buffer mechanism consisting of 11, 13, 14 is used for expansion and contraction of the atmosphere. It is a configuration to solve.

  FIG. 17 shows the negative pressure during the basic supply operation. In the technique of FIG. 15, the relationship is almost proportional to the spring constant and the amount of displacement (the line indicated by reference numeral 801 in FIG. 17), but in the technique of FIG. 16, the meniscus breaking pressure (bubble point pressure) and the head are almost constant. It operates so as to be a negative pressure (a negative pressure indicated by reference numeral 803 in FIG. 17 and a line indicated by reference numeral 802).

  Both the configuration of FIG. 15 and the configuration of FIG. 16 can be stably generated with an appropriate design, and thus are generally employed in applications for supplying stored ink to an ink jet recording head.

  Here, the technique for detecting the remaining amount of liquid in these liquid storage containers will be described. In the liquid container having the configuration shown in FIG. 16, the liquid level decreases as the liquid is supplied to the outside. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 18 (Patent Document 3), electrode pins 25 and 26 are arranged in a certain portion, and it is easy to determine whether or not there is liquid at the electrode pin position by using the electric conductivity of the liquid. It is possible to detect. Similarly, in the configuration shown in FIG. 19 (Patent Document 4), a pair of plate-shaped electrode plates are arranged inside a liquid storage container so as to face each other, and a change in capacitance due to a drop in liquid level is detected. With this technology, the remaining amount of liquid can be known in an analog manner.

On the other hand, in the liquid container having the configuration shown in FIG. 14, there is no state in which the liquid level is lowered because the atmosphere is not taken in. For this reason, for example, as shown in FIG. 20 (Patent Document 5), the movement of the plate member is caused by the ridge 31 provided on the plate member 30 moving together with the flexible liquid storage bag 20 blocking the reflected light path. A measure is taken such as detecting the remaining amount by detecting the amount, that is, the amount of shrinkage of the liquid storage bag.
JP-A-6-183023 JP 2003-191488 A JP-A-8-197749 JP-A-8-197749 JP 2002-301828 A

By the way, in the liquid container having the configuration shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, it is configured to be displaced between a pair of facing surfaces having the maximum area S in a generally rectangular parallelepiped container shape, and the displacement range is set. It is desirable to make the negative pressure characteristics close to flat and to stabilize the negative pressure by shortening (the distance between the maximum area surfaces is shorter than the other sides). For this reason, the inclination of the plate-shaped member 30 that moves together with the liquid storage bag and the slight detection error Δd of the detected displacement amount cause a large liquid amount error ΔV. (ΔV = S * Δd, where S >> 0)
The present invention is a liquid storage container having a simple configuration that does not leak liquid to the outside, and is a means for accurately detecting the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid storage container, in particular, simple detection of the remaining amount immediately before the liquid runs out. It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid storage container provided with means for improving the capacity and a liquid remaining amount detection method for the liquid storage container.

A liquid storage container for achieving the above object is a rectangular parallelepiped liquid storage container used in a recording apparatus and capable of supplying liquid to the outside by reducing the volume of the storage space without taking in air from the outside. To form two compartments capable of containing liquid,
The first compartment includes a first liquid storage space configured to be able to hold the liquid contained in the compartment while maintaining a negative pressure by a flexible film and an elastic deformation member, and the first liquid. Conductive plate-like electrodes are provided so as to correspond to the two opposing surfaces of the storage space, respectively, and the pair of electrodes are connected to a pair of external electrical connection terminals provided on the outer surface of the liquid storage container. And the second compartment has a second liquid storage space capable of storing a liquid by a flexible film,
The first compartment is provided with a liquid supply port that communicates the first liquid housing space with the outside and supplies a liquid, and communicates with a space that does not contain a liquid and is isolated by the flexible film. A first air communication port;
The second compartment includes a second air communication port that communicates with the space that does not contain liquid, isolated by the flexible film,
The first liquid storage space and the second liquid storage space communicate with each other via a through communication path provided in one region of the partition wall;
The second atmosphere communication port is provided with a valve mechanism that can be opened and closed without contact from the outside.

In addition, the method for detecting the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid storage container adopting the above configuration is based on the amount of liquid consumed based on the total amount of liquid stored in the first and second liquid storage spaces. A first remaining amount detecting step for detecting the amount;
In parallel with the first remaining amount detection step, the capacitance of the first liquid storage space is detected, and the increase rate of the capacitance with respect to the value of the amount of liquid consumed is set to a preset value. A first liquid containing space primary end detecting step for detecting that has been reached;
Receiving the primary end detection of the first liquid storage space, and opening the release valve provided in the second atmosphere communication port;
In parallel with the opening step, a second liquid container that detects the capacitance of the first liquid storage space and detects that the decreasing rate of the capacitance per unit time has reached a preset value. A spatial end detection step;
Upon receiving the second liquid storage space end detection, the consumed liquid amount in the first remaining amount detection step is temporarily reset and stored in the second liquid storage space before the start of use. A second remaining amount detecting step for detecting the remaining amount as a coefficient of the amount of liquid consumed again based on the liquid amount
The liquid remaining amount detection of the liquid container is performed by the above step procedure.

  In the present invention, the conventional idea of detecting the remaining amount itself is revised, and the idea is based on an idea that is particularly focused on the detection in the low to end states of the ink tank desired by the user. In other words, (1) the ink low timing is apparently created in the ink end state, (2) the internal pressure adjustment valve senses this state as a sudden change point of the negative pressure, and (3) a certain amount of ink is then separated into the separate chamber. The remaining amount of ink can be detected in the ink amount, that is, in the Low to End state. As a result, the remaining amount of liquid in the detachable and replaceable liquid storage container can be grasped with little error.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
The liquid storage container 100 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 has a rectangular parallelepiped casing, and is divided into two large and small sections by a partition wall 103 provided so as to connect the opposing maximum area planes. Yes.

  The large compartment is the first liquid storage compartment 105, and has a known spring bag type negative pressure generating mechanism and the like inside. That is, in the first liquid storage section 105, there is a bag-shaped first liquid storage space 195 wrapped with a flexible film 141 having electrical insulation. The flexible film is arranged in parallel with the maximum area surface of the case 101 so that the internal volume can be reduced. A pair of resin plate-like members 121a and 121b (not shown) and a compression spring (referred to as an elastic deformation member) 120 (which is a coil spring in FIG. 1 but is not limited to this) that tries to spread them, The first flexible film 141 is provided integrally with the first liquid storage space 195.

  Conductive electrode plates 161a and 161b are provided on the outer surface of the first liquid storage space 195 so as to correspond to the plate-like reinforcing plates 121a and 121b with the first flexible film 141 interposed therebetween. (161b is not shown) On the outer surface of the liquid storage container, there are provided electrical connection terminals 162a and 162b that are electrically connected to a pair of electrode plates, and lead wires 163a and 163b that are electrically connected between the terminals are the first liquid storage compartment. 105 is connected with slack.

  The first liquid storage section 105 is provided with an air communication port 108, which communicates with the outside of the first liquid storage space 195, and liquid that is externally supplied to the inner bottom portion of the first liquid storage space 195. A lead-out port 107 is provided and is connected to the ink supply port 110.

  As a basic operation, the liquid stored in the first liquid storage space 195 can supply ink to the outside while maintaining the negative pressure generated by the coil spring without introducing air.

  The point of the configuration of the present invention is that the first liquid storage space 195 is not an independent space but has a configuration as described later. The following will be described in order.

  In the second liquid storage section 106 described above, the flexible film 142 fixed to the inner wall 143 at a half height is stored above the 143 so as to store the liquid in a state free from the inner wall and to be self-supporting. is doing.

  The outer area of the second liquid storage space 196 in the second liquid storage section 106 is an area where air is present in a very small amount, but is usually provided by the valve 130 provided at the lid member 102 and the atmosphere communication port. Sealed. In addition, the flexible film 141 that forms the first liquid storage space 195 disposed in the first liquid storage section 105 and the second liquid storage space 196 disposed in the second liquid storage section 106. The fluid is communicated with the lower space of the flexible film 142 that forms the shape by the communication passage 104 that penetrates the partition wall 103.

  Here, in addition to the perspective view already described, the configuration will be described using a cross-sectional view. FIG. 3 is a view for explaining the cutting positions 700I to 700VIII, and FIGS. 4 (I) to (VIII) show corresponding cross-sectional views. 121a and 121b are reinforcing plates not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and are fixed to the inner surface of the first flexible film 141.

  Electrode plates 161a and 161b are fixed to the outer surface of the film facing the reinforcing plate with the film interposed therebetween.

  111 provided in the liquid outlet 107 to the outside is an elastic seal member that receives a hollow supply needle 500 (not shown) connected from a liquid supply destination.

  The operation of the liquid container configured as described above will be described with specific timings (a) to (h).

  In the description of the drawings of the following embodiments, (a) to (h) show the state of the liquid storage container at the specific timing as a schematic drawing, and there are missing numbers depending on the description. Refusing in advance.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the liquid container will be described with reference to FIGS. 5A shows the timing a, FIG. 5B shows the timing b, FIG. 5C shows the timing c, FIG. 5D shows the timing f, and FIG. 5E shows the timing h. Respectively. Further, the lid member 102 is removed so that the internal state can be easily understood. For the sake of understanding in FIG. 5, it should be noted that the left large compartment (first liquid containing compartment 105) is in communication with the outside air through the atmosphere communication port 108 provided in the lid member 102. The small compartment (second liquid storage compartment 106) is in a sealed state by a valve 130 provided at the atmosphere communication port 109. This point will be supplementarily explained in the following explanation.

  The initial state of the liquid storage container 100 of the present invention is as shown in FIG. That is, the first liquid storage space 195 formed by the flexible film 141 arranged in parallel with the pair of maximum area surfaces and the reinforcing plate 121 integrated with the flexible film 141 has a rectangular parallelepiped inner space. The liquid storage compartment 105 extends all over. In addition, in the upper half area of the second liquid storage section 106 having a rectangular parallelepiped inner space, the flexible film 142 extends over the entire area, and the second liquid storage space 196 is formed together with the lower half area. is doing.

  Here, in the initial state, the amount of liquid stored in the first liquid storage space is V1, and the amount of liquid stored in the second liquid storage space is V2. The first liquid storage space that stores the amount of liquid V1 maintains the distance do between the reinforcing plates 121a-121b. However, when the liquid is supplied from the liquid supply port 110 via the liquid outlet 107, the liquid is supplied. The volume of the first liquid storage space 195 is reduced by an amount commensurate with the liquid supply. FIG. 5B schematically shows the time when about half (liquid amount (V1 / 2)) is supplied. The distance between the reinforcing plates 121a and 121b at this time compresses the spring member 120, and dh≈ do / 2.

  When the liquid is further supplied, the reinforcing plates eventually collide with each other (dk≈0), and the liquid in the first liquid storage space 195 is about to be exhausted. Until just before the collision, as described in the background art, a behavior like the negative pressure characteristic 801 in FIG. 16 is exhibited. However, if the liquid is further supplied to the outside, it will be described later due to the interference resistance between the flexible films 141 and the interference resistance when the spring member is folded, as shown in (b) to (c) of FIG. As described above, when the liquid supply end of the first liquid storage space 195 is reached, the negative pressure rapidly decreases.

  In parallel, the capacitance between the electrode plates is in inverse proportion to the square of the electrode plate distance as the electrode plates are closest and a little liquid is left between the electrode plates 161a-161b. Happens.

  Here, the rapid increase in the capacitance of the first liquid storage space 195 (inclination 351 shown in FIGS. 8B and 8B) indicates the state immediately before the liquid depletion state in the first liquid storage section. Yes, with the obtained detection result, the valve 130 provided in the second atmospheric communication path of the lid member 102 is opened.

  When the air communication port 109 is opened, the liquid quickly moves via the communication path 104 from the second liquid storage space communicating with the liquid to the second liquid storage space where the internal pressure has been rapidly decreased. . The second flexible film 142 is not provided with a separate reinforcing plate or a spring member, and almost no resistance is generated. The second flexible film 142 has a fixing point 143 to the inner wall as a turning point. While turning upside down, the atmosphere is taken into the second liquid storage compartment 106 and turned upside down toward the bottom.

  FIG. 5D schematically shows a state in which the entire amount of liquid V2 in the second liquid storage space has moved to the first liquid storage space. At this time, the distance between the reinforcing plates 121a and 121b increases from dk (≈0) to dL by the amount of liquid V2 that has moved.

  Since the first liquid storage space 195 and the second liquid storage space 196 are in fluid communication via the communication path 104, the liquid movement is completed quickly by the negative pressure, and the electrostatic capacity decreases again (rapidly). The valve 130 is closed and the atmosphere communication port 109 is sealed. In addition, even if the atmosphere communication port 109 is sealed with a delay, the problem that the atmosphere enters the first liquid storage space 195 does not occur. This is because the first liquid storage space and the atmosphere communication port 109 region are blocked by the second flexible film 142.

  As described above, the first point of the present invention is that the liquid end state is virtually created to operate the internal pressure regulating valve by utilizing the sudden decrease in negative pressure (internal pressure), and a certain amount of liquid is supplied. There is to move. The point of the second invention is to detect the liquid movement start timing and the movement completion timing by capacitance, and the third point is to reset the dot count type count and newly set the liquid amount to V2. Or to set the amount corresponding to it.

  As a result, the dot count is reset and the dot count is started again from V2 (or its equivalent value) when the remaining amount of liquid is reduced as compared with the conventional technique in which the remaining dot count is detected with the total liquid amount of (V1 + V2). As a result, it is possible to realize higher remaining amount detection accuracy with a short cumulative error and just before the end of liquid supply.

  In order to effectively bring out the effects of the present invention, it is desirable that the amount of liquid stored in the second liquid storage space is small. Although depending on the operation mode of the apparatus equipped with the liquid storage container of the present invention and the user's request, 5 to 25% of the total liquid amount (V1 + V2) is a desirable range. That is, if expressed by V1: V2, approximately 20 (19): 1-3: 1 is a preferable range.

  The above operation steps will be described with reference to another schematic diagram 6. Note that the reference numerals in parentheses used here also correspond to a to h in the graph or chart of FIG.

  The schematic diagrams shown in FIGS. 6A to 6H are shown as vertical cross-sectional views so that the operation states at the timings a to h and the operation of the valve 130 (not shown) can be easily explained.

  It should be noted that the first liquid storage space 195 moves in the width direction of the liquid storage container as shown in FIG. 5, so that the state of the amount of liquid stored is represented in the longitudinal sectional view. Can not. Therefore, in FIG. 6, the displacement of the first flexible film is expressed in the vertical direction, and the amount of liquid accommodated therein is expressed in the height direction.

  FIG. 6A shows an initial state corresponding to FIG. 5A, in which the liquid amount V1 is stored in the first liquid storage space 195 and the liquid amount V2 is stored in the second liquid storage space 196. . The first liquid storage space 195 is a space closed by the first flexible film 141, and the liquid outlet 107 and the communication port 107 are connected to the outside at the bottom of the liquid storage container 100 and the partition wall 103, respectively. It is fixed in the passage 104 and communicates with the adjacent area.

  When the liquid storage container 100 is attached to an apparatus (not shown), an amount of a hollow liquid supply needle 500 (not shown) passes through an elastic sealing portion (commonly referred to as a rubber plug) 111 disposed in the ink supply port 110, and liquid to the outside It is exposed in the first liquid storage space 195 through the outlet 107.

  When the liquid supply to the outside is performed, the space closed by the first flexible film becomes smaller by the decrease in the internal volume, and the atmosphere 600 corresponding to the volume decrease enters from the atmosphere communication port 108. FIG. 6B shows a state when a liquid of an amount of about (V1) / 2 is supplied. Again, it is added that the first liquid storage space 195 does not move in the vertical direction but moves in the front-back direction of the cross-sectional view. This is a matter common to the first liquid storage space 195 in FIGS. 6A to 6H.

  Further, when the liquid is supplied in an amount of about (V1) / 2, as shown in FIG. 6C, the liquid approaches the state just before depletion in the first liquid storage space 195. Then, as soon as the rate of change (inclination) exceeds a predetermined set value from the monitored capacitance value, as shown in FIG. 6 (d), the valve 130 disposed at the atmosphere communication port 109 is closed. When activated, the second liquid storage compartment 106 is opened to the atmosphere. Then, the liquid (liquid amount is V2) in the second liquid storage space 196 starts moving so that the negative pressure in the first liquid storage space that has rapidly decreased is immediately pulled.

  The liquid that has moved from the second liquid storage space 196 to the first liquid storage space 195 borrows the restoring force of the spring member 120 that is biased to push the space closed by the flexible film. Then, the internal volume is enlarged, and the state of FIG. 6E is shifted to the state of FIG. 6F. At this time, the liquid amount V2 is in the first liquid storage space 195, and the liquid amount is substantially zero in the second liquid storage space 196.

  When the liquid movement is completed, it can be confirmed from the monitored capacitance value that the rate of change (slope) has returned to the predetermined set value. At this point, the valve 130 is operated again, and the air communication port 109 is sealed.

  A dot count method (a known technique that calculates the remaining amount of liquid by adding up the amount used by the recording device from the initial state of use (total liquid amount V1 + V2). In an ink jet recording device, discharge, suction recovery, etc. The remaining amount of liquid can be obtained by accumulating the usage amount for each operation of the above), but the dot count value is reset and the liquid is re-applied in response to the timing when the large change in the capacitance occurs. Let the remaining amount be V2 (or an amount equivalent to V2 with some correction amount added).

  Liquid supply after FIG. 6F is performed in the same manner as in FIGS. 6B to 6D regardless of whether or not the liquid 200 exists in the second liquid storage space.

  Subsequently, the valve 130 will be briefly supplemented with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7A shows the entire liquid storage container, and FIG. 7B shows an enlarged valve configuration. As shown in FIG. 7B, the valve 130 has an upper surface of a thin ring-shaped permanent magnet as an S pole, and an elastic sealing member 132 (low elastic rubber, closed cell type foamed foam, etc.) on the rear surface (N pole surface). ) Is pasted. Further, it is integrated with the shaft 133 and is normally closed by a compression biasing spring 134.

  As shown in FIG. 7C, when the N pole is made to oppose the second atmosphere communication port 109 and the magnet is brought closer, the N and S poles attract each other, the valve 130 is displaced upward, and the atmosphere 600 passes. The air communication port is opened as possible.

  In addition, arrangement | positioning of N pole and S pole is not limited, The reverse may be sufficient, Furthermore, one side may be a magnetic body. The magnetic force, proximity distance, etc. of the magnet 330 must be taken into consideration, but from the viewpoint of cost, it is desirable that the replaceable liquid container side 131 is not a magnet but a magnetic body, and the apparatus side 330 is a magnet. . The device-side 330 is not limited to a permanent magnet, and may be an electromagnet.

  Next, FIG. 8 schematically showing a summary of the operations described in FIGS. 5 and 6 will be described. The graph in FIG. 8A shows the pressure change in the first liquid storage space 195 from the initial state (a) of the liquid storage container to the end of use (h). Although the details are not described because the description is duplicated, the internal pressure rapidly decreases immediately before the liquid in the first liquid storage space is exhausted.

  FIG. 8B illustrates the change in capacitance in correspondence with FIG. 8A. It is configured to control the valve in response to a sudden increase in point capacitance. Note that it is difficult to judge based on the set value of the capacitance itself because of design tolerances, manufacturing variations, and the like. However, since the change is steep, it is not necessary to worry about operation variations by capturing the rate of change (slope).

  FIG. 8 (C) is a chart showing the timing for controlling the valve, and FIG. 8 (D) explains the dot count reset in correspondence with FIGS. 8 (A) and 8 (B). Since both are already explained, details are omitted.

(Second embodiment)
FIG. 9A shows the first embodiment, and FIG. 9B shows the second embodiment. In this example, the resin reinforcing plates 121a and 121b and the conductive electrode plates 161a and 161b are integrated with each other and arranged on the inner surface of the first flexible film 141. By configuring in this way, the number of parts can be reduced and the electrodes are closer to each other (at the closest point, the distance is substantially zero if the insulation coating is ignored), so that the electrostatic capacity is more rapid. There is a merit to detect the rise.

  In addition, since the electrode plate is immersed in the liquid, when an electrically conductive liquid or a corrosive liquid is accommodated, an insulation coating is necessary, and the correspondence must be forgotten.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 10 shows a third embodiment. The first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is configured such that the two surfaces of the flexible film facing the pair of maximum area surfaces both move toward the center in the width direction of the liquid storage container. However, one may be fixed as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 11A shows this in a cross-sectional view, but a configuration using a tension spring as shown in FIGS. 11B and 11C may be used.

  In supplementary explanation, it is important that the second liquid storage space is configured to move the liquid through the communication path while lowering the liquid level. Details of the first negative pressure generating mechanism It is not limited to.

(Fourth embodiment)
The fourth embodiment is shown in FIGS. 12 (a) to 12 (h). The basic operation is the same except that the configuration of the second liquid storage space is different from that of the first embodiment. Also, the symbols a to h in parentheses are made to correspond.

  In the first embodiment, the region above the fixed point (fixed line) 143 of the second liquid storage space is configured by the second flexible film 142, and the region below is configured by the partition wall 103 and the inner wall of the case 101. However, in this embodiment, it is composed of only the second flexible film except for the bottom.

  In this embodiment, since the second flexible film is folded to create the state of FIG. 12 (f), a flexible and thin film is desirable. Whether to adopt the form of the first embodiment or the form of the first embodiment may be determined from the shape factor such as the liquid amount V2, the inner width and height of the liquid container. For a liquid container having a height, the configuration of the first embodiment may be more desirable.

(Fifth embodiment)
FIGS. 13A to 13D show the fourth embodiment. 13A shows the timing a, FIG. 13B shows the timing d, FIG. 13C shows the timing f, and FIG. 13D shows the state at the timing h. Although the basic configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, the second atmospheric communication port 109 is provided with an operating valve 190 using a shape memory alloy painted in black on the valve movable portion. In the step of FIG. 13C, the operation of the semiconductor laser module 370 by the semiconductor laser 371 is not performed by the operation of the magnet valve 130 by the magnet 330.

(Sixth embodiment)
A sixth embodiment is shown in FIG. This indicates that the direction in which the second liquid storage space moves is not limited to the vertically downward direction. The liquid in the first liquid storage space is merely reduced in the inner volume in the width direction without decreasing in the height direction. Therefore, even if the communication path 104 is arranged upward, it is pulled by the internal pressure of the first liquid storage space, and the second liquid storage space acts to move the liquid while moving upward from below. .

  The conventional spring bag type ink tank that does not introduce air does not cause a drop in the liquid level, so there is no simple and accurate remaining amount detecting means. Although the dot count method that is practically used is simple, it is difficult to increase the ink end detection accuracy because it counts with respect to the total ink amount.

  In the present invention, the conventional idea of detecting the remaining amount itself is revised, and the detection is particularly focused on the low-end state of the ink tank that the user desires. That is, (1) the ink low timing is apparently created in the ink end state, (2) the state is detected as a sudden change point in capacitance, and the valve is operated. (3) Thereafter, a certain amount of ink is discharged. By sending it from a separate chamber, it is possible to accurately detect the remaining amount of ink.

It is a typical perspective view which permeate | transmits and shows the inside about the liquid storage container which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention. It is the typical perspective view which removed the lid | cover of the liquid storage container shown by FIG. 1, and showed the internal structure. It is a typical external view which shows the cutting position of typical sectional drawing shown in FIG. (I)-(VIII) is typical sectional drawing which shows the cut surface corresponding to the cutting location of the liquid storage container shown by FIG. (A)-(e) is a perspective view which shows typically the operation state at the time of the liquid being consumed from a liquid storage container, removing a lid | cover. (A)-(h) is a sectional side view which shows the operation state at the time of the liquid being consumed from a liquid storage container more finely, and is shown typically. (A)-(C) are schematic which shows typically the structure of the internal pressure adjustment valve of a liquid storage container. (A)-(D) are the figure which shows the pressure change in a liquid storage container, respectively, The figure which shows an electrostatic capacitance change, The figure which shows the operation | movement of an internal pressure adjustment valve, The figure which shows dot count reset. It is typical sectional drawing which shows the liquid storage container which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a typical perspective view which permeate | transmits and shows the inside about the liquid storage container which concerns on 3rd embodiment of this invention. (A)-(C) is typical sectional drawing which shows the horizontal cross section of the liquid storage container shown by FIG. 10, respectively, and is typical sectional drawing which shows the horizontal cross section of an internal structure modification. (A)-(h) is a sectional side view which subdivides and shows typically the operation state at the time of a liquid being consumed from the liquid storage container of 4th embodiment. (A)-(d) is a sectional side view which subdivides and shows typically the operation state at the time of a liquid being consumed from the liquid storage container of 5th embodiment. It is a typical perspective view which permeate | transmits and shows the inside about the liquid storage container which concerns on 6th embodiment of this invention. (A)-(C) are the typical exploded perspective view and sectional drawing which show an example of the liquid container of a prior art example. It is typical sectional drawing which shows the other example of the liquid storage container of a prior art example. It is a figure which shows the negative pressure state of a prior art example. It is the schematic which shows an example of the ink remaining amount detection structure of a prior art example. It is the schematic which shows the other example of the ink remaining amount detection structure of a prior art example. It is the schematic which shows another example of the ink remaining amount detection structure of a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Liquid storage container 104 Communication path 105 1st liquid storage compartment 106 2nd liquid storage compartment 107 Liquid outlet from a liquid storage chamber 108 Atmospheric communication port of a 1st liquid storage chamber 109 Air | atmosphere of a 2nd liquid storage chamber Communication port 110 Liquid supply port to the outside 150 Liquid supply port to the outside 161a, b Electrode plate 162 Electrical connection terminal 163 Lead wire

Claims (7)

A rectangular parallelepiped liquid storage container that can be used to supply liquid to the outside by reducing the volume of the storage space without taking in air from the outside. ,
The first compartment includes a first liquid storage space configured to be able to hold the liquid contained in the compartment while maintaining a negative pressure by a flexible film and an elastic deformation member, and the first liquid. Conductive plate-like electrodes are provided so as to correspond to the two opposing surfaces of the storage space, respectively, and the pair of electrodes are connected to a pair of external electrical connection terminals provided on the outer surface of the liquid storage container. And the second compartment has a second liquid storage space capable of storing a liquid by a flexible film,
The first compartment is provided with a liquid supply port that communicates the first liquid housing space with the outside and supplies a liquid, and communicates with a space that does not contain a liquid and is isolated by the flexible film. A first air communication port;
The second compartment includes a second air communication port that communicates with the space that does not contain liquid, isolated by the flexible film,
The first liquid storage space and the second liquid storage space communicate with each other via a through communication path provided in one region of the partition wall;
A liquid storage container, wherein the second atmosphere communication port is provided with a valve mechanism that can be opened and closed without contact from the outside.   The liquid storage container according to claim 1, wherein the liquid storage container is provided with the partition wall so as to partition two opposing surfaces having a maximum area surface.   The amount of liquid that can be accommodated or accommodated in the first liquid accommodation space and the amount of liquid that can be accommodated or accommodated in the second liquid accommodation space are in the range of 20: 1 to 3: 1. The liquid storage container according to claim 1, wherein the liquid storage container is a liquid storage container.   The second liquid storage space is substantially parallel to the partition wall in accordance with the supply of liquid to the first liquid storage space via the communication path, and is in a vertical direction when the liquid storage container is in use. The liquid storage container according to claim 1, wherein the second liquid storage space is configured to be reduced.   The valve mechanism provided at the second atmosphere communication port is a magnet valve that opens and closes by magnetic force or a shape memory valve that opens and closes in accordance with light energy-heat energy conversion by irradiation with semiconductor laser light. The liquid container according to claim 4.   The first liquid storage space is configured to reduce the first liquid storage space by a substantially parallel movement between the opposing maximum area planes with liquid supply to the outside. The liquid container according to claim 1. In the liquid residual amount detection method of the liquid container according to claim 1 to 6,
A first remaining amount detection step of performing a remaining amount detection by using the amount of liquid consumed based on the total amount of liquid stored in the first and second liquid storage spaces;
In parallel with the first remaining amount detection step, the capacitance of the first liquid storage space is detected, and the increase rate of the capacitance with respect to the value of the amount of liquid consumed is set to a preset value. A first liquid containing space primary end detecting step for detecting that has been reached;
Receiving the primary end detection of the first liquid storage space, and opening the release valve provided in the second atmosphere communication port;
In parallel with the opening step, a second liquid container that detects the capacitance of the first liquid storage space and detects that the decreasing rate of the capacitance per unit time has reached a preset value. A spatial end detection step;
Upon receiving the second liquid storage space end detection, the consumed liquid amount in the first remaining amount detection step is temporarily reset and stored in the second liquid storage space before the start of use. A second remaining amount detecting step for detecting the remaining amount as a coefficient of the amount of liquid consumed again based on the liquid amount
A method for detecting a remaining amount of liquid in a liquid container, wherein the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid container is detected according to the above-described step procedure.

Images