JP2013043355A - Liquid container - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology capable of suppressing a failure that air bubbles adhere to the surface of a detecting member, when the detecting member is provided in a liquid container configured to introduce air into a liquid storage part through an air passage.SOLUTION: Regarding the liquid container including the detecting member provided in the liquid storage part for storing the liquid therein, an air inlet for supplying the air, which has been introduced from the outside of the liquid container through the air passage, into the liquid storage part is provided above the detecting member. Accordingly, the air bubbles are generated above the detecting member, and thereby, the air bubbles are prevented from adhering to the detecting member.

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid container that is mounted on a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a liquid and can store the liquid therein.

  In a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a liquid such as ink from an ejecting nozzle, such as a so-called ink jet printer, a liquid container such as an ink cartridge that contains the liquid is mounted as a liquid supply source. The liquid container is detachably mounted on the liquid ejecting apparatus, and can be exchanged for a new liquid container when the liquid inside is exhausted.

  In addition, a liquid container is proposed in which a liquid storage portion of the liquid container and the atmosphere opening are connected by an air passage, and an air chamber is provided in the middle of the air passage to prevent leakage of liquid from the atmosphere opening. (Patent Document 1). In this liquid container, the air passage from the air chamber is connected to the vicinity of the bottom of the liquid storage portion, and when the liquid in the liquid storage portion is consumed, air is taken in from the vicinity of the bottom of the liquid storage portion through the air passage.

  Further, for the purpose of informing the user of the replacement time of the liquid container (the time when the liquid in the liquid container is exhausted), a technique for detecting the remaining amount of liquid has been proposed as follows. That is, a prism is provided at the bottom of the liquid container, light is incident on the prism from the light emitting element, and the reflected light is detected by the light receiving element. In the state where the surface of the prism is not exposed from the liquid (the liquid remains in the liquid container), the light does not return and is not detected by the light receiving element, but when the prism is exposed from the liquid, the light reflected by the prism is not detected. It is detected by the light receiving element. Therefore, it is possible to detect the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid storage portion based on whether light from the light emitting element is detected by the light receiving element (Patent Document 2).

JP 2007-253328 A JP 2009-132157 A

  However, in a liquid container in which air is taken in from the vicinity of the bottom of the liquid container such as the liquid container of Patent Document 1, there is a problem that bubbles may adhere to the surface of the prism when the prism is provided in the liquid container. there were. The same problem may occur not only when the prism is provided, but also when a detection member that detects the remaining amount of liquid from the state of the surface in contact with the liquid is provided at the bottom of the liquid container. When the remaining amount of the liquid in the liquid storage portion is detected using the detection member in a state where bubbles are attached in this way, there is a problem that the remaining amount of the liquid may be erroneously detected.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and in the case where a detection member is provided in a liquid container that takes air into the liquid storage portion through the air passage, bubbles are formed on the surface of the detection member. The purpose is to provide a technique capable of suppressing the adhesion of slag.

In order to solve at least a part of the problems described above, the liquid container of the present invention employs the following configuration. That is,
A liquid container detachably attached to the liquid consuming device,
A liquid container capable of accommodating therein the liquid to be supplied to the liquid consumption device;
An air port for supplying air taken from the outside of the liquid container through an air passage into the liquid container;
A detection member provided in the liquid storage unit, and a response to an input from the outside changes depending on a state of the liquid in the liquid storage unit
The liquid container is filled with the liquid up to a position above the air port when the liquid container is mounted on the liquid consumer before the consumption of the liquid in the liquid container is started. ,
The gist of the invention is that the air port is provided above a position of the detection member in a state where the liquid container is mounted on the liquid consuming device.

  In such a liquid container of the present invention, the liquid container is mounted on the liquid consuming device, and the liquid in the liquid container is supplied to the liquid consuming device. Air is taken in. At this time, an air port serving as an air intake port is provided above the detection member in the liquid container.

  Before the consumption of the liquid is started, the liquid container is filled with the liquid up to a position above the air port, and bubbles are generated from the air port as air is taken into the liquid container. However, since the bubbles are generated above the detection member, it is possible to avoid the bubbles from adhering to the detection member. As a result, when the remaining amount of liquid is detected using the detection member, it is possible to avoid erroneously detecting the remaining amount of liquid due to the influence of bubbles.

  Moreover, in the liquid container of the present invention described above, an air port may be provided at a position close to the upper surface of the liquid storage portion in a state where the liquid container is mounted on the liquid consuming device.

  When the air port is provided in this manner, the air port can be exposed from the liquid surface at an early stage in the process in which the liquid level of the liquid in the liquid storage unit is lowered as the liquid is supplied to the liquid consuming device. Since air bubbles are not generated from the air port after being exposed from the liquid surface in this way, it is possible to further suppress the bubble from adhering to the detection member by eliminating the generation of air bubbles at an early stage. It becomes possible to further suppress erroneous detection.

  Moreover, in the liquid container of the present invention described above, a portion where the air passage snakes may be provided in at least a part of the air passage. By doing so, the distance between the inside of the liquid container and the outside of the liquid container can be increased, and the gradient of the water vapor pressure between the inside of the liquid container and the outside of the liquid container can be made gentle. As a result, it is possible to suppress the moisture of the liquid in the liquid container from evaporating from the air passage to the outside.

  In the liquid container of the present invention described above, a room may be provided in the middle of the air passage for the purpose of storing the liquid flowing into the air passage from the liquid storage portion.

  In this case, when the ink in the liquid container flows back from the liquid container to the outside of the liquid container due to the expansion of the air in the liquid container due to a change in the external temperature or the attitude of the liquid container, etc. It becomes possible to store the liquid in the room in the middle of the air passage and prevent the liquid from leaking to the outside.

It is explanatory drawing which showed the rough structure of the liquid-jet apparatus of a present Example. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the ink cartridge of the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the internal structure of the ink cartridge of the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the remaining amount of ink in an ink cartridge is detected using a prism. It is explanatory drawing which showed the reason by which it is suppressed that a bubble adheres to the reflective surface of a prism by the position of the inlet_port | entrance of the 2nd ink chamber of a present Example. It is explanatory drawing which showed the position where an intake port is provided in the ink cartridge of a modification.

Hereinafter, in order to clarify the contents of the present invention described above, examples will be described in the following order.
A. Inkjet printer configuration:
B. Ink cartridge structure:
C. How to detect remaining ink:
D. Variations:

A. Inkjet printer configuration:
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a rough configuration of a liquid ejecting apparatus according to the present embodiment, using a so-called ink jet printer as an example. As illustrated, the ink jet printer 10 includes a carriage 20 that forms ink dots on the print medium 2 while reciprocating in the main scanning direction, a drive mechanism 30 that reciprocates the carriage 20, and the like. The carriage 20 is provided with an ink cartridge 100 (liquid container) containing ink, a carriage case 22 in which the ink cartridge 100 is mounted, an ejection head 24 that ejects ink, and the like. A plurality of ejection nozzles are provided on the bottom surface side (side facing the print medium 2) of the ejection head 24. The ink in the ink cartridge 100 is guided to the ejection head 24, and the ink is ejected from the ejection nozzles to the print medium 2. It is possible to inject.

  In the illustrated inkjet printer 10, it is possible to print a color image using four types of inks of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. An injection nozzle is provided for each type. Each ejection nozzle is supplied with ink from the corresponding ink cartridge 100 via a supply passage (not shown).

  The drive mechanism 30 for reciprocating the carriage 20 includes a timing belt 32 having a plurality of tooth shapes formed therein, a drive motor 34 for driving the timing belt 32, and the like. A part of the timing belt 32 is fixed to the carriage case 22. When the timing belt 32 is driven, the carriage 20 can be reciprocated in the main scanning direction while being guided by a guide rail extending in the main scanning direction. It becomes possible.

  A detection unit 200 for optically detecting the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge 100 is provided at a position outside the printing area of the inkjet printer 10. As will be described in detail later, a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit are provided inside the detection unit 200, and light is emitted from the light emission unit when the ink cartridge 100 passes above the detection unit 200 as the carriage 20 moves. And the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge 100 is detected based on whether the light receiving unit receives the light. In this embodiment, an embodiment in which the detection unit 200 is provided outside the print area will be described. However, in order to prevent unnecessary movement of the carriage 20 during printing, the detection unit 200 is provided in the print area. It is good also as providing.

  Furthermore, a control unit 60 that controls the overall operation of the inkjet printer 10 is mounted on the back surface of the inkjet printer 10. The operation of reciprocating the ejection head 24, the operation of ejecting ink from the ejection nozzle, the operation of detecting the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge 100, and the like are all controlled by the control unit 60.

B. Ink cartridge structure:
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the ink cartridge 100. As shown in the drawing, the ink cartridge 100 includes a main body case 102 roughly formed of a hard resin material, a first film 103 covering one side of the main body case 102, and the other side of the main body case 102. And a second film 104 covering the surface.

  A concave portion is provided on one side (the first film 103 side) of the main body case 102, and the concave portion is divided into a plurality of regions by a plurality of ribs provided vertically and horizontally. A plurality of small chambers are formed in the ink cartridge 100 by sealing one side of the main body case 102 with the first film 103. Further, a plurality of grooves are provided on the other side (second film 104 side) of the main body case 102, and the other side is sealed with the second film 152, whereby one side of the main body case 102 is provided. A passage connecting the plurality of small rooms is formed. The details of the internal structure of the ink cartridge 100 will be described later with reference to another drawing.

  Further, an ink supply port 105 for supplying ink toward the ejection head 24 of the carriage 20 is provided on the bottom surface of the main body case 102. Furthermore, an air opening 106 is provided on the upper surface of the main body case 102 for introducing air into the ink cartridge 100 as the ink in the ink cartridge 100 is consumed.

  FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the internal structure of the ink cartridge 100 of the present embodiment. 3A shows the internal structure of the ink cartridge 100 when the ink cartridge 100 is viewed from one side, and FIG. 3B shows the ink cartridge 100 from the other side. The internal structure when viewed is shown. In the following description, the side shown in FIG. 3A is called “front side”, and the side shown in FIG. 3B is called “back side”.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the front side of the ink cartridge 100 is roughly divided into four rooms by a plurality of ribs provided vertically and horizontally. First, in the drawing, the first ink chamber 120 is provided in the upper right half region, and the second ink chamber 130 is provided in the lower right half region. The first ink chamber 120 and the second ink chamber 130 are connected by a communication passage 134. A buffer chamber 140 is provided between the first ink chamber 120 and the second ink chamber 130 at a substantially central position in the drawing. The second ink chamber 130 and the buffer chamber 140 are connected by a passage on the back side of the ink cartridge 100, and the buffer chamber 140 is in communication with a pressure adjustment chamber 150 provided on the back side of the ink cartridge 100. The pressure adjustment chamber 150 incorporates a membrane valve, a spring, and the like, and has a function of adjusting the pressure of the ink supplied to the ejection head 24.

  In the ink cartridge 100 having such a structure, when ink is ejected from the ejection head 24, the ink flows from the first ink chamber 120 into the pressure adjustment chamber 150 via the second ink chamber 130 and the buffer chamber 140. After that, ink is supplied from the ink supply port 105 to the ejection head 24.

  In the second ink chamber 130 of the ink cartridge 100 of this embodiment, a prism 132 (detection member) made of a light transmissive plastic material is provided. The prism 132 is a so-called right angle prism, and one surface of the prism 132 forms a part of the bottom surface of the ink cartridge 100. An opening (not shown) is provided at a position corresponding to the prism 132 on the bottom surface of the carriage case 22 to which the ink cartridge 100 is mounted, and the ink cartridge 100 passes above the detection unit 200 as the carriage 20 moves. In some cases (see FIG. 1), light from the light emitting unit of the detecting unit 200 enters the prism 132 from the bottom surface side of the ink cartridge 100.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3A, an air chamber 110 is provided in the left region in the ink cartridge 100. The air chamber 110 is connected to the first ink chamber 120 through a passage on the back side of the ink cartridge 100. The air chamber 110 is connected from the communication port 112 at the upper right corner of the air chamber 110 to the atmosphere opening port 106 by an air passage 160 (see FIG. 3B) on the back side of the ink cartridge 100. Such an air chamber 110 is directed from the first ink chamber 120 toward the atmosphere opening port 106 because the air in the ink cartridge 100 expands due to a change in ambient temperature, or the posture of the ink cartridge 100 changes. When the ink flows backward, the ink is trapped inside to prevent the ink from leaking.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, a small chamber (film chamber 162) is provided in the air passage 160 that connects the air chamber 110 and the atmosphere opening 106, and the film chamber 162 has Inside, the upstream side and the downstream side are separated by a breathable film. For the breathable film, a material that allows gas to pass but does not allow liquid to pass (for example, “GORE-TEX” (registered trademark)) is used. Further, a portion where the air passage 160 meanders many times is provided at a position upstream of the film chamber 162. By providing such a portion and increasing the distance from the atmosphere opening 106 to the first ink chamber 120 (and the second ink chamber 130), it is possible to suppress evaporation of ink moisture in the ink cartridge 100. Yes.

  In the ink cartridge 100 of the present embodiment configured as described above, the remaining amount of ink is detected as follows using the prism 132 provided inside.

C. How to detect remaining ink:
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing how the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge 100 is detected using the prism 132. First, as described above, the ink cartridge 100 is mounted on the carriage case 22 that reciprocates in the main scanning direction. In the mounted state, as shown in FIG. 4, the prism 132 in the ink cartridge 100 has two surfaces (reflecting surface 132a, reflecting surface 132b) having the same angle with the bottom surface 132c arranged in the main scanning direction. A detection unit 200 is provided at a lower position in the middle of the path along which the carriage 20 moves in the main scanning direction. Inside the detection unit 200, there is a light emission unit 202 formed of an infrared light emitting diode. , And a light receiving portion 204 formed of a phototransistor are provided side by side in the main scanning direction. When the ink cartridge 100 passes above the detection unit 200 as the carriage 20 moves, the light from the light emitting unit 202 enters the bottom surface 132c of the prism 132 perpendicularly.

  FIG. 4 shows a state in which the prism 132 in the ink cartridge 100 is positioned directly above the detection unit 200 as the carriage 20 moves. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4A, if the ink liquid level (ink surface) in the second ink chamber 130 provided with the prism 132 is above the apex of the prism 132, the reflecting surface 132a and The reflective surface 132b is in contact with the ink. In this state, the light (incident light) incident on the prism 132 from the light emitting unit 202 is not reflected even when it hits the reflecting surface 132a, and as shown by the thick dashed arrow in FIG. It passes through the ink in 130. Therefore, the light from the light emitting unit 202 is not detected by the light receiving unit 204. In such a case, the control unit 60 determines that a predetermined amount or more of ink remains in at least the second ink chamber 130.

  On the other hand, when the ink in the second ink chamber 130 is consumed and the ink surface falls below the apex of the prism 132 as shown in FIG. 4B, the reflective surface 132a and the portion exposed from the ink of the prism 132 Air contacts the reflecting surface 132b. When the amount of ink in the second ink chamber 130 decreases below a predetermined amount and incident light strikes the portion of the reflecting surface 132a that is in contact with the air, this is indicated by a thick dashed arrow in FIG. 4B. To reflect. The light reflected by the reflecting surface 132a hits the portion of the other reflecting surface 132b that is in contact with the air, is reflected downward, and is detected by the light receiving unit 204. In such a case, the control unit 60 determines that the ink in the second ink chamber 130 is low, and therefore the ink in the ink cartridge 100 is almost exhausted.

  Here, in the ink cartridge that detects the remaining amount of ink using the prism as described above, the remaining amount of ink may be erroneously detected due to bubbles adhering to the reflecting surface of the prism. In other words, even though the ink is actually gone and the reflecting surface of the prism is in contact with the air, the light incident on the prism is diffusely reflected due to the bubbles attached to the reflecting surface, and the light is detected by the light receiving unit. In some cases, it is determined that there is ink without being used. On the other hand, in the ink cartridge 100 of this embodiment, the entrance (inlet 134i) of the communication passage 134 from the first ink chamber 120 to the second ink chamber 130 is provided at the following position. It is possible to suppress bubbles from adhering to the reflecting surfaces 132a and 132b of 132.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the reason why bubbles are suppressed from adhering to the reflecting surfaces 132a and 132b of the prism 132 depending on the position of the intake port 134i of the second ink chamber 130 of this embodiment. 5A shows the ink cartridge 100 of this embodiment, and FIG. 5B shows an ink cartridge 500 of a reference example in which an inlet is provided near the bottom of the second ink chamber. It is shown. Here, the ink cartridges 100 and 500 mounted on the inkjet printer 10 placed on a horizontal plane are shown.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, in the ink cartridge 100 of this embodiment, when the ink in the first ink chamber 120 runs out and the ink in the second ink chamber 130 starts to be consumed, the air opening port is opened. Air introduced into the ink cartridge 100 from (not shown) is taken into the second ink chamber 130 through the communication passage 134. At this time, since the ink is filled in the second ink chamber 130 up to a position above the intake port 134i (air port), bubbles are generated from the intake port 134i with the intake of air. Here, in the ink cartridge 100 of this embodiment, since the intake port 134 i is provided at a position higher than the position of the prism 132, bubbles are generated at a position above the prism 132.

  If the intake port 534i is provided at the bottom of the second ink chamber 530 as in the ink cartridge 500 of the reference example shown in FIG. 5B, bubbles are generated at the same height as the prism 532. Bubbles adhere to the reflective surface. On the other hand, in the ink cartridge 100 of the present embodiment, the bubble can be prevented from adhering to the reflecting surfaces 132a and 132b of the prism 132 by setting the bubble generation location above the prism 132. As a result, it is possible to suppress a situation in which the remaining amount of ink is erroneously detected due to the adhesion of bubbles.

D. Modified example:
In the above-described embodiment, it has been described that the intake 134i is provided at a position higher than the prism 132. Here, if the intake port 134i is provided at the following position, it is possible to further suppress bubbles from adhering to the reflecting surfaces 132a and 132b of the prism 132. In the modification described below, the same components as those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in this embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a position where the intake port 134i is provided in the ink cartridge 100 of the modified example. FIG. 6 shows the ink cartridges 100 and 500 mounted on the ink jet printer 10 placed on a horizontal plane, as in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6A, in the ink cartridge 100 of the modified example, an inlet 134 i is provided at a position close to the upper surface of the second ink chamber 130. When the intake port 134i is provided at such a position, as shown in FIG. 6B, the intake port 134i is exposed from the ink soon after the air starts to be taken into the second ink chamber 130, and thereafter the intake port 134i is exposed. Bubbles are not generated from the inlet 134i. By suppressing the amount of bubbles generated in the second ink chamber 130 in this way, it is possible to further suppress adverse effects caused by the bubbles adhering to the reflecting surfaces 132a and 132b of the prism 132.

  Although various embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to all the above embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the position of the intake port of the ink cartridge of the above-described embodiment and the modified example is applied to an ink cartridge that detects the remaining amount of ink by providing an electrode instead of a prism and applying an external voltage to the electrode. It is good to do. By doing so, it is possible to suppress the bubbles from adhering to the surface of the electrode, and thus it is possible to suppress the adverse effects caused by the bubbles adhering.

10 ... Inkjet printer, 20 ... Carriage, 24 ... Ejection head,
60 ... Control unit, 100 ... Ink cartridge, 106 ... Air opening,
110 ... Air chamber, 120 ... First ink chamber, 130 ... Second ink chamber,
132 ... prism, 134 ... communication passage, 134i ... intake,
160 ... Air passage, 200 ... Detection unit, 202 ... Light emission unit,
204: a light receiving unit, 500: an ink cartridge, 520: a first ink chamber,
530: second ink chamber, 532: prism, 534: communication passage,
534i ... Intake

Claims (4)

A liquid container detachably attached to the liquid consuming device,
A liquid container capable of accommodating therein the liquid to be supplied to the liquid consumption device;
An air port for supplying air taken from the outside of the liquid container through an air passage into the liquid container;
A detection member provided in the liquid storage unit, and a response to an input from the outside changes depending on a state of the liquid in the liquid storage unit
The liquid container is filled with the liquid up to a position above the air port when the liquid container is mounted on the liquid consumer before the consumption of the liquid in the liquid container is started. ,
The air port is a liquid container provided above a position of the detection member in a state where the liquid container is mounted on the liquid consuming device.   The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein the air port is provided at a position close to a surface on an upper side of the liquid container in a state where the liquid container is mounted on the liquid consuming device.   The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein the air passage is provided with a portion where the air passage snakes at least partially.   The liquid container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a chamber capable of storing the liquid flowing into the air passage from the liquid storage portion is provided in the middle of the air passage.

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