JP2018202614A - Liquid storage body - Google Patents

Abstract

To inhibit air bubbles from being led out from a liquid supply port in a liquid storage body.SOLUTION: A liquid storage body mounted to a carriage moving back and forth in an X direction, comprises: an upper wall and a bottom wall; a liquid supply port provided on the bottom wall; a first storage chamber; a second storage chamber; a partition wall partitioning the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber; and a communication port causing the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber to communicate with each other. The second storage chamber is connected to the liquid supply port, and the first storage chamber is connected to the liquid supply port via the communication port and the second storage chamber. The second storage chamber includes a return flow passage returning in the X direction. Liquid in the first storage chamber is led out to the liquid supply port through the return flow passage from the communication port. When viewing from a Z direction, a shape of a flow passage cross section of the communication port includes at least a first polygon and a second polygon, and an area of the first polygon is different from an area of the second polygon.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 16

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid container that contains a liquid such as ink.

  Patent Documents 1 to 3 disclose various printers in which air is introduced into a liquid container. The printers of Patent Documents 1 and 2 are “on-carriage type” printers in which a liquid container is mounted on a carriage holder that moves a print head. The printer of Patent Document 3 has a liquid container mounted on a carriage. This is an “off-carriage type” printer in which the liquid container is installed at a fixed position.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2014-40080 JP-A-6-40041 Japanese Patent No. 3807115

  In these various printers, there is a possibility that bubbles are mixed into the ink supplied from the liquid container. When air bubbles flow into the print head of the printer, printing defects may occur. In particular, in a liquid container mounted on an on-carriage type printer such as Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2, ink is generated by the reciprocating movement of the carriage, and bubbles are generated by mixing the ink in the ink chamber and the atmosphere. This problem is likely to become prominent. Even if the liquid container is not a liquid container in which the atmosphere is introduced, such a problem may occur if a certain amount of air exists in the liquid container. Such a problem is common to liquid containers that store liquids other than ink and other liquid ejecting apparatuses that use the liquid containers.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms.

(1) According to the first aspect of the present invention, a liquid container configured to be mounted on a carriage that reciprocates in the X direction is provided. The liquid container includes an upper wall and a bottom wall facing in the Z direction intersecting with the X direction; a first side wall and a second side wall facing in the Y direction intersecting with the X direction and the Z direction; Opposing third and fourth side walls; a liquid supply port provided in the bottom wall; a first storage chamber provided on the + Z direction side which is the upper wall side in the Z direction; and the Z direction A second storage chamber provided on the −Z direction side that is the bottom wall side; a partition wall that partitions the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber; the first storage chamber and the second storage A communication port that communicates with the chamber, the second storage chamber is connected to the liquid supply port, and the first storage chamber is connected to the liquid via the communication port and the second storage chamber. Connected to the supply port, and the second storage chamber is folded back along the X direction. The liquid in the first storage chamber is led out from the communication port to the liquid supply port via the folded flow channel, and when viewed from the Z direction, The shape includes at least a first polygon and a second polygon, and an area of the first polygon and an area of the second polygon are different.
In the case of such a liquid container, the second storage chamber is provided with a folded flow path that is folded along the moving direction of the liquid container. The possibility that air bubbles are mixed can be reduced. Moreover, since the shape of the flow path cross section of the communication port for communicating the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber includes the first polygon and the second polygon having different areas, gas-liquid exchange is performed at the communication port. Is promoted and bubbles do not easily reach the liquid supply port. Therefore, the possibility that bubbles are mixed into the liquid supplied from the liquid container can be more effectively reduced.

(2) In the liquid container of the above aspect, the folded flow path includes a first flow path through which liquid flows from the third side wall side toward the fourth side wall side, and the third side wall from the fourth side wall side. A second flow path through which the liquid flows toward the side. With such a liquid container, the channel length of the folded channel can be increased.

(3) In the liquid container of the above aspect, the shape of the cross section of the flow path when the connection portion between the first flow path and the second flow path is viewed from the Z direction is at least a third polygon and a fourth shape. The area of the third polygon may be different from the area of the fourth polygon. If the liquid container has such a configuration, gas-liquid exchange can be promoted even at the connection portion between the first flow path and the second flow path, so that bubbles may be mixed into the liquid supplied from the liquid container. Can be reduced more effectively.

(4) In the liquid container of the above aspect, at the connection portion between the first flow path and the second flow path, the bottom wall extends from the top wall to the inner surface of at least one of the first side wall and the second side wall. A step extending in the direction toward the wall may be formed. With the liquid container having such a configuration, the liquid can flow along the step, so that the liquid easily flows from the first flow path to the second flow path.

(5) The liquid container of the above aspect includes a third flow path for sending liquid from the second storage chamber to the liquid supply port between the second storage chamber and the liquid supply port. A fourth flow path for sending air from the liquid supply port to the second storage chamber. With such a liquid container, gas-liquid exchange is promoted even between the second storage chamber and the liquid supply port, so the possibility of bubbles being mixed into the liquid supplied from the liquid container is more effective. Can be reduced.

(6) In the liquid container of the above aspect, when the first storage chamber side is the upstream side and the liquid supply port side is the downstream side among the folded flow paths, the most of the folded flow paths The wall forming the upper surface of the downstream flow path may include a portion inclined toward the + Z direction side from the downstream side toward the upstream side. If it is a liquid container of such a form, the bubble in a 2nd storage chamber can be moved to an upstream side using the buoyancy.

(7) In the liquid container according to the above aspect, the partition wall forms an upper surface of the most upstream flow path among the folded flow paths, and the partition wall extends in the + Z direction from the downstream side toward the upstream side. A portion inclined to the side may be included. If it is a liquid container of such a form, the bubble in a 2nd storage chamber can be moved more upstream using the buoyancy.

(8) In the liquid container of the above aspect, the second storage chamber may include a bubble storage unit that has a space located on the + Z direction side of the folded flow path and stores bubbles in the space. . With such a liquid container, the bubbles in the second storage chamber can be moved to a space located on the + Z direction side with respect to the folded flow path using the buoyancy.

(9) In the liquid container of the above aspect, the bubble storage unit may be connected to the return channel in the middle of the return channel. With such a liquid container, bubbles can be kept away from the first storage chamber and the liquid supply port.

(10) According to the second aspect of the present invention, a liquid container configured to be mounted on a carriage that reciprocates in the X direction is provided. The liquid container includes an upper wall and a bottom wall facing in the Z direction intersecting with the X direction; a first side wall and a second side wall facing in the Y direction intersecting with the X direction and the Z direction; Opposing third and fourth side walls; a liquid supply port provided in the bottom wall; a first storage chamber provided on the + Z direction side which is the upper wall side in the Z direction; and the Z direction A second storage chamber provided on the −Z direction side that is the bottom wall side; a partition wall that partitions the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber; the first storage chamber and the second storage A communication port that communicates with the chamber, the second storage chamber is connected to the liquid supply port, and the first storage chamber is connected to the liquid via the communication port and the second storage chamber. Connected to the supply port, and the second storage chamber is folded back along the X direction. The liquid in the first storage chamber is led out from the communication port to the liquid supply port via the return channel, and the return channel is connected to the fourth side wall from the third side wall side. A first flow path through which liquid flows toward the side and a second flow path through which liquid flows from the fourth side wall toward the third side wall, the first flow path and the second flow path The shape of the cross section of the flow path when the connecting portion is viewed from the Z direction includes at least two polygons having different areas.
In the case of such a liquid container, the second storage chamber is provided with a folded flow path that is folded along the moving direction of the liquid container. The possibility that air bubbles are mixed can be reduced. In addition, since the shape of the flow path cross section of the connection portion between the first flow path and the second flow path in the folded flow path includes at least two polygons having different areas, gas-liquid exchange is performed at the connection portion. It is promoted and bubbles do not easily reach the liquid supply port. Therefore, the possibility that bubbles are mixed into the liquid supplied from the liquid container can be more effectively reduced.

(11) According to the third aspect of the present invention, a liquid container configured to be mounted on a carriage that reciprocates in the X direction is provided. The liquid container includes an upper wall and a bottom wall facing in the Z direction intersecting with the X direction; a first side wall and a second side wall facing in the Y direction intersecting with the X direction and the Z direction; Opposing third and fourth side walls; a liquid supply port provided in the bottom wall; a first storage chamber provided on the + Z direction side which is the upper wall side in the Z direction; and the Z direction A second storage chamber provided on the −Z direction side that is the bottom wall side; a partition wall that partitions the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber; the first storage chamber and the second storage A communication port that communicates with the chamber, the second storage chamber is connected to the liquid supply port, and the first storage chamber is connected to the liquid via the communication port and the second storage chamber. Connected to the supply port, and the second storage chamber is folded back along the X direction. And the liquid in the first storage chamber is led out from the communication port to the liquid supply port via the return channel, and between the second storage chamber and the liquid supply port, A flow path for sending liquid from the second storage chamber to the liquid supply port, and a flow path for sending air from the liquid supply port to the second storage chamber. And
In the case of such a liquid container, the second storage chamber is provided with a folded flow path that is folded along the moving direction of the liquid container. The possibility that air bubbles are mixed can be reduced. Further, since the liquid delivery channel and the air delivery channel are provided between the second storage chamber and the liquid supply port, the gas-liquid is provided between the second storage chamber and the liquid supply port. Exchange is promoted and bubbles do not easily reach the liquid supply port. Therefore, the possibility that bubbles are mixed into the liquid supplied from the liquid container can be more effectively reduced.

  The present invention can be realized in various forms other than the form as the liquid container described above. For example, it can be realized in the form of a printer including a liquid container, a liquid supply system including a liquid container and a printer, or the like.

It is a perspective view which shows schematic structure of the liquid supply system in 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view of a holder. It is a perspective view of a holder. It is the top view which looked at the holder from the + Z direction side. It is a top view of the holder in the state where one cartridge was mounted. It is a perspective view of a cartridge. It is a perspective view of a cartridge. It is a front view of a cartridge. It is a rear view of a cartridge. FIG. 6 is a left side view of the cartridge. FIG. 4 is a right side view of the cartridge. It is a top view of a cartridge. It is a bottom view of a cartridge. It is a disassembled perspective view of a cartridge. It is a front view of a main-body member. It is a perspective view of a main-body member. It is a perspective view near the 2nd storage room. It is the figure which looked at the 2nd channel from the + Z direction. It is XIX-XIX sectional drawing in FIG. It is a figure which shows the flow-path cross-sectional shape of the communicating port formed in the partition wall. It is a figure which shows the flow-path cross-sectional shape of a connection part. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of an atmospheric valve. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of an atmospheric valve. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of an atmospheric valve. It is a figure which shows the flow-path cross-sectional shape of the communicating port in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the flow-path cross-sectional shape of the communicating port in 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the flow-path cross-sectional shape of the communicating port in 4th Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the liquid supply unit in 5th Embodiment.

A. First embodiment:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a liquid supply system 100 according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, XYZ axes orthogonal to each other are drawn. The XYZ axes in FIG. 1 also correspond to the XYZ axes in other figures. The liquid supply system 100 includes a cartridge 120 as a liquid container and a printer 150 as a liquid ejecting apparatus. In the liquid supply system 100, the cartridge 120 can be mounted on the carriage 520 of the printer 150 by the user. In the present embodiment, “liquid” means ink.

  The cartridge 120 of the liquid supply system 100 contains ink as a printing material (liquid) inside. The ink accommodated in the cartridge 120 is supplied to the liquid ejecting head 540 via a liquid supply port and a liquid introducing portion which will be described later. In the present embodiment, a plurality of cartridges 120 are detachably mounted on the holder 560 of the printer 150. Each cartridge 120 contains different types of ink. The type of ink to be stored and the number of cartridges 120 can be arbitrarily changed.

  The printer 150 is a small inkjet printer for individuals. The printer 150 includes a control unit 510 and a carriage 520. The carriage 520 includes a liquid ejecting head 540 and a holder 560. The printer 150 distributes ink from the cartridge 120 mounted on the holder 560 to the liquid ejecting head 540 via a liquid introducing unit described later, and ejects ink from the liquid ejecting head 540 to a print medium such as paper or a label ( Supply). Accordingly, characters, figures, images, and the like are printed on the print medium using the liquid ejecting head 540.

  A control unit 510 of the printer 150 controls each unit of the printer 150. The carriage 520 of the printer 150 is configured to be able to move the liquid ejecting head 540 relative to the print medium. The liquid ejecting head 540 of the printer 150 includes a liquid ejecting mechanism that ejects the liquid contained in the cartridge 120 onto the print medium. The controller 510 and the carriage 520 are electrically connected via a flexible cable 517, and the liquid ejection mechanism of the liquid ejecting head 540 operates based on a control signal from the controller 510.

  In the present embodiment, the carriage 520 is provided with a holder 560 together with the liquid ejecting head 540. As described above, the type of the printer 150 in which the cartridge 120 is mounted on the holder 560 on the carriage 520 that moves the liquid ejecting head 540 is also referred to as an “on-carriage type”. In another embodiment, a stationary immovable holder 560 is formed at a different location from the carriage 520, and the ink from the cartridge 120 mounted on the holder 560 is supplied to the liquid ejecting head 540 of the carriage 520 via a flexible tube. May be supplied. Such a printer type is also called an “off-carriage type”.

  The printer 150 includes a main scanning feeding mechanism and a sub scanning feeding mechanism for realizing printing on the printing medium by relatively moving the carriage 520 and the printing medium. The main scanning feed mechanism of the printer 150 includes a carriage motor and a driving belt, and transmits the power of the carriage motor to the carriage 520 via the driving belt, thereby reciprocating the carriage 520 in the main scanning direction. The sub-scan feed mechanism of the printer 150 includes a transport motor and a platen, and transports the print medium in the sub-scan direction perpendicular to the main scan direction by transmitting the power of the transport motor to the platen. The carriage motor of the main scan feed mechanism and the transport motor of the sub scan feed mechanism operate based on a control signal from the control unit 510.

  In the present embodiment, in the use state (also referred to as “use posture”) of the liquid supply system 100, the axis along the main scanning direction (left-right direction) in which the carriage 520 is reciprocated is the X axis, and the print medium is conveyed. An axis along the sub-scanning direction (front-rear direction) is a Y-axis, and an axis along the gravity direction (up-down direction) is a Z-axis. Here, the usage state of the liquid supply system 100 is a state of the liquid supply system 100 installed on a horizontal plane, and the horizontal plane is a plane (XY plane) parallel to the X axis and the Y axis. The sub-scanning direction (forward direction) is the + Y direction, the opposite direction (rear direction) is the -Y direction, the direction from the lower side to the upper side of the gravity direction (upward direction) is the + Z direction, and the opposite direction (downward direction) is -Z direction. The + Y direction side (front side) is the front of the liquid supply system 100. In the present embodiment, the direction from the left side surface to the right side surface of the liquid supply system 100 is the + X direction (right direction), and the opposite direction is the −X direction (left direction). The direction along the X axis (left and right direction), that is, the direction in which the carriage 520 reciprocates is also referred to as “X direction”, and the direction along the Z axis (up and down direction) is also referred to as “Z direction”. In this embodiment, the arrangement direction of the cartridges 120 attached to the holder 560 is the Y direction. That is, in the carriage 520, the cartridges 120 are arranged in a direction (Y direction) orthogonal to the direction in which the carriage 520 moves (X direction).

  2 and 3 are perspective views of the holder 560, and FIG. 4 is a plan view of the holder 560 viewed from the + Z direction side. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the holder 560 in a state where one cartridge 120 is mounted.

  The holder 560 has five walls 601, 603, 604, 605, and 606. A concave portion formed by these five wall portions becomes a cartridge housing chamber 602 (also referred to as “cartridge mounting portion 602”). Hereinafter, the wall portion 601 is also referred to as a bottom portion 601. The cartridge storage chamber 602 is divided by a partition plate 607 into a plurality of slots (mounting spaces) that can receive the cartridges 120. The partition plate 607 functions as a guide when the cartridge 120 is inserted into the slot. Each slot is provided with a liquid introducing portion 640, a sheet member 648, an electrode portion 661, a lever 680, a positioning projection 610, and a device side regulating portion 620 (FIG. 3). The device-side regulating unit 620 is a hole formed in the side wall 604 of the holder 560. One side surface (+ Z direction side surface; upper surface) of each slot is opened, and the cartridge 120 is attached to and detached from the holder 560 through the opened one side surface (upper surface). The liquid introduction part 640 is provided so as to be sandwiched between two partition plates 607.

  The positioning protrusion 610 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped member that protrudes from the bottom 601 in the + Z direction. The positioning protrusion 610 is inserted into a positioning portion (described later) provided on the cartridge 120. In order to facilitate the insertion of the cartridge 120 into the positioning portion, the positioning protrusion 610 is inclined so that the + X direction side surface and the −X direction side surface of the tip end portion are closer to each other.

  The cartridge 120 is locked by the lever 680 and the apparatus-side regulating unit 620, and is mounted on the holder 560 in a state where a liquid supply port described later is connected to the liquid introduction unit 640. This state is also referred to as “a state where the cartridge is mounted in the holder 560” or “a mounted state”. In the mounted state, a terminal group provided on a circuit board (described later) of the cartridge 120 and the electrode portion 661 are electrically connected, and various information can be transmitted between the cartridge 120 and the printer 150. Become.

  In the mounted state, the liquid introduction unit 640 (FIG. 3) is connected to the liquid supply port of the cartridge 120, thereby circulating the liquid stored in the cartridge 120 to the liquid ejecting head 540 that communicates with the liquid introduction unit 640. Let The liquid introduction part 640 is substantially cylindrical and has a distal end part 642 located on the + Z axis side and a proximal end part 645 located on the −Z axis side. The base end portion 645 is provided on the bottom portion 601. The leading end 642 is connected to the liquid supply port of the cartridge 120. A device-side filter 643 is provided at the distal end portion 642. From the liquid supply port of the cartridge 120, the liquid flows into the liquid introduction unit 640 through the device-side filter 643. The device-side filter 643 is formed of a porous member such as a metal mesh, a metal nonwoven fabric, or a resin filter, for example. The central axis C of the liquid introduction part 640 is parallel to the Z axis. The direction from the base end 645 toward the tip end 642 along the central axis C is the + Z direction.

  A sheet member 648 surrounding the liquid introduction part 640 is provided around the base end part 645 of the liquid introduction part 640. The sheet member 648 is made of, for example, elastic rubber. The sheet member 648 seals the periphery of the liquid supply port of the cartridge 120 in the mounted state. Thus, the sheet member 648 prevents liquid from leaking out from the liquid supply port. In the mounted state, the sheet member 648 applies a biasing force including a component in the + Z direction to the cartridge 120.

  6 and 7 are perspective views of the cartridge 120, and FIGS. 8 to 13 are six views of the cartridge 120 (front view, rear view, left side view, right side view, plan view, and bottom view). It is. The cartridge 120 is a so-called semi-hermetic cartridge that intermittently introduces external air into the interior as the liquid is consumed.

  The cartridge 120 has seven wall portions 201 to 207. These wall portions constitute a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shell 200 of the cartridge 120. The seven wall parts are a first wall part 201 (bottom wall 201), a second wall part 202 (upper wall 202), a third wall part 203 (third side wall 203), and a fourth wall part 204 (first wall). 4 side wall 204), 5th wall part 205 (1st side wall 205), 6th wall part 206 (2nd side wall 206), and 7th wall part 207 (inclined wall 207).

  In the following description, two wall portions "intersect" or "intersect" means a state in which two wall portions are connected to each other and a state in which one wall portion extends and the other wall portion intersects And a state that intersects when the respective wall portions are extended. Further, “the two wall portions oppose” means to include both the case where there is no other object between the two wall portions and the case where the other wall portion is present.

  The outer surface of each wall part 201-207 is a plane substantially. A substantially flat surface includes a case where the entire surface is completely flat and a case where a part of the surface is uneven. That is, it includes a case where the surface or wall constituting the outer shell 200 of the cartridge 120 can be grasped even if there is some unevenness on a part of the surface. The outer shape of the first wall portion 201 to the seventh wall portion 207 in a plan view (a state in which each wall portion is observed from its normal direction) is rectangular except for the fifth wall portion 205 and the sixth wall portion 206. It is. In the present embodiment, the first wall portion 201 to the seventh wall portion 207 may be the outer surface of an assembly in which a plurality of members are assembled. In the present embodiment, the first wall portion 201 to the seventh wall portion 207 are plate-shaped. In other embodiments, a part of the first wall portion 201 to the seventh wall portion 207 may be formed of a film-like (thin film-like) or sheet-like member. The first wall portion 201 to the seventh wall portion 207 are made of, for example, a synthetic resin such as polyacetal (POM).

  The first wall portion 201 (bottom wall) and the second wall portion 202 (upper wall) are wall portions parallel to the X axis and the Y axis, and face each other in the Z direction that intersects the X direction. The first wall 201 is located on the −Z direction side, and the second wall 202 is located on the + Z direction side. The first wall 201 and the second wall 202 are in a positional relationship where they intersect with the third wall 203, the fourth wall 204, the fifth wall 205 and the sixth wall 206. In the present embodiment, the first wall 201 constitutes the bottom surface of the cartridge 120 and the second wall portion 202 constitutes the top surface of the cartridge 120 with the cartridge 120 mounted in the holder 560. The first wall portion 201 (FIG. 13) is provided with a liquid supply port 280, an outer peripheral wall 288, and a positioning portion 130. The liquid supply port 280 is connected to the liquid introduction part 640 (FIG. 4) of the holder 560. The positioning unit 130 has a function of positioning the cartridge 120 in the Y direction by engaging with a positioning protrusion 610 (FIG. 4) of the holder 560. An air hole 132 is formed inside the outer peripheral wall 288. The air hole 132 is an opening for allowing the closed space in the outer peripheral wall 288 to communicate with the outside. In the mounted state, the air hole 132 allows the closed space in the outer peripheral wall 288 to communicate with the outside (outside air), so that the pressure difference between the closed space and the outside is maintained substantially constant. Therefore, it is possible to prevent liquid from leaking from the liquid supply port 280 due to pressure fluctuation in the closed space.

  The third wall portion 203 (third side wall) and the fourth wall portion 204 (fourth side wall) are wall portions parallel to the Y axis and the Z axis, and face each other in the X direction. The third wall portion 203 is located on the −X direction side, and the fourth wall portion 204 is located on the + X direction side. The third wall 203 intersects the first wall 201 and the second wall 202. The fourth wall portion 204 intersects the first wall portion 201 and the second wall portion 202 and faces the third wall portion 203. In the present embodiment, in the state where the cartridge 120 is mounted on the carriage 520, the moving direction X of the carriage 520 is along the direction from the third wall portion 203 toward the fourth wall portion 204. A protruding first cartridge side regulating portion 210 is formed on the fourth wall portion 204 (FIG. 11). The first cartridge side restricting portion 210 is locked by the lever 680 in the mounted state. A projecting second cartridge side regulating portion 221 is formed on the third wall portion 203 (FIG. 10). The second cartridge side restriction portion 221 is a protrusion that protrudes from the third wall portion 203 in the −X direction and can be engaged with the device side restriction portion 620 (FIG. 3) of the carriage 520. In addition, the apparatus side regulation part 620 is a hole formed in the side wall 604 of the holder 560. In the mounted state, the second cartridge side regulating portion 221 is inserted into the device side regulating portion 620 and locked. That is, in the mounted state, the cartridge 120 is locked to the holder 560 by the cartridge 120 being locked on both sides in the X direction by the lever 680 of the holder 560 and the apparatus-side regulating portion 620.

  The fifth wall portion 205 (first side wall) and the sixth wall portion 206 (second side wall) are wall portions parallel to the X axis and the Z axis, and face each other in the Y direction that intersects the X direction and the Z direction. The fifth wall portion 205 intersects the first wall portion 201, the second wall portion 202, the third wall portion 203, and the fourth wall portion 204. The sixth wall portion 206 intersects the first wall portion 201, the second wall portion 202, the third wall portion 203, and the fourth wall portion 204, and faces the fifth wall portion 205. An opening 290 for introducing air into the interior of the cartridge 120 is formed in the sixth wall portion 206 (FIG. 8).

  The seventh wall portion 207 (FIG. 7) is an inclined wall that connects the first wall portion 201 and the fourth wall portion 204. The seventh wall portion 207 intersects with the fifth wall portion 205 and the sixth wall portion 206 and is located between the first wall portion 201 and the fourth wall portion 204. The seventh wall portion 207 is formed with a contact portion 116 that can come into contact with the electrode portion 661 of the printer 150. In the present embodiment, the contact portion 116 is formed on the substrate 115 provided on the seventh wall portion 207. That is, the substrate 115 has a plurality of contact portions 116 that come into contact with the electrode portions 661 provided on the holder 560 in the mounted state. More specifically, the contact portion 116 is a region in contact with the electrode portion 661 in the electrode terminals provided on the surface of the substrate 115. In the present embodiment, the plurality of contact portions 116 (FIG. 13) form two rows that are arranged along the Y direction and spaced apart in the X direction when viewed from the −Z direction. A storage device (described later) for storing various information of the cartridge 120 is provided on the back surface of the substrate 115. In this storage device, for example, information indicating the remaining amount of ink and the color of ink are stored. When the electrode unit 661 provided in the holder 560 contacts the contact unit 116, the control unit 510 provided in the printer 150 can read various information from the storage device provided in the cartridge 120 through the flexible cable 517.

  FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the cartridge 120. The cartridge 120 includes a main body member 301 and a front cover member 305. The main body member 301 is configured as a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box-shaped member having an opening on the + Y direction side. The main body member 301 constitutes a first wall 201, a second wall 202, a third wall 203, a fourth wall 204, and a fifth wall 205. On the other hand, the lid member 305 constitutes the sixth wall portion 206. The main body member 301 includes a partition wall 330 inside. The partition wall 330 divides the liquid storage space in the main body member 301 into the first storage chamber 310 on the + Z direction side that is the upper wall 202 side in the Z direction and the −Z direction side that is on the bottom wall 201 side in the Z direction. The second storage chamber 320 is partitioned. The first storage chamber 310 is also referred to as a “main storage chamber”, and the second storage chamber 320 is also referred to as a “sub storage chamber”. In the unused state of the cartridge 120, ink is stored in the first storage chamber 310 and the second storage chamber 320. The first storage chamber 310 and the second storage chamber 320 communicate with each other through a communication port 361 that allows the first storage chamber 310 and the second storage chamber 320 to communicate with each other. The communication port 361 is provided in the partition wall 330. The second storage chamber 320 is connected to the liquid supply port 280. The first storage chamber 310 is connected to the liquid supply port 280 via the communication port 361 and the second storage chamber 320. In the present embodiment, the spatial volume in the second storage chamber 320 is larger than the spatial volume in the first storage chamber 310. In other embodiments, the spatial volume in the second storage chamber 320 may be smaller than the spatial volume in the first storage chamber 310.

  The cartridge 120 of the present embodiment further includes a flexible sheet member 291 as a member that forms a liquid storage space together with the main body member 301. The sheet member 291 is a thin film having liquid impermeability, airtightness, and flexibility. The sheet member 291 is joined to the main body member 301 by adhesion or welding, and forms a first storage chamber 310 and a second storage chamber 320 together with the main body member 301. The sheet member 291 has a size capable of covering various flow paths formed below the first storage chamber 310, the second storage chamber 320, and the second storage chamber 320. As described above, part of the outer walls of the first storage chamber 310 and the second storage chamber 320 is formed by the sheet member 291.

  The lid member 305 is attached to the main body member 301 so as to cover the sheet member 291. The main body member 301 and the lid member 305 are formed of a synthetic resin such as polypropylene. The sheet member 291 is formed of a synthetic resin such as a composite material including nylon and polypropylene.

  Inside the first storage chamber 310, a pressure receiving plate 293 as a plate member is disposed. One surface of the pressure receiving plate 293 contacts the sheet member 291. A coil spring 294 as an urging member is disposed between the other surface (the surface on the −Y direction side) of the pressure receiving plate 293 and the sixth wall portion 206. A recess 332 that receives the coil spring 294 is formed at the center of the inner surface of the fifth wall portion 205. The coil spring 294 biases the pressure receiving plate 293 from the fifth wall portion 205 toward the sixth wall portion 206. That is, the coil spring 294 biases the sheet member 291 via the pressure receiving plate 293 in the direction of expanding the volume of the first storage chamber 310. By the biasing force of the coil spring 294, the pressure in the first storage chamber 310 is maintained at a pressure (negative pressure) lower than the atmospheric pressure. The coil spring 294 has a frustoconical outer shape, but a coil spring having a cylindrical outer shape may be used.

  An atmosphere valve 140 for introducing the atmosphere into the first storage chamber 310 is further disposed inside the first storage chamber 310. The atmospheric valve 140 includes a valve seat 146, a valve body member 144, and a coil spring 142. The valve body member 144 is pressed against the valve seat 146 by the coil spring 142 and closes the atmosphere introduction port 147 that is a through hole formed in the valve seat 146. The valve body member 144 includes a valve body portion 143 that can open and close the air introduction port 147 and a lever portion 149 that makes the valve body portion 143 movable by contacting the pressure receiving plate 293. The valve seat 146 is accommodated in a corner portion of the main body member 301 where the second wall portion 202 and the fourth wall portion 204 intersect and is attached to the main body member 301. The valve seat 146 has a recess, and a sheet member 291 is airtightly attached to an end surface that forms the opening of the recess. The recess of the valve seat 146 communicates with the through hole 296 of the seat member 291. An air inlet 147 that penetrates to the back side of the valve seat 146 is formed at the bottom of the recess of the valve seat 146. The air introduction port 147 communicates with the first storage chamber 310. That is, the air inlet 147 is provided in the first storage chamber 310. The air inlet 147 is for introducing air into the first storage chamber 310 from the outside of the first storage chamber 310. The valve body portion 143 of the valve body member 144 is pressed against the valve seat 146 by the coil spring 142 and closes the atmosphere introduction port 147. The lever portion 149 of the valve body member 144 is pushed by the pressure receiving plate 293 when the pressure receiving plate 293 moves in the −Y direction. As will be described later, when the lever portion 149 is pushed by the pressure receiving plate 293, the state of the valve body portion 143 and the valve seat 146 changes from the closed state to the open state accordingly.

  A plate spring 135, a liquid-permeable porous member 134 (for example, a resin foam), and a cartridge-side filter 136 are fitted into the liquid supply port 280 provided on the bottom surface of the main body member 301 in this order. The cartridge-side filter 136 supplies the liquid to the liquid introduction unit 640 while being in contact with the liquid introduction unit 640 (FIG. 4) of the holder 560.

  A substrate 115 having a storage device 118 is fixed to the seventh wall portion 207 of the main body member 301. A label 125 may be attached to the outer surface of the second wall portion 202 of the main body member 301. For example, the manufacturer and model number of the cartridge 120 are displayed on the label 125. The position where the label 125 is affixed is arbitrary. For example, it may be attached to any one of the second wall 202, the third wall 203, the fourth wall 204, the fifth wall 205, and the sixth wall 206, or two or more. It may be affixed across the wall.

  FIG. 15 is a front view of the main body member 301. FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the main body member 301. FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the vicinity of the second storage chamber 320. FIG. 18 is a diagram of the second flow path 324 viewed from the + Z direction. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIX-XIX in FIG.

  In FIG. 15, a thick dashed line arrow indicates a path through which ink flows. A first accommodation chamber 310 is formed on the + Z direction side of the partition wall 330 of the main body member 301. The first storage chamber 310 includes an inner surface of the second wall 202, an inner surface of the third wall 203, an inner surface of the fourth wall 204, an inner surface of the fifth wall 205, an upper surface of the partition wall 330, A space having a substantially rectangular cross section surrounded by. The + Y direction side of the first storage chamber 310 is sealed by a sheet member 291 (FIG. 14). A communication port 361 for communicating the first storage chamber 310 and the second storage chamber 320 is provided at a position closer to the third wall portion 203 than the fourth wall portion 204 in the bottom of the first storage chamber 310. Yes. The communication port 361 is an opening provided in the partition wall 330. The ink moves from the first storage chamber 310 to the second storage chamber 320 located below (−Z direction side) the first storage chamber 310 via the communication port 361.

  The second storage chamber 320 includes a folded channel 321 in which the channel is folded along the X direction. Due to the folded flow path 321, a plurality of flow paths along the X direction are arranged in the Z direction in the second storage chamber 320. The width of the return channel 321 along the X direction is larger than the width of the liquid supply port 280 along the X direction. The ink in the first storage chamber 310 is led out from the communication port 361 to the liquid supply port 280 via the return channel 321. In the present embodiment, the folded flow path 321 includes the first flow path 323 through which ink flows from the third wall section 203 side to the fourth wall section 204 side, and the fourth wall section 204 side to the third wall section 203 side. And a second flow path 324 through which ink flows. The first flow path 323 communicates with the first storage chamber 310 through the communication port 361. The second flow path 324 is located on the lower side (−Z direction side) than the first flow path 323. The width along the Z direction of the first flow path 323 and the second flow path 324, that is, the height of the flow path is 2 to 3 mm. The first flow path 323 and the second flow path 324 are connected in the vertical direction (Z direction) in the vicinity of the end on the + X direction side of each first wall 201. A portion where the first flow path 323 and the second flow path 324 are connected is referred to as a connection portion 326. Hereinafter, the side close to the first storage chamber 310 in the folded flow path 321 will be described as the upstream side, and the side close to the liquid supply port 280 will be described as the downstream side.

  In the present embodiment, the second storage chamber 320 includes a bubble storage unit 325. The bubble storage unit 325 has a space 325 s located on the + Z direction side of the folded flow path 321. Bubbles can be stored in the space inside the bubble storage unit 325 including the space 325s. The bubble storage unit 325 is connected to the folded channel 321 in the middle of the folded channel 321. The bubble storage unit 325 is preferably connected to the folded channel 321 at a position far from the upstream end or the downstream end of the folded channel 321. In the present embodiment, the bubble storage unit 325 is connected to the connection unit 326 to which the first channel 323 and the second channel 324 are connected. The bubble storage part 325 extends obliquely upward from the connection part 326 on the side opposite to the folded flow path 321. The upper surface of the bubble storage unit 325 is formed by the partition wall 330, and the lower surface is formed by the seventh wall unit 207.

  In the present embodiment, a wall 331 (hereinafter referred to as an intermediate wall 331) that forms the upper surface of the second flow path 324 that is the most downstream flow path in the folded flow path 321 is directed from the downstream side toward the upstream side. The part which inclines to the + Z direction side is included. The intermediate wall 331 may be entirely inclined or may include a part that is not inclined. In addition, the partition wall 330 forms the upper surface of the first flow path 323 that is the most upstream flow path in the folded flow path 321, and is a portion that inclines toward the + Z direction side from the downstream side toward the upstream side. Is included. Thus, in this embodiment, the partition wall 330 and the intermediate wall 331 which comprise the return flow path 321 have the reverse inclination. Therefore, when the downstream side of the inclined portion of the partition wall 330 constituting the folded flow path 321 and the upstream side of the inclined portion of the intermediate wall 331 are extended along the respective inclinations, there is a crossing relationship.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 16 to 19, a third channel 327 and a fourth channel 328 are provided between the second storage chamber 320 and the liquid supply port 280. The third flow path 327 is a flow path for ink delivery that delivers ink from the second storage chamber 320 to the liquid supply port 280. The fourth flow path 328 is a flow path for sending air from the liquid supply port 280 to the second storage chamber 320. In the present embodiment, the fourth channel 328 is provided on the upstream side of the third channel 327. In the present embodiment, the fourth flow path 328 is provided at a position closer to the connection portion 326 than the third flow path 327. That is, in the present embodiment, the fourth channel 328 is provided closer to the bubble storage unit 325 than the third channel 327. The third flow path 327 is provided for ink delivery, but air may flow therein. The fourth flow path 328 is provided for air delivery, but ink may flow inside.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 17 to 19, a convex portion 205 t that protrudes toward the sixth wall portion 206 is formed on the inner surface (the surface on the + Y direction side) of the fifth wall portion 205. The convex portion 205t extends from the lower surface of the partition wall 330 to the bottom surface of the first flow path 323 in the Z direction. The convex portion 205t is located at a boundary portion between the bubble storage portion 325 and the folded channel 321. The height of the convex portion 205t from the fifth wall portion 205 in the + Y direction differs between the upper portion and the lower portion. Specifically, the height of the upper part facing the first flow path 323 in the X direction is higher than the height of the lower part facing the second flow path 324 in the X direction. Note that the height of the convex portion 205t in the + Y direction may be constant.

  In the present embodiment, a step 329 extending in the direction from the upper wall 202 toward the bottom wall 201 is formed on the inner surface of the first side wall 205 at the connection portion 326 between the first flow path 323 and the second flow path 324. . That is, in the connection portion 326, a step 329 is formed on the inner surface of the first side wall 205 along the direction of gravity. The step 329 is also a corner portion of the base end in the Y direction of the convex portion 205t. The ink passing through the first flow path 323 can flow through the step 329 to the second flow path 324. Note that the step 329 may be provided independently of the convex portion 205t.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the ink in the first storage chamber 310 is led out from the communication port 361 to the liquid supply port 280 via the return channel 321. More specifically, the ink in the first storage chamber 310 first flows into the return channel 321 of the second storage chamber 320 via the communication port 361 at the bottom of the first storage chamber 310, and the return channel 321. After passing through the first flow path 323 and the second flow path 324, the liquid is led to the liquid supply port 280 via the third flow path 327. Then, the ink reaches the liquid introduction part 640 provided in the holder 560 (FIG. 4) from the liquid supply port 280. A part of the ink may be led to the liquid supply port 280 through the fourth flow path 328.

  FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a cross-sectional shape of the flow path of the communication port 361 formed in the partition wall 330. In the present embodiment, when viewed from the Z direction, the shape of the flow path cross section of the communication port 361 includes at least a first polygon 371 and a second polygon 372. The areas of the first polygon 371 and the second polygon 372 are different. In this embodiment, the area of the first polygon 371 is larger than the area of the second polygon 372. The first polygon 371 and the second polygon 372 are in contact with each other on a straight line L1 along the Y direction. That is, the flow path cross-sectional shape of the communication port 361 is a shape configured by combining polygons with different areas. In the present embodiment, the first polygon 371 and the second polygon 372 are both quadrangles and substantially in the positive direction. The first polygon 371 and the second polygon 372 are not limited to a quadrangle, and may be other polygons such as a triangle or a pentagon.

  In the present embodiment, the second polygon 372 having a small area is disposed so as to contact the third wall portion 203 and the sixth wall portion 206 (more specifically, the sheet member 291), and the first polygon 371 is arranged. Is arranged on the fourth wall 204 side of the second polygon 372 so as to be in contact with the second polygon 372 and the sixth wall 206 (more specifically, the sheet member 291). In the present embodiment, the first polygon 371 and the second polygon 372 are arranged in the X direction and are connected to each other to form one figure. In the present embodiment, the figure composed of the first polygon 371 and the second polygon 372 is a concave polygon in which at least one interior angle exceeds 180 degrees.

  The area of the first polygon 371 is an area that allows air bubbles to flow from the second storage chamber 320 side to the first storage chamber 310 side through the first polygon 371. The area of the second polygon 372 is an area that allows ink to flow from the first storage chamber 310 side to the second storage chamber 320 through the second polygon 372. That is, the channel cross-sectional shape of the communication port 361 is a shape that allows ink and bubbles to flow simultaneously (gas-liquid exchange is possible).

  FIG. 21 is a diagram showing the cross-sectional shape of the connection portion 326 in the flow path. In the present embodiment, when the connection part 326 between the first flow path 323 and the second flow path 324 is viewed from the Z direction, the shape of the flow path cross section of the connection part 326 is at least the third polygon 373 and the fourth flow path. Polygon 374. The area of the third polygon 373 and the area of the fourth polygon 374 are different. In this embodiment, the area of the third polygon 373 is larger than the area of the fourth polygon 374. large. That is, the flow path cross-sectional shape of the connecting portion 326 is a shape configured by combining polygons having different areas. In the present embodiment, the third polygon 373 and the fourth polygon 374 are both quadrangular and substantially rectangular. The third polygon 373 and the fourth polygon 374 are not limited to a quadrangle, and may be other polygons such as a triangle or a pentagon.

  The fourth polygon 374 extends along the + X direction end of the partition wall 330, the fifth wall 205, the −X direction surface of the convex portion 205t, and the + Y direction side surface of the convex portion 205t. And a straight line L2. The third polygon 373 is a straight line along the + X direction end of the partition wall 330, the sixth wall 206 (more specifically, the sheet member 291), and the + Y direction side surface of the convex portion 205t. L2 is divided by a straight line L3 along the surface on the + X direction side of the convex portion 205t. In the present embodiment, the step 329 forms one corner of the fourth polygon 374.

  In the present embodiment, the fourth polygon 374 having a smaller area is arranged so as to be in contact with the fifth wall portion 205, and the third polygon 373 is arranged so as to be in contact with the fourth polygon 374. The polygon 374 and the sixth wall portion 206 are arranged. In this embodiment, the 3rd polygon 373 and the 4th polygon 374 are located in a line with the Y direction, and comprise one figure by connecting mutually. In the present embodiment, the graphic composed of the third polygon 373 and the fourth polygon 374 is a concave polygon in which at least one interior angle exceeds 180 degrees.

  The area of the third polygon 373 is an area that allows air bubbles to flow from the first channel 323 through the third polygon 373 to the second channel 324. The area of the fourth polygon 374 is an area that allows ink to flow from the first flow path 323 through the second polygon 372 to the second flow path 324. In other words, the cross-sectional shape of the flow path of the connecting portion 326 is a shape that allows ink and bubbles to flow simultaneously (gas-liquid exchange is possible).

  22 to 24 are schematic views for explaining the operation of the atmospheric valve 140 provided in the first storage chamber 310 of the cartridge 120. The lid member 305 is provided with an opening 290. The first storage chamber 310 is partitioned by the main body member 301 and the sheet member 291. An air chamber 241 is formed between the lid member 305 and the sheet member 291. The air chamber 241 communicates with the external atmosphere through an opening 290 provided in the lid member 305. Further, an air hole 132 (FIG. 13) provided in the bottom wall 201 of the cartridge 120 communicates with the air chamber 241. A pressure receiving plate 293 and a coil spring 294 are disposed inside the sheet member 291. The coil spring 294 biases the pressure receiving plate 293 and the sheet member 291 in a direction in which the volume of the first storage chamber 310 is expanded. By the biasing force of the coil spring 294, the pressure in the first storage chamber 310 is maintained at a pressure (negative pressure) lower than the atmospheric pressure.

  Air is introduced into the first storage chamber 310 at a predetermined timing through the opening 290, the air chamber 241, and the air introduction port 147. The air introduction port 147 is a communication hole that communicates the first storage chamber 310 and the air chamber 241. By introducing the atmosphere from the atmosphere introduction port 147, the pressure state in the first storage chamber 310 is improved. The atmospheric valve 140 is a valve mechanism for opening and closing the atmospheric introduction port 147. The atmospheric valve 140 includes a valve seat 146, a valve body member 144, and a coil spring 142. The valve body member 144 is pressed against the valve seat 146 by the coil spring 142 and closes the atmosphere introduction port 147 that is a through hole formed in the valve seat 146. The valve body member 144 includes a valve body portion 143 that can open and close the air introduction port 147 and a lever portion 149 that makes the valve body portion 143 movable by contacting the pressure receiving plate 293.

  In the initial state (unused state) of the cartridge 120, the first storage chamber 310 is filled with ink. At this time, the pressure receiving plate 293 is located closest to the lid member 305 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 23, when the liquid in the first storage chamber 310 is consumed and the pressure receiving plate 293 approaches the partition wall 330 side, the pressure receiving plate 293 pushes the lever portion 149 toward the partition wall 330 side. As a result, the valve body 143 moves away from the air introduction port 147. That is, the valve body member 144 is opened. Then, external air flows into the first storage chamber 310 through the opening 290, the air chamber 241, and the air introduction port 147. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 24, the volume of the first storage chamber 310 is increased by the amount of air introduced. At the same time, the negative pressure in the first storage chamber 310 decreases and approaches atmospheric pressure. When a certain amount of air is introduced into the first storage chamber 310, the pressure receiving plate 293 is separated from the lever portion 149. Thereby, the valve body part 143 closes the air introduction port 147 again. That is, the valve body member 144 is closed. As described above, when the negative pressure in the first storage chamber 310 increases as the ink is consumed, the valve body member 144 is temporarily opened to appropriately adjust the pressure in the first storage chamber 310. The pressure range can be maintained. Therefore, for example, it can be suppressed that the negative pressure in the first storage chamber 310 becomes excessively large and the liquid is not supplied from the liquid supply port 280.

  In the cartridge 120, the atmospheric valve 140 may be omitted. In this case, the opening 290 may be provided in the upper wall 202 (FIG. 15) instead of the lid member 305 so that the atmosphere is directly introduced into the first storage chamber 310 from the opening 290. Furthermore, it is also possible to employ a configuration in which the opening 290 is omitted and the atmosphere is not introduced into the first storage chamber 310.

  According to the cartridge 120 of the present embodiment described above, the first storage chamber 310 and the second storage chamber 320 are partitioned by the partition wall 330 and are connected only by the communication port 361. For this reason, even if ink is rippled in the first storage chamber 310 due to reciprocation of the carriage 520 or the like, bubbles can be prevented from entering the second storage chamber 320. In the present embodiment, the second storage chamber 320 includes a folded flow path 321, and the folded flow path 321 is folded along the X direction that is the moving direction of the carriage 520. For this reason, the height of the flow path constituting the folded flow path 321 can be suppressed, and as a result, the ink shaking is suppressed in the second storage chamber 320. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the generation of bubbles due to ink ripples in the second storage chamber 320. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the ink in the first storage chamber 310 is guided to the liquid supply port 280 via the return flow path 321, so that the ink exits the first storage chamber 310 and then enters the liquid supply port 280. The time to reach can be lengthened. Therefore, even if air bubbles are mixed in the ink flowing into the second storage chamber 320 from the first storage chamber 310, the possibility that the bubbles will naturally disappear before reaching the liquid supply port 280 increases. There is also a high possibility that the bubbles merge and float up to the first storage chamber 310 or the bubble storage unit 325. That is, according to the cartridge 120 of the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the possibility of bubbles being mixed into the ink supplied from the cartridge 120 to the printer 150.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the shape of the flow-path cross section of the communication port 361 which connects the 1st storage chamber 310 and the 2nd storage chamber 320 is the 1st polygon 371 and the 2nd polygon 372 from which an area differs. including. Therefore, for example, when the ink flows through the first polygon 371 having a small area and the bubbles pass through the second polygon 372 having a large area, gas-liquid exchange is promoted at the communication port 361. Therefore, it is difficult for bubbles to reach the liquid supply port 280, and the possibility of bubbles being mixed into the ink supplied from the cartridge 120 can be more effectively reduced. Moreover, in this embodiment, since the flow path cross section of the communicating port 361 is comprised by the polygon, a corner | angular part is formed in a flow path cross section. Therefore, the ink is concentrated at the corners due to the capillary phenomenon, and the ink easily flows through the communication port 361. In addition, since the cross-section of the communication port 361 has a polygonal shape, it is easier for air bubbles to pass than when the cross-section of the flow path is circular.

  In the present embodiment, among the first polygon 371 and the second polygon 372 constituting the flow path cross-sectional shape of the communication port 361, the second polygon 372 having a small area through which ink mainly flows is It arrange | positions at the wall surface (3rd wall part 203) side. Therefore, the ink easily flows through the communication port 361 when the ink travels along the wall surface.

  In the present embodiment, the folded flow path 321 includes the first flow path 323 through which the liquid flows from the third side wall 203 side toward the fourth side wall 204 side, and the fourth side wall 204 side toward the third side wall 203 side. And a second flow path 324 through which the liquid flows. Therefore, the channel length of the folded channel 321 can be increased. Therefore, there is a high possibility that bubbles will disappear in the folded flow path 321.

  In the present embodiment, the shape of the cross section of the flow path when the connection portion 326 between the first flow path 323 and the second flow path 324 is viewed from the Z direction is the third polygon 373 and the fourth Polygon 374. Therefore, for example, ink flows on the fourth polygon 374 side with a small area, and bubbles pass through the third polygon 373 side with a large area, whereby the first flow path 323 and the second flow path 324 Gas-liquid exchange is also promoted at the connection portion 326. Therefore, it is difficult for bubbles to reach the liquid supply port 280, and the possibility of bubbles being mixed into the ink supplied from the cartridge 120 can be more effectively reduced. Moreover, in this embodiment, since the flow path cross section of the connection part 326 is comprised by the polygon, a corner | angular part is formed in a flow path cross section. For this reason, the ink is concentrated at the corners due to the capillary phenomenon, and the ink easily passes through the connection portion 326. Moreover, since the flow path cross section of the connection part 326 is comprised by the polygon, a bubble becomes easy to pass rather than the flow path cross section being formed circularly.

  In the present embodiment, in the connection portion 326 between the first flow path 323 and the second flow path 324, the inner surface of the fifth wall 205 extends in the direction from the second wall 202 to the first wall 201. A step 329 is formed. Therefore, the ink can flow along the step 329, and the ink easily flows from the first flow path 323 to the second flow path 324.

  In the present embodiment, the second storage chamber 320 and the liquid supply port 280 are connected by the third flow path 327 and the fourth flow path 328. Therefore, for example, when ink is supplied from the liquid supply port 280 in a state where air is present at the connection portion between the liquid supply port 280 and the liquid introduction unit 640 (FIG. 4), the second storage chamber 320 and the liquid supply port 280 are also provided. Gas-liquid exchange is promoted between the first flow path and the second flow path 327, and at the same time, air can be taken into the cartridge 120 from the fourth flow path 328. Accordingly, it is possible to effectively reduce the possibility that bubbles are mixed into the ink supplied from the cartridge 120.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the fourth flow path 328 for air sending is provided at a position closer to the bubble storage portion 325 than the third flow path 327 for ink sending, so the fourth flow path 328 is provided. Can be efficiently captured by the bubble reservoir 325.

  In the present embodiment, the intermediate wall 331 that forms the upper surface of the most downstream channel (second channel 324) of the folded channel 321 is inclined toward the + Z direction side from the downstream side toward the upstream side. The part to do is included. Therefore, the bubbles in the second storage chamber 320 can be moved upstream using the buoyancy.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the partition wall 330 forms the upper surface of the most upstream flow path (first flow path 323) of the folded flow paths 321, and the + Z direction from the downstream side toward the upstream side It includes a part that slopes to the side. Therefore, the bubbles in the second storage chamber 320 can be moved further upstream using the buoyancy.

  In the present embodiment, the spatial volume in the second storage chamber 320 is larger than the spatial volume in the first storage chamber 310. Therefore, since the time for the bubbles in the second storage chamber 320 to move to the liquid supply port 280 is lengthened, there is a possibility that the bubbles naturally disappear, and the bubbles are combined and become larger and discharged to the first storage chamber 310 side. Can increase the possibility of being.

  In the present embodiment, the second storage chamber 320 includes a space 325 s located on the + Z direction side of the folded flow path 321, and includes a bubble storage unit 325 in which bubbles are stored in the space 325 s. Therefore, the bubbles in the second storage chamber 320 can be moved to the space 325s using the buoyancy.

  In the present embodiment, the space 325 s is connected to the return channel 321 in the middle of the return channel 321. Therefore, the bubbles can be kept away from the first storage chamber 310 and the liquid supply port 280. Accordingly, it is possible to more effectively reduce the possibility of bubbles being mixed into the ink supplied from the cartridge 120.

B. Second embodiment:
FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a channel cross-sectional shape of the communication port 361A in the second embodiment. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment only in the configuration of the communication port of the cartridge 120, and the other configurations are the same. Similar to the first embodiment, the communication port 361A in the present embodiment includes a first polygon 371 and a second polygon 372 when viewed from the Z direction. However, in the present embodiment, the area of the second polygon 372 is larger than that of the first polygon 371, and the second polygon 372 has a shape in contact with the entire inner surface of the third wall portion 203. Even in such a shape of the communication port 361, air bubbles can pass through the first polygon 371 and ink can pass through the second polygon 372. Therefore, the first storage chamber 310 and the second storage chamber 320 can be used. Gas-liquid exchange can be promoted between the two.

C. Third embodiment:
FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating a flow path cross-sectional shape of the communication port 361B in the third embodiment. The third embodiment is different from the first embodiment only in the configuration of the communication port of the cartridge 120, and the other configurations are the same. Similarly to the first and second embodiments, the communication port 361B in the present embodiment includes a first polygon 371 and a second polygon 372 when viewed from the Z direction. However, in the present embodiment, the first polygon 371 and the second polygon 372 are separated. Even in such a configuration, air bubbles can pass through the first polygon 371 and ink can pass through the second polygon 372, so that the first storage chamber 310 and the second storage chamber 320 can be connected to each other. Gas-liquid exchange can be promoted.

D. Fourth embodiment:
FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating a channel cross-sectional shape of the communication port 361C in the fourth embodiment. The fourth embodiment differs from the first embodiment only in the configuration of the communication port of the cartridge 120, and the other configurations are the same. As in the first embodiment, the communication port 361C in the present embodiment includes a first polygon 371 and a second polygon 372 when viewed from the Z direction. However, in the present embodiment, the first polygon 371 is a quadrangle and the second polygon 372 is a triangle, and by combining these shapes, the communication port 361C is configured to be one large triangle. ing. Even in this configuration, air bubbles can pass through the portion corresponding to the first polygon 371 of the communication port 361C, and ink can pass through the portion corresponding to the second polygon 372. Gas-liquid exchange can be promoted between the chamber 310 and the second storage chamber 320.

  In addition, the flow path cross-sectional shape of the communication ports 361B and 361C of the third embodiment and the fourth embodiment is the flow path cross-sectional shape of the connection portion 326 to which the first flow path 323 and the second flow path 324 are connected. Is also applicable. That is, the flow path cross-sectional shape of the connecting portion 326 may be a shape in which the third polygon 373 and the fourth polygon 374 are separated. Further, the flow path cross-sectional shape of the connecting portion 326 may be a shape that forms one triangle by combining the third polygon 373 and the fourth polygon 374.

E. Fifth embodiment:
FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a liquid supply unit 800 according to the fifth embodiment. The liquid supply unit 800 includes a liquid bottle 810, a cartridge 820, and a liquid supply tube 830. The cartridge 820 has the same structure as the cartridge 120 of the first to fourth embodiments except that the liquid supply tube 830 is connected.

  The liquid supply tube 830 connects the liquid bottle 810 and the first storage chamber 310 (FIG. 15) in the cartridge 820. The liquid bottle 810 contains liquid (ink). The liquid can be appropriately replenished in the liquid bottle 810. The liquid bottle 810 is installed outside the printer 150. The liquid in the liquid bottle 810 is supplied to the first storage chamber 310 in the cartridge 820 through the liquid supply tube 830. Also in such a liquid supply unit 800, since the structure of each part of the cartridge 820 is the same as the cartridge 120 of 1st Embodiment thru | or 4th Embodiment, there can exist the same effect as these embodiment.

F. Other embodiments:
In the embodiment described above, the flow path cross-sectional shape of the connecting portion 326 may be a shape that does not include a plurality of polygons (the third polygon 373 and the fourth polygon 374). That is, the flow path cross-sectional shape of the connecting portion 326 may be a simple shape such as a square or a circle, for example.

  In the above embodiment, the folded flow path 321 is configured by folding the flow path once. On the other hand, the folded flow path 321 may be configured by folding the flow path twice or more. That is, the folded flow path 321 may include not only the first flow path 323 and the second flow path 324 but also more flow paths.

  In the above embodiment, the step 329 may not be formed in the connection portion 326.

  In the above embodiment, the step 329 is provided by forming the convex portion 205t on the inner surface of the fifth wall portion 205. For example, in the fifth wall portion 205, the direction from the upper wall 202 to the bottom wall 201 is provided. A step may be provided by forming a groove in the surface.

  In the above embodiment, only one of the third flow path 327 and the fourth flow path 328 may be provided between the second storage chamber 320 and the liquid supply port 280.

  In the embodiment described above, the intermediate wall 331 may be inclined toward the −Z direction side from the downstream side of the folded flow path 321 toward the upstream side.

  In the above embodiment, the partition wall 330 may be inclined toward the −Z direction side from the downstream side of the folded flow path 321 toward the upstream side.

  In the embodiment described above, the cartridge 120 may not include the bubble storage unit 325.

  In the above-described embodiment, the bubble storage unit 325 may be connected to the folded flow path 321 at the upstream end or the downstream end instead of in the middle of the folded flow path 321.

In the above embodiment,
(1) The flow path cross-sectional shape of the communication port 361 includes a first polygon 371 and a second polygon 372.
(2) the flow path cross-sectional shape of the connecting portion 326 includes a third polygon 373 and a fourth polygon 374;
(3) including a third flow path 327 and a fourth flow path 328 between the second storage chamber 320 and the liquid supply port 280;
As long as at least one of the three requirements is satisfied, the other two requirements may not be satisfied.

  In the above embodiment, the cartridge 120 is configured by the seven wall portions 201 to 207. However, if a space capable of containing ink is formed inside, the number of the wall portions constituting the cartridge 120 is seven. It is not limited to one. For example, it may be composed of six or less wall portions, or may be composed of eight or more wall portions. Further, for example, it may be configured by one or more wall portions having a spherical shape or a curved shape. In addition, a curved wall portion and a plate-like wall portion may be combined.

  You may change the structure of the cartridge 120 of various embodiment mentioned above into the structure isolate | separated into the liquid storage member and the adapter. The adapter includes various engaging members for engaging with the holder 560 of the printer 150, and is configured as a member that detachably accommodates the liquid accommodating member in the adapter. In this case, for example, the liquid storage member preferably includes the first storage chamber 310, the second storage chamber 320, and the liquid supply port 280, and the adapter includes the substrate 115 having the storage device 118.

The present invention can be applied not only to a printer and its ink cartridge, but also to any liquid ejecting apparatus that consumes liquid other than ink and cartridges used in those liquid ejecting apparatuses. For example, the present invention can be applied as a cartridge used in the following various liquid ejecting apparatuses.
(1) An image recording apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus.
(2) A color material ejecting apparatus used for manufacturing a color filter for an image display device such as a liquid crystal display.
(3) Electrode material injection apparatus used for electrode formation such as an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display or a surface emission display (FED).
(4) A liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a liquid containing a bio-organic material used for biochip manufacture.
(5) Sample injection device as a precision pipette.
(6) Lubricating oil injection device.
(7) Resin liquid injection device.
(8) A liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects lubricating oil pinpoint to precision machines such as watches and cameras.
(9) A liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a transparent resin liquid such as an ultraviolet curable resin liquid onto a substrate in order to form a micro hemispherical lens (optical lens) used for an optical communication element or the like.
(10) A liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects an acidic or alkaline etching solution to etch a substrate or the like.
(11) A liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid consuming head that ejects another arbitrary minute amount of liquid droplets.

  The “droplet” refers to the state of the liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting apparatus, and includes those that have tails in the form of particles, tears, and threads. The “liquid” here may be any material that can be consumed by the liquid ejecting apparatus. For example, the “liquid” may be a material in a state in which the substance is in a liquid phase, such as a material in a liquid state having high or low viscosity, and sol, gel water, other inorganic solvents, organic solvents, solutions, Liquid materials such as liquid resins and liquid metals (metal melts) are also included in the “liquid”. Further, “liquid” includes not only a liquid as one state of a substance but also a liquid obtained by dissolving, dispersing or mixing particles of a functional material made of a solid such as a pigment or metal particles in a solvent. Further, representative examples of the liquid include ink and liquid crystal as described in the above embodiment. Here, the ink includes various liquid compositions such as general water-based ink and oil-based ink, gel ink, and hot-melt ink.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be realized with various configurations without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the technical features of the embodiments corresponding to the technical features in each embodiment described in the summary section of the invention are intended to solve part or all of the above-described problems, or part of the above-described effects. Or, in order to achieve the whole, it is possible to replace or combine as appropriate. Further, if the technical feature is not described as essential in the present specification, it can be deleted as appropriate.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Liquid supply system, 115 ... Board | substrate, 116 ... Contact part, 118 ... Memory | storage device, 120 ... Cartridge, 125 ... Label, 130 ... Positioning part, 132 ... Air hole, 134 ... Porous member, 135 ... Plate spring, 136 ... cartridge side filter, 140 ... atmospheric valve, 142 ... coil spring, 143 ... valve body part, 144 ... valve body member, 146 ... valve seat, 147 ... atmosphere inlet, 149 ... lever part, 150 ... printer, 200 ... outside Shell ... 201 ... 1st wall part (bottom wall), 202 ... 2nd wall part (upper wall), 203 ... 3rd wall part (3rd side wall), 204 ... 4th wall part (4th side wall), 205 ... 5th wall (first side wall), 205t ... convex part, 206 ... 6th wall part (second side wall), 207 ... 7th wall part (inclined wall), 210 ... 1st cartridge side regulating part, 221 ... Second cartridge side regulating portion 24 ... Air chamber, 280 ... Liquid supply port, 288 ... outer peripheral wall, 290 ... opening, 291 ... sheet member, 293 ... pressure plate, 294 ... coil spring, 296 ... through hole, 301 ... main body member, 305 ... lid member, 310 ... 1st storage chamber, 320 ... 2nd storage chamber, 321 ... Folding flow path, 323 ... 1st flow path, 324 ... 2nd flow path, 325 ... Bubble storage part, 325s ... Space, 326 ... Connection part, 327 ... 3rd flow path, 328 ... 4th flow path, 329 ... Level difference, 330 ... Partition wall, 331 ... Wall (intermediate wall), 332 ... Recess, 361, 361A, 361B, 361C ... Communication port, 371 ... 1st many Square, 372 ... second polygon, 373 ... third polygon, 374 ... fourth polygon, 510 ... control unit, 517 ... flexible cable, 520 ... carriage, 540 ... liquid ejecting head, 560 ... holder, 6 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Wall part (bottom part), 604 ... Wall part (side wall), 603, 605, 606 ... Wall part, 602 ... Cartridge storage chamber, 607 ... Partition plate, 610 ... Positioning protrusion, 620 ... Apparatus side regulation part, 640 ... Liquid introduction part, 642 ... tip part, 643 ... device side filter, 645 ... base end part, 648 ... sheet member, 661 ... electrode part, 680 ... lever, 800 ... liquid supply unit, 810 ... liquid bottle, 820 ... cartridge, 830 ... liquid supply tube, C ... central axis, L1, L2, L3 ... straight line.

Claims (11)

A liquid container configured to be mounted on a carriage that reciprocates in the X direction,
An upper wall and a bottom wall facing each other in the Z direction intersecting with the X direction;
A first side wall and a second side wall facing each other in the Y direction intersecting with the X direction and the Z direction;
A third sidewall and a fourth sidewall opposed in the X direction;
A liquid supply port provided in the bottom wall;
A first storage chamber provided on the + Z direction side which is the upper wall side in the Z direction;
A second storage chamber provided on the −Z direction side which is the bottom wall side in the Z direction;
A partition wall that partitions the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber;
A communication port for communicating the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber;
With
The second storage chamber is connected to the liquid supply port;
The first storage chamber is connected to the liquid supply port via the communication port and the second storage chamber,
The second storage chamber includes a folded channel that folds along the X direction,
The liquid in the first storage chamber is led out from the communication port to the liquid supply port via the return channel,
When viewed from the Z direction, the shape of the flow path cross section of the communication port includes at least a first polygon and a second polygon,
The area of the first polygon and the area of the second polygon are different.
Liquid container. The liquid container according to claim 1,
The folded channel includes a first channel through which liquid flows from the third side wall side toward the fourth side wall side, and a second channel through which liquid flows from the fourth side wall side toward the third side wall side. And a liquid container. The liquid container according to claim 2,
The shape of the cross section of the flow channel when the connection portion between the first flow channel and the second flow channel is viewed from the Z direction includes at least a third polygon and a fourth polygon,
The liquid container, wherein an area of the third polygon is different from an area of the fourth polygon. The liquid container according to claim 2 or 3, wherein
In the connection portion between the first flow path and the second flow path, a step extending in a direction from the upper wall toward the bottom wall is formed on at least one inner surface of the first side wall and the second side wall. The liquid container. The liquid container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein
A third flow path for sending liquid from the second storage chamber to the liquid supply port between the second storage chamber and the liquid supply port, and air from the liquid supply port to the second A liquid container comprising: a fourth flow path for sending out air to the containing chamber. A liquid container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein
The wall forming the uppermost surface of the most downstream channel among the folded channels when the first storage chamber side is the upstream side and the liquid supply port side is the downstream side among the folded channels. Is a liquid container including a portion inclined toward the + Z direction from the downstream side toward the upstream side. A liquid container according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The partition wall forms an upper surface of the most upstream channel among the folded channels,
The partition wall is a liquid container including a portion inclined toward the + Z direction side from the downstream side toward the upstream side. The liquid container according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The second storage chamber is a liquid container including a bubble storage section that has a space located on the + Z direction side of the folded flow path and stores bubbles in the space. The liquid container according to claim 8,
The bubble storage unit is a liquid container that is connected to the return channel in the middle of the return channel. A liquid container configured to be mounted on a carriage that reciprocates in the X direction,
An upper wall and a bottom wall facing each other in the Z direction intersecting with the X direction;
A first side wall and a second side wall facing each other in the Y direction intersecting with the X direction and the Z direction;
A third sidewall and a fourth sidewall opposed in the X direction;
A liquid supply port provided in the bottom wall;
A first storage chamber provided on the + Z direction side which is the upper wall side in the Z direction;
A second storage chamber provided on the −Z direction side which is the bottom wall side in the Z direction;
A partition wall that partitions the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber;
A communication port for communicating the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber;
With
The second storage chamber is connected to the liquid supply port;
The first storage chamber is connected to the liquid supply port via the communication port and the second storage chamber,
The second storage chamber includes a folded channel that folds along the X direction,
The liquid in the first storage chamber is led out from the communication port to the liquid supply port via the return channel,
The folded channel includes a first channel through which liquid flows from the third side wall side toward the fourth side wall side, and a second channel through which liquid flows from the fourth side wall side toward the third side wall side. And including
The shape of the cross section of the flow channel when the connection portion between the first flow channel and the second flow channel is viewed from the Z direction includes at least two polygons having different areas.
Liquid container. A liquid container configured to be mounted on a carriage that reciprocates in the X direction,
An upper wall and a bottom wall facing each other in the Z direction intersecting with the X direction;
A first side wall and a second side wall facing each other in the Y direction intersecting with the X direction and the Z direction;
A third sidewall and a fourth sidewall opposed in the X direction;
A liquid supply port provided in the bottom wall;
A first storage chamber provided on the + Z direction side which is the upper wall side in the Z direction;
A second storage chamber provided on the −Z direction side which is the bottom wall side in the Z direction;
A partition wall that partitions the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber;
A communication port for communicating the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber;
With
The second storage chamber is connected to the liquid supply port;
The first storage chamber is connected to the liquid supply port via the communication port and the second storage chamber,
The second storage chamber includes a folded channel that folds along the X direction,
The liquid in the first storage chamber is led out from the communication port to the liquid supply port via the return channel,
Between the second storage chamber and the liquid supply port, a flow path for sending liquid from the second storage chamber to the liquid supply port, and air from the liquid supply port to the second storage chamber A flow path for sending air to
Liquid container.

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