JP4692649B2 - Method for manufacturing liquid container - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a liquid container that supplies a predetermined liquid to a liquid consuming device such as a liquid jet head that discharges a minute amount of liquid droplets.

  Liquid jet heads such as textile printing devices, micro dispensers, and commercial recording devices that require ultra-high quality printing receive supply of liquid to be ejected from a liquid container, but liquid is not supplied. When operated, the so-called empty shot is damaged, and it is necessary to constantly monitor the remaining amount of liquid in the container to prevent this.

In view of this, various types of recording apparatuses have been proposed in which an ink cartridge itself, which is a liquid container, is equipped with a liquid remaining amount detecting device that detects the remaining amount of ink.
As a specific configuration of an ink cartridge equipped with a liquid remaining amount detection device, for example, a liquid container that discharges stored liquid from a discharge port when pressurized, and a liquid residue connected to the liquid container are provided. And a liquid remaining amount detection device having a flow path connected at one end to a discharge port of the liquid container and at the other end to a liquid outlet for supplying liquid to the outside. There has been proposed a device that includes a piezoelectric element that applies vibration and detects the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid container by detecting a change in acoustic impedance when vibration is applied by the piezoelectric element.

However, even in an ink cartridge equipped with such a liquid remaining amount detecting device, if bubbles remain in the flow path or the liquid container in the liquid remaining amount detecting device when the ink cartridge is mounted on the recording device, the residual There is a possibility that the bubble is supplied to the recording apparatus side and causes inconvenience such as idling of the recording head.
Therefore, when manufacturing such an ink cartridge, an advanced filling technique for filling ink so that bubbles do not remain in the flow path or the liquid container in the liquid remaining amount detection device is required.

  Against this background, as a method of filling the ink cartridge with ink, the liquid remaining amount detecting device is assembled in advance with an empty liquid container, and an external suction means is connected to the assembly. Is connected to the liquid outlet and the liquid remaining amount detecting device and the liquid container are deaerated by negative pressure suction by the suction means. After that, a method for connecting the ink supply path from the ink filling means to the liquid outlet instead of the suction means and pressurizing and filling the ink into the liquid remaining amount detection device and the liquid container has been proposed (for example, Patent Documents). 1).

JP 2005-96469 A

  However, in the above ink filling method for the ink cartridge, the empty liquid remaining amount detecting device and the suction means for degassing the liquid containing body from the liquid outlet, the liquid remaining amount detecting device and the liquid containing body after degassing are provided. It is necessary to provide a facility for quickly switching the connection between the ink filling means for filling the ink with the suction means while maintaining the deaeration state by the suction means, and the equipment required for ink filling becomes complicated or the equipment costs increase. There was a problem.

  In addition, due to the flexibility of the liquid container and the flow path structure of the liquid remaining amount detection device, the degree of deaeration by the suction means is likely to vary, and the connection from the suction means to the ink filling means However, there is a possibility that the degree of deaeration may be lowered when switching to the above, and it is difficult to stably produce a product having a certain degree of deaeration.

  In addition, the load due to the suction negative pressure for the deaeration process before ink filling and the positive pressure at the time of ink filling acts on the sensor unit in the liquid remaining amount detecting device for a long time, thereby There was a possibility that the sensor part was damaged.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to stably produce a high-quality liquid container filled with liquid with a certain degree of deaeration, and to simplify equipment for filling the liquid container with liquid. Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a liquid container that can reduce equipment costs and that does not damage the sensor unit in the liquid remaining amount detection device during the liquid filling operation.

The solution to the above-mentioned problem of the present invention is to provide a liquid container having a discharge port for discharging the liquid;
A liquid inlet connected to the discharge port and a liquid outlet for supplying liquid to the outside, and applying vibration to the flow path between the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet for the liquid. A liquid remaining amount detection device having a vibration detection unit for detecting the remaining amount of liquid in the container, and a method for manufacturing a liquid storage container comprising:
After connecting the liquid inlet of the liquid remaining amount detecting device to the discharge port of the liquid container in which liquid is stored in advance, the liquid in the liquid container is removed by suction by suction means connected to the liquid outlet. Introducing into the liquid remaining amount detection device, the gas in the flow path is pushed out by the introduced liquid and discharged from the liquid outlet, and the flow path is filled with the liquid. This is achieved by a method for manufacturing a liquid container.
In the liquid container manufacturing method described above, simultaneously with the suction by the suction means, the liquid container is pressurized by the pressurizing means, and the liquid in the liquid container is introduced into the liquid remaining amount detecting device. it shall be the features a.
The method of manufacturing a liquid container according to above SL, after filling the liquid in the liquid containing body into said liquid residual amount detection device until the storage amount of liquid of the liquid containing body becomes a predetermined amount, the liquid outlet The liquid is discharged from the section.

(1) According to the reference example of the present invention, the liquid container having the discharge port for discharging the liquid, the liquid inlet connected to the discharge port, and the liquid outlet for supplying the liquid to the outside And a remaining liquid amount detecting device having a vibration detecting unit that detects vibration remaining amount in the liquid container by applying vibration to a flow path between the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet unit. A method for manufacturing a liquid container,
After connecting the liquid inlet of the liquid remaining amount detection device to the discharge port of the liquid container that has previously stored the liquid, the liquid in the liquid container is introduced into the liquid remaining amount detection device, and the flow path is This is achieved by a method for manufacturing a liquid container characterized by obtaining a state filled with the liquid.
According to the above configuration, in order to discharge the gas remaining in the flow path of the liquid remaining amount detection device or to fill the liquid into the flow channel, the liquid previously filled in the liquid container is introduced into the liquid remaining amount detection device. It is realized by doing. The liquid introduced from the liquid container to the liquid remaining amount detecting device is gas or bubbles remaining in the liquid remaining amount detecting device via the liquid leading-out portion with the introduction to the liquid remaining amount detecting device. Since the liquid is pushed out, it is possible to fill the liquid remaining amount detecting device with a certain degree of deaeration without degassing the liquid remaining amount detecting device by negative pressure suction or the like in advance.

(2) Preferably, in the method for manufacturing a liquid container described in (1) above, the liquid container is pressurized by a pressurizing means, and the liquid in the liquid container is contained in the liquid remaining amount detecting device. It is good to have a configuration to introduce into
If comprised in this way, the operation | work which introduce | transduces the liquid in a liquid container into a liquid residual amount detection apparatus is easily realizable by pressurizing a liquid container.

(3) Preferably, in the method for manufacturing a liquid container described in (1) or (2) above, the liquid in the liquid container is removed by suction by suction means connected to the liquid outlet. A configuration to be introduced into the quantity detection device is preferable.
With such a configuration, when the liquid in the liquid container is introduced into the liquid remaining amount detecting device, the gas in the liquid remaining amount detecting device is effectively removed by the suction force acting in the liquid remaining amount detecting device. The liquid can be discharged and the liquid filling with a high degree of deaeration can be realized more stably.

(4) Preferably, in the method for manufacturing a liquid container according to any one of (1) to (3), before the liquid in the liquid container is introduced into the liquid remaining amount detecting device. In addition, it is preferable to have a configuration including a processing step for reducing the pressure in the flow path of the liquid remaining amount detection device in advance.
With such a configuration, the pressure difference between the liquid container and the liquid remaining amount detecting device makes it easy for the liquid in the liquid container to be introduced into the liquid remaining amount detecting device, and the productivity is improved by shortening the filling time. Can be made.

(5) Preferably, in the method for manufacturing a liquid container according to any one of (1) to (4), the liquid in the liquid container is introduced into the liquid remaining amount detecting device. A first introduction process step, a post-introduction pressure reduction process step of depressurizing the liquid remaining amount detection device into which the liquid has been introduced, and a first step of further introducing the liquid in the liquid container into the reduced liquid remaining amount detection device. It is preferable to have a configuration having two introduction processing steps.
With such a configuration, the fine gas component remaining in the liquid remaining amount detecting device after the liquid introduction by the first introduction process step is expanded by the execution of the decompression process step after introduction, and can be easily removed. It grows into a large bubble. The grown bubbles can be easily removed from the liquid outlet unit to the outside of the liquid remaining amount detecting device by executing the second introduction process step, and more advanced degassing can be reliably realized. .

(6) Preferably, in the method for manufacturing a liquid container described in (5) above, in the post-introduction pressure reduction treatment step, a flow path opened and closed disposed near the liquid inlet of the liquid remaining amount detecting device. The configuration may be executed by closing the means and applying a negative pressure from the liquid outlet to the liquid remaining amount detecting device.
With such a configuration, only the inside of the flow path of the liquid remaining amount detecting device can be efficiently and reliably decompressed, and a pressure difference effective for introducing liquid from the liquid container to the liquid remaining amount detecting device can be easily provided. it can.

(7) Preferably, in the method for manufacturing a liquid container described in (5) above, in the second introduction processing step, a flow path disposed in the vicinity of the liquid inlet of the liquid remaining amount detecting device. It may be configured to be executed by opening and closing means and applying a negative pressure from the liquid outlet to the liquid remaining amount detecting device.
With such a configuration, the liquid introduced from the liquid container to the liquid remaining amount detecting device side through the channel opening / closing means is positively introduced by the suction force due to the negative pressure acting in the remaining liquid amount detecting device. In addition, it is possible to prevent external air from entering the liquid remaining amount detecting device from the outside, and it is possible to fill the liquid in a stable deaerated state.

(8) Preferably, in the method for manufacturing a liquid container according to any one of (1) to (7), after the liquid in the liquid container is filled in the liquid remaining amount detecting device. The liquid may be discharged from the liquid outlet until the amount of stored liquid in the liquid container reaches a predetermined amount.
With such a configuration, it is possible to accurately set the amount of liquid remaining in the liquid storage container, and to stably produce a highly reliable liquid storage container with no variation in the liquid storage amount.

(9) Preferably, in the method for manufacturing a liquid container according to any one of (1) to (8), the liquid is ink supplied to an ink jet recording apparatus, and the liquid container When the ink is introduced into the liquid remaining amount detecting device, the ink in the liquid container is preferably heated to a predetermined temperature.
With such a configuration, the viscosity of the ink in the liquid container decreases due to the temperature rise, and it becomes easy to introduce the ink from the liquid container to the liquid remaining amount detecting device. In order to promote the introduction of ink, when a negative pressure is applied to the liquid remaining amount detecting device, the negative pressure applied to the liquid remaining amount detecting device is reduced, and the liquid remaining amount detecting device acts on the sensor unit or the like. The burden can be reduced.

The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the assembly state before the ink filling of the ink cartridge as a liquid container in 1st Embodiment. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge as a liquid container in 1st Embodiment of the state filled with the ink. The flowchart which shows the manufacturing method of the liquid container in 1st Embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows the decomposition | disassembly state before the assembly of the ink cartridge as a liquid container in 1st Embodiment. FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a first introduction processing step of an ink cartridge as a liquid container in a second embodiment. The flowchart which shows the manufacturing method of the liquid container in 2nd Embodiment. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the pressure reduction process process after introduction of the ink cartridge as a liquid container in 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a second introduction process step of an ink cartridge as a liquid container in the second embodiment.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a method for producing a liquid container according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an assembled state of an ink cartridge as a liquid container according to the first embodiment before ink filling, and FIG. 2 is filled with ink of the ink cartridge as a liquid container shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a manufacturing method of the liquid container, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of an exploded state before the ink cartridge as the liquid container is assembled.

First, the configuration of an ink cartridge that fills ink as a liquid by the manufacturing method according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
The ink cartridge 1 shown in FIG. 1 is detachably mounted on a cartridge mounting portion of an ink jet recording apparatus (not shown) and supplies a liquid to a recording head (liquid ejecting head) mounted on the recording apparatus. It is.

  The ink cartridge 1 is accommodated in the pressurizing chamber 3 and the container main body 5 in which the pressurizing chamber 3 pressurized by the pressurizing means 71 is formed from outside, and stores the ink 6 and discharges the ink 6. The liquid container 7 is an ink pack having a discharge port 7b, a liquid inlet 11a connected to the discharge port 7b, a liquid outlet 9 for supplying ink 6 to the outside, and the liquid inlet 11a. And a liquid remaining amount detecting device 11 having a vibration detecting unit 25 that detects the remaining amount of ink in the liquid container 7 by applying vibration to the flow path between the liquid discharge unit 9 and the liquid outlet unit 9.

  The container body 5 is a housing formed by resin molding, and is used for the pressurized chamber 3 in a sealed state and for the pressurized means 71 to supply pressurized air to the pressurized chamber 3 as indicated by an arrow A. A pressurizing port 13 as a passage and a detection device housing chamber 15 for housing the remaining liquid amount detection device 11 are provided. The detection device housing chamber 15 is cut off from the pressure of the pressurized gas supplied to the pressurizing chamber 3.

The liquid container 7 has a liquid remaining amount detecting device 11 on one end side of a bag body 7a formed by laminating peripheral portions of aluminum laminated multilayer films in which an aluminum layer is laminated on a resin film layer. This is an ink pack in which a cylindrical discharge port 7b to which the liquid inlet port 11a is connected is joined. The use of an aluminum laminate multilayer film ensures high gas barrier properties.
The liquid container 7 and the liquid remaining amount detection device 11 are connected to each other by fitting and connecting the liquid inlet 11a to the discharge port 7b. That is, by releasing the fitting between the discharge port 7b and the liquid inflow port 11a, they can be separated from each other. The fitting portion between the discharge port 7 b and the liquid inflow port 11 a is kept airtight by a seal member (packing) 17.
The liquid container 7 is filled with ink 6 that has been adjusted in advance to a high degree of deaeration before the liquid remaining amount detection device 11 is connected.

  The liquid remaining amount detection device 11 has a concave space 19a in which a liquid inflow port 11a connected to the discharge port 7b of the liquid container 7 and a liquid outflow port 11b connected to the liquid outlet 9 are communicated. The case 19, a flexible film 23 that is a partition wall that seals the opening of the concave space 19a to define the liquid detection chamber 21, a vibration detection unit 25 that is provided at the bottom of the concave space 19a, and the vibration detection The pressure receiving plate 27 fixed to the flexible film 23 facing the portion 25 and the pressure receiving plate 27 and the upper wall of the detection device housing chamber 15 are pressed to reduce the volume of the liquid detection chamber 21. And a pressure spring 29 as a biasing means for biasing the pressure receiving plate 27 and the flexible film 23.

In the detection unit case 19, a liquid inlet 11a is integrally formed on one end side of the peripheral wall defining the concave space 19a, and the peripheral wall facing the liquid inlet 11a communicates with the liquid outlet 9 The outflow port 11b is formed through.
Although not shown, the liquid outlet 9 is a valve that opens the flow path by inserting an ink supply needle mounted on the cartridge mounting portion when the ink cartridge 1 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion of the ink jet recording apparatus. A mechanism (channel opening / closing means) is provided.

  The vibration detection unit 25 in the liquid remaining amount detection device 11 includes a bottom plate 31 that abuts the pressure receiving plate 27 in close contact with the urging force of the pressing spring 29 when the ink 6 is not led out from the liquid container 7 to the liquid lead-out unit 9. The ink guide path 33 which is a recess formed in the bottom plate 31 and the piezoelectric element 35 which applies vibration to the ink guide path 33 and detects a free vibration state accompanying the applied vibration are provided. The presence or absence of the ink 6 can be detected from the state of free vibration that varies depending on whether the path 33 is closed by the pressure receiving plate 27 and whether or not air bubbles are mixed.

The biasing direction of the push spring 29 is the direction in which the volume of the liquid detection chamber 21 is reduced as described above, and at the same time the piezoelectric element 35 is disposed.
The ink guide path 33, which is a recess formed in the bottom plate 31, is defined in a closed space that is blocked from the liquid detection chamber 21 when the pressure receiving plate 27 is in close contact with the bottom plate 31, as shown in FIG. As shown, when the pressure receiving plate 27 is separated from the bottom plate 31, it communicates with the liquid detection chamber 21.

  In a state where the ink cartridge 1 is inserted in a cartridge mounting portion of a recording apparatus (not shown), the liquid remaining amount detection device 11 is pressurized by the liquid container 7 by pressurized air supplied to the pressure chamber 3. When the ink 6 is supplied from the liquid container 7 to the liquid detection chamber 21, as shown in FIG. 2, the ink is flexible in accordance with the change in the ink storage amount (liquid level) in the liquid detection chamber 21. The conductive film 23 bulges upward and deforms. Due to the deformation of the flexible film 23, the pressure receiving plate 27 constituting a part of the partition wall of the liquid detection chamber 21 moves upward, and the pressure receiving plate 27 is separated from the bottom plate 31. When the pressure receiving plate 27 is separated from the bottom plate 31, the ink guiding path 33 is in communication with the liquid detection chamber 21, and the ink 6 is supplied from the liquid outlet 9 to the recording head side through the liquid detection chamber 21. become.

On the other hand, even if the pressurizing chamber 3 is in a prescribed pressurizing state in a state where the ink cartridge 1 is inserted into a cartridge mounting portion of a recording apparatus (not shown), the ink 6 accommodated in the liquid container 7 is stored. Is reduced, the amount of ink supplied from the liquid container 7 to the liquid detection chamber 21 is reduced. When the amount of ink stored in the liquid detection chamber 21 decreases, the pressure receiving plate 27 approaches the bottom plate 31 having the ink guide path 33.
In the ink cartridge 1 of the present embodiment, the time when the pressure receiving plate 27 is brought into close contact with the bottom plate 31 due to the decrease in the amount of ink contained in the liquid detection chamber 21 and the ink guide path 33 is closed is the liquid in the liquid container 7. Is set to be exhausted.

  The flexible film 23 functions as a diaphragm that applies displacement to the pressure receiving plate 27 in accordance with the pressure of the ink 6 supplied to the liquid detection chamber 21. In order to detect a minute pressure change of the ink 6 and improve detection accuracy, the flexible film 23 is preferably provided with sufficient flexibility.

  Next, the ink filling method applied to the liquid container manufacturing method according to the first embodiment of the present invention, that is, the flow path in the liquid remaining amount detection device 11 in the manufacturing process of the ink cartridge 1. An ink filling method for obtaining an initial filling state in which the liquid 6 is filled in the liquid detection chamber 21, the liquid inlet 11a, the liquid outlet 11b, the ink guide path 33, and the like will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the ink filling method according to the first embodiment, first, in the first processing step S101, the liquid remaining amount detection device 11 is arranged in the detection device storage chamber 15 of the container body 5 as shown in FIG. The liquid remaining amount detecting device 11 is unitized by previously integrating a push spring 29 in advance. Next, in the next processing step S102, the liquid container 7 previously filled with the ink 6 with a predetermined degree of deaeration is placed in the pressurizing chamber 3 of the container body 5, and the liquid residue is left in the discharge port 7b of the liquid container 7. The liquid inlet 11a of the quantity detection device 11 is connected, and the half bodies constituting the container body 5 are joined together to obtain the assembled state shown in FIG.

  Next, in the next processing step S103, as shown in FIG. 1, the suction means 72 is connected to the liquid outlet 9 of the liquid remaining amount detecting device 11 via a connecting tube or the like. Next, in the next processing step S104, while the pressurized air is supplied into the pressurizing chamber 3 by the pressurizing means 71, the suction by the suction means 72 is performed, and the ink 6 in the liquid container 7 is removed from the liquid remaining amount. Air that has remained in the liquid inlet 11a, the liquid detection chamber 21, the liquid outlet 11b, the ink guide path 33, and the like, which are flow paths from the discharge port 7b to the liquid outlet 9, by being introduced into the detection device 11. And an initial filling state in which the ink 6 is filled is obtained.

Next, the process proceeds to the next processing step S105, where the total amount of ink remaining in the ink cartridge 1 is detected by measuring the total weight of the ink cartridge 1, and the remaining ink amount is within the allowable range of the product specification. Confirm.
This completes the manufacture of the ink cartridge 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In the manufacturing method of the ink cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention described above, the gas remaining in the liquid detection chamber 21, the liquid inlet 11a, and the liquid outlet 11b that becomes the flow path of the liquid remaining amount detecting device 11 is used. The discharge of the ink and the filling of the ink 6 into the flow path are realized by introducing the ink 6 previously filled in the liquid container 7 into the liquid remaining amount detecting device 11. In this manufacturing method, the gas, bubbles, or the like remaining in the liquid remaining amount detecting device 11 is introduced through the liquid outlet 9 with the introduction of the ink 6 from the liquid container 7 to the liquid remaining amount detecting device 11. In order to push out to the outside, it is possible to fill the liquid remaining amount detecting device 11 with the ink 6 with a certain degree of deaeration without degassing the liquid remaining amount detecting device 11 beforehand by negative pressure suction or the like. Accordingly, it is possible to stably produce a high-quality ink cartridge 1 filled with the ink 6 with a certain degree of deaeration.

The operation of introducing the ink 6 in the liquid container 7 into the liquid remaining amount detecting device 11 is performed by supplying pressurized air to the pressurizing chamber 3 by the pressurizing means 71 as shown in the above embodiment. This can be easily realized by pressurizing the liquid container 7 in the pressurizing chamber 3.
Therefore, the liquid supply path from the liquid filling means is switched to the liquid lead-out section 9 as compared with the case where the ink 6 is injected from the external liquid filling means connected to the previous liquid lead-out section 9 into the liquid remaining amount detecting device 11. Therefore, it is possible to simplify the equipment for filling the ink cartridge 1 with the ink 6 and reduce the equipment cost. As a result, the cost of the ink cartridge 1 filled with the ink 6 can be reduced. Can do.

  Further, as compared with the case of injecting the liquid from the external liquid filling means connected to the liquid outlet 9 to the liquid remaining amount detecting device 11, it is possible to omit the suction for the deaeration process before ink filling, It is not necessary to apply a high positive pressure to the ink filling. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the sensor unit from being damaged due to negative pressure or positive pressure acting on the vibration detection unit 25 that is a sensor unit in the liquid remaining amount detection device 11 for a long time during the filling operation of the ink 6. .

In the case of the present embodiment, when the ink 6 in the liquid container 7 is initially filled in the liquid remaining amount detecting device 11, the liquid container 7 is pressurized by the pressurizing means 71 and simultaneously, Although the suction by the connected suction means 72 is executed, the ink 6 is introduced from the liquid container 7 to the remaining liquid amount detection device 11 only by the pressurization by the pressurization means 71 or the suction by the suction means 72. Can be made.
However, as in the present embodiment, when the pressurization by the pressurization unit 71 and the suction by the suction unit 72 are performed at the same time, the liquid is detected by the suction force acting on the liquid remaining amount detection device 11 by the suction unit 72. The gas in the remaining amount detection device 11 can be effectively discharged, and ink filling with a high degree of deaeration can be realized more stably.

  FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which the first introduction processing step of introducing the ink in the liquid container 7 into the liquid remaining amount detection device 11 is performed in the ink cartridge as the liquid container in the second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a method for manufacturing a liquid container in the second embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a post-introduction pressure reduction process step of the ink cartridge as the liquid container shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a second introduction processing step of the ink cartridge as the liquid container shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the same parts and the same parts as those of the ink cartridge shown in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

The ink cartridge 81 shown in FIG. 5 has an improved liquid remaining amount detection device 11 compared to the ink cartridge 1 shown in the first embodiment.
The improvement of the liquid remaining amount detection device 11 is that a flow path opening / closing means 12 is provided between the liquid inflow port 11 a to which the discharge port 7 b of the liquid container 7 is connected and the liquid detection chamber 21.

  The channel opening / closing means 12 includes a recess 41 having a concave curved surface 41a in which a channel 11c communicating with the liquid detection chamber 21 and a channel 11d communicating with the liquid inflow port 11a are opened, and the recess 41 is opened. A flexible valve membrane 42 covering the surface, a pressurizing chamber 43 defined on the outer surface side of the valve membrane 42, and the operation of the valve membrane 42 by switching the inside of the pressurizing chamber 43 to a predetermined pressurizing state or an open state to the atmosphere Open / close control means 73 for controlling

  The opening / closing control means 73 supplies pressurized air into the pressurizing chamber 43 to bring the valve membrane 42 into close contact with the concave curved surface 41a as shown in FIG. Block between 11d. As a result, the liquid remaining amount detecting device 11 and the liquid container 7 are shut off in an airtight manner. In addition, the opening / closing control means 73 releases the pressurizing chamber 43 to the atmosphere, and as shown in FIGS. The road 11d is brought into a communication state. As a result, the liquid remaining amount detecting device 11 and the liquid container 7 are in a communication state.

  A suction means 72 that is connected to the liquid outlet 9 and applies a negative pressure to the liquid remaining amount detection device 11, a pressure means 71 that pressurizes the liquid container 7 by supplying pressurized air to the pressure chamber 3, and The above-described opening / closing control means 73 is controlled in operation by a control unit 74 for ink filling processing. The control operation performed by the control unit 74 can be instructed from the operation unit 75, and the contents of the control operation can be confirmed by a display unit 76 such as a CRT or a liquid crystal display device.

Next, an ink filling method for obtaining an initial filling state in which the liquid remaining amount detecting device 11 of the ink cartridge 81 is filled with ink will be described with reference to FIG.
The ink filling method applied to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a processing step S201 and a processing step S202 between the processing step S104 and the processing step S105 in the ink filling method shown in the first embodiment. One processing step is added.

  Thus, in the processing step S104, the flow path opening / closing means 12 sets the flow path between the liquid container 7 and the liquid remaining amount detecting device 11 to be in a communication state, and the pressurizing means 71 enters the pressurizing chamber 3 into the communication chamber. While supplying pressurized air, suction by the suction means 72 is performed, and the ink 6 in the liquid container 7 is introduced into the liquid remaining amount detection device 11, so that the discharge port 7 b to the liquid outlet 9 A first introduction processing step of removing air remaining in the liquid inlet 11a, the liquid detection chamber 21, the liquid outlet 11b, and the like, which are flow paths, while introducing the ink 6 into each of the flow paths. It becomes.

  In the next processing step S201, the flow path opening / closing means 12 closes (blocks) the flow paths 11c and 11d between the liquid container 7 and the remaining liquid amount detection device 11, while the ink 6 By starting the suction operation by the suction means 72 in the introduced liquid remaining amount detecting device 11, a post-introduction pressure reducing process step for reducing the pressure in the remaining liquid amount detecting device 11 is performed.

  Further, in the next processing step S202, the flow path opening and closing means 12 returns the flow paths 11c and 11d between the liquid container 7 and the liquid remaining amount detecting device 11 to the communication state, and the liquid by the suction means 72 is further returned. By starting the suction operation in the remaining amount detecting device 11 and the pressurizing operation of the pressurizing chamber 3 by the pressurizing means 71, the liquid in the liquid container 7 is again introduced into the decompressed liquid remaining amount detecting device 11. This is the second introduction process step.

When the first introduction processing step according to the above-described processing step S104 is performed, a small amount of bubbles 51 may remain in the liquid detection chamber 21 or the like in the liquid residual detection device 11 as shown in FIG. .
However, after that, when the post-introduction pressure reduction process step in process step S201 is performed, the bubbles 51 remaining in the liquid detection chamber 21 expand due to the pressure reduction in the liquid detection chamber 21, as shown in FIG. Furthermore, it grows into a large bubble 51A.
Then, when the second introduction processing step in the next processing step S202 is performed, the large bubbles 51A that remain and grow in the liquid detection chamber 21 are easily discharged from the liquid outlet 9, and as shown in FIG. The liquid is quickly discharged from the liquid outlet 9. As a result, the liquid remaining amount detection device 11 is filled with the ink 6 in a more highly evacuated state.

  As in the ink filling method according to the second embodiment, the first introduction processing step (processing step S104) for introducing the ink 6 in the liquid container 7 into the liquid remaining amount detection device 11 and the ink 6 A post-introduction pressure reduction process for reducing the pressure inside the introduced liquid remaining amount detecting device 11 (processing step S201), and a second step of reintroducing the ink 6 in the liquid container 7 into the pressure reducing liquid remaining amount detecting device 11. In the configuration having the introduction processing step (processing step S202), the fine bubbles 51 remaining in the liquid remaining amount detecting device 11 after the liquid remaining in the first introduction processing step are as shown in FIG. It expands by carrying out the decompression process after being introduced into the gas and grows into a large bubble 51A that can be easily removed. The grown bubbles 51A can be removed from the liquid outlet 9 to the outside of the liquid remaining amount detection device 11 at once by executing the second introduction process step, and more advanced deaeration can be realized with certainty. It becomes possible.

  In the present embodiment, the processing step of reducing the pressure in the flow paths 11c and 11d of the liquid remaining amount detecting device 11 is performed between the liquid remaining amount detecting device 11 and the liquid container 7 as in the processing step S201. The process is executed by closing the flow path opening / closing means 12 disposed in the flow path and applying a negative pressure from the liquid outlet 9 to the remaining liquid amount detection device 11 by the suction means 72. In this way, only the flow paths 11c and 11d of the liquid remaining amount detection device 11 can be decompressed efficiently and reliably, and a pressure difference effective for introducing ink from the liquid container 7 to the liquid remaining amount detection device 11 is achieved. Can be easily provided.

  In the present embodiment, the process of introducing the ink 6 from the liquid container 7 into the remaining liquid amount detection device 11 as in the processing step S104 or the processing step S202 is performed by the remaining liquid amount detection device 11 and the liquid container. The flow path opening / closing means 12 disposed in the flow paths 11c and 11d between the liquid discharge section 9 and the liquid remaining amount detecting device 11 is applied with a negative pressure. In this way, the ink introduced from the liquid container 7 to the liquid remaining amount detecting device 11 side via the flow path opening / closing means 12 is positively applied by the suction force due to the negative pressure acting in the liquid remaining amount detecting device 11. In addition, it is possible to prevent external air from entering the liquid remaining amount detection device 11 from the outside, and ink can be filled in a stable deaerated state.

In the above ink filling method, desirably, the inside of the flow path of the remaining liquid amount detecting device 11 is previously provided before the processing step S104 for introducing the ink 6 in the liquid container 7 into the remaining liquid amount detecting device 11. It is preferable to provide a process for reducing the pressure.
With such a configuration, the liquid in the liquid container 7 is easily introduced into the remaining liquid amount detection device 11 due to the pressure difference between the liquid container 7 and the remaining liquid amount detection device 11, and the filling time is shortened. As a result, productivity can be improved.

In the above ink filling method, preferably, after the ink 6 in the liquid container 7 is filled in the liquid remaining amount detecting device 11, the amount of stored ink in the ink cartridges 1 and 81 becomes a predetermined amount. The ink may be discharged from the liquid outlet 9 by suction by the suction means 72 or the like.
With such a configuration, the amount of ink remaining in the ink cartridge 1 (initial filling amount) can be accurately set, and a highly reliable ink cartridge with no variation in the amount of ink stored can be stably produced.

Further, in the above ink filling method, desirably, when the ink in the liquid container 7 is introduced into the liquid remaining amount detecting device 11, the ink in the liquid container 7 is kept in a heat retaining state in which the temperature is raised to a predetermined temperature. It is good to do so.
In this way, the viscosity of the ink in the liquid container 7 decreases due to the temperature rise, and the introduction of the ink from the liquid container 7 to the liquid remaining amount detecting device 11 becomes easy. For example, the liquid remaining amount detecting device When the negative pressure is applied to the remaining liquid amount detection device 11 in order to promote the introduction of the ink into the remaining amount detection device 11, the negative pressure applied to the remaining liquid amount detection device 11 is reduced so that the remaining liquid amount detection device 11 It is possible to reduce the burden on the sensor unit and the like.

  In the above-described embodiment, it is assumed that the ink is fully stored in the liquid container 7 before the ink is introduced into the liquid remaining amount detecting device 11, but the ink may not be fully stored. For example, a liquid container in use (in which air enters the liquid container) can be applied.

Further, the liquid container filled with the liquid by the manufacturing method of the present invention is not limited to the ink cartridge mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus. The present invention can be used for liquid storage containers for various liquid consumption devices including a liquid ejecting head.
As a specific example of a liquid consuming apparatus including a liquid ejecting head, for example, an apparatus including a color material ejecting head used for manufacturing a color filter such as a liquid crystal display, an electrode for forming an organic EL display, a surface emitting display (FED), or the like. Examples include devices equipped with electrode material (conductive paste) ejection heads, devices equipped with bioorganic matter ejection heads used in biochip manufacturing, devices equipped with sample ejection heads as precision pipettes, textile printing devices, micro-dispensers, etc. It is done.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ink cartridge (liquid storage container), 3 Pressurization chamber, 5 Container main body, 7 Liquid storage body (ink pack), 7a Bag body, 7b Ejection port, 9 Liquid extraction part, 11 Liquid residual amount detection apparatus, 11a Liquid flow Inlet, 11b Liquid outlet, 12 Channel opening / closing means, 13 Pressurization port, 15 Detector housing chamber, 19 Detector case, 19a Recessed space, 21 Liquid detector chamber, 23 Flexible film (diaphragm), 25 Vibration detection Part, 27 pressure receiving plate, 29 pressure spring (biasing means), 31 bottom plate, 33 ink guide path (recessed part), 35 piezoelectric element, 41 recessed part, 41a concave curved surface, 42 valve membrane, 43 pressure chamber, 51 bubble, 71 Pressurizing means, 72 Suction means, 73 Opening / closing control means, 81 Ink cartridge (liquid container),

Claims (3)

A liquid container having a discharge port for discharging the liquid;
A liquid inlet connected to the discharge port and a liquid outlet for supplying liquid to the outside, and applying vibration to the flow path between the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet for the liquid. A liquid remaining amount detection device having a vibration detection unit for detecting the remaining amount of liquid in the container, and a method for manufacturing a liquid storage container comprising:
After connecting the liquid inlet of the liquid remaining amount detecting device to the discharge port of the liquid container in which liquid is stored in advance, the liquid in the liquid container is removed by suction by suction means connected to the liquid outlet. Introducing into the liquid remaining amount detection device, the gas in the flow path is pushed out by the introduced liquid and discharged from the liquid outlet, and the flow path is filled with the liquid. A method for manufacturing a liquid container. 2. The liquid according to claim 1 , wherein simultaneously with the suction by the suction unit, the liquid container is pressurized by a pressure unit, and the liquid in the liquid container is introduced into the liquid remaining amount detection device. production how of the storage container. The liquid is discharged from the liquid lead-out portion until the amount of stored liquid in the liquid container becomes a predetermined amount after the liquid in the liquid container is filled in the liquid remaining amount detection device. A method for producing the liquid container according to 1 or 2.

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