JP4865533B2 - Liquid storage container - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid storage container that can store various liquids such as ink.

  In a recording apparatus that records an image on a recording medium by applying a liquid such as ink to the recording medium using the recording head, a liquid storage container for storing ink to be supplied to the recording head is used. . In general, such a liquid storage container employs a configuration in which a predetermined negative pressure is applied to the liquid in the container in order to stably supply the liquid and prevent leakage.

  As one configuration of such a liquid storage container, there is a configuration in which an absorber is provided in the liquid storage container and a negative pressure is applied by using a liquid holding force by the absorber. Further, as a liquid storage container that generates a negative pressure without using such an absorber, there is a container that uses a spring as a negative pressure generating means. This liquid storage container is a sealed container in which a flexible member is attached to a casing (fixing member) that forms a part of the container, and the flexible member is used to transfer ink from the inside of the container to the outside. It can be deformed in the compression direction with derivation. And it is the structure which generate | occur | produces a negative pressure in a container by urging | biasing a flexible member in the direction which expands the container inside with a spring. As the spring, for example, it is known to use an arcuate leaf spring or a coil spring. There is also a liquid container having a structure in which a spring as a negative pressure generating means is placed in a bag-like flexible member.

  In this manner, the flexible member is biased in the direction in which the inside of the container is expanded by the spring member, so that the flexible member is protected from external pressure and impact in the liquid storage container that generates negative pressure. For this purpose, a protective member such as a lid member is provided. Such a protective member protects the liquid storage container from an impact or static load applied due to a drop during handling or transportation of the liquid storage container. When the deformation of the constituent members of the liquid storage container caused by the external pressure is transmitted to the flexible member, there is a risk that sudden pressure fluctuation and negative pressure release accompanying the same occur in the container and ink leakage occurs. The protective member prevents such ink leakage.

  In a liquid container made of resin, it is difficult to avoid deformation of the resin protective member due to external pressure. Further, in the rectangular parallelepiped liquid storage container, when the external pressure is applied, the maximum area portion of the exterior is most greatly deformed. Therefore, the maximum deformation amount of the flexible member is designed so that the flexible member does not contact the lid member when the flexible member is deformed by the maximum amount in the direction of expanding the inside of the container. By limiting the maximum deformation amount of the flexible member, the amount of ink stored is substantially reduced.

As a measure for preventing the deformation of the protective member, there are a method of increasing the thickness of the resin or the like forming the protective member or forming the protective member with a material such as a metal having higher rigidity than the resin.
USP 5754207 USP 6250751 JP-A-06-183023

  However, when the thickness of the maximum area portion in the exterior of the liquid storage container is increased, the ink storage amount is reduced. Further, when a material with increased rigidity such as metal is used, the cost becomes high.

  FIGS. 12 and 13 are configuration examples of a liquid storage container in which the shape of the flexible member is restricted in consideration of deformation of the protection member in order to suppress a decrease in the amount of ink stored. A housing space for a liquid 7 such as ink is formed by the housing member 1 and the flexible member 4 in close contact with the inner periphery of the housing member 1. The surface member 3 is located on the inner surface of the flexible member 4, and a lid member 5 as a protective member for protecting the flexible member 4 is attached to the opening of the housing member 1. The spring member 2 provided in the storage space for the liquid 7 biases the flexible member 4 upward in FIG. 13, that is, in a direction for expanding the storage space, via the surface member 3. Thereby, a negative pressure is applied to the liquid 7. FIG. 13B shows a state when the lid member 5 is deformed to the maximum by an external force. As shown by 11 in FIG. 12 (A), the surface member 3 has a shape (concave shape) substantially the same as the maximum deformation shape of the lid member 5. FIG. 13 shows the relationship between the concave shape and the liquid storage amount. The flexible member 4 is always regulated to be approximately the same shape as the maximum deformed shape of the lid member 5, and the portion corresponding to the flexible member and the surface member has a concave shape.

  In order to transmit the load generated by the spring member 2, the surface member 3 is made of a metal plate that does not deform under low pressure, or a resin plate that is relatively thick (at least about 1 to 2 mm or more). Therefore, when the liquid 7 is used up as shown in FIG. 13C, the concave portion 11 of the surface member 3 that is formed to have substantially the same shape as the maximum deformed shape of the lid member 5 protrudes below the concave portion 11. The location contacts the inner bottom surface of the housing member 1. As a result, the displacement of the surface member 3 to the housing member is hindered. If the flexible member 4 is further deformed from the state shown in FIG. 13C, the distance between the casing member and the flexible member on both ends of the surface member becomes shorter, and the negative in the liquid storage space is reduced. The pressure increases rapidly. When the liquid is ink, the ink cannot be supplied from the ink supply port 6 to the recording head. Further, if a part of the flexible member comes into contact with the housing member, the ink flow to the supply port is blocked in this state, and there is a possibility that ink remains in the storage space.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, the object of the present invention is to secure a sufficient ink storage space, and even if the container is deformed by an external force applied during transportation or use, the liquid is large. An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid container that does not cause pressure fluctuations.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide a liquid storage container that can prevent liquid leakage while maintaining a stable pressure and can perform appropriate liquid discharge.

To solve the above object, the liquid container of the present invention, a liquid container having a liquid containing portion for containing the liquid, and a supply port for supplying the liquid accommodated in the liquid containing portion to the outside A lid member having a maximum area in a surface constituting an outer frame of the liquid storage container; a casing member constituting an outer frame of the liquid storage container together with the lid member; disposed within a flexible member constituting the liquid containing portion with an inner wall of said housing member, disposed in the liquid storage portion so as to be opposed to the lid member via the flexible member, outside with a surface member in which an opening is formed to include a position opposed to the position where the lid member is the maximum displacement, the flexible member through the front Kymene member to the lid member side by the pressure from the was energized, the liquid accommodated in the liquid storage portion It has a conical coil spring member for generating a pressure, and the large-diameter side of the front Symbol conical coil spring and against the inner wall of the housing member, the small diameter side of the conical coil spring is the opening in the surface member When the liquid is stored in the liquid storage portion, the flexible member located in the opening is convex in a direction away from the lid member .

  According to the present invention, the protective member is arranged outside the flexible member, and the opening is formed at the position of the center of gravity of the surface member in contact with the flexible member and facing the protective member.

  When the protective member is deformed, contact between the protective member and the surface member can be avoided by the opening formed at the center of gravity of the surface member.

  Even if the liquid storage container is deformed by an external force applied during transportation or use, it does not cause large pressure fluctuations and discharges liquid properly without leaking liquid while maintaining a stable pressure. Can do. Further, this type of liquid storage container can be provided simply and inexpensively by a simple configuration in which the opening is formed at the center of gravity of the surface member.

  In addition, by using a conical coil spring as a spring member and bringing the small diameter side into contact with the surface member, when an external force is applied to the surface member, the surface member is easily displaced in a balanced manner, and the pressure fluctuation of the liquid is more reliably detected. Can be suppressed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
1 to 6 are views for explaining a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a liquid container in the present embodiment, and FIG. 1B is an exploded perspective view thereof. The housing member 1 and the flexible member 4 that is in close contact with the inner periphery of the housing member 1 form a storage space for a liquid 7 such as ink as shown in FIG. A flexible sheet is used as the flexible member 4 and is joined to the casing member 1 by welding or the like, so that the storage space for the liquid 7 is sealed. The surface member 3 is positioned on the inner surface of the flexible member 4 on the ink storage side, and a lid member 5 as a protective member for protecting the flexible member 4 is attached to the opening of the housing member 1.

  An opening 10 is provided at the center of gravity of the surface member 3, and the spring member is in contact with the opening of the surface member. The spring member 2 provided in the storage space for the liquid 7 biases the flexible member 4 upward in FIG. 3A via the surface member 3, that is, in a direction for expanding the storage space. The surface member 3 plays a role of transmitting the urging force of the spring member 2 to the flexible member 4 and maintains the internal negative pressure of the liquid storage container within a certain range in which liquid discharge is stable. Thus, the spring member 2 functions as a negative pressure generating means, and a negative pressure is applied to the liquid 7. In this example, the pressure in the liquid storage container is adjusted by the spring member 2. The internal pressure of the liquid storage container is adjusted so as not to exceed a predetermined pressure that affects the liquid discharge until the bag-shaped storage space formed by the flexible member 4 is crushed. The pressure range suitable for discharging liquid is the pressure of the liquid in the liquid storage container so that the liquid discharged from the discharge port of the recording head or the like can be in a good printing state on the recording medium. Moreover, it is also a range in which the liquid supply from the liquid storage container to the discharge port is favorably continued. A step portion 1A for positioning the spring member 2 is formed on the bottom surface of the housing member 1.

  The spring member can stably hold the urging force against the pressure change in the liquid storage container.

  The casing member 1 is provided with a liquid supply port 6 for leading out the liquid 7. In order to prevent the liquid 7 from leaking, the liquid supply port 6 includes a rubber member provided with a slit, an absorber for generating a meniscus force that can withstand negative pressure in the liquid storage container, and a capillary force generating member such as a filter. It is sealed. The present invention can be applied to a liquid storage container provided with any form of liquid supply port 6. The liquid 7 is led out from the liquid supply port 6 while the negative pressure is applied, and the flexible member 4 is deformed according to the remaining amount of the liquid 7 in the liquid storage container. When ink to be supplied to the recording head is stored as the liquid 7, ink to which a predetermined negative pressure is applied is supplied from the liquid supply port 6 to the recording head. The recording head can be detachably connected to the liquid supply port 6 directly or indirectly.

  FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the liquid storage container with the lid member 5 removed, and FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the surface member 3 and the spring member 2. One end of the spring member 2 is coupled to the inner surface of the surface member 3 by means such as welding. The surface member 3 of this example is a plate member having a rectangular planar shape, and a circular opening 10 is formed at the center of gravity. The opening 10 is positioned to face the side surface of the liquid storage container having the largest amount of deformation under external pressure, that is, the central portion of the lid member 5. The spring member 2 of this example is a conical coil spring, and the small diameter side thereof is coupled to the opening 10 of the surface member 3. The spring member 2 generates a load for maintaining the internal pressure when the liquid storage container is in use. The spring member 2 is not limited in shape, and may be a compression coil spring, a conical coil spring, a leaf spring, or the like. May be.

  FIG. 3B is an explanatory diagram when deformation due to external pressure occurs in the central portion of the lid member 5. The central portion of the lid member that forms the maximum side surface of the liquid storage container is the portion with the largest amount of deformation due to external pressure. When the center portion of the lid member 5 is deformed, since the opening 10 is formed in the surface member 3, contact between the lid member deformed by an external force and the surface member can be avoided. Therefore, the deformation force from the outside is not transmitted to the storage space for the liquid 7, and the pressure fluctuation in the liquid storage container is avoided. Further, since the shape and the like of the surface member 3 as the pressure plate are not significantly changed, the liquid 7 can be used up without leaving the liquid 7 in the liquid storage container as shown in FIG.

  In the case of this example, the opening 10 of the surface member 3 is located at the center of gravity of the surface member and has substantially the same diameter as the small diameter side of the conical coil spring. The small diameter side of the conical coil spring is in contact with the surface member 3. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4A, even when the deformation of the lid member 5 due to the external pressure F is transmitted to the end side of the surface member 3 as indicated by the arrow A, a large fluctuation of the internal pressure occurs in the liquid in the container. Does not occur. That is, as shown in FIG. 4A, when deformation due to external pressure is transmitted to the surface member 3, the surface member 3 is displaced with a relatively small force with respect to the internal pressure, and the flexible member 4 is also Since it follows the displacement, a large internal pressure fluctuation does not occur, and a predetermined negative pressure can be maintained. Further, since the deformation of the central portion of the lid member 5 is absorbed by the opening 10 of the surface member 3, leakage due to the pressure variation of the liquid 7 does not occur.

  Furthermore, since the opening of the surface member is located at the center of gravity of the surface member, even when an external pressure F is applied, the force is distributed to A and B around the spring member in the liquid storage portion. Since the spring member absorbs and distributes the large pressure fluctuation in the container in a balanced manner, the pressure fluctuation in the liquid storage portion can be reduced.

  4B is an explanatory view of a comparative example in which the large diameter side of the conical coil spring as the spring member 2 is in contact with the surface member 3 contrary to the case of this example. An opening 10 is provided at the center of gravity of the surface member. In the case of this comparative example, the large-diameter side portion of the conical coil spring is in contact with the surface member 3 over a wide range. When the external force F is applied to a position slightly deviated from the center of the liquid storage container, the surface member 3 is pushed downward as a whole. As shown in FIG. 4A, in the embodiment where the small diameter portion of the conical spring is in contact with the surface member, the external force F is applied to the outer side A of the coil diameter of the conical coil spring. As shown in FIG. 4B, in the embodiment in which the large diameter portion of the conical spring is in contact with the surface member, the external force F is applied to the inside of the coil diameter of the conical coil spring. At this time, since a load is applied to the entire surface held inside the coil diameter, as a result, a large load is applied to the entire surface member 3 as compared with the embodiment of FIG.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4A, the small diameter side of the conical coil spring as the spring member 2 is in contact with the surface member 3 in order to reduce the load applied to the entire conical coil spring and suppress the pressure fluctuation. It will be advantageous.

  5 and 6 are explanatory views of the liquid storage container including the surface member 3 in which the opening 10 is not formed. FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a state in which the lid member 5 is removed from the liquid storage container, and FIG. 5B is a combined state perspective view of the surface member 3 and the spring member 2 provided in the liquid storage container. .

  The liquid storage container using the flexible member 4 generates a negative pressure that does not cause the liquid 7 to leak during its initial use. In such a liquid storage container, the surface member 3 and the flexible member 4 are pulled toward the storage space for the liquid 7 as shown in FIG. 4 is held in a state of being pulled into the storage space. In order to generate the initial internal negative pressure, it is necessary to reduce the storage amount of the liquid 7 by several cc from the internal volume of the storage space, and to secure a large storage amount of the liquid 7, It is necessary to minimize the amount of displacement of the surface member 3 that is displaced into the storage space by the internal negative pressure.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the opening 10 is not provided in the surface member 3, when the external pressure is applied to the liquid storage container, the central portion of the side surface of the liquid storage container having the largest area is illustrated. It is greatly deformed as shown in FIG. When a sudden force is applied from the outside due to a drop of the liquid storage container or the like, the force is transmitted to the surface member 3, giving a large fluctuation to the initial pressure of the liquid 7, and there is a possibility that the liquid leaks from the liquid supply port. is there. In addition, if the compression state of the spring member changes due to fluctuations in the atmospheric pressure generated during the distribution of the liquid storage container, the internal negative pressure in the liquid storage portion is released, and the liquid 7 may leak.

(Second Embodiment)
7 and 8 are diagrams for explaining a second embodiment of the present invention.

  In this example, a plurality of openings 10 are formed in the surface member 3. One of the openings 10 is located at the center of gravity of the surface member, as in the above-described embodiment, and faces the central portion of the side surface of the liquid storage container, which is the largest deformed portion when receiving external force. Further, other openings 10 a and 10 b are formed at positions shifted from the central opening 10. Such other openings 10a and 10b are formed as a countermeasure when a deformation occurs other than the central portion of the side surface of the liquid container as shown in FIG.

  In the surface member 3 of FIG. 7A, a central opening 10 and two openings 10a and 10b located on the left and right are formed. Thus, by setting the opening surface of the opening portion 10 to be large overall, the influence of the deformation of the liquid storage container on the internal pressure fluctuation can be extremely reduced. On the other hand, when the opening 10 is set to be large in this way, the rigidity of the surface member 3 is lowered, and the planar holding force for holding the flexible member 4 in the planar shape may be impaired. In order to reinforce the strength of the surface member 3, the beam portion 12 may be formed in the vicinity of the left and right openings 10a and 10b of the surface member 3 as shown in FIG.

  The openings 10a and 10b may be located at target positions across the opening 10 at the center of gravity of the surface member. In this case, it is possible to distribute the pressure fluctuation in the liquid storage unit in a well-balanced manner in the container.

(Third embodiment)
9 and 10 are diagrams for explaining a third embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a plurality of spring members 2 are provided.

  In the case of this example, as the spring member 2, two coil springs 2a and 2b are provided in parallel. Also in this example, the opening 10 is formed at the center of gravity of the surface member 3 as in the above-described embodiment. Furthermore, an opening 10a is formed at a position facing the spring member 2a, and an opening 10b is formed at a position facing the spring member 2b. As shown in FIG. 10, the openings 10 a and 10 b and the spring members 2 a and 2 b absorb and disperse the external force F in response to deformation other than the central portion of the liquid storage container due to the external force F. Moreover, the formation position of each opening part in the surface member 3 can be set irrespective of the number of deployment of a spring member, and a deployment position.

(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a leaf spring is used as the spring member 2.

  In the case of this example, two leaf springs combined with each other are used as the spring member 2. The leaf spring is provided between the two surface members 3 a and 3 b located in the storage space for the liquid 7. The leaf spring on the upper side in FIG. 11 has a central portion in contact with the opening 10a of the upper surface member 3a, and both ends are curved downward. On the other hand, the leaf spring on the lower side in FIG. 11 has its center portion in contact with the opening 10b of the lower surface member 3b, and both ends thereof are curved upward. Both end portions of these leaf springs are coupled to each other and urged in a direction in which the upper and lower surface members 3a and 3b are separated from each other, that is, in a direction in which the storage space for the liquid 7 is expanded. As the storage amount of the liquid 7 in the liquid storage space decreases, these leaf springs are crushed and deformed in the approaching direction while maintaining the mutual coupling state, thereby functioning as the spring member 2. These leaf springs having the same shape may be used and combined so as to be combined in opposite directions so that the end portions of the spring 2 are in contact with the surface members 3a and 3b.

  At this time, the place where the spring member 2 and the surface member are in contact is a place other than the openings 10a and 10b at the center of gravity of the surface member. However, as described in the previous embodiment, by providing the opening other than the position of the center of gravity of the surface member, the elastic force of each spring member can be transmitted and absorbed to the surface member in a balanced manner.

  When a portion other than the central portion of the surface member 3 is pressed, the contact portion between the surface member and the spring member increases, so that the surface member 3 can be displaced with a relatively small load. A sudden pressure fluctuation of the liquid inside the liquid storage container can be prevented, and the internal negative pressure can be maintained. Therefore, the leakage of the liquid 7 can be prevented as in the embodiment described above.

(Other embodiments)
The surface member 3 only needs to be in contact with the flexible member 4 in order to regulate the shape of the flexible member 4, may be in contact with the outer surface of the flexible member 4, and is flexible. The adhesive member 4 may be adhered to the outer surface. The opening 10 for avoiding buffering with the protection member 5 should just be formed in the surface member 3 which regulates the shape of the flexible member 4.

(A) is a liquid storage container perspective view in the first embodiment of the present invention, (B) is an exploded perspective view of the liquid storage container (A) is a state where the lid member is removed from the container of FIG. 1 (A), (B) is a combined state of the spring member and the surface member of FIG. 1 (B). (A) is sectional drawing which follows the III-III line | wire of FIG. 1 (A), and is sectional drawing when a liquid is fully accommodated, (B) is sectional drawing when a liquid storage container deform | transforms, ( C) is a sectional view after the liquid is supplied to the outside. (A) is another sectional view when the liquid storage container is deformed, (B) is a sectional view in which the large diameter side of the spring is in contact with the surface member (A) is a perspective view of a liquid storage container having no opening in the surface member, (B) is a perspective view of a combined state of the surface member and the spring member without an opening. (A) is the VI-VI sectional view taken on the line of the liquid storage container of FIG. 5 (A), (B) is sectional drawing which follows the VI-VI line of FIG. 5 (A). (A) is a perspective view of a spring member and a surface member in the second embodiment, and (B) is a modification of the second embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the liquid storage container in 2nd Embodiment. The perspective view of the spring member and surface member in 3rd Embodiment It is sectional drawing of the liquid storage container in 3rd Embodiment. The perspective view of the spring member and surface member which can be set in 3rd Embodiment (A) is a perspective view of a conventional liquid container with the lid member removed, and (B) is a perspective view of a combined state of the spring member and the surface member. (A) is sectional drawing which follows the liquid storage container XIII-XIII line of FIG. 12 (A), Comprising: The state when a liquid is fully accommodated, (B) is a cross section when a liquid storage container deform | transforms. FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view after the liquid is supplied to the outside.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Case member 2 Spring member 3 Surface member 4 Flexible member 5 Lid member 6 Liquid supply port 7 Liquid 10 Opening part 12 Beam part

Claims (6)

A liquid containing portion for accommodating the liquid, a supply port for supplying the liquid to the outside to be stored in the liquid containing portion, a liquid container having,
A lid member having a maximum area among the surfaces constituting the outer frame of the liquid storage container;
A housing member that forms an outer frame of the liquid container together with the lid member;
A flexible member disposed inside the liquid storage container and constituting the liquid storage portion together with an inner wall of the housing member ;
An opening is formed in the liquid storage portion so as to face the lid member via the flexible member, and includes a position facing the position where the lid member is maximum displaced by external pressure. The surface member made,
Before biasing the flexible member through the Kymene member to the lid member side, and a conical coil spring member to generate a negative pressure in the liquid accommodated in the liquid storage portion,
Have
Larger diameter before Symbol conical coil spring is against the inner wall of said housing member,
The small diameter side of the conical coil spring is engaged with the opening of the surface member,
In the state in which the liquid is stored in the liquid storage portion, the flexible member positioned in the opening is convex in a direction away from the lid member .   The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein the opening includes a center of gravity of the surface member. Said face member, said other conical coil spring engaged with the said opening, the liquid according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a plurality of openings which are not engaged with the conical coil spring Storage container. Wherein the liquid storage portion, the liquid container according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in which liquid ink is characterized in that it is housed. 2. The use of the liquid in the liquid storage part causes the surface member and the flexible member to move in a direction approaching the inner wall of the housing member, and the volume of the liquid storage part decreases. a container according to any one of 1-4. The liquid storage container according to claim 1, wherein the liquid storage portion does not communicate with the outside at a portion other than the supply port.

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