JP5125164B2 - Fluid container - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a fluid container such as an ink cartridge and a method for manufacturing the same.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an ink jet printer as a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects droplets from a nozzle of a fluid ejecting head. Some ink jet printers include an off-carriage type ink supply system in which an ink cartridge is mounted at a place other than a carriage. The off-carriage type ink supply system includes a large-capacity ink cartridge for large-format printing, and the carriage is downsized by not mounting the ink cartridge, and the inkjet printer is downsized and thin. There are some cases.

In this off-carriage type ink supply system, for example, an ink cartridge is disposed on the main body side. Then, the ink is supplied from the ink cartridge to the sub tank or the recording head mounted on the carriage via the ink supply tube.

This type of ink cartridge is disclosed in Patent Document 1 and the like. In this type of ink cartridge, an ink pack is accommodated in a casing, an elastic material such as polystyrene foam is loaded in an empty space, and an opening of the lower case is sealed with a sealing film, and then the upper case is fixed.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-19136

Off-carriage type ink cartridges, which are mainly used for commercial use and consume a large amount of ink, are increasing in capacity in order to reduce replacement frequency. For this reason, if an ink cartridge having a considerable weight is dropped, the ink cartridge is easily damaged by the impact of the weight. A spacer member such as a polystyrene foam is disposed around the ink pack. However, the capacity of the ink cartridge is increasing so that the ink cartridge cannot be damaged by itself.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a fluid container that is resistant to impacts such as dropping and a method for manufacturing the same.

A fluid storage container according to an aspect of the present invention includes:
A fluid container for containing a fluid;
A fluid lead-out member connected to the front edge side of the fluid container, and a fluid lead-out member for leading the fluid contained in the fluid container from the lead-out end provided on the tip side;
A fluid container having a housing for housing the fluid container to which the fluid outlet member is coupled,
A hole is provided in the front wall of the housing,
An annular seal member is attached to the hole,
The fluid container to which the fluid lead-out member is coupled is housed in the housing such that the lead-out end portion of the fluid lead-out member is fitted to the seal member,
Between the lead-out end portion and the base end of the fluid lead-out member, a flange portion having a first surface on the lead-out end portion side and a second surface on the base end side is provided,
Inside the housing, a pair of ribs for supporting the fluid outlet member is provided so as to sandwich the fluid outlet member,
The pair of ribs are formed in a square shape so as to become narrower from the rear end portion toward the front end portion, and the fluid outlet member moves in a first direction from the rear end portion of the rib toward the front end portion. When being fitted to the seal member, it is expanded in a direction crossing the first direction, and when the fluid lead-out member reaches a position where it is fitted with the seal member, it is elastically returned to the flange portion. Configured to face the second surface;
The flange portion is disposed in the housing such that the first surface faces the seal member and the second surface faces the front end portion of the rib, and the front end of the seal member and the rib Sandwiched between
A restriction member is provided inside the housing, and is disposed on the rear end side of the rib, and restricts movement of the rib in a second direction opposite to the first direction. .

According to one aspect of the present invention, the flange portion of the fluid outlet member is in a direction opposite to the first direction while ensuring the elastic deformation / return function in the direction intersecting the first direction by the fixing rib. The movement backwardly moving in the second direction can be reliably prevented by the fixed rib reinforced by movement restriction by the restriction member. Therefore, the volume of the fluid storage bag is increased, and the fluid storage container is increased in size and
Even when the weight is increased, it is possible to prevent or suppress the fixing rib from being damaged by an impact caused by dropping or the like and the fluid storage container from being damaged.

In one aspect of the present invention, the restriction member is formed of a member different from the casing, and
It may be positioned and supported with respect to the housing. It is also possible to provide a restricting member on the housing, and the restricting member disposed with a slight gap from the rear end of the fixing rib may be formed integrally with the housing. However, in order to produce a slight gap by injection molding, the mold needs to be devised,
It is preferable to form the regulating member as a separate member from the casing. In this case, the attachment of the regulating member is a process after the fluid container is supported by the fixing rib.

In one aspect of the present invention, the housing includes a bottom wall portion that intersects with the front wall portion and a rear wall portion that faces the front wall portion, and faces the bottom wall portion. An opening is formed on the surface, and the opening of the casing is sealed with a sealing film, whereby a pressurized chamber into which a pressurized fluid is introduced from the outside is formed inside the casing. housing body includes a first surface that faces the bottom wall portion, a second surface opposite to the sealing film, a first sealing portion in which the fluid outlet member is connected to said first sealing portion An opposing second sealing portion , wherein the first sealing portion is a front wall portion side of the housing and the second sealing portion is a rear wall portion side of the housing. And the thickness of the fluid container is changed such that the thickness between the first surface and the second surface changes from the first sealing portion toward the second sealing portion. The Has a region, between the said thickness changing region sealing film of the fluid container is arranged a spacer member is rigid, the restricting member is formed integrally with the spacer member Preferably, the fluid is characterized by Thus, the regulating member formed on the spacer member, it is possible to function as a stopper for fixing ribs.

In the above aspect, the spacer member is a member that has a front surface, an upper surface, and an inclined surface that connects the front surface and the upper surface, and has a substantially triangular outline, and the spacer member has the upper surface that is sealed. facing the stop film, wherein such inclined surface is opposed to said thickness changing region of the fluid container is disposed in said pressure chamber, said top surface of said spacer member, and the sealing film It is preferable that a space is formed between them. By securing such a space portion, it is possible to reduce an accident in which the spacer member damages the sealing film due to factors such as movement of the internal fluid container .

A fluid storage container according to another aspect of the present invention includes the above-described fluid storage bag, a fluid outlet member,
In addition to the housing member, the sealing film, and the seal member, the lead-out end portion of the fluid lead-out member is moved in the first direction and is inserted into the seal member. In this state, there is provided a restricting member that restricts the flange portion from moving in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

That is, the restricting member may directly restrict the flange itself subject to movement restriction. However, it is necessary that the restricting member is formed of a member different from the casing and is positioned and supported with respect to the casing. This is because when the restriction member is provided in the housing, the flange portions interfere with each other in the process of contacting the seal member.

In other aspects of the invention, the securing ribs are not necessary. This is because the flange portion can be directly regulated by the regulating member. However, a fixing rib may be provided in order to function as an end stopper when the fluid containing bag is attached to the housing.

In another aspect of the present invention, the regulating member can be formed on the spacer member,
Furthermore, a space part can be formed between the surface which a spacer member opposes a sealing film, and a sealing film.

A fluid container according to still another aspect of the present invention is provided.
A fluid containing bag formed of a flexible material and enclosing a fluid therein;
A fluid outlet member having a base end connected to the fluid containing bag body and having a leading end at the tip;
A housing having a recess for housing the fluid containing bag and the fluid outlet member;
A sealing film which covers the opening of the casing and seals the casing, and forms a pressurized chamber into which pressurized fluid can be introduced into the casing;
An annular seal member that is mounted in a hole provided in the wall portion of the housing and into which the outlet end portion of the fluid outlet member is fitted and inserted;
A spacer member disposed in a gap between the fluid containing bag and the sealing film;
Have
The spacer member is positioned and supported by the housing,
A space portion is formed between a surface of the spacer member facing the sealing film and the sealing film.

As described above, conventionally, in order to fix the spacer member formed of an elastic material, there is only a material that is thermally welded to the sealing film. According to the above-described configuration of the present invention, the spacer member can be fixed in a non-contact manner with the sealing film by forming the spacer member with a rigid body and positioning and fixing the spacer member to the housing. As a result, the fluid containing bag is restrained by the spacer member that is positioned and supported, and the movement of the fluid containing bag can be restricted.

A method for manufacturing a fluid container according to still another aspect of the present invention includes a housing having a bottom wall and a peripheral wall forming a recess, and an annular seal member attached to a hole formed in the peripheral wall. The fluid containing bag body containing the fluid is moved in the first direction, and the leading end portion of the fluid leading member, the base end of which is connected to the fluid containing bag body, is inserted into the seal member. A first step of fitting and inserting, and attaching the fluid containing bag body to the casing by bringing a flange portion formed between the lead-out end portion and the base end into contact with the seal member; ,
When the lead-out end portion of the fluid lead-out member moves in the first direction and is inserted into the seal member, the fixing rib standing on the bottom wall of the casing is elastically deformed by the flange portion. Then, when the fluid lead-out member reaches a position sealed by the seal member, the fixed rib is elastically restored to insert the fixed rib into the flange portion. A second step facing the rear end;
After the second step, the regulating member is fixed to the casing so as to face the rear end of the fixing rib,
A third step of restricting movement of the fixing rib in a second direction opposite to the first direction;
After the third step, the casing is covered with a sealing film to seal the casing,
A fourth step of forming a pressurized chamber capable of introducing a pressurized fluid into the housing;
It is characterized by having.

  By this manufacturing method, the fluid container according to one embodiment of the present invention can be preferably manufactured.

A method for manufacturing a fluid container according to still another aspect of the present invention includes:
A casing having a bottom wall and a peripheral wall forming a recess, and having an annular seal member mounted in a hole formed in the peripheral wall, a fluid containing bag body containing the fluid inside is directed in a first direction. Move
A leading end portion on the leading end side of a fluid leading member having a base end connected to the fluid containing bag body is fitted and inserted into the seal member, and is formed between the leading end portion and the base end. A first step of attaching the fluid containing bag body to the housing by bringing the flange portion made into contact with the seal member;
After the first step, so that the flange portion maintains a contact state with the seal member,
A second step of fixing the restricting member to the casing so as to face the rear end of the flange portion and restricting the flange portion from moving in a second direction opposite to the first direction;
After the third step, the casing is covered with a sealing film to seal the casing,
A third step of forming a pressurized chamber capable of introducing a pressurized fluid into the housing;
It is characterized by having.

By this manufacturing method, the fluid container according to another aspect of the present invention can be preferably manufactured.

Regardless of the manufacturing method, the regulating member can be provided on the spacer member, and
In the step of positioning the spacer member, the spacer member can be arranged at a position below the opening end position of the housing sealed with the sealing film. In this way, a fluid storage container with little breakage of the sealing film can be manufactured.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. The present embodiment described below does not unduly limit the contents of the present invention described in the claims, and all the configurations described in the present embodiment are indispensable as means for solving the present invention. Not necessarily.

(Fluid consumption device)
A fluid consuming apparatus using an ink cartridge, which is an example of a fluid container according to the present invention, for example, a recording apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the basic configuration of the recording apparatus. The carriage 1 shown in FIG. 1 is moved via a timing belt 3 driven by a carriage motor 2. The carriage 1 is guided by the scanning guide member 4 and reciprocated in the longitudinal direction of the paper feeding member 5, that is, the main scanning direction which is the width direction of the recording paper. Although not shown in FIG. 1, an ink jet recording head 6 described later is mounted on the surface of the carriage 1 that faces the paper feeding member 5.

The carriage 1 is equipped with sub tanks 7a to 7d for supplying ink to the recording head. In this embodiment, four sub-tanks 7a to 7d are provided corresponding to each ink in order to temporarily store each ink therein. The sub tanks 7a to 7d are supplied with black, yellow, magenta and cyan inks. These inks are supplied from the main tanks 9a to 9d as ink cartridges loaded in the cartridge holder 8 disposed in the apparatus main body through flexible ink supply tubes 10, 10,.

The main tanks 9a to 9d as ink cartridges have a flat outer shape, as will be described in detail later. In the cartridge holder 8, the flat surfaces are oriented in the vertical direction. Are mounted in a so-called vertical position.

On the other hand, in a non-printing area (home position) on the movement path of the carriage 1, a capping unit 11 capable of sealing the nozzle forming surface of the recording head is disposed. Further, on the upper surface of the capping unit 11, a cap member 11a formed of a flexible material such as rubber capable of sealing the nozzle forming surface of the recording head is disposed. Then, when the carriage 1 moves to the home position, the nozzle forming surface of the recording head can be sealed by the cap member 11a.

The cap member 11a functions as a lid that seals the nozzle formation surface of the recording head and prevents drying of the nozzle openings during the rest period of the recording apparatus. Further, although not shown in the drawing, one end of a tube in a suction pump (tube pump) is connected to the cap member 11a. A cleaning operation is performed in which negative pressure by the suction pump is applied to the recording head to suck and discharge ink from the recording head. A wiping member 12 made of an elastic material such as rubber is disposed adjacent to the printing area side of the capping unit 11, and the nozzle forming surface of the recording head can be wiped and cleaned as necessary.

FIG. 2 schematically shows the configuration of the ink supply system mounted on the recording apparatus shown in FIG. The ink supply system will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 in which corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. 1 and 2, the air pressurized by the air pressurizing pump 21 is supplied to the pressure regulating valve 22. Further, the pressurized air is supplied to each of the main tanks 9a to 9d (represented by reference numeral 9 in FIG. 2) via the pressure detector 23. The pressure regulating valve 22 releases the pressure and maintains the air pressure applied to each of the main tanks 9a to 9d within a predetermined range when the air pressure pressurized by the air pressurizing pump 21 reaches a predetermined value or more.

Furthermore, the pressure detector 23 detects the air pressure pressurized by the air pressurizing pump 21,
It functions to control the driving of the air pressurization pump 21. That is, when it is detected that the air pressure pressurized by the air pressurizing pump 21 has reached a predetermined pressure, driving of the air pressurizing pump 21 is stopped. In addition, when the pressure detector 23 detects that the air pressure is equal to or lower than a predetermined pressure, the air pressurizing pump 21 is controlled to be driven. Therefore, the air pressure applied to the main tanks 9a to 9d by this repetition is maintained within a predetermined range.

The detailed configuration of the ink cartridge as the main tank 9 will be described later. As shown in FIG. 2, the outline configuration of the ink cartridge is hermetically sealed. An ink pack 60 formed of a flexible material in which ink is sealed is accommodated in the main tank 9. A space formed by the main tank 9 and the ink pack 60 constitutes a pressurizing chamber 51, and pressurized air is supplied into the pressurizing chamber 51 through the pressure detector 23. With this configuration, each ink pack 6 stored in each main tank 9a to 9d.
0 is respectively pressurized by pressurized air so that an ink flow with a predetermined pressure is generated from the main tanks 9a to 9d to the sub tanks 7a to 7d.

The ink pressurized in the main tanks 9a to 9d is supplied to the sub tanks 7a to 7d (represented by reference numeral 7 in FIG. 2) mounted on the carriage 1. Between them, each ink supply valve 26, 26... And each ink supply tube 10, 10
, ... are connected.

As shown in FIG. 2, a float member 31 is disposed inside the sub tank 7, and a permanent magnet 32 is attached to a part of the float member 31. Magnetoelectric conversion elements 33 a and 33 b typified by Hall elements are attached to the substrate 34 and are attached to the side walls of the sub tank 7. With this configuration, the Hall element 33a is selected according to the magnetic force dose by the permanent magnet 32 arranged on the float member 31 and the permanent magnet 32 according to the floating position of the float member.
, 33b constitutes an ink amount detecting means for generating an electrical output. Note that the sub-tank 7 can be omitted when the main tank 9 is provided with a remaining amount detection device.

Ink is supplied from each sub tank 7 or each main tank 9 to the recording head 6 via a valve 35 and a tube 36. Based on the print data supplied to the recording head 6, ink droplets are ejected from the nozzle openings 6 a formed on the nozzle formation surface of the recording head 6. In addition, the tube connected to the capping means 11 shown in FIG. 2 is connected to a suction pump (tube pump) (not shown).

(Outline of ink cartridge)
FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the main tank 9 for containing fluid according to the present invention. The main tank 9 has an upper case 41 as a lid and a lower case 42 as a housing as outer shells. On the front surface of the main tank 9, for example, an ink outlet 43 provided in the upper case 41 and a pressurized air inlet 44 provided in the lower case 42 are provided.

4 is an exploded perspective view of the main tank 9 with the upper case 41 removed, and FIG. 5 is a plan view of the main tank 9 with the upper case 41 and the sealing film 70 removed. The lower case 42 accommodates an ink pack 60 that is a fluid containing bag body in a recess 51 surrounded by a peripheral wall 52. A front surface side of the peripheral wall 52 is a partition wall 52a, and a remaining amount detection device 53 shown in FIG. 5 is accommodated outside the partition wall 52a. Further, spacer members 70 are disposed in the upper space on the front edge side and the rear edge side of the ink pack 60. Thereafter, the open end of the lower case 42 is sealed with a sealing film 54, and the recess 51 is sealed as a pressurizing chamber.

Next, a method for attaching the ink pack 60 and the spacer members 70 to the lower case 42 will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, before the ink pack 60 is attached, the partition 52
A seal member 52c formed of an annular elastic body is disposed in the hole 52b formed in a. The seal member 52c is formed of, for example, rubber packing, and hermetically seals the hole 52b to prevent air leakage from the recess (pressure chamber) 51 sealed with the sealing film 54. .

The ink pack 60 used in this embodiment is a so-called gusset type used mainly for large-capacity containers. As shown in FIG. 7, the ink pack 60 has a first sealing joint 61 on the first side on the front edge side of the ink pack 60 and a second side on the rear edge side opposite to the first side. Two sealing joints 62 are respectively formed. An ink lead-out member 63 is sandwiched between the first sealing joint 61.

The ink lead-out member 63 has a base end 64 connected to the ink pack 60 via the first sealing joint 61 and a flange portion 66 between the lead-out end 65 and the base end 64 provided on the front end side. Is formed. The ink lead-out member 63 contains a valve mechanism. When the remaining amount detection device 53 (FIG. 5) is set from the outside of the partition wall 52 a, a connection needle (not shown) provided in the remaining amount detection device 53 is inserted into the ink lead-out member 63. The connection needle operates the valve mechanism in the ink lead-out member 63, so that the ink in the ink pack 60 can be led out. The ink remaining amount detection device 53 includes a connection needle inserted into the ink lead-out member 63 of the ink pack 60 and a fluid discharge member (not shown) that discharges fluid drawn from the connection needle. The remaining amount of ink is detected between the ink discharge member. Further, the ink discharge member provided also in the ink remaining amount detection device 53 can discharge ink by substantially the same principle as the ink lead-out member 63.

The ink pack 60 is formed by thermally welding two (first sealing joint) or three (second sealing joint) flexible materials, for example, polyethylene films, which are formed in a rectangular shape. In order to improve the gas barrier property, for example, aluminum stays are laminated on the surface.

First, the ink pack 60 is formed in a bag shape by sealing the first side, for example, by heat welding, with the ink lead-out member 63 interposed on the first side, thereby forming the first sealing joint 61. The Thereafter, ink is stored from the second side in the opened state. Finally, the second side is joined by, for example, heat welding to form the second sealing joint 62, and the ink pack 60 is completed.

FIG. 8 schematically shows a cross section of the second sealing joint 62 shown in FIG. The second sealing joint 62 includes first and second flexible materials 62a and 62b and first and second flexible materials 62a.
, 62b, and a third flexible material 62c folded at a folding line 62d. And the 1st-3rd flexible materials 62a-62c are sealingly joined on the bending line 62d of the 3rd flexible material 62c. Also, the opposing surfaces of the first and third flexible materials 62a and 62c and the opposing surfaces of the second and third flexible materials 62b and 62c are sealed and joined, respectively. A sealing joint 62 is formed. Three flexible materials 62
Although the joining force on the fold line 62d where a to 62c joins is weak, the portion where the joining force is weak is located inside the joining region of the two flexible materials having strong joining force. Sufficiently secured.

Further, in the present embodiment, both corners 62e indicated by broken lines in FIG.
62f are cut at cutting positions 62g and 62h. As a result, the burrs generated at the corner portions are removed, and the corner portions 62e and 62f are chamfered, so that the movement resistance of the moving tip of the second sealing joint portion 62 can be reduced as will be described later.

The fluid container according to the present invention is not limited to the gusset-type ink pack 60 shown in FIG. 7 but may be a pillow type in which four sides of two rectangular flexible materials are sealed and joined. . In this case, as the sealing joint portion, in addition to the first sealing joint portion on the first side to which the ink lead-out member 63 is connected, two sides orthogonal to the first side and a side opposite to the first side are provided. Sealed joints are also provided on the three sides in total.

As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 9 which is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 5, the ink pack 60 filled with ink is connected to the ink pack 60 from the first and second joint sealing portions 61 and 62. Thickness change regions 67 and 68 whose thickness changes toward the center are provided. That is, the thickness of the ink pack 60 is changed on the front edge side and the rear edge. Even if the upper case 41 is attached to the lower case 42 via the sealing film 54 that seals the opening end of the lower case 42, the thickness change regions 67 and 68
A space will be formed in. If this is left unattended, the ink pack 6 will be shocked during transportation.
In addition to damaging 0, the pressurized volume also increases.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 9, or FIG. 10, which is a plan view of the lower case 42, spacer protrusions 56, 57 rising from the bottom surface 55 are provided inside the peripheral wall 52 of the lower case 42. ing. The spacer projection 56 on the front edge side of the lower case 42 supports the lower portion of the thickness change region 67 on the front edge side of the ink pack 60. This spacer projection 56
Is composed of a raised portion 56a raised from the bottom wall 55 and a rib 56b. The upper surfaces of the raised portions 56a and the ribs 56b are inclined at the same angle. On the other hand, the spacer protrusion 57 on the rear edge side of the lower case 42 supports the lower portion of the thickness change region 68 on the rear edge side of the ink pack 60 and is constituted by a raised portion that protrudes from the bottom wall 55. ing.

(How to install an ink pack using a regulating member)
A method of attaching the ink pack 60 to the lower case 42 having the above configuration will be described.

As shown in FIG. 6, an annular seal member 52 c is disposed in the hole 52 b formed in the partition wall 52 a of the lower case 42. The ink pack 60 is inserted from the inside of the lower case 42 toward the first direction B shown in FIG. 6 so that the outlet end portion 65 of the ink outlet member 63 is fitted to the seal member 52c.

Here, the lower case 42 is an enlarged view of a portion C in FIG. 6, FIG. 10, FIG. 11 or FIG.
2, at least one, for example, two fixing ribs 5 extending vertically upward from the bottom wall 55.
8A and 58B are formed.

The cross-section of the two fixing ribs 58A and 58B becomes “C” so that the interval between the two fixing ribs 58A and 58B becomes narrower toward the downstream in the first direction B (FIG. 6). Is formed. The two fixing ribs 58A and 58B are connected to the outlet end portion 6 of the ink outlet member 63.
When 5 is moved in the first direction B and inserted into the seal member 52 c, it is elastically deformed by the flange portion 66 and is spread in a direction crossing the first direction B. Then, when the ink lead-out member 63 reaches a position where it is sealed by the seal member 52c, it is elastically restored and the flange portion 6 is restored.
5 is opposed to the rear end of insertion (surface on the base end 64 side). That is, the two fixing ribs 58 </ b> A and 58 </ b> B face the rear end of the flange portion 65 of the ink outlet member 63 and function as stoppers for preventing the ink outlet member 63 from coming off.

One problem is that since the two fixing ribs 58A and 58B are thin enough to be elastically deformed, it is difficult to provide a stopper function that can withstand an impact. In particular,
When the ink pack 60 having a large capacity is used as in this embodiment, an excessive load acts on the two fixing ribs 58A and 58B when the ink cartridge 9 is dropped.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, a restricting member that restricts the movement of the two fixing ribs 58A and 58B in the second direction E (see FIG. 12) opposite to the first direction B is provided. This regulating member can be formed by injection molding integrally with the lower case 42. Fixing rib 58
This is because a rigid body can be installed at a slight distance from the rear ends of A and 58B. Fixed rib 58A
, 58B, a groove is required between the fixing ribs 58A, 58B and the restricting member in order to integrally form the restricting member that protrudes from the rear end at a slight distance from the lower case 42. On the other hand, in order to form the groove, the mold needs to have a thin plate-like protrusion. However, when the protrusion cannot be realized by grinding the mold, a thin plate for forming the protrusion is embedded and fixed in the mold. This complicates the mold.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, after the ink pack 60 is mounted, the regulating member that is arranged at a slight distance from the rear ends of the fixing ribs 58A and 58B is installed as a member separate from the lower case 42. did. The spacer member 70 also has the function of the restricting member.

13A to 13F are a front view, a plan view, a left side view, a right side view, a rear view, and a bottom view of the spacer member 70, respectively. The spacer member 70 is formed as a rigid body that is injection-molded with, for example, a synthetic resin. In this respect, the spacer member (pressing member) of Patent Document 1 is different from that formed of an elastic material such as polystyrene foam.

As shown in FIGS. 13 (A) to 13 (F), on the front surface 71 of the spacer member 70, two restricting ribs 72, 72 functioning as restricting members are formed protrudingly.

The spacer member 70 includes a front surface 71, an upper surface 73, and an inclined surface 74 that connects the surfaces 71 and 73.
The outline of the cross section having The upper surface 73 is thinned to make the wall thickness during injection molding substantially constant. As shown in FIG. 9, the inclined surface 74 has an ink pack 60.
The thickness change regions 67 and 68 substantially correspond to the inclined surfaces.

The spacer member 70 is positioned and fixed to the lower case 42. For this purpose, guide ribs 76 and 77 and a locked portion 78 are formed on both side surfaces of the spacer member 70 so as to protrude. As shown in FIG. 13E, the locked portion 78 includes a horizontal plane 78a and a horizontal plane 78a.
And an inclined surface 78b whose thickness gradually decreases as it goes vertically downward. On the other hand, on the peripheral wall 52 of the lower case 42, as shown in FIGS. 4, 6, 11, etc., there is provided a locking portion 59a in which the protruding height from the inner wall gradually increases as it goes vertically downward.

As shown in FIG. 14, when the spacer member 70 is pushed down vertically downward in the direction of the arrow, the inclined surface 78b comes into contact with the locking portion 59a and elastically deforms and pushes the locking portion 59a of the lower case 42. . Finally, as shown by a solid line in FIG. 14, the locked portion 78 enters below the locking portion 59a, and the locking portion 59a functions as an upward stopper.

As shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 6, FIG. 11, and the like, a groove 59b is formed at one end in the longitudinal direction of the locking portion 59, and a spacer member is formed along the groove 59b. 70 guide ribs 76 are guided. The other guide ribs 77 are guided in contact with the other end in the longitudinal direction of the locking portion 59a. The spacer members 70 are positioned in the front-rear direction by the guide ribs 76 and 77, the locking portions 59a, and the grooves 59b.

Thus, the spacer member 70 is at least in the E direction (see FIG. 12) with respect to the lower case 42.
This is a rigid body that is positioned and fixed in (see Fig. 1). The regulating ribs 72, 72 formed on the front surface 71 of the spacer member 70 function as regulating members arranged in contact with the rear ends of the fixing ribs 58A, 58B or at a slight distance as shown in FIG. .

A spacer member 70 accommodated in the lower case 42 together with the ink pack 60 is provided, and the capacity of the ink sealed in the ink pack 60 is adjusted by the volume of the spacer member 70. Therefore, for example, various types of spacer members 70 can be prepared, and the spacer members 70 can be selected according to the ink capacity sealed in the ink pack 60 and stored in the lower case 42. For this reason, the ink pack 60 can be stored in the lower case 42 without providing a large gap. Therefore, it is possible to greatly reduce the damage of the ink pack 60 due to an impact during transportation.

When pressurized air is introduced into the pressurizing chamber 51 of the lower case 42, the spacer member 7
As a result of storing 0, the amount of pressurized air introduced into the pressurized chamber 51 can be reduced. Therefore, for example, it is possible to avoid a delay in the time to enter the standby state after the operation power is turned on to the recording apparatus, which can contribute to improving the throughput.

As described above, the spacer member 70 itself is designed according to the capacity of the ink pack 60, and has a function of filling an empty space generated in the pressurizing chamber 51 and a function of preventing the ink pack 60 from moving by pressing the ink pack 60. However, in addition to this, the function of the restricting member can be provided.

The upper surface 73 of the spacer member 70 positioned and fixed to the lower case 42 is positioned lower than the upper end of the peripheral wall 52 of the lower case 42 as shown in FIGS. In other words, the spacer member 70 does not contact the sealing film (see FIG. 4) that covers the upper end opening of the peripheral wall 52. For this reason, even if the positioning and fixing of the spacer member 70 is not complete and the spacer member 70 moves slightly due to an impact or the like, the sealing film 54 is not pierced by the spacer member 70 which is a rigid body. Conventionally, some spacer members formed of an elastic material such as polystyrene foam are welded and fixed to the sealing film 54. However, there is a high possibility that the sealing film 54 is broken. In the present embodiment, since the spacer member 70 is a rigid body, the mechanism ensures that the spacer member 70 is not in contact with the sealing film 54.

(Absorption of displacement amount of second sealing part using receiving part)
The spacer member 70 shown in FIGS. 13A to 13F is a common component shared by the front edge side and the rear edge side of the lower case 42 shown in FIG. The spacer member 70 arranged on the rear edge side is similarly positioned and fixed to the lower case 42, but the function of the regulating member is unnecessary.

The spacer member 70 disposed on the rear end side includes a receiving portion 80 (see FIG. 16 described later) that receives the second sealing joint portion 62 that is displaced as the ink in the ink pack 60 is led out.
It has the function to form between the opposing surfaces of the surrounding wall 52.

As schematically shown in FIG. 15, the ink pack 60 has a dimension in the longitudinal direction that changes particularly between the state before the ink is derived and the empty state after all the ink is derived. It becomes longer by the dimension L shown in FIG. Here, the ink lead-out member 63 is held by the lower case 42. Accordingly, in the empty ink pack 60, in the state where the receiving portion 80 does not exist, the linear second sealing joint portion 62 is displaced by the dimension L in the direction D1 along the extension line. . The receiving portion 80 described above receives the length of the displacement dimension L of the second sealing joint portion 62.

In this regard, no countermeasures have been taken in the prior art. In particular, in the above-described pillow type employed in a small-capacity ink pack with four sides sealed, such a measure is not particularly necessary because the displacement of the sealing portion is very small. In fact, for example, FIG. 4 of Patent Document 1 describes a cross-sectional view including a sealing joint portion on two sides orthogonal to the sealing joint portion on the first side where the ink lead-out portion is sealed. Only a very small gap is provided between the end of the side sealing joint and the housing. Although there is a very small gap between the spacer member and the inner wall of the case, there is no room for the sealing joint to bend at a right angle and enter the gap, and it cannot be said that such a design is possible.

In the present embodiment, the receiving portion 80 is formed as shown in FIG. 16 which is an enlarged view of the D portion of FIG. 9, and the displacement L shown in FIG. 15 can be received. That is, the second sealing joint 62 passed through the gap between the spacer member 70 and the spacer projection 57 is not guided by the guide portion 81 except for the straight direction D1, and the direction D2 intersects the direction D1. I'm guiding you towards.

As long as the direction D2 intersects the direction D1, the direction D2 may be any of a straight direction, a bending direction, a bending direction combining a plurality of straight lines having a predetermined crossing angle, or a combined direction combining two or more of these. Good.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the guide portion 81 is formed by a plurality of guide ribs 81 that connect the spacer projections 57 and the peripheral wall 52.

In particular, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16, the second sealing joint portion 62 is bent or curved by the guide portion 81 (guide rib 81a) from the beginning when the ink pack 60 is mounted on the lower case. Has been. Therefore, as the ink is led out from the ink pack 60, the second
When the sealing joint 62 is displaced, it enters the receiving portion 80 between the spacer member 70 and the peripheral wall 52 very smoothly. Accordingly, the ink pack 60 is pushed by the pressurized air introduced into the pressurizing chamber 51 and the ink is led out, and accordingly, the second sealing joint portion 62 is smoothly received by the receiving portion 80.

Furthermore, as described in FIG. 7, both ends of the second sealing joint portion 62 are chamfered, and the end of the second sealing joint portion 62 is more than the first sealing joint portion 61 on the first side. The width of the part is narrow.
For this reason, the movement resistance of the 2nd sealing junction part 62 can be decreased, and a smooth movement can be ensured. In particular, since the second sealing joint 62 is sealed after the ink filling, both corners 62e, 62e shown in FIG.
62f tends to generate burrs. Since this burr is cut, the movement resistance of the second sealing joint 62 is further reduced.

In this way, all the ink in the ink pack 60 can be derived without hindering the displacement of the second sealing joint 62.

In particular, since the receiving portion 80 is disposed in a dead space between the spacer member 70 and the peripheral wall 52, the second case is sealed by using the dead space while keeping the size of the lower case 42 as before. The displacement of the joint 62 can be absorbed.

FIG. 17A and FIG. 17B are schematic explanatory views showing the significance of providing the receiving unit 80 and the guide unit 81. FIG. 17A is an example in which a slight gap is provided between the second sealing joint 62 and the peripheral wall 52 as shown in FIGS. In the present embodiment, the position of the ink lead-out member 63 provided on the leading end side of the ink pack 60 is unchanged because it is supported by the fixing ribs 58A and 58B. As shown in FIG. 17A, when the ink pack 60 is full, the distance from the reference position, for example, the fixing rib 58A or 58B to the rear end position P1 of the second sealing joint 62 is L0. . As shown in FIG. 17B, when the ink pack 60 is empty, the distance from the reference position to the rear end position P2 of the second sealing joint 62 is L1. As shown in FIG. 17A, if the distance L2 from the reference position to the peripheral wall 52 on the trailing edge side is L0 <L2 <L1 (first inequality), the rear of the second sealing joint 62 The end collides with the surrounding wall 52 in the middle of the displacement, and the displacement is further prevented. This is the prior art, and even if pressurized air is introduced into the pressurizing chamber 51 thereafter, the second sealing joint 62 must be led out without being displaced. In this case, the ink pack 60 must be pressurized and deformed without displacement of the second sealing joint 62, and the displacement restriction of the second sealing joint 62 is an obstacle to the pressure deformation of the ink pack 60. Become.

FIG. 17B is an example in which a receiving portion 80 is provided between the rear end position P <b> 1 of the second sealing joint 62 before displacement and the peripheral wall 52. In this case, the rear end position P of the second sealing joint 62 after the displacement.
Since the displacement up to 2 is ensured by the receiving portion 80, the pressure deformation of the ink pack 60 is not hindered.

However, in FIG. 17B, the vertical dimension of the lower case 42 must be increased by the dimension L shown in FIG. Therefore, the guide 81 described above guides the second sealing joint 62 by bending or curving it in the direction D2 intersecting the direction D1, so that the peripheral wall 52 is placed at the position shown in FIG. 17A, for example. Therefore, the problem of increasing the length of the lower case 42 has been solved.

17A and 17B can be defined as follows. FIG.
As shown to (A), in the ink pack 60 before the fluid in the ink pack 60 is derived | led-out, from the reference position P1 in which the edge part of the 2nd sealing junction part 62 is located in the direction D1 tip Let S0 be the distance to the wall of a certain case. S0 = L2-L0. Further, as shown in FIG. 17B, the movement length of the ink pack 60 after the fluid in the ink pack 60 is substantially derived is moved from the reference position P1 along the direction D2. S1 (S1 = L1-L0). Note that FIG. 17B is a view displaced in the direction D1, but as shown in FIG.
It is clear that the moving length to 2 is equal to S1. If S0 and S1 defined above are used, S0 <S1 (second inequality) can be satisfied by providing the guide portion 81. In other words, the second sealing joint 62 is moved by the moving length S2 longer than the distance S0 from the reference position P1 to the opposing wall.
Can be moved.

In the first and second inequalities, in the pillow type ink pack described above, a receiving portion is provided for the sealing joint portion on the second side facing the first side where the ink lead-out member 63 is disposed. The same applies to examples.

The second inequality is the ink derivation member 63 in the pillow type ink pack described above.
This also applies to an example in which a receiving part is provided for the sealing joints on the two second sides orthogonal to the first side where the is disposed. For the second side, since the holding position of the ink lead-out member 63 does not become the reference position, the first inequality is not satisfied, but the second side with the end portion of the second sealing joint 62 as the reference position. Inequalities hold.

(Modification example of restriction member)
FIG. 18 shows a restricting member different from the restricting member 72 shown in FIG. In FIG.
After the lead-out end portion 64 of the ink lead-out member 63 is moved in the first direction B and fitted and inserted into the seal member 52c, the flange portion 66 moves in the second direction E opposite to the first direction B. A regulating member 72a that regulates this is shown.

The restricting member 72a is formed so as to protrude from the front surface 71 of the spacer member 70a. The spacer member 70a shown in FIG. 18 differs from the spacer member 70 shown in FIGS. 13A to 13F only in that it has a regulating member 72a instead of the regulating member 72.
Accordingly, the spacer member 70 a is also positioned and fixed to the lower case 42 after the ink pack 60 is mounted.

The restricting member 72a is not positioned at the rear end of the fixing ribs 58A and 58B as in the above-described embodiment, but is disposed to face the rear end of the flange portion 66.

Even in this case, for example, when the ink pack 60 tries to move in the second direction E when the ink pack 9 is dropped, the movement of the flange portion 66 in the second direction E is restricted.
Prevent. Therefore, no impact force acts on the fixing ribs 58A and 58B, or the impact force is reduced. For this reason, breakage of the fixing ribs 58A and 58B is prevented.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 18, the fixing ribs 58A and 58B are not necessarily required. This is because the flange 66 can be positioned by the restricting member 72a in place of the fixing ribs 58A and 58B. Thereby, the airtight sealing property of the sealing member 52c and the flange part 66 is securable. However, if the fixing ribs 58A and 58B exist, the spacer member 70a
Before mounting, the hermetic sealing between the seal member 52c and the flange portion 66 can be ensured. In this sense, it is preferable to provide the fixing ribs 58A and 58B.

Further, even when the restricting member is formed of a member different from the lower case 42, the restricting member is not limited to the spacer member 70, 70a. In short, the second fixing ribs 58A and 58B which are positioned and fixed in the second case E at least in the second direction E and serve as the flange portion 66 of the ink lead-out member 63 or the stopper portion of the flange portion 66 are used. As long as the movement in the direction E is restricted.

(Modification)
Although the present embodiment has been described in detail as described above, those skilled in the art can easily understand that many modifications can be made without departing from the novel matters and effects of the present invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included in the scope of the present invention. For example, a term described at least once together with a different term having a broader meaning or the same meaning in the specification or the drawings can be replaced with the different term in any part of the specification or the drawings.

The use of the fluid container according to the present invention is not limited to the ink cartridge of the ink jet recording apparatus. The present invention can be used for various fluid consuming devices including a fluid ejecting head.

Further, specific examples of the fluid consuming apparatus including the fluid ejecting head include, for example, an apparatus including a color material ejecting head used for manufacturing a color filter such as a liquid crystal display, and an electrode formation such as an organic EL display and a surface emitting display (FED) Electrode material (conductive paste)
Examples include an apparatus equipped with an ejection head, an apparatus equipped with a bio-organic matter ejection head used for biochip production, an apparatus equipped with a sample ejection head as a precision pipette, a printing apparatus, a micro dispenser, and the like.

1 is a plan view of an ink jet recording apparatus which is an example of a fluid consuming apparatus using a fluid container according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an ink supply system from an ink cartridge to a recording head in the recording apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an ink cartridge that is an example of a fluid container according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the ink cartridge shown in FIG. 3. It is an assembly plan view of the ink cartridge excluding the upper case and the sealing film. It is a schematic perspective view which shows attachment of the sealing member with respect to a lower case. It is a schematic perspective view of the ink pack which is a fluid accommodation bag. It is sectional drawing which shows typically the cross section of the 2nd sealing junction part shown in FIG. It is AA sectional drawing of FIG. It is a top view of a lower case. It is a perspective view which shows the state which attached the sealing member and the ink pack to the lower case partially. It is the C section enlarged view of FIG. FIGS. 13A to 13F are a front view, a plan view, a left side view, a right side view, a rear view, and a bottom view of the spacer member, respectively. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the positioning fixing of the up-down direction of a spacer member. It is a schematic explanatory drawing for demonstrating the 2nd sealing latching | locking part displaced with the transfer from the full state of an ink pack to an empty state. It is the D section enlarged view of FIG. FIGS. 17A and 17B are schematic explanatory diagrams for explaining the establishment of the first and second inequalities. It is sectional drawing which shows the modification of a control member.

Explanation of symbols

9 Fluid container (ink cartridge, main tank), 41 Upper case, 42 Housing (lower case), 44 Pressurized air inlet, 51 Pressurization chamber, recess, 52 Perimeter wall, 52a
Partition, 52b hole, 52c Seal member, 54 Sealing film, 55 Bottom wall, 56, 57
Spacer protrusion, 58A, 58B fixing rib, 59a, 59b Spacer member positioning fixing portion, 60 fluid containing bag (ink pack), 61 first sealing joint, 62 second
Sealing joints, 62a to 62c, first to third flexible materials, 62d fold line, 63
Fluid outlet member, 64 base end, 65 outlet end portion, 66 flange portion, 67, 68 thickness change region, 70, 70a spacer member, 72, 72a regulating rib, 76-78 positioning fixed portion, 80 receiving portion, 81 Guide part, 81a Guide rib

Claims (4)

A fluid container for containing a fluid;
Proximal end is connected to the front edge of the fluid container, the fluid outlet member for deriving the fluid contained in the fluid container from the outlet end portion provided on the distal end side to the outside,
A fluid container having a housing for housing the fluid container to which the fluid outlet member is coupled ,
A hole is provided in the front wall of the housing ,
An annular seal member is attached to the hole ,
The fluid container to which the fluid lead-out member is coupled is housed in the housing such that the lead-out end portion of the fluid lead-out member is fitted to the seal member,
Between the lead-out end portion and the base end of the fluid lead-out member, a flange portion having a first surface on the lead-out end portion side and a second surface on the base end side is provided,
Inside the housing, a pair of ribs for supporting the fluid outlet member is provided so as to sandwich the fluid outlet member,
The pair of ribs are formed in a square shape so as to become narrower from the rear end portion toward the front end portion, and the fluid outlet member moves in a first direction from the rear end portion of the rib toward the front end portion. When being fitted to the seal member, it is expanded in a direction crossing the first direction, and when the fluid lead-out member reaches a position where it is fitted with the seal member, it is elastically returned to the flange portion. Configured to face the second surface;
Said flange portion, said first surface is opposed to the sealing member, the second surface is disposed in the housing so as to face the front end of the rib, the front end of the said sealing member rib It is sandwiched between the parts,
Inside of the housing, it is arranged on the rear end side of the rib, and the first direction of the ribs and wherein Rukoto provided regulating member for regulating the movement in the second direction opposite to Fluid container. In claim 1,
The regulating member is formed of a member different from the casing, and is positioned and supported with respect to the casing. In claim 2,
The housing has a bottom wall portion that intersects the front wall portion and a rear wall portion that faces the front wall portion, and has an opening on a surface that faces the bottom wall portion,
By sealing the opening of the housing with a sealing film, a pressurized chamber into which a pressurized fluid is introduced from the outside is formed inside the housing.
Wherein the fluid container has a first surface facing the said bottom wall portion, a second surface opposite to the sealing film, a first sealing portion in which the fluid outlet member is connected, the first sealing A second sealing portion facing the portion , wherein the first sealing portion is a front wall portion side of the housing, and the second sealing portion is a rear wall portion side of the housing. Is accommodated in the pressure chamber,
The fluid container has a thickness change region in which a thickness between the first surface and the second surface changes from the first sealing portion toward the second sealing portion,
Between the thickness change region of the fluid container and the sealing film, a spacer member that is a rigid body is disposed,
The fluid storage container, wherein the regulating member is formed integrally with the spacer member . In claim 3,
The spacer member is a member that has a front surface, an upper surface, and an outline of a cross section having an inclined surface connecting the front surface and the upper surface, and has a substantially triangular shape.
The spacer member is disposed in the pressurizing chamber so that the upper surface faces the sealing film and the inclined surface faces the thickness change region of the fluid container,
The top surface and the fluid container, wherein a space is formed between the sealing film of the spacer member.

Images