JP6775991B2 - Liquid storage container and liquid discharge device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a liquid storage container capable of containing a liquid and a liquid discharge device including the same.

The liquid discharge device used today is generally provided with a liquid discharge head for discharging a liquid such as a liquid and a liquid storage container for storing the liquid supplied to the liquid discharge head. Liquid is supplied from the liquid storage container to the liquid discharge head via a tube or a liquid flow path.

On the other hand, the cited document 1 is provided with a large-capacity liquid storage container as compared with the type of liquid discharge device that supplies liquid from the liquid storage container to the liquid discharge head as described above, and is provided from an injection port provided in the liquid storage container. A liquid discharge device for injecting a liquid is disclosed. The liquid storage container included in the liquid discharge device of Patent Document 1 includes an injection port for injecting a liquid and a plug member for preventing the liquid from leaking from the injection port. The plug member has a structure that can be attached to and detached from the injection port, and is removed from the injection port when injecting the liquid, and is attached to the injection port at other times to prevent the liquid from leaking to the outside.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-20497

The plug member is attached to the liquid storage container by being press-fitted into the injection port to prevent liquid from leaking from the liquid storage container. When removing the plug member from the injection port of the liquid storage container, the plug member is removed by pinching and pulling the knob portion provided on the plug member, but the plug member is press-fitted to the injection port, and the plug member It will be removed against the frictional force acting on the entire circumference of the press-fitted portion. Therefore, a strong force is required when removing the plug member. Further, when the plug member comes off, the frictional force disappears at once at the press-fitted portion, so that there is a problem that the plug member comes off vigorously and the liquid in the liquid storage container scatters to the outside.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid storage container provided with a plug member capable of preventing liquid leakage from the liquid storage container and opening the liquid without scattering the liquid, and a liquid discharge device provided with the plug member. ..

Therefore, the liquid storage container of the present invention is detachably attached to a storage chamber for storing the liquid supplied to the liquid discharge head for discharging the liquid, a supply port capable of supplying the liquid to the storage chamber, and the supply port. In the liquid storage container provided with the plug member, the plug member includes a main body portion located outside the storage chamber and the supply port in a state of being attached to the supply port, and the main body portion is the said. The plug member includes a covering portion that covers the opening surface of the supply port in the state of the plug member, and a protruding portion that protrudes from the covering portion and is a knob portion when the plug member is removed from the supply port. In the above state, the shortest line connecting the connecting portion of the protruding portion connected to the covering portion and the tip portion of the protruding portion farthest from the connecting portion is inclined with respect to the opening surface. The protruding portion protrudes from the upper surface of the covering portion along the opening surface in the state of the plug member, and the connecting portion is along the upper surface with respect to the center of gravity of the upper surface of the covering portion. Moreover, it is characterized in that it is provided unevenly in a direction opposite to the direction from the connecting portion to the tip portion .

According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a liquid storage container provided with a plug member capable of preventing liquid leakage from the liquid storage container and opening without scattering the liquid, and a liquid discharge device including the same.

It is a perspective view which showed the mechanical part of the liquid discharge device. It is a figure which showed the cross section of the liquid discharge device. It is a perspective view which showed the liquid discharge device which refills a liquid by a liquid refill container. It is a perspective view which showed the liquid storage container of the liquid discharge device. It is a figure which showed the conventional plug member. It is a figure which showed the plug member. It is a figure which showed the plug member.

(First Embodiment)
Hereinafter, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a mechanical portion of the liquid discharge device 200 to which the present embodiment is applicable, and FIG. 2 is a view showing a cross section of the liquid discharge device 200. The liquid discharge device 200 includes a feed unit 1, a transport unit 2, a discharge unit 3, a supply unit 4, and a display unit 5. The feeding unit 1 separates the print media one by one from the bundle of print media using the feeding roller 10 and supplies the print media to the transport unit 2. The transport unit 2 is provided on the downstream side of the feed unit 1 in the transport direction, and is provided with a platen 13 for holding the print medium between the transport roller 11 and the paper ejection roller 12. The transport unit 2 transports the print medium fed from the feed roller 10 by using the transport roller 11, the paper discharge roller 12, and the like.

The discharge unit 3 discharges the liquid to the print medium by the liquid discharge head 15 mounted on the carriage 14. The print medium conveyed by the conveying unit 2 is supported by the platen 13 from vertically below. Then, the liquid is discharged from the liquid discharge head 15 located vertically above to form an image based on the image information. The liquid storage container 16 can store the liquid in the container, and the supply unit 4 discharges the liquid from the storage chamber 100 (storage chamber) of the liquid storage container 16 via the flow path 101 and the flexible supply tube 17. It is configured to be able to supply liquid up to the head 15. In the present embodiment, the liquid is an ink, and more specifically, four supply tubes 17 through which inks of each color (black, magenta, cyan, yellow) are distributed are extended from the liquid storage container 16 and bundled. It is connected to the liquid discharge head 15 in this state. When the liquid supplied to the liquid discharge head 15 is discharged from the discharge port of the liquid discharge head 15, the same amount of liquid as the discharged amount is supplied to the liquid discharge head 15 from the liquid storage container 16. Then, the same amount of air as the liquid supplied to the liquid discharge head 15 flows into the liquid storage container 16 from the air communication port 102 provided vertically above the liquid storage container 16. The display unit 5 is used for notifying the user of the state of the operating device and for displaying when the user selects an operation.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a liquid discharge device 200 in which liquid is refilled by the liquid refill container 201. As shown in the figure, in the liquid discharge device 200 of the present embodiment, when the liquid is supplied, the container cover 7 is opened, and the storage chamber 100 is opened from the liquid refill container 201 through the supply port 106 provided in the liquid storage container 16. Supply liquid inside. The supply port 106 is provided with a plug member 105 that is removable from the supply port 106, and when refilling with the liquid refill container 201, the plug member 105 of the supply port 106 is removed to supply the liquid. .. The liquid storage container 16 is not limited to the configuration incorporated in the main body of the liquid discharge device 200 as in the present embodiment, and is a liquid storage container as long as the liquid can be supplied from the liquid storage container 16 to the liquid discharge head 15. 16 may be configured to be provided outside the main body of the liquid discharge device 200.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a liquid storage container 16 of the liquid discharge device 200 to which the present embodiment can be applied. The liquid storage container 16 in the present embodiment is molded of a synthetic resin such as polypropylene and has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape. The liquid storage container 16 has a front wall 1010, a right wall 1020, a left wall 1030, an upper wall 1040, and a lower wall 1050. The front wall 1010 is composed of a vertical wall 1010A extending substantially in the vertical direction from the lower wall 1050, and a sloping wall 1010B (an example of an outer wall) connected to the upper end of the vertical wall 1010A and inclined in the vertical and front-rear directions. .. The inclined wall 1010B is inclined to the rear side with respect to the vertical wall 1010A, and a supply port 106 is formed in the inclined wall 1010B.

On the other hand, the rear surface of the liquid storage container 16 is open. Then, the liquid storage container 16 is sealed and the rear surface is sealed by welding the film 1060 to the rear ends of the right wall 1020, the left wall 1030, the intercolor walls 1021, 1022, 1023, the upper wall 1040, and the lower wall 1050. The posterior wall is formed. That is, the film 1060 forms the rear wall of the liquid storage container 16. In this way, the liquid chamber 1110 is formed.

5A and 5B are views showing a conventional plug member 505, and FIGS. 6A and 6B are views showing a plug member of the present embodiment. The plug member includes a main body portion B located outside the storage chamber 100 and the supply port 106 while being attached to the supply port 106, and a plug portion E inserted into the supply port 106 to close the supply port 106. There is. The plug member is elastically deformed so as to sandwich the supply port 106 from the vertical direction. Further, the main body portion B of the plug member includes a covering portion D that covers the opening surface of the supply port 106, and a protruding portion (506 in FIG. 5 and 108 in FIG. 6) protruding from the covering portion. This protrusion is also a knob for the user to pinch when removing the plug member to supply the liquid. The user pulls this knob and removes the plug member by pulling it out. In the present specification, the protruding portion is also referred to as a knob portion. As shown in FIG. 6A, the knob portion 108 projects from the upper surface 104 of the covering portion D along the opening surface of the supply port 106 in a state where the plug member is attached to the supply port. The term "protruding" as used in the present specification means that the protruding portion 108 is sufficiently projected so that the user can pinch or apply force.

However, when the knob portion 506 is perpendicular to the supply port opening surface as in the conventional stopper member 505, when the knob portion 506 is pulled in the extending direction, the stopper member 505 and the inner wall surface of the supply port 106 are brought together. It cannot be pulled out unless the entire plug member is deformed at the press-fitted portion. Therefore, a large force is required when removing the plug member 505. Therefore, the plug member 105 in the present embodiment has a configuration as shown in FIG.

The stopper member 105 in the present embodiment is provided at a position where the root of the knob portion 108, which is a connection portion of the cover portion D with the upper surface 104, includes the center 105 CP (center of gravity) of the upper surface 104, and the knob portion 108 is a supply port. It is provided at an angle inclined from the vertical direction with respect to the opening surface. That is, in the knob portion 108 of the stopper member 105, the shortest (virtual) line (arrow C shown in FIG. 6A) connecting the root portion of the knob portion 108 and the tip portion 107 thereof is the stopper member 105. It is provided so as to be inclined with respect to the opening surface of the supply port 106 when it is attached to the supply port 106. The tip portion referred to here refers to the tip portion of the knob portion 108 that is pinched by the user, and does not mean the bent midpoint when the knob portion is bent at the midpoint. Absent. The tip portion 107 is also a portion farthest from the root portion of the knob portion 108.

By providing the knob portion 108 at an angle in this way, the user is urged to pull the knob portion 108 in an inclined direction (extending direction) when the plug member 105 is removed from the supply port 106. By pulling the knob portion 108 in the tilted direction in this way, the plug member 105 is gradually deformed from the side opposite to the tilted side and comes off from the supply port 106, which is relatively weak. It can be removed by force. Further, due to the deformation of the plug member 105 from one side, the press-fitted portion is gradually released from the force and released, so that the plug member 105 does not come off at once when it comes off from the supply port 106, and the liquid It is possible to prevent the liquid in the storage container 16 from scattering to the outside.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the angle of the knob portion 108 is an angle that intersects perpendicularly with respect to the line connecting the base PP (force point) of the knob portion and the inner shell SP (fulcrum) of the supply port. It is desirable to do. By doing so, when the knob portion 108 is pulled in the inclined direction, the force applied to the action point WP is maximized by the principle of leverage, and the plug member 105 is most easily deformed.

(Modification example)
FIG. 6B is a diagram showing a plug member of a modified example of the present embodiment. When the knob portion is provided at an angle, the space for pointing a finger for pinching may be reduced depending on the size of the stopper member 105. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6B, the knob portion 109 of the plug member extends in the direction perpendicular to the injection port opening surface at the root portion, but has an angled shape from the middle. With such a shape, even if the plug member 105 is relatively small, a sufficient space for pointing a finger for pinching can be secured, and the plug member 105 can be easily removed.

In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the plug member 105 includes the main body portion B and the plug portion E has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the main body portion B, that is, the covering portion, is not provided with the plug portion E. A so-called cap-type member composed of only the D and the knob portion may be used.

In this way, the stopper member is attached to the supply port by the shortest line connecting the knob portion of the stopper portion between the root portion which is the proximal end of the knob portion and the tip portion which is the distal end of the knob portion. It is provided so as to be inclined with respect to the opening surface of the supply port. That is, the knob portion of the plug member is provided so that the shortest line (arrow C) connecting the base portion of the knob portion and the tip portion thereof is inclined with respect to the opening surface of the supply port. As a result, it was possible to realize a liquid storage container provided with a plug member capable of preventing liquid leakage from the liquid storage container and opening without scattering the liquid, and a liquid discharge device provided with the plug member.

(Second Embodiment)
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Since the basic configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, only the characteristic configuration will be described below.

FIG. 7A is a diagram showing a plug member 205 according to the present embodiment. The plug member 205 in the present embodiment is provided at a position where the root position of the inclined knob portion 108 is deviated from the center (center of gravity) 205 CP of the upper surface 104 of the cover portion D constituting the plug member 205. Specifically, with respect to the center 205CP of the upper surface 104, the direction along the upper surface 104 and opposite to the direction from the root to the tip of the knob 108 (direction of arrow X shown in FIG. 7A). The root portion of the knob portion 108 is provided at a position biased toward the surface. Generally, it is considered that the user pulls the knob portion 108 in the extending direction of the knob portion 108 to remove the plug member 205. Therefore, by providing the root portion of the knob portion 108 offset in the direction of the arrow X from the center 205 CP of the plug member 205, the distance between the force point PP and the fulcrum SP can be extended, and the lever principle is effective. Can be used as a target. If the base portion of the knob portion 108 is offset with respect to the center 205 CP of the stopper member 205 in the direction opposite to the direction of the arrow X, the distance between the force point PP and the fulcrum SP becomes shorter, and the stopper member 205 The effect of easily removing the is reduced. Therefore, it is preferable that the base portion of the knob portion 108 is offset in the above-mentioned direction.

In the present embodiment, since the shape of the upper surface 104 of the covering portion D is circular and the center of the upper surface 104 and the center of gravity of the upper surface 104 are at the same position, the "center" and the "center of gravity" will be paraphrased. Sometimes. Further, the upper surface shape of the covering portion D is not limited to a circular shape, and may be a symmetrical shape such as a rectangle or an asymmetrical shape. Also in these cases, the direction from the root portion to the tip portion of the knob portion 108 with respect to the center of gravity of the upper surface 104 of the plug member 205, that is, the mass center when the mass is uniformly distributed on the upper surface 104 of the covering portion D. The root portion of the knob portion 108 may be provided in a biased direction in the opposite direction to the above.

(Modification example)
FIG. 7B is a diagram showing a plug member 305 of a modified example of the present embodiment. If the knob portion is provided at an angle, the space for pointing the finger for pinching may be reduced depending on the size of the stopper member. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7B, the knob portion 110 of the plug member 305 extends in the direction perpendicular to the opening surface of the supply port at the root portion, but has an angled shape from the middle.

FIG. 7C is a diagram showing a plug member 405 of a modified example of the present embodiment. If it can be arranged in the structure of the liquid discharge device 200, if at least a part of the root portion of the knob portion 108 is provided so as to be located outside the outer circumference of the supply port 106, it is further provided between the force point PP and the fulcrum SP. It is possible to extend the distance. As a result, the principle of leverage can be used more effectively, and the plug member 405 can be easily removed.

15 Liquid discharge head 16 Liquid storage container 105 Plug member 106 Supply port 108 Knob 200 Liquid discharge device

Claims (12)

A liquid having a storage chamber for storing the liquid supplied to the liquid discharge head for discharging the liquid, a supply port capable of supplying the liquid to the storage chamber, and a plug member detachably attached to the supply port. In the containment vessel
The plug member includes a main body portion located outside the storage chamber and the supply port in a state of being attached to the supply port.
The main body has a covering portion that covers the opening surface of the supply port in the state of the plug member, and a protruding portion that protrudes from the covering portion and is a knob portion when the plug member is removed from the supply port. The shortest line connecting the connecting portion of the protruding portion connected to the covering portion and the tip portion of the protruding portion farthest from the connecting portion in the state of the plug member is the opening. is inclined with respect to the surface,
The protruding portion protrudes from the upper surface of the covering portion along the opening surface in the state of the plug member.
The liquid is characterized in that the connecting portion is provided so as to deviate from the center of gravity of the upper surface of the covering portion along the upper surface and in a direction opposite to the direction from the connecting portion to the tip portion. Storage container. The liquid storage container according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the connecting portion is provided at a position outside the outer circumference of the supply port in the state of the plug member. The liquid storage container according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the protruding portion is bent between the connecting portion and the tip portion. The liquid storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the protruding portion is inclined with respect to the opening surface. The liquid storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the plug member includes a plug portion that is inserted into the supply port and closes the supply port. The liquid storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the plug member is a cap-type member that does not have a portion to be inserted into the supply port. The liquid storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the protruding portion protrudes upward from the upper surface of the covering portion along the opening surface. The liquid storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 7 , wherein the tip portion extends along a direction inclined with respect to the opening surface. The liquid storage container includes a first wall and a second wall connected to the first wall and inclined with respect to the first wall.
The liquid storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the supply port is provided on the second wall. A liquid discharge head that discharges liquid and
A liquid discharge device comprising the liquid storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 9 . The liquid discharge device according to claim 10, wherein the liquid storage container includes an apparatus main body incorporated therein. 11. The liquid claim 11 is characterized in that, in a state where the liquid storage container is incorporated in the main body of the apparatus, the plug member can be removed from the supply port to supply the liquid from the supply port to the storage chamber. The liquid discharge device according to.

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