MXPA97008747A - Container for liquid that goes to eyecta - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a container for containing liquid to be injected, comprising: a negative pressure producing member accommodating chamber for accommodating a negative pressure producing member, the negative pressure producing member accommodating chamber being provided with an air vent for fluid communication with the environment and a liquid supply portion for supplying the liquid to a liquid ejector head having ejection outlets; a liquid-containing chamber substantially hermetically sealed, except for a fluid communication path through which the liquid-containing chamber is in fluid communication with the accommodation chamber of the negative pressure producing member; a partition for separating the accommodation chamber from the negative pressure producing member and the chamber that contains liquid, the partition wall being provided with a path of introduction of a Environment for introducing the environment into the chamber containing liquid, from the accommodation chamber of the negative pressure producing member, the environment introduction path forming a capillary force-generating portion; wherein the capillary force produced by the force-generating portion capillary, satisfies the following: H

Description

"CONTAINER FOR LIQUID THAT WILL BE EYEED" FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED TECHNIQUE The present invention relates to a container that accommodates liquid for ejection of liquid, more particularly to a container that accommodates liquid suitable for containing liquid ink or processing liquid usable with an ink jet recording apparatus. Generally, an ink container with an ink supply port is provided to supply the ink to an ink jet head and an air vent to introduce the volume of air corresponding to the consumption of ink within the container. from ink. In this ink container having two openings, it is desired that the ink be stably supplied to the ink jet head without discontinuity of the ink, that leakage of the ink be prevented under changes of the ambient condition when the registration operation it is not carried out and that the leakage of the ink during the unsealing to the exchange time of the ink pack can be safely avoided.

A patent application that has been assigned to the concessionaire of this application proposes an ink accommodating package having a hermetically sealed space, in fact to accommodate the liquid such as ink in a negative pressure producing chamber that is provided with a member producer of negative pressure adjacent to it to fill the desires. The patent application is Japanese Patent Application Number HEI-7-125232, US Patent Number 5,509,140, Japanese Patent Application Number HEI-7-68778 or the like. For example, Japanese Patent Application Number HEI-7-125232 proposes that the compression distribution occur in the negative pressure producing member by inserting the ink supply tube on a side side of the package so that the ink in the sealing space is properly consumed. Japanese Patent Application Number HEI-7-125232 discloses an ink package comprising an accommodation chamber of the negative pressure producing member that is provided with an air vent and accommodating a negative pressure producing member, and a chamber containing liquid to directly accommodate the ink to be supplied to the accommodation chamber of the negative pressure producing member and in fluid communication with the accommodation chamber of the negative pressure producing member only through a communication portion. small which is provided in a position away from the ventilation air duct by which the negative pressure property is established, the efficiency of use of the ink is increased. U.S. Patent No. 5,509,140 discloses as an internal structure of the ink accommodating package having a gas-liquid exchange activating structure through which gas-liquid exchange can occur rapidly, and the stabilized negative pressure zone is ensures in the early stage. Japanese Patent Application Number HEI- 7- 68778 discloses a package wherein the ink supply is made in a lower portion of the ink accommodating package, and wherein the invention disclosed in the US Pat. 5,509,140, and a recess is formed as a temporary stagnation in the lower portion. These inventions are used in products marketed by the concessionaire of this application. On the other hand, Japanese Utility Model Application No. SHO-57-16385 discloses a supply of ink of poultry feed type (chicken feed) which is different from the inventions discussed above. Recently, the demand for ink jet recording devices is growing and the desire for high-speed and high-quality registration is also growing. The frequency of use of the ink jet recording apparatus increases, with the result that the increase in the amount of consumption of the ink and therefore, the ink container has to be exchanged more frequently, which is a difficult task for the user. Accordingly, an ink package having a large capacity to reduce the exchange frequency of the ink package is desired. From the point of view of high quality image, it is desirable to use ink having a high surface tension since then the orientation of the ink on the recording material can be avoided. The present invention is intended to provide a further improvement of the liquid container. In case the container size is large, the variation of the compressed state of the negative pressure producing member per se is large, with the possible result of a low yield. On the other hand, a structure shown in Figure 2 is known, wherein the member having a capillary force that is greater than that of the absorption material placed between the absorption material and the supply orifice. An air ventilation duct C is formed in the upper wall B of the container A, and an ink supply hole E is formed in the lower wall D. An open cell member F is accommodated therein (a single chamber). The entire pressure contact member G remains inside the container A and covers the ink supply hole E. The press contact member is a porous member having a higher density than that of the porous member or a fiber bundle member or the like (press-contact member) and is pressed through a supply tube to supply the liquid to the recording medium such as a liquid ejection recording head. In order to allow this, the press contact member has a certain length in the direction of pressing of the supply tube. In this case, the porous member is pressed as shown in Figure 22.

Japanese Patent Application Number HEI-7-68778 discloses an ink package having a press contact member and an ink supply port oriented downward. Japanese Patent Application Number HEI-5-104735 discloses an ink package having a pressurized contact member. With this structure, the pressure contact member is positioned in such a way that part of it projects out of the ink container, and therefore, the degree of entry or pressure relative to the product member of negative pressure (material of absorption) is lower than in the previous modality. Therefore, the influence towards the communication portion by pressing the pressure contact member towards the negative pressure reproducing member is not as great as in the previous example. The present invention is directed to a further improvement.

COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, a main object of the present invention is to provide a liquid accommodating container wherein the stabilized negative pressure condition can be maintained and the liquid in the essentially sealed space can be efficiently supplied outwardly. Another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid supply system using a stabilized state of a gas-liquid exchange structure. A further object of the present invention is to provide a relationship under which a common structure is usable for containers having different amounts of liquid supply per unit time. In this specification, "capillary force" means a height h (cmAq) of a liquid surface in a capillary tube from a predetermined liquid surface when the capillary tube is placed in the liquid having the predetermined liquid surface; and "negative pressure" is an internal pressure of liquid (-hcmAq) in the position of the predetermined liquid surface. In this specification, "ink" means liquid ink used in the ink jet recording apparatus and also the liquid for processing the ink during recording. According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a container for containing liquid to be ejected comprising: an accommodation chamber of the negative pressure producing member for accommodating a negative pressure producing member, the accommodating chamber of the member producing the negative pressure. negative pressure is provided with an air vent conduit for fluid communication with the environment and a liquid supply portion for supplying the liquid to a liquid ejector head; a chamber containing the hermetically sealed liquid in fact with the exception of a fluid communication path through which the chamber containing the liquid is in fluid communication with the accommodation chamber of the negative pressure producing member, a septum dividing to separate the accommodation chamber of the negative pressure producing member and the chamber containing liquid, the dividing wall is provided with an ambient introduction path to introduce the environment towards the chamber containing liquid from the accommodation chamber of the producing member. negative pressure, the environment introduction path forms a capillary force generating portion; wherein the capillary force produced by the capillary force generating portion satisfies the following: H < h < Hs-Hp-dh where h is a capillary force defined by dividing the capillary force generated by the generating portion of capillary force between the density F of the liquid to be ejected multiplied by the acceleration of gravitation g (the dimension of h is length) , that is, h = dPc / Fg, where dPc is the generated capillary force; H is a potential head difference between the capillary force generating portion and the liquid ejection head plane that includes the ejection outlets; Hs is a capillary force defined by dividing the capillary force generated by the negative pressure producing member between the density F of the liquid to be injected multiplied by the gravitation acceleration g (the dimension of h is length), that is, Hs = dPs / Fg, where dPs is the capillary force of the negative pressure producing meimbro; Hp is the difference of the potential head between the gas-liquid interface in the negative pressure producing member and the capillary force generating portion; dh is the head loss defined by dividing a loss of pressure between the fluid communication path and the liquid supply port through the negative pressure producing member between the density F multiplied by the gravitational acceleration g (the dimension of dh is the length, that is, dh = dPe / Fg, where dPe is the loss of pressure). In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a container for containing the liquid to be ejected is provided, comprising: a negative pressure producing member accommodating chamber for accommodating a negative pressure producing member, the accommodating chamber of the negative pressure producing member being provided with an air venting behavior for fluid communication with the environment and a liquid supply portion for supplying the liquid to a liquid ejection head; a chamber containing liquid hermetically sealed in fact except in regard to the fluid communication path through which the chamber containing the liquid remains in fluid communication with the accommodating chamber of the negative pressure producing member; a dividing partition for separating the accommodation chamber from the negative pressure producing member and the chamber containing liquid; the partition wall is provided with a path of introducing the environment to introduce the environment into the chamber containing liquid from the accommodation chamber of the negative pressure producing member, the introduction path of the environment forms a capillary generating portion; wherein the capillary force produced by the capillary force generating portion satisfies the following: H + hm < h < Hs-Hp-dh where h is a capillary force defined by dividing the capillary force generated by the capillary force generating portion between the density F of the leiquid to be ejected multiplied by the gravitation acceleration g (the dimension of h is length), ie, hdPc / Fg, where dPc is the capillary force generated; H is a difference of the potential head between the capillary force generating portion and the plane of the liquid ejection head including the ejection outlets; Hs is the capillary force defined by dividing the capillary force generated by the negative pressure producing member between the density F of the liquid to be ejected multiplied by the gravitation acceleration g (the dimension of H is length), that is, Hs = dPs / Fg, where dPs is the capillary force of the negative pressure producing member; Hp is a difference of the potential head between the gas-liquid interface in the negative pressure producing member and the capillary force generating portion; dh is the head loss defined by dividing a pressure loss between the fluid communication path and the liquid supply port through the negative pressure producing member between the density F multiplied by the gravitation acceleration g (the dh dimension) is the length), that is, dh = dPe / Fg, where dPe is the loss of pressure), where hm is a capillary force of design margin divided by density F multiplied by gravitation acceleration g (the dimension is the length), that is, hm = dPm / Fg, where dPm is a capillary force of design margin. According to a further aspect of the present invention, a container for containing the liquid to be ejected is provided, comprising: an accommodation chamber of the negative pressure producing member to accommodate a negative pressure producing member, the accommodation chamber of of the negative pressure producing member being provided with an air vent for fluid communication with the environment and a liquid supply portion for supplying the liquid to a liquid ejection head; a chamber containing the hermetically sealed liquid in fact, with the exception of a fluid communication path through which the chamber containing the liquid is in communication with the accommodating chamber of the negative pressure producing member; a dividing partition for separating the accommodation chamber from the negative pressure producing member and the chamber containing the liquid, wherein the partition wall is provided with a capillary force generating portion therein; a pressurized contact member in the liquid supply opening that is provided in a lower side of the accommodation chamber of the negative pressure producing member, and an upper end surface of the pressurized contact member is brought into contact with the negative pressure producing member; wherein a distance l from the fluid communication path and to a portion of the press contact member that is closest to the fluid communication path satisfies: 1.1 < (Hs-Hpa-h) / dh wherein h is a capillary force adjacent to the fluid communication path defined by dividing the pressure between the density F of liquid to be ejected multiplied by the gravitation acceleration g (the dimension of h is length), i.e. h = dPca / Fg, where dPca is the pressure adjacent to the fluid communication path; Hs is a defined capillary force dividing the capillary force generated by the negative pressure producing member between the density F of the liquid to be ejected multiplied by the gravitation acceleration g (the dimension of Hs is length), that is, Hs = dPs / Fg, where dPs is the capillary force of the negative pressure producing member; Hp is a difference of the potential head between the gas-liquid interface in the negative pressure producing member and the proximity of the fluid communication path; dh is the head loss defined by dividing a pressure loss between the fluid communication path and the liquid supply port through the negative pressure producing member by the density F multiplied by the gravitation acceleration g (the dh dimension) is length), that is, dh = dPe / Fg, where dPe is the pressure loss). According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container for containing liquid to be ejected, comprising: a chamber for accommodating the negative pressure reducing member to accommodate a negative pressure reproductive member, the chamber accommodating the the negative pressure producing member is provided with an air vent for fluid communication with the environment and a liquid supply portion for supplying the liquid to a liquid ejection head; a chamber containing a hermetically sealed liquid in fact except the fluid communication path through which the liquid containing chamber is in fluid communication with the accommodating chamber of the negative pressure producing member; a dividing partition for separating the accommodation chamber from the negative pressure producing member and the liquid containing chamber, the dividing wall is provided with a path within the introduction of the amibiente to provide a capillary force generating portion in the dividing wall and for introducing the environment towards the chamber containing liquid from the accommodation chamber of the negative pressure producing member, a pressurized contact member in the liquid supply opening that is provided in a lower side of the accommodation chamber of the pressure producing member negative, and an upper end surface of the press contact member is brought into contact with the negative pressure producing member; where a distance l_? from the fluid communication path to the portion of the pressure contact member that is closest to the fluid communication path; 1.1 < (Hs-Hp-h) / dh where h is a capillary force adjacent to the fluid communication path defined by dividing the pressure between the density F of the liquid to be ejected multiplied by the gravitation acceleration g (the dimension of h is length), that is, h = dPc / Fg, where dPc is the pressure adjacent to the fluid communication path; Hs is the capillary force defined by dividing the capillary force generated by the negative pressure producing member between the density F of the liquid to be ejected multiplied by the gravitation acceleration g (the dimension of Hs is length), that is, Hs = dPs / Fg, where dPs is the capillary force of the negative pressure producing member; Hp is a difference of the potential head between the gas-liquid interface in the negative pressure producing member and the proximity of the fluid communication path; dh is the head loss defined by dividing a pressure loss between the fluid communication path and the liquid supply port through the negative pressure producing member between the density F multiplied by the gravitation acceleration g (the dimension of dh is length), that is, dh = dPe / Fg, where dPe is the pressure loss). According to one aspect of the present invention, when the liquid is filled, the chamber containing the liquid contains only liquid and in the negative pressure producing member in the accommodation chamber of the negative pressure producing member, the liquid is contained up to a predetermined height (gas-liquid interface position). With the consumption of liquid through the liquid supply opening, the gas-liquid interface decreases. When the gas-liquid interface reaches the upper end of the environment introduction path, which has a capillary force generating portion, to introduce the environment into the chamber containing the liquid from the accommodation chamber of the negative pressure producing member, the environment is introduced into the environment introduction path. Then, the environment enters the chamber containing the liquid through the fluid communication path against the capillary force that is provided by the capillary force generating portion constituted in the environment introduction path. Then, the liquid in the chamber containing the liquid is supplied to the accommodation chamber of the negative pressure producing member (gas-liquid exchange). As a result, the liquid is again filled in the capillary force generating portion of the environment introduction path and the capillary force is produced to stop the supply of liquid from the chamber containing the liquid. For most of the duration of the liquid consumption, the gas-liquid exchange is repeated and the negative pressure generated in the negative pressure producing member is determined by the capillary force of the capillary force generating portion of the introduction path of the environment Therefore, by appropriately selecting the capillary force, the generated negative pressure can be constantly controlled and therefore stabilizes the property of the negative pressure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an ink container and an integral head type container box in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) shows a condition before assembly and (b) shows a status after assembly. Figure 2 is a sectional view showing an ink package according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a predominant part of the ink package of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a sectional view showing a predominant part of an ink package in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention. . Figure 5 is a schematic sectional view illustrating an operation of an ink package in accordance with the present invention. Figure 6 is a graph showing a change of the negative pressure generated in the plane including the ejection outlets of the ink jet head relative to the consumption of ink, in an ink package according to one embodiment of the present invention. invention. Figure 7 is a schematic sectional view (a) of a predominant part of the ink package of Figure 2 and a schematic front view (b) of a partition. Figure 8 is a schematic sectional view (a) of a package according to a further embodiment of the present invention and a schematic front view (b) of a partition according to a further embodiment. Figure 9 is a schematic sectional view (a) showing a package according to a further embodiment of the present invention, and a schmatic front view (b) of a dividing partition. Figure 10 is a schematic perspective view (a) of a dividing partition according to a further embodiment of the present invention, and a schematic section view (b) thereof, and a schematic front view (c) of the same Figure 11 is a schematic perspective view (a) of a dividing partition according to a further embodiment of the present invention, a front view (b) thereof, a schematic section view (c) thereof, and a schematic sectional view (d) of a partition wall in accordance with an additional embodiment. Figure 12 is a schematic sectional view of a dividing wall of the different embodiments having capillary force generating portions (a) - (c). Figure 13 is a perspective view of an ink package in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention. Figure 14 is a sectional view of an ink package according to a further embodiment of the present invention, wherein the capillary force Hs of the absorption material is illustrated.

Figure 15 is a sectional view of an ink package according to a further embodiment of the present invention wherein a difference of the static charge Hp between the capillary force generating portion and the gas-liquid LL interface in the material of absorption, and the loss of pressure dh of the absorption material during gas-liquid exchange, have been illustrated. Figure 16 is a sectional view of an ink pack according to a further embodiment of the present invention, wherein the difference in static charge Hp between a capillary force generating portion and a gas liquid interface 11 is illustrated in FIG. another absorption material, and a pressure loss dh of the absorption material during the gas-liquid exchange. Figure 17 is a schematic illustration of a parameter in one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 18 is a schematic illustration of a parameter in one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 19 is a sectional view of a predominant part of the liquid ejection liquid container according to a further embodiment of the present invention. Figure 20 is a sectional view of a predominant part of a liquid ejection liquid container according to an additional of the present invention. Figure 21 is a sectional view showing a liquid container for the liquid to be ejected in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention. Figure 22 is a sectional view of a conventional liquid container for liquid ejection.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES With reference to the accompanying drawings, the embodiments of the present invention will be described. With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the description will be made in regard to a first embodiment of the present invention. An ink container 10 as a liquid accommodating container for liquid ejection in accordance with this embodiment is rectangular in a parallelepiped shape, and has an upper wall 10U that is provided with an air vent conduit 12 for fluid communication between the inside of the ink container and the environment.

The air ventilation duct 12 has a diameter usually of approximately one millimeter, when formed by injection molding. Since the evaporation of the ink is a kind of scattering phenomenon and therefore increases in proportion to the pitch dispersion, and decreases in proportion to the power 2 of the scattering distance. As shown in Figure 13 (A) and (B) a groove extending towards the portion of the air vent 12 is formed in the upper wall 10U, and the groove is in the form of a zigzag or a labyrinth groove. to function as an air vent slot 11. A film member (not shown) is mounted to the upper wall 10U of the ink package 10 by welding, by adhesive material or by an adhesive material to cover the long complicated air ventilation slot 11, whereby a passage is formed. of long complicated air ventilation. By doing so, the amount of evaporation of the ink can be reduced to 1 / 1000-1 / 10000 compared to the direct opening of the air vent to the environment. Figure 13, (B) shows an external appearance of a container for black ink, for example that is larger in amount of consumption.

A part of the film member extends beyond the end surface of the ink container 10 to function as a pick-up portion. The catch portion is provided with a mark indicating that it is a catch portion. The film member is provided with a partial cut to assist removal in a portion outside the air vent slot 11, and by cutting the film member along the partial cut, one end of the air vent slot 11 air is exposed or de-sealed to allow fluid communication with the environment, thereby opening air vent duct 12. In Figure 1, only the air ventilation duct 12 in the wall 10U is shown for reasons of simplification. The lower wall 10B of the ink container 10 is provided with an ink supply cylinder 14 including an ink supply hole as a liquid supply opening for the liquid supply, in the form of a projected cylindrical portion. In the process of distributing the commercial package, the air duct 12 is sealed by a film or similar material and the ink supply cylinder 14 is sealed by a sealing member of the ink supply orifice such as a lid. . Designated by 16 there is a lever member integrally molded with the ink package 10 on the outside thereof and is elastically deformable. It is provided as a projection to interlock in an intermediate portion thereof. Designated by 20 there is an integral container box with the print head and receives the ink container 10. The lower portion of the box 20 of the package is provided with an integral color ink jet head 22. The color ink jet head 22 is provided with a plurality of ejection outlets which are oriented downwards (the surface having the ejection outlets having the plurality of ejection outlets). The ink container 10, adopting the position shown in Figure 1 (A) is placed in the container box 20 of the integral head type, such that the ink supply cylinder 14 is placed in engagement with a receiving portion of the ink supply cylinder not illustrated of the color ink jet head 22 such that the ink ink cylinder of the color ink jet head 22 enters the ink supply cylinder 14. Then, the interlocking projection 16A of the lever member 16 engages a coupling portion formed in a predetermined position of the box 20 of the integral head type container such that the regular mounting condition shown in Figure 1 (B ) is established. The container box 20 of the integral head type in which the ink container 10 is mounted, is carried on a carriage of the ink jet recording apparatus so as to establish the state of print training. With this state a predetermined static head difference H is provided between the lower portion of the ink container 10 and the plane including the ejection outlets of the print head. Referring to Figure 2, a description will be made as to the common internal structures for all embodiments of the ink container 10. The ink container 10 is in fluid communication with the environment through the air vent 12 in an upper portion thereof, and remains in fluid communication with the ink supply port in a lower portion thereof. It comprises a chamber 34 for accommodating negative pressure producing member to accommodate a liquid absorption material 32 as the negative pressure producing member and a chamber 36 containing liquid, hermetically sealed in fact to accommodate the liquid ink, the chambers being separated by a partition 38. The chamber 34 for accommodating the negative pressure producing member and the chamber 36 containing the liquid remain in fluid communication only through a fluid communication path 40 formed in the partition 38 adjacent to the partition. lower portion of the ink container 10. The upper wall 10U of the ink container 10 defining the accommodating chamber 34 of the negative pressure producing member is provided with a plurality of integrally molded ribs 42 extending inwardly to contact the absorption material 32, which is placed in the vicinity of the container. accommodates in the accommodation chamber 34 of the negative pressure producing member under a compressed state. In this way, an air cushion chamber 44 is formed between the wall 10U and the upper surface of the absorption material 32. The absorption material 32 is formed by a thermally compressed urethane foam material and accommodated in the accommodation chamber 34 of the negative pressure producing member under the compressed state to generate a predetermined capillary force as will be described below. The absolute value of the pore size of the absorption material 32 to produce the predetermined capillary force is different, depending on the materials of the ink to be used, the dimensions of the ink package 10, the position of the plane including the outputs of the ink. ejection of the inkjet head 22 (difference H of static charge) or the like. But it is required to produce the capillary force which is larger than the capillary force in the capillary force generating slot or passage as a capillary force generating portion which will be described below and therefore, the minimum limit thereof desirably is of approximately 127.00 centimeters from this point of view. The ink supply cylinder 14 defining the ink supply orifice 14A, there is a pressure contact member 46 in the form of a disc or a column. The pressure contact member 46 per se is made of polypropylene or felt, for example, and is not easily deformable by an external force. The press contact member 46 is retained or pressed into the absorption material 32 for local compression of the absorption material 32 when it is in the state shown in Figure 2 (not mounted in box 20 of the container). The end of the ink supply cylinder 14 is provided with a flange 14B which comes into contact with the proximity of the pressure contact member 46 to prevent uncoupling thereof outwardly. The amount of pressure preferably is 1.0 to 3.0 millimeters when the ink jet cylinder of the color ink jet head 22 is in the ink supply cylinder 14 and 0.5 to 2.0 millimeters when it is not in the same . By this, leakage of ink can be prevented when the ink container is removed, while ensuring proper flow of the ink when it is mounted. Since the portion of the ink supply port is provided with a press contact member 46 that is pressed towards the absorption material 32, the portion of the absorption material 32 in contact with the pressure contact member 46 is deformed. Therefore, when the supply hole 14A of ink is too close to the fluid communication path 40 which is a gas-liquid exchange opening, the influence of the tension due to the deformation of the absorption material 32 reaches the gas-liquid exchange opening, with the result that the manufacturing variation of the ink container increases. In the worst case, proper negative pressure can not be generated with the result of ink leakage through the ink supply orifice 14A. Conversely, when the ink supply orifice 14A is very far from the fluid communication path 40 which is the gas-liquid exchange opening, the resistance to flow from the fluid communication path 40 to the orifice 14A of The ink supply is too large during the gas-liquid exchange operation which will be described below, with the result that discontinuity of the ink may occur (stop) due to the greater pressure loss when the consumption rate of the ink ink is high. Therefore, it is preferable that the distance between the fluid communication path 40 and the end of the ink supply port 14A was about 10 to 50 millimeters. The description will be made as to a relationship between the volumes of the accommodation chamber 34 of the negative pressure producing member and the chamber 36 containing liquid. When a temperature or pressure change occurs during the use of the ink container 10, namely when air is present in an upper portion of the chamber 36 containing liquid, the air in the upper portion of the chamber 36 containing liquid is it expands with the possible result of the discharge of the ink towards the chamber 34 of accommodation of the negative pressure producing member. The ink discharged in this way is absorbed by the absorption material 32 in the accommodation chamber 34 of the negative pressure producing member. Therefore, the volume of the absorption material 32 is desirably determined so that it has sufficient absorption capacity for the ink to be discharged under all practical conditions.

In the case of a high-capacity ink container, the height of the absorption material 32 is large (for example, not less than 40 millimeters) and therefore, the ink has to be sucked up against gravity, and the Absorption is not simply determined by volume. When the level of the liquid (gas-liquid interface) from the ink in the absorption material 32 is high, the rate of increase of the level of liquid that is provided by the suction power of the absorption material 32 against gravity, can the result of ink leakage through the ink supply hole will not suffice. In order to suppress the increased velocity of the liquid level, the lower surface area of the accommodating chamber 34 of the negative pressure producing member is desirably large. However, if the lower surface area of the accommodating chamber 34 of the negative pressure producing member becomes larger within a limited total volume, the volume of the accommodating chamber 34 of the negative pressure producing member becomes large. so that the volume of chamber 36 containing liquid has to be small and therefore, the capacity of the amount of ink decreases.

On the other hand, the ink absorption rate of the absorption material 32 is influenced by the surface tension. When the surface tension F of the liquid is changed within the range of 30 to 50 (dynes / centimeter) it has been found that the volume ratio between the accommodation chamber 34 of the negative pressure producing member and the chamber 36 containing the liquid it is about 1: 1 to 5: 3 for the temperature change from 5 ° to 35 ° which is the normal condition, even though it depends on the liquid material. The size of the air cushion chamber 44 of the chamber 34 for accommodating the negative pressure producing member is desirably small from the viewpoint of volume efficiency. However, the capacity desirably ensures prevention of injection of the ink through the air vent 12 when the ink enters the chamber 34 of accommodation of the negative pressure producing member abruptly. From this point of view, the volume of the air-cushion chamber 44 is desirably about one fifth to one eighth of the volume of the chamber 34 accommodating the negative pressure producing member.

The structure for controlling the negative pressure generated by the absorption material 32 as the negative pressure producing member will be described. In a first example, as shown in Figure 10, two parallel passages 61 are formed on one side of the accommodation chamber 34 of the negative pressure producing member in the dividing partition 38. The passages 61 are oriented in the material 32 of absorption as the negative pressure producing member and forming the capillary force generating portion of the path of introduction of the environment in fluid communication with the fluid communication path 40 in the lower portion thereof. The passage 61 forming the capillary force generating portion can be considered as capillary tubes that produce capillary force, defined by the surfaces of the gap in the partition 38 and the side of the absorption material 32 as will be described below. As a second example, as shown in Figure 11, the side of the chamber 34 for accommodating the negative pressure-producing member of the lower portion of the partition wall 38, first parallel passages 54 that function as a path for insertion of the partition, is formed. environment having an open upper end in contact with the absorption material 32 as the negative pressure producing member and second parallel passages 64 in fluid communication with the first passages 54 and in fluid communication with the fluid communication path 40 in the lower portion. The environment introduction slot is constituted by the first passage 54 and the second passage 64, and the second passage 64 has capillary force generating portions. The lower ends of the second passages 64 forming the capillary force generating portions as shown in Figure 11 (D), may be continuous to the slot 65 extended in the longitudinal direction of the fluid communication path 40 in the portion superior of it. In doing so the passage is formed with complete certainty even when the absorption material 32 protrudes into the slot at the lower end of the second passage 64. In this example, the first passage 54 is larger than it is second passage 64 and therefore, the introduction of the environment is ensured, and the resistance to the initiation of gas-liquid exchange is reduced. The second passage 64, as will be described below, can be considered as a capillary tube capable of producing the capillary force defined by the groove surface from the partition 38 and the side of the absorption material 32. Figure 11 (D), a taper is provided to activate the air passage at the lower end of the second passage 64. In a third type, as shown in Figure 3, on the side of the chamber 34 accommodating the negative pressure producing member of the lower portion of the partition 38, three parallel first passages 50 each having an open end in contact with the absorption material 32 in the member negative pressure producer and three second parallel passages 60 in fluid communication with the fluid communication path 40 at the lower end. In this example, the first passages 50 and the second passages 60 constituting the capillary force generating portion are formed on the lower surface of the recess 70 formed in the central portion, in the lateral direction of the dividing partition 38. The 70 is formed by three surfaces 70A, 70B, 70B inclined at a small angle relative to the partition wall surface 38, and a lower surface 70C parallel to the partition wall surface 38. The width of the fluid communication path 40 is essentially equal to width of the recess 70. The absorption material 32 accommodated in the accommodation chamber 34 of the negative pressure producing member is pressed into contact with the partition wall surface 38, forming the three surfaces 70A, 70B, 70B of the recess 70 and the lower surface 70C. The second passages 60 can be considered as capillary tubes capable of producing capillary force and are defined by three surfaces in the dividing partition 38 and the side of the absorption material 32. In this example, the first passages 50 and the second passages 60 are formed in the lower surface of the recess 70, and therefore, the introduction of the environment is further stabilized so that the gas-liquid exchange is also stabilized in comparison with the other examples. In addition, the structure of this example is effective to prevent stagnation of air bubbles in the fluid communication path 40. Referring to Figure 12, several examples of cross-sectional configurations of the capillary force generating slot will be described. In the example shown in Figure 12 (A), the path has a trapezoidal section having a width of the opening Wl, a width of the lower portion W2, a depth (height) D and a length of inclined surface (the angle inclination of the inclined surface is 1.3 °) D. The circumferential length L is W = Wl + W2 + 2d and a cross-sectional area S is S = D (Wl + 2) 12.

In the example shown in Figure 12 (B), a rectangular section is shown having a width of the opening W, a depth (height) D. The circumferential length L is L = 2 (W + D) and the area S of cross section is S = DW. In the example shown in Figure 12 (C), it has a semicircular section having a width of the opening, namely a diameter 2r. The circumferential length L is L = r (2 + p), and the area S of cross section is S = pr2 / 2. In an example shown in Figure 12 (D), it has a cross section of a combination of a semicircular and a rectangular. Figure 12 (E) shows an example of the section of triangular shape. The circinferential lengths and the cross-sectional areas thereof are easily obtained and therefore are omitted. In these examples, the first and second passages each is in the form of a slot but can be a closed passage, as shown in Figure 4. More specifically, in the end portion of partition 38, there are provided a passage 56 for introducing the environment as the first passage having an open end in contact with the absorption material 32 as the negative pressure producing member, and a capillary force generating passage 66 as the second passage in fluid communication with the passage 56 for introducing the environment and in fluid communication with the fluid communication path 40 at the lower end. In doing so, there is no need for the capillary force generating passage 66 to be constituted by the absorption material 32 covering the portion of the slot, and therefore, the generation of capillary force can occur without the influence of the material 32 absorption. Referring to Figures 14 and 16, the terms will be described before describing the operation of the ink package. Figure 14 shows the state in which the chamber 36 containing the liquid is filled with the ink, wherein the ink has a gas-liquid LL interface provided by the capillary force of the absorption material 32. The capillary force of the absorption material Hs which is expressed by the capillary force of the absorption material divided by the density of the ink F multiplied by the acceleration g of gravitation, thus having a dimension in length, is measured as a difference between the level of the gas-liquid LL interface before the gas-liquid exchange and the position (level) of the ambient pressure, in the column of liquid next to it.

Figure 15 shows the state after the gas-liquid exchange begins as a result of the consumption of the ink, and Hp is a difference between the level of the gas-liquid interface LL in the absorption material 32 as the member negative pressure producer and the capillary force generating portion 60A in the second passage 60 forming the capillary force generating portion. In the example of Figure 15, a thermally compressed absorption material 32 is used. The absorption material 32 has been subjected to uniform thermal compression and is then inserted into the accommodation chamber 34 of the negative pressure producing member and therefore, the distribution of the compression ratio in the absorption material 32 is fairly uniform . Therefore, the gas-liquid interface LL in the absorption material 32 is essentially horizontal even when the horizontal ends are slightly higher. Figure 16 shows a state after the gas-liquid exchange begins as a result of ink consumption. In this example, a non-compressed absorption material 32 is used. An absorption material having a volume much larger than the volume of the accommodation chamber 34 of the negative pressure producing member is inserted with approximately 4 to 4.5 times of compression (volume ratio) and therefore, the distribution of the compression ratio tends not to be uniform. Thus, the gas-liquid LL interface has a saw-tooth-like shape but generally, the gas-liquid LL interface in the asboring material 32 is concavely downward (low in the middle and high in the end portions) as shown in the Figure. In this case, Hp is the difference in height between the lower point of the gas-liquid interface LL and the capillary force generating portion 60a. In Figures 15 and 16, dh is a head loss that is expressed by a loss of pressure in the absorption material 32 as a negative pressure producing member between the fluid communication path 40 and the liquid supply port 14A divided by an ink density F multiplied by the acceleration g of gravitation (which therefore has a length dimension). When the pressure loss is d Pe, dh = dPe /? G. The pressure loss occurs in the absorption material 32 and therefore, is a loss of pressure between the end of the absorption material 32 and the end of the liquid supply opening 14A as shown in the Figure. Since the pressure loss between the liquid containing chamber 36 and the fluid communication path 40 is essentially zero, dh is measured by determining the difference between the pressure in the chamber 36 containing liquid and the pressure head at the end of supply hole 14A. In the following description, we take the example that has the first passage 50 and the second passage 60 as the path of introduction of the environment, since the operations are the same as with the structure having only the capillary force generating slot and the structure having both of the passages 56 for introducing the environment and the passage 66 generating capillary force. When the ink jet recording apparatus is operated, the ink is ejected from the ink jet head 22 so that an ink suction force is produced in the ink container 10. When the absorption material 32 as the negative pressure producing member in the accommodation chamber 34 of the negative pressure producing member contains a sufficient quantity of the ink, the ink in the negative pressure producing member is consumed and therefore the level of the upper surface of the ink (gas-liquid interface) (LL in Figure 2) decreases. The negative pressure generated during this moment is determined by the capillary force at the gas-liquid interface in the negative pressure producing member and the height of the gas-liquid interface LL measured from the plane including the ejection outlets. With the consumption of the ink, the gas-liquid interface LL reaches the upper end portion of the first passage 50 of the environment introduction path. When the pressure in the lower portion of the chamber 36 containing liquid becomes lower than that in the second passage 60, the environment is supplied to the chamber 36 which contains liquid through the first passage 50 and the second passage 60. As a result, the pressure in the chamber 36 containing liquid is raised by the degree corresponding to the introduced air, and the ink is supplied to the asbording material 32 from the chamber 36 containing liquid through the communication path 40 of fluid to cancel the pressure difference between the high pressure and the pressure in the absorption material 32. Namely, the gas-liquid exchange is carried out. By this, the pressure in the lower portion of the container is raised by the degree corresponding to the amount of ink supply, and the supply of the environment to the chamber 36 containing liquid is stopped. During the consumption of ink, gas-liquid exchange occurs continuously so that the ink is supplied to the chamber 34 of accommodation of the negative pressure producing member from the chamber 36 which contains liquid and therefore, the negative pressure generated during the consumption of ink from the chamber 36 containing liquid is determined by the capillary force generated in the second passage 60. Therefore, by appropriately selecting the dimensions of the second passage 60, the negative pressure generated during the consumption of ink from chamber 36 containing liquid can be determined. Referring to Figure 5, operation or operation of the ink package 10 in accordance with the present invention will be described. The negative pressure producing member 32 (absorption material) accommodated in the accommodation chamber 34 of the negative pressure reducing member can be considered as having novel capillary tubes and the negative pressure is produced by the force of the meniscus in this manner. Normally, the ink pack 10, immediately after starting the use, contains a sufficient amount of ink in the absorption material 32 as the negative pressure producing member and therefore, the static charges of the considered capillary tubes are sufficiently high When ink is consumed through the ink supply orifice 14A, the pressure in the lower portion of the accommodating chamber 34 of the negative pressure producing member decreases and therefore, the static charges of the considered capillary tubes decrease. More particularly, as shown in Fig. 5 (A), the gas-liquid interface LL of the negative pressure producing member 32 decreases in accordance with the ink consumption. The static charges are not all the same, but the static charges of the capillary tubes considered adjacent to the ink supply orifice 14A are smaller due to the loss of pressure through the absorption material 32. The negative pressure generated in the ink container 10 during this time is determined by the capillary force of the negative pressure producing member 32, and the pressure in the plane including the ejection outlets of the ink jet head 22 is determined by the difference between the height of the gas-liquid LL interface and the height of the plane that includes the ejection outputs. The shaded lines in the first passage 50 and the second passage 60 in Figure 5 show the ink for purposes of illustration.

When the ink is further consumed, the gas-liquid interface LL is decreased to the level shown in Figure 5 (B) so that the upper end of the first passage 50 of the environment introduction path is above the LL interface. of gas-liquid and the environment enters the first passage 50. During this time, the capillary force produced in the second passage 60 since the capillary force generating portion is smaller than the capillary force of the capillary tubes considered of the material 32 of absorption, the meniscus in the second passage 60 is broken by the consumption of additional ink, ambient air X is introduced into the fluid communication path 40 without decreasing the LL level of gas-liquid interface as shown in Figure 5 (C) When ambient air X is introduced into the chamber 36 containing liquid, the pressure of the chamber 36 containing liquid becomes higher than the pressure in the lower portion of the chamber 34 of accommodation of the negative pressure producing member and the Ink is supplied to the chamber 34 for accommodating the negative pressure producing member from the chamber 36 containing liquid to compensate for the pressure difference. Then, the pressure becomes higher than the negative pressure generated from the second passage 60, the ink flows into the second passage 60 to form the meniscus so as to stop further introduction of ambient air into the chamber 36 containing liquid. When the ink is consumed additionally, the meniscus in the second passage 60 breaks again without lowering the level of the gas-liquid interface LL so that ambient air is introduced into the chamber 36 containing liquid. Therefore, after the gas-liquid interface LL reaches the upper end of the first passage 50 of the environment introduction path, the rupture and re-formation of the meniscus in the second passage 60 is repeated during the consumption of the ink without decreasing the level of the gas-liquid LL interface, in other words, while maintaining fluid communication between the environment and the upper end of the environment introduction path, so that the negative pressure generated by the Ink container 10 is controlled essentially at a constant level. The negative pressure is determined by the force of the ambient air that breaks the meniscus in the second passage 60, and as described above is determined by the dimension of the second passage 60 and the property of the ink to be used (surface tension, contact angle and density).

Therefore, determining the capillary force produced in the second passage 60 which is the capillary force generating portion that lies between the lower limit value and the upper limit value of the capillary forces which may differ depending on the color and materials of the ink or liquid in the chamber that contains liquid, the liquid containers 10 of the same structures can be used for all inks and processing liquids without changing the structure. The pressure in the plane including the ejection outlets of the ink jet head 22 is determined by a sum of the capillary force, the pressure loss of the absorption material 32 and the relative height between the lower portion of the ink container that it has the ink supply hole 14A and the plane that includes the ejection or similar outlets. The description will be made as to the dimensional specifications of the second passages 60, 61 or 64, and the second passages 62, 63 which will be described below. As described above, it is desirable that the negative pressure generated by the ink container 10 be controlled at a constant level in order to supply the ink without ink discontinuity occurring during the consumption of the ink. When the ink container 10 is mounted in the container case 20 of the integral head type and is carried in a carriage of the ink jet recording apparatus not shown (print training state), a potential charge difference is provided. predetermined between the capillary force generating portion and the lower portion of the ink container 10, and the plane including the ejection outlets of the head. In order to prevent leakage of the ink through the ejection outlet of the head in this state, the ink pressure at the ejection outlet in the plane including the ejection outlets is always lower than the ambient pressure. Until the ink is used from the chamber 36 containing the liquid, the height of the gas-liquid LL interface has to be stably maintained. To achieve this, the meniscus of the gas-liquid interface LL in the absorption material 32 must be stably maintained against the loss of pressure generated by the flow of the ink through the absorption material 32 during ink consumption. Therefore, it is desirable that the capillary force produced by the capillary force generating portion satisfy: H <; h < Hs-Hp-dh (1) where h is a defined capillary force dividing the capillary force generated by the capillary force generating portion between the density d of the liquid to be ejected multiplied by the acceleration g of gravitation (the dimension of h is length), that is, h = dPc / dg, where dPc is the capillary force generated; H is a difference of the potential load between the capillary force generating portion and the plane of the ejector head of liquid including the ejection outlets; Hs is a defined capillary force dividing the capillary force generated by the negative pressure producing member between the density F of the liquid to be expelled multiplied by the acceleration g of gravitation (the dimension of h is the length), that is, Hs = dPS / Fg, where dPs is the capillary force of the negative pressure producing member; Hp is a potential charge difference between the gas-liquid interface in the negative pressure producing member and the capillary force generating portion; dh is the defined head loss dividing a pressure loss between the fluid communication path and the liquid supply opening through the negative pressure producing member between the density F multiplied by the acceleration g of gravitation (the dimension of dh is the length), that is, dh = dPe / Fg, where dPe is the loss of pressure). In general, when the capillary force produced in the capillary tube is dPc, the capillary force h becomes the length dimension and is expressed by: h = L / SxI7Fgxcos? (2) Where L is the circumferential length (centimeters) of the tube; S in the cross-sectional area (square centimeters); T is the surface tension of the ink (dynes per centimeter); ? is the contact angle; F is the density (gram per cubic centimeter); and g is the acceleration of gravitation (980 centimeters / s ^). Therefore, the dimension of the capillary force generating portion is to satisfy the following by means of equations (1) and (2). l / cos? xFg / rxH < L / S < l / cos? xFg / rx (Hs-Hp-dh) ... (3) Where L is the circumferential length of the capillary force generating prion; S is the cross-sectional area; F is the density of the ink; g is the acceleration of gravitation; T is the surface tension of the ink; Y ? is the contact angle of the ink.

In the current use of the ink jet recording apparatus, the accelerations due to collisions or the scanning of the cartridge, the variation of temperature and the variation of pressure due to a change of ambient condition are imparted. Therefore, the pressure of the ink at the ejection outlet in the plane including the ejection outlets is preferably less than the ambient pressure by approximately -10 millimeters of H2O, including a safety factor. Taking this into consideration, the capillary force h converted to length desirably satisfies the following: H + hm < h < Hs-Hp-dh ... (4) Therefore, (3) is: 1 / cos? XFg / rx (H + hm) < L / S < 1 / cos? XFg / rx (Hs-Hp-dh) The specific values will be provided using as the example the second passage 60 having the trapezoidal section shown in Figure 12 (A).

Example 1: the width of the opening Wl = 0.25 millimeters; the width of the lower portion W2 = 0.24 millimeters; the depth D = 0.38 millimeters. In this case, the length of the inclined surface (the angle of inclination of the inclined surface is 1.3 °), and d is approximately 0.38 millimeters; L / S is 135 centimeters- ^. When the ink has a surface tension of 46.5 dynes per centimeter, the negative static pressure in the gas / liquid exchange was -5.2 centimeters. Therefore, when hm is 1 centimeter, H is 2.7 centimeters, Hs = 10 centimeters, Hp = 1.2 centimeters and dh = 1.5 centimeters, then 96 < L / S < 189 is satisfied.

Example 2: the width of the opening Wl = 0.26 millimeters; the width of the lower portion W2 = 0.25 millimeters; the depth D = 0.32 millimeters. In this case, the length of the inclined surface (the inclination angle of the inclined surface is 1.3 °), and d is approximately 0.32 millimeters; and L / S is 140 centimeters-1. When the ink has a surface tension of 34.8 dynes per centimeter, the negative static pressure in the gas-liquid exchange was -4.9 centimeters. Therefore, when hm is 1 centimeter, H is 2.7 centimeters, Hs = 10 centimeters, Hp = 1.2 centimeters, and dh = 1.5 centimeters, then 106 is satisfied < L / S < 209 Example 3: the width of the opening of Wl = 0.25 millimeters; the width of the lower portion W2 = 0.23 millimeters; the depth D = 0.34 millimeters. In this case, the length of the inclined surface (the inclination angle of the inclined surface is 1.3 °), and d is approximately 0.34 millimeters; and L / S is 143 centimeters- ^. When the ink has a surface tension of 41.6 dynes per centimeter, the negative static pressure in the gas-liquid exchange was -4.3 centimeters. Therefore, when hm is 1 centimeters, H is 2.7 centimeters, Hs = 10 centimeters, Hp = 1.2 centimeters and dh = 1.5 centimeters, then 123 is satisfied. L / S < 243. In order to produce the necessary capillary force, the cross-sectional area (width x depth) of the second passage 60 is preferably about 0.20-0.40 millimeters x 0.20-0.40 millimeter, and in order to suppress the admitted amount of the material. of absorption in the groove, it is preferred that the width be smaller than the depth. The cross sectional area of the first passage 50 will be sufficient if it is larger than the cross-sectional area of the second passage 60. The length of the second passage 60 may be approximately 2 to 10 millimeters from the upper end of the fluid communication path 40. If it is too short, the pressure contact of the absorption material 32 is not stable and if it is too long, the influence of the admission of the absorption material 32 will be too significant and is therefore preferably about 4 millimeters. The height of the upper end of the first passage 50 is effective to limit the height of the gas-liquid interface of the absorption material 32, as described above. Therefore, it is selected that a discontinuity of the ink does not occur and so that the buffering power of the absorption material 32 is not deteriorated. Preferably, it is about 10 to 30 minutes from the upper end of the fluid communication path 40. Figure 6 shows the change in the pressure in the plane including the ejection outlets of the ink jet head 22 in accordance with the ink consumption. In the initial stage immediately after starting the use of the ink container 10, the meniscus of the absorption material 32 is between the retraction contact angle and the advance contact angle, and the negative pressure Pl generated by the contact angle Retraction is achieved after consumption of a small amount of ink.

Then, while the ink impregnated in the absorption material 32 is consumed, that is, before the gas-liquid interface LL reaches the upper end of the first passage 50, the negative pressure generated is determined by the capillary force of the material 32 absorption, and the static charge difference between the gas-liquid LL interface and the ejection outlet. With the consumption of the ink, the negative pressure decreases until the gas-liquid interface LL reaches the upper end of the first passage 50 (the period of Pl to P2 which corresponds to Figure 5 (A)). When the gas-liquid interface LL reaches the upper end of the first passage 50, the state in which the negative pressure generated by the absorption material 32 is determined is changed to a state in which the negative pressure generated is determined by the negative pressure generated by the second pestle 60, so that the pressure rises from P2 (Figure 5 (B)) to P3 (Figure 5 (C)). Then, while the ink in the chamber 36 containing liquid is consumed while the gas-liquid exchange is carried out, the generated negative pressure remains constant (P3). Immediately before the complete consumption of the ink in the chamber 36 containing liquid, both the air and the ink are present in the fluid communication path 40, and the ink remaining in the chamber 36 containing liquid is absorbed by the material 32 absorption and therefore, the pressure is temporarily raised up to (P4). With a further continuation of the ink consumption, the ink in the absorption material 32 is consumed until the supply limit is reached by decreasing pressure and this is the limit of use of the ink container 10. Referring to Figures 8 and 9, a description of another embodiment of the present invention will be made using Figures 7 schematically showing the foregoing modality. In Figures 7 to 9, the shading in (A) indicates the section of a member, but in (B) indicates the contact surface of the absorption material 32. Figure 7 schematically shows the above modality and three first passages 50 and three second passages 60 are formed in dividing partition 38 and are associated, respectively (1: 1). In Figure 8, the number of first passages 52 as the environment introduction path and the number of second passages 62 as the capillary force generating portion are 1: 2. More specifically, in this embodiment, two first passages 52 and four second passages 62 are formed in dividing partition 38. In Figure 9, the number of first passages 53 as the path of introduction of the amient and the number of second passages 63 as the capillary force generating portion are approximately 1: 5. In this case, one of the first passages 53 has a large width where the absorption material 32 can enter to an extent too large, with the result of blocking the passage and therefore it is preferred to form a rib 55 in the groove for carry the absorption material 32. The number of the second passages 63 may be any if it is equal to or greater than 3. The present invention is directed primarily to a high capacity ink container, but is not limited thereto. In the foregoing embodiments, the second passage is blocked by liquid contained in the liquid-accommodating package from the air when gas-liquid exchange does not occur. However, the capillary force generating portion may be open to the environment. This is because the capillary force generating portion can maintain equilibrium in this modality. The distance between the fluid communication path and the supply port will be described. In order to properly supply the ink to a recording head, the balance of the negative pressures in the package is one of the influencing factors. During the period in which the ink supply operation is carried out with the gas-liquid exchange in the ink container including the chamber containing the liquid and the accommodation chamber of the negative pressure producing member, when the equilibrium of the negative pressure in the ink container satisfies the following: | | + | d xlli | <; | Hs | - | Hpa | The ink supply operation is appropriate with a gas-liquid interface height in the absorption material (negative pressure producing member) properly maintained. The liquid accommodating container has the structure shown in Figure 17 and comprises a negative pressure producing member accommodating chamber accommodating therein a non-negative pressure producing good and including the air vent duct for communication of fluid with the communication opening and liquid supply to supply the liquid to the recording medium - A chamber containing liquid is hermetically sealed in fact except in regard to the fluid communication path through which the chamber which contains the liquid remains in fluid communication with the accommodation chamber of the negative pressure producing member; A dividing partition for separating the accommodation chamber from the negative pressure producing member and the chamber containing liquid; a pressure contact member in the liquid supply port provided in a lower surface of the accommodation chamber of the negative pressure producing member, wherein an upper end surface of the press contact member is brought into contact with the member negative pressure producer; where a distance l? between the fluid communication path and that portion of the press contact member that is closest to the fluid communication path satisfies: ll < (Hs-Hpa-h) / dh h is a capillary force adjacent to the fluid communication path defined by dividing the pressure between the density F of the liquid to be expelled multiplied by the acceleration g of gravitation (the dimension of h is the length), that is, h = dPca / Fg, where dPca is the pressure adjacent to the fluid communication path; Hs is a capillary force defined by dividing the capillary force generated by the negative pressure producing member between the density F of the liquid to be ejected multiplied by the acceleration g of gravitation (the dimension of Hs is the length); that is, Hs = dPs / Fg, where dPs is the capillary force of the negative pressure producing member; Hp is a potential charge difference between the gas-liquid interface in the negative pressure producing member and the proximity of the fluid communication path; dh is the defined head loss dividing a pressure loss between the fluid communication path and the liquid supply opening through the negative pressure producing member between the density F multiplied by the acceleration g of gravitation (the dimension of dh is the length), that is, dh = dPe / Fh, where dPe is the loss of pressure). The loss of pressure dPe is an integration, with the length of the flow of pressure loss in each section being determined on the basis of the cross-sectional area of the flow of the liquid to be ejected by flowing through the negative pressure producing member and therefore, to provide the length of the flow with the square root of the density of the flow, and is inversely proportional to the cross-sectional area of the flow. The cross-sectional area is determined by a thickness of the negative pressure producing member multiplied by a height of the gas-liquid interface in the negative pressure producing member from the bottom of the accommodation chamber of the negative pressure producing member. Since, however, the negative pressure producing member is not uniform, it is difficult to determine the pressure loss, the cross-sectional area is considered here as an average height of the gas-liquid interface in the negative pressure producing member multiplied by an average width of the member producing negative pressure. Regarding the length of the flow, the maximum length is important, and therefore, the distance between the fluid communication path and the portion of the pressure contact means that is most distant from the fluid communication path is considered. When the pressure loss per unit length is dP, the pressure loss dPe is: dPe = dPxl! The average flow length is a distance from the fluid communication path to the central interface portion between the pressurized contact member and the negative pressure reproducing member. Here, dPca >; H, H is a static charge from the proximity to the hole. This is required to provide the registration head with an appropriate negative pressure. In Figure 17 the ink pack has a simple partition. In this example, the negative pressure generated dPca when a gas-liquid exchange occurs adjacent to the fluid communication path, is taken into account. The description will now be made to the case where a capillary force generating groove is positively formed in the partition wall. The liquid accommodating container has a structure shown in Figure 18, and the dividing wall is provided with a capillary force generating slot 60 and a path 50 for introducing the environment adjacent to the fluid communication path. The distance l to the portion that was distant from the fluid communication path satisfies: ll < (Hs-Hp-h) / dh h is a capillary force adjacent to the fluid communication path defined by dividing a pressure between the density F of the liquid to be ejected multiplied by the acceleration g of gravitation (the dimension of h is the length), that is, h = dPc / Fg, where dPc is the pressure adjacent to the fluid communication path; Hs is a capillary force defined by dividing the capillary force generated by the negative pressure producing member between the density F of the liquid to be ejected multiplied by the acceleration g of gravitation (the dimension of Hs is the length), that is, Hs = dPs / Fg, where dPs is the capillary force of the negative pressure producing member; Hp is a difference in charge power between the gas-liquid interface in the negative pressure producing member and the proximity of the fluid communication path; dh is the defined head loss dividing a pressure loss between the fluid communication path and the liquid supply opening through the negative pressure producing member between the density F multiplied by the acceleration g of gravitation (the dimension of dh is the length), that is, dh = dPe / Fg, where dPe is the loss of pressure). The pressure loss dPc is an integration with the length of the flow of the dPc is an integration, with the length of the flow of the pressure loss in each section that is determined on the basis of the cross-sectional area of the liquid flow that goes to be ejected by flowing through the negative pressure producing member and therefore, is proportional to the length of the flow and the square root of the flow rate which is inversely proportional to the cross-sectional area of the flow. The cross-sectional area is determined by a thickness of the negative pressure producing member multiplied by a height of the gas-liquid interface in the negative pressure producing member from the bottom of the accommodation chamber of the negative pressure producing member. However, since the negative pressure producing member is not uniform, it is difficult to determine the pressure loss, the cross-sectional area is considered here as an average height of the gas-liquid interface in the pressure producing member multiplied by an average width of the negative pressure producing member. With respect to the length of the flow, the maximum length is important and therefore, the distance between the fluid communication path and the portion of the contact member under pressure that is most distant from the fluid communication path is considered. . When the pressure loss per unit length is dP, the pressure loss dPe is: dPe = dPxl? The average length of the flow is a distance from the fluid communication path to the central interface portion between the pressure contact member and the negative pressure producing member. Here, dPca > H, H is a static charge from the proximity to the hole. This is required to provide the registration head with an appropriate negative pressure. Here, an ink container using a sponge that is 4 times thermally compressed. The ink used has a T = 30, "eta" = 2, F = 1.06 gram / cubic centimeter. The amount of ink flow is 1.44 grams per minute. The negative pressure in the orifice of the registration head immediately after the container that is opened is 25 mm Ag. The height of the interface of the initial environment after the opening is 40 mm. The negative pressure in the orifice when a gas-liquid exchange occurs is 15 mm AG. The height of the environment interface during the gas-liquid exchange hs = 12 mm. In this case, dPs = 90 millimeters Ag, dPc = 40 millimeters Ag, dPe = 0.5 millimeter Ag / millimeters, 1? < (90-12-40) /O.5 = 76 millimeters. When l ^ i was 75 millimeters in the experiments, stable operation was confirmed under a normal operating condition. However, since the ink reaches the user through different distribution channels, a safety factor must be added in consideration of the external shock or similar factors. There is a possibility that the ink pack decreases due to operator error. In this way, the upper limit, in consideration of a safety factor of 1, is preferably approximately 60 millimeters. More surely, it is preferable to approximately 50 millimeters. On the other hand with respect to the lower limit value l? it is desirable to take into consideration the movement of the negative pressure producing member due to the pressure of the contact member under pressure. For example, in the case of the container having a supply orifice provided with a pressurized contact member in the position of approximately 5 millimeters away from the fluid communication path, the negative pressure producing member adjacent to the communication path of fluid is moved to approximately 1 millimeter away from the fluid communication path by pressing the contact member under pressure by 3 millimeters. The negative pressure producing member accommodated in the package is pressed to the communication portion by approximately 2.5 millimeters in the communication portion. Therefore, even when the negative pressure producing member moves as described above, the ink supply operation can be carried out satisfactorily. However, a safety factor of approximately 10 millimeters is desirably taken into account in consideration of the variation factor during insertion of the negative pressure producing member, the deviation due to external factors or the like factors. From the foregoing, as a specific example of the position of the contact member under pressure is preferred not less than l? = 5 millimeters and not more than 60 millimeters, and more safely, not less than J ^ i = 10 millimeters and not more than 50 millimeters. Referring to Figure 19, the specific examples will be described. The liquid container 10 for the liquid to be ejected comprises a chamber 34 for accommodating the negative pressure producing member remaining in fluid communication with the air vent 12 in the upper portion and remaining in fluid communication with the liquid supply opening 14A in a lower portion and accommodating the open cell elastic member 32 as the negative pressure producing member, a chamber 36 containing the liquid hermetically sealed in fact, to directly accommodate the liquid ink, and a partition divisor of 38 among them. The accommodating chamber 34 of the negative pressure producing member and the chamber 36 containing the liquid remains in fluid communication only through the fluid communication path 40 formed in the partition 38 in the lower portion of the liquid container 10 . The upper wall 10U of liquid container 10 defining the chamber 34 for accommodating the negative pressure reducing member is provided with a plurality of ribs 42 projecting inwards integral with the same, which are placed in contact with the open cell elastic member 32 accommodated under compression in the accommodation chamber 34 of the negative pressure producing member. Therefore, an air cushion chamber 44 is formed between the wall 10U and the upper surface of the open cell elastic member 32. The open cell elastic member 32 is of a thermally compressed urethane foam material, for example, and are accommodated in the accommodation chamber 34 of the negative pressure producing member under compression to generate a predetermined capillary force as will be described below. The absolute value of the pore size of the open cell elastic member 32 to produce the predetermined capillary force is determined depending on the materials of the ink to be used, the dimensions of the liquid container 10, the position of the plane including the outlet of ejection of the ink jet head 22 (difference H of static charge) or similar factors, but it is desirable to produce capillary force greater than the capillary force in the capillary force generating slot or passage which will be described below. The ink supply cylinder 14 defining the liquid supply opening 14A, a columnar or disc-like contact member 46 is placed. The pressure contact member 46 per se is made of polypropylene or felt, for example, and is not easily deformed by an external force. When the package is not mounted in the case 20 of the package as shown in Figure 3, the pressure contact member 46 is maintained under a state of pressurized contact where it is pushed slightly toward the elastic cell member 32 open to In order to locally compress the elastic member 32 of the open cell. The degree of pressure contact of the open cell elastic member 32 by the upper end surface of the pressure contact member 46 is preferably not less than 0 millimeter from the inner surface of the lower wall 10B of the container 10 and not more than 5 mm. To accomplish this, a flange 14B in contact with the vicinity of the press contact member 46 is formed at the end of the ink supply cylinder 14. The pressure contact member 42 receives a repellent force of approximately 700 gf. from the open cell elastic member 32 so as to be bent. To prevent uncoupling thereof from the predetermined position in the ink supply cylinder 14, the elongation of the thickness (height) in the section shown in Figure 3 is preferably not less than 0.5. In the embodiment of Figure 19, the internal dimension L0-1 of the container 10 in the longitudinal direction is approximately 70 millimeters, the internal dimension h0-l and the height direction is approximately 50 millimeters, the internal dimension LO-2 of the first chamber 34 of accommodation in the longitudinal direction is approximately 43-47 millimeters and the distance Ll from the lateral surface of the open cell elastic member 32 of the dividing partition 38 to the lateral surface of the partition 38 of the contact member 46 The pressure is approximately 22 to 26 millimeters. The fundamental thickness of the container 10 is usually about 2 millimeters. Around the liquid supply opening 14A of the package 10, there is provided an annular stepped portion 14C projecting inward from the inner bottom surface of the bottom wall 10B of the package 10, and the height h2-3 thereof is of 0.3-0.4 mm, and the width L3 is 1.5 to 3 mm. The admitted amount of the pressure contact member 46 when the package is mounted in the integral head-type container case 20, ie, the difference between the moment when the ink-jet cylinder 26 of the jet head 22 color ink enters the ink supply cylinder 14 (Figure 20) and when dismounted does not enter it (Figure 19) (the difference between hl-1 and Figure 19 and hl-2 in Figure 20) of preference is approximately 1 millimeter. This is because then an appropriate flow of the ink is ensured and leakage of the ink can be prevented when the liquid container 10 is disassembled. More particularly, in the liquid container 10 of this embodiment, the ink enters and discharges from the open cell elastic member 32 due to the temperature change or pressure change during use. In order to securely hold the ink retention force (negative pressure) in the liquid supply port, the force of the meniscus in the open cell elastic member 32 adjacent to the liquid supply port must be maintained even when the The ink passage cylinder 26 is removed from the ink supply cylinder 14. To accomplish this, pressurized contact member 46 is provided which is a hard absorption member. In the embodiment shown in Figure 21, the position of the liquid supply opening 14A becomes different corresponding to the case 20 of the container is adjacent to the partition 38. The reason for this will be described. Since the pressure contact member 46 is pushed to open the open cell elastic member 32, the portion of the open cell elastic member 32 in contact with the pressure contact member 46 is locally deformed. Therefore, when the liquid supply opening 14A is too close to the fluid communication path 40 which is a gas-liquid exchange opening, the influence of the stress due to the deformation of the open cell elastic member 32 it extends to the liquid gas exchange opening and therefore, the manufacturing variation of the liquid container 10 increases. In the worst case, the appropriate negative pressure can not be generated with the possible result that the ink falls from the liquid supply opening 14a. On the other hand, if the liquid supply opening 14A is too far from the fluid communication path 40 which is the gas-liquid exchange opening, the resistance to flow from the fluid communication path 40 to the opening 14A of liquid supply, during the gas-liquid exchange operation which will be described below is too large with the possible result that the discontinuity of the ink is effected (it stops) when the ink consumption rate is raised. Therefore, the distance from the fluid communication path 40 to the liquid supply port 14A is preferably within a certain scale. In the example shown in Figure 19, the distance Ll is approximately 22 to 26 millimeters and more generally, no more than approximately 30 millimeters, and in the example of Figure 21, the distance Ll-3 is approximately 5 mm. The description will be made as to a structure for controlling the negative pressure generated by the open cell elastic member 32 as the negative pressure producing member. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 19, the side of the accommodation chamber 34 of the negative pressure-producing member of the lower portion of the dividing partition 38 is provided with two parallel environment introduction slots 50 as the first passages that have the upper ends open and that are in contact with the open cell elastic member 32 as the negative pressure producing member, and two parallel capillary force generating slots 60 as the second passages in fluid communication with the insertion slots 50 environment and having lower ends in fluid communication with the fluid communication path 40 (in the figure only one of them is shown in section). The embodiment of the capillary force generating slot 60 as shown in the Figure can be continued into the slot 65 extended in the longitudinal direction on the upper side of the fluid communication path 40. By doing this, the passage can be secured even when the open cell elastic member 32 enters the groove at the lower end of the capillary force generating slot 60. It is preferable that the environment introduction slot 50 has a width that is greater than the capillary force generating slot 60., since the introduction of the environment is assured and the resistance in the initiation of gas-liquid exchange is reduced. Each capillary force generating slot 60, as will be described below, can be considered as a capillary tube for producing the capillary force, constituted by a slot surface in the dividing partition 38 and a surface on the side of the open cell elastic member 32. . The cross-sectional configuration of the capillary force generating groove can be selected from a variety of configurations such as a trapezoidal section, a rectangular section, a semicircular section or the like. In the above embodiment, the first and second passages are constituted by grooves respectively, but may be passages closed by themselves in the cross section. More specifically, the lower portion of the dividing partition 38 can be provided with an environment introduction passageway as the first passage having an upper end opening and contacting the open cell elastic member 32 as the a negative pressure producing member, and a capillary force generating passageway as the second passage communicates with the ambient introduction passage and has a lower end in fluid communication with the fluid communication path 40. In doing so, the capillary force generating passage is formed without the need to close the open side of the groove by the open cell elastic member 32 so that the generation of the capillary force can be determined without influence of the elastic cell member 32 open The principle of operation of the liquid container in this mode will now be described. As shown in Figure 20, the ink passage cylinder 26 is pushed towards the ink supply cylinder 14 and then the ink jet recording apparatus is operated. Next, the ink is ejected from the ink jet head 22 with the result of the ink suction force produced in the liquid container 10. When the open cell elastic member 32 which is a negative pressure producing member in the accommodation chamber 34 of the negative pressure producing member contains a sufficient quantity of ink, the ink is consumed and the negative pressure producing member so that the Upper surface (gas-liquid interface) of the upper surface is lowered. The negative pressure generated during this time is determined by the static load and the capillary force of the gas-liquid interface in the negative pressure producing member. With the continuous consumption of the ink, the gas-liquid surface reaches the upper end portion of the environment introduction slot 50. At the time when the pressures in the lower portion of the chamber 36 containing the liquid directly accommodate the ink and the negative pressure producing member 32 becomes smaller than the capillary force generated in the capillary force generating slot 60, the air it supplies the chamber 36 containing liquid through the environment introduction slot 50 and the capillary force generating slot 60. As a result, the pressure in the chamber 36 containing liquid increases corresponding to the amount of air introduced, and the ink is supplied from the chamber 36 containing liquid to the negative pressure producing member 32 through the communication path 40 fluid to compensate for the difference between the increased pressure and the pressure of the negative pressure producing member 32. Namely, the gas-liquid exchange takes place. During this time, the presence of the lower portion of the container rises corresponding to the amount of ink supply and therefore, the supply of air to the chamber containing the liquid 36 is stopped. During ink consumption, gas-liquid exchange occurs continuously, so that the ink in the chamber 36 containing liquid is - 71 supplies to member 32 producing negative pressure. Therefore, the negative pressure generated during the consumption of the ink from the chamber 36 containing liquid is determined by the capillary force generated by the capillary force generating slot 60. In this way, by appropriately selecting the dimensions of the capillary force generating slot 60, the negative pressure generated during the gas-liquid exchange can be determined. When the ink is supplied through the fluid communication path 40 from the chamber 36 containing the liquid to the open cell elastic member 32, i.e., when the gas-liquid exchange is carried out, the ink flows in the lower portion of the open cell elastic member 32, ie, within the range of 10 to 20 millimeters from the interior of the lower wall 10B of the container 10. Therefore, if there is a large space, or if the ratio compression of the open cell elastic member is too high, as in a conventional package, the flow of the ink can be prevented. However, according to this embodiment, the lower end surface of the pressure contact member 46 is external by the distance corresponding to h2-l then the interior of the lower wall 10B, and therefore the contact member 46 pressure does not enter through the distance corresponding to h2-2, and the projection distance inwardly from the inner interior is hl-2, even though the ink-flow cylinder 26 is pushed towards the supply cylinder 14 ink in a predetermined amount (1 millimeter) (mounting state) as shown in Figure 20. Therefore, the space due to the separation distance L2-2 from the inner bottom of the container of the cell elastic member 32 open is small. The separation distance L2-2 is 2 to 3 millimeters at most. As a result, when the gas-liquid exchange occurs, the ink flows within the range of 10 to 20 millimeters from the inner surface of the lower wall 10B of the container 10 into the open cell elastic member 32 and therefore the Ink flow can hardly be prevented in the liquid container of this embodiment, wherein the space adjacent to the pressure contact member 46 is small. In addition, the increase in the compression ratio of the open cell elastic member 32 adjacent the contact portion with the pressure contact member 46 (top surface) is appropriately controlled and therefore, the flow of the ink is not impeded by the increase in flow resistance due to the increase in the compression ratio of the elastic open cell member 32. In addition, a stepped portion 14C projecting inwardly from the inner surface of the lower wall 10B of the container 10 is provided around the liquid supply port 14A and therefore, the open cell elastic member 32 is compressed inwardly by two. Steps. The step height is relatively small (0.3 to 0.7 millimeter), so that the shape of the open cell elastic member 32 follows the passage and no space is formed. The degree of entry of the pressure contact member 46 that results in the separation of the open cell elastic member 32 from the interior of the lower wall 10B is (hl-2) - (height of the stepped portion 14C) so that the expansion of the space corresponding to the stepped portion 14C is deleted.

Claims (70)

1 - R E I V I N D I C A C I O N E S:

1. A container for containing liquid to be ejected comprising: an accommodation chamber of the negative pressure producing member for accommodating a negative pressure producing member, the accommodating chamber of the negative pressure producing member is provided with an air ventilation duct for fluid communication with the environment and a liquid supply portion for supplying the liquid to a liquid ejector head; a chamber containing liquid hermetically sealed in fact, except in regard to a fluid communication path through which the chamber containing the liquid is in fluid communication with the accommodating chamber of the negative pressure producing member; a dividing wall for separating the accommodation chamber from the negative pressure producing member and the chamber containing liquid, the dividing wall is provided with a path for introducing the environment for introducing the environment in the chamber containing liquid from the chamber accommodating the negative pressure producing member, the introduction path of the environment forms a generating portion of capillary force; wherein the capillary force produced by the capillary force generating portion satisfies the following: H < h < Hs-Hp-dh where h is a defined capillary force dividing the capillary force divided by the generating portion of capillary force between the density F of the liquid to be ejected multiplied by the acceleration g of gravitation (the dimension of h is length), that is, h = dPc / Fg, where dPc is the capillary force generated; H is a potential charge difference between the capillary force generating portion and the plane of the ejector head including the ejection outlets; Hs is a capillary force defined by dividing the capillary force generated by the negative pressure producing member between the density F of the liquid to be expelled, multiplied by the acceleration g of gravitation (the dimension of H is the length), that is, Hs = dPs / Fg, where dPs is the capillary force of the negative pressure producing member; Hp is a potential charge difference between the gas-liquid interface in the negative pressure producing member and the capillary force generating portion; dh is defined load loss by dividing a loss of pressure between the fluid communication path and the liquid supply opening through the negative pressure producing member between the density F multiplied by the acceleration g of gravitation (the dimension of dh is the length), that is, dh = dPe / Fg, where dPe is the loss of pressure).

A package according to claim 1, wherein the capillary force generating portion has a circumferential length L and a cross-sectional area S, and h is expressed by: h = L / SxI Fgxcos? where F is a density of liquid, g is the acceleration of gravitation, T is a surface tension of the liquid and? a liquid contact angle.

3. A package according to claim 1, wherein a capillary force of the capillary force generating portion is between the minimum and maximum capillary forces of liquids of different kinds and colors usable with the ejection head. 14 -. 14 -

4. A package according to claim 1, wherein the liquid supply opening is provided in the lower portion of the package.

5. A package according to claim 1, wherein the package is integral with the ejector head of liquid.

6. A package according to claim 1, wherein the package is removably mountable relative to the ejector head of liquid.

A package according to claim 1, wherein an upper end of the environment introduction path maintains fluid communication with the environment after beginning the gas-liquid exchange.

8. A package according to claim 1, wherein at least one upper end of the environment introduction path is open and brought into contact with the negative pressure producing member, and a lower end thereof is in fluid communication with the fluid communication path .

A package according to claim 8, wherein the path of introducing the environment has a second passage constituting the capillary force generating portion and a first passage having a cross-sectional area that is greater than that of the second passageway. .

10. A package according to claim 9, wherein a plurality of at least these second passages is provided.

A package according to claim 9, wherein the path and introduction of the environment is in the form of a groove, a part of which is closed by the negative pressure producing member.

12. A package according to claim 11, wherein the slot is in fluid communication with an extended slot in a longitudinal direction of the fluid communication path.

A package according to claim 9, wherein the first passage and the second passage are in the form of an environment introduction slot and a capillary force generating slot, respectively, the open portions of which are closed by the member producing negative pressure.

14. A container according to claim 11, wherein the capillary force generating groove has a rectangular section having a width x a depth of 0.20 mm to 0.40 mm by 0.20 - 0.40 mm.

15. A package according to claim 11, wherein the capillary force generating slot has a length of 2 to 10 millimeters.

16. A package according to claim 11, wherein the capillary force generating groove has a trapezoidal section.

17. A package according to claim 11, wherein the capillary force generating groove has a triangular shaped section.

18. A package according to claim 11, wherein the capillary force generating groove has a semicircular section, at least in a part thereof.

19. A package according to claim 1, wherein the liquid supply opening is provided with a pressurized contact member in contact with the negative pressure producing member.

20. A package according to claim 1, wherein the negative pressure producing member has a height in the accommodation chamber of the negative pressure producing member that is not less than 40 millimeters.

21. A package according to claim 1, wherein an air damping chamber is formed above the negative pressure producing member in the accommodation chamber of the negative pressure producing member, the air damping chamber is in fluid communication as the ventilation air duct and wherein a volume ratio of the air dampening chamber and the accommodation chamber of the negative pressure producing member is 1/5 to 1/8.

22. A package according to claim 1, wherein the volume ratio of the accommodation chamber of the negative pressure producing member and the chamber containing the liquid is from 1: 1 to 5: 3.

23. A package according to claim 1, wherein the negative pressure producing member is a foamed polyurethane resin material for liquid absorption.

24. A package according to claim 19, wherein the paired contact member is felt or polypropylene.

25. A package according to claim 1, wherein the fluid communication path has a width that is smaller than the width of a lower portion of the partition.

26. A package according to claim 1, wherein a higher level of the environment introduction path is higher than the upper end of the environment introduction path by 10 to 30 millimeters.

27. A package according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the fluid communication path and the ejection fluid supply port is 10 to 50 millimeters.

28. A package according to claim 19, wherein the pressure contact member is pressed to the negative pressure producing member and the entry distance thereof is 0.5 to 2 millimeters when the liquid container is not connected to the ejector head of liquid, and it is from 1.0 to 3.0 millimeters when it is connected to it.

29. A package according to claim 1, wherein the package contains the liquid to be delivered to the ejector head of liquid.

30. A container for containing a liquid to be ejected, comprising: an accommodation chamber of the negative pressure producing member for accommodating a negative pressure producing member, the accommodating chamber of the negative pressure producing member is provided as a ventilation duct of air for fluid communication with the environment, and a portion of liquid supply for supplying the liquid to a liquid ejector head; a chamber containing the hermetically sealed liquid in fact, with the exception of a fluid communication path through which the chamber containing the liquid is in fluid communication with the accommodation chamber of the negative pressure producing member; a dividing partition to separate the accommodation chamber from the negative pressure producing member and the chamber containing the liquid; the dividing wall is provided with a path of introduction of the environment to introduce the environment in the chamber containing the liquid from the accommodation chamber of the negative pressure producing member, the path of introduction of the environment forming a capillary generating portion; wherein the capillary force produced by the capillary force generating portion satisfies the following: H + hm < h < Hs-Hp-dh wherein h is a defined capillary force by dividing the capillary force generated by the capillary force generating portion between the density F of the liquid to be expelled multiplied by the acceleration g of gravitation (the dimension of h is length), ie, hdPc / Fg, where dPc is the capillary force generated; H is a difference of the potential load between the capillary force generating portion and the plane of the ejector head of liquid including the ejection outlets; Hs is a capillary force defined by dividing the capillary force generated by the negative pressure producing member between the density F of the liquid to be expelled multiplied by the acceleration g of gravitation (the dimension of H is length), that is, Hs = dPs / Fg, where dPs is the capillary force of the negative pressure producing member; Hp is a difference of the potential charge between the gas-liquid interface in the negative pressure producing member and the capillary force generating portion; dh is the defined head loss dividing a pressure loss between the fluid communication path and the liquid supply opening through the negative pressure producing member between the density F multiplied by the acceleration g of gravitation (the dimension of dh is the length), that is, dh = dPe / Fg, where dPe is the pressure loss), where hm is a capillary force of design margin divided by the density F multiplied by the acceleration g of gravitation (the dimension is the length), that is, hm = dPm / Fg, where dP is a capillary force of design margin.

A package according to claim 30, wherein the capillary force generating portion has a circumferential length L and a cross-sectional area S, and h is expressed by: h = L / SxI7Fgxcos? wherein L is the circumferential length (centimeters) of the generating portion of the capillary force; S is the cross sectional area (square centimeters); T is the surface tension of the ink (dyne / centimeter); ? is the contact angle; F is the density (g / cubic centimeter); and g is the gravitational acceleration (980 centimeters / s ^).

32. A container according to claim 30, wherein a capillary force of the capillary force generating portion is between the minimum and the maximum capillary forces of liquids of different kinds and colors usable with the ejection head.

33. A package according to claim 30, wherein the liquid supply opening is provided in the lower portion of the package.

34. A package according to claim 30, wherein the package is integral with the liquid ejecting head.

35. A package according to claim 30, wherein the package is capable of detachably mounting relative to the ejector head of liquid.

36. A package according to claim 30, wherein an upper end of the environment introduction path maintains fluid communication with the environment after beginning the gas-liquid exchange.

37. A package according to claim 30, wherein at least one upper end of the environment introduction path is open and brought into contact with the negative pressure producing member, and the lower end thereof is in communication of fluid with the fluid communication path.

38. A package according to claim 37, wherein the introduction path of the environment has a second passage constituting the capillary force generating portion and a first passage having a cross-sectional area that is greater than that of the second passage. .

39. A package according to claim 38, wherein a plurality of at least these second passages is provided.

40. A package according to claim 38, wherein the introduction path of the environment is in the form of a slot, an open part of which is closed by the negative pressure producing member.

41. A package according to claim 40, wherein the slot is in fluid communication with the slot extended in a longitudinal direction of the fluid communication path.

42. A package according to claim 38, wherein the first passage and the second passage are in the form of an environment introduction slot and a capillary force generating slot, respectively, the open portions of which are closed by the negative force producing member.

43. A package according to claim 40, wherein the capillary force generating slot has a rectangular section having a width x a depth of 0.20 to 0.40 mm x 0.20-0.40 mm.

44. A package according to claim 40, wherein the capillary force generating slot has a length of 2 to 10 millimeters.

45. A package according to claim 40, wherein the capillary force generating groove has a trapezoidal section.

46. A package according to claim 40, wherein the capillary force generating groove has a triangular shaped section.

47. A package according to claim 40, wherein the capillary force generating groove has a semicircular section, at least in a part thereof.

48. A package according to claim 30, wherein the liquid supply opening is provided with a pressurized contact member that contacts the negative pressure producing member.

49. A package according to claim 30, wherein the negative pressure producing member has a height in the accommodation chamber of the negative pressure producing member that is not less than 40 millimeters.

50. A package according to claim 30, wherein an air cushion chamber is formed above the negative pressure producing member in the accommodation chamber of the negative pressure producing member, the air cushion chamber remaining in fluid communication. as the ventilation air duct, and wherein a volume ratio of the air dampening chamber and the accommodation chamber of the negative pressure producing member is 1/5 to 1/8.

51. A package according to claim 30, wherein the volume ratio of the accommodation chamber of the negative pressure producing member and the chamber containing the liquid is from 1: 1 to 5: 3.

52. A package according to claim 30, wherein the negative pressure producing member is of a foamed polyurethane resin material for liquid absorption.

53. A package according to claim 48, wherein the pressure contact member is felt or polypropylene.

54. A package according to claim 30, wherein the fluid communication path has a width that is smaller than the width of a lower portion of the partition.

55. A package according to claim 30, wherein a higher level of the environment introduction path is higher than the upper end of the environment introduction path by 10 to 30 millimeters.

56. A package according to claim 30, wherein a distance between the fluid communication path and the ejection fluid supply port is 10 to 50 millimeters.

57. A package according to claim 48, wherein the pressure contact member is pressed to the negative pressure producing member and an inlet distance thereof is 0.5 to 2 millimeters when the liquid container is not connected to the ejector head of liquid, and it is from 1.0 to 3.0 millimeters when it is connected to it.

58. A package according to claim 30, wherein the container contains the liquid to be supplied to the ejector head of liquid.

59. A container for containing liquid to be ejected comprising: an accommodation chamber of the negative pressure producing member for accommodating a negative pressure producing member, the accommodating chamber of the negative pressure producing member is provided with a ventilation duct of air for fluid communication with the environment, and a portion of liquid supply for supplying the liquid to a liquid ejection head; a chamber containing liquid sealed hermetically in fact, with the exception of a fluid communication path through which the chamber containing the liquid remains in fluid communication with the accommodating chamber of the negative pressure producing member; a dividing partition for separating the accommodation chamber from the negative pressure producing member and the chamber containing the liquid, wherein the partition wall is provided with a capillary force generating portion therein; a pressurized contact member in the liquid supply opening that is provided in a lower side of the accommodation chamber of the negative pressure producing member, and an upper end surface of the pressurized contact member is brought into contact with the negative pressure producing member; where a distance l_? from the fluid communication path and up to a portion of the pressure contact member that is closest to the fluid communication path, it satisfies: ll < (Hs-Hpa-h) / dh wherein h is a capillary force adjacent to the fluid communication path defined by dividing the pressure between the density F of the liquid to be ejected multiplied by the acceleration g of gravitation (the dimension of h is length), ie, h = dPca / Fg, where dPca is the pressure adjacent to the fluid communication path; Hs is a defined capillary force dividing the capillary force generated by the negative pressure producing member between the density F of the liquid to be ejected multiplied by the acceleration g of gravitation (the dimension of Hs is the length), that is, Hs = dPs / Fg, where dPs is the capillary force of the negative pressure producing member; Hp is a potential charge difference between the gas-liquid interface in the negative pressure producing member and the proximity of the fluid communication path; dh is a defined head loss dividing a pressure loss between the fluid communication path and the liquid supply port through the negative pressure producing member between the density F multiplied by the acceleration g of gravitation (the dh dimension) is the length), that is, dh = dPe / Fg, where dPe is the loss of pressure).

60. A package according to claim 59, wherein a lower end surface of the pressure contact member is outside the inner bottom surface of the package.

61. A package according to claim 59, wherein around the liquid supply opening, a stepped portion projecting inwardly from an inner bottom surface of the package is provided.

62. A package according to claim 59, wherein the liquid supply opening is formed in a liquid supply cylinder formed outwardly of the outer surface of a lower container wall.

63. A package according to claim 59, wherein the package contains the liquid to be delivered to the ink jet head.

64. A container for containing the liquid to be ejected, comprising: an accommodating chamber of the negative pressure producing member for accommodating a negative pressure producing member, the accommodating chamber of the negative pressure producing member is provided with a air vent conduit for fluid communication with the environment, and a liquid supply portion for supplying liquid to a liquid ejector head; a chamber containing hermetically sealed liquid in fact except, except as regards a fluid communication path through which the liquid-containing chamber is in fluid communication with the accommodating chamber of the negative pressure producing member; a dividing partition for separating the accommodation chamber from the negative pressure producing member and the liquid containing chamber, the dividing wall is provided with an inflow introduction path to provide a capillary force generating portion in the dividing wall to introduce the ambient in the chamber containing liquid from the accommodation chamber of the negative pressure producing member; a pressure contact member in the liquid supply port provided in a lower side of the accommodation chamber of the negative pressure producing member, and an upper end surface of the press contact member is brought into contact with the member producer of negative pressure; wherein a distance 1_1 from the fluid communication path to the portion of the contact member under pressure that is closest to the fluid communication path; ll < (Hs-Hp-h) / dh wherein h is a capillary force adjacent to the fluid communication path defined by dividing the pressure between the density F of the liquid to be ejected multiplied by the acceleration g of gravitation (the dimension of h is length), that is, h = dPc / Fg, where dPc is the pressure adjacent to the fluid communication path; Hs is a capillary force defined by dividing the capillary force generated by the negative pressure producing member between the density F of liquid to be ejected multiplied by the acceleration g of gravitation (the dimension of Hs is the length), that is, Hs = dPs / Fg, where dPs is the capillary force of the negative pressure producing member; Hp is a potential charge difference between the gas-liquid interface in the negative pressure producing member and the proximity of the fluid communication path; dh is a defined head loss by dividing a pressure loss between the fluid communication path and the liquid supply port through the negative pressure producing member between the density F multiplied by the gravitational acceleration g (the dh dimension) is length), that is, dh = dPe / Fg, where dPe is the pressure loss).

65. A package according to claim 64, wherein a lower end surface of the pressurized contact member is outside an inner bottom surface of the package.

66. A package according to claim 64, wherein around the liquid supply opening, a stepped portion projecting inwardly from an inner bottom surface of the package is provided.

67. A container according to claim 64, wherein the liquid supply opening is formed in a liquid supply cylinder formed outwardly from an external surface of a bottom wall of the container.

68. A package according to claim 64, wherein the package contains the liquid to be supplied to the ink jet head.

69. A container for containing liquid to be ejected comprising: an accommodation chamber of the negative pressure producing member for accommodating a negative pressure producing member, the accommodating chamber of the negative pressure producing member is provided with a ventilation duct of air for fluid communication with the environment, and a supply portion of liquid for supplying the liquid to a liquid ejector head; a chamber that contains hermetically sealed liquid in fact, with the exception of a fluid communication path through which the liquid-containing chamber is in fluid communication with the accommodating chamber of the negative pressure producing member; a dividing partition extending upwardly from the fluid communication path of the accommodation chamber of the neagative-producing member; a pressure contact member in the liquid supply port provided in a lower side of the accommodation chamber of the negative pressure producing member, and an upper end surface of the pressure contact member is brought into contact with the a negative pressure producing member, wherein a lower end surface of the press contact member lies outside the inner bottom surface of the container; wherein the distance _l_ from a fluid communication path to a portion of the pressure contact member closest to the fluid communication path satisfies: 5mm < 11 < 6Omm

70. A package according to claim 65, wherein 10 millimeters is sativated < l- | < 50 mm. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A container for containing liquid to be ejected including an accommodation chamber of the negative pressure producing member for accommodating a negative pressure producing member, the accommodating chamber of the negative pressure producing member is provided with an air vent for communication of fluid with the environment and a portion of liquid supply to supply the liquid to a liquid ejector head; a chamber containing liquid hermetically sealed in fact except in regard to the communication path through which the chamber containing liquid remains in fluid communication with the chamber accommodating the negative pressure producing member, a partition wall to separate the chamber accommodating the negative pressure producing member and the liquid containing chamber, the dividing wall is provided with an environment introduction path for introducing the environment in the chamber containing liquid from the accommodation chamber of the producing member. negative pressure, the environment introduction path forms a capillary force generating portion; wherein the capillary force produced by the capillary force generating portion satisfies the following: H < h < Hs-Hp-dh where h is a defined capillary force dividing the capillary force generated by the generating portion of capillary force between the density F of the liquid to be expelled multiplied by the acceleration g of gravitation (the dimension of h is the length ), that is, h = dPc / Fg, where dPc is the capillary force generated; H is a potential head difference between the capillary force generating portion and the plane of the liquid ejecting head including the ejection outlets; Hs is a defined capillary force dividing the capillary force generated by the negative pressure producing member between the density F of the liquid to be ejected, multiplied by the acceleration g of gravitation (the dimension of H is the length), that is, Hs = dPs / Fg, where dPs is the capillary force of the negative pressure producing member; Hp is a difference of the potential head between the gas-liquid interface in the negative pressure producing member and the capillary force generating portion; dh is defined head loss by dividing a pressure loss between the fluid communication path and the liquid supply port through the negative pressure producing member between the density F multiplied by the acceleration g of gravitation (the dimension of dh is the length), that is, dh = dPe / Fg, where dPe is the loss of pressure).