Liquid container and manufacturing method therefor

• US 20050185034A1
• Filed: 12/21/2004
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Yukuo, Anma, Hiromasa, Yamamoto, Hajime, Watanabe, Kenjiro, Kotaki, Yasuo, Kitabatake, Kenji, Matsuo, Keisuke, Matsumoto, Haruyuki, Shimizu, Eiichiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,213,914 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/86
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 19/207 Encoding along a bar
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17546 electronically

Abstract

A liquid container detachably mountable to a mounting portion of an ink jet recording apparatus in a slot-like mounting configuration where the liquid container is supported between a pair of engaging portions that respectively engage with a corresponding pair of locking portions on the mounting portion of the recording apparatus. The liquid container is supported in an upright configuration and includes a display portion on an upper side thereof, and a light emitting portion which emits light for display by the display portion. Because the display portion is disposed on an upper side, a user can confirm the display despite the mounting arrangement of the liquid container in the recording apparatus.

Claims

1. A liquid container detachably mountable to a mounting portion of an ink jet recording apparatus, said liquid container comprising:

a casing defining a liquid containing chamber;

a supply port, provided in said casing, for supplying liquid contained therein to an ink jet head;

a first engaging portion engageable with a first locking portion provided in the mounting portion, said first engaging portion being disposed on one side of said casing;

a second engaging portion engageable with a second locking portion provided in the mounting portion, said second engaging portion being disposed opposed to another side of said casing, said another side being opposite said one side;

a supporting portion for displaceably supporting said second engaging portion;

an information storing portion for storing information relating to said liquid container;

a contact electrically connectable with a contact provided in said mounting portion;

a light emitting portion;

a display portion for directing the light emitted from said emitting portion to an outside of said liquid container,

wherein said supply port is provided in a side of said casing which is between said one side and said another side, and said contact is disposed in a region of a corner portion between said another side and said side having said supply port, said display portion is disposed adjacent an upper, in use, portion in said another side of said liquid container.

8. A liquid container according to claim 1, wherein said emitting portion functions also as said display portion.

9. A liquid container according to claim 1, wherein said emitting portion and said display portion are connection with each other by a light guide portion for guiding the light emitted by said emitting portion.

2. A liquid container detachably mountable to a recording apparatus having a mounting portion to which a plurality of liquid containers are detachably mountable at different positions, wherein said recording apparatus includes apparatus electrical contacts corresponding to the liquid containers, respectively, photoreceptor means for receiving light, and an electric circuit connected with a line which is commonly connected with said apparatus electrical contacts, said liquid container comprising:

a supply port for supplying liquid contained therein to an ink jet head;

a first engaging portion engageable with a first locking portion provided in the mounting portion, said first engaging portion being disposed on one side of said liquid container;

a second engaging portion engageable with a second locking portion provided in the mounting portion, said second engaging portion being disposed opposed to another side of said liquid container, said another side being opposite said one side;

a supporting portion for displaceably supporting said second engaging portion;

a container electrical contact electrically connectable with one of said apparatus contacts;

information storing portion for storing individual information of liquid container;

display portion for directing light to said position detecting means;

a controller for controling emission of light of said light emitting portion when information indicated by a signal indicative of individual information supplied through said container electrical contact and said information stored in said information storing means, are the same;

wherein said supply port is provided in a side of said liquid container which is between said one side and said another side, and said contact is disposed in a region of a corner portion between said another side and said side having said supply port, said display portion is disposed adjacent an upper, in use, portion in said another side of said liquid container.

4. A liquid container according to claim 2, wherein said contact is inclined relative to said bottom side and relative to said first side.

5. A liquid container according to claim 4, wherein an angle of the inclination from said bottom side is 40-50 degrees.

6. A liquid container according to claim 5, wherein an angle of the inclination from said bottom side is approximately 45 degrees.

7. A liquid container according to claim 2, wherein the liquid contained in said liquid container is ink usable for recording.

3. A liquid container detachably mountable the mounting portion of an ink jet recording apparatus said ink jet recording apparatus having an ink jet head, said liquid container comprising:

a supply port for supplying liquid contained therein to the ink jet head;

a first side;

a second side opposed to said first surface;

a bottom side in which said supply port is provided;

a first corner portion substantially defined by said first side and said bottom side;

a second corner portion substantially defined by said second side and said bottom side;

a third corner portion substantial defined by said second side and an upper side of said liquid container;

a first engaging portion engageable with a first locking portion provided in the mounting portion;

a second engaging portion engageable with the second locking portion provided in the mounting portion;

a contact electrically connectable with an electrical contact provided in the mounting portion;

a display portion for directing light to said ink jet recording apparatus;

wherein said first engaging portion is disposed adjacent said first corner portion in said first side;

said supply port is disposed adjacent said first corner portion in said bottom surface;

said contact is disposed at said second corner portion; and

said display portion is disposed adjacent said third corner portion.

10. A manufacturing method for manufacturing a liquid container, wherein said liquid container is detachably mountable to a mounting portion of an ink jet recording apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:

preparing a liquid container including, a casing defining a liquid containing chamber;

a supply port, provided in said casing, for supplying liquid contained therein to an ink jet head;

a first engaging portion engageable with a first locking portion provided in the mounting portion, said first engaging portion being disposed on one side of said casing;

a second engaging portion engageable with a second locking portion provided in the mounting portion, said second engaging portion being disposed opposed to another side of said casing, said another side being opposite said one side;

a supporting portion for displaceably supporting said second engaging portion;

an information storing portion for storing information relating to said liquid container;

a contact electrically connectable with a contact provided in said mounting portion;

a light emitting portion;

a display portion for directing the light emitted from said emitting portion to an outside of said liquid container,

wherein said supply port is provided in a side of said casing which is between said one side and said another side, and said contact is disposed in a region of a corner portion between said another side and said side having said supply port, said display portion is disposed adjacent an upper, in use, portion in said another side of said liquid container; and

injecting liquid into said liquid container.

11. A manufacturing method for manufacturing a liquid container, said liquid container is detachably mountable to a recording apparatus having a mounting portion to which a plurality of liquid containers are detachably mountable at different positions, said recording apparatus includes apparatus electrical contacts corresponding to the liquid containers, respectively, photoreceptor means for receiving light, and an electric circuit connected with a line which is commonly connected with said apparatus electrical contacts, said method comprising the steps of:

preparing a liquid container including, a supply port for supplying liquid contained therein to an ink jet head;

a first engaging portion engageable with a first locking portion provided in the mounting portion, said first engaging portion being disposed on one side of said liquid container;

a second engaging portion engageable with a second locking portion provided in the mounting portion, said second engaging portion being disposed opposed to another side of said liquid container, said another side being opposite said one side;

a supporting portion for displaceably supporting said second engaging portion;

a container electrical contact electrically connectable with one of said apparatus contacts;

information storing portion for storing individual information of liquid container;

display portion for directing light to said position detecting means;

a controller for controling emission of light of said light emitting portion when information indicated by a signal indicative of individual information supplied through said container electrical contact and said information stored in said information storing means, are the same;

wherein said supply port is provided in a side of said liquid container which is between said one side and said another side, and said contact is disposed in a region of a corner portion between said another side and said side having said supply port, said display portion is disposed adjacent an upper, in use, portion in said another side of said liquid container; and

injecting liquid into said liquid container.