FLUID STORAGE CONTAINER

• US 20150002589A1
• Filed: 09/19/2014
• Published: 01/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Yamada, Manabu, Komaki, Takeshi
• Granted Patent: US 9,248,657 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/86
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17533 Storage or packaging of ink cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/185 Ink-collectors; Ink-catchers
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/02 Framework
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8593 Systems

Abstract

A fluid storage container enables the easy removal of recovered fluid and reuse of the container without incurring the added costs of disassembly and replacing an absorbent material. In one exemplary embodiment, an ink cartridge 17 can have an ink storage unit 45 that stores waste ink, an ink inlet/outlet 55 disposed in a frame part 52 that can be the outside wall of the ink storage unit 45, an ink path 53 of which one end 53a communicates with the ink inlet/outlet 55 and the other end 53b is disposed opening into the ink storage unit, wall parts 54 that divide the ink storage unit 45 into an upper air chamber 61 and a lower fluid chamber 62 that communicate with each other through a communication path 58, and an outside air channel 87, of which one end 87a communicates with the air chamber 61 and the other end 87b enables communication with the outside at a position further from the air chamber 61 than the fluid chamber 62. Other embodiments of fluid storage containers are also disclosed.

Claims

1-8. -8. (canceled)

9. A fluid storage container detachably connected to an apparatus comprising:

a body;

a first opening disposed on the body;

a fluid storage unit provided in the body and configured to store fluid fed through the first opening;

an air path having a first end that communicates with the fluid storage unit and a second end that communicates with an outside environment; and

a fluid path disposed within the body and communicating with the first opening and the fluid storage unit,

wherein the fluid path is defined by a first wall and a second wall, the first wall being located closer to the first end of the air path than the second wall is, and the second wall being shorter than the first wall.

10. The fluid storage container described in claim 9, further comprising:

a recess formed in a portion of the fluid storage unit,

wherein the terminal end of the first wall is positioned within the recess.

11. The fluid storage container described in claim 10, wherein the terminal end of the second wall is positioned outside of the recess.

12. The fluid storage container described in claim 10, wherein the recess is configured to be disposed at a bottom of the fluid storage container when removing fluid stored in the fluid storage container.

13. The fluid storage container described in claim 9, wherein a terminal end of the first wall is located closer to a portion of the air path that is adjacent to and extends substantially perpendicular to the first and second walls than a terminal end of the second wall does.

14. The fluid storage container described in claim 9,

wherein the fluid storage unit has a first chamber and a second chamber formed therein, with the first chamber being configured to be an air chamber, and

wherein the first chamber is configured to be positioned above the first wall when the fluid storage container is connected to the apparatus.

15. The fluid storage container described in claim 14, further comprising:

an opening disposed between the fluid path and the second chamber, the opening being configured to be positioned above the first wall when the fluid storage container is connected to the apparatus.

16. The fluid storage container described in claim 15, wherein the opening forms a communication path disposed between the terminal end of the first wall and a portion of the fluid storage unit located opposite of the first wall.

17. The fluid storage container described in claim 9, further comprising a second opening disposed on the body, the second opening being in communication with the second end of the air path to facilitate communication with the outside environment.

18. A fluid storage container detachably connected to an apparatus comprising:

a body;

a first opening disposed on the body;

a fluid storage unit provided in the body and configured to store fluid fed through the first opening;

a recess formed in a portion of the fluid storage unit;

an air path having a first end that communicates with the fluid storage unit and a second end that communicates with an outside environment; and

a fluid path communicating with the first opening and the fluid storage unit,

wherein the fluid path is defined by a first wall and a second wall, the first wall being located closer to the first end of the air path than the second wall is, the terminal end of the first wall being positioned within the recess, and the second wall being shorter than the first wall.

19. The fluid storage container described in claim 18, wherein the terminal end of the second wall is positioned outside of the recess.

20. The fluid storage container described in claim 18, wherein the recess is configured to be disposed at a bottom of the fluid storage container when removing fluid stored in the fluid storage container.

21. The fluid storage container described in claim 18, wherein a terminal end of the first wall is located closer to a portion of the air path that is adjacent to and extends substantially perpendicular to the first and second walls than a terminal end of the second wall does.

22. The fluid storage container described in claim 18,

wherein the fluid storage unit has a first chamber and a second chamber formed therein, with the first chamber being configured to be an air chamber, and

wherein the first chamber is configured to be positioned above the first wall when the fluid storage container is connected to the apparatus.

23. The fluid storage container described in claim 18, further comprising a second opening disposed on the body, the second opening being in communication with the second end of the air path to facilitate communication with the outside environment.

24. A fluid storage container detachably connected to an apparatus comprising:

a body;

a first opening disposed on the body;

a fluid storage unit provided in the body and configured to store fluid fed through the first opening;

an air path having a first end that communicates with the fluid storage unit and a second end that communicates with an outside environment; and

a fluid path communicating with the first opening and the fluid storage unit,

wherein the fluid path is defined by a first wall and a second wall, the first wall being located closer to the first end of the air path than the second wall is, and the second wall being shorter than the first wall,

wherein the fluid storage unit has a first chamber and a second chamber formed therein, with the first chamber being configured to be an air chamber, and

wherein the first chamber is configured to be positioned above the first wall when the fluid storage container is connected to the apparatus.

25. The fluid storage container described in claim 24, wherein a terminal end of the first wall is located closer to a portion of the air path that is adjacent to and extends substantially perpendicular to the first and second walls than a terminal end of the second wall does.

26. The fluid storage container described in claim 24, further comprising:

an opening disposed between the fluid path and the second chamber, the opening being configured to be positioned above the first wall when the fluid storage container is connected to the apparatus.

27. The fluid storage container described in claim 26, wherein the opening forms a communication path disposed between the terminal end of the first wall and a portion of the fluid storage unit located opposite of the first wall.

28. The fluid storage container described in claim 24, further comprising a second opening disposed on the body, the second opening being in communication with the second end of the air path to facilitate communication with the outside environment.