LIQUID STORAGE CONTAINER AND LIQUID SUPPLY SYSTEM

• US 20150224782A1
• Filed: 08/07/2013
• Published: 08/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Nakamura, Hiroyuki, Kobayashi, Atsushi, Mizutani, Tadahiro, Nozawa, Izumi
• Granted Patent: US 9,561,664 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/175 Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1752 Mounting within the printer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1754 with means attached to the cartridge, e.g. protective cap
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17556 Means for regulating the pressure in the cartridge

Abstract

A liquid storage container is provided with a liquid storage part capable of storing a liquid, and a liquid supply part for supplying the liquid to the outside. The liquid supply part has a porous member containing holes for circulating the liquid, and a biasing member which is disposed between the porous member and the liquid storage part and which biases the porous member from the liquid storage part towards the outside.

Claims

1. A liquid storage container comprising:

a liquid storage part configured and arranged to store liquid; and

a liquid supply part configured and arranged to supply the liquid to an outside of the liquid storage container, the liquid supply part including

a porous member including holes to flow the liquid, and

a biasing member provided between the porous member and the liquid storage part to bias the porous member in a direction from the liquid storage part to the outside.

2. The liquid storage container according to claim 1, further comprising

a support member provided between the porous member and the liquid storage part and supporting the porous member.

3. The liquid storage container according to claim 2, wherein

the support member is provided with a flow hole configured and arranged to flow the liquid between the liquid storage part and the porous member.

4. The liquid storage container according to claim 3, further comprising

a flow channel formation member provided between the support member and the porous member and including holes to form a flow channel in a direction from the liquid storage part to the porous member.

6. The liquid storage container according to claim 2, wherein

the biasing member and the support member are integrally formed.

7. The liquid storage container according to claim 1, wherein

an average of equivalent diameters of holes provided on a surface of the porous member in an opposite side of the liquid storage part is smaller than an average of equivalent diameters of holes provided on a surface of the porous member in a liquid storage part side.

8. The liquid storage container according to claim 1, wherein

the porous member projects along a direction from the liquid storage part to the porous member.

20. The liquid storage container according to claim 1, wherein

the porous member is fixed in a top end of the liquid supply part with the porous member covering an opening of the top end of the liquid supply part.

21. The liquid storage container according to claim 1, wherein

the porous member is fixed in the liquid supply part with the porous member covering an opening of the liquid supply part, and the porous member is a film having greater bubble point than the flow channel formation member.

22. A liquid supply system comprising:

the liquid storage container according to claim 1;

a holder on which the liquid storage container is mounted; and

a head having a nozzle to eject the liquid,

wherein the holder includes a liquid introduction part configured and arranged to introduce the liquid,

the liquid introduction part includes a holder-side porous member, and

when the liquid storage container is mounted on the holder, the porous member of the liquid storage container contacts with the holder-side porous member.

5. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

10. A liquid storage container comprising:

a liquid storage part configured and arranged to store liquid; and

a liquid supply part including

a porous member including holes to flow the liquid, and

a flow channel formation member provided between the porous member and the liquid storage part and including holes to form a flow channel in a direction from the liquid storage part to the porous member,

wherein an average of equivalent diameters of the holes provided in the flow channel formation member is greater than an average of equivalent diameters of the holes provided in the porous member.

12. The liquid storage container according to claim 10,

wherein a first part of the flow channel formation member is positioned in the liquid supply part, and a second part of the flow channel formation member is positioned in a first part of the liquid storage part.

13. The liquid storage container according to claim 10, further comprising

a second flow channel formation member, which is different from the flow channel formation member, positioned in a first part of the liquid storage part.

14. The liquid storage container according to claim 12, wherein

a second flow channel formation member, which is different from the flow channel formation member, is positioned in a second part of the liquid storage part.

15. The liquid storage container according to claim 12, further comprising

a capillary force generation structure positioned in a second part of the liquid storage part, and configured and arranged to contact with the flow channel formation member.

16. The liquid storage container according to claim 10, further comprising:

a negative pressure adjustment structure arranged in the liquid storage part, and configured and arranged to apply a negative pressure to the liquid;

an atmosphere communication structure arranged in the liquid storage part, and configured and arranged to adjust the negative pressure;

a liquid remaining amount measurement structure arranged in the liquid storage part, and configured and arranged to measure a remaining amount of the liquid; and

a capillary force generation structure arranged in the liquid storage part,

wherein the flow channel formation member is configured and arranged to contact with the capillary force generation structure.

11. (canceled)

17. A liquid storage container adapted to supply liquid to a liquid ejection device, the liquid storage container comprising:

a liquid storage part configured and arranged to store liquid;

a liquid supply part communicating to the liquid storage part, and configured and arranged to supply the liquid to the liquid ejection device;

a negative pressure adjustment structure arranged in the liquid storage part, and configured and arranged to apply a negative pressure to the liquid;

an atmosphere communication structure arranged in the liquid storage part, and configured and arranged to adjust the negative pressure;

a liquid remaining amount measurement structure arranged in the liquid storage part, and configured and arranged to measure a remaining amount of the liquid;

a capillary force generation structure arranged in the liquid storage part;

a flow channel formation member arranged in the liquid supply part and contacting with the capillary force generation structure; and

a porous member arranged in the liquid supply part and contacting with the flow channel formation member and being biased in a direction from the liquid storage part to an outside of the liquid storage container by the flow channel formation member, the porous member having greater bubble point pressure than the flow channel formation member.

18. The liquid storage container according to claim 17, wherein

the capillary force generation structure is a second flow channel formation member that forms a flow channel.

19. The liquid storage container according to claim 17, wherein

the capillary force generation structure is a groove provided between the liquid storage part and the liquid remaining amount measurement part.