LIQUID CARTRIDGE PROVIDED WITH CONNECTING CHANNEL PROVIDING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN LIQUID SUPPLY CHAMBER AND LIQUID STORAGE CHAMBER

• US 20160368272A1
• Filed: 06/01/2016
• Published: 12/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: ONO, Akihito, KANBE, Tomohiro, OKAZAKI, Naoya, KOBAYASHI, Tetsuro
• Granted Patent: US 9,878,552 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 2/17523 Ink connection
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17536 Protection of cartridges or parts thereof, e.g. tape
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17566 Ink level or ink residue control
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17596 Ink pumps, ink valves
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/17576 using a floater for ink level indication
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/38 Drives, motors, controls or automatic cut-off devices for the entire printing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/30 by floats

Abstract

A liquid cartridge includes: a liquid container including a liquid storage chamber; a liquid supply portion including a liquid supply chamber and first and second openings; a movable member; a sealing member; and a connecting channel. The first opening provides communication between the supply chamber and an exterior of the cartridge. The second opening provides communication between the supply chamber and the storage chamber. The movable member extends in the storage chamber and the supply chamber. The sealing member intimately contacts the movable member and the liquid supply portion continuously in a circumferential direction. The connecting channel is formed in the movable member and provides communication between a space in the supply chamber and the storage chamber so that liquid can flow therebetween. The connecting channel opens into the storage chamber at a position further downward than the second opening when the cartridge is in an attached posture.

Claims

1. A liquid cartridge comprising:

a liquid container including a liquid storage chamber configured to store liquid therein;

a liquid supply portion including a liquid supply chamber, the liquid supply portion having a first opening and a second opening, the first opening providing communication between the liquid supply chamber and an exterior of the liquid cartridge, the second opening providing communication between the liquid supply chamber and the liquid storage chamber;

a movable member extending in the liquid storage chamber and the liquid supply chamber through the second opening;

a sealing member intimately contacting an outer surface of the movable member and an inner surface of the liquid supply portion so that the intimate contact of the sealing member with the outer surface of the movable member and the inner surface of the liquid supply portion is continuous in a circumferential direction of the sealing member; and

a connecting channel formed in an interior of the movable member, the connecting channel providing communication between a space in the liquid supply chamber and the liquid storage chamber so that the liquid can flow between the space in the liquid supply chamber and the liquid storage chamber, the space in the liquid supply chamber being positioned closer to the first opening than the sealing member to the first opening, the connecting channel opening into the liquid storage chamber at a position further downward than the second opening when the liquid cartridge is in an attached posture, the movable member being configured to move from a first position to a second position when an external force from the exterior of the ink cartridge is applied to the movable member, the movable member in the first position interrupting communication between the first opening and the connecting channel, the movable member in the second position providing communication between the first opening and the connecting channel.

2. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a direction from the second opening to the first opening is a first direction, and a direction opposite to the first direction is a second direction,

wherein the second position is positioned offset in the second direction relative to the first position,

wherein the movable member comprises:

a valve disposed in the liquid supply chamber; and

a main body disposed in the liquid storage chamber and the liquid supply chamber, the main body being connected to the valve,

the liquid cartridge further comprising an urging member disposed in the liquid storage chamber, the urging member urging the main body in the first direction, and

wherein the valve interrupts communication between the first opening and the connecting channel when the movable member is in the first position, and provides communication between the first opening and the connecting channel when the movable member is in the second position.

3. The liquid cartridge according to claim 2, further comprising a detector disposed in the liquid storage chamber, the detector being configured to move between a detection position at which the detector is detectable from the exterior of the ink cartridge and a non-detection position at which the detector is undetectable from the exterior of the ink cartridge,

wherein when the movable member is in the first position, the main body restricts the movement of the detector and maintains the detector in the non-detection position, and when the movable member is in the second position, the main body releases restriction on the movement of the detector.

4. The liquid cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the detector is configured to pivotally move between the detection position and the non-detection position, the detector comprising:

a detection part detected from the exterior of the ink cartridge when the detector is in the detection position;

a first arm extending from a pivot axis of the detector and supporting the detection part; and

a second arm extending from the pivot axis and having a length shorter than that of the first arm, and

wherein the movable member in the first position is in contact with the second arm, and the movable member in the second position is separated from the second arm.

5. The liquid cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the detector further comprises:

a float having a specific gravity smaller than that of the liquid stored in the liquid chamber; and

a third arm extending from the pivot axis and supporting the float.

6. The liquid cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the sealing member has a hollow cylindrical configuration and has an inner circumferential surface, the sealing member intimately contacting an outer surface of the main body so that the intimate contact between the sealing member and the outer surface of the main body is continuous in the circumferential direction, the sealing member being fitted onto an outer surface of the valve, and

wherein the connecting channel is provided by an internal space of the main body and a space formed between the outer surface of the valve and the inner circumferential surface of the sealing member.

7. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a direction from the second opening to the first opening is a first direction, and a direction opposite to the first direction is a second direction,

wherein the connecting channel comprises:

a first channel extending in the first direction and the second direction and opening into the space in the liquid supply chamber; and

a second channel extending in a vertical direction when the ink cartridge is in the attached posture, the second channel having a top end connected to the first channel and a bottom end opening into the liquid storage chamber.

8. The liquid cartridge according to claim 7, wherein the movable member comprises a flexible tube constituting the second channel.

9. The liquid cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the flexible tube has:

a first opening in communication with the first channel; and

a second opening in communication with the liquid storage chamber at a position offset in the first direction relative to the first opening of the flexible tube.

10. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a direction from the second opening to the first opening is a first direction, a direction opposite to the first direction is a second direction, a direction perpendicular to the first direction, the second direction and a vertical direction is a third direction, and a direction opposite to the third direction is a fourth direction,

wherein the movable member has a top surface when the liquid cartridge is in the attached posture, the movable member also having a center portion in the third direction and the fourth direction, a first end in the third direction, and a second end in the fourth direction, the top surface sloping downward from the center portion in both the third direction and the fourth direction, and

wherein the top surface of the movable member serves as a liquid guide for guiding the liquid to flow from the center portion toward both the first end and the second end.

11. A liquid cartridge comprising:

a liquid container including a liquid storage chamber configured to store liquid therein;

a liquid supply portion including a liquid supply chamber, the liquid supply portion having a first opening and a second opening, the first opening providing communication between the liquid supply chamber and an exterior of the liquid cartridge, the second opening providing communication between the liquid supply chamber and the liquid storage chamber;

a connecting channel formed in the liquid container, the connecting channel providing communication between the liquid storage chamber and the second opening, the connecting channel having a part positioned further downward than the second opening when the liquid cartridge is in an attached posture;

a detector disposed in the liquid storage chamber and configured to move between a detection position at which the detector is detectable from the exterior of the ink cartridge and a non-detection position at which the detector is undetectable from the exterior of the ink cartridge; and

a movable member extending in the liquid storage chamber and the liquid supply chamber through the connecting channel and the second opening, the movable member being configured to move from a restricting position to a non-restricting position when an external force from the exterior of the ink cartridge is applied to the movable member, the movable member in the restricting position restricting the movement of the detector and maintaining the detector in the non-detection position, the movable member in the non-restricting position releasing restriction on the movement of the detector.

12. The liquid cartridge according to claim 11, wherein the liquid container has a bottom wall defining the part of the connecting channel, and

wherein the movable member has a portion disposed in the part of the connecting channel, the portion of the movable member being located upward in the part of the connecting channel when the liquid cartridge is in the attached posture.

13. The liquid cartridge according to claim 12, wherein a direction from the second opening to the first opening is a first direction, and a direction opposite to the first direction is a second direction,

wherein the part of the connecting channel extends in the first direction and the second direction,

wherein the non-restricting position is positioned offset in the second direction relative to the restricting position, and

wherein the movable member is further configured to move from the non-restricting position to the restricting position.

14. The liquid cartridge according to claim 13, wherein a direction perpendicular to the first direction, the second direction and a vertical direction is a third direction, and a direction opposite to the third direction is a fourth direction,

wherein the portion of the movable member disposed in the part of the connecting channel comprises a first part and a second part that are in proximity to each other in the third direction and the fourth direction, and

wherein the first part has a first length in the vertical direction when the liquid cartridge is in the attached posture, and the second part has a second length in the vertical direction when the liquid cartridge is in the attached posture, the second length being shorter than the first length, the second part being located upward in the part of the connecting channel when the liquid cartridge is in the attached posture.

15. The liquid cartridge according to claim 13, wherein the liquid container includes a support part extending in the first direction and the second direction, the support part being disposed in the liquid storage chamber, the support part supporting the movable member to guide movement of the movable member in the first direction and the second direction.

16. The liquid cartridge according to claim 13, wherein a direction perpendicular to the first direction, the second direction and a vertical direction is a third direction, and a direction opposite to the third direction is a fourth direction,

wherein the liquid storage chamber has a first dimension in the third direction and the fourth direction, and

wherein the part of the connecting channel has a second dimension in the third direction and the fourth direction, the second dimension being smaller than the first dimension.

17. The liquid cartridge according to claim 11, wherein the detector is configured to pivotally move between the detection position and the non-detection position, the detector comprising:

a detection part detected from the exterior of the ink cartridge when the detector is in the detection position;

a first arm extending from a pivot axis of the detector and supporting the detection part; and

a second arm extending from the pivot axis and having a length shorter than that of the first arm, and

wherein the movable member in the restricting position is in contact with the second arm, and the movable member in the non-restricting position is separated from the second arm.

18. The liquid cartridge according to claim 17, wherein the detector further comprises:

a float having a specific gravity smaller than that of the liquid stored in the liquid chamber; and

a third arm extending from the first arm and supporting the float.

19. The liquid cartridge according to claim 11, wherein the movable member comprises:

a restricting member disposed in the liquid storage chamber; and

a valve disposed in the liquid supply chamber and connected to the restricting member,

wherein when the movable member is in the restricting position, the restricting member restricts the movement of the detector and maintains the detector in the non-detection position and the valve closes the first opening, and

wherein when the movable member is in the non-restricting position, the restricting member releases restriction on the movement of the detector and the valve opens the first opening.

20. The liquid cartridge according to claim 19, wherein a direction from the second opening to the first opening is a first direction, and a direction opposite to the first direction is a second direction,

the liquid cartridge further comprising an urging member urging the valve in the first direction,

wherein the non-restricting position is positioned offset in the second direction relative to the restriction position, and

wherein the movable member is further configured to move from the non-restricting position to the restricting position.