Method for refilling liquid into a liquid reservoir container, a liquid jet recording apparatus using such method, a liquid refilling container, a liquid reservoir container, and a head cartridge
First Claim
1. A method for refilling liquid using a refilling container to refill liquid to a liquid reserving container provided with a first chamber housing a negative pressure generating member and having an opening communicating with atmospheric air, and a second chamber communicating with said first chamber through a communicating portion to form essentially a closed space with the exception of said communicating portion, comprising the steps of:
- forming an essentially closed space from the atmospheric air by said second chamber and said refilling container with the exception of said communicating portion in a state of the liquid surface of said refilling container being positioned higher than the liquid surface of said second chamber; and
arranging said second chamber to be connected with said refilling container by a first path for conducting gas in said second chamber into said refilling container, and by a second path different from said first path for conducting liquid in said refilling container into said second chamber, and said first path is positioned above said second path.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for refilling liquid using a refilling container is to refill liquid to a liquid reserving container, which is provided with a first chamber that houses a negative pressure generating member, at the same time, having an aperture conductively connected to the outside, and with a second chamber conductively connected with the first chamber through a communicating unit for forming essentially a closed space with the exception of the communicating unit. This method comprises the step of forming an essentially closed space from the atmospheric air by means of the second chamber and the refilling container with the exception of the communicating unit in a state where the liquid surface of the refilling container is positioned higher than the liquid surface of the second chamber, and the step of arranging the second chamber to be conductively connected with the refilling container by use of a first path that enables gas in the second chamber to communicate with gas in the refilling container, and a second path, which is different from the first path, arranged for shifting liquid in the refilling container into the second chamber. With the method thus arranged, liquid in the liquid refilling container is refilled into the liquid reserving chamber quickly and stably without leakage from the aperture arranged for the first chamber.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for refilling liquid using a refilling container to refill liquid to a liquid reserving container provided with a first chamber housing a negative pressure generating member and having an opening communicating with atmospheric air, and a second chamber communicating with said first chamber through a communicating portion to form essentially a closed space with the exception of said communicating portion, comprising the steps of:
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forming an essentially closed space from the atmospheric air by said second chamber and said refilling container with the exception of said communicating portion in a state of the liquid surface of said refilling container being positioned higher than the liquid surface of said second chamber; and arranging said second chamber to be connected with said refilling container by a first path for conducting gas in said second chamber into said refilling container, and by a second path different from said first path for conducting liquid in said refilling container into said second chamber, and said first path is positioned above said second path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A liquid jet recording apparatus provided with a head cartridge having a liquid reserving container holding liquid, and a recording head for recording on a recording medium by discharging liquid to be supplied from said liquid reserving container, and with a refilling container holding liquid to be refilled into said liquid reserving container, comprising:
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said liquid reserving container having a first chamber housing a negative pressure generating member and having a supply port for supplying liquid to said recording head and an air communication port, and a second chamber having a communicating portion communicating with said first chamber to make essentially a closed space with the exception of said communicating portion; and said second chamber and said refilling container being connected in a state of the liquid surface of said refilling container being positioned higher than the liquid surface of said second chamber by a first path for conducting gas in said second chamber into said refilling container and a second path different from said first path for conducting liquid in said refilling container to said second chamber, and said first path is positioned above said second path. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A liquid refilling container detachably installed on a liquid reserving container provided with a first chamber housing a negative pressure generating member and having an opening communicating with the atmospheric air, and a second chamber communicating with said first chamber through a communicating portion for forming essentially a closed space with the exception of said communicating portion, comprising:
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a first path for conducting gas to said refilling container; and a second path different from said first path for conducting liquid in said liquid refilling container to said second chamber, wherein an opening of said container of said first path is positioned above that of said container of said second path. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A liquid reserving container for liquid in a liquid refilling container to be refilled thereinto when said liquid refilling container holding liquid therein is installed, comprising:
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a first chamber housing a negative pressure generating member and having an opening communicating with atmospheric air; a second chamber having a communicating portion communicating with said first chamber for forming essentially a closed space with the exception of said communicating portion; a first connecting unit provided for said second chamber for the connection with said first path provided for said liquid refilling container to conduct gas in said second chamber to said refilling container; a second connecting unit provided for said second chamber different from said first connecting unit for the connection with the second path provided for said liquid refilling container for conducting liquid in said liquid refilling container to said second chamber; and valve members provided respectively for said first and second connecting units and arranged to be open when said first path or second path is connected. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 23)
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20. An integrated liquid container, comprising:
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a liquid reserving container provided with a first chamber housing a negative pressure generating member and having an opening communicating with the atmospheric air, and a second chamber communicating with said first chamber through a communicating portion for forming essentially a closed space with the exception of said communicating portion; and a liquid refilling container detachably mountable on said liquid reserving container for refilling liquid held therein into said liquid reserving container, wherein said liquid refilling container is provided with a first path for conducting gas in said second chamber to said liquid refilling container, and a second path different from said first path for conducting liquid in said liquid reserving container to said second chamber, said first path being above said second path; and wherein said liquid reserving container is provided with a first connecting unit arranged for said second chamber for the connection with said first path, a second connecting unit different from said first connecting unit arranged for said second chamber for the connection with said second path, and valve mechanisms provided respectively for said first and second connecting units and arranged to be open when said first path or said second path is connected. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. An integrated head cartridge, comprising:
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a liquid reserving container provided with a first chamber housing a negative pressure generating member and having an opening communicating with the atmospheric air, and a second chamber communicating with said first chamber through a communicating portion for forming essentially a closed space with the exception of said communicating portion; a liquid refilling container detachably mountable on said liquid reserving container for refilling liquid held therein into said liquid reserving container; and a recording head for recording by discharging liquid onto a recording medium to be supplied from the first chamber of said liquid reserving container, wherein said liquid refilling container is provided with a first path for conducting gas in said second chamber to said liquid refilling container, and a second path different from said first path for conducting liquid in said liquid reserving container to said second chamber, said first path being above said second path; and wherein said liquid reserving container is provided with a first connecting unit arranged for said second chamber for the connection with said first path, a second connecting unit different from said first connecting unit arranged for said second chamber for the connection with said second path, and valve mechanisms provided respectively for said first and second connecting units and arranged to be open when said first path or said second path is connected.
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Specification