Liquid container

• US 7,997,703 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2008
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Katakura, Takahiro, Uehara, Yasunao, Matsuyama, Masahide, Fukano, Takakazu, Kobayashi, Atsushi, Seino, Takeo, Kumagai, Toshio, Naka, Takahiro, Miyazawa, Hisashi, Shinada, Satoshi, Ishizawa, Taku, Kimura, Hitotoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Anh T. N.
• Application Number:
  US12/172,814
• Publication Number:
  US 20080273048A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,128 Days
• Field of Search: 347/85, 347/86
• US Class Current: 347/86
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17523 Ink connection
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17546 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17556 Means for regulating the pressure in the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17566 Ink level or ink residue control

Abstract

The invention provides a liquid container for storing liquid to be supplied to a liquid consuming apparatus. The liquid container is constructed such that pressurized fluid is sent to its inside so that the liquid in the inside is delivered to the outside. The liquid container includes a container body which stores the liquid in its inside. The container body includes a pressurized fluid introduction port for introducing the pressurized fluid to the inside and a liquid delivery port for delivering the liquid to the outside. A detection unit is provided in the container body and outputs an output signal which is changed in accordance with a change in pressure of the liquid in the inside of the container body.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a liquid container for storing liquid to be supplied to a liquid consuming apparatus, the method comprising:

a case member providing step of providing a case member formed with a liquid reservoir chamber into which the liquid is to be filled,

wherein the case member includes a liquid injection port for injecting the liquid into an inside of the case member, a liquid injection passage communicating the liquid injection port with the liquid reservoir chamber, and a liquid delivery port communicating with the liquid reservoir chamber for delivering the liquid from the liquid container to the liquid consuming apparatus,

wherein a partition wall for closing the liquid injection passage is provided in a liquid flow passage, wherein a part of a wall surface forming the liquid reservoir chamber and a part of a wall surface forming the liquid injection passage are constructed by a flexible film, and

wherein the flexible film is provided over a top surface of the partition wall but is not attached to the top surface of the partition wall;

a liquid injection step of injecting the liquid from the liquid injection port into the liquid injection passage so that the liquid flows into an inside of the liquid reservoir chamber through a clearance formed between the top surface of the partition wall and the flexible film; and

a passage closing step of closing a flow passage of the liquid by attaching the flexible film onto the top surface of the partition wall after the injection of the liquid into the inside of the liquid reservoir chamber is complete.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

a projecting part for defining the clearance between the flexible film and the top surface of the partition wall is formed on the top surface of the partition wall of the case member provided in the case member providing step, and

in the flow passage closing step, the projecting part is melted so that the flexible film is welded to the top surface of the partition wall.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

a fluid discharge step after the case member providing step is complete and before the liquid injection step starts,

wherein in the fluid discharge step, the liquid injection port is closed, and fluid inside the liquid reservoir chamber and the liquid injection passage is discharged from the liquid delivery port.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the flexible film is attached to a top surface of the projecting part formed on the top surface of the partition wall of the case member provided in the case member providing step.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

after the flow passage closing step is complete, a vacuum-discharge step of vacuum-discharging, via the liquid injection port, the liquid existing between the liquid injection port and the partition wall.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

an injection port closing step of closing the liquid injection port after the vacuum-discharge step is complete.

7. A liquid container for storing liquid to be supplied to a liquid consuming apparatus, the liquid container comprising:

a case member formed with a liquid reservoir chamber into which the liquid is to be filled, the case member including;

a liquid injection port for injecting the liquid into an inside of the case member,

a liquid injection passage communicating the liquid injection port with the liquid reservoir chamber, and

a liquid delivery port communicating with the liquid reservoir chamber for delivering the liquid from the liquid container to the liquid consuming apparatus, wherein;

a partition wall for closing the liquid injection passage is provided in a liquid flow passage;

a part of a wall surface forming the liquid reservoir chamber and a part of a wall surface forming the liquid injection passage are constructed by a flexible film;

the flexible film is provided over a top surface of the partition wall;

in a state in which the flexible film is not attached to the top surface of the partition wall, the liquid is injected from the liquid injection port into the liquid injection passage so that the liquid flows into an inside of the liquid reservoir chamber through a clearance formed between the top surface of the partition wall and the flexible film; and

a flow passage of the liquid is closed by attaching the flexible film onto the top surface of the partition wall after the injection of the liquid into the inside of the liquid reservoir chamber is complete.