Liquid detection unit, and liquid container using liquid detection unit

• US 8,231,192 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2008
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Aoki, Yuji, Kimura, Hitotoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, Charlie
• Assistant Examiner(s): Radkowski, Peter
• Application Number:
  US12/102,451
• Publication Number:
  US 20080252669A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,569 Days
• Field of Search: 347/7, 439/525, 439/775, 439/789, 137/558
• US Class Current: 347/7
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17509 Whilst mounted in the printer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17523 Ink connection
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/17516 comprising a collapsible ink holder, e.g. a flexible bag
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8342 Liquid level responsive indicator, recorder or alarm

Abstract

A liquid detection unit includes a unit case, a sensor, and a relay terminal. The sensor is held by the unit case. The relay terminal has a relay portion and first and second terminals that are provided on both ends of the relay portion. The second terminal is connected to the sensor. The unit case includes a first terminal holding portion, a second terminal holding portion, and a deformable portion. The first terminal holding portion holds the first terminal of the relay terminal. The second terminal holding portion holds the second terminal of the relay terminal. The deformable portion is provided between the first terminal holding portion and the second terminal holding portion, and elastically deforms in a direction in which a distance between the first terminal holding portion and the second terminal holding portion is reduced.

Claims

1. A liquid detection unit comprising:

a unit case;

a sensor that is held by the unit case; and

a relay terminal that has a relay portion and first and second terminals, wherein the first and second terminals are provided on both ends of the relay portion, wherein the second terminal is connected to the sensor, wherein

the unit case includes;

a first terminal holding portion that holds the first terminal of the relay terminal;

a second terminal holding portion that holds the second terminal of the relay terminal; and

a deformable portion that is provided between the first terminal holding portion and the second terminal holding portion, and that elastically deforms in a direction in which a distance between the first terminal holding portion and the second terminal holding portion is reduced,

wherein the deformable portion includes a slit, and wherein the deformation portion elastically deforms so as to reduce the groove width of the slit, and

wherein the deformable portion includes;

a movable portion that is provided on a side of the first terminal holding portion in such an orientation that the movable portion intersects with a direction in which the relay portion of the relay terminal extends;

a support portion that is provided on a side of the second terminal holding portion in such an orientation that the support portion intersects with the direction in which the relay portion of the relay terminal extends, and that is provided so as to be spaced apart from the movable portion; and

a connecting portion that connects the movable portion and the support portion, and wherein

the slit is defined by the movable portion, the support portion and the connecting portion.

2. The liquid detection unit according to claim 1, wherein the movable portion has a proximal end that is connected to the connecting portion and a free end portion that extends from the proximal end, and wherein the first terminal holding portion is provided at the free end portion.

3. The liquid detection unit according to claim 2, further comprising:

an operating portion that is provided at the free end portion of the movable portion for applying an external force to deform the deformable portion.

4. The liquid detection unit according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion includes:

two upright portions that respectively extend upward from proximal ends thereof, the proximal ends being connected to the movable portion and the support portion; and

a link portion that connects upper end portions of the two upright portions, and wherein

the two upright portions function as a holding portion for applying an external force to deform the deformable portion.

5. The liquid detection unit according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion is formed of an elastic member that is independent of the unit case.

6. The liquid detection unit according to claim 1, wherein

the relay terminal is formed of a metal thin plate, wherein

the relay portion includes:

a first thin plate portion that crosses over the movable portion and the support portion; and

a second thin plate portion that is bent at an end portion of the first thin plate portion and that extends along the movable portion, and wherein

the first terminal is bent at an end portion of the second thin plate portion and is formed to protrude in a direction away from the movable portion.

7. The liquid detection unit according to claim 6, wherein the deformable portion includes a deformation guiding portion that deforms to guide the first thin plate portion by following deformation of the deformable portion.

8. The liquid detection unit according to claim 6, wherein the first thin plate portion includes a reinforcing portion that is bent along the support portion to be reinforced.

9. The liquid detection unit according to claim 1, wherein

the first terminal holding portion movably holds the first terminal of the relay terminal, and wherein

the first terminal of the relay terminal is urged to protrude in a direction in which the deformable portion elastically deforms and is held by the first terminal holding portion.

10. The liquid detection unit according to claim 9, wherein

the first terminal includes an elongate hole having a longitudinal direction in a direction in which the first terminal is urged to protrude, and wherein

the first terminal holding portion of the unit case includes a protruding portion that is inserted in the elongate hole.

11. A liquid container comprising:

a liquid containing package that contains liquid;

a case that has a liquid container portion that accommodates the liquid containing package and that is provided with a fixed contact; and

the liquid detection unit according to claim 1, wherein the liquid detection unit is connected through an attachment portion, which is provided in the case of the liquid container, to a liquid delivery portion of the liquid containing package, wherein

the relay terminal of the liquid detection unit is configured so that the first terminal is connected to the fixed contact.

12. The liquid container according to claim 11, wherein the liquid detection unit is fitted by rotating about the attachment portion.

13. The liquid container according to claim 10, wherein the case of the liquid container includes:

a detection unit accommodating portion that accommodates the liquid detection unit;

a partition wall that defines the liquid container portion and the detection unit accommodating portion and that has the attachment portion; and

a side wall that defines the detection unit accommodating portion together with the partition wall and that holds a circuit board, wherein

the fixed contact is provided in the circuit board.

14. The liquid container according to claim 13, wherein the side wall includes a board holding portion that holds the circuit board in such an orientation that the circuit board exposes a front face thereof, wherein

the fixed contact, which the first terminal contacts, is formed on a rear face of the circuit board, wherein

the board holding portion includes first and second engaging portions that engage the circuit board at both sides intervening the fixed contact in one side direction of the circuit board, wherein

the first and second engaging portions engage the circuit board by means of thermal caulking, wherein

the circuit board includes a bending deformable portion that is formed between the fixed contact and the second engaging portion in the one side direction.

15. The liquid container according to claim 14, wherein the bending deformable portion is formed of a cutout portion that is formed in the circuit board.

16. The liquid container according to claim 11, wherein the case of the liquid container includes a positioning portion that positions the liquid detection unit in a state where the first terminal of the liquid detection unit is connected to the fixed contact.

17. The liquid container according to claim 16, wherein the positioning portion holds the deformable portion so as not to deform after the liquid detection unit has been attached.

18. A liquid container comprising:

a liquid containing package that contains liquid;

a case that has a liquid container portion that accommodates the liquid containing package, and that is provided with a fixed contact; and

the liquid detection unit according to claim 1, wherein the liquid detection unit is connected through an attachment portion, which is provided in the case of the liquid container, to a liquid delivery portion of the liquid containing package, wherein

the case of the liquid container includes a positioning portion that positions the liquid detection unit in a state where the first terminal of the liquid detection unit is connected to the fixed contact, wherein

the liquid detection unit includes a positioned portion that is formed by extending the movable portion beyond the connecting portion, and wherein

the positioning portion is in contact with the positioned portion.

19. The liquid detection unit according to claim 1, wherein the first terminal holding portion, the first terminal holding portion and the deformable portion are formed on the unit case.