Liquid supplying apparatuses, liquid ejecting apparatuses, and containers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10933650-B2
Application number	US-201815922421-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 15, 2018
Priority date	Mar 24, 2017
Publication date	Mar 2, 2021
Grant date	Mar 2, 2021

Abstract

A liquid supplying apparatus includes a support table on which a container for storing liquid can be placed, a liquid flow path detachably connected to the container, a movable section configured to push up the container placed on the support table. A force of the movable section pushing up the container is smaller than a weight of the container at full capacity. As the residual amount of liquid decreases, the container placed on the support table is pushed up by the movable section and displaced while remaining connected to the liquid flow path.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising:
a support table on which a container for storing liquid can be placed;
a liquid flow path detachably connected to the container, the liquid flow path being connected to a pump that is configured to cause the liquid to be removed from the container; and
a movable section configured to push up the container placed on the support table, wherein the moveable section is configured to cause the container to be oriented in a horizontal direction until such time as the moveable section pushes up the container, the movable section comprising an engagement section configured to cooperate with a complementary engagement section of the container that is disposed between a first end and a second end of the container and facing toward the movable section; and
a bias member configured to bias the moveable section upward, both terminal ends of the bias member being disposed lower than a lowest portion of the container in a vertical direction transverse to the horizontal direction with the container mounted to the support table in a set position, wherein
a force of the movable section pushing up the container is smaller than a weight of the container at full capacity, and,
as the amount of liquid decreases, the container placed on the support table is pushed up by the movable section and displaced while remaining connected to the liquid flow path.

2. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the container has a bottom that is in contact with the movable section when the container is placed on the support table, and
the movable section is configured to push the bottom at a position spaced from a gravitational center position, which is a position at which the gravitational center of the container is projected onto the bottom.

3. A container for storing liquid that can be placed on the support table provided in the liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the engagement section is configured to engage the movable section.

4. A container for storing liquid that can be placed on the support table provided in the liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the engagement section is configured to engage the movable section.

5. A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising:
a support table on which a container for storing liquid can be placed;
a liquid flow path detachably connected to the container, the liquid flow path being connected to a pump that is configured to cause the liquid to be removed from the container;
a movable section configured to push up the container placed on the support table, wherein the moveable section is configured to cause the container to be oriented in a horizontal direction until such time as the moveable section pushes up the container, the movable section comprising an engagement section configured to cooperate with a complementary engagement section of the container that is disposed between a first end and a second end of the container and facing toward the movable section; and
a bias member configured to bias the movable section upward, both terminal ends of the bias member being disposed lower than a lowest portion of the container in a vertical direction transverse to the horizontal direction with the container mounted to the support table in a set position, wherein
the container placed on the support table is pushed up by the movable section and displaced depending on the amount of stored liquid while remaining connected to the liquid flow path.

6. A container for storing liquid that can be placed on the support table provided in the liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the engagement section is configured to engage the movable section.

7. A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising:
a liquid ejection section configured to eject liquid onto a medium;
a support table on which a container for storing liquid can be placed;
a liquid flow path detachably connected to the container, the liquid flow path being connected to a pump that is configured to cause the liquid to be removed from the container; and
a movable section configured to push up the container placed on the support table, wherein the moveable section is configured to cause the container to be oriented in a horizontal direction until such time as the moveable section pushes up the container, the movable section comprising an engagement section configured to cooperate with a complementary engagement section of the container that is disposed between a first end and a second end of the container and facing toward the movable section; and
a bias member configured to bias the moveable section upward, both terminal ends of the bias member being disposed lower than a lowest portion of the container in a vertical direction transverse to the horizontal direction with the container mounted to the support table in a set position, wherein
a force of the movable section pushing up the container is smaller than a weight of the container at full capacity, and,
as the amount of liquid decreases, the container placed on the support table is pushed up by the movable section and displaced while remaining connected to the liquid flow path.

Assignees

• Seiko Epson Corp

Inventors

• Mashima Akira

Classifications

• B41J2/17566 Primary

  Ink level or ink residue control · CPC title

• B41J2002/17516

  comprising a collapsible ink holder, e.g. a flexible bag · CPC title

• B41J2/1752

  Mounting within the printer · CPC title

• B41J2/17509

  Whilst mounted in the printer · CPC title

• B41J2/17513

  Inner structure · CPC title