Liquid storage container

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11623451-B2
Application number	US-202117323900-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 18, 2021
Priority date	May 28, 2020
Publication date	Apr 11, 2023
Grant date	Apr 11, 2023

Abstract

Provided is a liquid storage container that allows for a simplified structure and a reduction in the size and the cost of a printing apparatus. To this end, the liquid storage container includes: two liquid chambers partitioned from each other; a flow path through which liquid can move between the liquid chambers; a valve configured to open and close the flow path; a refilling port that is configured to be opened and closed and through which a liquid chamber can be refilled with the liquid; and a pressure adjustment mechanism that is provided in a liquid chamber configured not to be refilled with the liquid through the refilling port and that adjusts a pressure in the printing head.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A liquid storage container capable of supplying liquid to a printing head through a supply path, the printing head being configured to eject the liquid, and capable of retaining the liquid, comprising:
at least two liquid chambers partitioned from each other;
a flow path through which the liquid can move between the liquid chambers;
a valve configured to open and close the flow path;
a refilling port that is configured to be opened and closed and through which one of the liquid chambers can be refilled with the liquid; and
a pressure adjustment mechanism that is provided in one of the liquid chambers, the one being configured not to be refilled with the liquid through the refilling port, and that adjusts pressures in the supply path and the printing head,
wherein the pressure adjustment mechanism includes an atmosphere communication port that is provided in a lower portion of the liquid chamber in an orientation in use to communicate with the atmosphere.

2. The liquid storage container according to claim 1 , wherein
the refilling port is opened and closed along with the opening and the closing of the valve.

3. The liquid storage container according to claim 2 , wherein
the valve is closed while the refilling port is open.

4. The liquid storage container according to claim 1 , wherein
the valve is a slider that opens and closes the flow path by sliding.

5. The liquid storage container according to claim 4 , wherein
the slider operates in conjunction with a sliding lid by a cam mechanism, the sliding lid being configured to open and close the refilling port.

6. The liquid storage container according to claim 1 , wherein
the pressure adjustment mechanism includes a labyrinth structure.

7. The liquid storage container according to claim 1 , further comprising
an indicator that indicates an upper limit and a lower limit of the liquid.

8. A liquid storage container capable of supplying liquid to a printing head through a supply path, the printing head being configured to eject the liquid, and capable of retaining the liquid, comprising:
at least two liquid chambers partitioned from each other;
a flow path through which the liquid can move between the liquid chambers;
a valve configured to open and close the flow path;
a refilling port that is configured to be opened and closed and through which one of the liquid chambers can be refilled with the liquid; and
a pressure adjustment mechanism that is provided in one of the liquid chambers, the one being configured not to be refilled with the liquid through the refilling port, and that adjusts pressures in the supply path and the printing head,
wherein in a case where the refilling port is closed after the liquid refilling is performed through the refilling port, the valve is opened.

9. The liquid storage container according to claim 8 , wherein
the refilling port is opened and closed along with the opening and the closing of the valve.

10. The liquid storage container according to claim 9 , wherein
the valve is closed while the refilling port is open.

11. The liquid storage container according to claim 8 , wherein
the valve is a slider that opens and closes the flow path by sliding.

12. The liquid storage container according to claim 11 , wherein
the slider operates in conjunction with a sliding lid by a cam mechanism, the sliding lid being configured to open and close the refilling port.

13. The liquid storage container according to claim 8 , wherein
the pressure adjustment mechanism includes a labyrinth structure.

14. The liquid storage container according to claim 8 , further comprising
an indicator that indicates an upper limit and a lower limit of the liquid.

15. A liquid storage container capable of supplying liquid to a printing head through a supply path, the printing head being configured to eject the liquid, and capable of retaining the liquid, comprising:
at least two liquid chambers partitioned from each other;
a flow path through which the liquid can move between the liquid chambers;
a valve configured to open and close the flow path;
a refilling port that is configured to be opened and closed and through which one of the liquid chambers can be refilled with the liquid; and
a pressure adjustment mechanism that is provided in one of the liquid chambers, the one being configured not to be refilled with the liquid through the refilling port, and that adjusts pressures in the supply path and the printing head,
wherein the valve is in a cylindrical shape including a space therein, is rotatable about an axis of the cylinder, and opens and closes the flow path along with the rotation.

16. The liquid storage container according to claim 15 , wherein
the refilling port is opened and closed along with the opening and the closing of the valve.

17. The liquid storage container according to claim 16 , wherein
the valve is closed while the refilling port is open.

18. The liquid storage container according to claim 15 , wherein
the pressure adjustment mechanism includes a labyrinth structure.

19. The liquid storage container according to claim 15 , further comprising
an indicator that indicates an upper limit and a lower limit of the liquid.

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Murakami Taketsugu
• Iri Junichiro
• Murayama Hiroyuki
• Takahashi Satoru
• Hashimoto Yusuke
• Kusano Hiroaki

Classifications

• B41J2002/17573

  using optical means for ink level indication · CPC title

• B41J2/17566

  Ink level or ink residue control · CPC title

• B41J2/17596

  Ink pumps, ink valves · CPC title

• B41J2/17513

  Inner structure · CPC title

• B41J2/17506 Primary

  Refilling of the cartridge · CPC title