Cartridge and sealing member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9283767-B2
Application number	US-201313900445-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 22, 2013
Priority date	May 23, 2012
Publication date	Mar 15, 2016
Grant date	Mar 15, 2016

Abstract

A cartridge or a sealing member is provided to reduce the likelihood that a fluid is leaked outside. The cartridge is configured to supply a fluid to a fluid ejection apparatus. The cartridge has: a fluid accommodation portion; and a fluid supply port connectable with the fluid ejection apparatus. The fluid supply port includes: a fluid exit provided to flow out the fluid to the fluid ejection apparatus; and an opening arranged to connect outside of the fluid supply port with inside of the fluid supply port. The opening is not in contact with a side face of the fluid supply port.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cartridge for supplying a fluid to a fluid ejection apparatus, the cartridge comprising:
an air intake port;
an air chamber in communication with the air intake port;
a fluid accommodation portion in communication with the air chamber via a valve member; and
a fluid supply port connectable with the fluid ejection apparatus,
the fluid supply port comprising:
a fluid exit in communication with the fluid accommodation portion and configured to flow out the fluid from the fluid accommodation portion to the fluid ejection apparatus;
a circumferential wall that defines an opening of the fluid supply port and an inner space of the fluid supply port; and
a connection port protruded and opened in the inner space of the fluid supply port in communication with the air chamber and configured to release the air in the inner space of the fluid supply port.

2. The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein
the circumferential wall and the connection port are integrally formed.

3. The cartridge according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a first surface, a second surface, a third surface and a fourth surface; and
a transmission part placed on the first surface, the transmission part configured to allow transmission of light, wherein
the fluid supply port is provided on the first surface,
the fourth surface is opposed to the first surface,
the second surface is provided between the first surface and the fourth surface,
the third surface is opposed to the second surface,
the first surface has a first end located on the second surface side and a second end located on the third surface side,
the transmission part is closer to the first end than the second end, and
the fluid supply port is closer to the second end than the first end.

4. The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein an end of the connection port is located downstream of the fluid exit with respect to an outflow direction of the fluid.

5. The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein an end of the connection port is located upstream of the fluid exit with respect to an outflow direction of the fluid.

6. The cartridge according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a sealing member provided to close the fluid supply port and having a lever, wherein an end of the connection port and the lever are each located on an identical side with respect to the fluid exit.

7. The cartridge according to claim 6 , wherein
the sealing member has a sealing portion provided to close the connection port.

8. The cartridge according to claim 7 , the fluid supply port being a first supply port, the opening being a first opening, the sealing portion of the sealing member being a first sealing portion, the fluid exit being a first fluid exit,
the cartridge further comprising:
a second fluid supply port that includes a second opening, wherein
the sealing member further has a second sealing portion provided corresponding to the second opening, and
the sealing member further has a first stepped portion between the first and second sealing portions.

9. The cartridge according to claim 8 , wherein
the sealing member further includes:
a receiver portion configured to receive the first fluid exit and provided at a different position from the first sealing portion; and
a second stepped portion located between the first sealing portion and the receiver portion and configured to have at least one of a projection and a recess.

10. The cartridge according to claim 9 , wherein
the receiver portion is in a recessed shape, and
the second stepped portion is provided by a peripheral portion that is part of the receiver portion.

11. The cartridge according to claim 6 , wherein
the fluid exit has an inclined portion inclined to an outflow direction of the fluid, and
the sealing member has an opposed part inclined along an inclination direction of the inclined portion.

12. The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein
the fluid exit includes:
a mounting portion attached to the fluid supply port;
a center portion surrounded by the mounting portion; and
a non-mounting portion different from the center portion and the mounting portion, wherein
the non-mounting portion is configured to retain the fluid.

13. The cartridge according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an opening seal member removably attachable to close the connection port, wherein
the opening seal member is provided at a position that does not overlap the fluid exit in projection of the cartridge to a plane perpendicular to an outflow direction of the fluid.

14. The cartridge according to claim 13 , further comprising:
a fluid supply opening sealing member removably attachable to close the opening of the fluid supply port, wherein
the opening seal member and the fluid supply opening sealing member are partly joined with each other.

15. A sealing member configured to cover a fluid supply opening located at one end of a fluid supply port of a cartridge for supplying a fluid to a fluid ejection apparatus, the sealing member comprising:
a portion to seal the fluid supply opening of the fluid supply port of the cartridge wherein the cartridge comprises:
an air intake port;
an air chamber in communication with the air intake port;
a fluid accommodation portion in communication with the air chamber via a valve member; and
the fluid supply port connectable with the fluid ejection apparatus,

the fluid supply port including:
a fluid exit in communication with the fluid accommodation portion and configured to flow out the fluid from the fluid accommodation portion to the fluid ejection apparatus;
a circumferential wall that defines the fluid supply opening of the fluid supply port and an inner space of the fluid supply port; and
a connection port protruded and opened in the inner space of the fluid supply port, in communication with the air chamber and configured to release the air in the inner space of the fluid supply port.

16. The sealing member according to claim 15 , wherein
the sealing member is not in contact with the fluid exit.

17. The sealing member according to claim 15 , wherein
the sealing member is in contact with the fluid exit.

18. The sealing member according to claim 15 wherein:
the sealing member is not in contact with the connection port.

19. The sealing member according to claim 15 , the cartridge further including:
a passage protruded in the fluid supply port, the passage forming the one end side portion including the opening, wherein
the sealing member is in contact with the connection port.

20. The sealing member according to claim 15 , wherein
the fluid exit is placed inside of the fluid supply port, the fluid exit having an inclined portion, the inclined portion being inclined to a protrusion direction of the fluid supply port,
the sealing member further comprising:
a sealing member-side inclined portion opposed to the fluid exit and being inclined along the inclination of the inclined portion.

Assignees

• Seiko Epson Corp

Inventors

• Nozawa Izumi
• Mizutani Tadahiro
• Nakamura Hiroyuki
• Kobayashi Atsushi
• Takahashi Ryota

Classifications

• B41J2/17536 Primary

  Protection of cartridges or parts thereof, e.g. tape · CPC title

• B41J2/17523

  Ink connection · CPC title

• B41J2/17513

  Inner structure · CPC title

• B41J2/17553

  Outer structure · CPC title