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Liquid Container

Abstract: A liquid container (50) attachable to/detachable from a liquid consumption device and having at least one section thereof configured using a flexible member comprises: a liquid housing section (52) capable of housing liquid; an operation member (53) positioned on one end section of the liquid housing section (52) and having a grasping surface capable of being grasped; and a liquid supply section (55) having a liquid supply port at one end thereof. The operation member (53) is provided such that the grasping surface is offset relative to the liquid supply port in the axial direction of the liquid supply section (55). The liquid container (50) attachable to/detachable from a liquid consumption device comprises the liquid housing section (52) capable of housing liquid; and the liquid supply section (55) positioned on one end side of the liquid housing section (52) supporting the liquid housing section (52) further on the top side in the gravity direction when connected to the liquid consumption device and capable of being connected to a liquid introduction section of the liquid consumption device by being caused to move in the connection direction including a first direction component being the horizontal direction.

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Notices, Deadlines & Correspondence

Patent Information

Application #
Filing Date
04 December 2015
Publication Number
23/2016
Publication Type
INA
Invention Field
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Status
Email
Parent Application
Patent Number
Legal Status
Grant Date
2022-10-18
Renewal Date

Applicants

SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
4 1 Nishi shinjuku 2 chome Shinjuku ku Tokyo 1630811

Inventors

1. KAWATE Hiroyuki
c/o SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION 3 5 Owa 3 chome Suwa shi Nagano 3928502
2. OKUNO Tokujiro
c/o SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION 3 5 Owa 3 chome Suwa shi Nagano 3928502
3. TANAKA Yoshiyuki
c/o SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION 3 5 Owa 3 chome Suwa shi Nagano 3928502
4. TSUKAHARA Katsutomo
c/o SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION 3 5 Owa 3 chome Suwa shi Nagano 3928502

Specification

Technical Field [00011 The present invention relates to a technology relating to a liquid container used for a liquid consuming device. Background Art [00021 According to a generally kliown technique, a liquid container body is contained in a pullout-type cartridge case and is mounted on a liquid consulning device to supplj~in k contained in the liquid container body to the liquid consuning device (for example, Patent Literature 1). Patent Literature 1 discloses a liquid container that includes a liquid containing bag configured to contain a liquid and a casing collfigured to contain the liquid containing bag (cartridge case) (for example, Patent Literature I), as the technique for supplying the liquid to a printer as the liquid consuming device. In the technique of Patent Literature 1, the cartridge case is configured to be pulled out relative to the printer. After the liquid containing bag is mounted on the cartridge case, the liquid container is inserted into the printer. This connects the liquid container with the printer and causes ink contained in the liquid containing bag to flo~vto ward the printer via a liquid s~~ppployr t provided in the liquid containing bag. Citation List Patent Literature [00031 PTL 1: WO 20041037541 Summary Technical Problem [00041 The above prior art needs to make the liquid container body colltailled in the cartridge case when the liquid container body is nlounted on the liquid consuming device. The user is required to hold the liquid container body having flexibility. This leads to inconvenience in handling and nlalres it difficult to mount the liquid co~ltainebr ody to the liquid consuining device. When the user holds the liquid container body, an external force is directly applied to the liquid container body and is likely to damage the liquid container body. Damaging the liquid container body may cause a problem that the contained liquid lealts outside. [00051 In the technique of Patent Literature 1, in the process of connecting the liquid container body with the printel; the liquid containing bag and the liquid sul~plyp ort are arranged to be arrayed in a horizontal direction. This may result in expanding the size of a container assembly on the printer side to contain the liquid container body. This configuration also needs a cartridge case to support the liquid containing bag in the horizontal direction. This may result in increasing the manufacturing cost of the liquid container, This configuration also needs to connect the liquid container with the printer after the liquid containing bag is mounted on the cartridge case. This may complicate the procedure (mounting process) to connect the liquid container with the printer. [OOOGI A first object of the invention is to provide a liquid container having the improved handling property in the process of mounting the liquid container on a liquid consuming device. A second object of the invention is to provide a liquid container having the reduced likelihood that the user directly touches a liquid container body. A third object of the invention is to provide a liquid container that is readily mountable on the liquid consuming device. A fourth object of the invention is to reduce the space occul~iedb y a liquid container. A fifth object is to provide a liquid container that is readily connectable with the liquid consuining device. Other needs with regard to the prior art include cost reduction, resource saving, easy manufacture and improved usability. Solution to Problem [00071 In order to solve at least part of the problems described above, the invention may be implemented by aspects described below. [OOOSl (1) According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a liquid container that is detachably mountable 011 a liquid consunling device. The liquid container co~nprisesa liquid container body that is at least partly formed from a material having flexibility and is coilfigured to contain a liquid; an ol~erationm ember that is located at one end of the liquid container body and is configured to include a holdable grip surface; and a liquid supply portion that is configured to have a liquid supply port at one end. The operation member is configured such that the grip surface is offset relative to the liquid supply port in an axial direction of the liquid supply portion. In the liquid container of this aspect, the grip surface is offset relative to the liquid supply port in the axial direction. This configuration causes the liquid supply port to be not hidden by the operation member but to be visually recogilizable when the user holds the grip surface of the operation member to mount the liquid container on the liquid consuming device. This configuration facilitates mounting of the liquid container on the liquid consuming device. The user holds the operation member and has no need to touch the liquid container body. This reduces the likelihood that the liquid container body is damaged to cause leakage of the liquid. [00091 (2) In the liquid container of the above aspect, the liquid supply portion may be protruded outward from the operation member in the axial direction. In the liquid container of this aspect, the liquid supply portion is protruded outward fiom the operation member in the axial direction. This configuration causes the liquid supply portion to be visually recognizable \vhen the user holds the grip surface to niount the liquid container on the liquid consuming device. This facilitates the user to recognize the mounting direction of the liquid container and thereby further facilitates mounting of the liquid container on the liquid consuming device. [OOlOl (3) The liquid container of the above aspect may further comprise a positioning structure that is configured to position the liquid container relative to the liquid consulning device in mounting the liquid container on the liquid consuming device. In the liquid container of this aspect, the positioning structure morks to position the liquid container and thus enables the liquid container to be adequately mounted on the Liquid consuming device (in the adequate inounting state). I00111 (4) In the liquid container of the above aspect, the operation nieinber niay further include a container-side electrical connection structure that is configured to be conncctablc with a device-side electrical connection structure provided on the liquid consuniing device. The container-side electrical connection structure may be configured to be offset relative to the grip surface in the axial direction of the liquid supply portion. In the liquid container of this aspect, the container-side electrical connection structure is made visible when the user holds the grip surface of the operation meniber to mount the liquid container on the liquid consuniing device. This configuration facilitates mounting of the liquid container on the liquid consuming device. [00121 (5) In the liquid container of the above aspect, the container-side electrical connection structure may be protruded fiom the operation member in a direction substantially parallel to a protruding direction of the liquid supply portion. In the liquid container of this aspect, the container-side electrical connection structure and the liquid supply portion are protruded in the substantially parallel direction. This configuration facilitates the user to simultaneously recognize the container-side electrical connection structure and the liquid supply portion when the liquid container is mounted on the liquid consuming device. This facilitates connection of the liquid supply portion with the liquid consuming device and electrical connection of the container-side electrical connection structure with the device-side electrical connection structure of the liquid consuming device. [00131 (G) In the liquid container of the above aspect, the container-side electrical connection structure may be arrayed with the liquid supply portion in a direction substantially parallel to the grip surface. The configuration of the liquid container of this aspect further facilitates electrical connection of the container-side electrical connection structure with the device-side electrical connection structure and connection of the liquid supply portion with the liquid consuming device. [00141 (7) According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a liquid container that is configured to be connectable with a liquid consuming device. The liquid container comprises a liquid container body that is configured to contain a liquid; and a liquid sul~plyp ortion that is located in one end portion of the liquid container body, that is configured to support the liquid co~~tainbeorc ly on an upper side of the liquid container body in a direction of gravity when the liquid container is connected to the liquid consuming device, and that is moved in a connecting direction including a component of a first direction that is a horizontal direction to be connectable with a liquid introducing portion of the liquid consuming device. In the liquid container of this aspect, in the process of connecting the liquid container with the liquid consuming device, the liquid sul~plyp ortion supports the liquid container body to be hung in the direction of gravity. This configuration eliminates the need to support the liquid container body in a horizontal direction in the process of connecting the liquid container with the liquid consuming device and thereby suppresses size expansion of the liquid consuming device in the horizontal direction. This configuration also eliminates the need for a casing to support the liquid container body in the horizontal direction. This reduces the total number of components and simplifies the configuration. The liquid supply portion is located above the liquid container body in the direction of gravity. This causes the connecting part (for example, the liquid supply portion) to be readily visible in the process of connecting to the liquid consuming device and thereby facilitates the connecting operation. [00151 (8) In the liquid container of the above aspect, the connecting direction may be the first direction. In the liquid container of this aspect, the connecting direction is one direction. This further facilitates the connecting operation. [00161 (9) In the liquid container of the above aspect, the liquid supply portion may have a liquid supply port at one end to receive the liquid introducing portion inserted therein. The liquid supply port nlay be open toward a direction including a component of the first direction. In the liquid container of this aspect, the liquid container is moved in the connecting direction, so that the liquid introducing portion of the liquid consuming device is readily inserted into the liquid supply port. This further facilitates connection of the liquid container with the liquid consuming device. [00171 (10) The liquid container of the above aspect may further comprise a container-side electrical connection structure that is located on an one end portion-side of the liquid containel; works in cooperation with the liquid supply portion to support the liquid container body on the upper side of the liquid container body in the direction of gravity when the liquid container is connected to the liquid consuming device, and is moved in the connecting direction to be connectable with a device-side electrical connection structure of the liquid consuming device. In the liquid container of this aspect, in the process of connecting the liquid container with the liquid consuming device, the liquid supply portion and the device-side electrical connection structure support the liquid container body to be hung in the direction of gravity. In other words, the liquid supply portion and the container-side electrical connection structure more securely support the liquid container body. The container-side electrical connection structure is located above the liquid container body in the direction of gravity. This causes the connecting part (for example, the container-side electrical connection structure) to be readily visible in the process of connecting to the liquid consuming device and thereby facilitates the connecting operation. [00181 (11) In the liquid container of the above aspect, the liquid supply portion and the container-side electrical connection structure may be arranged to be arrayed along a second direction that is orthogonal to the direction of gravity and the first direction when the liquid container is connected to the liquid consuming device. In the liquid container of this aspect, the liquid supply portion and the container-side electrical connection structure are arrayed along the second direction. This configuration enables the positions of the liquid supply portion and the container-side electrical connection structure to be readily recognizable when the liquid container is moved in the connecting direction including the coml)onent of the fist direction. This ensures conllection of the liquid supply portion and tlie container-side electrical connection structure with the liquid consuming device with high accuracy [00191 (12) In the liquid colltainer of the above aspect, the one end portion of the liquid container body may have a first end portion that is one end portion in the second direction and a second end portion that is the other end in the second direction. The liquid supply portion and the containerside electrical connection structure may be arranged at positions closer to a center of the one end portion in the second direction than the first end portion and the second end portion. In the process of connecting the liquid container with the liquid consuming device, when one of the liquid supply portion and the containerside electrical connection structure is connected prior to the othel; the liquid container body is likely to be rotated about the connected one as the point of sul~port. The configuration of the liquid container of this aspect reduces the amount of rotation of the liquid container in the case where one of the liquid supply portion and the container-side electrical connection structure is connected prior to the other, compared with a configuration that the liquid supply portion and the container-side electrical connection structure are arranged at positions closer to the first end portion and the second end portion than the center of the one end portion. roo201 (13) The Liquid container of the above aspect may further comprise a handle member that is provided on the one end portion-side of the liquid container body to be holdable. The handle member may comprise a first handle end that is one end in the second direction and a second handle end that is the other end in the second direction. The liquid supply portion and the container-side electrical connection structure may be located between the first handle end and the second handle end in the second direction. In the liquid container of this aspect, the user can readily position the liquid supply portion and the container-side electrical connection structure relative to the liquid consuming device by simply gripping the handle member. This accordingly facilitates connection of the liquid supply portion and the container-side electrical connection structure with the liquid consu~ningd evice. Even in the case where the liquid container is rotated about the handle nlembel; this configuration reduces the amount of rotation of the liquid supply portion and the container-side electrical connection structure. This improves the operability in the process of co~lnectingth e liquid container with the liquid consuming device. [00211 (14) In the liquid container of the above aspect, the liquid supply portion and the container-side electrical connection structure nlay be arranged at positions across a center of the handle menlber in the second direction. In the liquid container of this aspect, the liquid sul)ply portion and the container-side electrical connection structure further reduces the effect of rotation even when the liquid contailler is rotated about the handle member. This configuration improves the operability in the process of connecting the liquid container with the liquid consuming device and thereby ensures secure connection of the liquid colltainer with the liquid consuming device. LO0221 (15) In the liquid container of the above aspect, in an initial state of the liquid container that the liquid is contained in the liquid container body prior to consumption of the liquid by the liquid consuming device, when the liquid container body is located on a lower side of the liquid supply portion and the container-side electrical connection structure in the direction of gravity, the liquid container body may comprise a first chamber that is connected with the handle member; and a second chamber that is located below the first chamber in the direction of gravity and has a greater length than length of the h s t chamber in the first direction. In the liquid container of this aspect, the first chamber has the smaller length in the first direction than the second chamnber. This reduces the likelillood that the first chamber interferes with snlooth connection of the liquid supply portion and the container-side electrical connection structure with the liquid consuming device when the liquid container is moved in the connecting direction including the conlponent of the first direction to be connected to the liquid consuming device. LO0231 (16) In the liquid container of the above aspect, in an initial state of the liquid container that the liquid is contained in the liquid container body prior to consulnption of the liquid by the liquid consumillg device, the liquid supply portion and the container-side electrical connection structure may be arranged at positions in the second direction across a center of gravity of the liquid colltainer body in a connecting state that connection of the liquid container to the liquid consuming device is completed. The configuration of the liquid container of this aspect reduces the amount of rotation of the liquid container about the liquid sul~plp~orr tion or the container-side electrical connection structure as the point of support in the connecting state. [00241 (17) The liquid container of the above aspect magr f ~ ~ r t lc~oemrp rise a pressing portion that is configured to be pressed in the connecting direction when the liquid container is connected to the liquid consuming device. The liquid container of this aspect is movable in the connecting direction by the user's press of the pressing portion. This configuration facilitates connection of the liquid container with the liquid consuming device. [00251 (18) In the liquid container of the above aspect, the pressing portion may be located at a position opposite to the liquid supply portion and the container-side electrical connection structure. The configuration of the liquid container of this aspect stabilizes the motions of the liquid supply portion and the container-side electrical conilection structure to the motions along the connecting direction when the user presses the pressing portion to move the liquid container ill thc connecting direction. [00261 All the pluralitj~of componetlts included in the aspects of the invention described above are not essential, but some co~nponentsa mong tlie plurality of compone~ltsm ay be appropriately changed, omitted or replaced with other components or part of the limitations may be deleted, in order to solve part or all of the problems described above or in order to achieve part or all of the advantageous effects described herein. I11 order to solve part or all of the problems described above or in order to achieve part or all of the advantageous effects described herein, part or all of the technical features included in one aspect of tlie invention described above may be combined with part or all of the technical features included in another aspect of the invention described above to provide still another independent aspect of the invention. [00271 For example, one aspect of the invention may be iml~lementecal s a device including one or more components among a plurality of components, i.e., a liquid container body, an operation member and a liquid sul~ply portion. More specifically, this device may have or may not have the liquid container body. This device may have or may not have the operation member. This device may have or may not have the liquid sul~plyp ortion. This aspect solves at least one of the various problems, for exaniple, downsizing of the device, cost reduction, resource saving, easy manufacture and improvement of the usability. Part or all of the technical features in each of the aspects of the liquid container body described above may be applied to this device. The "substantially parallel" state includes not only completely parallel state but approximately parallel state including a slight error or a slight deviation. The "substantially parallel" state accordingly includes the state that is not completely parallel in the range that achieves the advantageous effects described in the specification hereof. The "plane" in the specification hereof includes a flat surface, a surface with slight concavity and convexity and a slightly bent surface. LOO281 For example, another aspect of the invention may be implemented as a device including one or more components among a plurality of components, i.e., a liquid container body and a liquid supply portion. More specifically, this device may have or may not have the liquid container body. This device may have or may not have the liquid supply portion. This aspect solves at least one of the various problems, for example, downsizing of the device, cost reduction, resource saving, easy manufacture and improvenient of the usability. Part or all of the technical features in each of the aspects of the liquid container described above may be applied to this device. [00291 The invention may be implemented by any of various aspects other than the liquid container, for example, a method of nlanufacturing the liquid container and a liquid consuming system includilig the liquid container and a liquid consuming device. Brief Description of Drawings [00301 Fig. 1 is a first perspective view illustrating the general configuration of a liquid consuming system; Fig. 2 is a second perspective view illustrating the general configuration of the liquid consuming system; Fig. 3 is a first diagram illustrating a liquid supply device; Fig. 4 is a second diagranl illustrating the liquid supply device; Fig. 5 is a first perspective view illustrating a mounting assembly unit; Fig. G is a second perspective view illustrating the mounting assembly unit; Fig. 7 is a first perspective view illustrating a liquid container; Fig. 8 is a second perspective view illustrating the liquid container; Fig. 8A is a front view illustrating the liquid container; Fig. 8B is a rear view illustrating the liquid container; Fig. 9 is a first perspective view illustrating part of the liquid container; Fig. 10 is a second perspective view illustrating the part of the liquid container; Fig. 11 is a third perspective view illustrating the part of the liquid container; Fig. 12 is a fourth perspective view illustrating the part of the liquid container; Fig. 13 is a front view illustrating the part of the liquid container; Fig. 14 is a rear view illustrating the part of the liquid container; Fig. 15 is a top view illustrating the part of the liquid container; Fig. 16 is a right side view illustrating the part of the liquid container; Fig. 1GA is an F13-F13 sectional view of Fig. 13; Fig. 1GB is a front view illustrating a circuit board; Fig. 1GC is a view from an arrow FlGB of Fig. 1GB; Fig. 17A is a first exploded perspective view illustrating an operation member; Fig. 17B is a second exploded perspective view illustrating the operation member; Fig. 17C is a rear view illustrating the operation member; Fig. 17D is a front view illustrating the liquid container; Fig. 17E is an F17Da-F17Da partial sectional view of Fig. 17D; Fig. 17F is an F17Db-F17Db partial sectional view of Fig. 17D; Fig. 17G is a left side view illustrating the liquid container; Fig. 17H is a right side view illustrating t,he liquid container; Fig. 18 is a diagram illustrating the state that the liquid container is set in the mounting assembly unit; Fig. 19 is an F18-F18 partial sectional view of Fig. 18; Fig. 20 is a diagram illustrating the state that the liquid container is mounted on the mounting assembly unit; , Fig. 21 is an F20-F20 partial sectional view of Fig. 20; Fig. 22 is a side view illustrating the state that the liquid container is set in a movable member; Fig. 23 is a front view illustrating the state that the liquid container is set in the nlovable member; Fig. 24 is an F22-F22 sectional view of Fig. 22; Fig. 25 is an F23-F23 sectional view of Fig. 23; Fig. 26 is a side view illustrating the state that mounting (connection) of the liquid container to the mounting assembly unit is completed; Fig. 27 is an F26-F26 sectional view of Fig. 26; Fig. 28A i s a sectional view illustrating the state that connection of the liquid container to the mounting assembly unit is completed (connecting state); Fig. 28B is an F28A-F28A sectional view of Fig. 28A; Fig. 29 is a first diagram illustrating the state before the liquid container is set in the mounting assembly unit; Fig. 30 is a diagram of Fig. 29 viewed from a +Z-axis direction side; Fig. 31 is a second diagram illustrating the the state before the liquid container is set in the mounting assembly unit; Fig. 32 is a diagram of Fig. 31 vie~vedfr om the +Z-axis direction side; Fig. 33 is a diagram illustrating the state that the liquid container is lnounted on the mounting assembly unit; Fig. 34 is a diagram of Fig. 33 viewed from the +Z-axis direction side; Fig. 35 is a diagram further illustrating the liquid container; Fig. 36 is a diagram illustrating a joint portion; and Fig. 37 is a diagram illustrating an electrical connectioll body. Description of Embodiments [00311 A. Embodiment A-1. Configuration of Liquid Consuming System Fig. 1 is a first perspective view illustrating the general configuration of a liquid consuming system 1000. Fig. 2 is a second perspective view illustrating the general configuration of the liquid consuming system 1000. Fig. 3 is a first diagram illustrating a liquid supply device 20. Fig. 4 is a second diagram illustrating the liquid supply device 20. Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate the state that liquid containers described later are demounted. X, P and Z axes orthogonal to one another are shown in Figs. 1 to 4. [00321 As shown in Fig. 1, the liquid consuming system 1000 includes a printer 10 as a liquid consuming device and two liquid supply devices 20. In the use state of the liquid constuning system 1000, the printer 10 is placed on a horizontal plane defined by an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction. In other words, a Z-axis direction is a vertical direction (topbottom direction); -Z-axis direction is vertically downward direction and +Zaxis direction is verticalljr upward direction. The liquid s~ul~pdlyev ices 20 are configured to sul~plyin ks as liquids to the printer 10. Each liquid container 50 (liquid container unit 50) included in the Liquid supply device 20 is detachably connected (attached) to tlie printer 10. roo331 The printer 10 is an inkjet printer. The printer 10 includes a recording mechanism 11, feed trays 16 and an eject tray 17. Aplurality of the feed trays 16 are provided at different height positions in the vertical direction. The feed trays 16 are placed on a device first surface (device front sdrface) 102 of the printer 10. The feed trays 16 contain recording media (for example, paper sheets) on which images such as characters and letters are printed (recorded) by the printer 10. [00341 The recording mechanism 11 includes a record head (not shown) configured to eject ink. The record head is connected with the liquid supply devices 20 through flow pipes such as tubes. The record head uses ink supplied from the liquid supply device 20 and ejects the ink on the recording medium to perform recording (l)rinting). The recording n~ecliuma fter recording is discharged to the eject tray 17. 100351 The two liquid supply devices 20 are respectively placed on a device second surface (also called device first side surface or device first side wall) 104 and a device third surface (also called device second side surface or device second side wall) 106 arranged to intersect with the device first surface (also called device front surface or device front ~vall)1 02 of the printer 10. The device first surface 102 to the device third surface 10G are surfaces respectively perpendicular to the installation surface of the printer 10 in the use state of the printer 10. The device second surface 104 and the device third surface 106 are opposed to each other, In the description hereof, the liquid supply device 20 provided on the device second surface 104 is also called first liquid supply device 20A, and the liquid supply device 20 provided on the device third surface 106 is also called second liquid supply device 20B. When there is no need to distinguish between the first and the second liquid supply devices 20A and 20B, the first and the second liquid supply devices 20A and 20B are simply called liquid supply device 20. [00361 As shown in Fig. 1, the f i s t liquid supply device 20A includes one cover member 22, one liquid container 50 and one mounting assembly unit 30 ( s h o ~ vin~ F~ig . 3). As shown in Fig. 2, the second liquid supply device 20B includes one cover member 22, three liquid containers 50 and three nlounti~lga ssembly units 30 provided corresponding to the respective liquid containers 50 (sho~vnin Fig. 4). The two cover members 22 are distinguishable i?om each other by using synlbols "22A" and "22B". The four liquid containers 50 are distinguishable from one another by using synlbols "501<", "50CU, "50M" and "50Y". The four mounting assembly units 30 are distinguishable from one another by using sy~nbols"3 0Ii", "30Cn, "30hl" and "30P". The numbers of the cover members 22, the liquid containers 50 and the mounting assembly units 30 are not limited to this example. For example, the number of the liquid containers 50 may be three or less or may be five or more. The number of the ~nountinga ssembly units 30 may be determined corresponding to the nu~nbero f the liquid containers 50. The number of the cover nlelnbers 22 nlay be one or may be three or more. [00371 The four liquid containers 50 contain (are filled with) different types of inks. According to this embodiment, yellow (Y), magenta (MI, cyan (C) and black (10 inks are contained in the respective different liquid containers 50. The liquid container 50IC has a liquid container body configured to contain black ink. The liquid container 50C has a liquid container body configured to contain cyan ink. The liquid container 50M has a liquid container body configured to contain magenta ink. The liquid container 50Y has a liquid container body configured to contain yellow ink. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the liquid container 50 is contained in a housing space 26 defined by the cover member 22. More specifically, the liquid container 501C is contained in a housing space 2GA (Fig. 31, and the liquid containers 50C, 5011 and 50Y are contained in a housing space 26B (Fig. 4). [0038] The mounting assembly units 30 shown in Figs. 3 and 4 serve to inount the liquid containers 50 in a detachable manner. The mounting assembly unit 30IC is placed inside of the cover member 22A, and the mounting assembly units 30C, 30M and 30Y are placed inside of the cover member 22B. As shown in Fig. 3, the mounting assembly unit 30IC is provided on the device second surface 104 of the printer 10. As shown in Fig. 4, the mo~~ntinasgs embly units 30C, 30M and 30Y are provided on the device third surface 106 of the printer 10. In the state that the liquid container 50 is mounted on the mounting assembly unit 30, the inlc contained in the liquid container 50 is supplied to the record head of the printer 10 by a supply mechanism (not shown) with a pump function included in the printer 10. [00391 As shomn in Figs. 3 and 4, the cover member 22 is arranged to be openable and closable by rotating the other end 24 on the upper side in the vertical direction about one end 23 on the lower side in the vertical direction as the support point. After consumption of the ink contained in the liquid container 50, the user opens the cover member 22 and demounts the exhausted liquid container 50 from the mounting asselnbly unit 30. The use then mounts a new liquid container 50 to the mountillg assembly unit 30 and closes the cover member 22. loo4ol A-2. Configuration of Mounting Assembly Unit 30 Fig. 5 is a first perspective view illustrating the mounting assembly unit 30. Fig. G is a second perspective view illustrating the mounting assembly unit 30. Fig. 5 illustrates a first state (setting state) in which a movable member 40 is protruded outward relative to a stationary member 35. Fig. G illustrates a second state (mounting state) in which the movable member 40 is placed in the stationary member 35. The following describes the configuration of the mounting assembly unit 30C as an example with reference to Figs. 5 and 6. The other ~nountinga ssembly units 30Ii, 30M and 301' have the same configuration as that of the mounting assembly unit 30C. As shown in Fig. 5, the mounting assembly unit 30 includes the stationary member 35 and the movable member 40. [00411 The liquid container 50 is mounted on the mounting assembly unit 30 by the following two operations. The state that the liquid container 50 is mounted on the mounting assembly unit 30 is also called "mounting state (connecting state)". The "mounting state (connecting state)" denotes the state that a liquid supply portion 57 (liquid flow portion 57) of the liquid container 50 described later is connected with a liquid introducing portion (liquid introducing needle) 362 of the moutltiug assembly unit 30 and that a circuit board (container-side electrical connection structure) 582 of the liquid container 50 is electrically connected with an electrical connection structure (device-side electrical connection structure) 382 of the mounting assembly unit 30. In the mounting state, the ink contained in the Liquid container 50 can be flowed to the printer 10. In the description hereof, the containerside electrical connection structure 582 may be regarded as a contact portion CP . * First Operation The user makes the mounting assembly unit 30 in the first state and subsequently sets the liquid container 50 in the movable member 40. * Second Operation After the first operation, the user presses the movable menlber 40 against the stationary member 35 via the liquid container 50 and thereby makes the mounting assembly unit 30 in the second state. LO0421 In the second state of the mounting assembly unit 30, the motion of the movable member 40 relative to the stationary member 35 in a +I<1-axis direction is restricted by a lock mechanisnl. In the second state, the lock mechanisnl is unlocked by pressing the lnovable ~ne~nb4e0r inward (-Iilaxis direction) relative to the stationary member 35. The movable member 40 may be then moved to be protruded outward (+Z-axis direction) relative to the stationary member 35, so that the state of the mounting assembly unit 30 may be changed from the first state to the second state. roo431 The stationary member 35 is fixed to the surface 104 or 106 of the printer 10 (Figs. 3 and 4) by means of a plurality of screws 302 serving as fixation elements. More specifically, the mounting assembly unit 30Ii (Fig. 3) is fixed to the second surface 104 by means of a plurality of screws 302, and the mounting assembly units 30C, 30M and 3OY (Fig. 4) are fixed to the tlird surface 106 by means of a plurality of screws 302. [00441 The stationary member 35 has a liquid introducing mechanism 36 and a contact mechanism 38. The liquid introducing mechanism 36 includes the liquid introducing portion 362. A liquid supply assembly of the liquid container 50 described later is connected with the liquid introducing portion 362, so that the inlr contained in the liquid container 50 is flowed. The liquid introducing portion 362 communicates with the record head of the printer 10. [00451 The liquid introducing portion 362 is formed in a needle-like shape to have an inner cavity for ink flow. The liquid introducing portion 362 is extended along a center axis CL. A direction along this center axis CL (direction in which the liquid introducing portion 362 is extended) is specified as Iil-axis direction. The Iil-axis direction is orthogonal to the Zaxis direction. A direction orthogonal to both the Iil-axis direction and the Z-axis direction is specified as Ii2-axis direction. Aplane defined by the Iil-axis direction and the Ii2-axis direction is parallel to the plane defined by the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction shown in Fig. 1. M7ith respect to the ICl-axis direction, the outward direction of the printer 10 is +Ile (connect) the first member 53A~vithth e second member 53B. The three engagement elements 511A, 511B and 511C are arrayed along the I(2-axis direction (direction in xvhich the positioning structure 56 and the circuit board holding portion 59 are arrayed). The number of the engagement elements 511A, 511B and 511C may be decreased to t\vo or less or may be increased to four or more. IVhen there is no need to distinguish among the three engagement elements 511A, 51113 and 511C, the engagement elenlents are expressed by synlbol "511". [01071 The engagenlent eletnents 511 are provided on the base portion 548 on the second side 53fb of the Erst member 53A. The engagement ele~nent 511 is formed in an al~proxitnatelyre ctangular parallelepiped shape. More specificallj: the outer shal)e of the engagenlent element 511 is an approximately rectangular shape to surround a direction along the IC1-axis direction (along the center axis CT direction of the liquid flow portion 57) (i.e., K1-axis direction). The engagelllent element 511 is a convex protruded from the base portion 548 toward the second member 53B (+IClaxis direction). [01081 As shown in Fig. 17B, the first member 53A also has eight member engaging elements 588 (only seven are illustrated) provided on the second side 53fb to engage with the third member (pressing member) 53C and thereby couple (connect) the f i s t member 53A with the third member 53C. The member engaging elements 588 are formed in concave shape. [01091 As shown in Figs. 17A and 17B, the liquid supply portion 57 is connected with the second member 53B by integral molding. The mounting portion (joint portion) 549 is also coupled (connected) with the second member 53 by integral molding. [OllOl The second member 53B also has three engagement elements 513A, 513B and 513C provided to engage with the engagement elements 511 and thereby mount the first inember 53A to the second member 53B. When there is no need to distinguish among the three engagement elements 513A, 513B and 513C, the engagement elements are expressed by symbol "513". The nulnber of the engagement elements 513 may be two or less or may be four or more. [Ollll The three engage~nenet le~nents5 13A, 513B and 513C are provided corresponding to the three engagement elements 513A, 513B and 513C of the first member 53A. The engagement element 513 is a through hole that passes through in the IC1-axis direction. The engagement element 513 is formed in an outer shape that allows the engagement elenlent 511 to be fit in. The outer shape of the engagement element 513 is an approximately rectangular shape to surround a direction along the IC1-axis direction (along the center axis CT direction of the liquid flow portion 57) (i.e., IC1-axis direction). [01121 As shown in Fig. 17C, the engagenlent elements 511A, 511B and 511C as the convexes are fit in the corresponding engagement elements 513A, 513B and 513C as the through holes, so that the second member 53B is mounted to the first member 53A. Accordingly, a portion 517 provided with the engagement elements 513 is also called "protruded portion 517" that is protruded from the joint portion 549 to outside of the liquid container body 52 (shown in Fig. 7). The engagement elements 511 of the coupling member 53A are engaged with the engagement elements 513 of the protruded portion 517, so that the coupling member 53A is coupled with the joint portion 549. [01131 The three engagement elements 511A, 511B and 511C of the handle member 53A are engaged with the second member 53B to which the liquid container boy 52 is mounted and thereby have the follo\ving functions. When the user grips the handle member 53A to hold the liquid container 50, the three engage~nenet lements 511A, 511B and 511C serve as portions that receive a load produced by the dead weight of the liquid container body 52. Accordingly the three engagement elements 511A, 511B and 511C are also called support elements 511A, 511B and 511C. [01141 The handle niember 53A is assembled to the second member 53B and is thereby connected with the liquid sullply portion 57. Herein the term "connect" includes not only a configuration that the handle member 53A and the liquid supply portion 57 are connected directly with each other but a configuration that the handle member 53A and the liquid supply portion 57 are connected indirectly via another member. [01151 Engage~ne~olft t he engagement element 511B with the engagement element 513R restricts the niotion of the second ~nember5 3B relative to the coupling member 53A in the Ii2-axis direction and in the Z-axis direction. Engagement of the engagement element 511A with the engagement element 513A and engage~nenotf the engagement element 511C with the engagement element 513C restrict the motion of the second member 53B relative to the coupling member 53A in the Z-axis direction. In other words, the engagement elenlents 511 and the engagenlent elements 513 respectively have the outer shapes that surround the direction along the center axis CT direction (Iil-axis direction) (i.e., Iil-axis direction), so as to suppress the positional misalignment between the coupling member 53A and the second member 53B in a planar direction orthogonal to the center axis CT direction (i.e., planar direction defined by the Z-axis direction and the R2-axis direction). [01161 As shown in Fig. 17B, the coupling member 53A additionally has engaging claws 511Da and 511Db in convex shape. The engaging claws 511Da and 511Db are provided on the second side 53fi of the coupling portion 548. The second member 53B has through holes 513Da and 513Db at positions corresponding to the engaging claws 511Da and 511Db in convex shape. [01171 As shown in Figs. 17E and 17F, the engaging claws 511Da and 511Db are engaged with the member that forms the through holes 513Da and 513Db. This restricts the motion of the second member 53B relative to the coupling member 53Ain the +I

Documents

Application Documents

# Name Date
1 Priority Document [04-12-2015(online)].pdf 2015-12-04
2 Form 5 [04-12-2015(online)].pdf 2015-12-04
3 Form 3 [04-12-2015(online)].pdf 2015-12-04
4 Form 1 [04-12-2015(online)].pdf 2015-12-04
5 Drawing [04-12-2015(online)].pdf 2015-12-04
6 Description(Complete) [04-12-2015(online)].pdf 2015-12-04
7 11104-DELNP-2015.pdf 2015-12-05
8 11104-delnp-2015-Others-(06-01-2016).pdf 2016-01-06
9 11104-delnp-2015-GPA-(06-01-2016).pdf 2016-01-06
10 11104-delnp-2015-Form-1-(06-01-2016).pdf 2016-01-06
11 11104-delnp-2015-Correspondence Others-(06-01-2016).pdf 2016-01-06
12 11104-delnp-2015-Form-3-(29-01-2016).pdf 2016-01-29
13 11104-delnp-2015-Correspondence Others-(29-01-2016).pdf 2016-01-29
14 Marked Copy [07-04-2016(online)].pdf 2016-04-07
15 Form 13 [07-04-2016(online)].pdf 2016-04-07
16 Description(Complete) [07-04-2016(online)].pdf 2016-04-07
17 11104-delnp-2015-Correspondence Others-(07-04-2016).pdf 2016-04-07
18 Form 3 [14-07-2016(online)].pdf 2016-07-14
19 Form 3 [25-01-2017(online)].pdf 2017-01-25
20 Form 18 [02-06-2017(online)].pdf 2017-06-02
21 11104-DELNP-2015-FORM 3 [02-01-2019(online)].pdf 2019-01-02
22 11104-DELNP-2015-FER.pdf 2019-11-19
23 11104-DELNP-2015-PETITION UNDER RULE 137 [23-04-2020(online)].pdf 2020-04-23
24 11104-DELNP-2015-OTHERS [23-04-2020(online)].pdf 2020-04-23
25 11104-DELNP-2015-FER_SER_REPLY [23-04-2020(online)].pdf 2020-04-23
26 11104-DELNP-2015-DRAWING [23-04-2020(online)].pdf 2020-04-23
27 11104-DELNP-2015-CORRESPONDENCE [23-04-2020(online)].pdf 2020-04-23
28 11104-DELNP-2015-COMPLETE SPECIFICATION [23-04-2020(online)].pdf 2020-04-23
29 11104-DELNP-2015-CLAIMS [23-04-2020(online)].pdf 2020-04-23
30 11104-DELNP-2015-ABSTRACT [23-04-2020(online)].pdf 2020-04-23
31 11104-DELNP-2015-FORM 3 [18-05-2020(online)].pdf 2020-05-18
32 11104-DELNP-2015-FORM 3 [08-12-2020(online)].pdf 2020-12-08
33 11104-DELNP-2015-FORM 3 [17-11-2021(online)].pdf 2021-11-17
34 11104-DELNP-2015-PatentCertificate18-10-2022.pdf 2022-10-18
35 11104-DELNP-2015-IntimationOfGrant18-10-2022.pdf 2022-10-18
36 11104-DELNP-2015-RELEVANT DOCUMENTS [28-08-2023(online)].pdf 2023-08-28

Search Strategy

1 11104_delnp_2015_27-03-2019.pdf

ERegister / Renewals

3rd: 12 Dec 2022

From 05/06/2016 - To 05/06/2017

4th: 12 Dec 2022

From 05/06/2017 - To 05/06/2018

5th: 12 Dec 2022

From 05/06/2018 - To 05/06/2019

6th: 12 Dec 2022

From 05/06/2019 - To 05/06/2020

7th: 12 Dec 2022

From 05/06/2020 - To 05/06/2021

8th: 12 Dec 2022

From 05/06/2021 - To 05/06/2022

9th: 12 Dec 2022

From 05/06/2022 - To 05/06/2023

10th: 26 Apr 2023

From 05/06/2023 - To 05/06/2024

11th: 29 May 2024

From 05/06/2024 - To 05/06/2025

12th: 29 May 2025

From 05/06/2025 - To 05/06/2026

13th: 25 May 2026

From 05/06/2026 - To 05/06/2027