JP7694292B2 - Ink refill container - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to an ink supply container.

Conventionally, there are capped containers that have a valve body at the opening for dispensing liquid contents. This valve body is made of an elastic material and is divided by a slit. Patent Document 1 discloses a cap that has a pushing part for pushing open the valve body divided by the slit.

JP 2016-50007 A

However, when the internal pressure of a container increases due to an environmental change such as a temperature rise, and the container is turned upside down to dispense the contents, the total pressure of the internal pressure and the head pressure of the contents exceeds the pressure resistance of the valve body divided by the slit, and the contents may be forcefully dispensed. In the cap described in Patent Document 1, the pushing part pushes open the slit valve, but this is insufficient to release the pressure in the container. In addition, in the cap described in Patent Document 1, when the cap is closed, the valve body divided by the slit is constantly pushed open by the pushing part, which may cause creep deformation of the valve body. Therefore, there is a need for technology that can suppress creep deformation of the valve body while suppressing the increase in pressure inside the container.

An ink supply container is an ink supply container comprising a bottle capable of containing ink and a cap removably attached to the bottle, wherein the bottle comprises an ink outlet forming portion having a cylindrical ink outlet and an outer circumferential portion on which a first screw portion is formed, and a valve provided at the ink outlet and having a valve body, and the cap has a cylindrical body portion having a first inner circumferential portion on which a second screw portion engageable with the first screw portion is formed, a top surface portion that faces the ink outlet when the cap is attached to the bottle, and a protrusion portion extending in a direction along the central axis of the body, wherein when the cap rotates in a first direction to disengage the first screw portion from the second screw portion, the protrusion portion moves toward the valve to push the valve body to open the valve, and when the cap rotates in a second direction to engage the first screw portion with the second screw portion, the protrusion portion rotates relatively in the first direction to move away from the valve body to close the valve.
According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an ink supply container. This ink supply container is an ink supply container comprising a bottle capable of containing ink and a cap removably attached to the bottle, wherein the bottle has an ink outlet forming portion having a cylindrical ink outlet and an outer circumferential portion on which a first thread portion is formed, and a valve body made of an elastic material provided at the ink outlet, the valve having a valve body divided by one or more slits, and the cap has a cylindrical body portion having a first inner circumferential portion on which a second thread portion engageable with the first thread portion is formed, a top surface portion that faces the ink outlet when the cap is attached to the bottle, and a protrusion portion extending in a direction along the central axis of the body, wherein when the cap rotates in a first direction to release the engagement between the first thread portion and the second thread portion, the protrusion portion moves toward the valve body, pushing the valve body and entering the slit to open the valve body, and when the cap rotates in a second direction to engage with the first thread portion and the second thread portion, the protrusion portion rotates relatively in the first direction to move away from the valve body to close the valve body.
The valve of an ink supply container according to another embodiment further comprises a seal member attached to the ink outlet, and a spring member that biases the valve body toward the seal member.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a recording apparatus. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an ink supply unit. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the ink supply unit. FIG. 2 is a side view of the ink supply container. FIG. FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the main part of the bottle together with the cap. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the bottle shown with a protrusion. 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating a change in position of a protrusion. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a bottle connected to an ink refill adapter. 13 is a side view of an ink supply container according to another embodiment. FIG. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a bottle according to another embodiment. FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a main part of a bottle together with a cap according to another embodiment. 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating a change in position of a protrusion according to another embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a bottle according to another embodiment connected to an ink refill adapter.

A: Embodiments:
A1: Overall structure of the recording device:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a recording device 21 in an embodiment. The recording device 21 is an inkjet printer that records an image or the like on a medium by ejecting ink onto the medium. FIG. 1 shows an X direction, a Y direction, and a Z direction that are mutually perpendicular. The X direction and the Y direction are parallel to the horizontal direction, and the Z direction is parallel to the vertical direction. One of the X directions is defined as the +X direction, and the other of the X directions is defined as the -X direction. One of the Y directions is defined as the +Y direction, and the other of the Y directions is defined as the -Y direction. One of the Z directions is defined as the +Z direction, and the other of the Z directions is defined as the -Z direction. The +Z direction is also called the upward direction, and the -Z direction is also called the downward direction.

The recording device 21 has a housing 22 in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped with the X direction as its longitudinal direction. A support table 23 with the X direction as its longitudinal direction is provided at the bottom of the housing 22 with its upper surface aligned approximately horizontally. Paper P, an example of a medium, is supported on the upper surface of the support table 23 and transported in the +Y direction, which is the transport direction. A guide shaft 24 extending along the X direction is installed above the support table 23 in the housing 22, and a carriage 26 equipped with a recording head 25 on its lower surface that ejects ink is supported on the guide shaft 24. The carriage 26 is supported so as to be freely movable back and forth in the X direction relative to the guide shaft 24, with the guide shaft 24 inserted into a support hole that penetrates in the X direction.

A drive pulley 28 and a driven pulley 29 are rotatably supported in the housing 22 at positions near both ends of the guide shaft 24. The output shaft of a carriage motor 30 is connected to the drive pulley 28, and an endless timing belt 31, a part of which is connected to the carriage 26, is wound between the drive pulley 28 and the driven pulley 29. When the carriage 26 is driven by the carriage motor 30 and guided by the guide shaft 24 via the timing belt 31 to move back and forth along the X direction, which is the scanning direction for the paper P, ink is ejected from the recording head 25 on the underside of the carriage 26 onto the paper P transported forward on the support base 23.

A discharge port 32, a discharge tray 33, and a paper feed cassette 34 are provided on the surface of the housing 22 facing the +Y direction. The discharge port 32 discharges paper P on which recording has been performed by ejecting ink from the recording head 25. The discharge tray 33 supports paper P discharged from inside the housing 22. The paper feed cassette 34 is provided below the discharge tray 33, and stores multiple sheets of paper P used for recording in a stacked state.

An opening/closing door 35 is provided on the +Y side surface of the housing 22 at the +X side end. The opening/closing door 35 can be opened and closed freely with its lower end as the center of rotation. A window 37 made of a rectangular transparent material is formed on the +Y side surface of the opening/closing door 35, through which the interior can be seen. When the opening/closing door 35 of the housing 22 is opened, an ink supply adapter 47 of the ink supply unit 40, which will be described later, is exposed.

In the housing 22 of the recording device 21, an ink supply unit 40 that supplies ink to the recording head 25 is housed behind the opening and closing door 35. The ink housed in the ink supply unit 40 is supplied to the recording head 25 through an ink supply tube 46. The ink supply tube 46 drawn out from the ink supply unit 40 is connected to an ink flow path (not shown) formed in the carriage 26, and is connected to the recording head 25 through the ink flow path.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the ink supply unit 40. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the ink supply unit 40, taken along line III-III of Figure 2. As shown in Figure 2, the ink supply unit 40 has five ink tanks 41a to 41e, five ink supply tubes 46, and an ink supply adapter 47. The five ink tanks 41a to 41e contain different colors of ink. The colors of ink contained in the ink tanks 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d, and 41e are, for example, black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. In the following description, the five ink tanks 41a to 41e are also collectively referred to as ink tanks 41. The ink tank 41 has a roughly box shape that is long in the Y direction, with the ends in the +Z and +Y directions cut out, and the ink supply tube 46 is attached to the surface on the -Y direction side. The cut-out portion of the ink tank 41 is the step portion 48. The ink supply adapter 47 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape and is attached so as to cover all of the step portions 48 of the five ink tanks 41a to 41e when the five ink tanks 41a to 41e are arranged in the X direction.

As shown in FIG. 3, the ink tank 41 has an ink storage chamber 49 for storing ink, a visible portion 50, and a needle 56 in addition to the step portion 48 described above. The visible portion 50 constitutes a part of the surface of the ink storage chamber 49 of the ink tank 41 on the +Y direction side, and is made of transparent resin. As shown in FIG. 2, the visible portion 50 has an upper limit mark 51 indicating the upper limit of the liquid level of the ink stored in the ink storage chamber 49 and a lower limit mark 52 indicating the lower limit. The user can inject ink without overflowing using the upper limit mark 51 as a guide. The user can also know when to replenish ink using the lower limit mark 52 as a guide. The needle 56 has an approximately cylindrical shape extending in the +Z direction with the surface of the step portion 48 along the XY direction as its base. Inside the needle 56, a first flow path 54 and a second flow path 55 are formed. The first flow path 54 and the second flow path 55 are formed by dividing the internal space of the needle 56. The first flow path 54 and the second flow path 55 communicate with the ink storage chamber 49 and the outside. The positions of the tips of the first flow path 54 and the second flow path 55 are lower than the upper surface position of the ink supply adapter 47. In this embodiment, the height of the tip of the first flow path 54 in the +Z direction is lower than the height of the tip of the second flow path 55 in the +Z direction, but the tip of the needle 56 may be a flat surface where the height of the first flow path 54 and the height of the second flow path 55 are the same.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ink supply adapter 47 has five ink supply sections 47a. Each of the five ink supply sections 47a is provided corresponding to each of the five ink tanks 41. As shown in FIG. 2, the ink supply section 47a has a recess 60 and a first uneven section 62. The planar shape of the recess 60 as viewed from the +Z direction is a shape obtained by overlapping a circle with a rectangle that is long in the Y direction and has a line of symmetry that passes through the center of the circle and extends in the Y direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the recess 60 penetrates the ink supply adapter 47 in the Z direction, and the end on the -Z direction side is closed by a surface of the stepped section 48 along the XY plane. A needle 56 is disposed inside the recess 60.

The first uneven portion 62 is arranged inside the recess 60 and is composed of multiple rods 62a having a rod shape extending in the +Z direction. The tip of the rod 62a is located below the upper surface position of the ink supply adapter 47. The cross-sectional shape and arrangement position of the multiple rods 62a are formed differently for each corresponding ink tank 41a to 41e. Note that the cross-sectional shapes of the multiple rods 62a of the ink supply unit 40 are different from each other, but for convenience, in this embodiment, they are described by using the same reference numerals. The same is true for the first uneven portion 62. For example, the first uneven portion 62 corresponding to the ink tank 41a has one rod 62a on the +Y direction side and one rod 62a on the -Y direction side with respect to the needle 56. The distance between the rod 62a arranged on the +Y direction side and the needle 56 is longer than the distance between the rod 62a arranged on the -Y direction side and the needle 56. In contrast, the first uneven portion 62 corresponding to the ink tank 41b similarly has two rod portions 62a, but the distance between each of the two rod portions 62a and the needle 56 is the same. Although a description of the first uneven portions 62 corresponding to the ink tanks 41c to 41e will be omitted, similarly, the rod portions 62a are formed so that their cross-sectional shapes and arrangement positions are different from each other. By forming the first uneven portions 62 with different shapes for each of the ink tanks 41a to 41e, when refilling ink using a bottle 80, only the bottle 80 that matches the ink color of any of the ink tanks 41a to 41e to be refilled can be inserted into the ink refill portion 47a. Details of ink refilling will be described later.

A2: Structure of ink supply container:
Fig. 4 is a side view of the ink supply container 63. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the bottle 80. Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the bottle 80. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the bottle 80 along line VII-VII in Fig. 4, showing the protrusion 684. The ink supply container 63 is used to supply ink to the ink supply unit 40.

The Z direction is shown in Figures 4 to 7. One side of the Z direction is defined as the +Z direction, and the other side of the Z direction is defined as the -Z direction. The +Z direction is also called the upward direction, and the -Z direction is also called the downward direction. As shown in Figure 4, the ink supply container 63 comprises a bottle 80 and a cap 68 that is removably attached to the bottle 80. The bottle 80 is capable of containing ink, and as shown in Figure 5, comprises a container main body portion 64 and an ink outlet forming portion 150.

As shown in FIG. 6, the container body 64 has an ink storage section 76, a neck section 77, and a container thread section 78. As shown in FIG. 4, the container body 64 is a cylindrical container with a bottom. The internal space of the container body 64 is the ink storage section 76 that stores ink. The container body 64 is made of a transparent or translucent material. For example, polypropylene can be used as such a material. As shown in FIG. 6, the upper part of the container body 64 has a reduced diameter, and the reduced diameter part is the neck section 77. The container thread section 78 is a male screw formed on the outer circumferential surface of the neck section 77.

As shown in FIG. 6, the ink outlet forming part 150 covers the neck part 77 of the container body part 64 and is detachably attached to the container body part 64. The ink outlet forming part 150 is generally cylindrical and has an outer periphery part 70, a small diameter part 66, an ink outlet 65, a spout thread part 82, a first thread part 69, a slit valve 74 as a valve, and a first protrusion part 91. The outer periphery part 70 is disposed on the lower end side of the ink outlet forming part 150 and is formed with a larger diameter than the neck part 77. The inner peripheral surface of the outer periphery part 70 is formed with a spout thread part 82 which is a female thread that screws with the container thread part 78 formed on the container body part 64. The outer peripheral surface of the outer periphery part 70 is formed with a first thread part 69 which is a male thread. The small diameter part 66 is disposed above the outer periphery part 70. The inner diameter of the small diameter part 66 is smaller than the inner diameter of the outer periphery part 70. The cylindrical ink outlet 65 is located at the upper end of the small diameter portion 66.

In addition to the above configuration, the ink outlet forming section 150 has two convex parts 71, two second uneven parts 72, and a positioning section 73 as shown in FIG. 5. The two convex parts 71 and the two second uneven parts 72 are formed radially outward of the small diameter section 66. The two convex parts 71 have a wall extending in the radial direction of the small diameter section 66 and a part extending in the circumferential direction of the small diameter section 66 at the radial tip of the wall, and the two second uneven parts 72 are formed on the walls of the two convex parts 71 so as to extend in a direction intersecting the wall or in the circumferential direction of the small diameter section 66. The two convex parts 71 are erected in the +Z direction with the outer periphery 70 as a base. More specifically, when viewed from the Z direction, the two convex parts 71 and the two second uneven parts 72 are each arranged point symmetrically with respect to the central axis CX. The two convex parts 71 are formed to fit into the ink supply adapter 47. Each of the two convex portions 71 has a second uneven portion 72 formed between the radially outer end of the small diameter portion 66 and the end of the small diameter portion 66. As shown in FIG. 7, the shape of each of the second uneven portions 72 viewed from the Z direction is a shape in which a part of each of both sides parallel to the diameter direction is cut out so that the first uneven portion 62 fits in. The shape of the second uneven portion 72 differs for each color of ink contained in the bottle 80, and the shape of the second uneven portion 72 shown in FIG. 7 is a shape that fits into the first uneven portion 62 corresponding to the ink tank 41b. In detail, the shape of the second uneven portion 72 is a shape that is predetermined for each color of ink contained in the bottle 80, and is a shape that fits into the first uneven portion 62 that is determined for each color of ink. As shown in FIG. 5, the positioning portion 73 is formed at approximately the center of the small diameter portion 66 in the Z direction. The positioning portion 73 has a circular ring-shaped portion and portions extending from both ends of the circular ring-shaped portion in the diameter direction toward the two protrusions 71. As shown in FIG. 7, the positioning portion 73 protrudes outward from the outer periphery of each of the small diameter portion 66, the second uneven portion 72, and the protrusions 71 when viewed from the Z direction. When the bottle 80 is inserted into the ink supply portion 47a during ink supply, the positioning portion 73 abuts against the outer edge of the recess 60 on the top surface of the ink supply adapter 47 in the short direction, i.e., in the X direction, to position the ink bottle 80 in the direction of the central axis CX.

As shown in FIG. 6, the slit valve 74 is provided at the opening of the ink outlet 65, and controls the flow of ink by opening and closing the flow path in the ink outlet 65. As shown in FIG. 7, the slit valve 74 has a valve body 742 made of an elastic material such as silicone. The planar shape of the valve body 742 when viewed from the Z direction is circular, and is divided by one or more slits 75 extending radially from the center of the ink outlet 65 to the outer periphery. In this embodiment, the valve body 742 is divided by six slits 75. When no external force is applied, the slit valve 74 is closed because the slits 75 are closed. When an external force is applied to the slit valve 74, the slits 75 of the valve body 742 are pushed open, and the slit valve 74 opens. As shown in FIG. 7, the two first protrusions 91 are provided protruding radially inward from the second inner periphery 65a of the ink outlet 65. As shown in FIG. 6, the first protrusion 91 is located outward from the slit valve 74 in the direction of the central axis CX of the ink outlet 65.

As shown in FIG. 6, the cap 68 is removably attached to the ink outlet forming portion 150 so as to cover the ink outlet forming portion 150. The cap 68 has a body portion 682, a top surface portion 683, a top surface protrusion portion 683a, a protrusion portion 684, a second screw portion 681, and a third screw portion 685.

The body 682 has a cylindrical shape. The inner diameter of the body 682 is larger than the outer diameter of the outer periphery 70. The body 682 has a first inner periphery 682a that faces the ink outlet forming portion 150. A second screw portion 681, which is a female screw that can engage with the first screw portion 69, is formed at the -Z direction side end of the first inner periphery 682a. The top surface portion 683 is formed so as to close the +Z direction side end of the body 682. When the cap is attached, the top surface portion 683 faces the ink outlet 65 provided in the bottle 80. A third screw portion 685 is formed on the top surface portion 683. Specifically, the top surface protrusion portion 683a is provided on the surface of the top surface portion 683 that faces the ink outlet 65 and protrudes toward the ink outlet 65. The top surface protrusion 683a has a hole recessed in the +Z direction along the central axis CX, and a third screw portion 685, which is a female screw, is formed on the inner circumferential surface of this hole.

The protrusion 684 extends in a direction along the central axis CX of the body 682. The protrusion 684 has a generally cylindrical shape. The protrusion 684 is attached to the cap 68 by threaded engagement so that the central axis of the protrusion 684 is aligned with the central axis CX of the top surface 683. The protrusion 684 has a side wall 688, which is the outer peripheral surface, a fourth screw portion 686, and two second protrusions 687. The fourth screw portion 686 is a male screw that can be engaged with a third screw portion 685 formed at the +Z direction side end of the side wall 688. The two second protrusions 687 are formed at the -Z direction side end of the side wall 688, protruding radially from the side wall 688. The protrusion 684 is configured to be able to advance and retreat in the direction of the central axis CX relative to the cap 68 by threaded engagement of the fourth screw portion 686 with the third screw portion 685.

In this embodiment, the first threaded portion 69 and the second threaded portion 681 have a right-handed thread structure that screws together when the cap 68 is rotated clockwise relative to the bottle 80. In contrast, the third threaded portion 685 and the fourth threaded portion 686 have a left-handed thread structure that screws together when the cap 68 is rotated counterclockwise relative to the protrusion 684. The thread pitch P2 between the third threaded portion 685 and the fourth threaded portion 686 is larger than the thread pitch P1 between the first threaded portion 69 and the second threaded portion 681. This allows the advancement and retreat distance of the protrusion 684 relative to the amount of rotation of the cap 68 to be increased compared to when the thread pitch P1 and the thread pitch P2 are the same.

As shown in FIG. 7, when viewed from the Z direction, the two first protrusions 91 are formed point symmetrically with the central axis CX as the center of symmetry. Each first protrusion 91 has two wall surfaces that form an approximately right angle with each other. The two second protrusions 687 of the protrusion 684 are arranged on the same line passing through the central axis CX, facing each other across the central axis CX. Each second protrusion 687 has two wall surfaces that are approximately parallel to each other. When the second screw portion 681 of the cap 68 is engaged with the first screw portion 69 of the bottle 80, one of the two first protrusions 91 and one of the two second protrusions 687 come into contact with each other. Then, the other of the two first protrusions 91 and the other of the two second protrusions 687 come into contact with each other. This restricts the rotation of the protrusion 684 relative to the bottle 80 whether the cap 68 is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise relative to the bottle 80.

A3: Ink supply using an ink supply container:
When the ink contained in the ink tank 41 becomes low, the user refills the ink using the ink supply container 63. Specifically, the user first removes the cap 68 of the ink supply container 63 to expose the ink outlet forming portion 150. The movement of the protrusion 684 when the cap 68 of the ink supply container 63 is removed will now be described.

Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating how the relative position of the protrusion 684 with respect to the top surface 683 changes depending on whether the cap 68 is attached or detached. The left diagram of Figure 8 shows the state in which the cap 68 is attached, and the right diagram of Figure 8 shows the state in which the cap 68 and the ink outlet forming part 150 are unscrewed. When the cap 68 is screwed to the ink outlet forming part 150 and the cap 68 is rotated counterclockwise relative to the ink outlet forming part 150 as the first direction for unscrewing the first screw part 69 and the second screw part 681, the first screw part 69 and the second screw part 681 are unscrewed. During this counterclockwise rotation of the cap 68, the second protrusion 687 of the protrusion 684 abuts against the first protrusion 91, and the rotation of the protrusion 684 around the central axis CX is restricted. Then, as the second protrusion 687 comes into contact with the first protrusion 91, the protrusion 684 rotates relatively in a clockwise direction as a second direction opposite to the first direction. This relative rotation causes the protrusion 684 to move toward the valve body 742, pushing the valve body 742 and entering the slit 75. In more detail, as the third screw portion 685 rotates counterclockwise, the thread of the fourth screw portion 686 is guided by the thread groove of the third screw portion 685, and the protrusion 684 moves toward the valve body 742. As a result, as shown in the right diagram of FIG. 8, the protrusion 684 opens the slit valve 74, and the pressure in the ink storage portion 76 is released.

On the other hand, when the cap 68 is rotated clockwise relative to the ink outlet forming portion 150 as the second direction in which the first screw portion 69 and the second screw portion 681 screw together, the first screw portion 69 and the second screw portion 681 screw together. When the first screw portion 69 and the second screw portion 681 screw together and rotate clockwise, the second protrusion 687 abuts against the first protrusion 91, and the protrusion 684 rotates relatively in the first direction and moves away from the valve body 742. When the protrusion 684 moves away from the valve body 742, the valve body 742 closes. As a result, as shown in the left diagram of FIG. 8, when the cap 68 is attached, the protrusion 684 does not deform the valve body 742, so creep deformation of the valve body 742 can be suppressed. If the valve body 742 creeps, there is a risk that ink will drip from the valve body 742 when the bottle 80 is turned upside down. By suppressing creep deformation of the valve body 742, it is possible to suppress ink dripping when the bottle 80 is turned upside down.

When replenishing ink using the ink supply container 63, after removing the cap 68 from the bottle 80, the user turns the bottle 80 upside down and fits the exposed protrusion 71 of the bottle 80 into the recess 60 of the ink supply unit 40. Here, if the internal pressure of the ink storage section 76 rises and the pressure in the ink storage section 76 is not fully released, when the bottle 80 is turned upside down, the total pressure of the internal pressure of the ink supply container 63 and the head pressure of the ink may exceed the pressure resistance of the valve body 742, causing the ink to be ejected forcefully. An example of a case in which the internal pressure of the ink supply container 63 rises is when the temperature rises from the time when the cap 68 was last attached. In this regard, in this embodiment, as described above, when the cap 68 is removed from the bottle 80, the protrusion 684 enters the valve body 742 to release the pressure in the ink supply container 63, so that even if the ink supply container 63 is turned upside down, the ink can be prevented from being ejected forcefully.

Figure 9 shows the state in which the bottle 80 is inserted in the ink refill adapter 47 in an upside-down state. As described above, the shape of the second uneven portion 72 of the bottle 80 is a shape that fits with the first uneven portion 62 corresponding to the ink color to be stored. When the color of ink stored in the bottle 80 matches the color of ink stored in the ink tank 41 to be refilled, the user can insert the bottle 80 into the ink refill adapter 47 as shown in Figure 9. This allows the user to refill the ink without making a mistake. The user inserts the bottle 80 until the positioning portion 73 abuts against the upper surface of the ink refill adapter 47. When the bottle 80 is inserted, the slit valve 74 is opened by the needle 56. Either the first flow path 54 or the second flow path 55 becomes the ink flow path, and the other becomes the air flow path. Of the first flow path 54 and the second flow path 55, the one whose open end first touches the ink becomes the ink flow path, and the other becomes the air flow path. The slit valve 74 is opened, and the ink in the bottle 80 is replenished to the ink tank 41 through the first flow path 54 or the second flow path 55. When the replenishment is completed, the user pulls out the bottle 80 from the ink replenishment adapter 47 and attaches the cap 68 to the bottle 80. As described above, when the cap 68 is attached to the bottle 80, the protrusion 684 of the cap 68 moves away from the valve body 742. Although the heights of the first flow path 54 and the second flow path 55 are shown to be different in FIG. 3 and FIG. 9, the first flow path 54 may be formed to have the same height as the second flow path 55.

According to the embodiment described above, when the cap 68 rotates in the first direction to release the engagement between the first screw portion 69 and the second screw portion 681, the protrusion 684 moves toward the valve body 742 to push the valve body 742 and enter the slit 75. As a result, the protrusion 684 pushes the valve body 742, thereby releasing the pressure in the bottle 80. Then, when the cap 68 rotates in the second direction to engage the first screw portion 69 and the second screw portion 681, the protrusion 684 rotates relatively in the first direction and moves away from the valve body 742. As a result, the protrusion 684 moves away from the valve body 742, so creep deformation of the valve body 742 can be suppressed. Also, when the cap 68 rotates in the first direction, the second protrusion 687 abuts against the first protrusion 91, and the protrusion 684 rotates relatively in the second direction and moves toward the valve body 742 to push the valve body 742 and enter the slit 75. When the cap 68 rotates in the second direction, the second protrusion 687 abuts against the first protrusion 91, causing the protrusion 684 to rotate relatively in the first direction and move away from the valve body 742. According to this embodiment, when the cap 68 rotates in the first direction relative to the bottle 80, the protrusion 684 can press the valve body 742. When the cap 68 rotates in the second direction relative to the bottle 80, the protrusion 684 can move away from the valve body 742. The thread pitch P2 between the third thread portion 685 and the fourth thread portion 686 may be set to be larger than the thread pitch P1 between the first thread portion 69 and the second thread portion 681. This allows the advancement and retreat distance of the protrusion 684 relative to the amount of rotation of the cap 68 to be increased compared to when the thread pitch P2 is the same as or smaller than the thread pitch P1.

B. Other embodiments:
B1. Other embodiment 1:
In the above embodiment, the first threaded portion 69 and the second threaded portion 681 have a right-handed thread structure, and the third threaded portion 685 and the fourth threaded portion 686 have a left-handed thread structure. In contrast, the first threaded portion 69 and the second threaded portion 681 may have a left-handed thread structure, and the third threaded portion 685 and the fourth threaded portion 686 may have a right-handed thread structure. By making the structures of the first threaded portion 69 and the second threaded portion 681 and the structures of the third threaded portion 685 and the fourth threaded portion 686 opposite to each other, it is possible to realize a structure in which the protrusion 684 advances and retreats by rotating the cap 68 relative to the bottle 80.

B2. Other embodiment 2:
In the above embodiment, the two first protrusions 91 are provided protruding from the ink outlet 65. The first protrusions 91 have two wall surfaces that form a substantially right angle with each other. The shape of the first protrusions 91 is not limited to this, and may be a shape that protrudes from the second inner periphery 65a of the ink outlet 65 toward the central axis CX. In addition, the protrusion 684 is provided with two second protrusions 687. The shapes of the first protrusions 91 and the second protrusions 687 are not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the first protrusions 91 and the second protrusions 687 may each be provided one by one, or the first protrusions 91 and the second protrusions 687 may be fitted together in the vertical direction.

B3. Other embodiment 3:
In the above embodiment, the protrusion 684 is attached to the top surface portion 683 by threaded engagement between the third screw portion 685 and the fourth screw portion 686, thereby realizing a structure in which the protrusion 684 advances and retreats by the rotation of the cap 68 relative to the bottle 80. The structure in which the protrusion 684 advances and retreats by the rotation of the cap 68 relative to the bottle 80 is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, it may be realized by using a cam structure that converts the rotational motion of the cap 68 into an advancement and retreat motion in the direction of the central axis CX.

C. Other Forms:
The present disclosure is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and can be realized in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. For example, the present disclosure can be realized in the following forms. The technical features in the above-mentioned embodiments corresponding to the technical features in each form described below can be appropriately replaced or combined in order to solve some or all of the problems of the present disclosure, or to achieve some or all of the effects of the present disclosure. Furthermore, if the technical feature is not described as essential in this specification, it can be appropriately deleted.

(1) According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, an ink refill container is provided. This ink supply container is an ink supply container comprising a bottle capable of containing ink and a cap removably attached to the bottle, wherein the bottle has an ink outlet forming portion having a cylindrical ink outlet and an outer circumferential portion on which a first thread portion is formed, and a valve body made of an elastic material provided at the ink outlet, the valve having a valve body divided by one or more slits, and the cap has a cylindrical body portion having a first inner circumferential portion on which a second thread portion engageable with the first thread portion is formed, a top surface portion that faces the ink outlet when the cap is attached to the bottle, and a protrusion portion extending in a direction along the central axis of the body, wherein when the cap rotates in a first direction to release the engagement between the first thread portion and the second thread portion, the protrusion portion moves toward the valve body, pushing the valve body and entering the slit to open the valve body, and when the cap rotates in a second direction to engage with the first thread portion and the second thread portion, the protrusion portion rotates relatively in the first direction to move away from the valve body to close the valve body. According to this embodiment, when the cap is rotated in a first direction relative to the bottle, the protrusion presses the valve body, thereby releasing the pressure inside the bottle. Then, when the cap is rotated in a second direction relative to the bottle, the protrusion moves away from the valve body, thereby suppressing creep deformation of the valve body.

(2) In the ink supply container of the above embodiment, the bottle further has a first protruding portion protruding from the second inner periphery of the ink outlet, the cap further has a third screw portion formed on the top surface portion, the protrusion portion has a side wall on which a fourth screw portion capable of engaging with the third screw portion is formed, and a second protruding portion protruding from the side wall, and when the cap rotates in the first direction, the second protruding portion abuts against the first protruding portion, so that the protrusion rotates relatively in the second direction and moves toward the valve body, thereby pushing the valve body and entering the slit, and when the cap rotates in the second direction, the second protruding portion abuts against the first protruding portion, so that the protrusion rotates relatively in the first direction and moves away from the valve body. According to this embodiment, when the cap rotates in the first direction, the protrusion can rotate relatively in the second direction and move toward the valve body by abutting the second protruding portion against the first protruding portion. When the cap rotates in the second direction, the second protrusion abuts against the first protrusion, allowing the protrusion to rotate relatively in the first direction and move away from the valve body. As a result, when the cap is rotated in the first direction relative to the bottle, the protrusion presses the valve body, thereby releasing the pressure inside the bottle. When the cap is rotated in the second direction relative to the bottle, the protrusion moves away from the valve body, suppressing creep deformation of the valve body.

(3) In the ink supply container of the above embodiment, the thread pitch between the third thread portion and the fourth thread portion may be larger than the thread pitch between the first thread portion and the second thread portion. According to this embodiment, the distance by which the protrusion advances and retreats relative to the amount of rotation of the cap can be increased compared to when the thread pitch between the third thread portion and the fourth thread portion is the same as or smaller than the thread pitch between the first thread portion and the second thread portion.

Not all of the multiple components of each of the above-mentioned embodiments of the present disclosure are essential, and in order to solve some or all of the above-mentioned problems or to achieve some or all of the effects described in this specification, it is possible to modify, delete, or replace some of the multiple components with new components, or to delete some of the limitations, as appropriate. In addition, in order to solve some or all of the above-mentioned problems or to achieve some or all of the effects described in this specification, it is also possible to combine some or all of the technical features included in one embodiment of the present disclosure described above with some or all of the technical features included in the other embodiment of the present disclosure described above to form an independent embodiment of the present disclosure.

D: Other embodiments:
Next, the configuration of an ink supply container 63A according to another embodiment will be described. Note that the same components as those in the above embodiment will be given the same reference numerals and the duplicated description will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 10, the ink supply container 63A includes a bottle 80A capable of containing ink and a cap 68A that is removably attached to the bottle 80A. As shown in FIG. 11, the bottle 80A includes a container body portion 64A and an ink outlet forming portion 150A.

As shown in FIG. 12, the container body 64A has an ink storage section 76, a neck section 77, and a container screw section 78. The container body 64A is a cylindrical container with a bottom. The internal space of the container body 64A is the ink storage section 76 that stores ink.

The ink outlet forming part 150A covers the neck part 77 of the container body part 64A and is removably attached to the container body part 64A. The ink outlet forming part 150A is generally cylindrical in shape and has an outer periphery 70, a small diameter part 66, an ink outlet 65, a spout threaded part 82, a first threaded part 69, a valve 174, and a first protruding part 91.

A valve 174 is provided at the opening of the ink outlet 65. The valve 174 opens and closes a flow path within the ink outlet 65 to control the flow of ink.
The valve 174 of the present embodiment includes a cylindrical valve housing 845. The valve housing 845 is disposed at the opening of the ink outlet 65. A seal member 843, a valve body 842, and a spring member 844 are housed within the valve housing 845.
The seal member 843 is cylindrical and attached to the inner periphery of the ink outlet 65. The seal member 843 is made of an elastic material such as silicone. A protrusion 843a is formed on the inner periphery of the seal member 843, which protrudes toward the central axis CX.
The valve body 842 is disposed below the seal member 843 and configured to be movable relative to the seal member 843 in a direction along the Z-axis. Specifically, the valve body 842 is configured to be able to come into contact with and move away from the seal member 843. The valve body 842 is biased toward the seal member 843 by a spring member 844. An opening 845a extending in a direction along the Z-axis is formed on the outer periphery of the valve housing 845. The opening 845a is a through hole that penetrates the side wall of the valve housing 845 in a radial direction centered on the central axis CX.

The valve body 842 has a flat portion 842b that abuts against the seal member 843. When the -Z end face of the seal member 843 abuts against the +Z end face of the flat portion 842b, the flow path in the ink outlet 65 is closed. On the other hand, when the -Z end face of the seal member 843 and the +Z end face of the flat portion 842b are separated from each other, the ink outlet 65 and the ink storage section 76 communicate (communicate with the atmosphere) through the opening 845a, and the flow path in the ink outlet 65 is opened.

The valve body 842 is provided with a protruding portion 842a that protrudes in the +Z direction from a flat portion 842b. The protruding portion 842a is disposed at a position opposite to the protrusion 684.
The spring member 844 is, for example, a coil spring. The -Z end of the spring member 844 is supported by the valve housing 845, and the +Z end of the spring member 844 abuts against the valve body 842 to support the valve body 842. The biasing force of the spring member 844 in the +Z direction causes the valve body 842 to abut against the seal member 843, closing the flow path in the ink outlet 65. In other words, when no external force is applied, the valve body 842 is in a closed state because the seal member 843 and the valve body 842 are in abutting state.
When an external force is applied to the valve body 842 in the -Z direction, the valve body 842 is pressed down in the -Z direction relative to the seal member 843, causing the seal member 843 and the valve body 842 to be separated from each other, thereby taking an open valve state.

The cap 68A is removably attached to the ink outlet forming part 150A so as to cover the ink outlet forming part 150A. The cap 68A has a body part 682, a top surface part 683, a top surface protrusion part 683a, a protrusion part 684, a second screw part 681, and a third screw part 685. The protrusion part 684 is configured to be movable forward and backward in the direction of the central axis CX relative to the cap 68A.

When the ink contained in the ink tank 41 becomes low, the user refills the ink using the ink supply container 63A. Specifically, the user first removes the cap 68A of the ink supply container 63A to expose the ink outlet forming portion 150A.

Here, the movement of the protrusion 684 when the cap 68A of the ink supply container 63A is removed will be described.
13 is a diagram for explaining a state in which the relative position of the protrusion 684 with respect to the top surface 683 changes according to the attachment and detachment of the cap 68A. The left diagram of FIG. 13 shows a state in which the cap 68A is attached, and the right diagram of FIG. 13 shows a state in which the cap 68 and the ink outlet forming part 150A are unscrewed. When the cap 68A is rotated counterclockwise relative to the ink outlet forming part 150A in a state in which the cap 68A is screwed to the ink outlet forming part 150A as a first direction for unscrewing the first screw part 69 and the second screw part 681, the first screw part 69 and the second screw part 681 are unscrewed. During this counterclockwise rotation of the cap 68A, the second protrusion 687 of the protrusion 684 abuts against the first protrusion 91, and the rotation of the protrusion 684 around the central axis CX is restricted. Then, the second protrusion 687 abuts against the first protrusion 91, so that the protrusion 684 rotates relatively in the clockwise direction as a second direction opposite to the first direction. This relative rotation causes the protrusion 684 to move toward the protrusion 842a of the valve body 842, and the protrusion 684 abuts against the protrusion 842a, pressing the protrusion 842a (valve body 842) downward (-Z direction). More specifically, the counterclockwise rotation of the third screw portion 685 causes the thread of the fourth screw portion 686 to be guided by the thread groove of the third screw portion 685, and the protrusion 684 moves toward the valve body 842. Specifically, as shown in the right diagram of FIG. 13, the protrusion 684 moves the valve body 842 in the -Z direction against the biasing force of the spring member 844. As a result, the seal member 843 and the valve body 842 are separated from each other, the valve is opened via the opening 845a, and the pressure within the ink containing portion 76 is released.

On the other hand, when the cap 68A is rotated clockwise relative to the ink outlet forming portion 150A as the second direction in which the first screw portion 69 and the second screw portion 681 screw together, the first screw portion 69 and the second screw portion 681 screw together. When the first screw portion 69 and the second screw portion 681 rotate clockwise in which they screw together, the second protrusion 687 abuts against the first protrusion 91, and the protrusion 684 rotates relatively in the first direction and moves away from the valve body 842. When the protrusion 684 moves away from the valve body 842, the seal member 843 abuts against the valve body 842, and the valve 174 closes. As shown in the left diagram of FIG. 13, when the cap 68A is attached, the protrusion 684 is separated from the valve body 842, and the valve body 842 is not pressed by the protrusion 684, so creep deformation of the valve body 842 can be suppressed. If the valve body 842 were to undergo creep deformation, there is a risk that ink would drip from the valve body 842 when the bottle 80A is turned upside down. In this embodiment, by suppressing creep deformation of the valve body 842, it is possible to suppress ink dripping when the bottle 80A is turned upside down.

When replenishing ink using the ink supply container 63A, after removing the cap 68A from the bottle 80A, the user turns the bottle 80A upside down and fits the exposed protrusion 71 of the bottle 80A into the recess 60 of the ink supply unit 40. If the internal pressure of the ink storage section 76 rises and the pressure inside the ink storage section 76 is not fully released, when the bottle 80A is turned upside down, the total pressure of the internal pressure of the ink supply container 63A and the head pressure of the ink may exceed the pressure resistance of the valve body 842, causing the ink to be forcefully ejected. The internal pressure of the ink supply container 63A may rise when the temperature rises from the time the cap 68A was last attached, for example. In this embodiment, as described above, when the cap 68A is removed from the bottle 80A, the protrusion 684 presses against the valve body 842, opening the valve 174 and releasing the pressure inside the ink storage section 76, so that even if the ink supply container 63A is turned upside down, the ink can be prevented from being forcefully ejected.

14 is a diagram showing the state in which the bottle 80A is inserted upside down into the ink tank 41. When the bottle 80A is inserted, the needle 56 presses the valve body 842, thereby opening the valve 174. Either the first flow path 54 or the second flow path 55 becomes a flow path for ink, and the other becomes a flow path for air. When the valve 174 is opened, the ink in the bottle 80A is replenished to the ink tank 41 through the first flow path 54 or the second flow path 55. When the bottle 80A is inserted into the ink tank 41, the protrusion 843a of the seal member 843 comes into contact with the outer circumferential surface of the needle 56, thereby keeping the ink outlet 65 closed and preventing ink leakage.
When replenishment is completed, the user pulls out the bottle 80A from the ink tank 41, and attaches the cap 68A to the bottle 80A. As described above, when the cap 68A is attached to the bottle 80A, the protrusion 684 of the cap 68A moves away from the valve body 842.

As described above, according to this embodiment, when the cap 68A rotates in the first direction to release the engagement between the first screw portion 69 and the second screw portion 681, the protrusion 684 moves toward the valve body 842 to push the valve body 842 downward. This opens the valve 174, and the pressure inside the bottle 80A can be released. Then, when the cap 68A rotates in the second direction to engage the first screw portion 69 and the second screw portion 681, the protrusion 684 rotates relatively in the first direction and moves away from the valve body 842. This makes it possible to suppress creep deformation of the valve body 842. In addition, compared to a configuration using a slit valve 74, the problem of ink leakage from the slit 75 due to creep deformation is eliminated. In addition, compared to the case where the valve 174 is constantly opened by the protrusion 684 of the cap 68A, the load of the spring member 844 is temporary in this embodiment. The continuous stress caused by the spring load of the valve opening is applied to the part where the ink adheres, making it easier for chemical cracks to occur, but because the spring load of the valve opening is temporary, this can be easily avoided.

In the ink supply container 63, 63A of the above embodiment, the configuration of the valve 174 having the slit valve 74, the spring member 844, etc. as the valve has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. Any configuration may be used as long as the valve structure can be opened and closed according to the movement of the protrusion 684. For example, when the cap 68 rotates in the first direction to release the engagement between the first screw portion 69 and the second screw portion 681, the protrusion 684 moves toward the valve to push the valve body to open the valve, and when the cap 68 rotates in the second direction to engage the first screw portion 69 and the second screw portion 681, the protrusion 684 rotates relatively in the first direction and moves away from the valve body to close the valve. According to this embodiment, when the cap 68 is rotated in the first direction relative to the bottle 80, the protrusion 684 presses the valve body, thereby releasing the pressure in the bottle 80. When the cap 68 is rotated in the second direction relative to the bottle 80, the protrusion 684 separates from the valve body, preventing deformation of the valve body or application of continuous load to the member that opens the valve. In particular, continuous stress due to continuous load is applied to the part where ink adheres, which can easily cause chemical cracks, but this makes it easier to avoid such cracks.

21...recording device, 22...housing, 23...support stand, 24...guide shaft, 25...recording head, 26...carriage, 28...driving pulley, 29...driven pulley, 30...carriage motor, 31...timing belt, 32...discharge port, 33...discharge tray, 34...paper feed cassette, 35...opening and closing door, 37...window, 40...ink supply unit, 41, 41a to 41e...ink tanks, 46...ink supply Tube, 47...ink refill adapter, 47a...ink refill section, 48...step section, 49...ink storage chamber, 50...visible section, 51...upper limit mark, 52...lower limit mark, 54...first flow path, 55...second flow path, 56...needle, 60...recess, 62...first uneven section, 62a...rod section, 63, 63A...ink refill container, 64, 64A...container main body, 65...ink outlet, 65a...second inner circumferential section, 66...small diameter section, 68, 68A...cap, 69...first screw portion, 70...outer periphery, 71...projection portion, 72...second concave-convex portion, 73...positioning portion, 74...slit valve, 75...slit, 76...ink storage portion, 77...neck portion, 78...container screw portion, 80, 80A...bottle, 82...spout screw portion, 91...first protrusion portion, 150, 150A...ink outlet forming portion, 174...valve, 681...second screw portion, 682...body portion, 682a ...First inner circumference, 683...Top surface, 683a...Top surface protrusion, 684...Protrusion, 685...Third threaded portion, 686...Fourth threaded portion, 687...Second protrusion, 688...Side wall, 742...Valve body, 842...Valve body, 842a...Protrusion, 842b...Flat portion, 843...Sealing member, 843a...Protrusion, 844...Spring member, 845...Valve housing, 845a...Opening, CX...Center axis, P...Paper, P1, P2...Thread pitch.

Claims (5)

A bottle capable of containing ink;
a cap that is detachably attached to the bottle,
The bottle is
an ink outlet forming portion having a cylindrical ink outlet and an outer periphery on which a first screw portion is formed;
a valve provided at the ink outlet and having a valve body,
The cap is
a cylindrical body portion having a first inner circumferential portion on which a second thread portion engageable with the first thread portion is formed;
a top surface portion that faces the ink outlet when the cap is attached to the bottle;
A protrusion extending in a direction along the central axis of the body,
The protrusion is
when the cap is rotated in a first direction to disengage the first threaded portion from the second threaded portion, the cap moves toward the valve to push the valve body and open the valve;
An ink supply container, wherein when the cap rotates in a second direction in which the first threaded portion and the second threaded portion engage, the cap rotates relatively in the first direction and moves away from the valve body to close the valve. A bottle capable of containing ink;
a cap that is detachably attached to the bottle,
The bottle is
an ink outlet forming portion having a cylindrical ink outlet and an outer periphery on which a first screw portion is formed;
a valve having a valve body made of an elastic material provided at the ink outlet, the valve body being divided by one or more slits;
The cap is
a cylindrical body portion having a first inner circumferential portion on which a second thread portion engageable with the first thread portion is formed;
a top surface portion that faces the ink outlet when the cap is attached to the bottle;
A protrusion extending in a direction along the central axis of the body,
The protrusion is
When the cap rotates in a first direction to disengage the first screw portion from the second screw portion, the cap moves toward the valve body, pushing the valve body into the slit to open the valve body,
An ink supply container, wherein when the cap rotates in a second direction in which the first threaded portion and the second threaded portion engage, the cap rotates relatively in the first direction and moves away from the valve body to close the valve body. 3. The ink supply container according to claim 2,
the bottle further has a first protruding portion protruding from a second inner circumferential portion of the ink outlet,
The cap further has a third screw portion formed on the top surface portion,
The protrusion is
a side wall having a fourth threaded portion formed thereon that is engageable with the third threaded portion;
a second protruding portion protruding from the side wall,
When the cap is rotated in the first direction, the second protrusion comes into contact with the first protrusion, whereby the protrusion rotates relatively in the second direction and moves toward the valve body, thereby pushing the valve body and entering the slit,
An ink supply container, wherein when the cap rotates in the second direction, the second protrusion abuts the first protrusion, causing the protrusion to rotate relatively in the first direction and move away from the valve body. 4. The ink supply container according to claim 3,
a thread pitch between the third thread portion and the fourth thread portion is greater than a thread pitch between the first thread portion and the second thread portion. 2. The ink supply container according to claim 1,
The ink supply container further includes a seal member attached to the ink outlet, and a spring member that biases the valve body toward the seal member.

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