IP Library › Granted Patent US 12661898
Granted Patent B2
US 12661898 · App. 18/582,420 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Liquid storage body and liquid ejection apparatus

Inventor: Hiroshi Inomata (Kanagawa, JP)
B41J2/175
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12661898
App. No.
18/582,420
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A liquid storage body for supplying liquid to a liquid ejection apparatus. The storage body includes a bag to store liquid containing a settleable component, a connection section to supply liquid stored in the bag to the liquid ejection apparatus through a supply port while attached to the liquid ejection apparatus, a flow path section inside the bag to supply liquid to the connection section, and an intake section inside the bag to take in liquid stored in the bag and to supply the liquid to the flow path section. The intake section includes first and second intake ports to take in liquid. The intake section is supported by the flow path section to rotate with the consumption of liquid stored inside the bag. The first and second intake ports face each other with a flow path formed therebetween in a defined direction.

Claims (40)

1 . A liquid storage body for supplying liquid to a liquid ejection apparatus, the liquid storage body comprising:

a bag configured to store liquid containing a settleable component;

a connection section configured to supply liquid stored in the bag to the liquid ejection apparatus through a supply port, while being attached to the liquid ejection apparatus;

a flow path section provided inside the bag and configured to supply liquid to the connection section; and

an intake section provided inside the bag and configured to take in liquid stored in the bag and to supply the liquid to the flow path section, wherein the intake section comprises a first intake port and a second intake port to take in liquid, the intake section is supported by the flow path section so as to rotate with the consumption of liquid stored inside the bag, and the first intake port and the second intake port are formed to face each other with a flow path therebetween, the flow path being formed in a direction in which a rotational axis extends in a case when the intake section rotates.

2 . The liquid storage body according to claim 1 , wherein, in a state in which the liquid storage body is attached to the liquid ejection apparatus and liquid in the bag is not consumed, the first intake port is located below the second intake port in a vertical direction.

3 . The liquid storage body according to claim 1 , wherein, in a state in which the liquid storage body is attached to the liquid ejection apparatus and liquid in the bag has been consumed, the first intake port and the second intake port are in a same position in a vertical direction.

4 . The liquid storage body according to claim 1 , wherein a center of gravity of the intake section is at a position deviated from the flow path.

5 . The liquid storage body according to claim 4 , wherein the intake section comprises a weight.

6 . The liquid storage body according to claim 4 , wherein a thickness of a surface in which the first intake port is formed is greater than a thickness of a surface in which the second intake port is formed.

7 . The liquid storage body according to claim 1 , wherein the intake section comprises a first flow path for guiding liquid taken in from the first intake port, a second flow path for guiding liquid taken in from the second intake port, and a merge section for merging the liquid from the first flow path with the liquid from the second flow path.

8 . The liquid storage body according to claim 7 , wherein the first flow path is greater in length and inside diameter than the second flow path.

9 . The liquid storage body according to claim 1 , wherein the flow path section comprises a first flow path member and a second flow path member that are provided to sandwich the intake section, the first flow path member guides liquid taken in from the first intake port to a merge chamber of the connection section, and the second flow path member guides liquid taken in from the second intake port to the merge chamber.

10 . The liquid storage body according to claim 1 , wherein the flow path section is a single flow path member provided along a side surface of the intake section.

11 . The liquid storage body according to claim 1 , wherein a rigidity of the intake section is greater than a rigidity of the bag.

12 . The liquid storage body according to claim 1 , wherein the settleable component is a pigment.

13 . A liquid ejection apparatus comprising:

a liquid storage body;

an attaching/detaching section to which the liquid storage body is attachable and from which the liquid storage body is detachable; and

a liquid ejection head configured to eject liquid supplied from the liquid storage body attached to the attaching/detaching section,

wherein the liquid storage body comprises:

a bag configured to store liquid containing a settleable component; and

a connection section configured to supply liquid stored in the bag to the liquid ejection apparatus through a supply port, while being attached to the liquid ejection apparatus;

a flow path section provided inside the bag and configured to supply liquid to the connection section; and

an intake section provided inside the bag and configured to take in liquid stored in the bag and to supply the liquid to the flow path section, wherein the intake section comprises a first intake port and a second intake port to take in liquid, the intake section is supported by the flow path section so as to rotate with the consumption of liquid stored inside the bag, and the first intake port and the second intake port are formed to face each other with a flow path therebetween, the flow path being formed in a direction in which a rotational axis extends in a case when the intake section rotates.

14 . The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein, in a state in which the liquid storage body is attached to the liquid ejection apparatus and liquid in the bag is not consumed, the first intake port is located below the second intake port in a vertical direction.

15 . The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein, in a state in which the liquid storage body is attached to the liquid ejection apparatus and liquid in the bag has been consumed, the first intake port and the second intake port are in a same position in a vertical direction.

16 . The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the intake section comprises a first flow path for guiding liquid taken in from the first intake port, a second flow path for guiding liquid taken in from the second intake port, and a merge section for merging the liquid from the first flow path with the liquid from the second flow path.

17 . The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the flow path section comprises a first flow path member and a second flow path member that are provided to sandwich the intake section, the first flow path member guides liquid taken in from the first intake port to a merge chamber of the connection section, and the second flow path member guides liquid taken in from the second intake port to the merge chamber.

18 . A liquid ejection apparatus comprising:

a liquid storage body;

an attaching/detaching section to which the liquid storage body is attachable and from which the liquid storage body is detachable; and

a liquid ejection head configured to eject liquid supplied from the liquid storage body attached to the attaching/detaching section,

wherein the liquid storage body comprises:

a bag configured to store liquid; and

a connection section configured to supply liquid stored in the bag to the liquid ejection apparatus through a supply port, while being attached to the liquid ejection apparatus;

a flow path section provided inside the bag and configured to supply liquid to the connection section; and

an intake section provided inside the bag and configured to take in liquid stored in the bag and to supply the liquid to the flow path section, wherein the intake section comprises a first intake port and a second intake port to take in liquid, the intake section is supported by the flow path section so as to rotate with the consumption of liquid stored inside the bag, and the first intake port and the second intake port are formed to face each other with a flow path therebetween, the flow path being formed in a direction in which a rotational axis extends in a case when the intake section rotates.

19 . The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein, in a state in which the liquid storage body is attached to the liquid ejection apparatus and liquid in the bag is not consumed, the first intake port is located below the second intake port in a vertical direction.

20 . The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein, in a state in which the liquid storage body is attached to the liquid ejection apparatus and liquid in the bag has been consumed, the first intake port and the second intake port are in a same position in a vertical direction.