IP Library Granted Patent US 12668062
Granted Patent B2
US 12668062 · App. 18/643,820 · Granted Jun 30, 2026

Liquid supply apparatus, printing system, and printing apparatus

Inventors: Akira Fujikake (Kanagawa, JP); Hiromasa Yoneyama (Kanagawa, JP); Daigo Kuronuma (Kanagawa, JP); Hideyuki Nozawa (Tochigi, JP); Tomoyuki Nagase (Kanagawa, JP); Yuto Nitami (Kanagawa, JP); Ryohei Maruyama (Kanagawa, JP); Masakazu Nagashima (Kanagawa, JP); Kichinosuke Hirokawa (Tokyo, JP); Kenta Iimura (Kanagawa, JP); Naoaki Wada (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
B41J2/17513B41J2/17523B41J2/17556B41J2002/17516
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12668062
App. No.
18/643,820
Granted
Jun 30, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A liquid supply apparatus configured to supply a liquid to a printing unit, comprising a tray holder configured to hold a tray on which a flexible retaining container configured to retain a liquid is placed, the tray holder allowing insertion of the tray in a first direction, wherein the retaining container has a foldable gusset portion, and the tray holder is provided with a folding unit configured to fold the gusset portion in a state in which the tray is held by the tray holder.

Claims (24)

1 . A liquid supply apparatus configured to supply a liquid to a printing unit, comprising a holder configured to hold a tray on which a flexible container configured to contain a liquid is placed, the holder allowing insertion of the tray in a first direction,

wherein the container has a foldable gusset portion, and the holder is provided with a folding unit configured to fold the gusset portion in a state in which the tray is held by the holder, and

wherein the folding unit includes a convex shape configured to press the gusset portion along a second direction towards the tray.

2 . The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the convex shape is provided so as to overlap the gusset portion from a viewpoint in the second direction intersecting the first direction.

3 . The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the convex shape has an inclination in at least one direction.

4 . The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the inclination is formed along a third direction intersecting the first direction.

5 . The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the inclination is formed along the first direction.

6 . The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the holder includes a pressing member configured to press the container, and

the convex shape and the pressing member do not overlap each other from a viewpoint in the second direction.

7 . The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the folding unit includes a movable mechanism configured to press the gusset portion of the container in a case of inserting of the tray.

8 . The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the tray includes a convex shape provided on a placement surface on which the container is placed and configured to lift the gusset portion in the second direction.

9 . The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the container includes a supply port configured to supply a liquid to the printing unit, and

the convex shape of the tray is provided so as to be positioned away from the supply port in a state in which the container is placed on the tray.

10 . The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the convex shape of the tray has an inclination in at least one direction.

11 . The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the inclination is formed along a third direction intersecting the first direction.

12 . The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the inclination is formed along the first direction.

13 . The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the holder includes a pressing member configured to press the container, and

the convex shape of the tray and the pressing member do not overlap each other from a viewpoint in the second direction.

14 . A printing system comprising:

a liquid supply apparatus according to claim 1 ; and

a printing apparatus including the printing unit configured to perform printing by using a liquid supplied from the liquid supply apparatus.

15 . A printing apparatus comprising:

a liquid supply apparatus defined in claim 1 ; and

the printing unit configured to perform printing by using a liquid supplied from the liquid supply apparatus.