LIQUID CONTAINER WITH CAPACITY STATE SENSING
A liquid container for supplying liquid to a printer, the liquid container having: a body having an interior space for containing liquid to a predetermined capacity, a port through the body for delivery of liquid into the body to the predetermined capacity, an aperture through the body at which the interior space of the body is in communication with atmosphere external to the fluid container and a fluid pressure changing member between the aperture and the interior space of the body, the member being configured so that contact with the liquid being delivered via the port causes a change in the fluid pressure at the port.
1 . A liquid container for supplying liquid to a printer, the liquid container comprising:
a body having an interior space for containing liquid to a predetermined capacity;
a port through the body for delivery of liquid into the body to said predetermined capacity;
an aperture through the body at which the interior space of the body is in communication with atmosphere external to the fluid container; and
a fluid pressure changing member between the aperture and the interior space of the body, the member being configured so that contact with the liquid being delivered via the port causes a change in the fluid pressure at the port.
2 . A container according to claim 1 , wherein the port and aperture are located through an upper surface of the body so that the liquid being delivered into the interior space of the body fills said interior space from a lower surface of the body to said upper surface.
3 . A container according to claim 2 , wherein the member comprises a hydrophobic film located between the interior space and the aperture.
4 . A container according to claim 2 , wherein the member comprises a protrusion within an opening of the aperture in an interior surface of the body.
5 . A container according to claim 1 , wherein the aperture has a gas vent on an exterior surface of the body, the gas vent being configured to be closed to atmosphere until the container is installed in the printer.
6 . A container according to claim 1 , comprising a valve within the aperture, the valve being biased closed and having an engagement portion which engages with the printer so as to open valve against said bias when the container is installed in the printer.