Liquid container having a stirring chamber
A liquid container includes a liquid pack having a flexible pouch holding the liquid, a container body containing the liquid pack, an expandable-and-contractile stirring chamber formed in the container body, and a pressurized fluid supply passage for supplying a pressurized fluid into the stirring chamber. At least a part of the stirring chamber is formed of a low-rigidity member. A pressurized fluid is supplied through the pressurized fluid supply passage into the stirring chamber to press and deform the low-rigidity member by the pressure of the pressurized fluid. The deformed low-rigidity member presses and deforms the flexible pouch of the liquid pack. The liquid container prevents the uneven distribution of ingredient concentration in the liquid contained in the liquid container without complicating and enlarging a liquid-consuming apparatus.
1. A liquid container holding a liquid to be supplied to a liquid-consuming apparatus, comprising:
a liquid pack including a flexible pouch formed of a flexible material and holding the liquid;
a container body for containing the liquid pack;
an expandable-and-contractile stirring chamber formed with the inner surface of the container body; and
a pressurized fluid supply passage for supplying a pressurized fluid into the stirring chamber;
wherein at least a part of the stirring chamber is formed of a low-rigidity member having a low rigidity, and the low-rigidity member is deformed by supplying the pressurized fluid into the stirring chamber through the pressurized fluid supply passage to press and deform the flexible pouch of the liquid pack by the low-rigidity member, and
wherein the low-rigidity member of the stirring chamber presses and deforms only a part of one side of the flexible pouch of the liquid pack.
2. The liquid container according to claim 1 , wherein the low-rigidity member includes a flexible film.
3. The liquid container according to claim 2 , wherein the stirring chamber is formed by attaching the flexible film of a predetermined shape to an inner wall surface of the container body.
4. The liquid container according to claim 3 , wherein the pressurized fluid supply passage is formed by sealing a groove formed in an inner surface of the container body with the flexible film.
5. The liquid container according to claim 1 , wherein the stirring chamber is disposed so as to press a lower part, with respect to a direction in which gravity acts, of the flexible pouch of the liquid pack while the liquid container is in use.
6. The liquid container according to claim 1 farther comprising a stirring bar placed in the flexible pouch to enhance a stirring effect of flow of the liquid in the flexible pouch of the liquid pack caused by a deformation of the low-rigidity member of the stirring chamber.
7. The liquid container according to claim 6 , wherein the stirring bar is disposed near a part, which is to be deformed by the low-rigidity member of the stirring chamber when the low-rigidity member is deformed, of the flexible pouch of the liquid pack.
8. The liquid container according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid container is a liquid cartridge which is configured to be detachably attached to a container holding part of the liquid-consuming apparatus.
9. A liquid container holding a liquid to be supplied to a liquid-consuming apparatus, comprising:
a liquid pack including a flexible pouch formed of a flexible material and holding the liquid;
a container body for containing the liquid pack;
an expandable-and-contractile stirring chamber formed with the inner surface of the container body; and
a pressurized fluid supply passage for supplying a pressurized fluid into the stirring chamber;
wherein at least a part of the stirring chamber is formed of a low-rigidity member having a low rigidity, and the low-rigidity member is deformed by supplying the pressurized fluid into the stirring chamber through the pressurized fluid supply passage to press and deform the flexible pouch of the liquid pack by the low-rigidity member, and
wherein the stirring chamber has an open passage communicating with an interior space of the container body surrounding the stirring chamber, and the open passage exerts a resistance against flow of the pressurized fluid to generate a pressure sufficient to press and deform the flexible pouch of the liquid pack when the pressurized fluid is supplied into the stirring chamber.
10. The liquid container according to claim 9 , wherein the open passage is formed by sealing a groove formed in the inner surface of the container body with a film.
11. The liquid container according to claim 9 , wherein an interior of the container body is a sealed space, and the liquid is discharged by pressing the liquid pack by pressure of the pressurized fluid supplied through the open passage.
12. The liquid container according to claim 11 further comprising a pressure chamber containing the liquid pack and formed to press the liquid pack by the pressurized fluid supplied into the pressure chamber, and the stirring chamber is formed in the pressure chamber.
13. The liquid container according to claim 12 farther comprising a connecting passage connecting the stirring chamber and the pressure chamber to carry the pressurized fluid supplied through the pressurized fluid supply passage into the stirring chamber to the pressure chamber;
wherein a resistance against the flow of the pressurized fluid flowing through the connecting passage is higher than a resistance against the pressurized fluid flowing through the pressurized fluid supply passage.
14. A liquid container holding a liquid to be supplied to a liquid-consuming apparatus, comprising:
a liquid pack including a flexible pouch formed of a flexible material and holding the liquid;
a container body for containing the liquid pack;
an expandable-and-contractile stirring chamber formed with the inner surface of the container body; and
a pressurized fluid supply passage for supplying a pressurized fluid into the stirring chamber;
wherein at least a part of the stirring chamber is formed of a low-rigidity member having a low rigidity, and the low-rigidity member is deformed by supplying the pressurized fluid into the stirring chamber through the pressurized fluid supply passage to press and deform the flexible pouch of the liquid pack by the low-rigidity member,
further comprising a stirring bar placed in the flexible pouch to enhance a stirring effect of flow of the liquid in the flexible pouch of the liquid pack caused by a deformation of the low-rigidity member of the stirring chamber,
wherein the stirring bar is disposed near and above a part, which is to be deformed by the low-rigidity member of the stirring chamber when the low-rigidity member is deformed, of the flexible pouch of the liquid pack.
15. The liquid container according to claim 14 , wherein the liquid pack is provided with a spout through which the liquid contained in the liquid pack is discharged, and the stirring bar has one end fixed to the spout.