# US 10,118,401 B2 · Liquid supply apparatus, liquid ejection apparatus

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- Number: US 10,118,401 B2
- Document ID: US10118401B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/426,644
- Filed: 2017-02-07
- Published: 2017-08-10
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2016-02-09
- Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation
- Applicants: Seiko Epson Corporation
- Inventors: Naomi Kimura; Munehide Kanaya
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10118401B2

## CPC

- B41J 2/17553: {Outer structure}
- B41J 2/17506: {Refilling of the cartridge}
- B41J 2/17513: {Inner structure}
- B41J 2/1752: {Mounting within the printer}
- B41J 29/02: Framework
- B41J 29/13: Cases or covers
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS

## Abstract

Provided is a liquid supply apparatus and a liquid ejection apparatus according to which liquid injected through a liquid injection portion can be supplied stably. The liquid supply apparatus includes: a liquid containing chamber capable of containing a liquid to be supplied to a liquid ejection portion; an air chamber in communication with the atmosphere; a communication path that allows an air introduction port for introducing air into the liquid containing chamber and an air chamber to be in communication, and a liquid injection portion through which the liquid can be injected into the liquid containing chamber. The liquid containing chamber is fixed such that the air introduction port is located at a bottom portion of the liquid containing chamber. The volume of the communication path is smaller than the volume of the air chamber. The uppermost portion of the communication path is located above the uppermost portion of the liquid containing chamber.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A liquid supply apparatus, comprising:
a liquid containing chamber configured to contain a liquid to be supplied to a liquid ejection portion;
an air chamber in communication with an atmosphere;
a communication path that allows an air introduction port for introducing air into the liquid containing chamber, and the air chamber to communicate; and
a liquid injection portion through which a liquid can be injected into the liquid containing chamber,
wherein the liquid containing chamber is fixed such that the air introduction port is located at a bottom portion of the liquid containing chamber,
the air chamber is located next to the liquid chamber,
the volume of the communication path is smaller than the volume of the air chamber,
an uppermost portion of the communication path is located higher than an uppermost portion of the liquid containing chamber, and
the communication path comprises a first portion that extends vertically downwards into the liquid containing chamber, and a second portion that extends vertically downwards into the air chamber.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication path is formed integrally with at least one of the liquid containing chamber and the air chamber.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein at least a portion of the communication path is constituted by a groove portion formed in a constituent member forming at least one of the liquid containing chamber and the air chamber, and a film sealing the groove portion.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A liquid ejection apparatus comprising:
the liquid supply apparatus according to claim 3;
the liquid ejection portion configured to eject a liquid; and
a supply portion configured to supply the liquid contained in the liquid containing portion to the liquid ejection portion.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

A liquid ejection apparatus comprising:
the liquid supply apparatus according to claim 2;
the liquid ejection portion configured to eject a liquid; and
a supply portion configured to supply the liquid contained in the liquid containing portion to the liquid ejection portion.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the communication path is constituted by a communication pipe.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

A liquid ejection apparatus comprising:
the liquid supply apparatus according to claim 6;
the liquid ejection portion configured to eject a liquid; and
a supply portion configured to supply the liquid contained in the liquid containing portion to the liquid ejection portion.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the air chamber is formed separately from the liquid containing chamber.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A liquid ejection apparatus comprising:
the liquid supply apparatus according to claim 8;
the liquid ejection portion configured to eject a liquid; and
a supply portion configured to supply the liquid contained in the liquid containing portion to the liquid ejection portion.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A liquid ejection apparatus comprising:
the liquid supply apparatus according to claim 1;
the liquid ejection portion configured to eject a liquid; and
a supply portion configured to supply the liquid contained in the liquid containing portion to the liquid ejection portion.

### Claim 11

A liquid supply apparatus, comprising:
a liquid containing chamber configured to contain a liquid to be supplied to a liquid ejection portion;
an air chamber in communication with an atmosphere;
a communication path that allows an air introduction port for introducing air into the liquid containing chamber, and the air chamber to communicate; and
a liquid injection portion through which a liquid can be injected into the liquid containing chamber, wherein:
the liquid containing chamber is fixed such that the air introduction port is located at a bottom portion of the liquid containing chamber,
the air chamber is located next to the liquid chamber,
the volume of the communication path is smaller than the volume of the air chamber,
an uppermost portion of the communication path is located higher than an uppermost portion of the liquid containing chamber, and
a bottom surface of the liquid containing chamber and a bottom surface of the liquid containing chamber are located at a same height.

### Claim 12

A liquid supply apparatus, comprising:
a liquid containing chamber configured to contain a liquid to be supplied to a liquid ejection portion;
an air chamber in communication with an atmosphere;
a communication path that allows an air introduction port for introducing air into the liquid containing chamber, and the air chamber to communicate; and
a liquid injection portion through which a liquid can be injected into the liquid containing chamber, wherein:
the liquid containing chamber is fixed such that the air introduction port is located at a bottom portion of the liquid containing chamber,
the air chamber is located next to the liquid chamber,
the volume of the communication path is smaller than the volume of the air chamber,
an uppermost portion of the communication path is located higher than an uppermost portion of the liquid containing chamber, and
the uppermost portion of the communication path is located a distance from a first end of the communication path, and the uppermost portion of the communication path is located the same distance from a second end of the communication path.