# US 2008/0187355 A1 · Fluid container, recycling method of fluid container, method for piercing cover film of fluid container, piercing jig, and method for manufacturing fluid container > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0187355 A1 - Document ID: US20080187355A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/027,633 - Filed: 2008-02-07 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2007-02-07 - Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation - Inventors: Masahide MATSUYAMA; Yasuhiro Ogura; Yasunao Uehara; Yuichi Seki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080187355A1 ## CPC - B41J 2/17559: {Cartridge manufacturing} - B41J 2/17536: {Protection of cartridges or parts thereof, e.g. tape} - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS ## Abstract A piercing method for forming an opening in a cover film welded to an ink cartridge in such a manner as to cover first and second ink inlet holes is provided. The method includes: forming a cut in the cover film in such a manner as to provide a cut piece supported in a cantilever manner in a covering area of the cover film that covers the first and second ink inlet hole; and forming the opening in the cover film by causing the cut piece to hang down in the first and second ink inlet holes. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A piercing method for forming an opening in a cover film welded or bonded to a fluid container in such a manner as to cover a hole formed in the fluid container, the method comprising: forming a cut in the cover film in such a manner as to provide a cut piece supported in a cantilever manner in a covering area of the cover film that covers the hole; and forming the opening in the cover film by causing the cut piece to hang down in the hole. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the cut piece supported in a cantilever manner is provided by forming at least three cuts extending radially from a single point in the covering area of the cover film. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the cuts are provided in such a manner as to extend radially from the single point as the center of the hole. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the cuts are spaced at equal angular intervals about the single point. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the cuts are provided in the covering area of the cover film. ### Claim 6 A piercing method for forming an opening in a cover film welded or bonded to a fluid container in such a manner as to cover a hole formed in the fluid container, the method comprising: preparing a cutting member having a blade body; and forming the opening in the cover film by passing the cutting member through the cover film to form a cut in the cover film by means of the blade body, wherein the blade body is shaped in such a manner as to form the cut shaped substantially identical with a cross section of the blade body in a direction perpendicular to a penetrating direction when the cutting member penetrates the cover film. ### Claim 7 A piercing jig for forming an opening in a cover film welded or bonded to a fluid container in such a manner as to cover a hole formed in the fluid container, the piercing jig comprising a blade body having a distal end that enters a covering area of the cover film that covers the hole when the opening is formed in the cover film, the distal end of the blade body having a conical shape. ### Claim 8 A piercing jig for forming an opening in a cover film welded or bonded to a fluid container in such a manner as to cover a hole formed in the fluid container, the piercing jig comprising a blade body having a distal end that enters a covering area of the cover film that covers the hole when the opening is formed in the cover film, the distal end of the blade body including a blade portion that forms a cut in the cover film in such a manner as to form a cut piece supported in a cantilever manner in the cover film. ### Claim 9 A piercing jig for forming an opening in a cover film welded or bonded to a fluid container in such a manner as to cover a hole formed in the fluid container, the piercing jig comprising a blade body having a distal end that enters a covering area of the cover film that covers the hole when the opening is formed in the cover film, the distal end of the blade body including at least three blade portions extending radially from a single point. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The piercing jig according to claim 9, wherein the blade portions extend toward a proximal end of the blade body as the radial distance from the single point increases. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The piercing jig according to claim 9, wherein the blade portions are spaced at equal angular intervals about the single point. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The piercing jig according to claim 9, further comprising an adjustment mechanism that adjusts the angular position of the blade body about the single point in a rotational direction of the blade body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The piercing jig according to claim 7, further comprising a restricting portion that restricts penetration of the blade body with respect to the cover film by contacting a portion of the fluid container when the distal end of the blade body penetrates the cover film. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The piercing jig according to claim 13, wherein the restricting portion includes a movable member that adjusts the position of the cover film in a penetrating direction of the blade body. ### Claim 15 (depends on 7) The piercing jig according to claim 7, further comprising a guide portion that guides the blade body in a direction perpendicular to the cover film, wherein, when the distal end of the blade body penetrates the cover film, the guide portion slides on a portion of the fluid container that extends perpendicular to the cover film. ### Claim 16 A method for recycling a used fluid container, the fluid container having a hole through which a fluid is introduced and a cover film welded or bonded to the fluid container in such a manner as to cover the hole, the method comprising: piercing the cover film by sticking a blade body having a conical distal end into a covering area of the cover film covering the hole from the distal end of the blade body; refilling the fluid container with the fluid through the opening in the cover film; and sealing the opening using a sealing member. ### Claim 17 A method for recycling a used fluid container, the fluid container having a hole through which a fluid is introduced and a cover film welded or bonded to the fluid container in such a manner as to cover the hole, the method comprising: forming a cut in the cover film in such a manner as to provide a cut piece supported in a cantilever manner in a covering area of the cover film that covers the hole; forming an opening in the cover film by causing the cut piece to hang down in the hole; refilling the fluid container with the fluid through the opening in the cover film; and sealing the opening using a sealing member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the cut piece supported in a cantilever manner is provided by forming at least three cuts extending radially from a single point in the covering area of the cover film. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, wherein the cuts are provided in such a manner as to extend radially from the single point as the center of the hole. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, wherein the cuts are spaced at equal angular intervals about the single point. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, wherein the cuts are provided in the covering area of the cover film. ### Claim 22 A method for recycling a used fluid container, the fluid container having a hole through which a fluid is introduced and a cover film welded or bonded to the fluid container in such a manner as to cover the hole, the method comprising: preparing a cutting member having a blade body; piercing the cover film by passing the cutting member through the cover film to form a cut in the cover film by means of the blade body, wherein the blade body is shaped in such a manner as to form the cut shaped substantially identical with a cross section of the blade body in a direction perpendicular to a penetrating direction when the cutting member penetrates the cover film; refilling the fluid container with the fluid through the opening; and sealing the opening by a sealing member. ### Claim 23 (depends on 16) A fluid container recycled by the method according to claim 16. ### Claim 24 An apparatus for manufacturing a reusable fluid container by refilling a used fluid container with a fluid, the fluid container including a hole through which the fluid is introduced and a cover film welded or bonded to the fluid container in such a manner as to cover the hole, the apparatus comprising: a cutting member having a blade body, wherein the cutting member is passed through the cover film to form a cut in the cover film by means of the blade body, thereby forming an opening in the cover film, and wherein the blade body is shaped in such a manner as to form the cut substantially identical with a cross section of the blade body in a direction perpendicular to a penetrating direction when the cutting member penetrates the cover film; a filling device that fills the fluid container with the fluid through the opening; and a sealing device that seals the opening using a sealing member.