US 2010/0245468 A1Published application

Fluid storage container

AssigneeSeiko Epson Corporation

InventorManabu Yamada

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Abstract

A fluid storage container features outstanding impact resistance and stores a plurality of fluids. The fluid storage container has a case body, a cover, and another cover. The case body has a divider that isolates a waste ink storage unit and an ink pack storage unit, and perimeter walls formed around the divider, thus forming a recess on each side of the divider. The case body is open at the outside edge part of each perimeter wall. The one cover covers the open part of the perimeter wall on the waste ink storage unit side. The other cover covers the open part of the perimeter wall on the ink pack storage unit side. At least one corner of the case can be rendered by an inside wall and an outside wall disposed with a gap there between.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A fluid storage container having a first fluid storage compartment in which fluid can be stored isolated from a second fluid storage compartment in which fluid can be stored, the container comprising:

a case body comprising
a divider that blocks fluid communication between the first and second fluid storage compartments,
a first perimeter wall comprising an inner wall and an outer wall spaced apart from the inner wall, the first perimeter wall disposed around a perimeter portion of the divider on a first side of the divider, the divider and the first perimeter wall defining a first recess that partially defines the first fluid storage compartment, and
a second perimeter wall comprising an inner wall and an outer wall spaced apart from the inner wall, the second perimeter wall disposed around a perimeter portion of the divider on a second side of the divider opposite to the first side of the divider, the divider and the second perimeter wall defining a second recess that partially defines the second fluid storage compartment;
a first removable cover, the first cover and the first recess defining the first fluid storage compartment when the first cover is coupled with the case body;
and
a second removable cover, the second cover and the second recess defining the second fluid storage compartment when the second cover is coupled with the case body.

4 more elements

A fluid storage compartment having a first orientation facilitating reception of a fluid into the storage compartment and a second orientation facilitating removal of the fluid from the storage compartment, the storage compartment comprising:

a case body;
and
a cover coupled with the case body, the combination of the case body and the cover at least partially defining the storage compartment, at least one of the cover or the case body comprising a plurality of walls extending between the cover and the case body to divide the storage compartment so as to define
an inlet channel having a first end and a second end, the first end in fluid communication with a fluid port disposed along a first side of the storage compartment, the inlet channel configured to transport the fluid received at the first end and discharge the fluid at the second end when the storage compartment is in the first orientation,
a recess disposed along a second side of the storage compartment opposite to the first side of the storage compartment, the second end of the inlet channel being disposed within the recess,
a fluid collection chamber in fluid communication with the recess and disposed at least partially below the recess when the storage compartment is in the first orientation and disposed generally above the recess when the storage compartment is in the second orientation, and
a series of buffer chambers in fluid communication with the recess and disposed generally above the recess when the storage compartment is in the first and second orientations, the buffer chambers being in fluid communication with an air escape hole to vent the storage compartment.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.