Liquid sensing apparatus for a liquid container for supplying a liquid to a liquid consuming apparatus, and a liquid container in which the liquid sensing apparatus is built

A liquid container comprising:

• a liquid containing portion adapted to be pressurized by a pressurizer to discharge a liquid therefrom;
• a liquid supply port that is in communication with the liquid containing portion and that can supply the liquid to an external liquid consuming apparatus;
• a liquid reservoir portion having a liquid inlet port that is in communication with the liquid containing portion, and a liquid outlet port that is in communication with the liquid supply port;
• a movable member movable depending on a liquid level in the liquid reservoir portion;
• a recess portion for cooperating with a wall surface of the movable member to form a closed space when the movable member is moved to a predetermined position depending on the liquid level;
• and
• a piezoelectric sensor operable to apply a vibration to the recess portion and sensing a state of a free vibration following upon the vibration.

A liquid container comprising:

• a liquid supply port for supplying a liquid to an external liquid consuming apparatus;
• a liquid containing portion that is in communication with the liquid supply port;
• a movable member movable depending on a liquid level in the liquid containing portion;
• a recess portion for cooperating with a wall surface of the movable member to form a closed space when the movable member is moved to a predetermined position depending on the liquid level;
• and
• a piezoelectric sensor operable to apply a vibration to the recess portion to sense a state of a free vibration following upon the vibration.

A liquid container comprising:

• a liquid containing portion adapted to be pressurized by a pressurizer to discharge a liquid therefrom;
• a liquid supply port that is in communication with the liquid containing portion and that can supply the liquid to an external liquid consuming apparatus;
• a liquid reservoir portion having a liquid inlet port that is in communication with the liquid containing portion, and a liquid outlet port that is in communication with the liquid supply port;
• a movable member installed in the liquid reservoir portion and movable depending on an amount of contained liquid;
• a recess portion, formed in the liquid reservoir portion, for cooperating with one surface, which is parallel with a horizontal surface, of the movable member to form a closed space when the movable member is moved to a predetermined position depending on the amount of contained liquid;
• and
• a piezoelectric sensor operable to apply a vibration to the recess portion to sense a state of a free vibration following upon the vibration.

A liquid container containing liquid to be supplied to a liquid consuming apparatus, comprising:

• a container body;
• a first reservoir chamber which is located within the container body and which is at least in part defined by a first flexible member;
• a second reservoir chamber which is located within the container body and which is at least in part defined by a second flexible member and a wall;
• a liquid delivery port formed in the container body;
• a first flow path through which the first reservoir chamber is in fluid communication with the second reservoir chamber;
• a second flow path through which the second reservoir chamber is in fluid communication with the liquid delivery port;
• a piezoelectric sensor attached to the wall to form a cavity in fluid communication with the second reservoir chamber;
• a movable member attached to the second flexible member, and movable toward and away from the wall, wherein when the movable member contacts the wall, the cavity is covered by the movable member;
• and
• an urging member urging the movable member against the wall.