# US 8,465,134 B2 · Image forming apparatus

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- Number: US 8,465,134 B2
- Document ID: US8465134B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/878,310
- Filed: 2010-09-09
- Published: 2011-03-17
- Granted: 2013-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2009-09-15
- Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
- Applicants: Tatsuro Watanabe
- Inventors: Tatsuro Watanabe
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465134B2

## CPC

- B41J 2/17509: {Whilst mounted in the printer}
- B41J 2/175: Ink supply systems {; Circuit parts therefor}
- B41J 2/17513: {Inner structure}
- B41J 2/17523: {Ink connection}
- B41J 2/17596: {Ink pumps, ink valves}
- B41J 2002/17516: {comprising a collapsible ink holder, e.g. a flexible bag}
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS

## Abstract

A liquid container includes a liquid containing member configured to contain liquid to be supplied to a recording head for jetting liquid droplets, the liquid containing member having flexibility; and an outer container configured to accommodate the liquid containing member. The liquid containing member includes a liquid supply opening, and a side of the liquid containing member opposite to the liquid supply opening is fixed to an inner surface of the outer container.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A liquid container comprising:
a liquid containing member configured to contain liquid to be supplied to a recording head for jetting liquid droplets, the liquid containing member having flexibility; and
an outer container configured to accommodate the liquid containing member, wherein
the liquid containing member includes a rectangular parallelepiped part and a quadrangular pyramid part,
the liquid containing member includes a liquid supply opening that is provided at a tip part of the quadrangular pyramid part, the liquid supply opening being directed downward when the liquid containing member is used,
the liquid supply opening is fixed to one end part of the outer container,
the quadrangular pyramid part is positioned below the rectangular parallelepiped part when the liquid containing member is used,
a plane part provided on a side of the parallelepiped part of the liquid containing member opposite to the liquid supply opening is fixed to an inner surface of another end part of the outer container, and substantially a whole surface of the plane part is in contact with the inner surface of the another end part of the outer container when the liquid containing member is used,
the plane part is positioned above the liquid supply opening when the liquid containing member is used, and
two valley folds are provided on respective sides of liquid containing member, and the liquid containing member is folded according to the two valley folds.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein
a plane part is formed on the side of the liquid containing member opposite to the liquid supply opening, and the plane part is fixed to the at least one inner surface of the outer container.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein
the outer container includes a gas injection opening through which gas is injected into a space between plural of the inner surfaces of the outer container and outer surfaces of the liquid containing member.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

An image forming apparatus comprising the liquid container according to claim 1.