A liquid container (21) has: an outer electrode (32d) contactable with an electrode (91c) of a liquid consuming apparatus; an electrode supporting member (32,33) which supports the outer electrode (32d) and is fixed to a container body (31); a piezoelectric sensor unit (35) which is discrete from th
A liquid container (21) has: an outer electrode (32d) contactable with an electrode (91c) of a liquid consuming apparatus; an electrode supporting member (32,33) which supports the outer electrode (32d) and is fixed to a container body (31); a piezoelectric sensor unit (35) which is discrete from the electrode supporting member (32,33), which is attached to the container body (31) for detecting liquid existing in a part of a liquid supply path and which includes a piezoelectric element (41) having an electrode (41a); and a connector (45) which has an elasticity and which electrically connects the outer electrode (32d) to the electrode (41a) of the piezoelectric element (41).
대표청구항▼
The invention claimed is: 1. A liquid container adapted to be removably mounted to a liquid consuming apparatus, the liquid container comprising: a container body having a liquid accommodating portion to accommodate a liquid therein, a liquid supply port from which the liquid can be discharged to t
The invention claimed is: 1. A liquid container adapted to be removably mounted to a liquid consuming apparatus, the liquid container comprising: a container body having a liquid accommodating portion to accommodate a liquid therein, a liquid supply port from which the liquid can be discharged to the liquid consuming apparatus, and a liquid supply path providing fluid communication between the liquid accommodating portion and the liquid supply port; an outer electrode contactable with an electrode of the liquid consuming apparatus; an electrode supporting member which supports the outer electrode and is fixed to the container body; a piezoelectric sensor unit distinct from the electrode supporting member and which is attached to the container body and detects if the liquid is present in a part of the liquid supply path and which includes a piezoelectric element having an electrode; and an elastic connector which electrically connects the outer electrode to the electrode of the piezoelectric element. 2. The liquid container according to claim 1, further comprising: a deformable seal member disposed between the piezoelectric sensor unit and a wall of the container body; an urging member that urges the piezoelectric sensor unit toward the wall of the container body, wherein the piezoelectric sensor unit is attached to the container body by the seal member and the urging member. 3. The liquid container according to claim 2, wherein the urging member is a coil spring. 4. The liquid container according to claim 2, wherein the elastic connector is elastically deformable in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction in which the urging member urges the piezoelectric sensor unit. 5. The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein: the outer electrode receives a force in a first direction from the electrode of the liquid consuming apparatus when the outer electrode contacts the electrode of the liquid consuming apparatus, the elastic connector is elastically deformable in a second direction, and the first direction is substantially parallel to the second direction. 6. The liquid container according to claim 5, further comprising: a deformable seal member disposed between the piezoelectric sensor unit and a wall of the container body; an urging member that urges the piezoelectric sensor unit toward the wall of the container body in a third direction substantially perpendicular to the second direction, wherein the piezoelectric sensor unit is attached to the container body by the seal member and the urging member. 7. The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein: the container body has a recess dimensioned to accommodate the piezoelectric sensor unit, the recess having an opening; and the electrode supporting member at least partially closes the opening of the recess. 8. The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein: the container body includes a first wall and an opposing second wall; the liquid supply port is disposed at an offset position closer to the first wall than to the second wall; and the piezoelectric sensor unit is, disposed at an offset position closer to the first wall than to the second wall. 9. The liquid container according to claim 8, wherein: the piezoelectric sensor unit is disposed between the liquid supply port and the first wall in a horizontal direction in which the first wall and the second wall are opposed to each other. 10. The liquid container according to claim 9, wherein: the container body includes a top wall and a bottom wall having the ink supply port; and the piezoelectric sensor unit is disposed at an offset position closer to the bottom wall than to the top wall. 11. The liquid container according to claim 10, wherein: the container body has a recess; and the piezoelectric sensor unit is accommodated in the recess of the container body. 12. The liquid container according to claim 11, wherein: the recess has an opening, and the opening of the recess is at least partially closed by the electrode supporting member, the electrode support member being fixed to the first wall of the container body. 13. The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein: the container body includes, a first wall, an opposing second wall, and a lever having an engagement portion located closer to the first wall than to the second wall and displaceable toward and away from the first wall for engagement with the liquid consuming apparatus; the liquid supply port is disposed at an offset position closer to the first wall than to the second wall; and the piezoelectric sensor unit is disposed at an offset position closer to the first wall than to the second wall. 14. The liquid container according to claim 13, wherein: the piezoelectric sensor unit is disposed between the liquid supply port and the engagement portion in a horizontal direction in which the first wall and the second wall are opposed to each other. 15. The liquid container according to claim 14, wherein: the piezoelectric sensor unit is disposed between the liquid supply port and the engagement portion in a vertical direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction. 16. The liquid container according to claim 15, wherein: the container body has a recess; and the piezoelectric sensor unit is accommodated in the recess of the container body. 17. The liquid container according to claim 16, wherein: the recess has an opening, and the opening of the recess is at least partially closed by the electrode supporting member, the electrode supporting member being fixed to the first wall of the container body. 18. The liquid container according to claim any one of claims 1 to 17, further comprising: an inner electrode which is electrically connected to the outer electrode and which is supported by the electrode supporting member, wherein the elastic connector contacts the inner electrode for electrical connection to the outer electrode. 19. The liquid container according to claim 18, wherein: the elastic connector includes an elastic terminal plate; the elastic terminal plate is attached to the piezoelectric sensor unit and electrically connected to the electrode of the piezoelectric element; and the elastic terminal plate contacts the inner electrode for electrical connection between the outer electrode and the electrode of the piezoelectric element. 20. The liquid container according to claim 19, wherein: the elastic terminal plate is displaceable relative to the inner electrode while still maintaining contact with the inner electrode. 21. The liquid container according to claim 20, wherein: the electrode supporting member includes a circuit board that has a first surface on which the outer electrode is disposed and an opposite, second surface on which the inner electrode is disposed, and the circuit board is fixed to the container body so that the second surface is located between the first surface and the piezoelectric sensor unit. 22. The liquid container according to claim 21, wherein: the electrode supporting member further includes a circuit board receptacle that supports the circuit board, and the circuit board is secured in the circuit board receptacle. 23. The liquid container according to claim 22, wherein: the circuit board receptacle has a through-hole into which a protruded portion of the elastic terminal plate is inserted to contact the inner electrode of the circuit board. 24. The liquid container according to claim 23, wherein: the through-hole is dimensioned to provide clearance between the through-hole and the protruded portion so that the protruded portion is displaceable relative to the through-hole without contacting with the through-hole. 25. The liquid container according to claim 23, wherein: the through-hole is at least partially covered by the circuit board. 26. The liquid container according to claim 22, wherein: the circuit board supporting receptacle has a protruded engagement portion; and the container body has an engagement recess portion for mating engagement with the protruded engagement portion when the circuit board supporting receptacle is mounted to the container body. 27. The liquid container according to claim 21, further comprising: a memory mounted to the second surface of the circuit board; and a memory electrode electrically connected to the memory and disposed on the first surface of the circuit board. 28. The liquid container according to claim 1, further comprising a fluid flow regulator disposed in the liquid supply path, and wherein the piezoelectric sensor unit is disposed in the liquid supply path between the fluid flow regulator and the liquid supply path. 29. The liquid container according to claim 28, wherein the fluid flow regulator is a check valve. 30. The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein the liquid container is an ink cartridge. 31. A liquid container adapted to be removably mounted to a liquid consuming apparatus, the liquid container comprising: a container body having a liquid accommodating portion for accommodating liquid therein, and a liquid supply port from which the liquid can be discharged to the liquid consuming apparatus; an outer electrode contactable with an electrode of the liquid consuming apparatus; an electrode supporting member which supports the outer electrode and is fixed to the container body; a sensor unit which is discrete from the electrode supporting member, is attached to the container body and includes an electrode; and a connector which has an elasticity and which electrically connects the outer electrode to the electrode of the sensor. 32. A liquid container according to claim 31, wherein the container body has a liquid supply path which is in fluid communication with the liquid accommodating portion and the liquid supply port; and the sensor is for detecting liquid in a part of the liquid supply path. 33. A liquid container according to claim 31 or claim 32, wherein the sensor unit is a piezoelectric sensor unit. 34. A liquid container according to claim 31, wherein: the outer electrode receives a force from the electrode of the liquid consuming apparatus in a first direction when the outer electrode contacts the electrode of the liquid consuming apparatus, the connector is elastically deformable in a second direction, and the first direction is the same as or substantially parallel to the second direction. 35. A liquid container according to claim 31, further comprising: a deformable seal member disposed between the sensor unit and a wall of the container body; and an urging member that urges the sensor unit toward the wall of the container body, wherein the sensor unit is attached to the container body through the seal member and the urging member. 36. A liquid container according to claim 35, wherein the connector is elastically deformable in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction in which the urging member urges the sensor unit. 37. A liquid container according to claim 31, wherein: the sensor unit is accommodated in a recess of the container body. 38. A liquid container according to claim 37, wherein: an opening of the recess is closed by the electrode supporting member. 39. A liquid container according to claim 31, wherein: the container body includes: a first wall; and an opposite, second wall; the liquid supply port is disposed at an offset position closer to the first wall than to the second wall. 40. A liquid container according to claim 39, wherein the sensor unit is disposed at an offset portion closer to the first wall than to the second wall. 41. A liquid container according to claim 39, wherein: the sensor unit is disposed between the liquid supply port and the first wall in a horizontal direction in which the first wall and the second wall are opposed to each other. 42. A liquid container according to claim 39, wherein: the container body includes a lever having an engagement portion located closer to the first wall than to the second wall and displaceable toward and away from the first wall for engagement with the liquid consuming apparatus; and the sensor unit is disposed at an offset portion closer to the first wall than to the second wall. 43. A liquid container according to claim 42, wherein: the sensor unit is disposed between the liquid supply port and the engagement portion in a horizontal direction in which the first wall and the second wall are opposed to each other. 44. A liquid container according to claim 43, wherein: the sensor unit is disposed between the liquid supply port and the engagement portion in a vertical direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction. 45. A liquid container according to claim 39, wherein the electrode supporting member is fixed to the first wall. 46. A liquid container according to claim 31, wherein: the container body includes a top wall and a bottom wall having the ink supply port; and the sensor unit is disposed at an offset position closer to the bottom wall than to the top wall. 47. A liquid container according to claim 31, further comprising: an inner electrode which is electrically connected to the outer electrode and which is supported by the electrode supporting member, wherein the connector contacts the inner electrode for electrical connection to the outer electrode. 48. A liquid container according to claim 47, wherein: the connector includes an elastic terminal plate; the elastic terminal plate is attached to the sensor unit and electrically connected to a sensing element of the sensor unit; and the elastic terminal plate contacts the inner electrode for electrical connection between the outer electrode and an electrode of the sensing element. 49. A liquid container according to claim 48, wherein: the elastic terminal plate is displaceable relative to the inner electrode while maintaining contact with the inner electrode. 50. A liquid container according to claim 48, wherein: the electrode supporting member includes a circuit board that has a first surface on which the outer electrode is formed and an opposite, second surface on which the inner electrode is formed, and the circuit board is fixed to the container body so that the second surface is located between the first surface and the sensor unit. 51. A liquid container according to claim 50, wherein: the electrode supporting member further includes a circuit board supporting member that supports the circuit board, and the circuit board is fixed to the container body through the circuit board supporting member. 52. A liquid container according to claim 51, wherein: the circuit board supporting member has a through-hole into which a protruded portion of the elastic terminal plate is inserted for contact with the inner electrode of the circuit board. 53. A liquid container according to claim 52, wherein: a clearance is provided between the through-hole and the protruded portion so that the protruded portion is displaceable relative to the through-hole without contacting with the through-hole. 54. A liquid container according to claim 52, wherein: the through-hole is covered by the circuit board. 55. A liquid container according to claim 51, wherein: the circuit board supporting member has a protruded engagement portion; the container body has a mating engagement recess portion for engagement with the protruded engagement portion when the circuit board supporting member is disposed in place with respect to the container body. 56. A liquid container according to claim 50, further comprising: a memory mounted to the second surface of the circuit board; and a memory electrode electrically connected to the memory and formed on the first surface of the circuit board. 57. A liquid container according to claim 31, wherein the liquid accommodating portion accommodates liquid. 58. A liquid container according to claim 31, wherein the liquid container is an ink cartridge. 59. A method of manufacturing a liquid container, comprising the steps of: providing a container body having a liquid accommodating portion for accommodating liquid therein, and a liquid supply port from which the liquid can be discharged to the liquid consuming apparatus; mounting a sensor unit provided with an electrode in a recess formed in the container body; and mounting an electrode supporting member supporting an outer electrode to the container body so as to cover the recess, thereby electrically connecting the electrode of the sensor unit to the outer electrode of the electrode supporting member. 60. A method according to claim 59, further comprising, before or after mounting the electrode supporting member, filling the liquid accommodating portion with ink. 61. A method according to claim 59, wherein the sensor unit and the connector are mounted to the liquid container as a single unit. 62. A method according to claim 61, wherein the electrode supporting member is included in the single unit.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (8)
Asauchi,Noboru; Kosugi,Yasuhiko, Cartridge and printing apparatus.
Ganthier James J. (Spring TX) Ulery Kirk D. (Spring TX), Space-saving insulation displacement type interconnect device for electrically coupling a ribbon connector to a printed.
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