Printing apparatus and liquid storage member

Abstract

The printing apparatus of the present invention includes: a print head; and a liquid storage container in which a liquid storage chamber that stores a liquid to be supplied to the print head, an atmosphere communication chamber that communicates with the atmosphere, and a communication flow path that causes the liquid storage chamber and the atmosphere communication chamber to communicate are formed integrally. The liquid storage container can take a first posture in which the atmosphere communication chamber is located under the liquid storage chamber in the direction of gravity and a second posture in which the atmosphere communication chamber and the liquid storage chamber are located side by side in the horizontal direction. In the case where the liquid storage container is in the second posture, the liquid injection portion and the communication flow path are located on the upper side of the liquid storage container.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A printing apparatus comprising:
 a print head having an ejection port surface on which an ejection port which ejects a liquid is formed; and 
 a liquid storage container including:
 a liquid storage chamber configured to store the liquid to be supplied to the print head; 
 a liquid injection portion configured for injection of the liquid into the liquid storage chamber from the outside; 
 an atmosphere communication chamber configured to communicate with the atmosphere, the atmosphere communication chamber being arranged under the liquid storage chamber in a direction of gravity in a state where the print head ejects liquid; and 
 a communication flow path configured to allow communication between the liquid storage chamber and the atmosphere communication chamber, the communication flow path having an opening in the atmosphere communication chamber, the opening being arranged under the ejection port surface in the direction of gravity, 
 
 wherein the atmosphere communication chamber being arranged under the liquid storage chamber in a direction of gravity in a state where the liquid is supplied to the liquid storage chamber. 
 
     
     
       2. The printing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a liquid supply path that connects the liquid storage chamber and the print head; 
 a second valve provided on the liquid supply path and configured to switch a second open state in which the liquid is supplied to the print head from the liquid storage chamber and a second closed state in which the liquid is not supplied to the print head from the liquid storage chamber. 
 
     
     
       3. The printing apparatus according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the second valve is in the second closed state when the liquid is injected into the liquid storage chamber from the liquid injection portion. 
 
     
     
       4. The printing apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the liquid storage container further includes an atmosphere communication flow path that is connected to the atmosphere communication chamber and an atmosphere opening that opens into the atmosphere, and 
 the printing apparatus further comprising a first valve provided on the atmosphere communication flow path and configured to switch a first open state in which the atmosphere communication chamber communicates with the atmosphere through the atmosphere opening and a first closed state in which the atmosphere communication chamber does not communicate with the atmosphere. 
 
     
     
       5. The printing apparatus according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the first valve is in the first closed state when the liquid is injected into the liquid storage chamber from the liquid injection portion. 
 
     
     
       6. The printing apparatus according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the atmosphere opening is arranged in the vicinity of a top of the liquid storage container. 
 
     
     
       7. The printing apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein one end of the communication flow path is connected to a bottom surface side of the liquid storage chamber and the other end is connected to a bottom surface side of the atmosphere communication chamber. 
 
     
     
       8. The printing apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the liquid storage container is installed in the printing apparatus. 
 
     
     
       9. The printing apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the liquid storage chamber and the atmosphere communication chamber are formed by being defined by a partition wall arranged within the liquid storage container. 
 
     
     
       10. The printing apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the opening in the atmosphere communication chamber of the communication flow path is formed on a bottom surface side of the atmosphere communication chamber, and 
 a bottom surface of the atmosphere communication chamber is arranged so as to be under an ejection port surface on which an ejection port through which the liquid is ejected is formed in the print head. 
 
     
     
       11. The printing apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the storage container has a liquid supply portion from which the liquid in the liquid storage chamber is supplied to the print head, and 
 the liquid supply portion is located on a lower side of the liquid storage container. 
 
     
     
       12. The printing apparatus according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein a bottom surface of the atmosphere communication chamber is arranged so as to be under the lowest position of a flow path that connects the liquid supply portion and the print head. 
 
     
     
       13. The printing apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein a top surface of the atmosphere communication chamber is arranged under the ejection port surface in the direction of gravity. 
 
     
     
       14. The printing apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the liquid injection portion is arranged above the ejection port surface in the direction of gravity. 
 
     
     
       15. A liquid storage container comprising:
 a liquid storage chamber configured to store a liquid to be supplied to a print head of the printing apparatus; 
 a liquid injection portion configured for injection of the liquid into the liquid storage chamber from the outside; 
 an atmosphere communication chamber configured to communicate with the atmosphere, the atmosphere communication chamber being arranged under the liquid storage chamber in a direction of gravity in a state where the print head ejects liquid; and 
 a communication flow path configured to allow communication between the liquid storage chamber and the atmosphere communication chamber, the communication flow path having an opening in the atmosphere communication chamber, the opening being arranged under an ejection port surface of the print head in the direction of gravity, 
 wherein the atmosphere communication chamber is arranged under the liquid storage chamber in a direction of gravity in a state where the liquid is supplied to the liquid storage chamber. 
 
     
     
       16. A printing apparatus comprising:
 a print head having an ejection port surface on which an ejection port which ejects a liquid is formed; 
 a liquid storage container including:
 a liquid storage chamber configured to store the liquid to be supplied to the print head; 
 a liquid injection portion configured for injection of the liquid into the liquid storage chamber from the outside; 
 an atmosphere communication chamber configured to communicate with the atmosphere, the atmosphere communication chamber being arranged under the liquid storage chamber in a direction of gravity; 
 a communication flow path having an opening in the atmosphere communication chamber and configured to allow communication between the liquid storage chamber and the atmosphere communication chamber, the opening being arranged under the ejection port surface in the direction of gravity; and 
 an atmosphere communication flow path that is connected to the atmosphere communication chamber and an atmosphere opening that opens into the atmosphere; and 
 
 wherein the printing apparatus further comprises a first valve provided on the atmosphere communication flow path and configured to switch a first open state in which the atmosphere communication chamber communicates with the atmosphere through the atmosphere opening and a first closed state in which the atmosphere communication chamber does not communicate with the atmosphere. 
 
     
     
       17. The printing apparatus according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein the first valve is in the first closed state when the liquid is injected into the liquid storage chamber from the liquid injection portion. 
 
     
     
       18. The printing apparatus according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a liquid supply path that connects the liquid storage chamber and the print head; 
 a second valve provided on the liquid supply path and configured to switch a second open state in which the liquid is supplied to the print head from the liquid storage chamber and a second closed state in which the liquid is not supplied to the print head from the liquid storage chamber. 
 
     
     
       19. The printing apparatus according to  claim 18 ,
 wherein the second valve is in the second closed state when the liquid is injected into the liquid storage chamber from the liquid injection portion. 
 
     
     
       20. The printing apparatus according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein one end of the communication flow path is connected to a bottom surface side of the liquid storage chamber and the other end is connected to a bottom surface side of the atmosphere communication chamber. 
 
     
     
       21. The printing apparatus according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein the liquid storage container is installed in the printing apparatus. 
 
     
     
       22. The printing apparatus according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein the storage container has a liquid supply portion from which the liquid in the liquid storage chamber is supplied to the print head, and 
 the liquid supply portion is located on a lower side of the liquid storage container. 
 
     
     
       23. The printing apparatus according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein a top surface of the atmosphere communication chamber is arranged under the ejection port surface in the direction of gravity. 
 
     
     
       24. The printing apparatus according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein the liquid injection portion is arranged above the ejection port surface in the direction of gravity. 
 
     
     
       25. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a liquid surface at which a gas-liquid exchange between liquid in the communication flow path and atmosphere in the atmosphere communication chamber is performed is below the ejection port surface in the direction of gravity. 
     
     
       26. A printing apparatus comprising:
 a print head having an ejection port surface on which an ejection port which ejects a liquid is formed; and   a liquid storage container including:
 a liquid storage chamber configured to store the liquid to be supplied to the print head; 
 a liquid injection portion configured for injection of the liquid into the liquid storage chamber from the outside; 
 an atmosphere communication chamber configured to communicate with the atmosphere, a top surface of the atmosphere communication chamber being arranged below the ejection port surface in a direction of gravity in a state where the print head ejects liquid; and 
 a communication flow path configured to allow communication between the liquid storage chamber and the atmosphere communication chamber, 
   wherein a liquid surface at which a gas-liquid exchange between the liquid in the communication flow path and the atmosphere in the atmosphere communication chamber is performed is below the ejection port surface in the direction of gravity, and   wherein the atmosphere communication chamber is arranged under the liquid storage chamber in a direction of gravity in a state where the liquid is supplied to the liquid storage chamber.   
     
     
       27. A printing apparatus comprising:
 a print head having an ejection port surface on which an ejection port which ejects a liquid is formed; and   a liquid storage container including:
 a liquid storage chamber configured to store the liquid to be supplied to the print head; 
 a liquid injection portion configured for injection of the liquid into the liquid storage chamber from the outside; 
 an atmosphere communication chamber configured to communicate with the atmosphere, a large part of the atmosphere communication chamber being arranged under the liquid storage chamber in a direction of gravity in a state where the print head ejects liquid; and 
 a communication flow path configured to allow communication between the liquid storage chamber and the atmosphere communication chamber, 
   wherein a liquid surface at which a gas-liquid exchange between the liquid in the communication flow path and the atmosphere in the atmosphere communication chamber is performed is below the ejection port surface in the direction of gravity, and   wherein the atmosphere communication chamber is arranged under the liquid storage chamber in a direction of gravity in a state where the liquid is supplied to the liquid storage chamber.   
     
     
       28. The printing apparatus according to claim 27, wherein a majority of the atmosphere communication chamber is arranged under the liquid storage chamber in the direction of gravity. 
     
     
       29. A printing apparatus comprising:
 a print head having an ejection port surface on which an ejection port which ejects a liquid is formed; and   a liquid storage container including:
 a liquid storage chamber configured to store the liquid to be supplied to the print head; 
 a liquid injection portion configured for injection of the liquid into the liquid storage chamber from the outside; 
 an atmosphere communication chamber configured to communicate with the atmosphere, a large part of the atmosphere communication chamber being arranged under the liquid storage chamber in a direction of gravity; and 
 a communication flow path configured to allow communication between the liquid storage chamber and the atmosphere communication chamber; and 
   a liquid flow path for supplying the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber to the print head,   wherein a liquid surface at which a gas-liquid exchange between the liquid in the communication flow path and the atmosphere in the atmosphere communication chamber is performed is below the ejection port surface in a direction of gravity,   wherein a position where the liquid flow path is connected to the liquid storage chamber is above the liquid surface in the direction of gravity, and   wherein the atmosphere communication chamber is arranged under the liquid storage chamber in a direction of gravity in a state where the liquid is supplied to the liquid storage chamber.   
     
     
       30. The printing apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising:
 a valve provided on a flow path from the liquid injection portion to the print head and capable of blocking the flow path.   
     
     
       31. The printing apparatus according to claim 30, further comprising;
 a supply path for supplying the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber to the print head,   wherein the valve is provided on the supply path.   
     
     
       32. The printing apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the valve blocks the flow path in a state where the liquid is injected from the liquid injection portion. 
     
     
       33. The printing apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the liquid surface is horizontal in a state where the print head ejects the liquid. 
     
     
       34. The printing apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising:
 a valve provided on a flow path from the liquid injection portion to the print head and capable of blocking the flow path.   
     
     
       35. The printing apparatus according to claim 34, further comprising;
 a supply path for supplying the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber to the print head,   wherein the valve is provided on the supply path.   
     
     
       36. The printing apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the valve blocks the flow path in a state where the liquid is injected from the liquid injection portion. 
     
     
       37. The printing apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the liquid surface is parallel to a horizontal direction in a state where the print head ejects the liquid. 
     
     
       38. The printing apparatus according to claim 29, further comprising:
 a valve provided on the liquid flow path to the print head and capable of blocking the liquid flow path.   
     
     
       39. The printing apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the valve blocks the liquid flow path in a state where the liquid is injected from the liquid injection portion. 
     
     
       40. The printing apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the liquid surface is parallel to a horizontal direction in a state where the print head ejects the liquid.