CN111902289B

CN111902289B - Image recording apparatus

Info

Publication number: CN111902289B
Application number: CN201880091670.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 洞出贤太
Original assignee: Brother Industries Ltd
Current assignee: Brother Industries Ltd
Priority date: 2018-03-29
Filing date: 2018-03-29
Publication date: 2022-07-01
Anticipated expiration: 2038-03-29
Also published as: EP3774353B1; CN115179656B; CN115179656A; CN111902289A; EP3774353A1; WO2019186879A1

Abstract

The image recording apparatus has a head, a tank, a housing that receives a cartridge, and a controller. When the cartridge is mounted in the housing of the image recording apparatus, the liquid in the cartridge flows to the tank by a difference between the liquid level in the cartridge and the liquid level in the tank. When the liquid level in the ink chamber reaches a specific position, the controller controls the display to display a first notification indicating the ink cartridge based on receiving a first signal output from the sensor. Upon receiving the first signal from the sensor, the controller counts a count value indicating an amount of liquid discharged from the head. Further, the controller controls the display to display a second notification in response to the count value reaching the first threshold.

Description

Image recording apparatus

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to an image recording apparatus including a cartridge having a first liquid chamber and a tank having a second liquid chamber.

Background

In the related art, there is known ｃA liquid droplet ejection apparatus including an apparatus body including ｃA liquid ejection head and ｃA sub-tank, and ｃA cartridge including ｃA liquid chamber and detachably mounted on the apparatus body (see, for example, JP- ｃA-2008-.

When ink flows from the sub tank to the liquid ejection head, the ink flows from the liquid chamber of the cartridge to the sub tank. Both the secondary tank and the liquid chamber are open to the atmosphere. Therefore, the liquid level of the ink in the sub tank and the liquid level of the ink in the liquid chamber of the cartridge are eventually at the same height.

In the liquid droplet ejection apparatus, a detection object for detecting the amount of liquid remaining in the liquid chamber is inside the liquid chamber of the cartridge.

Reference list

Patent literature

Patent document 1: japanese patent application publication 2008-213162

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem

In the liquid droplet jetting apparatus disclosed in JP- ｃA-2008-213162, the remaining ink amount of the cartridge is detected, but the remaining ink amount in the sub tank is not determined. Therefore, when the user is notified that the amount of ink remaining in the cartridge is zero or equal to or less than the predetermined amount, the cartridge must be immediately replaced. However, even after the ink stored in the cartridge is used up, the ink is stored in the sub-tank. Therefore, there is ink to be consumed by image recording or the like. When the user is informed that the sub tank is empty, assuming that the ink stored in the sub tank can be used, the amount of ink remaining in the cartridge is zero or equal to or less than a predetermined amount. Even later, image recording and the like can be performed. Therefore, the user has enough time to replace the cartridge. On the other hand, when the ink stored in the sub tank is completely consumed, air flows from the sub tank to the recording head. Therefore, an ejection failure occurs in the recording head, or a large amount of ink is assumed for maintenance to recover from the ejection failure in some cases. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the remaining amount of ink in the sub tank with high accuracy so that air does not flow in the recording head.

Solution to the problem

The present disclosure has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present disclosure to provide an image recording apparatus including a cartridge having a first liquid chamber and a tank having a second liquid chamber, in which the cartridge can be used until a remaining amount of a liquid stored in the first liquid chamber is small, and to provide a mechanism capable of determining the remaining amount of the liquid stored in the second liquid chamber with high accuracy at low cost.

According to an aspect (1) of the present disclosure, there is provided an image recording apparatus including: a mounting housing receiving a cartridge, the cartridge comprising: a first liquid chamber storing a liquid; a first flow path including one end communicating with the first liquid chamber and the other end communicating with the outside; and a second flow path including one end communicating with the first liquid chamber and the other end communicating with the outside; a canister, the canister comprising: a second liquid chamber; a third flow path including one end communicating with the outside and the other end communicating with the second liquid chamber, at least one of the first flow path and the third flow path being configured to communicate with the first liquid chamber and the second liquid chamber of the cartridge mounted in the mounting case; a fourth flow path that is vertically below the third flow path and that communicates with the second liquid chamber; and a fifth flow path including one end communicating with the second liquid chamber and the other end communicating with the outside; a sensor; a head communicating with the other end of the fourth flow path; a notification device; and a controller. The controller is configured to: receiving a first signal from the sensor, the sensor outputting the first signal in response to a liquid level in one of the first liquid chamber and the second liquid chamber being equal to or lower than a certain position, the certain position being equal to or higher than the other end of the third flow path; in response to receiving the first signal from the sensor, control the notification device to activate a first notification, the first notification indicating the cartridge; receiving a discharge instruction to discharge the liquid via the head; after receiving the first signal from the sensor, in response to receiving the discharge instruction, counting a count value indicating an amount of liquid to be discharged instructed by the discharge instruction; determining whether the count value reaches a first threshold; and in response to determining that the count value reaches the first threshold, control the notification device to activate a second notification, the second notification being different from the first notification. A liquid level of the second liquid chamber is between the other end of the third flow path and the one end of the fourth flow path in the vertical direction when the notification device activates the second notification.

In the above configuration, based on a signal output from one sensor, it is possible to start counting the count value to determine whether the liquid level of the liquid in the first liquid chamber reaches a certain position and to determine whether the liquid level of the liquid in the second liquid chamber reaches a position below the other end of the third flow path and above the one end of the fourth flow path.

According to an aspect (2) of the present disclosure, the sensor may be configured to: outputting the first signal in response to a level of the liquid stored in the second liquid chamber reaching the particular position.

In the above configuration, the count value that starts counting upon receiving the signal from the sensor accurately corresponds to the liquid level position in the second liquid chamber.

According to an aspect (3) of the present disclosure, the image recording apparatus may further include: a detection object configured to change a state in which a liquid level in the second liquid chamber reaches the specific position, wherein the sensor may be configured to detect a change in the state of the detection object and output the signal.

According to an aspect (4) of the present disclosure, the image recording apparatus may further include: an actuator that is supported so as to be rotatable about an axis and that includes the detection object, wherein the actuator may further include a float that has a lower specific gravity than the liquid.

According to the aspect (5) of the present disclosure, the specific position may be the same as a position of the other end of the third flow path in the vertical direction.

In the above configuration, after the sensor outputs the signal, no liquid flows from the first liquid chamber to the second liquid chamber. Therefore, it is possible to report more accurately that the liquid level of the liquid in the second liquid chamber reaches a position below the other end of the third flow path and above the one end of the fourth flow path. The first notification can be performed at a timing at which the liquid may not flow out from the first liquid chamber (i.e., a timing at which the liquid may not be supplied from the cartridge).

According to an aspect (6) of the present disclosure, a liquid level of the second liquid chamber may be equal to or lower than the other end of the third flow path when the notification device activates the first notification, and wherein the liquid level of the second liquid chamber may be higher when the notification device activates the first notification than when the notification device activates the second notification.

According to an aspect (7) of the present disclosure, the specific position may be a center position of the third flow path in the vertical direction at the other end.

According to an aspect (8) of the disclosure, the controller may be configured to: controlling the notification device to activate the first notification in response to receiving the signal from the sensor.

According to an aspect (9) of the present disclosure, the controller may be configured to: determining whether the count value reaches a second threshold value that is closer to the initial value of the count value than the first threshold value is to the initial value of the count value; and controlling the notification device to activate the first notification in response to the count value reaching the second threshold after receiving the first signal from the sensor.

According to an aspect (10) of the present disclosure, a liquid level of the second liquid chamber may be lower than the other end of the third flow path when the notification device activates the first notification, and the liquid level of the second liquid chamber may be higher than the liquid level of the second liquid chamber when the notification device activates the second notification.

According to an aspect (11) of the present disclosure, the first notification may indicate that the amount of liquid in the cartridge is empty.

According to an aspect (12) of the present disclosure, the first notification may indicate replacement of the cartridge.

According to an aspect (13) of the disclosure, the controller may be configured to: controlling the head to stop discharging the liquid via the head in response to the count value reaching the first threshold.

In the above configuration, image recording is performed after the second notification, and air can be prevented from flowing from the second liquid chamber to the fourth flow path.

According to an aspect (14) of the present disclosure, the controller may be configured to: receiving a second signal from the sensor, the sensor outputting the second signal in response to the liquid level being above the particular position; and controlling the notification device to activate the first notification in response to receiving the second signal after canceling the stop of the discharge of the liquid via the head.

According to an aspect (15) of the present disclosure, the controller may be configured to: receiving a second signal from the sensor, the sensor outputting the second signal in response to the liquid level being above the particular position; and resetting the count value in response to receiving the second signal after controlling the notification device to activate the first notification.

Advantageous effects of the invention

According to the present disclosure, the cartridge can be used until the remaining amount of the liquid stored in the first liquid chamber is small, and the remaining amount of the liquid stored in the second liquid chamber can be determined with high accuracy at low cost.

Drawings

Fig. 1A is an external perspective view of the multifunction device 10 showing the cover 87 in the blocking position.

Fig. 1B is an external perspective view of the multifunction device 10 showing the cover 87 in the open position.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the printer 11.

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the carriage 22, the platen 26, and the mounting case 110.

Fig. 4A is an external perspective view showing the opening 112 side of the mounting case 110 when the ink cartridge 30Y is mounted.

Fig. 4B is an external perspective view showing the side of the opening 112 when the

ink cartridges

30Y and 30B are mounted.

Fig. 5 is an external perspective view showing a can 103 side of the mounting case 110.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of fig. 4A.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII of fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a front perspective view showing the ink cartridge 30.

Fig. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the controller 130.

Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing a notification process of the controller 130.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described. The embodiments described below are merely examples of the present disclosure, and it is needless to say that the embodiments of the present disclosure may be appropriately modified within the scope of the present disclosure without departing from the gist of the present disclosure. The up-down direction 7 is defined with reference to an orientation in which the multifunction device 10 is mounted so as to be able to be used on a horizontal surface (the orientation being that of fig. 1 and sometimes being referred to as a "use orientation"). The front-rear direction 8 is defined with the surface of the opening 13 on which the multifunction device 10 is mounted being set as the front surface 14A. The left-right direction 9 is defined when the multifunction device 10 is viewed from the front surface. In the embodiment, in the use orientation, the up-down direction 7 corresponds to the vertical direction, and the front-back direction 8 and the left-right direction 9 correspond to the horizontal direction. The front-rear direction 8 and the left-right direction 9 are orthogonal to each other.

General construction of multifunction device 10

As shown in fig. 1A and 1B, the multifunction device 10 (this multifunction device 10 is an example of an image recording apparatus) has a substantially rectangular box shape. The multifunction device 10 includes a printer 11, and the printer 11 records an image on a sheet 12 (see fig. 2) in a lower portion in accordance with an inkjet recording scheme. The printer 11 includes a housing 14, and the housing 14 has an opening 13 formed in a front surface 14A. A display 200 that displays various information (this display 200 is an example of a notification device) is mounted on the front surface 14A of the housing 14.

As shown in fig. 2, a feed roller 23, a feed tray 15, a discharge tray 16, a pair of conveying rollers 25, a recording unit 24, a pair of discharge rollers 27, a platen 26, and a mounting case 110 (see fig. 1B) are located inside the housing 14. The multifunction device 10 has various functions such as a facsimile function and a printing function.

Feed tray 15, discharge tray 16, feed roller 23

As shown in fig. 1, the user inserts the feeding tray 15 into the multi-function device 10 and takes out it from the multi-function device 10 in the front-rear direction 8 through the opening 13. The opening 13 is located in the middle of the front surface 14A of the housing 14 in the left-right direction 9. As shown in fig. 2, the feed tray 15 may support a plurality of stacked sheets 12.

The discharge tray 16 is located above the feed tray 15. The discharge tray 16 supports the sheet 12 discharged by a pair of discharge rollers 27.

The feed roller 23 feeds the sheet 12 supported by the feed tray 15 to the conveying path 17. The feed roller 23 is driven by a feed motor 172 (see fig. 9).

Conveying path 17

As shown in fig. 2, the conveying path 17 is a space formed by an outer guide member 18 and an inner guide member 19 facing each other at a predetermined interval, wherein a part of the conveying path 17 is inside the printer 11. The conveying path 17 is a path extending rearward at the rear end of the feed tray 15. The conveyance path 17 is a U-shaped forward-turning path extending upward in the rear portion of the printer 11, and reaches the discharge tray 16 via a space between the recording unit 24 and the platen 26. The conveyance path 17 between the pair of conveyance rollers 25 and the pair of discharge rollers 27 is installed substantially in the middle of the multifunction device 10 in the left-right direction 9, and extends in the front-rear direction 8. The conveying direction of the sheet 12 inside the conveying path 17 is indicated by a chain-dotted arrow in fig. 2.

A pair of conveying rollers 25

As shown in fig. 2, a pair of conveying rollers 25 is located in the conveying path 17. The pair of conveying rollers 25 includes a conveying roller 25A and a pinch roller 25B facing each other. The conveying roller 25A is driven by a conveying motor 171 (see fig. 9). The pinch roller 25B rotates with the rotation of the conveying roller 25A. The sheet 12 is conveyed in the conveying direction (forward) while being pinched by the conveying roller 25A and the pinch roller 25B that are normally rotated by the forward rotation of the conveying motor 171.

A pair of discharge rollers 27

As shown in fig. 2, a pair of discharge rollers 27 is located downstream of the pair of conveying rollers 25 in the conveying direction in the conveying path 17. The pair of discharge rollers 27 includes a discharge roller 27A and a spur roller 27B facing each other. The discharge roller 27A is driven by a conveyance motor 171 (see fig. 9). The spur roller 27B rotates with the rotation of the discharge roller 27A. The sheet 12 is conveyed in the conveying direction (forward) while being nipped by the discharge roller 27A and the spur roller 27B, which are rotated in the forward direction by the forward rotation of the conveying motor 171.

Recording unit 24

As shown in fig. 2, the recording unit 24 is located between a pair of conveying rollers 25 and a pair of discharge rollers 27 in the conveying path 17. With the conveying path 17 interposed between the recording unit 24 and the platen 26 in the up-down direction 7, the recording unit 24 faces the platen 26. The recording unit 24 is located above the conveying path 17, and the platen 26 is located below the conveying roller 17. The recording unit 24 includes a carriage 22 and a recording head 21.

As shown in fig. 3, the carriage 22 is supported by

guide rails

82 and 83, the guide rails 82 and 83 being installed to extend in the left-right direction 9 at positions separated in the front-rear direction 8. The guide rails 82 and 83 are supported by a frame (not shown) of the printer 11. The carriage 22 is connected to a known belt mechanism mounted in a guide rail 83. The belt mechanism is driven by a carriage drive motor 173 (see fig. 9). The carriage 22 connected to the belt mechanism is reciprocated in the left-right direction 9 by the driving of a carriage drive motor 173. The movement areas of the carriage 22 reach the right and left sides of the conveying path 17 as indicated by the chain line of fig. 3.

The ink tubes 20 and the flexible flat cable 84 extend from the carriage 22.

The ink tubes 20 connect the mounting case 110 to the recording head 21. The ink tube 20 supplies ink (this ink is an example of liquid) stored in each ink cartridge 30 (this ink cartridge 30 is an example of a cartridge) mounted in the mounting case 110 to the recording head 21 (this recording head 21 is an example of a head). An ink cartridge 30B storing black ink, an ink cartridge 30M storing magenta ink, an ink cartridge 30C storing cyan ink, and an ink cartridge 30Y storing yellow ink are mounted in the mounting case 110. These four ink cartridges are collectively referred to as ink cartridges 30. The ink circulates in the inner space of the ink tube 20. Four ink tubes 20 in which ink of each color (black, magenta, cyan, and yellow) circulates are installed so as to correspond to the

ink cartridges

30B, 30M, 30C, and 30Y, and the bundled ink tubes are connected to a recording head 21 installed on a carriage 22. The inner space of the ink tube 20 is an example of the fourth channel. The end of the ink tube 20 connected to the recording head 21 is an example of the other end of the fourth channel.

The flexible flat cable 84 electrically connects the controller 130 (see fig. 9) to the recording head 21. The flexible flat cable 84 delivers the control signal output from the controller 130 to the recording head 21.

As shown in fig. 2, the recording head 21 is mounted on a carriage 22. The recording head 21 includes: a plurality of nozzles 29, the plurality of nozzles 29 being formed on the lower surface; and a piezoelectric element 56 (see fig. 9), the piezoelectric element 56 discharging ink droplets from the nozzles 29 by deforming a portion of an ink passage formed inside the recording head 21. The piezoelectric element 56 operates when power is supplied to the controller 130, as described below.

The recording unit 24 is controlled by a controller 130. When the carriage 22 moves in the left-right direction 9, the recording head 21 discharges ink droplets from the nozzles 29 onto the conveying path 17. Thus, an image is recorded on the sheet 12 supported by the platen 26. Therefore, the ink stored in each ink cartridge 30 is consumed.

Pressure plate 26

As shown in fig. 2, a platen 26 is located between a pair of conveying rollers 25 and a pair of discharge rollers 27 in the conveying path 17. With the conveyance path 17 interposed between the platen 26 and the recording unit 2 in the up-down direction 7, the platen 26 faces the recording unit 24. The platen 26 supports the sheet 12 conveyed by the pair of conveying rollers 25 from the lower side.

Cover 87

As shown in fig. 1B, an opening 85 is formed on the right side of the front surface 14A of the housing 14. An accommodating space 86 capable of accommodating the mounting case 110 is formed at the rear side of the opening 85. A cover 87 is fitted in the housing 14 to block the opening 85. The cover 87 is rotatable about a rotation axis 87A (rotation center) extending in the left-right direction 9 between a blocking position (position shown in fig. 1A) where the opening is blocked and an open position (position shown in fig. 1B) where the opening 85 is opened.

Mounting case 110

As shown in fig. 1B, the mounting shell 110 is located in the front right portion of the housing 14. As shown in fig. 3, the mounting case 110 is located on the front side of the recording head 21. The mounting case 110 is located on the right side of the conveying path 17.

As shown in fig. 4A to 6, the mounting case 110 has a contact 106, a rod 125, a mounting sensor 113, a lock shaft 145, a tank 103, and a level sensor 55 (the level sensor 55 is an example of a sensor).

The mounting case 101 can accommodate four ink cartridges 30 storing cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, respectively. The ink cartridge 30 is mounted in the mounting case 101 by moving the ink cartridge 30 to the rear side, and the ink cartridge 30 is detached from the mounting case 101 by moving the ink cartridge 30 to the front side. Four contacts 106, four levers 125, four mounting sensors 113, four locking shafts 145, four tanks 103, and four level sensors 55 are installed to correspond to the four ink cartridges 30. The number of ink cartridges 30 that can be accommodated in the mounting case 110 is not limited to 4.

Each contact 106 has the same configuration, each lever 125 has the same configuration, each mounting sensor 113 has the same configuration, each locking shaft 145 has the same configuration, and each level sensor 55 has the same configuration. Therefore, in the description of each unit described below, only the configurations of one contact 106, one lever 125, one mounting sensor 113, one lock shaft 145, and one level sensor 55 will be described, and the description of the respective three remaining units will be omitted.

The four tanks 103 store monochrome inks of black, magenta, cyan, and yellow, respectively. In the following description, the four tanks are collectively referred to as a tank 103, the tank storing black ink is referred to as a tank 103B, the tank storing magenta ink is referred to as a tank 103M, the tank storing cyan ink is referred to as a tank 103C, and the tank storing yellow ink is referred to as a tank 103Y.

As shown in fig. 4 to 6, the mounting case 101 has an inner space in a box shape. The inner space of the mounting case 101 is defined by a top wall 141 defining an upper end, a bottom wall 142 defining a lower end, a rear wall 143 defining a rear end in the front-rear direction 8, and a pair of

side walls

144 and 146 defining both ends in the left-right direction 9. On the other hand, the front end of the mounting case 101 facing the rear wall 143 in the front-rear direction 8 is opened to expose the inner space of the mounting case 101. When the opening 85 of the mounting case 101 is located at a position where the cover 87 (see fig. 1) is exposed, the opening 85 is exposed to the outside of the multifunction device 10.

The ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the mounting case 101 and removed from the mounting case 101 through the opening 85 of the mounting case 110. When the lower end of the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the guide groove 109 formed on the bottom surface of the mounting case 101, the ink cartridge 30 is guided in the front-rear direction 8. As shown in fig. 4A, three plates 104 are mounted in the mounting case 101, and the three plates 104 divide the internal space into four spaces in the up-down direction 7. The mounting case 101 accommodates four ink cartridges 30 in a space divided by the plate 104 in the left-right direction 9.

Fig. 4A shows a state in which only the ink cartridge 30Y of the four ink cartridges 30 is mounted in the mounting case 110. Fig. 4B shows a state in which only the

ink cartridges

30Y, 30B of the four ink cartridges 30 are mounted in the mounting case 110.

Contact 106

As shown in fig. 6, the contact 106 is located on the lower surface of the top wall 141 of the mounting case 101. The contacts 106 protrude downward from the lower surface of the top wall 141 toward the inner space of the mounting case 101. Although not shown in detail in each drawing, the contact 106 includes four members formed to be divided in the left-right direction 9. Four contacts 106 including four parts are formed to correspond to the four ink cartridges 30 that can be accommodated in the mounting case 101. The arrangement of the four contacts 106 corresponds to the arrangement of the four electrodes 65 of the ink cartridge 30 described below. The contact 106 has conductivity and is therefore capable of elastic deformation upward. Any number of contacts 106 and any number of electrodes 65 may be used.

The contacts 106 are electrically connected to a controller 130 (see fig. 9). The contact 106 is engaged with the corresponding electrode 65 to be electrically conducted, and thus a voltage is applied to the electrode 65, and the electrode 65 is grounded or the electrode 65 is supplied with power. The contacts 106 and corresponding electrodes 65 may be electrically conductive to access data stored in the memory of the IC of the ink cartridge 30. The output from the contact 106 is input to the controller 130.

Rod 125

As shown in fig. 6, the lever 125 is formed above the ink needle 102 on the rear wall 143 of the mounting case 101. The rod 125 projects forward from the rear wall 143 of the mounting case 101. The rod 125 has a cylindrical shape. In a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted in the mounting case 110 (i.e., the ink cartridge 30 is located at the mounting position), the rod 125 enters the below-described atmosphere communication port 96.

Mounting sensor 113

As shown in fig. 6, the mounting sensor 113 is located on the lower surface of the top wall 141 of the mounting case 101. The mounting sensor 113 detects whether the ink cartridge 30 is mounted in the mounting case 110. The mounting sensor 113 is located on the front side of the rod 125 and on the rear side of the contact 106. The mount sensor 113 includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit. The light emitting unit is installed to be at the right or left side of the light receiving unit at a certain interval from the light receiving unit. A light shielding plate 67 described below in the ink cartridge 30 mounted in the mounting case 110 is located between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit. In other words, the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit are positioned to face each other with the light shielding plate 67 of the ink cartridge 30 mounted in the mounting case 110 interposed therebetween.

The mount sensor 113 outputs different detection signals depending on whether the light receiving unit receives light radiated in the left-right direction 9 from the light emitting unit. For example, the mount sensor 113 outputs a low-level signal to the controller 130 (see fig. 9) under a condition that the light output from the light emitting unit may not be received by the light receiving unit (i.e., the light receiving intensity is less than a predetermined intensity). In contrast, the mount sensor 113 outputs a high-level signal to the controller 130 (see fig. 9) under the condition that the light output from the light emitting unit can be received by the light receiving unit (i.e., the light receiving intensity is equal to or greater than the predetermined intensity).

Locking shaft 145

As shown in fig. 6, the lock shaft 145 extends in the left-right direction 9 of the mounting case 101 near the top wall 141 of the mounting case 101 and near the opening 112. The lock shaft 145 is a member having a rod-like shape extending in the left-right direction 9. The locking shaft 145 is, for example, a metal post. Both ends of the lock shaft 145 in the left-right direction 9 are fixed to walls defining both ends of the mounting case 101 in the left-right direction 9. The lock shaft 145 extends in the left-right direction 9 across four spaces in which four ink cartridges 30 can be accommodated.

The lock shaft 145 holds the ink cartridge 30 mounted in the mounting case 110 at the mounting position. The ink cartridge 30 is mounted in the mounting case 110 to be engaged with the locking shaft 145. Therefore, with the lock shaft 145, the coil springs 78 and 98 of the ink cartridge 30 hold the ink cartridge 30 inside the mount case 110 against the force that presses the ink cartridge 30 forward.

Tank 103

As shown in fig. 5 and 7, the mounting case 110 includes four

tanks

103B, 103M, 103C, and 103Y. Four

tanks

103B, 103M, 103C, and 103Y are arranged in the left-right direction 9.

Tanks

103B, 103M, 103C, and 103Y correspond to ink cartridges 30 of each color. That is, the ink stored in the ink cartridge 30 of each color can be circulated in the corresponding

tanks

103B, 103M, 103C, and 103Y.

As shown in fig. 6, the can 103 is located on the rear side of the rear wall 143 of the mounting case 101. As shown in fig. 5, the

tanks

103B, 103M, 103C, and 103Y have a box shape.

As shown in fig. 5 to 7, each of the

tanks

103B, 103M, 103C, 103Y includes a main body having a box shape and accommodating a liquid chamber 160 (the liquid chamber 160 is an example of a second liquid chamber) described below and a joint 107. As shown in fig. 6 and 7, the main body includes an upper wall 161, a front wall 162, a lower wall 163, a rear wall 164, a pair of

side walls

165 and 166, and an upper wall 120B and a front wall 120C that form the protrusion 120.

As shown in fig. 6, the upper wall 161 includes a first upper wall 161A and a second upper wall 161B. The first upper wall 161A is located above the second upper wall 161B.

Front wall 162 includes a first front wall 162A, a second front wall 162B, and a third front wall 162C. The first front wall 162A is located on the front side of the second front wall 162B. The third front wall 162C is located on the front side of the first front wall 162A.

The lower wall 163 includes a first lower wall 163A and a second lower wall 163B. The first lower wall 163A is located above the second lower wall 163B.

The first front wall 162A extends downward from the front end of the first upper wall 161A. The first lower wall 163A extends rearward from the lower end of the first front wall 162A. The second front wall 162B extends downward from the rear end of the first lower wall 163A. The upper wall 120B extends forward from the lower end of the second front wall 162B. The front wall 120C extends downward from the front end of the upper wall 120B. The second upper wall 161B extends forward from the lower end of the front wall 120C. The third front wall 162C extends downward from the front end of the second upper wall 161B. The second lower wall 163B extends rearward from the lower end of the third front wall 162C.

As shown in fig. 7, the side wall 165 is connected to the right ends of the upper wall 161, the front wall 162, and the lower wall 163 corresponding to the

cans

103B, 103M, 103C, and 103Y. The side wall 166 is connected to the left ends of the upper wall 161, the front wall 162, and the lower wall 163 corresponding to the

cans

103B, 103M, 103C, and 103Y.

The rear wall 164 is a film welded to the rear end surfaces of the first upper wall 161A, the second lower wall 163B, and the

side walls

165 and 166. In fig. 5, the rear wall 164 (membrane) is not shown. In this embodiment, the rear wall 164 is a membrane, but other walls than the rear wall 164 may also be membranes. The rear wall 164 may be a resin wall rather than a film.

As shown in fig. 6, the joint 107 is connected to the ink supply tube 34 of the ink cartridge 30 mounted in the mounting case 110. Therefore, the joint 107 communicates with the liquid chamber 57 that stores ink in the ink cartridge 30. As a result, the ink stored in the ink cartridge 30 can be circulated to the liquid chamber 160 via the joint 107. That is, the liquid chamber 160 stores ink supplied from the ink supply tube 34 connected to the joint 107. The detailed configuration of the joint 107 and the liquid chamber 160 will be described below.

Joint 107

A fitting 107 is located in each tank 103. Each of the joints 107 has the same configuration. Therefore, the configuration of one joint 107 of the four joints 107 will be described below. The description of the remaining three joints 107 will be omitted. As shown in fig. 4A, the joint 107 includes the hollow ink needle 102 and the guide unit 105.

As shown in fig. 4A, the ink needle 102 is formed of a tubular resin, and is located in a lower portion of the rear wall 143 of the mounting case 101. The ink needle 102 is located on the rear wall 143 of the mounting case 101 at a position corresponding to the ink supply tube 34 of the ink cartridge 30 mounted in the mounting case 110. The ink needle 102 projects forward from the rear wall 143 of the mounting case 101. The internal space 117 of the ink needle 102 is an example of a third flow path. The opening 116 at the protruding distal end (right end in fig. 6) of the ink needle 102 is an example of one end of the third flow path.

The guide unit 105 is located around the ink needle 102, and thus has a cylindrical shape. The guide unit 105 protrudes forward from the rear wall 143 of the mounting case 101, and the protruding end (front end) of the guide unit 105 is opened. The ink needle 102 is disposed at the center of the guide unit 105. The guide unit 105 has a shape in which the ink supply tube 34 of the ink cartridge enters inward.

In a state where the ink cartridge 30 is not mounted in the mounting case 110, the joint 107 is not connected to the ink supply tube 34 of the ink cartridge 30. In contrast, while the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the mounting case 110, that is, while the ink cartridge 30 is moved to the mounting position (the position shown in fig. 6), the ink supply tube 34 of the ink cartridge 30 enters the guide unit 105. Further, when the ink cartridge 30 enters the mounting case 110 as shown in fig. 6, the ink needle 102 enters the ink supply port 71 formed in the ink supply tube 34 in the front-rear direction 8. Thus, the joint 107 and the ink supply tube 34 are connected to each other. Then, the ink stored in the liquid chamber 33 formed inside the ink cartridge 30 flows into the tank 103 via the internal space of the ink needle 102 and the ink valve chamber 35 formed inside the ink supply tube 34. The distal end of the ink needle 102 may be flat or may be pointed.

The valve 114 and the coil spring 115 are located in the inner space 117 of the ink needle 102. The valve 114 moves in the forward-backward direction 8 to block and open an opening 116 formed at the protruding distal end of the ink needle. That is, the valve 114 blocks and opens the internal space 117 of the ink needle 102. A coil spring 115 urges the valve 114 forward. Therefore, in a state where no external force is applied (a state where the ink cartridge 30 is not mounted in the mounting case 110), the valve 114 blocks the opening 116. In a state where no external force is applied, the front end of the valve 114 urged by the coil spring 115 protrudes forward beyond the opening 116. The valve 114 opens the opening 116 while the joint 107 and the ink supply tube 34 are connected to each other. The operation of the valve 114 to open the opening 116 will be described later.

Overview of the liquid chamber 160

The multifunction device 10 includes four

liquid chambers

160B, 160M, 160C, and 160Y corresponding to the

tanks

103B, 103M, 103C, and 103Y, respectively.

In the following description, the four liquid chambers are collectively referred to as the liquid chamber 160. The liquid chamber included in the tank 103B (i.e., the liquid chamber storing black ink) is referred to as a liquid chamber 160B. The liquid chamber included in the tank 103M (i.e., the liquid chamber storing magenta ink) is referred to as a liquid chamber 160M. The liquid chamber included in the tank 103C (i.e., the liquid chamber storing cyan ink) is referred to as a liquid chamber 160C. The liquid chamber included in the tank 103Y (i.e., the liquid chamber storing yellow ink) is referred to as a liquid chamber 160Y.

The three

liquid chambers

160M, 160C, and 160Y are substantially identical in configuration. However, the liquid chamber 160B is different in configuration from the three

liquid chambers

160M, 160C, and 160Y. Therefore, the configuration of the three

liquid chambers

160M, 160C, and 160Y will be described first. Next, the configuration of the liquid chamber 160B will be described.

In the present embodiment, the configurations of the

liquid chambers

160M, 160C, and 160Y are substantially the same, and the configuration of the liquid chamber 160B is different from the configurations of the

liquid chambers

160M, 160C, and 160Y, but the configuration difference of the liquid chamber 160B is not limited to the above-described difference. For example, the configurations of the

liquid chambers

160M, 160C, and 160Y may be the same as the configuration of the liquid chamber 160B. For example, the configuration of the liquid chamber 160B may be the same as the configurations of the

liquid chambers

160M, 160C, and 160Y. For example, the configuration of the liquid chamber 160M may be the same as that of the liquid chamber 160B. On the other hand, the configurations of the

liquid chambers

160C and 160Y may be different from the configuration of the liquid chamber 160B.

Liquid chambers

160M, 160C and 160Y

Since the configurations of the

liquid chambers

160M, 160C, and 160Y are the same, the configuration of the liquid chamber 160Y as one of the three

liquid chambers

160M, 160C, and 160Y will be described below. The configurations of the remaining two

liquid chambers

160M and 160C will be described as necessary.

As shown in fig. 5 to 7, the liquid chamber 160Y includes a buffer space 180, a first space 181, and a second space 182.

The buffer space 180 is defined by the first upper wall 161A, the first front wall 162A, the first lower wall 163A, the rear wall 164, and the

side walls

165 and 166.

The first space 181 is defined by the second upper wall 161B, the third front wall 162C, the second lower wall 163B, the rear wall 164, and the

side walls

165 and 166.

The second space 182 is bounded by the second front wall 162B, the rear wall 164, and the

side walls

165 and 166.

As shown in fig. 7, the lower portion of the right end of the first space 181 of the liquid chamber 160Y is defined by a sidewall 166 defining the left end of the right-adjacent liquid chamber 160C. A portion other than the lower portion of the right end of the first space 181 of the liquid chamber 160Y is defined by the side wall 165. The buffer space 180 of the liquid chamber 160Y and the right end of the second space 182 are defined by the side wall 165.

The buffer space 180 is located above the second space 182. The first space 181 is located below the second space 182. The upper end of the second space 182 communicates with the buffer space 180. The lower end of the second space 182 communicates with the first space 181. That is, the second space 182 is connected to the buffer space 180 and the first space 181.

The upper end of the second space 182 communicates with the right end of the buffering space 180. The lower end of the second space 182 communicates with the right end of the first space 181.

As shown in fig. 6, the upper end of the second space 182 communicates with the rear end of the buffer space 180. The lower end of the second space 182 communicates with the rear end of the first space 181.

The protrusion 120 is located above the first space 181 and at the front side of the second space 182. In the protrusion 120, a side wall in the left-right direction 9 has translucency. The inner space of the protrusion 120 is continuous in the first space 181 and the second space 182. The inner space of the protrusion 120 forms a part of the liquid chamber 160Y. The arm 53 of the actuator 50 and the detection object 54 described below are located in the inner space of the protrusion unit 120. The protrusion 120 may be continuous with only one of the first space 181 and the second space 182.

The communication port 184 is located in the third front wall 162C. The communication port 184 is connected to the first space 181. The first space 181 communicates with the internal space of the ink needle 102 of the joint 107 via the communication port 184. Therefore, the ink flowing from the ink cartridge 30Y via the ink needle 102 flows into the liquid chamber 160Y to be stored in the liquid chamber 160Y. The communication port 184 is an example of the other end of the third flow path.

In a state where the same amount of ink as the height of the communication port 184 is a liquid level stored in the liquid chamber Y, the buffer space 180 is located above the liquid level. The fact that the same height as the communication port 184 is a liquid level means that the same height as the axial center of the ink needle 102 (in other words, the center of the communication port 184) is a liquid level, and means that the same height as the center of the ink supply port 71 is a liquid level. Specifically, a position P1 indicated by a chain line in fig. 6 (this position P1 is an example of a specific position) is the liquid level.

The fact that the same height as the communication port 184 is the liquid level is not limited to the fact that the position P1 is used as the liquid level. For example, the fact that the same height as the communication port 184 is a liquid level may mean that the same height as the upper or lower end of the communication port 184 is a liquid level.

As shown in fig. 7, the liquid chamber 160Y communicates with the ink flow path 126 via the communication port 128. In the present embodiment, the first space 181 communicates with the ink flow path 126 via the communication port 128. The communication port 128 is formed in a lower end of a sidewall 166 defining a lower portion of a right end of the first space 181.

The communication port 128 is located below the communication port 184 of the joint 107 in the up-down direction 7.

As shown in fig. 6, the communication port 128 is connected to a front end of the first space 181. That is, the communication port 128 is located at the front end of the side wall 166.

As shown in fig. 5, the ink flow path 126 extends upward from the front end of the tank 103, and is continuous with the ink outflow port 127. The ink tube 20 is connected to the ink outflow port 127. Thus, the liquid chamber 160Y communicates with the recording head 21 from the communication port 128 via the ink flow path 126 and the ink tube 20. That is, the ink stored in the liquid chamber 160Y flows in from the communication port 128 to be supplied to the recording head 21 via the ink flow path 126 and the ink tube 20. The ink flow path 126 and the ink tube 20 are examples of a fourth channel. The communication port 128 is an example of one end of the fourth flow path. A connection portion 20A (see fig. 2) of the ink tube 20 and the recording head 21 is an example of the other end of the fourth flow path.

The buffer space 180 communicates with an atmosphere communication port 124 (see fig. 4A and 4B) formed in the upper portion of the tank 103. The buffer space 180 and the atmosphere communication port 124 communicate with each other via a through-hole 119 (see fig. 6) formed in the first front wall 162A. The through hole 119 is sealed by a semi-permeable membrane 118. The atmosphere communication port 124, the through hole 119, the semipermeable membrane 118, and the atmosphere flow path 147 (see fig. 5) connecting the atmosphere communication port 124 to the through hole 119 are examples of the second communication portion. The atmosphere communication port 124 is opened to the outside. Therefore, the liquid chamber 160Y is open to the atmosphere. That is, the atmosphere communication port 124 communicates the liquid chamber 160Y with the atmosphere. The atmosphere communication port 124 communicates the liquid chamber 160Y with the atmosphere along a different channel from the atmosphere communication port 96 formed in the ink cartridge 30 described below. The atmospheric flow path 147 is an example of a fifth flow path. The through hole 119 is an example of one end of the fifth flow path. The atmosphere communication port 124 is an example of the other end of the fifth flow path.

In the tank 103, there are two atmospheric air flow paths 147. An atmosphere flow path 147 connects the atmosphere communication port 124 of the liquid chamber 160B to the through hole 119. Another atmosphere flow path 147 connects the atmosphere communication port 124 of each of the

liquid chambers

160M, 160C, 160Y to the through hole 119. The configuration of the atmospheric air flow passage 147 is not limited to the above configuration. For example, only one atmosphere flow path 147 may be formed. The one atmosphere flow path 147 may connect the atmosphere communication port 124 of each of the

liquid chambers

160B, 160M, 160C, and 160Y to the through hole 119.

Liquid chamber 160B

Hereinafter, the configuration of the liquid chamber 160B will be described. In the description of the liquid chamber 160B, detailed description of the same configurations as the

liquid chambers

160M, 160C, and 160Y will be omitted.

As shown in fig. 5 to 7, an inner wall 167 is formed in the liquid chamber 160B. The inner wall 167 is a wall extending in the up-down direction 7 and the left-right direction 9. The inner wall 167 is located between the

side walls

165 and 166 in the left-right direction 9. The front end 167 of the inner wall 167 is connected to the front wall 162. The rear end of the inner wall 167 is connected to the rear wall 164. In other words, the rear wall 164 as a film is welded to the rear end surface of the inner wall 167. In this embodiment, the inner wall 167 extends straight in the up-down direction 7, but may not necessarily extend straight. For example, the inner wall 167 may extend obliquely in the up-down direction 7.

The liquid chamber 160B includes a third space 183 in addition to the three spaces (the buffer space 180, the first space 181, and the second space 182) forming the

liquid chambers

160M, 160C, and 160Y. That is, the liquid chamber 160B includes a buffer space 180, a first space 181, a second space 182, and a third space 183.

The second space 182 is bounded by the second front wall 162B, the rear wall 164, the side walls 165, and the inner wall 167.

The third space 183 is defined by the second front wall 162B, the rear wall 164, the inner wall 167, and the side wall 166. The third space 183 is located below the buffer space 180 and above the first space 181. The upper end of the third space 183 communicates with the buffer space 180. The lower end of the third space 183 communicates with the first space 181.

The upper end of the third space 183 communicates with the rear end of the buffer space 180. The lower end of the third space 183 communicates with the rear end of the first space 181. As shown in fig. 7, the upper end of the third space 183 communicates with the left end of the buffer space 180. The lower end of the third space 183 communicates with the left end of the first space 181.

The third space 183 is located at the left side of the second space 182. The third space 183 is distant from the second space 182 due to the inner wall 167. That is, the third space 183 does not communicate with the second space 182. As described above, the third space 183 connects the buffering space 180 to the first space 181 at the left side of the second space 182.

The inner wall 167 partitions the liquid chamber 160B in the left-right direction 9. An actuator 50 described below is provided on the right side of the inner wall 167 in the liquid chamber 160B. The liquid chamber 160B is connected to the joint 107 via a communication port 184 on the left side of the inner wall 167 in the liquid chamber 160B. That is, the inner wall 167 defines a space in the liquid chamber 160B between the joint 107 and the actuator 50.

The inner wall 167 is formed by the upper and lower ends of the liquid chamber 160B. That is, the inner wall 167 is positioned from the buffer space 180 to the first space 181. Therefore, the buffer space 180 is divided into two spaces in the left-right direction 9. The first space 181 is divided into two spaces in the left-right direction 9. At the upper end of the inner wall 167 there is a gap 167A. Therefore, the buffer spaces 180 divided into two spaces communicate with each other via the gap 167A. At the lower end of the inner wall 167 there is a gap 167B. Therefore, the first spaces 181 divided into two spaces communicate with each other via the gap 167B.

The inner wall 167 may be positioned from a position above the communication port 184 and the test object 54 of the actuator 50 described below to a position below the communication port 184 and the test object 54. That is, the inner wall 167 may not necessarily be positioned from the upper end to the lower end of the liquid chamber 160B. For example, the upper end of the inner wall 167 may be located below the position shown in fig. 7.

As shown in fig. 7, the communication port 128 is located on the right side of the inner wall 167 in the liquid chamber 160B. The communication port 128 is located below the gap 167B. The communication port 128 may be located on the left side of the inner wall 167 in the liquid chamber 160B. The communication port 128 may be located at the same position as the gap 167B in the up-down direction 7. The communication port 128 may be located above the gap 167B.

Actuator 50

As shown in fig. 6, actuator 50 is located inside liquid chamber 160 of each canister 103. The actuator 50 is supported by a support member 185 provided inside the liquid chamber 160 so as to be rotatable in the directions of

arrows

58 and 59. The actuator 50 may be supported by other members than the support member 185.

The actuator 50 includes a float 51, a shaft 52, an arm 53, and a detection object 54.

The float 51 is located below the actuator 50. The float 51 is formed of a material having a lower specific gravity than the ink stored in the liquid chamber 160. The shaft 52 protrudes in the left-right direction 9 from the right and left surfaces of the float 51. The shaft 52 is inserted into holes 191 formed in the right wall 186 and the left wall 187 of the support member 185. Thus, the actuator 50 is supported by the support member 185 to be rotatable about the shaft 52. The shaft 52 is located below the communication port 184 of the joint 107. The float 51 and the shaft 52 are located in the first space 181.

The arm 53 projects substantially upward from the float 51. The detection object 54 is located at the protruding distal end of the arm 53. That is, the detection object 54 is located at the rotational distal end of the actuator 50. The arm 53 and a part of the detection object 54 are located in the inner space 120A of the protrusion 120. The detection object 54 is located above the communication port 184 of the joint 107. The detection object 54 has a plate shape extending in the up-down direction 7 and the front-rear direction 8. The detection object 54 is formed of a material that shields light output from a light emitting unit 55A of a liquid level sensor 55 described below.

When the liquid level of the ink stored in the liquid chamber 160 is above the position P1 in the up-down direction 7, in other words, when the liquid level of the ink stored in the liquid chamber 33 of the ink cartridge 30 is above the position P1 of the ink supply tube 34 in the up-down direction 7, the actuator 50 rotates toward the arrow 58 by the buoyancy acting on the float 51. Therefore, the actuator 50 is located at the detection position indicated by the solid line in fig. 6.

On the other hand, the ink stored in the liquid chamber 160 and the ink valve chamber 35 is consumed, and the liquid level of the ink decreases in the up-down direction 7 to reach the position P1, and the actuator 50 follows the liquid level and rotates toward the arrow 59. Therefore, the actuator 50 is located at the non-detection position indicated by the broken line in fig. 6. That is, the state of the actuator 50 changes under the following conditions: the height of the liquid level of the ink stored in the liquid chamber 160 reaches the same position as the communication port 184 of the joint 107 in the up-down direction 7.

Level sensor 55

The liquid level sensor 55 (see fig. 6) detects a change in the state of the actuator 50 including the detection object 54. The level sensor 55 includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit mounted on a substrate 60. The light emitting unit and the light receiving unit are positioned at a certain interval in the left-right direction 9 with the protrusion 120 of the can 103 interposed therebetween. The light emitting unit is located at one of right and left sides of the protrusion 120. The light receiving unit is located at the other of the right and left sides of the protrusion 120. The light channel of the light emitted from the light emitting unit matches the left-right direction 9. The detection object 54 of the actuator 50 at the detection position is located between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit.

The level sensor 55 outputs different detection signals depending on whether or not the light receiving unit receives the light output from the light emitting unit. For example, the level sensor 55 outputs a first signal. The first signal corresponds to a high level signal (the high level signal refers to a "signal having a signal level equal to or greater than a threshold level") to the controller 130 under the condition that the light output from the light emitting unit can be received in the light receiving unit (i.e., the light receiving intensity is equal to or greater than a predetermined intensity). Conversely, the level sensor 55 outputs a second signal. The second signal corresponds to a low level signal (the low level signal refers to a "signal having a signal level less than a threshold level") to the controller 130 (see fig. 9) under the condition that the light output from the light emitting unit cannot be received in the light receiving unit (i.e., the light receiving intensity is less than the predetermined intensity).

The detection object 54 at the detection position is located between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit. Therefore, the detection object 54 at the non-detection position is located at the retreat position from the position between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit. Therefore, when the liquid level of the ink stored in the liquid chamber 160 of the tank 103 (in other words, the liquid level of the ink stored in the liquid chamber 33 of the ink cartridge 30) is at a position equal to or lower than the position P1 in the up-down direction 7, the light output from the light emitting unit can be received in the light receiving unit. Accordingly, the level sensor 55 outputs a first signal to the controller 130. Note that the first signal corresponds to a high-level signal. In contrast, when the liquid level of the ink stored in the liquid chamber 160 of the tank 103 (in other words, the liquid level of the ink stored in the liquid chamber 33 of the ink cartridge 30) is at a position higher than the position P1 in the up-down direction 7, the light output from the light emitting unit cannot be received in the light receiving unit. Accordingly, the level sensor 55 outputs a second signal to the controller 130. Note that the second signal corresponds to a low-level signal.

Ink cartridge 30

The ink cartridge 30 shown in fig. 6 and 8 is a container that stores ink. The orientation of the ink cartridge 30 shown in fig. 6 and 8 is to use an orientation.

The ink cartridge 30 shown in fig. 8 stores yellow ink. The ink cartridge 30 storing cyan ink and magenta ink has the same configuration as the ink cartridge 30 storing yellow ink, except for the presence or absence of the notch 66 or the position of the notch 66 described below. The ink cartridge 30 storing black ink has the same configuration as the ink cartridge 30 storing yellow ink, cyan ink, and magenta ink, except that the length in the left-right direction 9 is longer as compared with the ink cartridge 30 storing yellow ink, cyan ink, and magenta ink, and the presence or absence of the notch 66 or the position of the notch 66. Therefore, the configuration of the ink cartridge 30 storing yellow ink will be described below. Description of the configuration of the ink cartridge 30 storing cyan ink, magenta ink, and black ink will be omitted.

As shown in fig. 6 and 8, the ink cartridge 30 has a case 31 of a substantially rectangular shape. The housing 31 includes a rear wall 40, a stepped wall 49, a stepped wall 95, a front wall 41, an upper wall 39, a sub upper wall 91, a lower wall 42, a sub lower wall 48, a right wall 37, and a left wall 38.

The housing 31 has a flat shape having a dimension that is thin in the left-right direction 9 and has a dimension in the up-down direction 7 and the front-rear direction 8 that is larger than the overall dimension in the left-right direction 9. In the housing 31, at least the front wall 41 has light transmissivity so that the liquid level of the ink stored in the

liquid chambers

32 and 33 can be observed from the outside.

The sub-lower wall 48 is located above the lower wall 42 and extends forward to be continuous with the lower end of the rear wall 40. The rear end of the sub lower wall 48 is located on the rear side of the rear end of the ink supply tube 34, and the front end of the sub lower wall 48 is located on the front side of the rear end of the ink supply tube 34. The lower wall 42 and the sub-lower wall 48 are continuous by a stepped wall 49. The ink supply tubes 34 extend rearward from the stepped wall 49 below the sub-lower wall 48 and above the lower wall 42. The rear end of the sub lower wall 48 is located at any position. For example, the rear end of the sub lower wall 48 may be located on the front side of the rear end of the ink supply tube 34.

An upwardly protruding projection 43 is formed on the outer surface of the upper wall 39. The projection 43 extends in the front-rear direction 8. In the projection 43, the rearward facing surface is a locking surface 151. The locking surface 151 is located above the upper wall 39. The lock surface 151 is a surface capable of coming into contact with the lock shaft 145 forward in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted in the mounting case 110. The locking surface 151 comes forward into contact with the locking shaft 145, so that the ink cartridge 30 is held on the mounting case 110 against the urging force of the coil springs 78 and 98.

The inclined surface 155 is located on the rear side of the locking surface 151 of the projection 43. The locking shaft 145 is guided along the inclined surface 155 while the ink cartridge 30 enters the mounting case 110. Thus, the locking shaft 145 is guided to a position where the locking shaft 145 comes into contact with the locking surface 151.

The operating portion 90 is located on the front side of the locking surface 151 on the upper wall 39. When the operation surface 92 of the operation portion 90 is pushed down in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted in the mounting case 110, the ink cartridge 30 is rotated, and then the locking surface 151 is moved down. Thus, the locking surface 151 is located below the locking shaft 145. As a result, the ink cartridge 30 can be detached from the mounting case 110.

An upwardly projecting shield 67 is located on the outer surface of the upper wall 39. The light shielding plate 67 extends in the front-rear direction 8. The light shielding plate 67 is located on the rear side of the projection 43.

In a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted in the mounting case 110, the light shielding plate 67 is located between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit of the mounting sensor 113. Therefore, the light shielding plate 67 shields the light of the mounting sensor 113 traveling in the left-right direction 9. More specifically, when the light output from the light emitting unit where the sensor 113 is installed reaches the light shielding plate 67 until reaching the light receiving unit, the intensity of the light reaching the light receiving unit is smaller than a predetermined intensity, for example, becomes zero. The light shielding plate 67 may completely shield the travel of light from the light emitting unit to the light receiving unit, may partially attenuate the light, may bend the travel direction of the light, or may completely reflect the light.

The shutter plate 67 has a notch 66. The notch 66 is a recessed space recessed downward from the upper end of the light shielding plate 67 and extending in the front-rear direction 8. The notch 66 is located in the mount sensor 113, and thus light output from the light emitting unit of the mount sensor 113 is not blocked until the light reaches the light receiving unit. Depending on whether the notch 66 is present, the kind of the ink cartridge 30, that is, the kind or initial amount of ink stored in the ink cartridge 30 can be determined. In contrast, when the light shielding plate 67 does not include the notch 66, the light shielding plate 67 faces the light emitting unit of the mounting sensor 113 in the mounted ink cartridge 30.

The IC substrate 64 is located on the outer surface of the upper wall 39 and between the light shielding plate 67 and the convex portion 43 in the front-rear direction 8.

In the IC substrate 64, an IC chip (not shown in each drawing) and four electrodes 65 are mounted on a substrate formed of silicon or the like. Four electrodes 65 are arranged in the left-right direction 9. The IC chip is a semiconductor integrated circuit, and information on the ink cartridge 30 (e.g., data indicating information such as a lot number, a manufacturing date, and an ink color) is readably stored. In the IC substrate 64, the IC chip and the electrode can be flexibly mounted on the flexible substrate.

Each electrode 65 is electrically connected to an IC. Each electrode 65 extends in the front-rear direction 8, and the four electrodes 65 are positioned so as to be separated in the left-right direction 9. Each electrode 65 is exposed to electrically access the upper surface of the IC substrate 64. In a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted in the mounting case 101, the electrode 65 is electrically conducted to the contact 106. The controller 130 can read or write information from or to the memory of the IC chip via the contacts 106 and the electrodes 65.

Incidentally, the interface of the mounting case 101 may be configured by a wireless interface, and the IC chip may be provided with a wireless interface. The wireless interface of the IC chip may be electrically connected to the memory of the IC chip. For example, in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted in the mounting case 101, the wireless interface of the IC chip may wirelessly communicate with the wireless interface of the mounting case 101. The controller 130 can read/write information from/to the memory of the IC chip via the wireless interface of the IC chip and the wireless interface of the mounting case 101.

The stepped wall 95 extends upward from the front end of the sub upper wall 91 at the rear end on the outer surface of the upper wall 39. An atmosphere communication port 96 that communicates the liquid chamber 32 with the atmosphere is provided on the step wall 95. That is, the atmosphere communication port 96 is located above the center of the dimension of the housing 31 in the up-down direction 7. The atmosphere communication port 96 is a substantially circular opening formed on the stepped wall 95 and has an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the rod 125 of the mounting case 110.

As shown in fig. 6, the rod 125 enters the atmosphere communication port 96 at the same time as the ink cartridge 30 enters the mounting case 110. The rod 125 entering the atmosphere communication port 96 moves the valve 97 that seals the atmosphere communication port 96 rearward against the urging force of the coil spring 98. When the valve 97 moves backward and becomes away from the atmosphere communication port 96, the liquid chamber 32 is opened to the atmosphere. The member that seals the atmosphere communication port 96 is not limited to the valve 97. For example, the atmospheric communication port 96 may be sealed by a seal that can be peeled off from the stepped wall 95.

As shown in fig. 6, a liquid chamber 57 that stores ink (this liquid chamber 57 is an example of a first liquid chamber) and an atmospheric air flow path 61 in which atmospheric air circulates are located inside the housing 31. The liquid chamber 57 includes the liquid chamber 32, the liquid chamber 33, and the ink valve chamber 35.

The housing 31 includes a partition wall 44 and a lower wall 45. The partition wall 44 and the lower wall 45 are walls extending in the front-rear direction 8 and the left-right direction 9, respectively. The partition wall 44 and the lower wall 45 face each other in the up-down direction 7.

In the liquid chamber 32, the upper side is defined by the lower surface of the partition wall 44, and the lower side is defined by the upper surfaces of the lower wall 45 and the sub-lower wall 48. In the liquid chamber 32, the rear side is defined by the inner surfaces of the rear wall 40 and the step wall 49, and the front side is defined by the inner surface of the front wall 41. The liquid chamber 32 is defined on the left and right sides by the inner surfaces of the

side walls

37 and 38. That is, the liquid chamber 32 is a space defined by the lower surface of the partition wall 44, the upper surfaces of the lower wall 45 and the sub-lower wall 48, the inner surfaces of the rear wall 40 and the stepped wall 49, the inner surface of the front wall 41, and the inner surfaces of the

side walls

37 and 38.

The partition 44 partitions the liquid chamber 32 from the atmosphere flow path 61. A through hole 46 is formed at the front end of the partition wall 44. The liquid chamber 32 and the atmosphere flow path 61 communicate with each other through the through hole 46.

The lower wall 45 extends forwardly from the inner surface of the stepped wall 49. The lower wall 45 divides the liquid chamber 57 into a liquid chamber 32 above the lower wall 45 and a liquid chamber 33 below the lower wall 45. A gap 45A is formed at the front end of the lower wall 45. The

liquid chambers

32 and 33 communicate with each other through the gap 45A.

As shown in fig. 6, the lower wall 45 is located above the ink supply port 71.

In the inner space of the housing 31, the liquid chamber 33 is located below the liquid chamber 32 in the use orientation and stores ink. The liquid chamber 33 has a smaller volume capable of storing ink than the liquid chamber 32.

In the liquid chamber 33, the upper side is defined by the lower surface of the lower wall 45, and the lower side is defined by the inner surface of the lower wall 42. In the liquid chamber 33, the front side is defined by the inner surface of the front wall 41. In the liquid chamber 33, left and right sides are defined by inner surfaces of the

side walls

37 and 38. A partition wall 47 is formed between the liquid chamber 33 and the ink valve chamber 35. The rear side of the liquid chamber 33 is defined by the front surface of the partition wall 47. That is, the liquid chamber 33 is a space defined by the lower surface of the lower wall 45, the inner surface of the lower wall 42, the inner surface of the front wall 41, the inner surfaces of the

side walls

37 and 38, and the front surface of the partition wall 47. The liquid chamber 33 communicates with the ink valve chamber 35 through a through hole 99 formed in the partition wall 47.

One end of the atmosphere passage 61 communicates with the liquid chamber 32 through the through hole 46. The other end of the atmosphere passage 61 communicates with the outside through an atmosphere communication port 96. The atmosphere flow path 61 is an example of the second flow path. The through hole 46 is an example of one end of the second flow path. The atmosphere communication port 96 is an example of the other end of the second flow path.

The atmosphere valve chamber 36 is located at the other end of the atmosphere flow path 61. The valve 97 and the coil spring 98 are located in the atmosphere valve chamber 36. The atmosphere valve chamber 36 communicates with the outside through an atmosphere communication port 96. The valve 97 is movable between a closed position sealing the atmosphere communication port 96 and an open position away from the atmosphere communication port 96. The coil spring 98 is extendable in the front-rear direction 8, and urges the valve 97 in a direction that brings the valve 97 into contact with the atmosphere communication port 96 (i.e., to the rear side). The spring constant of the coil spring 98 is smaller than the spring constant of the coil spring 78 of the ink supply tube 34.

A through bore 94 is located in the wall 93 defining the atmosphere valve chamber 36. The atmosphere valve chamber 36 communicates with one end of the atmosphere passage 61 through a through hole 94. The through hole 94 is sealed by the semi-permeable membrane 80.

The ink supply tube 34 protrudes rearward from the step wall 49. That is, the ink supply tube 34 is located in the stepped wall 49. The ink supply tube 34 has a cylindrical outer shape. The inner space of the ink supply tube 34 is an ink valve chamber 35. The rear end of the ink supply tube 34 is open to the outside of the ink cartridge 30 through the ink supply port 71. A gasket 76 is located at the rear end of the ink supply tube 34. As described above, the front end of the ink supply tube 34 communicates with the lower end of the liquid chamber 33 through the through hole 99. That is, the ink supply tube 34 communicates with the lower end of the liquid chamber 33. As described above, the ink supply port 71 is connected to the liquid chamber 33 through the ink valve chamber 35. The ink valve chamber 35 is an example of a first flow path. The through hole 99 is an example of one end of the first flow path. The ink supply port 71 is an example of the other end of the first flow path.

The ink valve chamber 35 is defined by the inner surface of the ink supply tube 34. The lower end 34A of the inner surface of the ink supply tube 34 defines the bottom (lowermost end) of the liquid chamber 57. On the other hand, the bottom (lowermost end) of the liquid chamber 160 of the tank 103 is defined by the upper surface of the second lower wall 163B. Then, the upper surface of the second lower wall 163B is located below the lower end 34A of the inner surface of the ink supply tube 34.

A valve 77 and a coil spring 78 are located in the ink valve chamber 35. The valve 77 moves in the front-rear direction 8 to open and close the ink supply port 71 formed through the center of the gasket 76. The coil spring 78 pushes the valve 77 backward. Therefore, in a state where no external force is applied, the valve 77 closes the ink supply port 71 of the gasket 76.

The washer 76 is a disk-shaped member having a through hole formed in the center thereof. The gasket 76 is formed of, for example, an elastic material such as rubber or elastomer. The center of the gasket 76 is formed to penetrate in the front-rear direction 8, so that an inner peripheral surface having a cylindrical shape is formed, and the ink supply port 71 is formed by the inner peripheral surface. The inner diameter of the ink supply port 71 is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the ink needle 102.

When the ink cartridge 30 is mounted in the mounting case 110 in a state where the valve 77 closes the ink supply port 71 and the valve 114 closes the opening 116 of the ink needle 102, the ink needle 102 enters the ink supply port 71 in the front-rear direction 8 during mounting of the ink cartridge 30. That is, the joint 107 and the ink supply tube 34 are connected to each other. At this time, while the gasket 76 is elastically deformed, the outer peripheral surface of the ink needle 102 is brought into contact with the inner peripheral surface defining the ink supply port 71 in a liquid-tight manner. When the distal end of the ink needle 102 passes through the gasket 76 and enters the ink valve chamber 35, the distal end of the ink needle 102 comes into contact with the valve 77. By further inserting the ink cartridge 30 into the mounting case 110, the ink needle 102 moves the valve 77 rearward against the urging force of the coil spring 78. Thus, the ink supply port 71 is opened.

At the same time as the distal end of the ink needle 102 comes into contact with the valve 77, the valve 77 comes into contact with the valve 114 from the front side to press the valve 114. Then, the valve 114 is moved rearward against the urging force of the coil spring 115. Thus, the opening 116 is opened. As a result, the ink stored in the

liquid chambers

32 and 33 and the ink valve chamber 35 can circulate in the liquid chamber 160 of the tank 103 via the internal space 117 of the ink needle 102. Here, the

liquid chambers

32 and 33, the ink valve chamber 35, and the liquid chamber 160 are all open to the atmosphere. Therefore, the ink stored in the liquid chamber 32, the liquid chamber 33, and the ink valve chamber 35 of the ink cartridge 30 is supplied to the liquid chamber 160 of the tank 103 via the ink supply tube 34 due to the water head difference. When ink is supplied, the liquid level of the ink reaches the same position as the liquid chamber 160 and the liquid chamber 32 in the up-down direction 7.

Controller 130

Hereinafter, the general configuration of the controller 130 will be described with reference to fig. 9. The controller 130 controls the operation of the entire multifunction device 10. The controller 130 includes a CPU131, a ROM132, a RAM133, an EEPROM134, an ASIC135, and an internal bus 137 that connects these units to each other.

The ROM132 stores programs and the like for the CPU131 to control various operations (including recording control). The RAM133 serves as a storage area for temporarily storing data, signals, and the like used when the CPU131 executes programs. The EEPROM134 stores settings, flags, and the like even after the power is turned off.

The conveyance motor 171, the feed motor 172, and the carriage drive motor 173 are connected to the ASIC 135. The drive circuitry to control each motor is embedded in an ASIC 135. When a drive signal for rotating each motor is input from the CPU131 to a drive circuit for a predetermined motor, a drive current appropriate to the drive signal is output from the drive circuit to the corresponding motor. Thus, the corresponding motor rotates. That is, the controller 130 controls the

motors

171, 172, and 173.

The piezoelectric element 56 is connected to the ASIC 135. The piezoelectric element 56 operates when power is fed through a drive circuit (not shown) by the controller 130. The controller 130 controls the power feeding to the piezoelectric element 56 so that ink droplets can be selectively discharged from the plurality of nozzles 29.

When an image recording instruction is input to the printer 11, the controller 130 executes an image recording process. The image recording instruction may be received from an external device via a communication interface (not shown), or may be received by a user input on a panel of the multifunction apparatus 10. When an image is recorded on the sheet 12 based on the image recording instruction, the controller 130 controls the conveying motor 171 so that the pair of conveying rollers 25 and the pair of discharge rollers 27 can perform an intermittent conveying process equivalent to alternately repeating conveyance and stop of the sheet 12 by predetermined line feeding.

The controller 130 executes the discharge process while the intermittent conveyance process of the sheet 12 is stopped. The discharging process is a process of discharging ink droplets from the nozzles 29 by controlling the power feeding to the piezoelectric element 56 while moving the carriage 22 in the left-right direction 9. By repeating the intermittent conveyance process and the discharge process, an image is recorded on the sheet 12.

The signal output from the mounting sensor 113 is input to the ASIC 135. When the signal input from the mounting sensor 113 goes to a low level and is then able to access the IC substrate 64, the controller 130 determines that the ink cartridge 30 is mounted in the mounting case 110. In contrast, when the signal input from the mounting sensor 113 goes into a high level and then the IC substrate 64 cannot be accessed, the controller 130 determines that the ink cartridge 30 is not mounted in the mounting case 110.

The signal output from the liquid level sensor 55 is input to the ASIC 135. When the signal input from the liquid level sensor 55 is at the low level, the controller 130 determines that the liquid level of the ink stored in the tank 103 and the ink cartridge 30 is above the position P1.

On the other hand, when the signal input from the liquid level sensor 55 changes from the low level to the high level due to a change in the state of the actuator 50, the controller 130 determines that the liquid level of the ink stored in the liquid chamber 160 of the tank 103 and the liquid chamber 57 of the ink cartridge 30 is located at the position P1 in the up-down direction 7. The liquid level of the ink being at the position P1 in the liquid chamber 57 means that the ink may not flow out from the liquid chamber 57. That is, this means that the ink cartridge 30 becomes empty.

At this time, the controller 130 displays on the display 200 (see fig. 1) that the ink stored in the ink cartridge 30 is empty (that is, the ink cartridge 30 needs to be replaced), blinks an LED, or outputs a buzzer sound to alert the user that the ink stored in the ink cartridge 30 is empty.

The controller 130 starts counting the amount of ink discharged from the recording head 21 by setting a point of time at which the signal input from the liquid level sensor 55 changes from the low level to the high level as a base point. The ink discharge from the recording head 21 is to perform image recording, cleaning, flushing, and the like. The amount of ink discharged from the recording head 21 in image recording can be counted from the image data based on the image recording instruction. The amount of ink discharged from the recording head 21 in purging or flushing may be counted based on a purge instruction or a flush instruction. The count may be an up-count or a down-count. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the count counts up from an initial value of zero. Then, when the count value reaches the threshold Th1 when ink is discharged from the recording head 21 based on an image recording instruction, a purge instruction, or the like, it is determined that the liquid level of the ink stored in the tank 103 and the ink cartridge 30 is at a predetermined position below the position P1 in the up-down direction 7. Based on the volume of the liquid chamber 160 being lower than the communication port 184, the first threshold value is determined in consideration of, for example, the level of ink that does not cause air from the communication port 128 to enter the ink flow path 126. The predetermined position is a position P2 in the up-down direction 7 (see fig. 6 and 7). That is, the predetermined position is a position above the communication port 128. With position P2 below position P1, position P2 may be above or below the position indicated in fig. 6 and 7.

When the liquid level of the ink reaches the position P2, the controller 130 controls the recording unit 24, specifically, stops feeding the piezoelectric element 56, thereby stopping the discharge of the ink droplets from the nozzles 29. When the level of ink reaches the position P2, the controller 130 displays on the display 200 (see fig. 1) that the ink stored in the second liquid chamber 160 is empty, blinks the LED, or outputs a buzzer sound to remind the user that the ink stored in the second liquid chamber 160 is empty.

Notification process

Hereinafter, a notification process of the controller 130 according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of fig. 10. The notification process is performed on each of the four ink cartridges 30 and the corresponding tanks 103. The notification process of one ink cartridge 30 and the corresponding tank 103 will be described below as an example without distinguishing the ink cartridges 30 from each other.

In the initial state, a count value described below is stored as zero in the RAM 133. The actuator 50 is located at the detection position. Accordingly, a signal having a low level is output from the liquid level sensor 55 to the controller 130. When receiving the signal having the low level from the liquid level sensor 55, the controller 130 determines that the liquid levels stored in the tank 103 and the ink cartridge 30 are located above the position P1.

When image recording, cleaning, and flushing are performed on the sheet 12, ink is discharged from the nozzles 29 of the recording head 21. Ink is supplied to the recording head 21 from the liquid chamber 160 of the tank 103 and the liquid chamber 57 of the ink cartridge 30. Therefore, the remaining amount of ink stored in tank 103 and ink cartridge 30 decreases, and therefore the level of ink in liquid chamber 160 and the level of ink in liquid chamber 57 decrease. Basically, the level of ink in the liquid chamber 160 and the level of ink in the liquid chamber 57 match at the same position in the up-down direction 7.

When the liquid level of the ink in the

liquid chambers

160 and 57 reaches a height equal to or less than the position P1, the actuator 50 rotates from the detection position to the non-detection position. Thereby, the liquid level sensor 55 outputs a signal having a high level. The controller 130 receives a signal having a high level from the liquid level sensor 55 (yes in S10).

When receiving the signal having the high level from the liquid level sensor 55, the controller 130 displays an indication of "replace ink cartridge" (an example of the first notification) on the display 200 (S11). The controller 130 starts counting the liquid amount of the ink discharged from the recording head 21 (S12). The controller 130 counts up the liquid amount of the ink based on an image recording instruction, a cleaning instruction, or the like, and stores the updated count value in the ROM133 after image recording equivalent to one page is performed or cleaning or flushing is completed, for example.

At the time when the count value is stored in the RAM133, the controller 130 determines whether the count value is equal to or greater than the threshold Th 1. When the controller 130 determines that the count value is equal to or larger than the threshold Th1 (yes in S13), the controller 130 displays an indication of "ink becomes empty" (an example of a second notification) on the display 200 (S14). The controller 130 stops discharging ink droplets from the nozzles 29 of the recording head 21 (S15).

After the indication of "replace ink cartridge" is displayed on the display 200, the user can replace the ink cartridge 30 at any time. Here, the following description will assume that the user replaces the ink cartridge 30 after displaying an indication "ink is empty" on the display 200.

When the ink cartridge 30 is replaced by the user, the signal output by the mounting sensor 113 changes. Specifically, when the ink cartridge 30 is taken out from the mounting case 101, the signal output by the mounting sensor 113 changes from low level to high level. Then, when the ink cartridge 30 is mounted in the mounting case 101, the signal output by the mounting sensor 113 changes from a high level to a low level.

When a signal having a high level is acquired from the mounting sensor 113 and then a signal having a low level is acquired (yes in S16), the controller 130 determines whether the IC substrate 64 can be accessed (S17). When the IC substrate 64 is accessible, the controller 130 removes the indication "replace ink cartridge" from the display 200 (S18).

For example, when the ink cartridge 30 storing an initial charge of ink is mounted in the mounting case 101, ink flows from the liquid chamber 57 of the ink cartridge 30 to the liquid chamber 160 of the tank 103 due to a water head difference. Therefore, the level of ink in the liquid chamber 160 of the tank 103 increases.

When the level of ink in the liquid chamber 160 reaches a height equal to or greater than the position P1, the actuator 50 rotates from the non-detection position to the detection position. Therefore, the liquid level sensor 55 outputs a signal having a low level. The controller 130 receives a signal having a low level from the liquid level sensor 55 (yes in S19).

When the IC substrate 64 can be accessed and then a signal having a low level is received from the liquid level sensor 55, the controller 130 removes the indication "ink is empty" from the display 200 (S20). The controller 130 cancels the stop of the ink droplets discharged from the nozzles 29 (S21). Then, the controller 130 updates the count value stored in the RAM133 to the initial value (S22).

According to the above description, the printer 11 determines whether the position of the liquid level of the ink in the liquid chamber 57 of the ink cartridge 30 reaches the position P1 (i.e., reports the determination of cartridge replacement) based on the signal output from the liquid level sensor 55 (S11), and starts counting the count value to determine whether the position of the liquid level of the ink in the liquid chamber 160 of the tank 103 reaches the position P2 (S12).

When the level of ink in liquid chamber 160 of tank 103 reaches position P1, level sensor 55 outputs a signal. Therefore, the initial value of the count value accurately corresponds to the fact that the liquid level of ink reaches the position P1. Therefore, the accuracy of determining whether the liquid level of the ink in the liquid chamber 160 reaches the position P2 can be improved.

The position P1 of the tank 103 is the same position as the communication port 184 in the up-down direction. Therefore, after the liquid level sensor 55 outputs a signal having a high level, ink no longer flows from the liquid chamber 57 of the ink cartridge 30 to the liquid chamber 160 of the tank 103. Therefore, the accuracy of determining whether the liquid level of ink in the liquid chamber 160 of the tank 103 reaches the position P2 can be improved based on the count value. The printer 11 can notify the user of "replacement of ink cartridge" at the timing at which ink may no longer flow out of the liquid chamber 57 of the ink cartridge 30.

When the count value is equal to or greater than the threshold Th1, the controller 130 stops discharging ink from the recording head 21. Therefore, the flow of air from the liquid chamber 160 of the tank 103 to the ink flow path 126 can be suppressed.

Modification examples

In the above embodiment, the actuator 50 and the liquid level sensor 55 are located in the tank 103, but the actuator 50 may be located in the liquid chamber 57 of the ink cartridge 30. The target detected by the liquid level sensor 55 is not limited to the detection object 54 of the actuator 50. For example, a prism may be provided at the same height as the position P1 in each can 103. Then, depending on whether or not the liquid level of the ink stored in the liquid chamber 160 is above the prism, it may be detected whether or not the liquid level of the ink stored in the liquid chamber 160 is equal to or less than the position P1 based on a difference in the traveling direction of the light incident on the prism (i.e., based on the transmission state of the light radiated to the prism).

For example, a light-transmitting portion may be formed by forming a portion whose height includes at least the position P1 in the wall of the main body of the liquid chamber 160 as a member having light-transmitting properties, and the light transmission sensor may be located outside the main body of the liquid chamber 160. Then, depending on whether or not the liquid level of the ink stored in the liquid chamber 160 is higher than the light-transmitting portion of the transmission sensor, it is possible to detect that the liquid level of the ink stored in the liquid chamber 160 is equal to or lower than the position P1 based on whether or not the light incident on the light-transmitting portion of the wall of the main body of the liquid chamber 160 transmits through the light-transmitting portion and reaches the inside of the liquid chamber 160, transmits through the light-transmitting portion without being attenuated by the ink in the liquid chamber 160 and reaches the light-receiving unit, or is attenuated by the ink in the liquid and reaches the light-receiving unit (is attenuated and may not reach the light-receiving unit), that is, based on the attenuation state of the light incident on the light-transmitting portion of the wall of the main body of the liquid chamber 160.

For example, two electrodes may be located in the liquid chamber 160 of each canister 103. Two electrodes are mounted on the substrate 60. The lower end of one of the two electrodes is positioned slightly above position P1. The lower end of the other of the two electrodes is located below the position P1. Then, based on whether or not a current flows through the ink between the two electrodes, it can be detected whether or not the liquid level of the ink stored in the liquid chamber 160 is equal to or less than the position P1.

The position P1 may not necessarily be the same position as the communication port 184 of the tank 103 in the up-down direction, or may be above or below the communication port 184. For example, in a configuration in which the position P1 is above the communication port 184 of the tank 103, the controller 130 may start counting the count value when a signal having a high liquid level is received from the liquid level sensor 55, and the controller 130 may display an indication "replace ink cartridge" on the display 200 when the count value reaches the threshold Th 2. Here, the threshold Th2 is a value closest to the initial value than the threshold Th 1. The count value reaches the threshold Th2 before reaching the threshold Th 1. The threshold Th2 is determined in consideration of the volumes of the

liquid chambers

32 and 160 from the position P1 to a position having the height of the communication port 184. Therefore, when the count value reaches the threshold Th2, the liquid level of ink is located between the position P2 and the position P1 above the communication port 184 in the tank 103 and the ink cartridge 30. By setting the threshold Th2 to a position where the liquid level of ink in the ink cartridge 30 is the communication port 184, the liquid level sensor 55 may output a signal having a high level, and then may display an indication "replace ink cartridge" on the display 200 at an appropriate timing based on the count value. The appropriate timing may be immediately after the level sensor 55 outputs the signal having the high level, or may be a timing at which the count value reaches a predetermined threshold value after the level sensor 55 outputs the signal having the high level.

The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the configuration of the ink cartridge 30, the tank 103, and the like may be appropriately changed within the scope of the present disclosure without departing from the gist of the present disclosure. For example, the configuration of the

liquid chambers

32 and 33 in the ink cartridge 30, the configuration of the ink supply tube 34, or the configuration of opening and closing the atmosphere flow path 61 or the atmosphere communication port 96 may be changed to a known configuration. The configuration of the liquid chamber 160 in the tank 103 or the configuration of the ink needle 102, the atmospheric flow path 147, and the like may be changed to a known configuration.

In the foregoing embodiment, the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the mounting case 101 in the horizontal direction to be mounted in the mounting case 101. However, the ink cartridge 30 may be inserted into the mounting case 101 in other directions than the horizontal direction, for example, the up-down direction 7, to be mounted in the mounting case 101.

In the foregoing embodiment, the joint 107 and the ink supply tube 34 extend in the horizontal direction, but may extend in other directions than the horizontal direction. For example, the tab 107 may protrude upward from the mounting case 101. The ink supply tube 34 may protrude downward from a lower wall of the ink cartridge 30. In this case, for example, the center position of the joint 107 in the up-down direction or the center position of the ink supply tube 34 in the up-down direction 7 is set as the position P1.

In the foregoing embodiments, the ink has been described as an example of the liquid. For example, instead of ink, pretreatment liquid discharged to a sheet or the like earlier than ink at the time of image recording may be stored in the ink cartridge 30 or the tank 103. Water for cleaning the recording head 21 may be stored in the ink cartridge 30 or the tank 103.

Claims

1. An image recording apparatus comprising:

a mounting housing receiving a cartridge, the cartridge comprising:

a first liquid chamber storing a liquid;

a first flow path including one end communicating with the first liquid chamber and the other end communicating with the outside; and

a second flow path including one end communicating with the first liquid chamber and the other end communicating with the outside;

a canister, the canister comprising:

a second liquid chamber;

a third flow path including one end communicating with the outside and the other end communicating with the second liquid chamber, at least one of the first flow path and the third flow path being configured to communicate with the first liquid chamber and the second liquid chamber of the cartridge mounted in the mounting case;

a fourth flow path that is vertically below the third flow path and that communicates with the second liquid chamber; and

a fifth flow path including one end communicating with the second liquid chamber and the other end communicating with the outside;

a sensor;

a head communicating with the other end of the fourth flow path;

a notification device; and

a controller for controlling the operation of the electronic device,

wherein the controller is configured to:

receiving a first signal from the sensor, the sensor outputting the first signal in response to liquid levels of the first liquid chamber and the second liquid chamber being equal to or lower than a certain position, the certain position being equal to or higher than the other end of the third flow path;

in response to receiving the first signal from the sensor, control the notification device to activate a first notification, the first notification indicating the cartridge;

receiving a discharge instruction to discharge the liquid via the head;

after receiving the first signal from the sensor, in response to receiving the discharge instruction, counting a count value indicating an amount of liquid to be discharged instructed by the discharge instruction;

determining whether the count value reaches a first threshold; and

control the notification device to activate a second notification in response to determining that the count value reaches the first threshold, the second notification being different from the first notification,

wherein a liquid level of the second liquid chamber is between the other end of the third flow path and the one end of the fourth flow path in the vertical direction when the notification device activates the second notification,

wherein a part of the second liquid chamber is located below the first liquid chamber of the cartridge received by the mounting case, and

wherein at the particular location, the liquid no longer flows from the first liquid chamber of the cartridge to the second liquid chamber of the canister.

2. The image recording device according to claim 1,

wherein the sensor is configured to: outputting the first signal in response to a level of the liquid stored in the second liquid chamber reaching the particular position.

3. The image recording device according to claim 2, further comprising:

a detection object configured to change a state in a state where the liquid level in the second liquid chamber reaches the specific position,

wherein the sensor is configured to detect a change in the state of the detection object and output the signal.

4. The image recording device according to claim 3, further comprising:

an actuator supported to be rotatable about an axis and including the detection object,

wherein the actuator further comprises a float having a lower specific gravity than the liquid.

5. The image recording device according to any one of claims 2 to 4,

wherein the specific position is the same as a position of the other end of the third flow path in the vertical direction.

6. The image recording device according to claim 5,

wherein, when the notification device activates the first notification, a liquid level of the second liquid chamber is equal to or lower than the other end of the third flow path, and

wherein a level of the second liquid chamber when the notification device activates the first notification is higher than a level of the second liquid chamber when the notification device activates the second notification.

7. The image recording device according to claim 5,

wherein the specific position is a central position in the vertical direction of the third flow path at the other end.

8. The image recording device according to claim 5,

wherein the controller is configured to: controlling the notification device to activate the first notification in response to receiving the signal from the sensor.

9. The image recording device according to claim 1,

wherein the controller is configured to:

determining whether the count value reaches a second threshold value that is closer to the initial value of the count value than the first threshold value is to the initial value of the count value; and

controlling the notification device to activate the first notification in response to the count value reaching the second threshold after receiving the first signal from the sensor.

10. The image recording device according to claim 9,

wherein, when the notification device activates the first notification, a liquid level of the second liquid chamber is lower than the other end of the third flow path, and

11. The image recording device according to claim 10,

wherein the first notification indicates that the amount of liquid in the cartridge is empty.

12. The image recording device according to claim 10,

wherein the first notification indicates replacement of the cartridge.

13. The image recording device according to claim 1,

wherein the controller is configured to: controlling the head to stop discharging the liquid via the head in response to the count value reaching the first threshold.

14. The image recording device according to claim 13,

wherein the controller is configured to:

receiving a second signal from the sensor, the sensor outputting the second signal in response to the liquid level being above the particular position; and

controlling the notification device to activate the first notification in response to receiving the second signal after canceling the stop of the discharge of the liquid via the head.

15. The image recording device according to claim 1,

wherein the controller is configured to:

resetting the count value in response to receiving the second signal after controlling the notification device to activate the first notification.