JP2007160849A - Liquid supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce waste of resources at the time of disposal by simplifying the structure of a refilling liquid tank thereby reducing the cost. <P>SOLUTION: The liquid supply device comprises an ink tank 1, a refilling ink tank 2 for storing refilling ink 9, a placing means 3 for elevating/lowering the refilling ink tank 2 while mounting on a mount 11 replaceably, a means 4 for detecting the residual quantity of ink 7 in the ink tank 1, and a control means for elevating/lowering the refilling ink tank 2 by driving the placing means 3 based on a detection output from the residual quantity of ink detection means 4, supplying the refilling ink 9 from the refilling ink tank 2 to the ink tank 1 by utilizing the head difference of ink generated between the refilling ink tank 2 and the ink tank 1, and judging that the refilling ink 9 in the refilling ink tank 2 has run out when the mount 11 of the placing means 3 is located at the uppermost position and the detected residual quantity of ink in the ink tank 1 is below a predetermined reference level. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid supply apparatus including a supply liquid tank that supplies liquid to a liquid tank that supplies liquid to a liquid discharge head of a printer, and more specifically, the structure of the supply liquid tank is simplified and the cost is reduced. The present invention relates to a liquid supply apparatus that can reduce the waste of resources during disposal.

A conventional liquid supply apparatus has a drive mechanism for holding a liquid outside a carriage that reciprocates a printer and vertically moving a replenishment liquid tank having a liquid remaining amount detection means inside, and driving the drive mechanism up and down. An external liquid supply unit having a positioning and timing control mechanism, a liquid supply port for receiving the liquid from the replenishment liquid tank on the upper surface of the liquid tank holding the liquid to be supplied to the liquid discharge head, and open / close control by an electric signal An air communication port having a possible gas flow valve, a print cartridge having an upper liquid remaining amount detecting means and a lower liquid remaining amount detecting means on the side surface inside the liquid tank, the replenishing liquid tank, and the liquid tank A liquid supply valve connected to the liquid supply port and provided with a liquid flow valve that can be controlled to open and close by an electrical signal. The remaining liquid level is detected by the remaining liquid level detecting means of the replenishment liquid tank, and the position of the replenishment liquid tank is determined in the vertical direction at an arbitrary timing by the timing control mechanism and the position control mechanism according to the remaining liquid level. The valve connected to the tube is closed and the valve of the air communication port is opened by a signal for detecting the remaining amount of liquid at an arbitrary time before the liquid in the replenishing liquid tank is used up. Are simultaneously performed to switch from the discharge of the liquid held in the replenishment liquid tank to the discharge of the liquid held in the liquid tank (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-334967 A

  However, in such a conventional liquid supply device, the liquid supply tank for replenishment is provided with liquid remaining amount detection means for detecting the remaining amount of liquid, so that the configuration of the liquid supply liquid tank becomes complicated and expensive. It was. Further, since the replenishing liquid tank is a consumable item, it is generally discarded after use. However, discarding the expensive replenishing liquid tank as described above is a waste of resources and may be avoided from the user.

  On the other hand, a method of filling the replenishing liquid tank with liquid may be considered, but a separate tank for storing the replenishing liquid for replenishing the replenishing liquid tank is required, so that the convenience of handling is lacking. Is.

  Therefore, the present invention addresses such problems, and aims to provide a liquid supply apparatus that can simplify the structure of a replenishment liquid tank, reduce costs, and reduce waste of resources during disposal. And

  In order to achieve the above object, a liquid supply apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is disposed above a liquid discharge head of a printer, and stores a liquid tank that stores liquid supplied to the liquid discharge head, and is connected to the liquid tank. A replenishing liquid tank that is detachably connected to the liquid replenishing pipe and stores the liquid to be replenished to the liquid tank; and a mounting means that places the replenishing liquid tank on a mounting table in a replaceable manner and moves up and down. A liquid remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid tank; and the placement means is driven based on the detection output of the liquid remaining amount detecting means to raise and lower the replenishment liquid tank; The supply liquid is supplied from the supply liquid tank to the liquid tank using a liquid head difference generated between the supply liquid tank and the liquid tank, and the placing means is at the uppermost position. And said When the remaining liquid body in the tank is detected that is less than the predetermined reference value is obtained and a control means for determining the liquid has disappeared for replenishment of the replenishment within the liquid tank.

  With such a configuration, the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid tank is detected by the remaining liquid amount detecting unit, the mounting unit is driven based on the detection output, and is mounted on the mounting table of the mounting unit in a replaceable manner. The liquid tank for replenishment is raised and lowered to generate a liquid head difference between the liquid tank for replenishment and the liquid tank, and the liquid for replenishment stored in the liquid tank for replenishment using the water head difference is The liquid tank is replenished via a liquid replenishing pipe detachably connected to the replenishing liquid tank, the mounting means is at the uppermost position by the control means, and the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid tank is a predetermined reference value. When it is detected that the following is true, it is determined that the replenishing liquid in the replenishing liquid tank has run out.

  A liquid supply apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is disposed above a liquid discharge head of a printer, and a liquid tank for storing liquid supplied to the liquid discharge head and a liquid supply pipe connected to the liquid tank are detachable A replenishment liquid tank for storing a liquid to be replenished to the liquid tank, and a replenishment liquid tank mounted on a mounting table in a replaceable manner and rotated about a horizontal axis, A mounting means for raising and lowering a connection portion with the liquid supply pipe at a position equal to or higher than the liquid supply port to the liquid tank; and a liquid remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid tank And driving the placing means based on the detection output of the liquid remaining amount detecting means, rotating the replenishing liquid tank to raise and lower the connecting portion between the replenishing liquid tank and the liquid replenishing pipe, Replenishment liquid tank and the liquid A supply liquid is replenished from the replenishment liquid tank to the liquid tank using a liquid head difference generated between the tank and the connection portion between the replenishment liquid tank and the liquid replenishment pipe at the lowest position. And a control means for determining that the replenishment liquid in the replenishment liquid tank is exhausted when it is detected that the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid tank is equal to or less than a predetermined reference value. It is a thing.

  With such a configuration, the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid tank is detected by the remaining liquid amount detecting unit, the mounting unit is driven based on the detection output, and is mounted on the mounting table of the mounting unit in a replaceable manner. The replenishment liquid tank is rotated about a horizontal axis, and the connecting portion between the replenishment liquid tank and the liquid replenishment pipe is moved up and down at a position equal to or higher than the liquid replenishment port to the liquid tank to replenish the replenishment liquid tank. A liquid head difference is generated between the liquid tank and the liquid tank, and the liquid for replenishment stored in the liquid tank for replenishment is detachably connected to the liquid tank for replenishment using the water head difference. The liquid tank is replenished via the liquid replenishing pipe, and the connecting portion between the replenishing liquid tank and the liquid replenishing pipe is at the lowest position by the control means, and the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid tank is below a predetermined reference value. If this is detected, replenishment in the replenishment liquid tank is performed. It is determined that the liquid is gone.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when it is detected that the mounting table of the mounting means is at the uppermost position and the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid tank is below a predetermined reference value, the replenishing liquid Since it is determined that the replenishment liquid in the tank has run out, it is not necessary to provide a detection means for detecting the remaining amount of the replenishment liquid in the replenishment liquid tank. Therefore, the structure of the replenishing liquid tank is simplified and the cost can be reduced. Thereby, waste of resources at the time of disposal can be reduced.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is detected that the connecting portion between the replenishment liquid tank and the liquid replenishment pipe is at the lowest position, and that the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid tank is equal to or less than a predetermined reference value. In this case, since it is determined that the replenishment liquid in the replenishment liquid tank has run out, it is not necessary to provide a detection means for detecting the remaining amount of the replenishment liquid in the replenishment liquid tank. Therefore, the structure of the replenishing liquid tank is simplified and the cost can be reduced. Thereby, waste of resources at the time of disposal can be reduced.

  According to the invention of claim 3, the liquid can be replenished to the liquid tank with a single replenishment liquid tank, enabling long-term use, and convenience is improved.

  According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the replenishment liquid tank can be manufactured at a lower cost.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a first embodiment of a liquid supply apparatus according to the present invention. This liquid supply device is provided in the printer apparatus main body and supplies liquid to a liquid discharge head that discharges liquid to a recording medium. The liquid tank 1, the replenishment liquid tank 2, and the mounting means 3 are provided. And a liquid remaining amount detecting means 4 and a control means 5 (see FIG. 2). Hereinafter, the case where the liquid is ink will be described.

  The liquid tank (hereinafter referred to as “ink tank”) 1 stores ink 7 supplied to the liquid discharge head (hereinafter referred to as “ink discharge head”) 6 via an ink flow path 17. And disposed above the ink discharge head 6.

  The ink tank 1 is connected to a replenishing liquid tank (hereinafter referred to as “replenishing ink tank”) 2 via an ink replenishing pipe (liquid replenishing pipe) 8. The replenishment ink tank 2 stores ink (hereinafter referred to as “replenishment ink”) 9 that is replenished to the ink tank 1 through the ink replenishment pipe 8 and has an air communication port on the upper surface. 10 and has a capacity larger than the capacity of the ink tank 1. The ink supply pipe 8 can be detachably connected. When the supply ink 9 runs out, the ink supply pipe 8 can be removed and replaced with a new one. If the replenishment ink tank 2 is formed of a bag-like container made of a flexible material and the replenishment ink is sealed therein, the replenishment ink tank 2 can be manufactured at a lower cost. The ink supply pipe 8 is made of a flexible material, and bends even when the supply ink tank 2 is moved up and down by the mounting means 3 to be described later, absorbs the displacement in the vertical direction, and stresses the ink tank 1. Is not added.

  Placed on the side of the ink tank 1 is a placing means 3. The mounting means 3 mounts the replenishment ink tank 2 in a replaceable manner, and is displaced vertically to raise and lower the replenishment ink tank 2. A specific configuration example includes a mounting table 11, a screw shaft 12, and a guide pole 13.

  The mounting table 11 mounts the replenishment ink tank 2 and has a flat mounting surface 11a on the upper surface, and a side piece 11b is provided on the edge of the replenishing ink 11 to supply ink. The tank 2 is prevented from slipping down. A first columnar protrusion 14 is provided at the center of the back surface of the mounting table 11, and a screw hole 14 a that engages with a screw shaft 12, which will be described later, from the tip toward the inside along the central axis. Is formed. Further, a second columnar protrusion 15 is provided at the rear surface side end of the mounting table 11, and is fitted to a guide pole 13 described later from the tip toward the inside along the central axis. A hole 15a is formed.

  The screw shaft 12 raises and lowers the mounting table 11. One end of the screw shaft 12 is connected to a rotating shaft of a motor 25 described later, and the other end is screwed into the screw hole 14 a of the first columnar protrusion 14. They are designed to rotate together.

  The guide pole 13 guides the mounting table 11 in the vertical direction. One end of the guide pole 13 is fixed to the casing 16 of the printer apparatus main body, and the other end is fitted in the fitting hole 15a of the second columnar protrusion 15. The rotation of the screw shaft 12 can be converted into the vertical movement of the mounting table 11.

  And the position detection means 19 shown in FIG. 2 is provided in the side of the mounting means 3. FIG. The position detecting means 19 detects the vertical position of the mounting table 11 of the mounting means 3, and the lowest position detection sensor 27 for detecting the lowest position of the mounting table 11 and the position of the uppermost position. It comprises an uppermost detection sensor 28 for detecting and a displacement amount sensor 29 for detecting the amount of elevation of the mounting table 11, and each is, for example, a photo sensor.

  The ink tank 1 is provided with ink remaining amount detecting means (liquid remaining amount detecting means) 17. This ink remaining amount detecting means 4 detects the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank 1, and has an upper limit level sensor 22, a middle level sensor 23, a lower limit level on the side surface of the ink tank 1, for example, at three locations in the vertical direction. A pair of electrodes are arranged as the sensors 24 so that their tips are located inside the ink tank 1, and the remaining amount of ink is detected from a change in the resistance value between the two electrodes. A known technique is applied. be able to.

  The control means 5 drives the placement means 3 based on the detection output of the ink remaining amount detection means 4 to raise and lower the replenishment ink tank 2, and the replenishment ink tank 2, the ink tank 1, The replenishment ink 9 is replenished from the replenishment ink tank 2 to the ink tank 1 by utilizing the ink head difference generated during the period, and as shown in FIG. It consists of the control part 21.

  The driving means 18 drives the placing means 3 and comprises a motor 25 and a motor driving circuit 26, and the remaining amount of ink 7 in the ink tank 1 is below a predetermined reference value. In this case, the motor drive circuit 26 is activated and the motor 25 is driven.

  The timer 20 measures the time for supplying ink from the replenishing ink tank 2 to the ink tank 1 and is a timer.

  The control unit 21 is connected to the ink remaining amount detecting unit 4, the driving unit 18, the position detecting unit 19, and the time measuring unit 20 to appropriately control the entire apparatus. When the detection signal of the amount detection means 4 is input and it is detected that the remaining amount of the ink 7 in the ink tank 1 has fallen below a predetermined reference value, the motor drive circuit 26 is activated to drive the motor 25, and the mounting table 11 is raised by a predetermined amount in the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. As a result, the liquid level 9a of the replenishment ink 9 in the replenishment ink tank 2 becomes higher than the liquid level 7a of the ink 7 remaining in the ink tank 1, and a water head difference occurs between the two. Then, using this water head difference, the replenishment ink 9 is replenished from the replenishment ink tank 2 to the ink tank 1.

  Further, when the control unit 21 detects that the ink tank 1 is filled with the ink 7 by the supply of the replenishment ink 9, when the detection signal of the upper limit level sensor 22 of the ink remaining amount detection unit 4 is detected, The motor drive circuit 26 is activated to drive the motor 25 in the direction opposite to that described above, and the mounting table 11 is lowered by a predetermined amount in the direction of arrow B shown in FIG. As a result, the position of the liquid level 9a of the replenishing ink 9 in the replenishing ink tank 2 becomes lower than the position of the ink replenishing port 30 of the ink tank 1, and the water head difference is reversed to change the ink tank from the replenishing ink tank 2 to the ink tank. The supply of the replenishment ink 9 to 1 is stopped.

  Further, the control unit 21 inputs a detection signal of the uppermost detection sensor 28 of the position detection unit 19 to detect that the mounting table 11 is at the uppermost position, and the remaining ink amount detection unit 4 When it is detected that the remaining amount of the ink 7 in the ink tank 1 is equal to or less than a predetermined reference value by the input of the detection signal, it is determined that the replenishment ink 9 in the replenishment ink tank 2 has run out. It has become.

Next, the ink replenishment operation in the liquid supply apparatus configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, in step S1, the remaining amount of ink 7 in the ink tank 1 is detected by the remaining ink amount detecting means 4 provided on the side surface of the ink tank 1. Here, when the remaining amount of the ink 7 in the ink tank 1 falls below a predetermined reference value, for example, as shown in FIG. 4A, the middle level sensor 23 of the remaining ink amount detecting means 4 is in a non-conductive state. When it becomes, the control unit 21 determines that the remaining amount of the ink 7 has decreased to a predetermined reference value or less (“YES” determination), and proceeds to step S2.

  In step S <b> 2, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the current ascending position of the mounting table 11 is the uppermost part based on the detection signal of the uppermost detection sensor 28 of the position detection unit 19. Here, when the mounting table 11 has reached the uppermost position, the determination is “YES” and the process proceeds to step S3.

  In step S3, the control unit 21 determines that the replenishment ink 9 in the replenishment ink tank 2 has run out, and displays that the replenishment ink tank 2 is empty on a display unit (not shown) or by voice. It is urged to replace the replenishment ink tank 2. At the same time, the mounting table 11 is lowered to the lowest position in the direction of arrow B shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, if the position of the mounting table 11 has not yet reached the top in step S2, the determination is “NO” and the process proceeds to step S4.

  In step S4, the controller 21 activates the motor drive circuit 26 of the drive means 18 to rotate the motor 25. As the motor 25 rotates, the screw shaft 12 connected to the rotation shaft of the motor 25 rotates in the direction of arrow C shown in FIG. 4A, and the mounting table 11 is guided by the guide pole 13 and indicated by arrow A. Ascend vertically. In this case, the mounting table 11 is controlled by the control unit 21 based on the output of the displacement amount sensor 29 and is raised by a predetermined amount. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5B, the liquid level 9a of the replenishing ink 9 in the replenishing ink tank 2 placed on the placing table 11 is higher than the position of the ink replenishing port 30 of the ink tank 1. Thus, a water head difference occurs between the liquid level 9a of the replenishing ink 9 in the replenishing ink tank 2 and the liquid level 7a of the ink 7 remaining in the ink tank 1, and the ink tank 1 from the replenishing ink tank 2 The replenishment ink 9 is replenished through the ink refill tube 8.

In step S <b> 5, the timer 20 starts measuring the replenishment time of the replenishment ink 9.
In step S6, the control unit 21 determines whether or not a predetermined time has passed. Here, if the predetermined time has elapsed, the determination is “YES” and the process proceeds to step S7.

  In step S <b> 7, the remaining amount of ink 7 in the ink tank 1 is detected by the ink remaining amount detection unit 4. Here, when the storage amount of the ink 7 exceeds a predetermined reference value, for example, as shown in FIG. 4C, when the upper limit level sensor 22 of the ink remaining amount detecting means 4 becomes conductive, the control is performed. The unit 21 determines that the supply of the replenishment ink 9 to the ink tank 1 has been completed (“YES” determination), and proceeds to step S8.

  In step S7, when the storage amount of the ink 7 does not exceed the predetermined reference value, the control unit 21 determines that the ink supply is not completed ("NO" determination), returns to step S2, and returns to step S2. -S7 is repeated.

  In step S8, the control unit 21 performs a display indicating completion of ink supply on a display unit (not shown). Further, the motor drive circuit 26 of the drive means 18 is activated to drive the motor 25 in the opposite direction to that described above, and the screw shaft 12 is rotated in the direction of arrow D shown in FIG. Lower by a predetermined amount in the direction. As a result, the position of the liquid level 9a of the replenishing ink 9 in the replenishing ink tank 2 becomes lower than the position of the ink replenishing port 30 of the ink tank 1, and the water head difference is reversed to change the ink tank from the replenishing ink tank 2 to the ink tank. The supply of the replenishment ink 9 to 1 is stopped. Then, returning to step S1, steps S1 to S8 are repeatedly executed.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a main part of a second embodiment of the liquid supply apparatus according to the present invention. This liquid supply device is disposed above the ink discharge head 6, and an ink tank 1 for storing ink 7 to be supplied to the ink discharge head 6 and an ink supply pipe 8 connected to the ink tank 1 are detachable. The replenishment ink tank 2 for replenishing the replenishment ink 9 to be replenished to the ink tank 1 and the replenishment ink tank 2 are placed so as to be replaceable and rotated around the horizontal shaft 31 to replenish. Mounting means 3 for raising and lowering the connection portion 32 between the ink tank 2 for ink and the ink supply pipe 8 at the same position as or higher than the ink supply port 30 for the ink tank 1, and the ink in the ink tank 1 Ink remaining amount detecting means 4 for detecting the remaining amount of ink, and the above-mentioned placing means 3 are driven based on the detection output of the remaining ink amount detecting means 4, and the replenishing ink tank 2 is rotated to supply the replenishing ink Ink tank 2 For replenishment from the replenishment ink tank 2 to the ink tank 1 using the ink head difference generated between the replenishment ink tank 2 and the ink tank 1 by raising and lowering the connecting portion 32 with the ink replenishment pipe 8. The ink 9 is replenished, the connection portion 32 between the replenishment ink tank 2 and the ink replenishment pipe 8 is at the lowest position, and the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank 1 is below a predetermined reference value. Control means for determining that the replenishment ink 9 in the replenishment ink tank 2 has run out when detected.

  Here, the mounting means 3 includes a mounting table 11, a wire 33, and a pulley 34. The mounting table 11 is supported by a horizontal shaft 31 so that the connecting portion 32 between the replenishing ink tank 2 and the ink replenishing pipe 8 is higher than the ink replenishing port 30 to the ink tank 1 in the horizontal state. Has been. The wire 33 suspends the mounting table 11 with one end fixed to one end of the mounting table 11. The pulley 34 is connected to a rotating shaft of a motor (not shown) so as to rotate in the forward and reverse directions. The other end of the wire 33 is fixed and the wire 33 is wound or loosened. Thus, the mounting table 11 is rotated.

  With such a configuration, the remaining amount of the ink 7 in the ink tank 1 is monitored by the ink remaining amount detecting means 4 provided on the side surface of the ink tank 1, and the remaining amount of the ink 7 becomes below a predetermined reference value. In this case, the control unit rotates the pulley 34 of the mounting unit 3 in the direction of arrow E shown in FIG. 5 to wind the wire 33, and the wire 33 lifts one end of the mounting table 11 to lift the mounting table 11. Is rotated in the direction of arrow F shown in the figure to lower the connecting portion 32 between the replenishing ink tank 2 and the ink replenishing pipe 8. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 6, the bent portion 8 a of the ink supply pipe 8 that extends parallel to the bottom surface of the supply ink tank 2 and bends and hangs down in the middle is supplied to the supply ink in the supply ink tank 2. 9, the replenishment ink 9 in the replenishment ink tank 2 is replenished to the ink tank 1 through the ink replenishment pipe 8 due to a water head difference.

  When the ink tank 1 is replenished with the replenishing ink 9 and the ink tank 1 is filled with the replenishing ink 9 to a predetermined reference value or more, the control means replenishes the ink based on the detection signal of the ink remaining amount detecting means 4. When the completion is judged, the pulley 34 of the mounting means 3 is rotated in the direction of arrow G shown in FIG. 6, the wire 33 is loosened, and the mounting table 11 is rotated in the direction of arrow H shown in FIG. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the bent portion 8a of the ink supply pipe 8 becomes higher than the liquid surface 9a of the supply ink 9 in the supply ink tank 2, and the ink flow is cut off. The supply of the replenishment ink 9 from 2 to the ink tank 1 is stopped.

  The control means is such that the connecting portion 32 between the replenishing ink tank 2 and the ink replenishing pipe 8 is at the lowest position, and the remaining amount of the ink 7 in the ink tank 1 is equal to or less than a predetermined reference value. Is detected, it is determined that the replenishment ink 9 in the replenishment ink tank 2 has run out, and a message prompting the replacement of the replenishment ink tank 2 is displayed on a display unit (not shown).

  In the second embodiment, when the wire 33 is wound or loosened by the pulley 34 and the mounting table 11 is rotated to move the connecting portion 32 between the replenishment ink tank 2 and the ink replenishment pipe 8 up and down. Although it demonstrated, it is not restricted to this, The horizontal axis | shaft 31 may be directly rotated with a stepping motor, for example, Furthermore, the one side edge part of the mounting base 11 may be moved up and down using a screw shaft. .

  In the above description, the case where the liquid is ink has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any liquid may be used as long as it is discharged from the liquid discharge head.

It is sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of 1st Embodiment of the liquid supply apparatus by this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control means of the said 1st Embodiment. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an ink supply operation in the first embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the ink replenishment operation | movement in the said 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the principal part of 2nd Embodiment of the liquid supply apparatus by this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the ink supply operation | movement in the said 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... Ink tank (liquid tank)
2 ... Supply ink tank (Supply liquid tank)
3 ... Placement means 4 ... Control means 5 ... Ink discharge head (liquid discharge head)
7 ... Ink (liquid)
8 ... Ink supply pipe (liquid supply pipe)
9: Replenishment ink (liquid to be replenished in the liquid tank)
11: mounting table 17 ... ink remaining amount detecting means (liquid remaining amount detecting means)
30 ... Ink supply port (liquid supply port)
31 ... Horizontal axis 32 ... Connection between refilling ink tank and ink refilling tube

Claims (4)

A liquid tank disposed above the liquid discharge head of the printer and storing liquid supplied to the liquid discharge head;
A liquid supply pipe connected to the liquid tank is detachably connected, and a liquid tank for replenishment that stores liquid to be replenished to the liquid tank;
Mounting means for mounting and removably mounting the replenishment liquid tank on a mounting table;
A liquid remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid tank;
Based on the detection output of the liquid remaining amount detection means, the placement means is driven to raise and lower the replenishment liquid tank, and a liquid head difference generated between the replenishment liquid tank and the liquid tank is used. Then, the replenishment liquid is replenished from the replenishment liquid tank to the liquid tank, the mounting table of the mounting means is at the uppermost position, and the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid tank is equal to or less than a predetermined reference value. When it is detected that there is a control means for determining that the replenishment liquid in the replenishment liquid tank has run out;
A liquid supply apparatus comprising: A liquid tank disposed above the liquid discharge head of the printer and storing liquid supplied to the liquid discharge head;
A liquid supply pipe connected to the liquid tank is detachably connected, and a liquid tank for replenishment that stores liquid to be replenished to the liquid tank;
The replenishment liquid tank is mounted on the mounting table in a replaceable manner and is rotated around a horizontal axis, and the connection portion between the replenishment liquid tank and the liquid replenishment pipe is the same as the liquid replenishment port to the liquid tank or A mounting means for moving up and down at a higher position;
A liquid remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid tank;
Based on the detection output of the liquid remaining amount detection means, the placing means is driven, and the replenishment liquid tank is rotated to move up and down the connecting portion between the replenishment liquid tank and the liquid replenishment pipe. A replenishment liquid is replenished from the replenishment liquid tank to the liquid tank using a liquid head difference generated between the liquid tank and the liquid tank, and a connection portion between the replenishment liquid tank and the liquid replenishment pipe Is determined to be out of the replenishment liquid in the replenishment liquid tank when it is detected that the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid tank is below a predetermined reference value. Means,
A liquid supply apparatus comprising:   The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a capacity of the replenishing liquid tank is larger than a capacity of the liquid tank.   3. The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the replenishing liquid tank is formed of a bag-like container made of a flexible material, and the replenishing liquid is sealed in the bag-like container.

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