JP2014034181A - Liquid jet apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid jet apparatus capable of closing a space between a housing unit and a cover member while enabling circulation of a liquid from a liquid storage unit provided outside the housing unit to a liquid jet head provided in the housing unit.SOLUTION: A liquid jet apparatus includes a printing function unit 12A having an opening, which exposes at least a part of a movement area of a carriage 21, formed therein, an image reading unit 13 that is displaceable with respect to the printing function unit 12A, an ink tank 19 storing ink to be jetted by a liquid jet head, and an ink supply tube 40 that connects the ink tank 19 and the liquid jet head so that the ink can flow therebetween. The ink supply tube 40 is inserted into a housing space SP1 formed in at least one of the printing function unit 12A and the image reading unit 13 to communicate with the opening with the image reading unit 13 displaced from a position where the opening is opened to a position where it is closed.

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid onto a target.

  Conventionally, as a kind of liquid ejecting apparatus, an ink jet printer that performs printing (recording) by ejecting ink from a liquid ejecting head to a target such as a sheet is known. In such a printer, in order to continuously and stably supply ink to the liquid ejecting head when a relatively large amount of printing is performed, the ink is supplied from an ink tank (liquid storage portion) having a relatively large ink storage capacity. A configuration for supplying ink to an ink cartridge through a supply tube has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In the printer having such a configuration, the liquid ejecting head is mounted on a carriage provided in the main body housing so as to be reciprocally movable in the main scanning direction with respect to the paper. An ink supply tube extending from an ink tank provided outside the main body housing is inserted into the carriage movement region through the upper opening of the main body housing, and is connected to an ink cartridge mounted on the carriage.

China Utility Model Registration Notice CN2825289Y

  By the way, in the printer having the above-described configuration, a cover member (cover) that can be displaced in a direction to open and close the opening is provided in the casing (main body housing). The gap is inserted between the cover member and the peripheral portion of the opening while being sandwiched between the cover member displaced in the direction of closing the opening and the casing. A spacer is provided to form For this reason, the space between the opening of the housing portion and the cover member cannot be blocked by the spacer, and dust or the like may enter the carriage movement region from the outside of the housing portion through the gap. It was.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to distribute liquid from a liquid storage portion provided outside the housing portion to a liquid ejecting head provided in the housing portion. An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid ejecting apparatus capable of closing the space between a casing portion and a cover member while making it possible.

  In the liquid ejecting apparatus that solves the above-described problem, a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid to a target and a carriage including the liquid ejecting head are movably disposed, and at least a movement region of the disposed carriage A housing part formed with an opening for exposing a part thereof, a cover member displaceable with respect to the housing part, and the liquid ejected by the liquid ejecting head are located outside the housing part. A liquid storage section that stores the liquid; and a liquid supply tube that allows the liquid to flow between the liquid storage section and the liquid ejecting head, and the liquid supply tube includes the cover member. Formed so as to communicate with at least one of the housing part and the cover member in communication with the opening part in a state where the opening part is displaced from the opening side to the closing side. It is inserted through the housing clearance.

  According to this configuration, even in a state where the cover member closes the opening of the casing, the liquid is supplied to the opening of the casing through the casing gap formed on at least one side of the casing and the cover member. A supply tube can be inserted to supply liquid to the carriage side disposed inside the housing. For this reason, for example, the cover member closes the opening of the housing portion while allowing the liquid to be supplied from the liquid storage portion located outside the housing portion to the liquid ejecting head provided in the carriage disposed in the housing portion. State.

  In the liquid ejecting apparatus, when the cover member is displaced to a position where the opening is closed, the cover member is stacked on the upper side of the casing, and the cover member is moved to a position where the opening is opened from the state. A handle that allows a user's hand to be inserted when the user lifts and displaces is provided in at least one of the casing and the cover member, and the casing gap is provided by the handle. It is preferable to be formed at a predetermined position.

  According to this configuration, the liquid supply tube can be easily guided to the opening by inserting the liquid supply tube through the housing gap formed at the position of the handle portion into which the hand is inserted when the cover member is lifted. .

  In the liquid ejecting apparatus, the handle portion is a recess formed in both the casing portion and the cover member so as to be connected to each other when the cover member is displaced to a position for closing the opening. The shape is preferred.

  According to this configuration, since the handle portion has a wide recessed space in a state where the cover member closes the opening of the housing portion, it is easy even if the liquid supply tube is inserted through the handle portion. It is possible to lift the cover member using the handle.

In the liquid ejecting apparatus, it is preferable that the cover member includes an image reading mechanism.
According to this configuration, by disposing the image reading mechanism in the displaceable cover member, for example, from the liquid storage portion located outside the housing portion to the liquid ejecting head provided in the carriage disposed in the housing portion. A multi-functional liquid ejecting apparatus can be realized while enabling liquid supply.

  In the liquid ejecting apparatus, the housing portion includes a housing portion in which a tray housing portion in which a discharge tray that receives the target discharged from the housing portion is retractably housed is formed to protrude in the discharge direction of the target. In addition, the operation panel unit that is operated during use is configured by a housing portion that has an inclined surface that protrudes more toward the discharge direction than the upper side at an upper position than the tray storage unit. preferable.

  According to this configuration, since the tray housing portion and the operation panel portion that are easy to use are provided in the housing portion that is not displaced, the liquid that easily ejects the liquid to the target and discharges the target regardless of the open / closed state of the cover member. An injection device can be realized.

In the liquid ejecting apparatus, it is preferable that the liquid supply tube is connected to a plurality of tubes via a joint that connects the tubes.
According to this configuration, the liquid supply tube can be adjusted to an optimum length for routing by connecting a plurality of tubes.

In the liquid ejecting apparatus, it is preferable that one or a plurality of the liquid supply tubes are provided.
According to this configuration, the liquid can be supplied from the respective liquid storage units to the liquid jet heads by the number of liquid supply tubes corresponding to the number of the liquid storage units.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a printer as an example of an embodiment of a liquid ejecting apparatus. (A) is a perspective view which shows the state which raised the image reading part in the printer by which the ink supply tube was arrange | positioned by 1st Embodiment, (b) is a perspective view which shows the coupling of an ink supply tube. FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating a state in which an image reading unit is stacked on a printing function unit in the printer in which the ink supply tube is disposed according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the printer in which the ink supply tube is disposed according to the first embodiment, and is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. The perspective view of the printer by which the ink supply tube was arrange | positioned by 2nd Embodiment.

Hereinafter, as an embodiment of a liquid ejecting apparatus, an ink jet type that includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects ink as an example of liquid and ejects ink onto paper as an example of a target to print an image including characters and figures The printer will be described with reference to the drawings.
<Overall configuration of printer>
As shown in FIG. 1, a printer 11 according to the present embodiment includes an apparatus main body 12 that has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and an ink tank 19 that is an example of a liquid storage unit that is separate from the apparatus main body 12 and has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. have. Although not shown in FIG. 1, in the printer 11, the ink stored in the ink tank 19 is inserted from the outside of the apparatus main body 12 into the apparatus main body 12 according to first and second embodiments described later. The ink is supplied from the ink tank 19 located outside the apparatus main body 12 to the apparatus main body 12 via the ink supply tube 40.

  The apparatus main body 12 on the ink supply side is provided with a printing function unit 12A as an example of a housing part that houses the printing unit 20 on the lower side in the gravity direction, while the anti-gravity direction side thereof. An image reading unit 13 having an image reading mechanism such as a scanner for reading a document (image) is disposed as an example of a cover member on the upper side. The image reading unit 13 rotates (displaces) around a rotation shaft 13a provided at one side end (rear side) of the apparatus main body 12, and a side end side of the apparatus main body 12 opposite to the rotation shaft 13a. The (front side) is lifted. That is, the hand grip portion 13T is recessed on the side surface (right and left side surfaces) of the image reading section 13, and the user of the printer 11 inserts his hand into the hand grip section 13T for maintenance, for example. Can be lifted. By this lifting, in the printing function unit 12A provided above the printing unit 20, an opening 12K that exposes at least a part of the movement region of the carriage 21 that is arranged to be reciprocally movable (see FIG. 2A). Is released.

  Further, an automatic document feeder 14 that automatically supplies a read document to the image reading unit 13 is disposed above the image reading unit 13. The automatic document feeder 14 rotates around a rotation shaft 14a provided at one end (rear side) of the apparatus main body 12, and the side end side (front) of the apparatus main body 12 opposite to the rotation shaft 14a. Side) is lifted. By lifting the automatic document feeder 14, the user can manually supply the read document to the image reading unit 13.

  In addition, on the rear side of the apparatus main body 12, a mounting table 15 on which a plurality of sheets P can be stacked is provided. The paper P placed on the mounting table 15 is conveyed one by one from the rear to the front to the printing unit 20 provided in the printing function unit 12A, and the printing unit 20 performs printing on the paper P. Is called. That is, the paper P is transported from the mounting table 15 to the printing unit 20 by a transport mechanism (not shown), and the printing unit 20 intersects the direction (mainly referred to as the sub-scanning direction Y) of the paper P (this is the main direction). An image is printed by ejecting ink onto the paper P from the liquid ejecting head 22 reciprocally moved by a moving mechanism (not shown) along the scanning direction X). The paper P on which an image has been printed by the printing unit 20 is further conveyed forward (sub-scanning direction Y) from the printing unit 20 and discharged from a paper discharge port 16 provided on the front surface of the apparatus main body 12 (printing function unit 12A). Paper.

  Below the paper discharge port 16 in the apparatus main body 12 (printing function unit 12A), there is a tray storage unit 12H in which a stacker 17 as an example of a discharge tray that receives the paper P discharged from the paper discharge port 16 is stored. It is constituted by a housing portion that is formed to project in the paper P discharge direction (here, the sub-scanning direction Y). By this protrusion, the stacker 17 can be easily pulled out from the apparatus main body 12 by the gripping portion 17a, and is pulled out from the apparatus main body 12 according to the length in the discharge direction (conveyance direction) of the discharged paper P.

  On the other hand, on the upper side of the paper discharge port 16 in the apparatus main body 12 (printing function unit 12A), an operation panel unit 18 for executing a printing operation or the like in the printing unit 20 is disposed. The operation panel portion 18 is configured by a housing portion that has an inclined surface that protrudes toward the discharge direction of the paper P from the lower side to the upper side. A display unit (for example, a liquid crystal display) 18a for displaying a menu screen or the like on this inclined surface, an operation button 18b such as a power button, and the like are provided as operation members that are operated during use such as printing, and are operated by the user. It is considered easy.

  The printing unit 20 included in the printer 11 according to the present embodiment includes a carriage 21 as an example of a moving body that reciprocates in the main scanning direction X, and a liquid ejecting head 22 that ejects ink onto the carriage 21. . The carriage 21 is guided by a guide frame 30 that is a plate member extending along the main scanning direction X, and is arranged to be movable (reciprocating) in the main scanning direction X. That is, the guide frame 30 has a rail portion 31 in which an upper rail 31A and a lower rail 31B are provided by bending the member into a substantially U shape at both upper and lower end portions of the plate member orthogonal to the main scanning direction X. ing. The rear end side of the carriage 21 is supported by the upper rail 31A and the lower rail 31B. The carriage 21 is guided by the upper rail 31A and the lower rail 31B while being in a so-called cantilever state, and moves the rail portion 31 along the main scanning direction X. Move back and forth. Then, ink supplied from the ink supply tube 40 is ejected from the liquid ejecting head 22 provided in the carriage 21 that reciprocates, and printing on the paper P is performed.

  In the printer 11 of this embodiment, a relay adapter AD that relays ink supplied via the ink supply tube 40 to the liquid ejecting head 22 is mounted on the carriage 21, and the ink is transferred from the mounted relay adapter AD to the liquid ejecting head. 22 is supplied. Accordingly, when the ink supply tube 40 that supplies ink from the ink tank 19 that contains ink is connected to the relay adapter AD, the ink supply tube 40 causes the ink between the ink tank 19 and the liquid ejecting head 22 to be ink. Forms a flow path of ink that can flow.

  Here, it is assumed that one type of ink (for example, black ink) is supplied from the ink tank 19 and one relay adapter AD corresponding to the one type of ink is attached to the carriage 21. Of course, when a plurality of types of ink are supplied from the ink tank 19, the relay adapter AD is mounted with a plurality (four at the maximum in FIG. 1) of the relay adapters AD.

<< First Embodiment >>
Next, in the state where the image reading unit 13 closes the opening 12K of the apparatus main body 12 (printing function unit 12A), the ink supply tube 40 that supplies ink from the ink tank 19 to the liquid ejecting head 22 is disposed. The first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 (a), 2 (b) and FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 3, the ink tank 19 that stores the ink ejected from the liquid ejecting head 22 is viewed from the front side in the sub-scanning direction Y with respect to the apparatus main body 12. Is arranged outside the right housing. That is, the ink tank 19 is disposed outside the moving region of the carriage 21 and at a position near the home position HP in the main scanning direction X. One end side of the ink supply tube 40 that functions as a flow path for the ink stored in the ink tank 19 is connected to the ink tank 19. On the other hand, the other end side of the ink supply tube 40 is inserted from a position near the home position HP in the main scanning direction X of the carriage 21 into a housing gap provided between the printing function unit 12A and the image reading unit 13. It is inserted into the apparatus main body 12. Then, it is inserted into the moving area of the carriage 21 exposed through the opening 12K and connected to the relay adapter AD mounted on the carriage 21.

  More specifically, on the upper surface of the printing function unit 12A, the printing provided in the image reading unit 13 on the front side of the opening 12K when the side that rotatably supports the image reading unit 13 is the back side. A concave portion 12b is formed at a position corresponding to the protruding portion 13b protruding to the functional portion 12A side. 2A, the image reading unit 13 is displaced to a position where the opening 12K of the printing function unit 12A is closed and is stacked on the upper side of the printing function unit 12A, as indicated by a thick solid arrow. Thus, the protrusion 13b is positioned on the concave portion 12b as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, a housing gap SP1 communicating with the opening 12K is formed between at least one side of the printing function unit 12A and the image reading unit 13 between the concave portion 12b and the protruding portion 13b. Is done. In other words, the protruding portion 13b of the image reading unit 13 in the state where the opening 12K is closed is a front side in which the rear side wall portion 13e formed on the back side is the front side in the sub-scanning direction Y with respect to the concave shape portion 12b. The housing gap SP <b> 1 is formed by being positioned away from each other. In the present embodiment, the housing gap SP1 is formed in both the printing function unit 12A and the image reading unit 13.

  By the way, in this embodiment, between the concave shape part 12b and the protrusion part 13b, the housing | casing clearance gap SP2 connected with the opening part 12K is formed also in the near side of the protrusion part 13b. That is, the protruding portion 13b of the image reading unit 13 in the state where the opening 12K is closed has a front side wall portion 13f formed on the front side of the protruding portion 13b on the front side in the sub-scanning direction Y with respect to the concave shape portion 12b. As a result, the housing gap SP <b> 2 is formed in both the printing function unit 12 </ b> A and the image reading unit 13.

  In the present embodiment, the right side wall 13d formed at the right end of the protruding portion 13b of the image reading unit 13 is main-scanned so as to be recessed inward of the image reading unit 13 with respect to the right side surface 13R of the image reading unit 13. It is formed on the left side of the right side surface 13R in the direction X. Therefore, when the image reading unit 13 is displaced to close the opening 12K, the right side surface 13R of the image reading unit 13 and the right side surface of the printing function unit 12A are caused by the right side wall portion 13d of the protruding portion 13b of the image reading unit 13. A recess space that is recessed inward is formed in the apparatus main body 12 in both of 12R. And this recessed part space functions as the handle part 13T. In other words, the hand grip portion 13T is provided to both the printing function portion 12A and the image reading portion 13 so that the respective recessed spaces are connected to each other when the image reading portion 13 is displaced to a position where the opening portion 12K is closed. It is the formed recessed part shape.

  The handle portion 13T formed as a space area having the concave shape allows a user's hand (finger) to be inserted, and the concave shape portion 12b constituting the concave shape faces the right side surface 12R. Thus, an inclined surface 12m that is inclined so as to increase the opening area of the concave shape is formed, so that the user can easily insert the hand. The concave shape formed as the handle portion 13T in this way has a wide space area that can be inserted by the user's hand.

  Therefore, the housing gap SP1 (SP2) allows communication between the space area (recessed shape) formed in the handle portion 13T and the opening 12K. On the other hand, since the space area (concave shape) formed in the handle portion 13T communicates with the space area outside the apparatus body 12, the outside of the apparatus body 12 communicated with the space area formed in the handle portion 13T. The space area communicates with the opening 12K through the housing gap SP1 (SP2).

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the user lifts and displaces the image reading unit 13 to the position side where the opening 12K is opened, the auxiliary portion 13T is provided so that the user's hand can be inserted. The ink supply tube 40 is inserted into the housing gap SP1 formed on the back side, which is the front side in the scanning direction Y.

  The other end of the ink supply tube 40 inserted through the housing gap SP1 is inserted into the movement region of the carriage 21 exposed through the opening 12K, with the longitudinal direction thereof being a direction along the movement direction of the carriage 21. The relay adapter AD mounted on the carriage 21 is connected. Accordingly, the portion that is folded back along the main scanning direction X between the housing gap SP1 in the length direction of the ink supply tube 40 and the relay adapter AD (in FIG. 2A, it has a substantially U shape and is curved). This portion is formed as a deformable movable portion 40H that follows and deforms as the carriage 21 moves.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2A, the ink supply tube 40 is configured such that a plurality of tubes are connected via a joint 40C that connects the tubes in the length direction. Also good. The joint 40C is provided at one or a plurality of locations according to the number of tubes joined between the ink tank 19 and the carriage 21, and allows ink to flow between the joined tubes. By the way, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 (b) as an example, two tubes are connected via a joint 40C having a structure having a through hole and cylindrical portions into which the tube is inserted on both sides. As shown in FIG. 2A, one joint is formed in the deformable movable portion 40H of the ink supply tube 40. In FIG. 3, the joint 40C of the ink supply tube 40 is not shown.

  Further, in the present embodiment, although not shown in the drawings, the casing gap SP1 is the apparatus main body 12 (image reading) which is opposite to the home position HP in the main scanning direction X of the carriage 21 in the apparatus main body 12 (printing function unit 12A). It is good also as forming in the handle part 13T recessedly provided in the left side surface of the part 13).

  Even when the handle portion 13T is recessed in the left side surface of the apparatus main body 12, the other end of the ink supply tube 40 inserted from the housing gap SP1 has the longitudinal direction as the direction along the main scanning direction X. However, it is inserted into the moving region of the carriage 21 exposed through the opening 12K and connected to the relay adapter AD mounted on the carriage 21. In addition, when the other end of the ink supply tube 40 is inserted from the handle portion 13T recessed in the left side surface, the ink tank 19 is connected to the apparatus main body 12 in order to shorten the length of the ink supply tube 40. Therefore, it is preferable that the carriage 21 is disposed at a position (left position) opposite to the home position HP in the main scanning direction X.

Next, the operation of the printer 11 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the other end of the ink supply tube 40 is located between the rear side wall portion 13e of the protruding portion 13b and the recessed shape portion 12b in a state where the image reading portion 13 closes the opening portion 12K. It is inserted through the formed housing gap SP1. The other end of the ink supply tube 40 inserted through the housing gap SP1 is inserted into the opening 12K communicating with the housing gap SP1, and then the carriage 21 (relay) in which the moving region is exposed by the opening 12K. Connected to the adapter AD).

  In the present embodiment, when ink is supplied from the plurality of ink tanks 19 to the carriage 21 side, the plurality of ink supply tubes 40 are inserted into the housing gap SP1 formed in the handle portion 13T. Then, ink is supplied from each ink tank 19 through the inserted ink supply tube 40. Incidentally, in FIGS. 3 and 4, as an example, when ink is supplied from the two ink tanks 19, a state where the second ink supply tube 40 is inserted into the housing gap SP1 is shown by a two-dot chain line. . Or although illustration is abbreviate | omitted, you may distribute and pass the some ink supply tube 40 to both housing | casing clearance gap SP1 and housing | casing clearance gap SP2.

According to the first embodiment relating to the arrangement of the ink supply tube 40, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) Even when the image reading unit 13 closes the opening 12K of the printing function unit 12A, the housing gap SP1 (SP2) formed on at least one side of the printing function unit 12A and the image reading unit 13 is used. An ink supply tube 40 can be inserted into the opening 12K of the printing function unit 12A to supply ink to the carriage 21 side. Therefore, for example, the image reading unit 13 can be connected to the liquid ejecting head 22 disposed in the printing function unit 12A from the ink tank 19 located outside the printing function unit 12A, and the image reading unit 13 can be opened in the printing function unit 12A. 12K can be closed.

  (2) The ink supply tube 40 is easily inserted into the opening 12K by inserting the ink supply tube 40 through the housing gap SP1 formed at the position of the handle portion 13T into which the hand is inserted when the image reading unit 13 is lifted. Can lead.

  (3) Since the handle portion 13T has a wide recessed space when the image reading portion 13 closes the opening portion 12K of the printing function portion 12A, the ink supply tube 40 is inserted in the handle portion 13T. In addition, it is possible to easily lift the image reading unit 13 using the handle portion 13T.

  (4) By disposing an image reading mechanism (for example, a scanner unit) that does not require ink supply in the displaceable image reading unit 13, for example, the printing function unit from the ink tank 19 provided outside the printing function unit 12 </ b> A. The multifunctional printer 11 can be realized while the ink can be supplied to the liquid ejecting head 22 provided in 12A.

  (5) Since the tray storage unit 12H and the operation panel unit 18 are provided in the printing function unit 12A that is not displaced, ink can be easily ejected and discharged from the paper P regardless of whether the image reading unit 13 is open or closed. The printer 11 to be performed can be realized.

  (6) The ink supply tube 40 can be adjusted to an optimum length for routing the ink supply tube 40 by connecting a plurality of tubes via the joint 40C that connects the tubes.

(7) With the number of ink supply tubes 40 corresponding to the number of ink tanks 19, ink can be supplied from each ink tank 19 to the liquid ejecting head 22.
<< Second Embodiment >>
Next, in the state where the image reading unit 13 closes the opening 12K of the apparatus main body 12 (printing function unit 12A), the ink supply tube 40 that supplies ink from the ink tank 19 to the liquid ejecting head 22 is disposed. Such a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the second embodiment, the other end of the ink supply tube 40 is inserted into a housing gap communicating with the opening 12K provided at a location different from the handle portion 13T. In the description of the present embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. Also in FIG. 5, the joint 40 </ b> C of the ink supply tube 40 is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the printer 11, the opening 12 </ b> K that exposes the moving region of the carriage 21 is formed with a paper discharge port 16 that is located above the stacker 17 through which the paper P conveyed under the carriage 21 is discharged. Are communicated in the printing function unit 12A. In other words, the paper discharge port 16 functions as an example of a housing gap that is formed in the printing function unit 12A and communicates with the opening 12K. Therefore, the other end of the ink supply tube 40 can be inserted into the space area in the opening 12K from the paper discharge port 16 which is a housing gap.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, in this embodiment, the other end side of the ink supply tube 40 whose one end side is connected to the ink tank 19 is closer to the home position HP in the main scanning direction X of the discharge port 16. The printing function unit 12A is inserted from the right end position. Then, after being inserted into the movement region of the carriage 21 as shown by a broken line in FIG. 5, it is connected to the relay adapter AD mounted on the carriage 21.

  That is, the other end of the ink supply tube 40 inserted from the paper discharge port 16 is inserted into the movement region of the carriage 21 and mounted on the carriage 21 with the longitudinal direction thereof being a direction along the movement direction of the carriage 21. Connected to the relay adapter AD. Therefore, a portion folded along the main scanning direction X between the paper discharge port 16 and the relay adapter AD in the length direction of the ink supply tube 40 (curved in a substantially U shape in FIG. 5). Is formed as a deformable movable portion 40H that follows and deforms as the carriage 21 moves.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the ink supply tube 40 is preferably fixed to the housing portion of the printing function unit 12 </ b> A by a fixing tool 60 such as an adhesive tape. With this fixing, it is preferable that the ink supply tube 40 is disposed at the inner end portion in the left-right direction along the main scanning direction X at the paper discharge port 16 and as far away as possible from the stacker 17. . By doing so, the probability of hindering the discharge operation of the paper P discharged onto the stacker 17 at the paper discharge port 16 is reduced.

  Further, as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 5, the ink supply tube 40 is inserted into the printing function unit 12 </ b> A from the left end position at the paper discharge port 16 and is connected to the relay adapter AD mounted on the carriage 21. It may be. Of course, in this case, the ink tank 19 is out of the housing on the left side when viewed from the front side in the sub-scanning direction Y, that is, opposite to the home position HP in the main scanning direction X of the carriage 21 with respect to the apparatus main body 12. It is preferable to be disposed at the position.

Next, the operation of the printer 11 according to the second embodiment will be described.
Even when the image reading unit 13 is displaced to the closing position that closes the opening 12K of the printing function unit 12A, the ink supply tube 40 inserted through the paper discharge port 16 that is a gap between the housings is not connected to the opening 12K. It can be inserted into the space. Therefore, the other end side of the ink supply tube 40 whose one end is connected to the ink tank 19 located outside the apparatus main body 12 is connected to the carriage 21 (relay adapter AD) disposed inside the apparatus main body 12.

According to the second embodiment, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the effects (2) to (7) in the first embodiment.
(8) Even if the image reading unit 13 closes the opening 12K of the printing function unit 12A, the opening of the printing function unit 12A through the paper discharge port 16 as a housing gap formed in the printing function unit 12A. The ink supply tube 40 is inserted into 12K, and the ink can be supplied to the carriage 21 side disposed inside the printing function unit 12A. Therefore, for example, the image reading unit 13 can be supplied to the liquid ejecting head 22 provided in the printing function unit 12A from the ink tank 19 located outside the printing function unit 12A, and the image reading unit 13 can be opened in the printing function unit 12A. 12K can be closed.
<Modification>
In addition, you may change the said embodiment into another embodiment as follows.

  In the first embodiment, the concave shape formed in the handle portion 13T is not necessarily provided in both the image reading unit 13 and the print function unit 12A. Moreover, it does not need to be provided so that it may mutually connect. For example, the concave shape may be provided only on the printing function unit 12A side, or the concave shape may be provided only on the image reading unit 13 side. In this case, the housing gap SP1 (SP2) is also provided in one of the print function unit 12A and the image reading unit 13.

  In the first and second embodiments, the printing function unit 12A does not necessarily have to be configured by the housing part in which the tray storage unit 12H is formed to protrude in the paper P discharge direction. In addition, the operation panel unit 18 does not necessarily have to be configured by a housing portion that has an inclined surface whose lower side protrudes more toward the discharge direction than the upper side.

  In the printer 11 of the first and second embodiments, the cover member disposed on the upper side of the print function unit 12A does not include the image reading unit 13 or the automatic document feeder 14, and at least the opening 12K. It may be a casing member that covers a part.

  In the first embodiment, the handle portion 13T does not necessarily have to be provided on the side surface of the apparatus main body 12 that is a surface in a direction intersecting with the main scanning direction X. For example, it may be provided on the front surface where the paper discharge port 16 opens.

  In the above embodiment, the relay adapter AD may not be mounted on the carriage 21. That is, the ink supplied from the ink tank 19 provided outside the printing function unit 12A through the ink supply tube 40 may be supplied to the liquid ejecting head 22 side without the relay adapter AD.

  In the first and second embodiments, the ink tank 19 may be attached to the apparatus main body 12 (printing function unit 12A) or the image reading unit 13 using a fixing member (for example, a screw or an adhesive). Good. Further, the mounting position can be the left and right side wall portions or the rear surface when viewed from the front side (front side) in the sub-scanning direction Y. Alternatively, the upper surface of the automatic document feeder 14 is also possible.

In the above embodiment, the target is not limited to paper, and a cloth, a resin film, a resin sheet, a metal sheet, or the like may be adopted.
In the above embodiment, the printer 11 may be a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects or ejects liquid other than ink. Note that the state of the liquid ejected as a minute amount of liquid droplets from the liquid ejecting apparatus includes a granular shape, a tear shape, and a thread-like shape. The liquid here may be any material that can be ejected from the liquid ejecting apparatus. For example, it may be in a state in which the substance is in a liquid phase, such as a liquid with high or low viscosity, sol, gel water, other inorganic solvents, organic solvents, solutions, liquid resins, liquid metals (metal melts ). Further, not only a liquid as one state of a substance but also a substance in which particles of a functional material made of a solid such as a pigment or a metal particle are dissolved, dispersed or mixed in a solvent is included. Typical examples of the liquid include ink and liquid crystal as described in the above embodiment. Here, the ink includes general water-based inks and oil-based inks, and various liquid compositions such as gel inks and hot melt inks. As a specific example of the liquid ejecting apparatus, for example, a liquid containing a material such as an electrode material or a color material used for manufacturing a liquid crystal display, an EL (electroluminescence) display, a surface emitting display, or a color filter in a dispersed or dissolved form. There is a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting the liquid. Further, it may be a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a bio-organic matter used for biochip manufacturing, a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid as a sample that is used as a precision pipette, a printing apparatus, a micro dispenser, or the like. In addition, transparent resin liquids such as UV curable resin to form liquid injection devices that pinpoint lubricant oil onto precision machines such as watches and cameras, and micro hemispherical lenses (optical lenses) used in optical communication elements. May be a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects the liquid onto the substrate. Further, it may be a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects an etching solution such as acid or alkali in order to etch a substrate or the like.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Printer as an example of liquid ejecting apparatus, 12 ... Apparatus main body, 12A ... Print function part as an example of housing | casing part, 12H ... Tray storage part, 12K ... Opening part, 12m ... Inclined surface, 13 ... Cover member An image reading unit as an example, 13T... A handle unit, 16... A discharge port as an example of a housing gap, 17... A stacker as an example of a discharge tray, 18. Tank, 21... Carriage, 22... Liquid ejecting head, 40... Ink supply tube as an example of liquid supply tube, 40 C... Joint, P ... Paper as an example of target, SP 1, SP 2.

Claims (7)

A liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid onto a target;
A casing provided with a liquid jet head, wherein the carriage is movably disposed, and an opening that exposes at least a part of a movement region of the disposed carriage is formed;
A cover member displaceable with respect to the housing part;
The liquid ejected by the liquid ejecting head is positioned outside the housing unit, and stores a liquid containing the liquid,
A liquid supply tube that connects the liquid container and the liquid jet head so that the liquid can flow;
With
The liquid supply tube is formed so as to communicate with the opening in at least one of the housing and the cover member in a state where the cover member is displaced from a position where the cover is opened to a position where the opening is closed. A liquid ejecting apparatus, wherein the liquid ejecting apparatus is inserted into a housing gap.   In a state where the cover member is displaced to a position where the opening is closed, the cover member is stacked on the upper side of the casing, and the user lifts the cover member from the state to a position where the opening is opened. And a cover portion that allows a user's hand to be inserted when being displaced is provided in at least one of the housing portion and the cover member, and the housing gap is located at a position where the handle portion is provided. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid ejecting apparatus is formed.   The handle portion has a concave shape formed so as to be connected to both the casing portion and the cover member when the cover member is displaced to a position where the opening portion is closed. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 2.   The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cover member includes an image reading mechanism.   The housing portion is configured by a housing portion in which a tray storage portion in which a discharge tray that receives the target discharged from within the housing portion is retractably stored is formed to protrude in the discharge direction of the target, Any one of Claims 1-4 in which the operation panel part operated at the time of use is comprised by the housing | casing part which exhibits the inclined surface which protrudes in the said discharge | emission direction side rather than the upper side in the upper position from the said tray accommodating part. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1.   The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid supply tube is connected to a plurality of tubes via a joint that connects the tubes.   The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one or a plurality of the liquid supply tubes are provided.