JP2016144911A - Liquid supply device and liquid supply method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid supply device which sends a liquid to a first tank attached to a liquid discharge head from a second tank having volumetric capacity larger than that of the first tank without needing a pump, and to provide a liquid supply method.SOLUTION: A liquid supply device includes: a liquid discharge head mounted on a carriage; a first tank mounted on the carriage and having a first storage chamber; a second tank having a second storage chamber; a first flexible tube connected to the first tank and the second tank and allowing the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber to communicate with each other; a second flexible tube connected to the first tank and the second tank and allowing the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber to communicate with each other; a drive part which drives the carriage along a guide in a first direction and a second direction; and a first non-return valve which is provided in the first tube, allows flow of a fluid flowing from the second storage chamber to the first storage chamber, and restricts flow of the fluid flowing from the first storage chamber to the second storage chamber.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid supply apparatus such as an ink jet recording apparatus and a liquid supply method thereof.

  For example, in an ink jet recording apparatus, if a gas is mixed into the liquid in the first tank (or sub tank) attached to the liquid ejection head, problems such as liquid ejection failure (or printing failure) may occur.

  For this reason, the gas mixed in the liquid in the first tank is sucked together with the liquid by a pump and collected to the second tank (for example, an ink cartridge), thereby removing the gas in the first tank. An ink jet recording apparatus is known (see Patent Document 1). In this ink jet recording apparatus, a circulation flow path is provided between the first tank and the second tank, a pump is provided in the flow path, and the gas in the first tank is transferred to the second tank by the suction force of the pump. to be sending.

JP 2005-193623 A

  However, when the gas removal method is applied to, for example, an ink jet recording apparatus capable of color printing, it is necessary to provide a plurality of pumps in each flow path corresponding to the plurality of liquid storage chambers provided in the first tank. Arise. As a result, the number of pumps of the recording apparatus increases, the mechanism becomes complicated, and it may be difficult to reduce the size and cost of the recording apparatus.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and one object of the present invention is from a second tank having a larger volume to a first tank attached to the liquid discharge head without requiring a pump. An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid supply apparatus and a liquid supply method capable of feeding a liquid. Another object of the present invention is to remove the gas in the first tank attached to the liquid discharge head without providing a pump in the flow path between the first tank and the second tank. A liquid supply device and a liquid supply method are provided.

  (1) A liquid supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a carriage that is movable in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction, and a liquid discharge that is mounted on the carriage and discharges the liquid. A second tank having a first reservoir chamber mounted on the carriage and having a first reservoir chamber for storing a liquid to be supplied to the liquid discharge head; and a second reservoir chamber having a larger volume than the first reservoir chamber. A tank, a first tube having a flexibility connected to the first tank and the second tank, and communicating the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber; the first tank; A flexible second tube connected to the second tank and communicating between the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber, and the carriage along the guide in the first direction and the second A drive unit for driving in the direction; A first check valve that is provided in the tube and allows fluid flow from the second storage chamber to the first storage chamber and restricts fluid flow from the first storage chamber to the second storage chamber. And comprising.

  In the above configuration, when the carriage moves in the first direction or the second direction, the acceleration and deceleration of the carriage causes the liquid in the first tube and the second tube connected to the first tank (the liquid is in the tube). When it does not exist, inertial force acts on the gas). In the second tube, the inertial force causes a liquid or gas flow in both the direction from the second storage chamber to the first storage chamber and the direction from the first storage chamber to the second storage chamber. obtain. However, in the first tube, only the liquid or gas flow from the second storage chamber to the first storage chamber is allowed by the operation of the first check valve, and the first storage chamber goes to the second storage chamber. Liquid or gas flow is restricted. At this time, if the first storage chamber is not in communication with the outside other than the first tube and the second tube, the liquid or gas that has entered the first storage chamber from the second tube again flows from the first storage chamber to the second tube. Generally speaking, in the second tube, the flow of liquid or gas from the second storage chamber to the first storage chamber is also restricted in the second tube.

  As a result of the above, generally speaking, a circulation operation is performed in which the liquid is sent from the second tank to the first dunk through the first tube and the liquid is returned from the first tank to the second tank through the second tube. Therefore, the liquid can be sent from the second tank to the first tank without requiring a pump. A part of the circulated liquid can be discharged from the discharge head to the outside. Moreover, the gas in a 1st storage chamber can be sent to a 2nd storage chamber with a liquid by the said circulation operation | movement, for example. As a result, the gas in the first tank can be removed without providing a pump in the flow path between the first tank and the second tank (for example, in the middle of the second tube).

  (2) Preferably, in the liquid supply device, the second tube opens at an upper portion of the first storage chamber.

  According to the said structure, it becomes easy to send the gas (for example, air) which accumulates upwards in a 1st storage chamber to a 2nd storage chamber through a 2nd tube. Therefore, the gas in the first tank can be effectively removed.

  (3) Preferably, in the liquid supply device, the first check valve is opened with respect to a stationary fluid, and the fluid flows from the first storage chamber toward the second storage chamber. It only restricts the flow of fluid.

  Incidentally, in the liquid supply apparatus, an initial purge may be performed. In the initial purge, when only the gas is present in the first storage chamber, the first tube, and the second tube in the initial use state of the liquid supply apparatus, the pressure is determined by the pressure for sucking and discharging the gas in the first storage chamber to the outside. In this process, the liquid is sent from the second tank to the first tank. According to the above configuration, the flow of the fluid is limited only when the first check valve opens with respect to the stationary fluid and the fluid flows from the first storage chamber toward the second storage chamber. Since this is a type (hereinafter referred to as a normally open type), the gas in the first tube is moved to the first storage chamber by the initial purge even when the second check valve shown below is not provided in the second tube. It becomes easy to make. Thereby, it becomes easy to fill the first tube with the liquid by the initial purge.

  For example, if the first check valve is a normally closed type that always blocks the flow of liquid from the first storage chamber to the second storage chamber, the valve body is biased in the valve closing direction by a spring or the like. For this reason, when the second check valve shown below is not provided in the second tube, even if the initial purge is performed in the initial use state of the liquid supply device, the second tank mainly passes through the second tube from the second tank. The liquid moves to the first tank, and it becomes difficult to fill the first tube with the liquid. The initial purge may be performed when a relatively large amount of gas exists in the first storage chamber or the first tube immediately after the start of the liquid supply device that has not been used for a long period of time. As described above, if the first check valve is a normally open type, the liquid supply device is in an initial use state even if the first check valve is provided without the second check valve shown below. The liquid can be quickly sent from the second storage chamber to the first storage chamber through the first tube immediately after activation. Therefore, the number of parts of the liquid supply device can be reduced and the configuration can be simplified.

  Furthermore, if the first check valve is a normally open type, the second storage chamber can be moved by the movement of the carriage in the first direction and the second direction, such as in the initial use state of the liquid supply device or immediately after startup, without requiring a pump. The liquid can be sent from the first to the first storage chamber. For example, if the first check valve is a normally closed type, the first check valve can be easily opened only by the inertial force acting on the gas in the first tube in a state where almost no gas exists in the first tube. It is also conceivable that the gas leading the liquid cannot be easily moved to the first storage chamber without valve. On the other hand, if the first check valve is a normally open type, the first storage chamber is driven by the inertial force using the gas in the first tube as a liquid leading by the movement of the carriage in the first direction and the second direction. Can be moved relatively easily. Therefore, if the first check valve is a normally open type, the liquid can be sent from the second storage chamber to the first storage chamber in the initial use state of the liquid supply device or immediately after startup without particularly requiring a pump. .

  (4) Preferably, in the liquid supply device, the fluid supply device is provided in the second tube, allows a fluid flow from the first storage chamber to the second storage chamber, and from the second storage chamber to the second storage chamber. A second check valve for restricting the flow of fluid toward the one storage chamber is further provided.

  According to the above configuration, the second check valve restricts the flow of liquid (gas when there is no liquid in the tube) from the second storage chamber to the first storage chamber. It can be carried out. Further, in the configuration in which the second tube is opened at the upper part of the second storage chamber, when initial purge is performed, the gas accumulated at the upper part in the second storage chamber is prevented from being sent to the first tank through the second tube. be able to. Therefore, the initial purge can be performed efficiently.

  (5) Preferably, in the liquid supply device, the second tube opens at an upper portion of the second storage chamber.

  According to the above configuration, the gas sent from the first storage chamber to the second storage chamber through the second tube can be prevented from being sent again from the second storage chamber to the first storage chamber through the first tube. . Since the first tube is a tube that sends liquid from the second storage chamber to the first storage chamber, the first tube is preferably opened at the lower part or the bottom surface of the second storage chamber. Therefore, by opening the second tube in the upper part of the second storage chamber, the above effect can be achieved without providing a partition wall or the like.

  (6) Preferably, in the liquid supply apparatus, the second tube opens at a lower portion of the second storage chamber, and the second storage chamber has an opening of the second tube and an opening of the first tube. And a partition wall that prevents gas from moving in the liquid stored in the second storage chamber.

  According to the said structure, it can prevent that the gas in a 2nd storage chamber is sent to a 1st storage chamber through a 2nd tube because a 2nd tube opens in the lower part of a 2nd storage chamber. Therefore, even when the second tube does not have the second check valve, the initial purge can be easily performed. Further, by providing the partition wall in the second storage chamber, the gas sent from the first storage chamber to the second storage chamber through the second tube moves in the liquid toward the opening of the first tube, and again, It can prevent sending to a 1st storage chamber through a 1st tube.

  (7) Preferably, in the liquid supply device, the first tube opens at a lower portion of the first storage chamber.

  According to the said structure, when a 2nd tube opens in the upper part of the said 1st storage chamber, it becomes easy to put sufficient distance between the opening of a 1st tube, and the opening of a 2nd tube. As a result, it is possible to prevent the liquid sent from the second tank to the first tank through the first tube from directly reaching the opening of the second tube and being sent to the first tank through the second tube. Therefore, the gas in the first storage chamber can be effectively removed.

  (8) Preferably, the liquid supply apparatus further includes a gas discharge path that opens at an upper portion of the first storage chamber, and a valve that opens and closes the gas discharge path.

  According to the above configuration, the initial purge can be easily performed by opening the gas discharge path using the valve.

  (9) Preferably, in the liquid supply device, at least a part of a wall partitioning the first storage chamber is a flexible film, and the volume of the first storage chamber is increased by bending the film. Change.

  According to the above configuration, it is possible to suppress a change in the liquid discharge pressure of the liquid discharge head due to a change in the pressure in the first storage chamber accompanying the movement of the carriage and the like, and a change in the liquid discharge amount. Therefore, when the liquid supply apparatus is an ink jet recording apparatus, it is possible to suppress the ink discharge amount from being fluctuated due to the fluctuation of the pressure and the print quality from being deteriorated.

  (10) A liquid supply method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a carriage that is movable in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction, and a liquid discharge that is mounted on the carriage and discharges the liquid. A second tank having a first reservoir chamber mounted on the carriage and having a first reservoir chamber for storing a liquid to be supplied to the liquid discharge head; and a second reservoir chamber having a larger volume than the first reservoir chamber. A tank, a first tube having a flexibility connected to the first tank and the second tank, and communicating the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber; the first tank; A flexible second tube connected to the second tank and communicating between the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber, and the carriage along the guide in the first direction and the second A drive unit for driving in the direction; A first check valve that is provided in the tube and allows fluid flow from the second storage chamber to the first storage chamber and restricts fluid flow from the first storage chamber to the second storage chamber. A liquid supply apparatus comprising: a first step of moving the carriage in the first direction; and a step of moving the carriage in the first direction. A second step of moving in two directions, and the first step and the second step are alternately repeated a plurality of times.

  (11) In the liquid supply method, in the first step and the second step, it is possible not to discharge the liquid from the liquid discharge head while moving the carriage.

  (12) In the liquid supply method, in the first step and the second step, the liquid intersects with the first direction, and is out of a conveyance path through which a sheet from which liquid is discharged from the liquid discharge head passes. The carriage can be moved to a position.

  (13) In the first step and the second step, the liquid supply method intersects the first direction without discharging liquid from the liquid discharge head while moving the carriage. The set of the first step and the second step is continuously executed at least three times so that the carriage is moved to a position out of the conveyance path through which the sheet from which the liquid is discharged from the liquid discharge head passes. .

  According to the above configuration, a sufficient amount of liquid can be sent from the second storage chamber to the first storage chamber by the inertial force acting on the fluid in the first tube.

  (14) In the liquid supply method, the liquid supply device further includes a gas discharge path that opens at an upper portion of the first storage chamber, and a valve that opens and closes the gas discharge path. When supplying liquid from the second storage chamber to the first storage chamber for the first time, before performing the first step and the second step, the first valve and the second step are opened, and the first valve is opened through the gas discharge passage. A third step of sucking and discharging the gas from the one storage chamber is further executed.

  According to the above configuration, when the liquid cannot be quickly sent from the second storage chamber to the first storage chamber only by the inertial force acting on the gas in the first tube, the initial purge is performed from the second storage chamber. The liquid can be quickly sent to the first storage chamber, and the time required for preparing the liquid discharge operation by the liquid discharge head can be shortened.

  According to the present invention, liquid can be sent from the second tank to the first tank attached to the liquid discharge head without requiring a pump. Further, the gas in the first tank attached to the liquid discharge head can be removed without providing a pump in the flow path between the first tank and the second tank.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a multifunction machine 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the internal configuration of the multifunction machine 10. FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing the arrangement of the carriage 23 and the ink tubes 43. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the arithmetic device 130 as a control unit of the multifunction machine 10. 5A and 5B are graphs showing the operation principle of the liquid supply process by the multi-function device 10, wherein FIG. 5A shows the relationship between the position and speed of the carriage 23 being processed, and FIG. 5B is the carriage being processed. The relationship between the position 23 and the inertial force acting on the fluid in the ink tube 43 is shown. 6A and 6B are cross-sectional views of the buffer tank 30, the ink tank 100, and the like that conceptually show the operation principle of the liquid supply processing by the multifunction machine 10, where FIG. 6A shows the acceleration of the carriage, and FIG. (C) is when the carriage is decelerating, and (d) is immediately after the carriage is stopped. 7A and 7B are cross-sectional views of the buffer tank 30 and the ink tank 100, etc., conceptually showing the initial purge process by the multifunction machine 10, wherein FIG. 7A shows the initial purge start time, and FIG. 7B shows the initial purge process. At the end of the purge. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a liquid supply method. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the circulation process. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the buffer tank 30 and the ink tank 100 according to a modification.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. The embodiment described below is merely an example of the present invention, and it is needless to say that the embodiment of the present invention can be changed as appropriate without departing from the gist of the present invention. In the following description, the multifunction device 10 is installed in a usable state (the state shown in FIG. 1 and may be referred to as “use state”) or posture (the posture shown in FIG. The upper direction 7A and the lower direction 7B are defined on the basis of the “use posture”, and the side where the opening 13 of the multi-function device 10 is provided is the front (front surface). 8B is defined, and a left direction 9A and a right direction 9B are defined when the multifunction machine 10 is viewed from the front (front side).

[Overall configuration of MFP 10]
As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction machine 10 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped. The multifunction machine 10 includes a printer unit 11 that records an image on a sheet 12 (see FIG. 2) using an inkjet recording method at the bottom. As shown in FIG. 2, the printer unit 11 includes a feeding unit 15, a feeding tray 20, a discharge tray 21, a transport roller unit 54, a recording unit 24, a discharge roller unit 55, and a platen 42. And an ink tank 100 (an example of a second tank). The multifunction machine 10 has various functions such as a facsimile function and a print function. The multifunction machine 10 is an example of a liquid supply device.

[Feed tray 20, discharge tray 21]
As shown in FIG. 1, the feeding tray 20 is moved in the front direction 8 </ b> A and the rear direction 8 </ b> B through the opening 13 formed in the front surface of the multi-function device 10 and in the central portion in the left direction 9 </ b> A and the right direction 9 </ b> B. The user inserts and removes the multifunction device 10. The feeding tray 20 can support a plurality of stacked sheets 12. The discharge tray 21 is disposed above the feeding tray 20 and is inserted and removed together with the feeding tray 20. The discharge tray 21 supports the paper 12 discharged from between the recording unit 24 and the platen 42 by the discharge roller unit 55.

[Feeding unit 15]
The feeding unit 15 feeds the paper 12 supported by the feeding tray 20 to the conveyance path 65. As shown in FIG. 2, the feeding unit 15 includes a feeding roller 25, a feeding arm 26, and a shaft 27. The feed roller 25 is rotatably supported at the tip end portion of the feed arm 26. The feeding roller 25 rotates in a direction in which the paper 12 is conveyed in the conveyance direction 16 by rotation and reverse rotation of a conveyance motor (not shown). Hereinafter, the rotation of the feeding roller 25, the transport roller 60, and the discharge roller 62 in the direction in which the paper 12 is transported in the transport direction 16 is referred to as “forward rotation”. The feeding arm 26 is rotatably supported on a shaft 27 supported by the frame of the printer unit 11. The feeding arm 26 is urged to rotate toward the feeding tray 20 by its own weight or an elastic force by a spring or the like.

[Conveyance path 65]
As shown in FIG. 2, the conveyance path 65 indicates a space formed by an outer guide member 18 and an inner guide member 19 that are partially opposed to each other at a predetermined interval inside the printer unit 11. The conveyance path 65 is a path extending from the rear end portion of the feeding tray 20 in the rear direction 8B of the printer unit 11. The conveyance path 65 is a path that makes a U-turn while extending from the lower part to the upper part in the rear part of the printer unit 11 and reaches the discharge tray 21 through the space between the recording unit 24 and the platen 42 along the front direction 8A. . A conveyance path 65 between the conveyance roller unit 54 and the discharge roller unit 55 is provided at a substantially central portion of the multifunction machine 10 in the left direction 9A and the right direction 9B, and extends in the front direction 8A. Thus, the conveyance path 65 intersects the first direction (for example, the left direction 9A). Note that the conveyance direction 16 of the paper 12 in the conveyance path 65 is indicated by a dashed-dotted arrow in FIG. Further, the width along the left direction 9A and the right direction 9B of the conveyance path 65 is the width along the left direction 9A and the right direction 9B of the sheet 12, as shown in FIG.

[Conveying roller unit 54]
As shown in FIG. 2, the transport roller unit 54 is disposed upstream of the recording unit 24 in the transport direction 16. The conveyance roller unit 54 includes a conveyance roller 60 and a pinch roller 61 that face each other. The conveyance roller 60 is driven by a conveyance motor. The pinch roller 61 is rotated along with the rotation of the conveyance roller 60. The sheet 12 is nipped between a conveyance roller 60 and a pinch roller 61 that are normally rotated by the normal rotation of the conveyance motor, and is conveyed in the conveyance direction 16.

[Discharge roller section 55]
As shown in FIG. 2, the discharge roller unit 55 is disposed downstream of the recording unit 24 in the transport direction 16. The discharge roller unit 55 includes a discharge roller 62 and a spur 63 that face each other. The discharge roller 62 is driven by a transport motor. The spur 63 is rotated along with the rotation of the discharge roller 62. The sheet 12 is nipped between the discharge roller 62 and the spur 63 that are rotated forward by the normal rotation of the conveyance motor, and is conveyed in the conveyance direction 16.

[Recording unit 24]
As shown in FIG. 2, the recording unit 24 is disposed between the conveyance roller unit 54 and the discharge roller unit 55 in the conveyance direction 16. The recording unit 24 is disposed so as to face the platen 42 along the upper direction 7A and the lower direction 7B with the conveyance path 65 interposed therebetween. That is, the recording unit 24 is disposed above the transport path 65 and so as to face the transport path 65. The recording unit 24 includes a carriage 23 and a recording head 39 (an example of a liquid ejection head). A buffer tank 30 (an example of a first tank) having a first storage chamber 31 is attached to the recording head 39.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the carriage 23 has guide rails 45 and 46 (an example of guides) that extend along the left direction 9A and the right direction 9B, respectively, at positions separated in the front direction 8A and the rear direction 8B. It is supported by. The guide rails 45 and 46 are supported by the frame of the printer unit 11. The carriage 23 is connected to a known belt mechanism provided on a guide rail 46 located in front of the guide rail 45.

  The belt mechanism is driven by a carriage motor 22 (see FIG. 4). The carriage motor 22 is controlled by the arithmetic device 130. The carriage motor 22 is supplied with power from the power source 28 under the control of the arithmetic unit 130. The carriage 23 connected to the belt mechanism reciprocates in a predetermined movement range in the left direction 9A (an example of the first direction) and the right direction 9B (an example of the second direction) by driving the carriage motor 22. Hereinafter, the guide rails 45 and 46 are sometimes referred to as a rear guide rail 45 and a front guide rail 46. In the above example, the carriage motor 22 and the belt mechanism constitute at least a part of the drive unit.

[Recording head 39]
The recording head 39 is mounted on the carriage 23 as shown in FIG. A plurality of nozzles 40 are formed on the lower surface of the recording head 39. The tips of the plurality of nozzles 40 are exposed from the lower surface of the recording head 39 and the carriage 23 on which the recording head 39 is mounted. Hereinafter, the surface where the tip of the nozzle 40 is exposed may be referred to as a “nozzle surface”. The recording head 39 ejects ink as fine ink droplets from the nozzles 40 by the operation of an actuator 41 such as a piezoelectric element (see FIG. 6A and the like). In the process of moving the carriage 23, the recording head 39 ejects ink droplets toward the paper 12 supported by the platen 42. As a result, an image is recorded on the paper 12.

[Buffer tank 30]
The buffer tank 30 is mounted on the carriage 23 above the recording head 39. As shown in FIG. 6A and the like, a first storage chamber 31 is formed in the buffer tank 30. More specifically, in the present embodiment, four first storage chambers 31 that store ink of each color (black, magenta, cyan, yellow) are formed in the buffer tank 30. A gas discharge path 37 is opened in the upper part of the first storage chamber 31. In addition, the upper part of the 1st storage chamber 31 is a part of the 1st storage chamber 31 located above the center of the largest dimension of the 1st storage chamber 31 along the upper direction 7A and the downward direction 7B. Moreover, the lower part of the 1st storage chamber 31 is a part of the 1st storage chamber 31 located below rather than the center of the largest dimension of the 1st storage chamber 31 along the upper direction 7A and the downward direction 7B.

  The gas discharge path 37 is provided with an on-off valve 38 that is an electromagnetic valve controlled by the arithmetic unit 130. The on-off valve 38 opens the gas discharge path 37 only during initial purge, and closes the gas discharge path 37 at other times. Here, the initial purge means that when only the gas exists in the first storage chamber 31, the first tube 43a, and the second tube 43b in the initial use state of the multifunction machine 10, In this process, liquid (ink) is sent from the ink tank 100 to the buffer tank 30 by the pressure for sucking and discharging the gas to the outside through the gas discharge path 37 by a pump or the like. The initial purge may be performed when a relatively large amount of gas exists in the first storage chamber 31 or the first tube 43a immediately after the start of the multifunction machine 10 that has not been used for a long time. In that case, ink may be sucked and discharged through the gas discharge passage 37 in addition to the gas from the first storage chamber.

  In the buffer tank 30, at least a part of the wall that partitions the first storage chamber 31 is formed of a flexible film 30a. When the membrane 30a is bent, the volume of the first storage chamber 31 changes. As a result, the pressure fluctuation in the first storage chamber 31 is suppressed to a certain extent.

[Ink tube 43]
Further, an ink tube 43 connecting the ink tank 100 and the buffer tank 30 is extended from the carriage 23. The ink tube 43 supplies ink (an example of a liquid) stored in the ink tank 100 to the recording head 39 via the buffer tank 30. More specifically, there are ink tubes 43B, 43M, 43C, and 43Y through which inks of respective colors (black, magenta, cyan, and yellow) circulate (they may be collectively referred to as “ink tubes 43”). The ink tank 100 extends from the ink tank 100, and is routed in a state of being bundled so as to be aligned in the vertical direction, and then connected to the buffer tank 30.

  More specifically, each of the ink tubes 43B, 43M, 43C, and 43Y includes a first tube 43a (see FIG. 6A) and a second tube 43b. That is, the ink tubes 43B, 43M, 43C, and 43Y are actually composed of eight tubes. The first tube 43 a and the second tube 43 b are flexible tubes that allow the first storage chamber 31 and the second storage chamber 101 in the ink tank 100 to communicate with each other. More specifically, the first tube 43a and the second tube 43b of the ink tubes 43B, 43M, 43C, and 43Y respectively store the corresponding color ink and the first storage chamber 31 that stores the corresponding color ink. The second storage chambers 101 of the ink tanks 100B, 100M, 100C, and 100Y to be communicated are communicated. Basically, the first tube 43 a is a tube for sending a fluid (mainly ink 34) from the second storage chamber 101 to the first storage chamber 31, and the second tube 43 b is a first tube from the first storage chamber 31. 2 A tube for sending fluid (ink 34 or air) to the storage chamber 101. Accordingly, the ink 34 in the second storage chamber 101 is circulated so as to be sent to the first storage chamber 31 through the first tube 43a and returned from the first storage chamber 31 to the second storage chamber 101 through the second tube 43b. Is done.

  However, at the time of initial purge, if there is no second check valve 33 described later, fluid (ink 34) is transferred from the second storage chamber 101 to the first storage chamber 31 not only by the first tube 43a but also by the second tube 43b. Can be sent (see FIG. 7A). A part of the circulated ink 34 can be ejected from the nozzle 40 toward the paper 12. Further, the second tube 43 b sends the gas to the second storage chamber 101 together with the ink 34 when the gas (for example, air) is mixed into the ink 34 in the first storage chamber 31. It also has a function as a gas recovery passage for removing gas from the gas.

  As shown in FIG. 6A and the like, it is preferable that the second tube 43 b is opened in the upper part of the first storage chamber 31. When gas is mixed in the ink 34 in the first storage chamber 31, the gas accumulates in the upper portion of the first storage chamber 31. By opening the second tube 43b in the upper part of the first storage chamber 31, the gas in the first storage chamber 31 can be easily collected in the second storage chamber 101 through the second tube 43b.

[Calculator 130]
As shown in FIG. 4, the arithmetic unit 130 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and controls the actuator 41, the on-off valve 38, the initial purge pump, and the like in addition to the carriage motor 22. The arithmetic device 130 may be disposed as a control board inside the apparatus housing as a control unit of the multifunction machine 10, or may be provided as a separate control board independent of the control unit of the multifunction machine 10.

[Platen 42]
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the platen 42 is disposed between the transport roller unit 54 and the discharge roller unit 55 in the transport direction 16. The platen 42 is disposed so as to face the recording unit 24 in the upward direction 7A and the downward direction 7B, and supports the sheet 12 conveyed by the conveyance roller unit 54 from below.

[Ink tank 100]
As shown in FIG. 1, the ink tank 100 (an example of a second tank) is accommodated in the multifunction machine 10. The ink tank 100 has a second storage chamber 101 having a larger volume than the first storage chamber 31 and is fixed to the multifunction device 10 so that it cannot be easily removed from the multifunction device 10. The front surface of the ink tank 100 is exposed to the outside of the multi-function device 10 through an opening formed at the front surface of the multi-function device 10 and an end portion in the right direction 9B.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the ink tank 100 is accommodated in an ink tank accommodating portion (not shown) provided in the front portion of the printer unit 11 and in the vicinity of the right end portion in the housing of the multifunction device 10. The ink tank 100 is provided in the multifunction machine 10 separately from the carriage 23 on which the recording head 39 is mounted, and ink is supplied to the buffer tank 30 and the recording head 39 mounted on the carriage 23 through the ink tube 43. It has come to be. As described above, the carriage 23 and the ink tank 100 are separately provided, so that the carriage 23 is reduced in size.

  Here, in the first tube 43a, the flow of fluid from the second storage chamber 101 to the first storage chamber 31 is allowed, and the flow of fluid from the first storage chamber 31 to the second storage chamber 101 is restricted. A first check valve 32 (see FIG. 6A) is provided. Further, the second tube 43b allows the fluid flow from the first storage chamber 31 to the second storage chamber 101 and restricts the fluid flow from the second storage chamber 101 to the first storage chamber 31. Two check valves 33 can be provided. However, providing the second check valve 33 is not essential.

  The ink tank 100 includes four ink tanks 100C, 100M, 100Y, and 100B for storing inks of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (Bk), and is provided in the apparatus casing. The ink tanks are respectively loaded at predetermined positions in the ink tank accommodating portion. A second storage chamber 101 is formed in each ink tank 100C, 100M, 100Y, 100B. In addition, the 2nd storage chamber 101 is connected to air | atmosphere via the air communication part not shown.

  In the present embodiment, the multi-function device 10 that performs image recording with four colors of ink is described. However, the number of ink colors is not particularly limited in the image recording apparatus according to the present invention. For example, six-color ink is used. Of course, when performing image recording with eight-color ink, it is possible to increase the ink tank. The ink tank 100 is a cartridge type in which each color ink is filled in a synthetic resin casing, or a replenishment type in which the ink tank 100 is placed in the casing of the multifunction peripheral 10 and is replenished as appropriate. Can be.

  The ink tube 43C corresponds to the ink tank 100C and supplies cyan (C) ink. Similarly, the ink tubes 43M, 43Y, and 43B correspond to the ink tanks 100M, 100Y, and 100B, respectively, and supply magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (Bk) inks, respectively. is there. Note that the ends of the flexible ink tubes 43C, 43M, 43Y, and 43B may directly open in the first storage chamber 31 and the second storage chamber 101, or the flexible ink tubes 43C, 43M, The end portions of 43Y and 43B may be connected to the joint, and the end portions of the joint may open in the first storage chamber 31 and the second storage chamber 101. The flow path in the joint may be straight or bent. In the present embodiment, the ink tube 43 is connected to the buffer tank 30 and the ink tank 100, even when the ink tube 43 is directly connected to the buffer tank 30 and the ink tank 100. The case where it is connected to the tank 30 and the ink tank 100 via a joint is also included. Similarly, when the ink tube 43 is open in the first storage chamber 31 and the second storage chamber 101, the ink tube 43 is open in the first storage chamber 31 and the second storage chamber 101. This includes the case where the ink tube 43 is opened to the first storage chamber 31 and the second storage chamber 101 through the flow path in the joint.

  The ink tubes 43C, 43M, 43Y, and 43B led out from the ink tank 100 are pulled out toward the left direction 9A to the vicinity of the center in the left direction 9A and the right direction 9B of the multifunction device 10, and the frames of the multifunction device 10 and the like. It is once fixed to an appropriate member. The fixing member is not particularly limited, and may be provided on the frame of the multifunction machine 10 as a member for sandwiching the ink tubes 43C, 43M, 43Y, and 43B from the front direction 8A and the rear direction 8B, and the cross section is substantially C. It may be provided on the frame of the multifunction machine 10 as a shape clamp, or is generally called a binding band that binds the ink tubes 43C, 43M, 43Y, 43B and a part of the frame of the multifunction machine 10 together. Such a belt-like member made of metal or synthetic resin may be used. A portion of the ink tubes 43C, 43M, 43Y, and 43B that is fixed by a fixing member is referred to as an intermediate fixing portion 69. In the ink tubes 43C, 43M, 43Y, and 43B, the portions from the ink tank housing portion to the intermediate fixing portion 69 are fixed and fixed to the frame of the multifunction machine 10 at a plurality of appropriate positions. Maintains a constant posture despite reciprocal movement.

  On the other hand, in the ink tubes 43C, 43M, 43Y, and 43B, the portion from the intermediate fixing portion 69 to the buffer tank 30 is not fixed to the frame or the like of the multifunction machine 10 and changes its posture following the reciprocating movement of the carriage 23. To do. Such a position of the intermediate fixing portion 69 is at a position where the bending radius of the ink tubes 43C, 43M, 43Y, 43B extending from the buffer tank 30 is minimized (position at the left end). , 43M, 43Y, 43B may be appropriately set in consideration of the length of the ink tubes 43C, 43M, 43Y, 43B and the routing route within a range of positions where the curved posture is maintained without being crushed.

  The portions of the ink tubes 43C, 43M, 43Y, and 43B from the buffer tank 30 to the intermediate fixing portion 69 extend substantially horizontally from the buffer tank 30 in one direction (left direction 9A) in the reciprocating direction of the carriage 23. An intermediate portion 70 corresponding to a substantially intermediate position between the buffer tank 30 and the intermediate fixing portion 69 is curved and extends in a direction opposite to the one direction (the right direction 9B) to reach the intermediate fixing portion 69. Accordingly, portions of the ink tubes 43C, 43M, 43Y, and 43B from the buffer tank 30 to the intermediate fixing portion 69 are curved in a substantially U shape in the horizontal direction. Thus, in the embodiment, the intermediate portion 70 constitutes a bending portion. The direction in which the ink tubes 43C, 43M, 43Y, and 43B extend from the buffer tank 30 may be any direction (the left direction 9A or the right direction 9B) in the reciprocating direction of the carriage 23.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the ink tubes 43 </ b> C, 43 </ b> M, 43 </ b> Y, and 43 </ b> B move while changing the curvature of the intermediate portion 70 following the reciprocation of the carriage 23. As shown in the drawing, when the carriage 23 is reciprocated, the portion of the ink tubes 43C, 43M, 43Y, 43B from the intermediate fixing portion 69 to the buffer tank 30 follows the carriage 23. Then, as the carriage 23 moves from one end (end in the right direction 9B) to the other end (end in the left direction 9A) of the reciprocating movement range, the ink tubes 43C, 43M, 43Y, and 43B are curved in the middle portion 70. It moves in the moving direction of the carriage 23 while bending so that the bending radius of the carriage 23 becomes smaller. Further, the intermediate portion 70 to the intermediate fixing portion 69 are linear in the reciprocating direction along the frame of the multifunction machine 10 (not shown).

On the other hand, as the recording head 39 moves from the other end to the other end of the reciprocating movement range, the ink tubes 43C, 43M, 43Y, and 43B are bent so that the bending radius of the curved intermediate portion 70 is increased, and the carriage 23 Move in the direction of movement. In FIG. 3, the carriage 23 moved to the other end position (position P1) of the reciprocating movement range is indicated by a solid line, and the carriage 23 moved to the center position (position P2) of the reciprocating movement range is indicated by an imaginary line L11. The carriage 23 moved to the position (position P0) at one end of the reciprocating movement range is indicated by an imaginary line L12.

  The ink tubes 43C, 43M, 43Y, and 43B that are independent from each other are bound by a binding member 72 at at least one location between the intermediate fixing portion 69 and the ink tank 100. The binding member 72 integrally binds the ink tubes 43C, 43M, 43Y, and 43B arranged in the vertical direction in the arrangement state, and is generally made of metal or synthetic resin, which is generally called a binding band. This is realized by a band-shaped member.

  Hereinafter, a method of supplying a liquid by the multifunction machine 10 which is an example of the liquid supply apparatus of the present invention will be described. When the carriage 23 reciprocates in the left direction 9A and the right direction 9B by driving the carriage motor 22 along the guide rails 45 and 46, the fluid (ink or air) in the ink tube 43 following the carriage 23 is Inertial force due to acceleration / deceleration of the carriage 23 is applied. In this embodiment, the ink in the ink tank 100 is sent to the buffer tank 30 using the inertial force. Further, the gas (for example, air) mixed in the ink in the buffer tank 30 is collected in the ink tank 100 by using the inertia force.

  Hereinafter, the principle that the circulation operation is executed by the inertia force will be described by taking as an example the case where the carriage 23 moves from the position P0 to the position P1 in FIG. When the carriage 23 moves from the position P0 to the position P1 in FIG. 3, as shown in FIG. 5, when the carriage 23 is accelerated (period TP1), the ink tube 43 is adjacent to the carriage 23 (hereinafter referred to as “carriage 23”). Inertial force in the right direction 9B acts on the fluid (ink or air) inside the adjacent portion. In the graph of FIG. 5B, the inertial force in the right direction 9B is shown as a positive inertial force. Due to this inertial force, the fluid inside the adjacent portion of the ink tube 43 is pushed into the first storage chamber 31. As a result, the pressure inside the first storage chamber 31 increases. A part of this pressure is absorbed by the bending of the membrane 30a.

  As described above, as shown in FIG. 6A, in the period TP1, the fluid flows from the second storage chamber 101 to the first storage chamber 31 through the ink tube 43 by the inertia force. If the second check valve 33 is provided in the second tube 43b, the flow of the fluid through the second tube 43b is restricted (a cross mark is given in the second check valve 33 in FIG. 6A). Only the flow of fluid through the first tube 43a (indicated by the arrow in FIG. 6A) is allowed. Further, when performing image recording on the paper 12, the liquid ejection operation of the recording head 39 can be performed smoothly by performing image recording when the carriage 23 is accelerated (period TP1).

  When the acceleration of the carriage 23 is finished, the inertial force disappears (period TP2 in FIG. 5), and the fluid in the first storage chamber 31 is adjacent to the ink tube 43 by the internal pressure of the first storage chamber 31 increased in the period TP1. Try to get back into the part. At this time, the flow of fluid through the first tube 43a is restricted by the operation of the first check valve 32 (indicated by an arrow marked with x in FIG. 6B). On the other hand, the flow of fluid through the second tube 43b is not particularly limited. As a result, in the period TP2, fluid flows from the first storage chamber 31 to the second storage chamber 101 through the second tube 43b (indicated by an arrow in FIG. 6B). As a result, in the period TP1 and the period TP2, the fluid is sent from the second storage chamber 101 to the first storage chamber 31 through the first tube 43a, and from the first storage chamber 31 to the second storage chamber 101 through the second tube 43b. Circulation is performed to return the fluid. Even if the second check valve 33 is not provided, if the period TP1 and the period TP2 are viewed as a whole, the first reservoir 31 through the first tube 43a through the first check valve 32 to the second reservoir 101 Therefore, the flow of fluid from the second storage chamber 101 to the first storage chamber 31 through the second tube 43b is also limited by the presence of the first check valve 32.

  Next, when the carriage 23 decelerates to reach the position P1 (period TP3 in FIG. 5), the inertial force in the left direction 9A is applied to the fluid (ink or air) inside the adjacent portion. work. Due to this inertial force, the fluid in the first storage chamber 31 is sucked toward the inside of the adjacent portion. As a result, the pressure inside the first storage chamber 31 decreases. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6C, in the period TP3, the fluid flows from the first storage chamber 31 to the second storage chamber 101 through the ink tube 43 by the inertia force. However, in the first tube 43a, the flow of the fluid is restricted by the operation of the first check valve 32 (indicated by an arrow marked with x in FIG. 6C). Therefore, the fluid mainly flows from the first storage chamber 31 to the second storage chamber 101 through the second tube 43b (indicated by an arrow in FIG. 6C).

  Next, when the decelerated carriage 23 stops at the position P1, the inertial force disappears, and in a predetermined period (period TP4 in FIG. 5) immediately after that, the first storage chamber 31 that has become negative due to the decompression in the period TP3. Due to the internal pressure, the fluid in the adjacent portion tends to return to the inside of the first storage chamber 31. At this time, when the second check valve 33 is provided in the second tube 43b, the flow of the fluid through the second tube 43b is restricted by the operation of the second check valve 33 (FIG. 6 ( (d) is indicated by an arrow with a cross (x), so that only fluid flow through the first tube 43a is allowed (indicated by an arrow in FIG. 6 (d)). Without the second check valve 33, the fluid flows from the second storage chamber 101 to the first storage chamber 31 through both the first tube 43a and the second tube 43b. However, even when the second check valve 33 is not provided, if the period TP3 and the period TP4 are viewed as a whole, the fluid flows from the second storage chamber 101 to the first storage chamber 31 through the first tube 43a. The fluid flows from the first storage chamber 31 to the second storage chamber 101 through 43b.

  As described above, the ink circulation operation is performed in the periods TP1 to TP4. Also, when the carriage 23 moves from the position P1 to the position P0 in FIG. 3, the ink circulation operation is performed according to the same principle as described above.

  Here, the first check valve 32 opens with respect to the stationary fluid and restricts the flow of the liquid only when the fluid flows from the first storage chamber 31 toward the second storage chamber 101. It is preferable that Hereinafter, the direction in which the check valve restricts the flow of fluid may be referred to as a reverse direction, and the direction in which the check valve allows the fluid flow may be referred to as a forward direction. In addition, a check valve that is open with respect to a stationary fluid and restricts the flow of fluid when a fluid flow in the opposite direction occurs may be referred to as a normally open check valve. . In other words, the first check valve 32 is preferably a normally open check valve. Examples of the normally open check valve include a check valve disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-133458 and a check valve disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-231220. On the other hand, a check valve that is closed with respect to a stationary fluid and opens only when a forward fluid flow occurs is referred to as a normally closed check valve. is there. Examples of the normally closed check valve include ink supply control means disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-69223. That is, the normally closed check valve is normally closed by a biasing force such as a spring, and is opened when a liquid flow or pressure that overcomes the biasing force is generated.

  Here, the second tube 43b is preferably opened at the lower portion of the second storage chamber 101 as shown in FIG. In addition, the lower part of the 2nd storage chamber 101 is a part of the 2nd storage chamber 101 located below rather than the center of the largest dimension of the 2nd storage chamber 101 along the upper direction 7A and the downward direction 7B. Moreover, the upper part of the 2nd storage chamber 101 is a part of the 2nd storage chamber 101 located above the center of the largest dimension of the 2nd storage chamber 101 along the upper direction 7A and the downward direction 7B. As a result, when the initial purge is performed, the amount of ink in the second storage chamber 101 becomes relatively small, and even when there is gas in the upper portion of the second storage chamber 101, the gas passes through the second tube 43b. It can prevent sending to the 1st storage chamber 31. FIG. Thereby, the initial purge can be quickly performed without providing the second check valve 33. Needless to say, the first tube 43 a intended to send ink from the second storage chamber 101 to the first storage chamber 31 is also preferably opened at the lower portion of the second storage chamber 101.

  In addition, when opening the 2nd tube 43b in the lower part of the 2nd storage chamber 101, opening A1 (refer Fig.6 (a)) of the 1st tube 43a of the 2nd storage chamber 101 and opening A2 of the 2nd tube 43b. It is preferable to provide a partition wall 35 that prevents gas from moving in the ink 34 stored in the second storage chamber 101. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the gas collected in the ink tank 100 through the second tube 43b from being sent to the buffer tank 30 again through the first tube 43a. Note that the opening A1 of the first tube 43a and the opening A2 of the second tube 43b may be openings of flow paths in the joint as described above.

  As shown in FIG. 6A and the like, the first tube 43 a can be opened at the lower portion of the first storage chamber 31. Thereby, when the 2nd tube 43b is opened in the upper part of the 1st storage chamber 31, opening A3 in the 1st storage chamber 31 of the 1st tube 43a and opening A4 in the 1st storage chamber 31 of the 2nd tube 43b It is easy to place an appropriate distance between the two. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the ink 34 sent from the second storage chamber 101 to the first storage chamber 31 through the first tube 43a from being returned directly to the second storage chamber 101 through the second tube 43b. Therefore, it becomes easy to collect | recover the gas in the 1st storage chamber 31 to the 2nd storage chamber 101 through the 2nd tube 43b. Note that the opening A3 of the first tube 43a and the opening A4 of the second tube 43b may be openings of flow paths in the joint as described above.

  Hereinafter, the liquid supply method according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 6 and 7 and FIGS. 8 and 9. FIG. 8 shows the overall flow of the present liquid supply method. In this liquid supply method, an initial purge (S11) is first performed when there is not enough ink in the buffer tank 30 such as in the initial use state of the liquid supply device or immediately after activation of the liquid supply device that has not been used for a long time. ) Is performed. In this initial purge, as shown in FIG. 7A, the on-off valve 38 is opened, and the gas in the buffer tank 30 is sucked through the gas discharge path 37. Thereby, the ink in the ink tank 100 is sent to the buffer tank 30 through the first tube 43a and the second tube 43b. In addition, when the check valve 33 is provided in the second tube 43b, the ink is sent to the buffer tank 30 through the first tube 43a. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7B, the first storage chamber 31 of the buffer tank 30 is filled with ink. However, the first storage chamber 31 is not necessarily completely filled with ink, and gas may remain in the first storage chamber 31. It is also possible to skip the initial purge in step S11 and start the next circulation process immediately. Even in the circulation process, the buffer tank 30 is filled with ink when there is not enough ink in the buffer tank 30 such as in the initial use state of the liquid supply device or immediately after activation of the liquid supply device that has not been used for a long time. Can do. However, by performing the initial purge (third step), the buffer tank 30 can be quickly filled with ink, and the image recording operation can be started quickly. If there is sufficient ink in the buffer tank 30, the initial purge in step S11 can be skipped naturally.

  Next, a circulation process based on the principle described with reference to FIG. 6 is performed (S12). By this circulation processing, the gas in the buffer tank 30 can be removed, or the ink for image recording can be supplied from the ink tank 100 to the buffer tank 30 and the recording head 39. Further, image recording can be performed during the execution of the circulation process in step S12.

  FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of the circulation process. The circulation process includes a first step (S21) for moving the carriage 23 in the first direction (for example, the left direction 9A), a second step (S22) for moving the carriage 23 in the second direction (for example, the right direction 9B), including. The first step S21 and the second step S22 can be alternately repeated a plurality of times. For example, when the buffer tank 30 is filled with ink by a circulation process instead of the initial purge, the first step S21 and the second step S22 can be alternately repeated three times or more. Also, the first step S21 and the second step S22 can be alternately repeated three or more times when the circulation process is performed only for the purpose of removing the gas in the buffer tank 30.

  Here, the circulation process can be performed without discharging the liquid by the recording head 39, that is, without image recording. For example, when the buffer tank 30 is filled with ink by a circulation process instead of the initial purge, the circulation process is executed without discharging the liquid by the recording head 39. Even when the circulation process is performed only for the purpose of removing the gas in the buffer tank 30, the circulation process can be performed without discharging the liquid by the recording head 39.

  In the circulation process, the carriage 23 can be moved to positions (positions P0 and P1 in FIG. 3) that are out of the conveyance path 65. The carriage 23 for image recording is moved within the conveyance path 65, that is, within the width of the paper 12. When the circulation process is performed without image recording, the buffer tank 30 can be efficiently filled with ink without using a high-output motor for the carriage motor 22 by increasing the moving distance of the carriage 23.

  In the present embodiment, the second tube 43b is opened in the lower part of the second storage chamber 101, and the partition wall 35 is provided in the second storage chamber 101, but as shown in FIG. When the second tube 43 b is opened at the upper part of the second storage chamber 101, the partition wall 35 may not be provided in the second storage chamber 101. Also with this configuration, the gas sent from the first storage chamber 31 to the second storage chamber 101 through the second tube 43b is sent again from the second storage chamber 101 to the first storage chamber 31 through the first tube 43a. Can be prevented. In this configuration, if the check tube 33 is not provided in the second tube 43b, the gas in the second storage chamber 101 is sent through the second tube 43b when the initial purge is performed. It is preferable that the check valve 33 is provided in the tube 43b.

  In the present embodiment, since the multi-function device 10 that performs image recording with four colors of ink is described, there are four ink tubes 43 (a total of eight), but as described above, according to the present invention. In the image recording apparatus, the number of ink colors is not particularly limited. Therefore, for example, it is possible to perform image recording with six-color ink or eight-color ink. In that case, the number of ink tubes 43 may be increased. If there is not enough space around the carriage 23 to arrange a large number of ink tubes 43 in the horizontal direction, the ink tubes 43 are divided into two groups and extended from the right and left sides of the carriage 23, respectively. It is good also as connecting to the ink tank 100 by drawing around so that the curve direction of the ink tube of each group may become reverse.

10 ... Multifunction machine (liquid supply device)
22 ... Carriage motor (drive unit)
23 ... Carriage 30 ... Buffer tank (first tank)
31 ... 1st storage chamber 32 ... 1st check valve 33 ... 2nd check valve 34 ... Ink 35 ... Partition wall 37 ... Gas discharge path 38 ... Open / close valve 39: Recording head (liquid ejection head)
43, 43C, 43M, 43Y, 43B ... ink tube 43a ... first tube 43b ... second tube 100, 100C, 100M, 100Y, 100B ... ink tank (second tank)
101 ... 2nd storage chamber 130 ... arithmetic unit

Claims (14)

A carriage movable in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction;
A liquid discharge head mounted on the carriage for discharging liquid;
A first tank mounted on the carriage and having a first storage chamber for storing a liquid to be supplied to the liquid discharge head;
A second tank having a second storage chamber having a larger volume than the first storage chamber;
A first tube that is connected to the first tank and the second tank and has flexibility to communicate the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber;
A flexible second tube connected to the first tank and the second tank and communicating the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber;
A drive unit for driving the carriage in the first direction and the second direction along a guide;
A first tube that is provided in the first tube and allows a fluid flow from the second storage chamber to the first storage chamber and restricts a fluid flow from the first storage chamber to the second storage chamber; And a check valve.   The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second tube opens at an upper portion of the first storage chamber.   The first check valve opens with respect to a static fluid and restricts the flow of fluid only when the fluid flows from the first storage chamber toward the second storage chamber. Item 3. The liquid supply device according to Item 1 or 2.   The second tube is provided in the second tube, allows a fluid flow from the first storage chamber to the second storage chamber, and restricts a fluid flow from the second storage chamber to the first storage chamber. The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a check valve.   The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second tube opens at an upper portion of the second storage chamber. The second tube opens at a lower portion of the second storage chamber,
The second storage chamber is provided with a partition wall between the opening of the second tube and the opening of the first tube and for preventing gas from moving in the liquid stored in the second storage chamber. The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid supply apparatus is provided.   The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first tube opens at a lower portion of the first storage chamber. A gas discharge path opened at an upper portion of the first storage chamber;
The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a valve that opens and closes the gas discharge path.   9. The wall according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of a wall defining the first storage chamber is a flexible film, and the volume of the first storage chamber changes as the film is bent. Liquid supply device. A carriage movable in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction;
A liquid discharge head mounted on the carriage for discharging liquid;
A first tank mounted on the carriage and having a first storage chamber for storing a liquid to be supplied to the liquid discharge head;
A second tank having a second storage chamber having a larger volume than the first storage chamber;
A first tube that is connected to the first tank and the second tank and has flexibility to communicate the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber;
A flexible second tube connected to the first tank and the second tank and communicating the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber;
A drive unit for driving the carriage in the first direction and the second direction along a guide;
A first tube that is provided in the first tube and allows a fluid flow from the second storage chamber to the first storage chamber and restricts a fluid flow from the first storage chamber to the second storage chamber; In a liquid supply apparatus comprising a check valve, a method of supplying liquid from the second storage chamber to the first storage chamber,
A first step of moving the carriage in the first direction;
A second step of moving the carriage in the second direction,
A liquid supply method in which the first step and the second step are alternately repeated a plurality of times.   The liquid supply method according to claim 10, wherein in the first step and the second step, liquid is not discharged from the liquid discharge head while the carriage is moved.   11. The carriage is moved to a position that crosses the first direction in the first step and the second step and is out of a conveyance path through which a sheet from which liquid is ejected passes from the liquid ejection head. Or the liquid supply method of 11.   In the first step and the second step, the set of the first step and the second step is continuously executed at least three times without discharging the liquid from the liquid discharge head while moving the carriage. The liquid supply method according to claim 12. The liquid supply device further includes a gas discharge path that opens at an upper portion of the first storage chamber, and a valve that opens and closes the gas discharge path,
When the liquid is first supplied from the second storage chamber to the first storage chamber, the first valve and the second step are opened before the first step and the second step. The liquid supply method according to claim 10, further comprising a third step of sucking and discharging the gas from the storage chamber.

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