JP2016196150A - Liquid container storage device and image formation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid container storage device which inhibits a width of the device from being large, and to provide an image formation device including the liquid container storage device.SOLUTION: A liquid container storage device 4 stores liquid containers 300 for storing a liquid and is provided inside an image formation device body or outside the image formation device body so as to be located adjacent to one side surface 21B of the image formation device body. In the liquid container storage device 4, the liquid containers 300 are stored so that a longitudinal direction of the liquid containers 300 inclines relative to the one side surface 21B in a plan view.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid container storage device and an image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus that forms an image by ejecting droplets toward a sheet by a droplet ejection head is known.

  In the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, a plurality of long-sized inks are stored outside the one side surface in the longitudinal direction of the image forming apparatus main body to store ink that is liquid to be supplied to a recording head that is a droplet discharge head. An external ink storage portion is provided adjacent to the external ink storage portion. The longitudinal direction of each external ink storage portion is the same as the longitudinal direction of the image forming apparatus main body, and the external ink storage portions are arranged side by side along the one side surface. Then, ink is supplied from each external ink container to the recording head via a tube or the like.

  When each external ink container is provided adjacent to one side surface in the longitudinal direction of the image forming apparatus main body so that the longitudinal direction of the image forming apparatus main body and the longitudinal direction of the external ink container are the same, the image forming apparatus The overall width in the longitudinal direction is increased, and the adaptability to the installation environment is deteriorated.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a liquid provided in the image forming apparatus main body or outside the image forming apparatus main body, adjacent to one side surface of the image forming apparatus main body, which contains a plurality of liquid containers for storing liquids. In the container storage device, the liquid container is stored so that a longitudinal direction of the liquid container is inclined with respect to the one side surface in a plan view.

  As mentioned above, according to this invention, there exists an outstanding effect that it can suppress that the width | variety of an apparatus becomes large.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a printer in which an ink cartridge is arranged such that the longitudinal direction of the ink cartridge is oblique with respect to the longitudinal direction of the printer body. FIG. 2 is an explanatory side view illustrating the overall configuration of the printer according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is an explanatory plan view of a main part of the printer according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view illustrating the ink cartridge. FIG. 5 is an explanatory perspective view of the appearance of an ink cartridge as viewed from the opposite direction to FIG. 4. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the ink cartridge. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a printer in which an ink cartridge is arranged so that the longitudinal direction of the ink cartridge is the same as the longitudinal direction of the printer body. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a printer in which an ink cartridge is arranged so that the longitudinal direction of the ink cartridge is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the printer body. (A) View of the ink cartridge and the cartridge holder as viewed from the side, (b) View of the ink cartridge and the cartridge holder as viewed from above, (c) Pay attention to the holder rib and the cartridge rib of the ink cartridge and the cartridge holder. Figure seen. (A) View from the side of mounting the ink cartridge in the cartridge holder, (b) View from the top of mounting the ink cartridge in the cartridge holder, (c) Mounting the ink cartridge in the cartridge holder The figure which looked at paying attention to a holder rib and a cartridge rib. The figure which showed a mode that the main body rib fitted in the clearance gap part of a holder rib and the clearance gap part of a cartridge rib. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a rotation operation of a cartridge holder when an ink cartridge is mounted. The figure which shows the state of an ink cartridge half-inserting with respect to a cartridge holder. (A) Explanatory drawing about the closing operation of the lid when the ink cartridge is mounted at the mounting completion position with respect to the cartridge holder, (b) The state where the ink cartridge is not mounted at the mounting completion position with respect to the cartridge holder Explanatory drawing about the closing operation | movement of a lid | cover. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram when a cartridge rib is provided only on one side of the ink cartridge.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a droplet discharge type printer as an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 2 is an explanatory side view illustrating the overall configuration of the printer according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is an explanatory plan view of a main part of the printer according to the present embodiment.

  The printer according to the present embodiment is an image forming apparatus of a serial type droplet discharge method, and a master-slave guide rod that is a guide member that is horizontally mounted on left and right side plates 21A and 21B in the horizontal width direction that is the longitudinal direction of the printer body 1. 31 and 32 are laid horizontally. The guide rods 31 and 32 hold the carriage 33 so as to be slidable in the main scanning direction, which is a direction orthogonal to the paper transport direction. The main scanning motor moves and scans in the carriage main scanning direction via the timing belt.

  The carriage 33 is provided with recording heads 34a and 34b composed of liquid ejection heads for ejecting ink droplets of yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K) (when not distinguished). "Recording head 34"). The recording head 34 is mounted with a nozzle row composed of a plurality of nozzles arranged in the sub-scanning direction (the same direction as the paper transport direction) orthogonal to the main scanning direction, with the droplet discharge direction facing downward.

  Each recording head 34 has two nozzle rows. One nozzle row of the recording head 34a discharges black (K) droplets, and the other nozzle row discharges cyan (C) droplets. One nozzle row of the recording head 34b discharges magenta (M) droplets, and the other nozzle row discharges yellow (Y) droplets.

  The carriage 33 is mounted with head tanks 35a and 35b (referred to as “head tank 35” when not distinguished) that temporarily store ink to be supplied corresponding to the nozzle rows of the recording head 34. The head tank 35 is supplementarily supplied with ink of each color from the ink cartridges 300y, 300m, 300c, and 300k through the supply tube 36 of each color by the supply pump unit 24. The ink cartridge 300 is detachably attached to the cartridge housing portion 4.

  On the other hand, as a paper feeding unit for feeding the papers 42 stacked on the paper stacking unit (pressure plate) 41 of the paper feeding tray 2, a half-moon roller (feeding) that separates and feeds the papers 42 one by one from the paper stacking unit 41. And a separation pad 44 facing the paper feed roller 43. The separation pad 44 is urged toward the paper feed roller 43 side.

  In order to feed the paper 42 fed from the paper feeding unit to the lower side of the recording head 34, a guide member 45 for guiding the paper 42, a counter roller 46, a transport guide member 47, and a tip pressure roller. And a pressing member 48 having 49. A transport belt 51 is provided as a transport unit for electrostatically attracting the fed paper 42 and transporting the paper 42 at a position facing the recording head 34.

  The transport belt 51 is an endless belt, and is configured to wrap around the transport roller 52 and the tension roller 53 and circulate in the belt transport direction (sub-scanning direction).

  Further, a charging roller 56 that is a charging unit for charging the surface of the transport belt 51 is provided. The charging roller 56 is disposed so as to come into contact with the surface layer of the transport belt 51 and to rotate following the rotation of the transport belt 51. The transport belt 51 rotates in the belt transport direction when the transport roller 52 is rotationally driven through timing by a sub-scanning motor described later.

  Further, as a paper discharge unit for discharging the paper 42 recorded by the recording head 34, a separation claw 61 for separating the paper 42 from the conveying belt 51, a paper discharge roller 62, and a spur 63 that is a paper discharge roller. And a paper discharge tray 3 below the paper discharge roller 62.

  A duplex unit 71 is detachably mounted on the back surface of the printer body 1. The duplex unit 71 takes in the paper 42 returned by the reverse rotation of the transport belt 51, reverses it, and feeds it again between the counter roller 46 and the transport belt 51. The upper surface of the duplex unit 71 is a manual feed tray 72.

  Further, a maintenance / recovery mechanism 81 for maintaining and recovering the nozzle state of the recording head 34 is disposed in the non-printing area on one side of the carriage 33 in the scanning direction.

  The maintenance and recovery mechanism 81 includes caps 82a and 82b for capping each nozzle surface of the recording head 34 (referred to as “cap 82” when not distinguished) and a wiper member (wiper blade) for wiping the nozzle surface. 83). The maintenance / recovery mechanism 81 includes an idle discharge receiver 84 that receives droplets when performing idle discharge for discharging droplets that do not contribute to recording in order to discharge the thickened recording liquid, and a carriage that locks the carriage 33. A lock 87 and the like.

  Further, a waste liquid tank 100 for storing waste liquid generated by the maintenance recovery operation is mounted on the lower side of the head recovery mechanism 81 in a replaceable manner with respect to the printer main body.

  Further, in the non-printing area on the other side of the carriage 33 in the scanning direction, there is an empty space for receiving liquid droplets when performing empty discharge for discharging liquid droplets that do not contribute to recording in order to discharge the recording liquid thickened during recording or the like. A discharge receiver 88 is disposed. The idle discharge receiver 88 includes an opening 89 along the nozzle row direction of the recording head 34.

  In the image forming apparatus configured as described above, the sheets 42 are separated and fed one by one from the sheet feed tray 2, and the sheets 42 fed substantially vertically upward are guided by the guide member 45, It is sandwiched between the counter roller 46 and conveyed. Then, the leading edge of the paper 42 is guided by the conveying guide 37 and pressed against the conveying belt 51 by the leading pressure roller 49, and the conveying direction is changed by approximately 90 °.

  When the paper 42 is fed onto the charged transport belt 51, the paper 42 is attracted to the transport belt 51, and the paper 42 is transported in the sub-scanning direction by the circular movement of the transport belt 51.

  Therefore, by driving the recording head 34 according to the image signal while moving the carriage 33, ink droplets are ejected onto the stopped paper 42 to record one line, and after the paper 42 is conveyed by a predetermined amount, Record the next line. Upon receiving a recording end signal or a signal that the trailing edge of the paper 42 has reached the recording area, the recording operation is finished and the paper 42 is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 3.

  Further, when performing the maintenance recovery of the nozzles of the recording head 34, the carriage 33 is moved to a position facing the maintenance recovery mechanism 81 which is the home position. Then, by performing a maintenance recovery operation such as nozzle suction for performing capping by the cap 82 to perform suction from the nozzles, and idle discharge for discharging liquid droplets that do not contribute to image formation, image formation by stable liquid droplet ejection is performed. be able to.

  Next, details of the ink cartridge 300 will be described. 4 and 5 are external perspective views illustrating the ink cartridge 300 viewed from different directions, and FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the ink cartridge 300.

  The ink cartridge 300 includes an ink bag 330 that is a liquid storage member that stores ink that is liquid supplied to the head tank 35 of the recording head 34, and a cartridge case 310 that is a case member that stores the ink bag 330 therein. doing. The cartridge case 310 includes a case base 311 that is a base member and a case cover 312 that is a cover member that is fitted to the case base 311, and is coupled by snap fit. That is, the case cover 312 is provided with a snap fit portion 321, and the case base 311 is provided with a snap fit portion insertion portion 322 into which the snap fit portion 321 of the case cover 312 is inserted.

  The ink bag 330 has a substantially rectangular bag main body 331 and a lead-out member 332 provided on the bag main body 331. The lead-out member 332 is provided with a supply port 301 for leading the ink in the bag main body 331 to the outside at a substantially central portion (side direction of the ink bag) of the flat plate-like main body 338. Further, the main body 338 is provided with a filling port 337 that is adjacent to the supply port 301 and is used when the bag main body 331 is filled with ink. Furthermore, hole portions 333 and 334 that form holes are provided on the main body portion 338 so as to protrude from both sides in the direction intersecting the ink supply direction (side direction of the ink bag) with the supply port 301 interposed therebetween. Yes. On the other hand, the case base 311 is provided with pin members 335 and 336 that fit into the two holes 333 and 334 of the outlet member 332 of the ink bag 330 as shown in FIG. When the ink bag 330 is stored in the cartridge case 310, the holes 333 and 334 of the outlet member 332 of the ink bag 330 are fitted into the pin members 335 and 336 of the case base 311, respectively, and the ink bag 330 is attached to the case base 311.

  Here, in order to increase the capacity of the ink cartridge 300 for the purpose of cost reduction or the like, there is a configuration in which a cartridge holder 200 for mounting the ink cartridge 300 is provided outside the printer.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a printer in which the ink cartridge 300 is arranged so that the longitudinal direction of the ink cartridge 300 is the same as the lateral direction that is the longitudinal direction of the printer main body 1. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a printer in which the ink cartridge 300 is arranged so that the longitudinal direction of the ink cartridge 300 is orthogonal to the lateral width direction of the printer main body 1.

  As shown in FIG. 7, if the ink cartridge 300 is simply arranged so that the longitudinal direction of the ink cartridge 300 is the same as the lateral width direction of the printer body 1, the size of the entire printer in the lateral width direction is required. It becomes larger than the above, and adaptability to the installation environment becomes worse. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, when the ink cartridge 300 is arranged so that the longitudinal direction of the ink cartridge 300 is orthogonal to the lateral width direction of the printer body 1, the longitudinal direction of the printer body 1 is the longitudinal direction. It becomes difficult to attach and detach the rear ink cartridge 300.

  In FIG. 1, the ink cartridge 300 is accommodated in the cartridge accommodating portion 4 so that the longitudinal direction of the ink cartridge 300 is inclined with respect to the side wall 21 </ b> B forming one side surface in the lateral width direction of the printer body 1 in a plan view when the printer is viewed from above. It is a schematic diagram of a printer. In the printer according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the ink cartridge 300 is placed in the cartridge so that the longitudinal direction of the ink cartridge 300 is inclined with respect to the side plate 21 </ b> B that forms one side surface in the lateral width direction of the printer body 1. Housed in the housing 4. As a result, the ink cartridge 300 occupies in a direction perpendicular to the side surface 21B rather than the case where the ink cartridge 300 is accommodated in the cartridge housing portion 4 so that the longitudinal direction of the ink cartridge 300 is orthogonal to the side plate 21B in plan view. The width can be reduced. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the size of the cartridge housing portion 4 in the orthogonal direction, and the installation space of the entire printer including the printer main body and the cartridge housing portion 4 is unnecessarily large. Can be suppressed.

  Further, the rotation axis 101 is centered with respect to the cartridge housing portion 4 so as to change the size of the angle α formed by the virtual straight line L2 extending in the direction orthogonal to the side plate 21B and the virtual straight line L1 of the ink cartridge 300. The cartridge holder 200 is rotatably provided. When the ink cartridge 300 is attached to the cartridge holder 200, the cartridge holder 200 is rotated in the clockwise direction in the drawing so that the formed angle α is small, thereby reducing the degree of inclination of the cartridge holder 200 with respect to the orthogonal direction. To do. Thereby, the operability when the ink cartridge 300 is attached to and detached from the cartridge holder 200 can be improved. When the ink cartridge 300 is attached to the cartridge holder 200, the cartridge holder 200 is rotated in the clockwise direction in the drawing so that the angle α formed becomes large. Then, the degree of obliqueness of the ink cartridge 300 with respect to the orthogonal direction is increased so that the cartridge holder 200 and the ink cartridge 300 are accommodated in the cartridge accommodating portion 4 in the cartridge accommodating portion 4.

  FIG. 9A is a side view of the ink cartridge 300 and the cartridge holder 200. FIG. 9B is a view of the ink cartridge 300 and the cartridge holder 200 as viewed from above. FIG. 9C is a view of the ink cartridge 300 and the cartridge holder 200 with attention paid to the holder rib 202 and the cartridge rib 302. As shown in FIG. 9, the cartridge holder 200 is provided with a holder rib 202 extending in the ink cartridge attaching / detaching direction. A gap 203 is provided near the center of the holder rib 202 in the ink cartridge attaching / detaching direction. In addition, a pair of cartridge ribs 302a and 302b extending in the ink cartridge attaching / detaching direction and facing each other at an interval so that the holder rib 202 can advance and retreat are provided on the bottom surface of the ink cartridge 300. Clearance portions 303a and 303b are provided near the center of the cartridge ribs 302a and 302b in the ink cartridge attaching / detaching direction. The gap 203 of the holder rib 202 and the gaps 303a and 303b of the cartridge ribs 302a and 302b communicate with each other in a direction orthogonal to the ink cartridge attaching / detaching direction when the ink cartridge 300 is attached to the cartridge holder 200. Yes.

  FIG. 10A is a side view of mounting the ink cartridge 300 on the cartridge holder 200. FIG. FIG. 10B is a top view of the state where the ink cartridge 300 is attached to the cartridge holder 200. FIG. 10C is a view of the state in which the ink cartridge 300 is mounted on the cartridge holder 200, focusing on the holder rib 202 and the cartridge ribs 302a and 302b. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing how the main body rib 102 is fitted into the gap 203 of the holder rib 202 and the gaps 303a and 303b of the cartridge ribs 302a and 302b. FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the rotation operation of the cartridge holder 200 when the ink cartridge is mounted.

  As shown in FIGS. 10, 11, and 12, the cartridge holder 4 is rotated into the cartridge holder 200 to which the ink cartridge 300 is mounted so that the gap 203 and the gaps 303 a and 303 b communicate with each other. A body rib 102 is provided for fitting. The main body rib 102 is a part of the cartridge holder 200 or one part of the ink cartridge 300 as shown in FIG. 13 when the ink cartridge 300 is not inserted in the mounting completion position with respect to the cartridge holder 200. Interfere with the part. Thereby, the rotation of the cartridge holder 200 around the rotation shaft 101 with respect to the cartridge housing portion 4 is restricted. Further, in a state where the rotation of the cartridge holder 200 is restricted by the main body rib 102 in this way, a part of the ink cartridge 300 protrudes from the cartridge housing portion 4.

  FIG. 14A is an explanatory diagram illustrating the closing operation of the lid 110 in a state where the ink cartridge 300 is mounted at the mounting completion position with respect to the cartridge holder 200. FIG. 14B is an explanatory diagram of the closing operation of the lid 110 in a state where the ink cartridge 300 is not mounted in the mounting completion position with respect to the cartridge holder 200. As shown in FIG. 14A, the cartridge housing portion 4 is provided with a lid 110 that can be opened and closed. When the ink cartridge 300 is completely mounted and the cartridge holder 200 is rotated to the position where the main body rib 102 is fitted into the holder rib 202 and the cartridge ribs 302a and 302b, the lid 110 is closed with respect to the cartridge housing portion 4. It is like that.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 14B, when a part of the ink cartridge 300 protrudes from the inside of the cartridge housing portion 4, the portion of the ink cartridge 300 that protrudes outside interferes with the lid 110, and the cartridge is accommodated. The lid 110 is not closed with respect to the portion 4. As a result, the user can easily grasp that the ink cartridge 300 is not completely attached to the cartridge holder 200.

  As shown in FIG. 15, as the cartridge rib provided in the ink cartridge 300, only one of the cartridge rib 302a and the cartridge rib 302b may be provided. Further, one cartridge rib may be provided on the bottom surface of the ink cartridge 300, and a pair of holder ribs (two holder ribs) facing each other with a gap may be provided on the cartridge holder 200 so that the cartridge rib can advance and retreat.

  Regarding the dimensions of the gap 203 of the holder rib 202 and the gaps 303a and 303b of the cartridge ribs 302a and 302b, the dimensions a to d shown in FIG. It is good to meet. Accordingly, the following effects can be obtained in a state where the ink cartridge 300 is half inserted into the cartridge holder 200 (when the supply port 301 is not connected). That is, the main body rib 102 does not fit into the gap 203 and the gaps 303a and 303b, and the mounting of the ink cartridge 300 is not completed, so that ink leakage from the supply port 301 can be suppressed. Note that the dimension a is a distance from one end in the longitudinal direction of the holder rib 202 to the gap 203. The dimension b is a distance from the longitudinal end of the cartridge rib 302 to the gap 303. The dimension c is the nip length of the supply port 301 provided in the ink cartridge 300. The dimension d is the protruding length of the supply needle 201 provided in the cartridge holder 200.

  As described above, in the present exemplary embodiment, the image forming apparatus in which the liquid container storage device such as the cartridge storage unit 4 including the cartridge holder 200 and the ink cartridge 300 is provided outside the printer main body 1 has been described. is not. That is, in the image forming apparatus main body, a liquid container housing device such as the cartridge housing portion 4 provided with the cartridge holder 200 and the ink cartridge 300 is provided adjacent to the one side surface as described above. The effect of can be obtained.

  In the present application, the “image forming apparatus” of the liquid discharge recording method is an apparatus that forms an image by discharging liquid onto a medium such as paper, thread, fiber, fabric, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, ceramics, or the like. Means. In addition, “image formation” not only applies an image having a meaning such as a character or a figure to a medium but also applies an image having no meaning such as a pattern to the medium (simply applying a droplet to the medium). It also means to land on. “Ink” is not limited to ink, but is used as a general term for all liquids capable of image formation, such as recording liquid, fixing processing liquid, and liquid. DNA samples, resists, pattern materials, resins and the like are also included. In addition, the “image” is not limited to a planar one, but includes an image given to a three-dimensionally formed image, and an image formed by three-dimensionally modeling a solid itself.

What was demonstrated above is an example, and there exists an effect peculiar for every following aspect.
(Aspect A)
A plurality of liquid containers such as an ink cartridge 300 for storing a liquid such as ink are accommodated, and a cartridge accommodation provided adjacent to one side surface such as the side plate 21B of the image forming apparatus main body inside or outside the image forming apparatus main body. In the liquid container storage device such as the portion 4, the liquid container is stored so that the longitudinal direction of the liquid container is inclined with respect to the one side surface in a plan view.
In (Aspect A), the liquid container is accommodated so that the longitudinal direction of the liquid container is inclined with respect to the one side surface in a plan view. Therefore, the width occupied by the liquid container in the direction orthogonal to the one side surface can be made smaller than when the liquid container is accommodated so that the longitudinal direction of the liquid container is orthogonal to the one side surface in plan view. Become. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the width of the liquid container housing device in the direction orthogonal to the one side surface, and to save the space of the liquid container housing device in the direction orthogonal to the one side surface.
(Aspect B)
In (Aspect A), a liquid container holding member such as a plurality of cartridge holders 200 for holding each liquid container is provided, and the liquid container holding member extends in a direction orthogonal to the one side surface in a plan view. It can rotate so that the magnitude | size of the angle (alpha) made by the straight line L2 and the virtual straight line L1 extended in the longitudinal direction of the said liquid container may be changed. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, the operability when the liquid container is attached to and detached from the liquid container holding member can be improved.
(Aspect C)
In (Aspect B), a concave first fitting portion such as a gap 303 provided in the liquid container and a concave second fitting such as a gap 203 provided in the liquid container holding member. When the liquid container is mounted at the mounting completion position of the liquid container holding member, a convex portion such as a main body rib 102 that can be fitted to the first fitted portion and the second fitted portion is mounted. And a fitting member having a shape. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, the mounting completion position of the liquid container with respect to the liquid container holding member can be easily grasped.
(Aspect D)
In (Aspect C), when the liquid container is mounted on the liquid container holding member, in a state where the liquid container is not positioned at the mounting completion position, a part of the liquid container or a part of the liquid container holding member And the fitting member are arranged to interfere with each other and the rotation of the liquid container holding member is restricted. According to this, as described in the above-described embodiment, it is possible to prevent the user from finishing the mounting operation of the liquid container while the liquid container is not completely mounted to the liquid container holding member in a half-inserted state. Can do.
(Aspect E)
(Aspect D) includes a cover member such as a lid 110 that can be opened and closed with respect to the liquid container housing device body, and a part of the liquid container or a part of the liquid container holding member and the fitting member. In the state where the rotation of the liquid container holding member is restricted, the cover member does not close. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, the user can easily grasp that the mounting of the liquid container on the liquid container holding member is not completed.
(Aspect F)
In any one of (Aspect C) to (Aspect E), a distance from one end in the longitudinal direction of the liquid container holding member to the second fitted portion is a, and one end in the longitudinal direction of the liquid container is the first cover. The distance to the fitting portion is b, the nip length of the supply port such as the supply port 301 provided in the liquid container is c, and the supply needle such as the supply needle 201 provided in the liquid container holding member protrudes. When the length is d, the relationship of a> b, d> c, and ab <dc is satisfied. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, it is possible to suppress ink leakage from the supply port.
(Aspect G)
An image forming apparatus main body provided with at least a liquid droplet ejection head such as the recording head 34 for ejecting liquid droplets, a liquid container accommodating means for accommodating a liquid container for storing a liquid to be supplied to the liquid droplet ejection head, and the liquid In an image forming apparatus such as a printer provided with a liquid supply means such as a supply tube 36 for supplying the liquid from the container to the liquid droplet ejection head, the liquid container storage means includes (Aspect A) to (Aspect F). Any one of the liquid container accommodation devices described above was used. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, it is possible to prevent the installation space between the image forming apparatus main body and the liquid container housing device from becoming unnecessarily large.
(Aspect H)
In (Aspect G), the liquid container housing device is provided outside the image forming apparatus main body. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, it is easy to increase the capacity of the liquid container.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer main body 2 Paper feed tray 3 Paper discharge tray 4 Cartridge accommodating part 21A Side plate 21B Side plate 24 Supply pump unit 31 Guide rod 32 Guide rod 33 Carriage 34 Recording head 35 Head tank 36 Supply tube 37 Conveyance guide 41 Paper stacking part 42 Paper 43 Feed roller 44 Separation pad 45 Guide member 46 Counter roller 47 Transport guide member 48 Holding member 49 Tip pressure roller 51 Transport belt 52 Transport roller 53 Tension roller 56 Charging roller 61 Separating claw 62 Paper discharge roller 63 Spur 71 Double-sided unit 72 Manual feed Tray 81 Maintenance / recovery mechanism 82 Cap 87 Carriage lock 89 Opening portion 100 Waste liquid tank 101 Rotating shaft 102 Main body rib 110 Cover 200 Cartridge holder 201 Supply needle 202 Holder rib 203 Gap part 300 Ink cartridge 301 Supply port 302 Cartridge rib 302a Cartridge rib 302b Cartridge rib 303 Gap part 303a Gap part 303b Gap part 330 Ink bag 310 Cartridge case 311 Case base 312 Case cover 321 Snap fit part 322 Snap fit part insertion part 331 Bag body 332 Deriving member 333 Hole part 334 Hole part 335 Pin member 336 Pin member 337 Filling port 338 Body part

JP 2013-176892 A

Claims (8)

In a liquid container storage device that accommodates a plurality of liquid containers that store liquid, and is provided adjacent to one side surface of the image forming apparatus main body inside or outside the image forming apparatus main body,
A liquid container storage device that stores the liquid container so that a longitudinal direction of the liquid container is inclined with respect to the one side surface in a plan view. The liquid container storage device according to claim 1,
It has a plurality of liquid container holding members for holding each liquid container,
The liquid container holding member is rotatable so as to change the size of an angle formed by a virtual straight line extending in a direction orthogonal to the one side surface in a plan view and a virtual straight line extending in the longitudinal direction of the liquid container. A liquid container storage device characterized by the above. The liquid container storage device according to claim 2,
A concave-shaped first fitted portion provided in the liquid container;
A recessed second fitting portion provided in the liquid container holding member;
A convex fitting member that can be fitted to the first fitted portion and the second fitted portion when the liquid container is mounted at the mounting completion position of the liquid container holding member; A liquid container storage device characterized by the above. In the liquid container storage device according to claim 3,
When the liquid container is mounted on the liquid container holding member, in a state where the liquid container is not positioned at the mounting completion position, a part of the liquid container or a part of the liquid container holding member and the fitting member The liquid container housing device is characterized in that the fitting member is arranged so that the interference of the liquid container holding member and the rotation of the liquid container holding member are restricted. The liquid container storage device according to claim 4,
It has a cover member that can be opened and closed with respect to the liquid container housing device body,
The cover member does not close in a state where a part of the liquid container or a part of the liquid container holding member interferes with the fitting member and the rotation of the liquid container holding member is restricted. A liquid container storage device. The liquid container storage device according to any one of claims 3 to 5,
The distance from one end in the longitudinal direction of the liquid container holding member to the second fitted part is a, and the distance from one end in the longitudinal direction of the liquid container to the first fitted part is b, and the liquid container When the nip length of the provided supply port is c and the protruding length of the supply needle provided in the liquid container holding member is d, a> b, d> c, ab <dc A liquid container accommodation device characterized by satisfying the relationship. An image forming apparatus main body provided with at least a droplet discharge head for discharging droplets;
Liquid container storage means for storing a liquid container for storing liquid to be supplied to the droplet discharge head;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a liquid supply unit configured to supply the liquid from the liquid container to the droplet discharge head;
An image forming apparatus using the liquid container storage device according to claim 1 as the liquid container storage means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7.
An image forming apparatus comprising the liquid container housing device outside the image forming apparatus main body.

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