JP2017019294A - Liquid jetting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a container for storing a liquid storage body, a liquid supply device, and a liquid jetting device, which enable tubes to be easily routed.SOLUTION: A case includes a container body (20) which stores an ink storage body for storing ink. A first tube support section and second to fourth tube support sections (73-75) are provided on an inner surface of the container body (20), the first to fourth tube support sections guiding connection tubes (37) connected to the ink storage body.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

  The present invention includes, for example, a liquid ejecting apparatus such as an ink jet printer, a liquid supply apparatus that supplies a liquid such as ink to the liquid ejecting apparatus, and a liquid container that is provided in the liquid supply apparatus and contains a liquid such as ink The present invention relates to a container for containing a liquid container.

  Conventionally, as a kind of liquid ejecting apparatus, an ink jet printer that performs printing by ejecting ink from a recording head onto a sheet or the like is known. In such a printer, a configuration is proposed in which an external ink supply device (liquid supply device) is connected in order to continuously and stably supply ink to the printer head when a relatively large amount of printing is performed. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  Such an external ink supply device includes a large-capacity ink pack and an ink supply tube that connects the ink pack and an ink tank attached to a cartridge attachment portion of the printer main body device. The ink in the ink pack is supplied to the ink tank of the printer main body device through the ink supply tube, and then supplied to the printer head.

JP 2009-202346 A

  By the way, in the external ink supply apparatus as described above, there is a problem that it is difficult to route the ink supply tube because the route for routing the ink supply tube is not established.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to such problems existing in the prior art. An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid container housing container, a liquid supply device, and a liquid ejecting device capable of easily drawing a tube.

Hereinafter, means for solving the above-described problems and the effects thereof will be described.
A liquid container housing container that solves the above problem includes a container body that houses a liquid container that houses a liquid, and a guide portion that guides a tube connected to the liquid container on an inner surface of the container body. Is provided.

According to this configuration, since the tube can be guided in the container body by the guide portion, the tube can be easily routed in the container body.
In the liquid container containing container, an insertion portion into which the tube can be inserted is provided on a side wall of the container main body, and the tube that has passed through the guide portion is disposed outside the container main body through the insertion portion. It is preferable to go out.

According to this structure, the tube guided by the guide part can be taken out of the container main body through the insertion part.
In the liquid container container, a plurality of the liquid containers are accommodated in the container body, and a plurality of tubes are inserted into the container body from the insertion portion corresponding to the liquid container. Preferably, a plurality of the guide portions are provided corresponding to the plurality of tubes.

According to this configuration, a plurality of tubes can be guided by the guide portion.
In the liquid container housing container, it is preferable that the lengths of the guide portions are different from each other according to a distance from the liquid container to which the tubes to be guided are connected to the insertion portion.

  According to this structure, it can suppress that each tube is connected to each incorrect liquid container. Further, each tube can be guided by each guide portion without extending each tube more than necessary. Furthermore, exposure of each tube from each guide portion can be shortened.

  In the liquid container housing container, it is preferable that the container body includes an edge member that forms a peripheral portion of an opening for housing the liquid container, and the edge member covers the guide part. .

According to this structure, since the edge member has covered the guide part, it can protect the tube which a guide part guides.
In the liquid container housing container, it is preferable that the edge member is provided with an insertion portion through which the tube on the liquid container side can be inserted.

According to this configuration, the tube can be easily connected to the liquid container by inserting the tube through the insertion portion.
In the liquid container housing container, it is preferable that the edge member includes a support portion that supports the liquid container.

According to this configuration, the liquid container can be supported by the support portion.
In the liquid container housing container, it is preferable that the guide portion is provided with a drop-off suppressing portion for suppressing the tube from dropping from the guide portion.

According to this configuration, it is possible to suppress the tube from dropping from the guide portion by the drop-off suppressing portion.
In the liquid container housing container, it is preferable that an inner surface of the container main body has a supplementary portion that supplements the dropped tube.

According to this configuration, the dropped tube can be supplemented by the supplementing unit.
In the liquid container housing container, it is preferable that the guide portion has a support portion that supports the tube.

According to this configuration, since the tube can be supported by the support portion, it is possible to suppress the tube from hanging down.
In the liquid container housing container, it is preferable that the side wall of the container body is configured by combining a plurality of divided members.

  According to this structure, the side wall of a container main body can be shape | molded easily. Further, it is possible to improve the attachment strength when the liquid container containing container is attached to an image forming apparatus or the like. Furthermore, the work at the time of attaching the side wall of the liquid container housing container to the side wall of the image forming apparatus or the like by screws can be easily performed.

  A liquid supply apparatus that solves the above problems includes the liquid container housing container having the above-described configuration, the liquid container housed in the container body, and the tube connected to the liquid container body.

According to this structure, the liquid of the liquid container accommodated in the container body can be supplied via the tube.
A liquid ejecting apparatus that solves the above problem includes a liquid ejecting head that can eject liquid supplied through the tube of the liquid supply apparatus having the above-described configuration onto a target.

  According to this configuration, the liquid supplied via the tube of the liquid supply device can be ejected from the liquid ejecting head to the target.

1 is a perspective view of an image forming system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state when an auto document feeder is opened in the image forming system. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the inside of the image forming system. The principal part enlarged view of FIG. The perspective view of the container main body in the case of the ink supply apparatus of an image forming system. The side view when the inside of the container body is viewed from the left side. The perspective view when the inside of the main body case of the ink jet printer of the image forming system is viewed from the right side. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a joint portion between the ink supply device and the ink jet printer in the image forming system. The perspective view when the image forming apparatus of the image forming system is viewed from the left side. The perspective view when a container main body is seen from the left side. The principal part expanded sectional view of FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the connection state with the cap and connection tube in an ink introduction needle | hook. The perspective view of FIG. The side view of the ink bag in which the ink derivation | leading-out part was formed. The perspective view of an ink container. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the ink container. FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view when FIG. 16 is viewed from the opposite side. The principal part expanded sectional view of an ink container. FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing an engagement state between a first support member and an ink outlet portion. The principal part expanded sectional view which shows a state when an ink introduction needle | hook is connected to the ink derivation | leading-out part of an ink container. The principal part expanded side view of the ink container. FIG. 3 is a partially broken perspective view showing a state when the inside of the ink supply device is viewed from the front side. The perspective view of the image forming system of the example of a change. The perspective view of the base of the image forming system. The cross-sectional perspective view which shows a state when the base is mounted on the lower surface of the bottom wall forming member of the case. The perspective view of the image forming system of the example of a change. The perspective view of the image forming system of the example of a change. The side view of the ink extraction tube of the example of a change. The side view which shows the state when the ink derivation tube of the example of a change is covered with the cover member. The front schematic diagram of the image forming system of the example of a change.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of an image forming system will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the image forming system 11 includes an ink jet printer 12 as an example of a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects ink (liquid) and a reading device 13 that reads a document G (medium). 14 and an ink supply device 15 as an example of a liquid supply device that supplies ink to the ink jet printer 12. The reading device 13 is disposed on the ink jet printer 12.

  The reading device 13 has a reading surface 13a for reading the document G at the upper end thereof. An auto document feeder 16 is disposed on the reading device 13 so that the reading surface 13a can be opened and closed. The auto document feeder 16 sequentially feeds the plurality of stacked originals G onto the reading surface 13a while inverting the sheets one by one.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ink supply device 15 is disposed on the left side of the ink jet printer 12. That is, the ink supply device 15 is arranged on the left side of the ink jet printer 12 (image forming device 14) so as to be aligned with the ink jet printer 12 in the left-right direction.

  The ink supply device 15 includes a plurality (four in this embodiment) of substantially rectangular ink containers 17 as an example of liquid containers that contain ink, and liquid containers that contain the ink containers 17. And a case 18 as an example of a container. The case 18 has a bottomed rectangular box-shaped container body 20 having an opening 19 for accommodating each ink container 17 at the upper end and a long bottomed rectangular box, and a lid 21 that covers the opening 19 so as to be freely opened and closed. I have. Both the container body 20 and the lid body 21 are made of a synthetic resin material.

  In the container body 20, four ink containers 17 are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction. The four ink containers 17 contain cyan ink, magenta ink, yellow ink, and black ink in order from the rear side to the front side. In this case, the ink container 17 of the black ink that is frequently used is arranged on the foremost side in the container body 20.

  The case 18 is detachably attached to the left side surface of the ink jet printer 12 (image forming apparatus 14) so that the upper surface of the case 18 is flush with the reading surface 13a when the lid 21 is closed. ing. Here, in this specification, “the heights are uniform” includes not only the same height but also the case where the height difference is within 2 centimeter mail. In the present embodiment, the height of the case 18 is 5 millimeters lower than the height of the reading surface 13a.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the ink jet printer 12 includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped main body case 25 that is long in the left-right direction. A support base 26 that supports a sheet P as an example of a target to be described later is provided at the center of the main body case 25. A carriage 27 that can reciprocate in the left-right direction, which is the main scanning direction, is provided above the support base 26.

  A recording head 28 as an example of a liquid ejecting head is supported in the carriage 27 so as to be exposed from the lower surface of the carriage 27. The recording head 28 faces the support base 26. The recording head 28 ejects ink from a plurality of nozzles (not shown) onto the paper P conveyed from the rear side to the front side on the support base 26 while the carriage 27 moves in the left-right direction. The paper P is printed.

  A paper cassette 29 capable of storing a plurality of sheets P in a stacked state is provided below the support base 26 in the main body case 25 from the opening 30 provided at the lower center of the front surface of the main body case 25. It is detachably attached to. The paper P in the paper cassette 29 is fed from the rear side onto the support table 26 while being reversed one by one by a paper feeding mechanism (not shown).

  Then, the paper P printed on the support base 26 is sequentially discharged from a paper discharge port 31 constituted by an area above the paper cassette 29 in the opening 30. A paper discharge tray 32 that sequentially supports the paper P sequentially discharged from the paper discharge port 31 is provided on the upper side of the paper cassette 29 so as to be extendable in the front-rear direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the left end of the main body case 25 has a holder case 34 having a rectangular box shape with an opening on the front side, and left and right sides provided on the bottom wall (rear wall) in the holder case 34. A plurality of (four in this embodiment) hollow ink supply needles 35 arranged in the direction are provided.

  Each ink supply needle 35 extends in the front-rear direction and penetrates the side wall of the holder case 34. One end side of a flexible ink supply tube 36 is connected to the rear end portion of each ink supply needle 35, and the other end side of the ink supply tube 36 is connected to the recording head 28. In the ink jet printer 12 of this embodiment, these four ink supply needles 35 are configured to be supplied with cyan ink, magenta ink, yellow ink, and black ink in order from the left to the right.

  When the ink color is used as a reference, the arrangement order of the ink supply needles 35 from the left side to the right side in the holder case 34 is the arrangement order of the ink containers 17 from the rear side to the front side in the container body 20. Is the same. Further, each ink container 17 and each ink supply needle 35 are connected flexibly as an example of a flow path member that constitutes a part of the ink supply device 15 so that the ink of each color supplied corresponds. Connected by a tube 37.

  Accordingly, each ink supplied from each ink container 17 of the ink supply device 15 to each ink supply needle 35 via each connection tube 37 is supplied to the recording head 28 via each ink supply tube 36.

Next, the configuration of the case 18 will be described in detail.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lid 21 of the case 18 has a covered rectangular box shape that has an opening 40 on the container body 20 side and is long in the front-rear direction and shallower than the container body 20. The lid body 21 is connected to an upper end portion on the rear surface of the container body 20 via a hinge portion 41. Therefore, when the lid 21 is opened and closed, the lid 21 rotates about the hinge portion 41 as a fulcrum. That is, the lid 21 is opened from the front side of the container body 20 and is closed on the front side of the container body 20. Note that the opening 21 of the lid 21 is aligned with the opening 19 when the opening 19 of the container body 20 is closed.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the bottomed rectangular box-shaped container body 20 includes a right side wall 45 that is a wall facing the inkjet printer 12, a left side wall 46 that faces the right side wall 45, and a right side wall 45. The rear side wall 47 and the front side wall 48 orthogonal to the left side wall 46, and the right side wall 45, the left side wall 46, the rear side wall 47 and the bottom wall 49 orthogonal to the front side wall 48 are provided.

  An opening 19 is provided on the side facing the bottom wall 49. In other words, the opening 19 is opposed to the bottom wall 49 and is formed above the bottom wall 49 in the direction of gravity. In the present embodiment, the right side wall 45, the left side wall 46, the rear side wall 47, and the front side wall 48 constitute a first side wall, a second side wall, a third side wall, and a fourth side wall, respectively. Further, the distance between the right side wall 45 and the left side wall 46 in the container body 20 is shorter than the width of the upper end side (one end side) of the ink container 17.

  The container body 20 includes a bottomed rectangular box-shaped bottom wall forming member 50 that forms the bottom wall 49, a plate-like right wall forming member 51 that forms the right half of the side wall and is curved in a substantially U shape, A plate-like left side wall forming member 52 that forms the left half of the opening 19 and is curved in a substantially U shape, and a hollow, rectangular frame-shaped edge member 53 that is open at the lower side that forms the peripheral edge of the opening 19. ing.

  And the container main body 20 is comprised by combining the right side wall formation member 51 as an example of a division member, and the left side wall formation member 52 as an example of a division member. That is, the side wall of the container body 20 is configured by combining the right side wall forming member 51 and the left side wall forming member 52 which are two divided members divided into left and right.

  The vertical width of the left side wall forming member 52 is slightly wider than the vertical width of the right side wall forming member 51. Accordingly, a step 54 is formed at a position corresponding to a contact portion between the left wall forming member 52 and the right wall forming member 51 at the lower end portion of the edge member 53 and the upper end portion of the bottom wall forming member 50.

  The left wall forming member 52 is made of a transparent synthetic resin material. Accordingly, each ink container 17 accommodated inside the container body 20 is visible from the outside of the container body 20 through the left side wall forming member 52. In the present embodiment, the visual recognition part is configured by the left side wall forming member 52.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, a right protruding portion 55 that protrudes inward (left side) is formed on the right inner surface of the edge member 53 in accordance with the number of ink containers 17. In the present embodiment, the ink has four colors, and the right protrusion 55 is not required in the ink container 17 arranged on the rearmost side, so that three right protrusions 55 are formed. become. Each right protrusion part 55 is arrange | positioned so that it may become equal intervals in the front-back direction. Each right projecting portion 55 has a substantially covered triangular box shape whose lower side is opened together with the shape of each tongue piece portion 70 to 72 described later. In this case, each right protruding portion 55 has a substantially triangular shape when viewed from above, and the two sides of the protruding triangle are shorter on the rear side than on the front side.

  On the upper surface of the edge member 53, a right concave portion 56 as an example of a support portion for supporting the ink container 17 by a support member 92 described later is provided at a position overlapping the front side of each right protruding portion 55 and a right rear corner portion. Is formed. These four right concave portions 56 are arranged at equal intervals in the front-rear direction and have a shape that matches the shape of a part of the support member 92. A notch recess 56 a is formed at the center of the bottom surface of each right recess 56.

  In addition, a notch portion 57 as an example of an insertion portion extending upward from the lower end is formed in the vicinity of the right front corner portion of the rear surface of each right protrusion 55 and the right inner surface of the edge member 53. . A connection tube 37 on each ink container 17 side can be inserted through each of the four cutouts 57. In addition, each notch part 57 is arrange | positioned at equal intervals in the front-back direction.

  On the left inner surface of the edge member 53, a left protruding portion 58 protruding inward (right side) is formed according to the number of ink containers 17. In the present embodiment, the ink has four colors, and the left protrusion 58 is not necessary for the ink container 17 disposed on the foremost side. Therefore, three left protrusions 58 are formed. Become. Each left protrusion 58 is arranged at a position slightly shifted to the front side of each right protrusion 55 in the front-rear direction. The left protrusions 58 are arranged at equal intervals in the front-rear direction. Each left protrusion 58 has a substantially covered triangular box shape with an opening on the lower side. In this case, each left protruding portion 58 has a substantially triangular shape when viewed from above, and the two sides of the protruding triangle are longer on the rear side than on the front side.

  A left concave portion 59 as an example of a support portion for supporting the ink containing body 17 by a support member 92 described later is provided at a position overlapping the rear side of each left protruding portion 58 on the upper surface of the edge member 53 and a left front corner portion. Is formed. These four left concave portions 59 are arranged at equal intervals in the front-rear direction and have a shape that matches the shape of a part of the support member 92. A notch recess 59 a is formed at the center of the bottom surface of each left recess 59. And each left recessed part 59 has opposed each right recessed part 56 in the direction which cross | intersects at an angle of less than 90 degree | times (this embodiment 30 degree | times) with respect to the left-right direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a container-side insertion hole 61 as an example of an insertion portion into which each connection tube 37 can be inserted is formed at the front position of the upper end portion of the inner side surface of the right side wall forming member 51. Has been. The right side wall forming member 51 is attached to the left side wall 25a of the main body case 25 from the inside of the container main body 20 by a plurality of (six in this embodiment) screws 62.

  In this case, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the right side wall forming member 51 is joined together with the left side wall 25a and the two rectangular sheet metal members 63 that are arranged inside the left side wall 25a at intervals in the front-rear direction. Are attached to the left side wall 25a of the main body case 25 by fastening them together with six screws 62.

  As shown in FIG. 9, a body case side insertion hole 64 through which each connection tube 37 is inserted is formed at a position corresponding to the container side insertion hole 61 in the left side wall 25 a of the body case 25. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, each connection tube 37 whose downstream end is connected to each ink supply needle 35 is inserted into the main body case side insertion hole 64 and the container side insertion hole 61. The upstream end side is disposed in the container body 20.

  As shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the position from the lower side to the front side of the container side insertion hole 61 on the inner side surface of the right side wall forming member 51 is, among the connection tubes 37 inserted through the container side insertion hole 61. An L-shaped first tube support portion 65 that supports one corresponding to the black ink is provided adjacent to the container-side insertion hole 61. In addition, on the rear side of the container side insertion hole 61 at the upper end portion of the inner side surface of the right side wall forming member 51, four plate-like ribs extending parallel to each other in the front-rear direction are leftward at equal intervals in the vertical direction. Projected horizontally.

  These four ribs have their front ends aligned with each other, and are formed as a first rib 66, a second rib 67, a third rib 68, and a fourth rib 69 in order from the bottom to the top. The length of the first rib 66 is shorter than the length of the second rib 67 in the front-rear direction, and the length of the second rib 67 is shorter than the length of the third rib 68 in the front-rear direction. In addition, the length of the third rib 68 and the length of the fourth rib 69 are the same in the front-rear direction.

  As an example of a plate-like support portion that protrudes horizontally toward the inner side (left side) of the ribs 66 to 68 at the rear ends of the first rib 66, the second rib 67, and the third rib 68. The first tongue piece portion 70, the second tongue piece portion 71, and the third tongue piece portion 72 are integrally provided. The first to third tongue pieces 70 to 72 prevent the connection tubes 37 from hanging down by supporting the end portions of the connection tubes 37 on the ink container 17 side. Each tongue piece part 70-72 is arrange | positioned so that it may mutually become equal intervals in the front-back direction, and the width | variety of the left-right direction is widened toward the back. In this case, each tongue piece part 70-72 is arrange | positioned so as to correspond with each right protrusion part 55 (refer FIG. 5) of the edge member 53. As shown in FIG. In addition, each tongue piece part 70-72 is covered by each right protrusion part 55 mentioned above.

  A groove formed between the first rib 66 and the second rib 67 serves as a second tube support portion 73 that supports one of the connection tubes 37 corresponding to yellow ink. A groove formed between the second rib 67 and the third rib 68 serves as a third tube support portion 74 that supports one of the connection tubes 37 corresponding to magenta ink. A groove formed between the third rib 68 and the fourth rib 69 serves as a fourth tube support portion 75 that supports one of the connection tubes 37 corresponding to cyan ink.

  Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 3, 10, and 11, the first to fourth tube support portions 65, 73 to 75 are provided in the container side insertion holes 61 and the respective ink storage bodies 17 stored in the container main body 20. Each connecting tube 37 is guided between the two. That is, the connection tube 37 that has passed through the first to fourth tube support portions 65 and 73 to 75 goes out of the container body 20 through the container side insertion hole 61. In the present embodiment, the first to fourth tube support portions 65 and 73 to 75 constitute a guide portion.

  The lengths of the first to fourth tube support portions 65 and 73 to 75 are different from each other according to the distance from the ink container 17 to which the connecting tube 37 to be guided is connected to the container side insertion hole 61. . That is, the length of each of the first to fourth tube support portions 65, 73 to 75 is the longest in the fourth tube support portion 75, the next is the third tube support portion 74, and is then the second tube support. The part 73 is long, and the first tube support part 65 is the shortest.

  A part of the third tube support portion 74 in the length direction is configured to prevent the connection tube 37 drawn and supported in the third tube support portion 74 from dropping from the third tube support portion 74. A pair of upper and lower protrusions 76 are provided as an example of the drop-off suppressing portion.

  Further, a part of the fourth tube support portion 75 in the length direction suppresses the connection tube 37 drawn and supported in the fourth tube support portion 75 from dropping from the fourth tube support portion 75. For this purpose, a pair of upper and lower protrusions 76 are provided. Each pair of protrusions 76 bites into the connection tube 37 routed around the third tube support portion 74 and the fourth tube support portion 75 slightly. Each protrusion 76 is formed to have a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape with the same width in the inner direction (left and right direction) as the ribs 66 to 69.

  Supplement is made so that the first to fourth ribs 66 to 69 are sandwiched in the vertical direction between the first tongue piece portion 70 and the container side insertion hole 61 in the front-rear direction of the upper end portion of the inner side surface of the right side wall forming member 51. A pair of through-holes 77 as an example of the part are formed. Between the 1st tongue piece part 70 and the 2nd tongue piece part 71 in the front-back direction of the upper end part of the inner surface of the right side wall formation member 51, the 2nd-4th ribs 67-69 are pinched | interposed in an up-down direction. A pair of through holes 77 are formed.

  Between the second tongue piece portion 71 and the third tongue piece portion 72 in the front-rear direction of the upper end portion of the inner side surface of the right wall forming member 51, the third rib 68 and the fourth rib 69 are sandwiched in the vertical direction. A pair of through holes 77 are formed. And in the state which led the connection tube 37 in the 2nd-4th tube support parts 73-75, respectively, the end part of the said wire 78 is made into an annular shape through the wire 78 to each pair of through-holes 77, and the ends of the said wire 78 are connected. The connection tubes 37 are securely held in the second to fourth tube support portions 73 to 75, respectively. Therefore, each pair of through-holes 77 supplements when the connection tube 37 that falls from the second to fourth tube support portions 73 to 75 is held by the wire 78.

  As shown in FIGS. 5, 10, and 11, the first to fourth ribs 66 to 69 (second to fourth tube support portions 73 to 75), the first to third tongue pieces 70 to 72, the first The 1 tube support part 65 and the container side insertion hole 61 are covered with an edge member 53. The connection tubes 37 respectively supported by the first to fourth tube support portions 65 and 73 to 75 are inserted through the four cutout portions 57, respectively. And the upstream end part of each connection tube 37 will be in the state arrange | positioned in the container main body 20 from each notch part 57. FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the upstream end side of each connection tube 37 is connected to a base end portion 80b of a hollow ink introduction needle 80 as an example of a liquid introduction portion having an introduction hole 80a at the distal end portion. ing. That is, the base end portion 80 b of each ink introduction needle 80 is inserted into the upstream end portion of each connection tube 37. A portion of each connection tube 37 in which the proximal end portion 80 b of the ink introduction needle 80 is inserted is tightened by a torsion spring 81 so as to prevent the ink introduction needle 80 from coming off from each connection tube 37.

  At a position slightly downstream of the torsion spring 81 in each connection tube 37, a mode in which each connection tube 37 is crushed to restrict the flow of ink in each connection tube 37 and each connection tube 37 is not crushed. An ink flow adjusting member 82 that can be switched between modes allowing the ink flow in each connection tube 37 is attached.

  Further, the ink introduction needle 80 has a circular flange portion 83 in the middle portion thereof. A cylindrical needle positioning portion 84 having a slightly smaller diameter than the flange portion 83 is provided on the surface of the flange portion 83 on the introduction hole 80a side. A plurality of (four in this embodiment) positioning projections 84 a are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the needle positioning portion 84 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

  The distal ends of the positioning protrusions 84 a are located inside the peripheral edge of the flange portion 83. An annular ring groove 86 into which the E-ring 85 can be attached is formed at a position slightly proximal to the flange portion 83 on the outer peripheral surface of the ink introduction needle 80.

  The ink introduction needle 80 is attached with a cap 87 in the shape of a covered circular box having an opening on one side so as to accommodate a portion from the flange portion 83 to the tip of the ink introduction needle 80. That is, a cap insertion hole 88 through which the proximal end side of the flange portion 83 of the ink introduction needle 80 can be inserted from the inside of the cap 87 is formed at the center of the bottom wall of the cap 87, and a screw is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cap 87. A groove 89 is formed.

  Then, the E ring 85 is attached to the ring groove 86 of the ink introduction needle 80 in a state where the proximal end side of the flange portion 83 of the ink introduction needle 80 is inserted into the cap insertion hole 88 of the cap 87 from the inside of the cap 87. The cap 87 is attached to the ink introduction needle 80. At this time, since the bottom wall of the cap 87 is sandwiched between the flange portion 83 and the E ring 85 with some play, rattling between the ink introduction needle 80 and the cap 87 is suppressed. Further, at this time, the tip of the ink introduction needle 80 is set in the cap 87.

Next, the configuration of the ink container will be described in detail.
As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, each ink container 17 communicates with an ink bag 90 as an example of a liquid container that stores ink, and communicates with the inside of the ink bag 90 at the upper end of the ink bag 90. And an ink lead-out part 91 as an example of the formed liquid lead-out part. The ink outlet 91 is located above the ink bag 90 in the direction of gravity. Further, on the upper end side (one end side) of the ink bag 90 where the ink lead-out portion 91 is formed, a support member (hanger member) 92 constituting a liquid container support portion supported by the container body 20 (see FIG. 5). Is attached. That is, the ink bag 90 is engaged with the support member 92.

  The ink bag 90 is formed by welding the peripheral edges of the two flexible films while sandwiching the cylindrical ink lead-out portion 91 between the peripheral edges of the two rectangular flexible films 90a. That is, the ink bag 90 is a bag body constituted by the flexible film 90a that becomes two opposing flexible walls, and the two flexible films 90a that face each other due to the consumption of the ink contained therein. It is formed to be close to each other. In the present embodiment, the flexible portion is constituted by the two flexible films 90 a constituting the ink bag 90.

  In addition, the ink outlet 91 is disposed at the center in the width direction at the upper end of the ink bag 90. The ink outlet 91 has an upper end exposed from the ink bag 90 and a lower end disposed in the ink bag 90. A lead-out flange portion 93 having a substantially square shape with rounded corner portions is provided slightly below the upper end portion of the portion of the ink lead-out portion 91 exposed from the ink bag 90.

  Flange recesses 93a are formed in pairs on both side edges of the lead-out flange 93 that face each other in the thickness direction of the ink bag 90. Ink bag through-holes 94 are formed at both ends in the width direction of the welded portion where the ink at the upper end of the ink bag 90 is not accommodated.

  As shown in FIGS. 14 and 18, the ink outlet 91 includes an annular packing 95 that forms an ink outlet 95 a for discharging ink, and a packing 95 that closes the ink outlet 95 a from the inside. And a coil spring 97 that urges the valve body 96 toward the packing 95 from the inside. An ink outlet tube 99 as an example of a channel forming member that forms a channel 99a through a flexible connecting channel member 98 having a cylindrical shape at the lower end of the ink outlet 91 in the ink bag 90. The upper end side (one end side) is connected. The connection flow path member 98 is made of, for example, an elastomer.

  The lower end side (the other end side) of the ink outlet tube 99 extends to the lower part in the ink bag 90. That is, the lower end side of the ink lead-out tube 99 extends to the opposite side of the ink bag 90 from the side where the ink lead-out portion 91 is formed. Therefore, the flow path 99 a in the ink outlet tube 99 extends to the lower part in the gravity direction in the ink bag 90.

  In this case, the length of the ink lead-out tube 99 is set such that the lower end of the ink lead-out tube 99 does not contact the lower end in the ink bag 90 filled with ink. The ink lead-out tube 99 is made of a material having a specific gravity larger than that of the ink filled in the ink bag 90. In the present embodiment, the ink lead-out tube 99 is made of a fluororesin that is resistant to ink.

  Examples of the fluororesin include PFA (tetrafluoroethylene / perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer, specific gravity: 2.12 to 2.17), PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene (tetrafluoride), specific gravity: 2.14 to 2). .20), FEP (tetrafluoroethylene / hexafluoropropylene copolymer (4.6 fluoride), specific gravity: 2.12 to 2.17), ETFE (tetrafluoroethylene / ethylene copolymer, specific gravity: 1. 70 to 1.76), PCTFE (polychlorotrifluoroethylene (trifluoride), specific gravity: 2.10 to 2.20), PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride (difluoride), specific gravity: 1.75 to 1 .78) and the like.

  When the ink is a water-based ink, the specific gravity is approximately 1. Therefore, if the ink lead-out tube 99 is made of the above-described material, the ink bag 90 can be prevented from being lifted up in the ink. For this reason, since the ink at the bottom in the ink bag 90 is also smoothly derived, the ink remaining in the ink bag 90 is reduced.

  In addition, a communication hole 100 that communicates the inside of the ink lead-out portion 91 and the inside of the ink bag 90 is formed in a portion of the ink lead-out portion 91 that extends into the ink bag 90. An inclined portion 101 as an example of a guide portion that is inclined so as to rise toward the communication hole 100 is formed at both ends in the width direction at the upper end portion inside the ink bag 90.

  The hole diameter of the communication hole 100 is formed smaller than the diameter of the ink inlet at the lower end of the ink outlet tube 99 (the side opposite to the ink outlet portion 91 side). When the ink is a pigment ink, the pigment settles at the bottom of the ink bag 90, and there arises a problem that a difference in density occurs between the ink supplied earlier and the ink supplied later. Ink having a low density is introduced from the communication hole 100, and the lower density ink is introduced from the ink outlet tube 99, so that the dark ink and the light ink are mixed, so that the ink having an appropriate density is supplied to the ink outlet 91. Has the effect of being sent to.

  As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the support member 92 of each ink container 17 is attached to the upper end portion of the ink bag 90 so that the upper end portion is sandwiched between the first support member 105 and the second support member. 106 is provided. The first support member 105 has a substantially rectangular top plate portion 107 extending along the width direction of the ink bag 90, and extends in the longitudinal direction at the center in the short direction on the lower surface of the top plate portion 107. And a side plate portion 108 provided vertically and integrally.

  As shown in FIGS. 16 and 20, both end portions of the top plate portion 107 of the first support member 105 have a substantially arc shape, and the ink lead-out portion 91 is inserted in the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the top plate portion 107. The cylindrical lead-out portion insertion portion 109 is formed so as to penetrate therethrough. A thread 110 that can be screwed into the thread groove 89 of the cap 87 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the lead-out portion insertion portion 109. Therefore, the cap 87 can be screwed to the lead-out portion insertion portion 109.

  The outer diameter of the lead-out part insertion part 109 is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the flange part 83 of the ink introduction needle 80. The inner diameter of the outlet insertion portion 109 is larger than the outer diameter of the needle positioning portion 84 of the ink introduction needle 80. The inner diameter of the needle positioning portion 84 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the upper end portion of the ink outlet portion 91.

  As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, a semicircular arc surface 111 along a part of the lead-out insertion portion 109 is formed in a portion corresponding to the lead-out insertion portion 109 in the side plate portion 108 of the first support member 105. Yes. An insertion hole 112 into which the outlet flange portion 93 of the ink outlet portion 91 can be inserted is provided at the end of the outlet portion insertion portion 109 on the semicircular arc surface 111 side. The insertion hole 112 has a substantially square shape with rounded corner portions so as to correspond to the lead-out flange portion 93.

  A convex strip 113 extending in the vertical direction is formed at a portion from the center of the semicircular arc surface 111 to the insertion hole 112. A step 114 is formed at the upper end of the insertion hole 112 to engage with the outlet flange 93 of the ink outlet 91 in the vertical direction. When the ink lead-out portion 91 is inserted into the lead-out portion insertion portion 109, the lead-out flange portion 93 is inserted into the insertion hole 112, and the flange concave portion 93 a of the lead-out flange portion 93 is fitted with the ridge 113. By doing so, the ink lead-out portion 91 is positioned.

  As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, positioning holes 120 are formed on both sides of the semicircular arc surface 111 in the side plate portion 108 of the first support member 105. Furthermore, screw holes 121 are formed on both sides of the side plate portion 108 with both positioning holes 120 interposed therebetween. On the lower surfaces of both ends of the top plate portion 107 of the first support member 105, plate-like projecting piece portions 122 formed integrally with the side plate portion 108 are provided. In addition, columnar convex portions 123 that are inserted into the both ink bag through holes 94 of the ink bag 90 are respectively provided at both end portions of the side plate portion 108 on the surface on the semicircular arc surface 111 side.

  The second support member 106 has a substantially L-shaped plate shape, extends along the width direction of the ink bag 90, and is a rectangular plate-shaped horizontal portion 124 that faces the lower surface of the top plate portion 107 of the first support member 105. And a rectangular plate-shaped vertical portion 125 facing the side plate portion 108 of the first support member 105.

  A portion of the second support member 106 corresponding to the semicircular arc surface 111 of the side plate portion 108 of the first support member 105 is located immediately below the outlet flange portion 93 of the ink outlet portion 91 (an ink bag in the ink outlet portion 91). A support concave portion 126 into which the portion of the ink bag 90 with respect to the lead-out flange portion 93 in the portion exposed from 90 is inserted is provided. The width of the support recess 126 is narrower than the width of the outlet flange portion 93 of the ink outlet portion 91.

  Positioning protrusions 127 to be inserted into the positioning holes 120 are respectively provided at positions corresponding to the positioning holes 120 of the first supporting member 105 in the vertical portion 125 of the second supporting member 106. Screw insertion holes 129 through which the screws 128 respectively inserted into the screw holes 121 are formed at positions corresponding to the screw holes 121 of the first support member 105 in the vertical portion 125 of the second support member 106, respectively. Has been.

  An engagement notch recess 130 that engages with the both protrusions 123 inserted into the two ink bag through holes 94 is located at a position corresponding to the both protrusions 123 of the first support member 105 in the vertical portion 125 of the second support member 106. Is formed.

Next, an operation when the support member 92 is attached to the ink bag 90 to which the ink outlet 91 is fixed will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, when the support member 92 is attached to the ink bag 90 to which the ink lead-out portion 91 is fixed, first, the ink lead-out portion 91 is placed in the support concave portion 126 of the second support member 106. insert. Subsequently, both convex portions 123 of the first support member 105 are inserted into both ink bag through holes 94 of the ink bag 90, respectively. Subsequently, the positioning protrusions 127 of the second support member 106 are inserted into the positioning holes 120 of the first support member 105, respectively. As a result, the first support member 105 and the second support member 106 are positioned.

  Subsequently, both screws 128 are respectively inserted into both screw insertion holes 129 of the second support member 106 and then screwed into both screw holes 121 of the first support member 105. As a result, the support member 92 is attached to the ink bag 90 to which the ink outlet 91 is fixed. At this time, the support member 92 engages with the outlet flange portion 93 of the ink outlet portion 91 in the vertical direction and with the ink bag through holes 94 on both sides of the ink bag 90 with the ink outlet portion 91 interposed therebetween. That is, the support member 92 supports the ink lead-out portion 91 and also supports the ink bag 90 on both sides of the ink bag 90 with the ink lead-out portion 91 interposed therebetween.

  Further, at this time, as shown in FIG. 21, the upper end portion of the ink bag 90 is disposed in a gap formed between the side plate portion 108 of the first support member 105 and the vertical portion 125 of the second support member 106. . For this reason, the side plate portion 108 and the vertical portion 125 do not hinder the deformation even when the ink bag 90 is deformed as the ink inside is consumed.

Next, the operation when setting each ink container 17 filled with ink in the case 18 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 22, when setting each ink container 17 in the case 18, first, after opening the lid 21, the ink container 17 is inserted through the opening 19 of the container body 20. And accommodated in the container body 20. At this time, both end portions of the first support member 105 of each ink container 17 are supported by the right concave portion 56 and the left concave portion 59 which face each other in a direction obliquely intersecting with the left-right direction at an angle of 30 degrees.

  Then, both projecting piece portions 122 (see FIG. 16) of the first support member 105 are inserted into the notch recess 56a (see FIG. 5) and the notch recess 59a (see FIG. 5), respectively. Thus, the ink containers 17 are accommodated in the container body 20 side by side in the front-rear direction while being detachably supported so as to obliquely intersect at an angle of 30 degrees with respect to the left-right direction. In this case, each ink container 17 is suspended from the right concave portion 56 and the left concave portion 59 of the container main body 20 on the support member 92 located on the upper end side (one end side).

  For this reason, each ink container 17 is in a state of floating from the inner bottom surface of the container body 20. In a state where each ink container 17 is suspended from the container body 20, the support member 92 supports the lead-out flange portion 93 of the ink lead-out portion 91 (see FIG. 16), and the ink bag 90 is connected to the ink lead-out portion. It is supported in the ink bag through-holes 94 on both sides sandwiching 91.

  Each ink container 17 has its lower end lowered (indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 22) as the thickness of the ink container 17 decreases as the ink in the ink bag 90 is consumed. Even when the ink in 90 becomes empty, the state of floating from the inner bottom surface of the container body 20 is maintained.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIGS. 12, 18, and 20, the ink introduction needle 80 is connected to the ink outlet portion 91 of each ink container 17 housed in the container body 20 as described above. That is, when the ink introduction needle 80 is connected to the ink lead-out portion 91, the cap 87 attached to the ink introduction needle 80 to which the upstream end side of each connection tube 37 is connected is connected to the lead-out portion of each ink container 17. Cover the insertion portion 109.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 20, the cap 87 is rotated to threadably engage the thread groove 89 of the cap 87 with the thread 110 of the lead-out portion insertion portion 109. Along with this screwing, the ink introduction needle 80 is inserted into the ink outlet 91 from the ink outlet 95a. When the cap 87 is further rotated and the cap 87 is completely screwed to the lead-out portion insertion portion 109, the ink introduction needle 80 resists the urging force of the coil spring 97 to remove the valve body 96 from the packing 95. Press down to separate.

  Then, the valve body 96 is moved to the valve opening position separated from the packing 95, so that the inside of the ink bag 90 and the inside of the ink introduction needle 80 are communicated. Therefore, the inside of the ink bag 90 communicates with the inside of the connection tube 37 through the inside of the ink outlet portion 91 and the inside of the ink introduction needle 80. At this time, the needle positioning portion 84 of the ink introduction needle 80 is inserted inside the lead-out portion insertion portion 109, and each positioning projection 84a appropriately abuts against the inner peripheral surface of the lead-out portion insertion portion 109, whereby the ink introduction needle. The position 80 is positioned at the center position of the ink outlet 91.

  As shown in FIG. 3, after the cap 87 is screwed to the lead-out portion insertion portion 109, the setting work of each ink container 17 to the case 18 is completed by closing the lid 21. When each ink container 17 is set in the case 18, the ink in each ink container 17 is supplied from each connection tube 37 to the recording head 28 via each ink supply needle 35 and ink supply tube 36. Each ink supplied to the recording head 28 is ejected onto the paper P from each nozzle (not shown) of the recording head 28 to perform printing.

  When the ink in each ink container 17 is consumed by printing on the paper P, the ink bag 90 of each ink container 17 gradually shrinks as the ink is consumed. At this time, since the left side wall forming member 52 constituting the container body 20 of the case 18 is transparent, each ink container 17 in the case 18 from outside the case 18 through the left side wall forming member 52 without opening the lid 21. The degree of deflation (displacement state) of the ink bag 90 can be visually confirmed.

  In this case, in particular, the left side wall forming member 52 occupies most of the left half of the front side surface and the rear side surface of the container body 20 as well as most of the left side surface of the container body 20. In addition, the ink containers 17 are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction in the case 18 so as to be parallel to each other in an inclined state so that the left side is positioned in front of the right side.

  Accordingly, the deflation of the ink bags 90 of all the ink containers 17 in the case 18 can be visually recognized from the front side of the case 18 from the outside of the case 18. For this reason, it is possible to recognize the replacement time of each ink container from the deflation of the ink bag 90 of each ink container 17.

  Further, the lower end of the ink outlet tube 99 in the ink bag 90 of each ink container 17 extends to the lower part in the gravity direction in the ink bag 90. Therefore, the ink in the ink bag 90 is sucked up and consumed from the lower end portion in the ink bag 90 via the ink lead-out tube 99.

  In this case, the ink lead-out tube 99 is made of a material having a specific gravity greater than that of the ink in the ink bag 90 and therefore does not float in the ink bag 90. For this reason, the position of the lower end of the ink lead-out tube 99 is always maintained at the lower part in the direction of gravity in the ink bag 90, so that residual ink in the used ink bag 90 can be reduced.

  Further, when replacing the ink container 17 that has run out of ink, the ink distribution adjusting member 82 (see FIG. 13) attached to the connection tube 37 corresponding to the ink container 17 to be replaced is replaced with the connection tube. This is carried out after the mode of restricting the circulation of the ink in the connection tube 37 by crushing 37 is performed. In this way, when the cap 87 is removed from the lead-in insertion portion 109 of the ink container 17 to be replaced and the ink introduction needle 80 is pulled out from the ink lead-out portion 91, ink is introduced from the introduction hole 80a of the ink introduction needle 80. The dripping is suppressed.

Next, an operation when the original G larger than the reading surface 13a is read by the reading device 13 of the image forming system 11 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2, when reading a document G larger than the reading surface 13a by the reading device 13, first, the auto document feeder 16 is opened to expose the reading surface 13a. Subsequently, the area to be read in the original G is accommodated on the reading surface 13a and a part of the original G that protrudes from the reading surface 13a is positioned on the case 18 (on the lid 21). Place the original G.

  At this time, the height of the case 18 is aligned with the height of the reading surface 13a. That is, the height of the case 18 is 5 millimeters lower than the height of the reading surface 13a. Therefore, a part of the document G is supported on the case 18 without being caught on the side surface of the case 18. When the reading device 13 is operated with the auto document feeder 16 closed, an area on the reading surface 13a of the original G is read.

  As described above, since a part of the document G protruding from the reading surface 13a is supported by the case 18, the position of the document G is stabilized, and the document G can be accurately read by the reading device 13.

As described above, according to the embodiment described in detail, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) In the ink supply device 15, the ink container 17 can be attached to and detached from the right concave portion 56 and the left concave portion 59 of the case 18 so that the ink outlet portion 91 is positioned above the ink bag 90 in the gravity direction. Supported by Therefore, the ink outlet 91 and the ink introduction needle 80 can be easily and reliably connected while visually confirming. In addition, since the ink normally accumulates under the ink bag 90 due to its own weight, when the ink outlet 91 is below the ink bag 90, the ink is discharged when a connection failure between the ink outlet 91 and the ink introduction needle 80 occurs. There is a risk of increased leakage. In this regard, according to this configuration, since the ink outlet 91 is located above the ink bag 90 in the direction of gravity, ink leakage even if there is a poor connection between the ink outlet 91 and the ink introduction needle 80. The amount can be suppressed.

  (2) The ink bag 90 is a bag composed of two opposing flexible films 90a, and is formed such that the two opposing flexible films 90a approach each other due to the consumption of ink contained therein. Has been. Therefore, by visually recognizing the displacement state of the flexible film 90a due to the consumption of the ink in the ink bag 90, the consumption state of the ink in the ink bag 90 can be easily recognized.

  (3) The case 18 includes a bottom wall 49, an opening 19 that faces the bottom wall 49 and is formed above the bottom wall 49 in the direction of gravity, and a lid 21 that covers the opening 19 so as to be freely opened and closed. The ink container 17 is detachably accommodated in the case 18 through the opening 19. According to this configuration, since the ink container 17 is attached to and detached from the case 18 through the opening 19 formed above the gravity direction of the case 18, the ink container 17 can be easily attached to and detached from the case 18. It can be carried out. In addition, since the opening 19 can be covered with the lid 21 after the ink container 17 is stored in the case 18, the ink container 17 and the connection tube 37 are damaged, or the ink outlet 91 and the ink introduction unit are introduced. It is possible to suppress accidental disconnection from the needle 80. For this reason, poor supply of ink and contamination by ink can be suppressed. Further, since the connection operation and the removal operation of the ink lead-out portion 91 and the ink introduction needle 80 can be performed on the case 18 having the bottom wall 49, even if the ink drips, the dripping ink is stored in the case 18. I can take it. For this reason, it can suppress that the exterior of case 18 is contaminated with ink.

  (4) The case 18 has a transparent left side wall forming member 52 that can visually recognize the deflation of the ink bag 90 accompanying the consumption of ink in the ink container 17. For this reason, it is possible to visually recognize the deflation of the ink bag 90 of the ink container 17 in the case 18 from outside the case 18. That is, it is possible to check the ink consumption of the ink container 17 in the case 18 from outside the case 18.

  (5) The distance between the right side wall 45 and the left side wall 46 in the case 18 is shorter than the width of the ink container 17. For this reason, accommodating each ink container 17 in the case 18 at an angle can contribute to miniaturization of the case 18.

  (6) The ink lead-out part 91 of the ink container 17 is formed on the upper end side of the ink bag 90, and the ink container 17 is engaged with the upper end side on the upper end side where the ink lead-out part 91 is formed. A support member 92 is provided, and is supported by the right recess 56 and the left recess 59 of the case 18 via the support member 92. According to this configuration, the ink container 17 is supported by the right concave portion 56 and the left concave portion 59 of the case 18 at the upper end side where the ink outlet portion 91 is formed, so that the ink outlet portion 91 and the ink introduction needle 80 are connected. Can be easily performed. In addition, since the ink container 17 includes the support member 92, the ink container 17 can be handled by holding the support member 92. Therefore, the ink container 17 can be attached to and detached from the right recess 56 and the left recess 59 of the case 18. Work can be done easily.

  (7) The ink container 17 is suspended while the upper end side where the ink outlet 91 is formed is supported by the right recess 56 and the left recess 59 of the case 18. According to this configuration, since the ink container 17 is suspended, the ink is stored in the lower part of the ink container 17 by its own weight, so that the ink bag 90 is tensioned. For this reason, as the ink in the ink bag 90 is consumed, the ink bag 90 can be neatly stretched without wrinkles or kinks, so that the ink can be stably supplied to the ink jet printer 12. In this embodiment, since the ink jet printer 12 is a type of printer in which the carriage 27 on which the recording head 28 is mounted moves, the vibration of the ink jet printer 12 propagates to the ink container 17 and the lower part of the ink container 17. Swings. Further, since the support member 92 on the upper end side of the ink container 17 is arranged in a direction intersecting the moving direction (main scanning direction) of the carriage 27 in plan view, the supporting member 92 is in a direction parallel to the main scanning direction. Compared with the arrangement, vibration due to movement of the carriage 27 is easily propagated to the ink container 17. For this reason, when the ink in the ink bag 90 is a pigment ink containing a pigment that easily settles in the ink, the pigment ink can be agitated by swinging the lower portion of the ink container 17. Therefore, the difference in pigment concentration in the pigment ink can be suppressed.

  (8) The support member 92 of the ink container 17 supports the ink lead-out portion 91 in the ink container 17. For this reason, since the ink bag 90 is neatly stretched without wrinkles or kinks as the ink in the ink bag 90 of the ink container 17 is consumed, the ink can be stably supplied to the ink jet printer 12. Can do.

  (9) The support member 92 of the ink container 17 supports the ink bag 90 on both sides of the ink outlet 91. For this reason, the ink bag 90 can be stably supported in a balanced manner by the support member 92.

  (10) The ink container 17 has a flow path 99 a that communicates with the ink outlet 91 and extends to the lower part of the ink bag 90 in the gravitational direction. According to this configuration, even if the ink outlet 91 is located at the upper part of the ink bag 90, the ink can be sucked up from the lower part of the ink bag 90 through the flow path 99a. Can be stably supplied to the ink jet printer 12 side.

  (11) The ink outlet tube 99 of the ink container 17 is made of a material having a specific gravity greater than that of the ink stored in the ink bag 90. For this reason, it is possible to suppress the ink outlet tube 99 from floating in the ink in the ink bag 90. Therefore, the ink located on the lower end side opposite to the ink outlet 91 in the ink bag 90 can be smoothly guided to the ink outlet 91 by the ink outlet tube 99, so that the ink remaining in the ink bag 90 can be removed. Can be reduced.

  (12) The ink outlet portion 91 of the ink container 17 has a communication hole 100 communicating with the inside of the ink bag 90 at a portion extending into the ink bag 90. According to this configuration, when ink is injected into the ink bag 90 from the ink outlet 91 located vertically above the ink bag 90, the air bubbles mixed in the ink in the ink bag 90 are removed from the communication hole of the ink outlet 91. The ink can be discharged from 100 to the outside of the ink container 17.

  (13) An inclined portion 101 that is inclined so as to rise toward the communication hole 100 is formed on the ink outlet portion 91 side in the ink bag 90 of the ink container 17. For this reason, when ink is injected into the ink bag 90 from the ink outlet 91 located vertically above the ink bag 90, the air bubbles mixed in the ink in the ink bag 90 are guided to the communication hole 100 side by the inclined portion 101. can do. As a result, bubbles mixed in the ink in the ink bag 90 can be smoothly discharged from the communication hole 100 to the outside of the ink container 17.

  (14) The ink lead-out tube 99 of the ink container 17 is connected to the ink lead-out portion 91 via a flexible connection flow path member 98. For this reason, the ink outlet tube 99 can be easily connected to the ink outlet portion 91 by the connection flow path member 98.

  (15) On the inner surface of the container body 20 of the case 18, first to fourth tube support portions 65 and 73 that guide the connection tubes 37 connected to the ink containers 17 housed in the container body 20. -75 are provided. For this reason, since each connection tube 37 can be guided in the container main body 20 by the first to fourth tube support portions 65, 73 to 75, each connection tube 37 can be easily routed in the container main body 20. it can.

  (16) A container-side insertion hole 61 into which each connection tube 37 can be inserted is formed on the inner surface of the right side wall forming member 51 of the container body 20 of the case 18, and the first to fourth tube support portions 65, 73 to 75 guides each connection tube 37 between the container side insertion hole 61 and each ink container 17 housed in the container body 20. For this reason, each connection tube 37 inserted into the container main body 20 from the container side insertion hole 61 to each ink container 17 accommodated in the container main body 20 by the first to fourth tube support portions 65, 73 to 75. Can guide.

  (17) The lengths of the first to fourth tube support portions 65 and 73 to 75 in the case 18 are the distances from the ink containing body 17 to which the connection tubes 37 guided by these to the container side insertion hole 61 are connected. Are different from each other. For this reason, it is possible to suppress the connection tubes 37 from being connected to the wrong ink containers 17.

  (18) The container main body 20 of the case 18 includes an edge member 53 that constitutes the peripheral edge of the opening 19 for accommodating each ink container 17, and the edge member 53 includes the first to fourth tube support portions 65. 73 to 75 are covered. For this reason, each connection tube 37 which the 1st-4th tube support parts 65 and 73-75 guide can be protected by the edge member 53. FIG.

  (19) The edge member 53 of the case 18 is provided with a notch 57 through which each connection tube 37 can be inserted. For this reason, each connection tube 37 can be easily connected to each ink container 17 by inserting each connection tube 37 through the notch 57.

  (20) The edge member 53 of the case 18 includes right concave portions 56 and left concave portions 59 that support the ink containers 17. Therefore, each ink container 17 can be supported by each right recess 56 and each left recess 59.

  (21) The third and fourth tube support portions 74 and 75 of the case 18 have protrusions 76 for preventing the connection tubes 37 from dropping from the third and fourth tube support portions 74 and 75. Is provided. For this reason, each projection 76 can suppress the drop of each connection tube 37 from the third and fourth tube support portions 74 and 75.

  (22) Through holes 77 are formed on both sides of the inner surface of the container body 20 of the case 18 with the second to fourth tube support portions 73 to 75 interposed therebetween. For this reason, it is possible to easily and reliably hold the connection tube 37 in the second to fourth tube support portions 73 to 75 by connecting the ends of the wires through the through hole 77 in an annular shape. it can.

  (23) The side wall of the container body 20 of the case 18 is configured by combining a right side wall forming member 51 and a left side wall forming member 52 that are divided into left and right. For this reason, the side wall of the container body 20 of the case 18 can be easily formed.

  (24) The ink supply device 15 includes a case 18, each ink container 17 accommodated in the case 18, and each connection tube 37 connected to each ink container 17. For this reason, the ink of each ink container 17 accommodated in the case 18 can be supplied to the ink jet printer 12 side via each connection tube 37.

  (25) The ink jet printer 12 includes the recording head 28 that can eject the ink supplied via the connection tubes 37 of the ink supply device 15 onto the paper P. For this reason, the ink supplied via each connection tube 37 of the ink supply device 15 can be ejected from the recording head 28 onto the paper P to print the paper P.

  (26) In the image forming system 11, the case 18 is arranged beside the image forming apparatus 14 so as to be flush with the reading surface 13 a. For this reason, when a document G larger than the reading surface 13a is read, a part of the document G can be supported by the case 18.

  (27) In the image forming system 11, the height of the case 18 is lower than the height of the reading surface 13a. For this reason, when the original G larger than the reading surface 13a is placed on the reading surface 13a, the original G can be prevented from being caught by the case 18.

(28) In the image forming system 11, the case 18 is detachably attached to the ink jet printer 12 of the image forming apparatus 14. For this reason, the case 18 can be freely attached to and detached from the ink jet printer 12.
(Example of change)
The above embodiment may be changed to another embodiment as described below.

  As shown in FIG. 23, in the image forming system 11, an extension cassette unit 141 having an extension paper cassette 140 may be mounted below the image forming apparatus 14. In this case, a pedestal 142 as an example of an adjustment member that adjusts the height of the case 18 so as to increase by the amount changed so that the height of the image forming apparatus 14 is increased is attached to the lower portion of the case 18. As described above, by mounting the additional cassette unit 141 and the pedestal 142 in the image forming system 11 as a set, the positional relationship between the height of the case 18 and the height of the reading surface 13a can be maintained.

Here, the configuration of the pedestal 142 will be described in detail.
As shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, the pedestal 142 has a bottomed rectangular box shape having a recessed portion 143 that is recessed in a rectangular shape at the center of the lower surface thereof. A raised portion 144 is formed at the center of the inner bottom surface of the pedestal 142 so as to be raised by the amount of the recessed portion 143. The upper surface of the raised portion 144 is flat. Around the raised portion 144 on the inner bottom surface of the pedestal 142, a plurality of (here, ten) plate-like support ribs 145 are provided at appropriate intervals so as to surround the raised portion 144. When the pedestal 142 is attached to the lower portion of the case 18, the raised portion 144 is adhered to the center portion of the lower surface of the bottom wall forming member 50 constituting the case 18 with a double-sided adhesive tape (not shown), and the bottom wall The periphery of the upper end of the pedestal 142 is engaged with the periphery of the lower surface of the forming member 50.

As shown in FIG. 26, in the image forming system 11, the auto document feeder 16 may be changed to a lid member 146 that can open and close the reading surface 13a.
As shown in FIG. 27, in the image forming system 11, when the ink jet printer 12 is a monochrome printer that uses only black ink, the case 18 of the ink supply device 15 is connected to one case containing black ink. The size may be changed to accommodate the ink container 17. In this case, the ink container 17 is stored in the case 18 so that the width direction thereof is the front-rear direction. In FIG. 27, the lid 21 that covers the opening 19 of the case 18 so as to be freely opened and closed is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 28, a communication hole 147 that communicates the inside of the ink lead-out tube 99 and the inside of the ink bag 90 may be provided at the upper end portion of the ink lead-out tube 99. In this way, when the ink outlet 91 is positioned vertically above the ink bag 90 and the ink is injected into the ink bag 90, the air bubbles mixed in the ink in the ink bag 90 are removed from the communication hole. From 147, the ink can be discharged to the outside of the ink container 17. In this case, the communication hole 100 of the ink outlet 91 may be omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 28, a weight 148 may be arranged at the lower end of the ink outlet tube 99 that is the end opposite to the ink outlet 91. The weight 148 has a cylindrical shape and is fitted into the lower end of the ink outlet tube 99. In this case, the ink outlet tube 99 does not necessarily need to be made of a material having a specific gravity greater than that of the ink filled in the ink bag 90. In this way, it is possible to effectively suppress the ink outlet tube 99 from floating in the ink in the ink bag 90. For this reason, since the ink located in the lower end portion of the ink bag 90 opposite to the ink outlet 91 can be guided to the ink outlet 91 by the ink outlet tube 99, the ink remaining in the ink bag 90 is reduced. can do. When a cylindrical tube is used as the weight, the tube may be made of a flexible material such as the same elastomer as the connection flow path member 98. In this case, it is possible to prevent damage to the ink bag 90 even if the ink lead-out tube 99 is made relatively hard.

  As shown in FIG. 29, the ink outlet tube 99 may be covered with a cover member 149. In this case, the cover member 149 is configured by a coil spring as an example. In this way, the weight of the cover member 149 can prevent the ink outlet tube 99 from floating in the ink in the ink bag 90. In this case, it is preferable that the average specific gravity between the material constituting the ink lead-out tube 99 and the material constituting the cover member 149 is larger than the specific gravity of the ink filled in the ink bag 90. Furthermore, in this case, if the weight 148 is attached to the lower end portion of the ink lead-out tube 99, the ink lead-out tube 99 does not necessarily need to be made of a material having a higher specific gravity than the ink filled in the ink bag 90.

  As shown in FIG. 30, in the image forming system 11, the case 18 may be arranged on the side of the reading device 13 so that the heights of the reading surface 13 a and the upper surface are aligned. In this case, an extension portion 12a that can support the case 18 may be provided on the side surface of the ink jet printer 12 so that the case 18 is supported by the extension portion 12a.

In the ink container 17, the ink lead-out tube 99 that forms the flow path 99a may be omitted.
The support member 92 of the ink container 17 does not necessarily need to support the ink bag 90 on both sides of the ink outlet 91.

The support member 92 of the ink container 17 does not necessarily support the ink outlet portion 91 in the ink container 17.
The ink container 17 does not necessarily have to be suspended while the upper end side where the ink outlet 91 is formed is supported by the right recess 56 and the left recess 59 of the case 18. That is, the ink container 17 may be stored in a state where it is placed on the inner bottom surface of the case 18. In this case, the inner bottom surface (bottom wall 49) of the case 18 functions as a support portion that supports the ink container 17.

  A hard support portion having a shape that can be supported by the right concave portion 56 and the left concave portion 59 of the case 18 is provided on the upper end portion (one end side on the ink outlet portion 91 side) of the ink bag 90 of the ink container 17. Instead of the support member 92, a support portion may be provided. In this way, the ink container 17 can be handled by gripping the support portion. For this reason, the attachment / detachment work with respect to the right recessed part 56 and the left recessed part 59 of the case 18 of the ink container 17 can be performed easily.

The ink container 17 is not necessarily supported by the right concave portion 56 and the left concave portion 59 of the case 18 via the support member 92.
The distance between the right side wall 45 and the left side wall 46 in the case 18 does not necessarily need to be shorter than the width of the ink container 17.

The case 18 does not necessarily need to have the transparent left side wall forming member 52 that can visually recognize the deflation of the ink bag 90 accompanying the consumption of the ink in the ink container 17.
The opening 19 of the case 18 does not necessarily have to be provided at the upper end of the container body 20 and may be provided on the side surface of the container body 20.

-The lid 21 of the case 18 may be omitted.
The ink bag 90 does not necessarily have to be entirely composed of the flexible film 90a. That is, part of the ink bag 90 may be configured by a flexible portion made of a flexible material. The material constituting the flexible portion of the ink bag 90 may be transparent or opaque.

  The ink container 17 does not necessarily need to be detachably supported by the right recess 56 and the left recess 59 of the case 18 so that the ink outlet 91 is located above the ink bag 90 in the direction of gravity.

  The ink introduction needle 80 may be omitted, and the end of the connection tube 37 may be directly connected to the ink outlet 91. In this case, the end of the connection tube 37 connected to the ink outlet 91 functions as a liquid introduction part.

  The ink lead-out tube 99 of the ink container 17 does not necessarily need to be connected to the ink lead-out part 91 via the flexible connection flow path member 98. In other words, the ink lead-out tube 99 may be connected to the ink lead-out portion 91 with an adhesive or an adhesive tape.

In the ink bag 90 of the ink container 17, instead of the inclined portion 101, a curved curved portion may be formed as a guide portion so as to rise toward the communication hole 100.
The communication hole 100 of the ink outlet portion 91 of the ink container 17 may be omitted.

The ink outlet tube 99 of the ink container 17 does not necessarily need to be made of a material having a specific gravity greater than that of the ink stored in the ink bag 90.
The ink lead-out tube 99 of the ink containing body 17 may be formed of a material having a specific gravity larger than that of the ink contained in the ink bag 90 at a part of the lower end side opposite to the ink lead-out portion 91. Good.

  The side wall of the container body 20 of the case 18 does not necessarily need to be configured by combining the right side wall forming member 51 and the left side wall forming member 52 that are divided into left and right. That is, the side wall of the container body 20 may be configured by combining three or more divided members, or may be configured by one member that is not divided.

-The through-hole 77 formed in the container main body 20 of the case 18 may be omitted.
-Each protrusion 76 formed in the 3rd and 4th tube support parts 74 and 75 of case 18 may be omitted.

The notch 57 provided in the edge member 53 of the case 18 may be omitted.
In the edge member 53 of the case 18, a hole through which the connection tube 37 can be inserted may be provided as an insertion portion instead of the notch portion 57.

-The edge member 53 of the case 18 does not necessarily need to cover the 1st-4th tube support parts 65 and 73-75.
The lengths of the first to fourth tube support portions 65 and 73 to 75 in the case 18 depend on the distance from the ink containing body 17 to which the connection tube 37 guided by each of them to the container side insertion hole 61 is connected. Need not be different from each other.

  The first to fourth tube support portions 65 and 73 to 75 of the case 18 necessarily guide each connection tube 37 between the container side insertion hole 61 and each ink storage body 17 stored in the container main body 20. There is no need.

-You may comprise a guide part only by the drop-off suppression part (each protrusion 76).
The guide portion may have any configuration as long as the connection tube 37 can be accessed along the inner surface of the container body 20 to access the ink container 17. For example, you may comprise a guide part by the ditch | groove provided in the inner surface of the container main body 20. FIG.

The right side wall forming member 51 and the left side wall forming member 52 constituting the container main body 20 may be formed in a plate shape bent in an L shape.
-Each protrusion 76 may be formed in the whole ribs 66-69, and may be formed in a part of ribs 66-69.

-As long as the width | variety of each protrusion 76 is a grade which the connection tube 37 contacts, the magnitude | size and shape of each protrusion 76 may be changed arbitrarily.
The color of each cap 87 and the color of the ink stored in each ink container 17 corresponding to each cap 87 may be matched. In this way, it is possible to prevent the cap 87 from being connected to the wrong ink container 17.

  In the image forming system 11, the case 18 does not necessarily need to be detachably attached to the ink jet printer 12 of the image forming apparatus 14. That is, the case 18 may be fixed to the ink jet printer 12 of the image forming apparatus 14.

  In the image forming system 11, the height of the case 18 does not necessarily need to be lower than the height of the reading surface 13a. That is, the height of the case 18 may be the same as the height of the reading surface 13a or higher than the height of the reading surface 13a.

-Instead of the paper P, a plastic film, cloth, metal foil or the like may be used as a target.
Instead of the original G, a plastic film, cloth, metal foil, or the like may be used as a medium.

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

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Inkjet printer as an example of a liquid ejecting apparatus, 15 ... Ink supply apparatus as an example of a liquid supply apparatus, 17 ... Ink container as an example of a liquid container, 18 ... As an example of a liquid container container Case: 19 ... opening, 20 ... container body, 28 ... recording head as an example of liquid ejecting head, 37 ... connection tube (tube), 51 ... right side wall forming member as an example of dividing member, 52 ... of dividing member Left side wall forming member as an example, 53... Edge member, 56. Right concave portion as an example of a support portion, 57 ... Notch portion as an example of an insertion portion, 59 ... Left concave portion as an example of a support portion, 61. A container side insertion hole as an example, 65... A first tube support portion constituting a guide portion, 70... A first tongue piece portion as an example of a support portion, 71... A second tongue piece as an example of a support portion. 72 ... a third tongue piece portion as an example of a support portion, 73 ... a second tube support portion constituting a guide portion, 74 ... a third tube support portion constituting a guide portion, 75 ... a fourth portion constituting a guide portion. Tube support part, 76... Projection as an example of a drop-off suppressing part, 77... Through hole as an example of a supplementary part, P.

The present invention is, for example, relates to a liquid ejecting equipment, such as an ink jet printer.

The present invention has been made paying attention to such problems existing in the prior art. And an object thereof is to provide a liquid material ejecting apparatus capable of routing the tube easily.

Claims (13)

A container main body for storing a liquid container for storing liquid;
A liquid container containing container characterized in that a guide portion for guiding a tube connected to the liquid container is provided on an inner surface of the container main body. The side wall of the container body is provided with an insertion part into which the tube can be inserted,
The tube that has passed through the guide portion guides the tube to and from the liquid container accommodated in the container body so as to come out of the container body through the insertion portion. The liquid container container according to claim 1. In the container body, a plurality of the liquid containers are accommodated side by side,
A plurality of the tubes are inserted into the container body from the insertion portion corresponding to the liquid container,
The liquid container containing container according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of the guide portions are provided corresponding to the plurality of tubes.   The length of each said guide part differs mutually according to the distance from the said liquid container to which each said tube to guide is connected to the said insertion part, The liquid container storage container of Claim 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. . The container body includes an edge member that constitutes a peripheral portion of an opening for accommodating the liquid container,
The said edge member has covered the said guide part, The liquid container container as described in any one of Claims 1-4 characterized by the above-mentioned.   The liquid container containing container according to claim 5, wherein the edge member is provided with an insertion portion through which the tube on the liquid container side can be inserted.   The liquid container containing container according to claim 5, wherein the edge member includes a support portion that supports the liquid container.   The said guide part is provided with the drop-off suppression part for suppressing that the said tube falls off from the said guide part, The Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned. Liquid container.   The liquid container containing container according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a supplementary portion that supplements the tube that has dropped off, on an inner surface of the container main body.   The liquid container containing container according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the guide portion includes a support portion that supports the tube.   The side wall of the said container main body is comprised by combining several divided | segmented division members, The liquid container accommodation container as described in any one of Claims 1-10 characterized by the above-mentioned. The liquid container housing container according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
The liquid container housed in the container body;
A liquid supply apparatus comprising the tube connected to the liquid container.   A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising: a liquid ejecting head capable of ejecting a liquid supplied via the tube of the liquid supplying apparatus according to claim 12 to a target.

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