JP2018140556A - Ink supply container and ink supply system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink supply container which can supply an ink to an ink tank in a proper manner, and to provide an ink supply system including the ink supply container.SOLUTION: An ink supply container 63 includes: a container body part 64 having an ink storage chamber 76; an ink outlet formation part 66 which is provided at an end part of the container body part and formed with an ink outlet 65 for allowing an ink to flow out from the ink storage chamber; a valve 74 which is provided at the ink outlet formation part and seals the ink outlet so as to open or close the ink outlet; and a positioning part which contacts with an ink tank side part to position the valve relative to the ink tank when the valve opens. The positioning part includes a positioning surface 84 which is located at the opposite side of the side at which the container body part is located with respect to the valve and extends in a direction intersecting with a center axis 85 of the ink outlet.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 20

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink supply container that supplies ink to an ink tank that stores ink supplied to a recording apparatus, and an ink supply system that includes such an ink supply container.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ink tank in which ink is stored is connected to a recording apparatus that performs recording by ejecting ink onto a medium in a state where ink can be supplied. In such a recording apparatus, when the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank becomes small, ink is replenished to the ink tank from the outside using an ink replenishing container (for example, Patent Document 1). .

JP 2001-146021 A

  By the way, ink replenishment work for the ink tank needs to be performed appropriately while suppressing ink replenishment failure. Conventionally, such replenishment work has been performed by the user of the recording apparatus. Therefore, in order to appropriately perform such ink replenishment work by the user, for example, further improvement has been demanded in the ink replenishing container and the like.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an ink supply container that can appropriately supply ink to an ink tank and an ink supply system including such an ink supply container. is there.

Hereinafter, means for solving the above-described problems and the effects thereof will be described.
An ink supply container that solves the above problem is an ink supply container that supplies ink to an ink tank having an ink inlet channel and an ink chamber that communicates with the ink inlet channel. An ink container having an ink storage chamber that can store ink to be replenished, and an ink outlet that is provided at an end of the container main body and that allows the ink to flow out of the ink storage chamber An outlet forming portion, a valve provided in the ink outlet forming portion, for sealing the ink outlet so as to be openable and closable, and contacting the part on the ink tank side when the valve is opened; A positioning portion for positioning with respect to the ink tank, wherein the positioning portion is located on a side opposite to a side where the container main body portion is located with respect to the valve, and a central axis of the ink outlet A positioning surface extending in an intersecting direction, wherein the positioning surface is a part of the ink tank side in a state where the ink inlet channel portion of the ink tank is inserted into the ink outlet and the valve is opened. Abut.

  According to this configuration, when the ink supply container is moved to the ink tank side and the valve is opened by inserting the ink inlet channel portion of the ink tank into the ink outlet, the positioning surface is positioned before the valve. Move to the side. Therefore, for example, if the ink tank is provided with a configuration that can guide the movement of the positioning surface in the direction in which the ink inlet channel is inserted into the ink outlet, the ink inlet channel is easily guided to the valve. Become. Further, when the ink replenishing container is in contact with a part of the ink tank when the ink tank is replenished with ink, the posture of the ink replenishing container is stabilized in the direction intersecting the central axis of the ink outlet, so that ink replenishment is facilitated. Thus, ink can be appropriately supplied to the ink tank.

In the ink supply container, it is preferable that the positioning surface is located on a side opposite to the container main body side from the ink outlet in a direction along a central axis of the ink outlet.
According to this configuration, when the ink supply container is inserted into the ink outlet side of the ink tank, the positioning surface approaches the ink tank before the ink outlet. Therefore, it is easy to prevent the ink outlet from colliding with other members when the ink supply container is brought close to the ink tank. Moreover, it is easy to prevent damage to the ink outlet and adhesion of ink to other members.

In the ink supply container, it is preferable that the positioning surface is formed at the end of a cylindrical portion that opens at the end of the ink outlet forming portion with the ink outlet facing outward.
According to this configuration, the positioning surface can be formed together with the ink outlet on the cylindrical portion that is a part of the ink outlet forming portion, so that the positioning surface is formed on a convex portion provided at a location different from the ink outlet. Can be easy.

  Another ink supply container that solves the above problem is an ink supply container that supplies ink to an ink tank having an ink inlet channel and an ink chamber that communicates with the ink inlet channel. A container main body having an ink storage chamber capable of storing ink to be replenished in the ink tank, and an ink outlet provided at an end of the container main body for allowing the ink to flow out of the ink storage chamber are formed. An ink outlet forming portion, a valve provided in the ink outlet forming portion, for sealing the ink outlet so as to be openable and closable, and in contact with a part of the ink tank side when the valve is opened. A positioning portion for positioning the ink outlet with respect to the ink tank, wherein the ink outlet is formed in a cylindrical portion that is a part of the ink outlet forming portion, and the positioning portion is located inside the ink outlet. A positioning surface extending in a direction intersecting the axis is provided with a gap between the outer surface of the cylindrical portion, and the positioning surface is formed by inserting the ink inlet channel portion of the ink tank into the ink outlet. In a state where the valve is open, it comes into contact with the part on the ink tank side.

  According to this configuration, when ink is supplied from the ink supply container to the ink tank, the positioning surface extending in the direction intersecting the central axis of the ink outlet comes into contact with a part on the ink tank side. Can be replenished. In addition, there is a possibility that ink adhering to the ink outlet or the positioning surface is drawn into the gap, thereby reducing ink dripping or external contamination.

  In the ink replenishing container, the positioning surface is closer to the ink outlet on the side farther from the ink outlet in the direction intersecting the central axis of the ink outlet and closer to the part on the ink tank side. It is preferable that the area is larger than an area in contact with a part of the ink tank.

According to this configuration, it is possible to improve the stability of the posture of the ink outlet in the ink replenishment state in which the ink inlet channel is inserted into the ink outlet and the valve is opened.
Another ink supply container that solves the above problem is an ink supply container that supplies ink to an ink tank having an ink inlet channel and an ink chamber that communicates with the ink inlet channel. A container main body having an ink storage chamber capable of storing ink to be replenished in the ink tank, and an ink outlet provided at an end of the container main body for allowing the ink to flow out of the ink storage chamber are formed. An ink outlet forming portion, a valve provided in the ink outlet forming portion, for sealing the ink outlet so as to be openable and closable, and in contact with a part of the ink tank side when the valve is opened. A positioning portion for positioning the ink tank with respect to the ink tank, and the positioning portion includes a positioning surface that is inclined or curved in a direction intersecting a central axis of the ink outlet. Face, in a state in which the ink inlet channel portion wherein the valve is inserted into the ink outlet is opened in said ink tank, said portion abutting said ink tank side.

  According to this configuration, when ink is supplied from the ink supply container to the ink tank, the ink supply container can be positioned both in the direction along the central axis of the ink outlet and in the direction orthogonal to the central axis, so that ink supply is appropriately performed. be able to.

In the ink supply container, the positioning surface is inclined or curved in a direction gradually away from the central axis in a direction from the ink outlet toward the container main body.
According to this configuration, the ink supply container can be gradually guided along the inclined or curved positioning surface when the ink inlet channel is inserted into or removed from the ink outlet.

In the ink supply container, it is preferable that the positioning portion is provided in a portion exposed to the outside in at least one of the ink outlet forming portion and the container main body portion.
According to this configuration, when the ink inlet channel portion of the ink tank is inserted into the ink outlet of the ink supply container, the positioning portion is easily visible from the outside. Further, when the positioning portion is provided in a portion of the container main body exposed to the outside, the container main body containing the ink is positioned, so that the heavy portion is positioned, and the ink replenishment posture is set. Stabilize.

  Another ink supply container that solves the above problem is an ink supply container that supplies ink to an ink tank having an ink inlet channel and an ink chamber that communicates with the ink inlet channel. A container main body having an ink storage chamber capable of storing ink to be replenished in the ink tank, and an ink outlet provided at an end of the container main body for allowing the ink to flow out of the ink storage chamber are formed. An ink outlet forming portion, a valve provided in the ink outlet forming portion, for sealing the ink outlet so as to be openable and closable, and in contact with a part of the ink tank side when the valve is opened. A positioning portion for positioning the ink tank with respect to the ink tank, and the positioning portion is provided inside the ink outlet.

  According to this configuration, since the positioning portion is protected inside the ink outlet as compared with the case where the positioning portion is provided outside the ink outlet, it can be hardly damaged. Further, since the positioning portion is close to the valve inside the ink outlet, the valve can be accurately positioned with respect to the ink tank. Furthermore, even if ink adheres to the positioning portion, it is positioned inside the ink outlet, so that it is difficult for ink to adhere to the outside of the ink supply container.

  An ink supply system that solves the above problems includes an ink tank having an ink inlet channel, an ink chamber communicating with the ink inlet channel, the ink supply container having the above-described configuration, and the ink supply container. When the valve is positioned with respect to the ink tank via the positioning portion, the valve is positioned between the positioning portion and the part on the ink tank side, and the positioning portion and the part on the ink tank side And a positioning auxiliary member that mediates the contact with the.

  According to this configuration, when the ink is replenished from the ink replenishing container to the ink tank, the positioning assisting member is used, whereby appropriate positioning can be performed with respect to various ink tanks.

In the ink replenishment system, it is preferable that the positioning auxiliary member is made of an ink absorbing material capable of absorbing ink.
According to this configuration, the impact when the positioning portion of the ink supply container comes into contact with a part on the ink tank side can be mitigated by the ink absorbing material. Further, since ink is absorbed by the ink absorbing material, it is possible to reduce dripping and scattering when the ink supply container is removed.

  Another ink supply container that solves the above problem is an ink supply container that supplies ink to an ink tank having an ink inlet channel and an ink chamber that communicates with the ink inlet channel. A container main body having an ink storage chamber capable of storing ink to be replenished in the ink tank, and an ink outlet provided at an end of the container main body for allowing the ink to flow out of the ink storage chamber are formed. An ink outlet forming portion, a valve provided in the ink outlet forming portion, for sealing the ink outlet so as to be openable and closable, and in contact with a part of the ink tank side when the valve is opened. A positioning portion for positioning the ink tank with respect to the ink tank.

  According to this configuration, when the ink replenishment container positioning part comes into contact with part of the ink tank side during ink replenishment, the valve for opening and closing the ink outlet is positioned with respect to the ink tank. Therefore, ink can be easily supplied, and ink can be appropriately supplied to the ink tank.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing a schematic configuration of the recording apparatus in a see-through state. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an ink supply unit provided in a housing of the recording apparatus. The top view of an ink supply unit. FIG. 4 is a partially broken sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a partially broken sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an ink supply container according to the first embodiment. The side view of the same ink supply container. The front view of the ink supply container. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the ink supply container. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10-10 in FIG. 9; FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 11-11 in FIG. 9; FIG. 3 is a partially broken front view showing an ink supply system immediately before an ink supply operation. FIG. 3 is a partially broken side view showing an ink supply system immediately before an ink supply operation. FIG. 3 is a partially broken front view showing an ink supply system during an ink supply operation. FIG. 4 is a partially broken side view showing an ink supply system during ink supply work. FIG. 3 is a partially broken front view showing the ink supply system in a positioned state. The partially broken side view which shows the ink supply system of a positioning state. The fragmentary perspective view of the ink supply container of 2nd Embodiment. The partial top view of the ink supply unit at the time of ink replenishment in 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along line F20-F20 in FIG. The fragmentary perspective view of the ink supply container of 3rd Embodiment. The partially broken side view which shows the ink replenishment system in 3rd Embodiment. The fragmentary perspective view of the ink supply container of 4th Embodiment. The fragmentary perspective view of the ink supply container of 5th Embodiment. The partially broken side view which shows the ink replenishment system in 5th Embodiment. The partially broken side view which shows the ink supply system in 6th Embodiment. The partially broken side view which shows the ink replenishment system in 7th Embodiment. The partially broken side view which shows the ink replenishment system in 8th Embodiment. The partially broken side view which shows the ink replenishment system in 9th Embodiment. The partially broken side view which shows the ink replenishment system in 10th Embodiment. The perspective view of the ink supply unit in 11th Embodiment. The partial top view of the ink supply unit at the time of ink replenishment in 11th Embodiment. FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional view taken along line F33-F33 in FIG. The partially broken front view which shows the ink replenishment system in 12th Embodiment. The partially broken side view which shows the ink replenishment system in 13th Embodiment.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of an ink supply system including an ink tank and an ink supply container in a recording apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings. The recording apparatus of this embodiment is an ink jet printer that records (prints) an image or the like on a medium by ejecting ink onto the medium. In the drawing, it is assumed that a recording apparatus having a predetermined height in the vertical direction, a predetermined width in the left-right direction, and a predetermined depth in the front-rear direction is placed on a horizontal plane. And in each figure, the up-down direction along a vertical line, the left-right direction along a horizontal plane orthogonal to a vertical line, and the front-back direction along a horizontal plane orthogonal to both the up-down direction and the left-right direction are indicated by arrows.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the recording apparatus 21 includes a rectangular parallelepiped housing 22 whose longitudinal direction is the left-right direction. Note that FIG. 1 is a simplified view in a state where the inside of the housing 22 of the recording apparatus 21 is seen through. A support base 23 having a longitudinal direction in the left-right direction is provided in a lower portion near the rear in the housing 22 so that the upper surface thereof extends along a substantially horizontal direction. The paper P, which is an example of a medium, is conveyed toward the front in the conveyance direction while being supported on the upper surface of the support base 23. A guide shaft 24 extending in the left-right direction is installed above the support base 23 in the housing 22, and the guide shaft 24 has a carriage 26 provided with a recording head 25 for discharging ink on the lower surface side. Is supported. That is, the carriage 26 is supported so as to be capable of reciprocating in the left-right direction with respect to the guide shaft 24 in a state where the guide shaft 24 is inserted into the support hole 27 penetrating in the left-right direction.

  In addition, a drive pulley 28 and a driven pulley 29 are rotatably supported at positions in the case 22 near both ends of the guide shaft 24. An output shaft of a carriage motor 30 is connected to the drive pulley 28, and an endless timing belt 31, part of which is connected to the carriage 26, is wound between the drive pulley 28 and the driven pulley 29. . Then, when the carriage 26 is guided by the guide shaft 24 via the timing belt 31 by the drive of the carriage motor 30 and reciprocates along the left-right direction that is the scanning direction with respect to the paper P, the carriage 26 is conveyed forward on the support base 23. Ink is ejected from the recording head 25 on the lower surface side of the carriage 26 to the paper P.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the ink from the recording head 25 is moved to a position on the front side of the housing 22 on the front side of the support base 23 when being transported on the support base 23 in the housing 22. A rectangular discharge port 32 for discharging the paper P on which recording has been performed by discharge to the front side is opened. The discharge port 32 is provided with a rectangular plate-shaped discharge tray 33 that can support the paper P discharged from the inside of the housing 22 so as to be able to move forward and backward in the discharge direction. In the discharge port 32, a paper feed cassette 34 that can store a plurality of sheets P used for recording in a stacked state is mounted below the discharge tray 33 so as to be insertable / removable in the front-rear direction.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the front surface and the upper surface are rectangular in a position on the front surface of the housing 22 and on the end side in the left-right direction from the discharge port 32 (right end portion side in FIG. 1). An opening / closing door 35 whose right side surface forms a right triangle is provided so as to freely open and close in the front-rear direction around a rotation shaft 36 provided at the lower end thereof along the left-right direction. A window 37 made of a rectangular transparent member is formed on the front surface of the open / close door 35, and the user closes the open / close door 35 to the inside of the housing 22 (particularly, the back side of the front surface of the open / close door 35). ) Is visible.

  Ink is supplied to the recording head 25 at a position on the back side of the opening / closing door 35 in the casing 22 of the recording apparatus 21, that is, a position close to the front and close to the end (in this case, close to the right end). An ink supply unit 40 is accommodated. The ink supply unit 40 includes a plurality of (five in the present embodiment) ink tanks 41 to 45 and can be handled integrally. As will be described later, each ink tank 41 to 45 has a structure. The ink can be replenished.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ink supply unit 40 includes five ink tanks 41 to 45 each having a deformed box shape that is long in the front-rear direction, and five ink supplies drawn from the rear side of each ink tank 41 to 45. A tube 46 and a rectangular parallelepiped ink replenishing adapter 47 that is assembled in a state where the ink tanks 41 to 45 are assembled together are configured. The ink replenishing adapter 47 has a stepped portion formed in a cutout in the upper first half of all the ink tanks 41 to 45 in a state where all the ink tanks 41 to 45 are arranged side by side with the thickness direction being the left-right direction. As a result, the ink tanks 41 to 45 are integrated. As shown in FIG. 1, the ink supply tube 46 drawn from the ink tanks 41 to 45 is connected to an ink channel (not shown) formed in the carriage 26, and recording is performed via the ink channel. It is connected to the head 25. The ink supply adapter 47 may constitute a part of the housing 22 that covers the ink tanks 41 to 45, or may be formed integrally with the ink tanks 41 to 45.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the ink tanks 41 to 45 have an ink chamber 49 in which the ink IK can be stored. In the case of this embodiment, black ink is stored in the ink chamber 49 of the ink tank 41 located at the right end in the horizontal direction. Then, inks other than black (cyan, magenta, yellow, etc.) are stored in the ink chambers 49 of the other ink tanks 42 to 45 arranged on the left side of the rightmost ink tank 41 in the horizontal direction. In addition, the front wall portion of the ink tanks 41 to 45 that is visible through the window 37 on the front surface of the housing 22 is formed of a transparent resin that enables the liquid level of the ink IK in the ink chamber 49 to be visible. The visually recognizing part 50 is provided. The visual recognition section 50 has an upper limit indicating an upper limit of the liquid level of the ink IK stored in the ink chamber 49 (an example of an approximate amount of ink that can be injected without overflowing the ink inlet 53). A mark 51 and a lower limit mark 52 indicating a lower limit guideline (for example, a guideline for prompting ink replenishment) are shown.

  As shown in FIG. 4, an ink inlet 53 that allows ink to flow into the ink chamber 49 from the outside is provided above the horizontal portion of the stepped portion 48 in the ink tanks 41 to 45. The ink inlet 53 is configured to include a needle 56 that is an example of an ink inlet channel portion that has channels 54 and 55 that communicate between the inside and the outside of the ink chamber 49 and extends vertically upward. Inside the cylindrical needle 56, two flow paths 54 and 55 are partitioned by a partition wall formed so as to extend in the vertical direction at the center position in the front-rear direction. Therefore, the flow paths 54 and 55 of the present embodiment are formed so that the height and the cross-sectional area of the tip opening are substantially equal. Note that a remaining amount sensor 57 for detecting the remaining amount of the ink IK in the ink chamber 49 is provided at the lower rear portion in the ink chamber 49. The remaining amount sensor 57 may not be provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the ink replenishing adapter 47 has an upper surface 58 that is a horizontal surface that is orthogonal to (intersects with) the direction in which the needle 56 extends. A through hole 60 penetrating in the direction is formed as an ink inlet forming portion. The through hole 60 includes a circular hole-shaped ink inlet 53 in which the needle 56 is disposed in the center, and a pair of front and rear rectangular holes connected to the front and rear of the ink inlet 53, and the lower openings are the ink tanks 41 to 45. In FIG. 2, the needle 56 is closed by a horizontal portion of the stepped portion 48 projecting upward.

  Therefore, in the through hole 60, the region extending outside the ink inlet 53 in the radial direction centered on the ink inlet 53 is a direction in which the needle 56 extends by a pair of front and rear rectangular holes whose lower openings are blocked. A pair of front and rear recesses 61 that are open on the upper side are formed so as to be symmetric with respect to the ink inlet 53 as a depth direction in the depth direction. In other words, in the ink supply adapter 47 integrated with the ink tanks 41 to 45, a region outside the ink inlet 53 including the needle 56 has a plurality of points symmetrical about the ink inlet 53 (in this case, front and rear). Two pairs of concave portions 61 are formed. In this case, the tip of the needle 56 disposed at the center of the circular hole-shaped ink inlet 53 is the upper surface of the ink supply adapter 47 serving as the opening edge of the through hole 60 including the ink inlet 53 and the recess 61. It is located closer to the ink chamber 49 than 58. That is, the upper surface 58 of the ink supply adapter 47 extends in a direction intersecting with the direction in which the needle 56 extends at a position outside the tip of the needle 56 in the direction in which the needle 56 extends. On the other hand, the lower surface 59 of the ink replenishing adapter 47 functions as a tank engaging portion that engages a plurality of ink tanks 41 to 45 arranged side by side in the horizontal direction from the upper side.

  Further, the peripheral portion of the upper opening edge of each through hole 60 in the upper surface 58 of the ink supply adapter 47 is colored in a specific color. In other words, the ink is colored in the same color as the ink stored in the ink chamber 49 of the ink tanks 41 to 45 through which the ink flows through the ink inlet 53 of the through hole 60. In this respect, in the peripheral portion of the upper opening edge of each through hole 60 in the ink replenishing adapter 47, ink tanks 41 to 45 in which the ink inlet 53 of the through hole 60 and the ink chamber 49 communicate with each other are stored inside. It functions as a first portion that shows information relating to the ink that is present to the outside. Incidentally, the peripheral portion of the upper opening of the through hole 60 where the ink inlet 53 communicating with the ink chamber 49 of the ink tank 41 storing black ink is arranged is colored black.

  Further, on the inner surface of the recess 61 (specifically, the inner surface along the vertical direction), the horizontal position is located on the bottom surface side (that is, the horizontal portion side of the stepped portion 48) with respect to the upper opening edge of the recess 61. A first concavo-convex portion (first key structure portion) 62 having a concavo-convex shape characteristic in the direction is provided so as to extend along the depth direction of the concave portion 61 (in other words, the direction of the central axis of the ink inlet 53). ing. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first concavo-convex portion 62 is provided for each of the ink inlets 53 of a plurality of ink tanks 41 to 45 (five in this embodiment). Therefore, in the ink replenishing adapter 47, the rectangular recess 61 in each through hole 60 formed at a position corresponding to each of the ink tanks 41 to 45 in the vertical direction has another through hole 60 for each through hole 60. A first uneven portion 62 different from the first uneven portion 62 provided on the inner surface of the recess 61 is formed. That is, the first concavo-convex portion 62 has an ink supply container 63 (see FIG. 6) having an ink outlet 65 (see FIG. 6 and the like) connected to the ink inlet 53 in the through hole 60 in which the first concavo-convex portion 62 is formed. 6), and so on. The “position closer to the bottom surface than the opening edge on the upper side of the recess 61” means that any position that is slightly retracted toward the bottom surface than the opening edge may be used.

  Therefore, an ink supply container 63 that configures an ink supply system together with the ink tanks 41 to 45 and supplies ink to the ink tanks 41 to 45 whose ink remaining amount has decreased will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the ink supply container 63 according to the first embodiment is provided at a cylindrical container main body 64 serving as a main body thereof and at the tip of the container main body 64. And an ink outlet forming portion 66 having an ink outlet 65 that allows ink to flow out from the front end. The ink outlet forming portion 66 of the present embodiment is configured by a separate container addition portion 67 that is added so that a part of the tip side surrounds the ink outlet 65. The ink outlet forming portion 66 may be provided integrally at the end of the container main body 64 or may be provided separately. Further, the container adding portion 67 may be formed integrally with the front end side of the ink outlet forming portion 66 instead of being separately provided to the ink outlet forming portion 66.

  The ink outlet 65 of the ink outlet forming portion 66 is covered with a bottomed cylindrical cap 68 including the surrounding container addition portion 67 so that it is concealed from the outside when the ink supply container 63 is stored. That is, a male screw portion 69 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical lower end portion of the container adding portion 67, while a female screw portion (not shown) is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cap 68. Then, the cap 68 is attached to the front end portion of the ink supply container 63 so as to cover the ink outlet 65 by screwing the female screw portion of the cap 68 into the male screw portion 69 of the container adding portion 67.

  Note that the entire outer surface of the container addition portion 67 is colored in a specific color. That is, it is colored in the same color as the color of the ink stored in the container main body 64 to which the container adding portion 67 is added. In this regard, the container adding portion 67 in the ink supply container 63 functions as a second portion that shows information relating to the ink contained in the ink supply container 63 to the outside. Incidentally, the outer surface of the container adding portion 67 in the ink supply container 63 for containing black ink is colored black. A plurality (four in this embodiment) of projections 70 are formed on the outer peripheral surfaces of the base end portions of the container main body 64 and the cap 68 at equiangular intervals (90 degrees as an example). Incidentally, these protrusions 70 are formed in order to prevent the ink supply container 63 having a cylindrical shape from rolling. Furthermore, for example, the container main body 64 of the ink supply container 63 that stores black ink may be formed thicker than the container main body 64 of the ink supply container 63 that stores ink of other colors. In that case, the ink outlet forming portion 66 may have a common thickness and shape for the black ink and the other color inks.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the ink is disposed in the radial direction around the ink outlet 65 at the upper part of the cylindrical lower end portion in which the external thread portion 69 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the container addition portion 67. A convex portion 71 that protrudes upward in the direction of the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 and in the direction opposite to the direction in which the container main body 64 is positioned with respect to the ink outlet 65 is formed in the region that is outside the outlet 65. Has been. The convex portion 71 is a second portion that can be fitted with the concave portion 61 of the upper surface 58 of the ink supply adapter 47 as the first fitting portion when the tip of the needle 56 on the ink inlet 53 side is inserted into the ink outlet 65. Like the pair of recesses 61 that sandwich the ink inlet 53 from the front and the rear, the ink outlet 65 functions as a fitting portion and is provided so as to form a pair by sandwiching the ink outlet 65 from both sides in the radial direction (front and rear in the drawing). As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the convex portion 71 is formed on the inner side of the outer peripheral surface of the container main body 64 in the radial direction around the ink outlet 65 in the ink supply container 63.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, on the outer surface of each convex portion 71 (the left and right side surfaces in FIGS. 6 and 9), the first concave and convex portions (the first concave portions) formed on the inner surface of the concave portion 61 of the ink supply adapter 47. A second concavo-convex portion (second key structure portion) 72 that can be engaged with the (one key structure portion) 62 is formed. The second concavo-convex portion 72 is provided so as to extend along the protruding direction of the convex portion 71 (in other words, the direction of the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65), and the convex portion 71 is fitted in the concave portion 61. When the second uneven portion 72 is engaged with the first uneven portion 62, the ink outlet 65 of the ink supply container 63 is connected to the ink inlet 53 on the ink tanks 41 to 45 side.

  Further, between the cylindrical lower end portion where the male screw portion 69 of the container addition portion 67 is formed and the convex portion 71 where the second uneven portion 72 is formed, it is orthogonal to (intersects) the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65. A planar positioning portion 73 is provided so as to be positioned radially outward of the ink outlet 65 when the ink outlet 65 is viewed in the direction of its central axis 85. That is, the positioning portion 73 constitutes a part of the outer surface of the container addition portion 67 that is a part of the outer surface of the ink supply container 63, and the container is more in the direction of the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 than the tip of the convex portion 71. It is provided at a position on the main body 64 side. Since the positioning portion 73 is provided in the container addition portion 67 added to the ink outlet formation portion 66 in the ink supply container 63, it can be said that the positioning portion 73 is provided outside the ink outlet formation portion 66.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9, a valve 74 made of an elastic member such as a silicon film is provided in the ink outlet 65 formed in the ink outlet forming portion 66 so as to seal the ink outlet 65 so as to be opened and closed. ing. The valve 74 is provided at a position where the positioning portion 73 is closer to the container main body 64 in the direction of the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 (see, for example, FIG. 14). The valve 74 is provided with a plurality of (three in the present embodiment) slits 75 that intersect at equal angular intervals (as an example, 120 ° intervals) with the center as an intersection, and these slits 75 serve as ink outlets. The valve 65 is configured to be opened by being spread from the outside to the inside. That is, when the tip of the needle 56 on the ink inlet 53 side is inserted into the ink outlet 65, the valve 74, which is a normally closed valve, is pushed inward and opened by the tip of the needle 56.

  At that time, the positioning portion 73 is in contact with the upper surface 58 of the ink supply adapter 47 in which the through hole 60 including the ink inlet 53 and the recess 61 is formed outside the ink outlet 65 in the radial direction. The valve 74 is positioned with respect to the ink tanks 41 to 45 in the direction of the central axis 85. In this respect, the planar positioning portion 73 functions as a positioning surface that extends in a direction orthogonal to (intersects) the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65. On the other hand, the upper surface 58 of the ink supply adapter 47 is positioned on the positioning portion 73 of the ink supply container 63 when the valve 74 of the ink outlet 65 of the ink supply container 63 is opened to supply ink to the ink tanks 41 to 45. Is a part on the ink tanks 41 to 45 side that abuts, and functions as a receiving surface that receives the planar positioning portion 73.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the container main body 64 in the ink supply container 63 is a bottle-shaped member having an ink storage chamber 76 that can store the ink IK therein, and a neck portion at the upper end thereof. A male threaded portion 78 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of 77. On the other hand, the ink outlet forming portion 66 provided at the upper end portion of the container main body 64 has a large diameter portion 79 located on the outer peripheral side of the neck portion 77 of the container main body 64 and the ink at a position farthest from the container main body 64. It has a small-diameter portion 80 that is a cylindrical portion that opens the outlet 65 toward the outside, and an intermediate portion 81 that connects the large-diameter portion 79 and the small-diameter portion 80. The ink outlet forming portion 66 is formed by screwing the female screw portion 82 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the large diameter portion 79 with the male screw portion 78 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the neck portion 77 of the container main body portion 64. It is attached to the upper end of the container body 64.

  The container addition portion 67 added to the ink outlet formation portion 66 of the ink supply container 63 so as to surround the ink outlet 65 has a cylindrical lower end portion having a male screw portion 69 formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and a lower end surface thereof. Is formed on the upper end surface of the large-diameter portion 79 of the ink outlet forming portion 66. In the joint 83, the surface regions of the inner peripheral surface facing each other in the front-rear direction are in surface contact with the front outer surface and the rear outer surface of the intermediate portion 81 of the ink outlet forming portion 66. Joined to the large diameter portion 79.

  Therefore, the operation of the ink supply system configured as described above will be described below by focusing on the operation when ink is supplied to the ink tanks 41 to 45 of the ink supply unit 40 using the ink supply container 63. .

  As a premise, as shown in FIG. 2, the liquid level height of the ink in the black ink tank 41 located on the rightmost side among the plurality of ink tanks 41 to 45 arranged side by side is the visual recognition unit 50. In the following, a case where ink is supplied to the ink tank 41 will be described. Further, it is assumed that the black ink is sufficiently stored in the ink supply container 63 used for ink supply, and the cap 68 is removed from the ink supply container 63 in advance. Further, the shape of the second concavo-convex portion 72 formed on the outer surface of the convex portion 71 of the ink supply container 63 is the first surface formed on the inner surface of the concave portion 61 positioned before and after the ink inlet 53 to the ink tank 41. It is assumed that it matches the shape of the concavo-convex portion 62 and can be engaged with the insertion of the convex portion 71 into the concave portion 61.

  Now, when ink is supplied to the ink tank 41, first, the user turns the open / close door 35 of the housing 22 forward from the closed state shown in FIG. Then, the ink supply unit 40 exposes the upper surface 58 of the ink supply adapter 47 in which the ink inlets 53 into the ink tanks 41 to 45 are formed to the outside of the housing 22, and the user enters the desired ink inlet 53. In contrast, the ink outlet 65 of the ink supply container 63 can be connected from above.

  Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the user turns the ink supply container 63 containing black ink used for ink supply upside down, and the ink outlet 65 is the rightmost through hole in the ink supply adapter 47. 60 so that it is located above. That is, the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 of the ink supply container 63 is aligned with the central axis of the ink inlet 53 of the ink tank 41 to be supplied with ink. At this time, the user has the color (second portion) colored in the container addition portion 67 of the ink supply container 63 held in his hand and the ink inlet 53 of the ink tank 41 to be supplied with ink at that time. The color (first portion) colored around the opening edge on the upper side of the provided through hole 60 is compared. If the respective colors are the same (in this case, black), it is confirmed that the ink supply container 63 suitable for the current ink supply is held in the hand, and the process proceeds to the subsequent operation in the ink supply.

  Then, the ink supply container 63 is lowered from the state shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, and the convex portion 71 of the ink supply container 63 is inserted into the concave portion 61 of the ink supply adapter 47 integral with the ink tank 41. Then, by realizing the insertion state of the convex portion 71 with respect to the concave portion 61, the coincidence state of the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 with respect to the central axis of the ink inlet 53 is ensured. In this case, since the concave portion 61 is in a point-symmetric position with respect to the needle 56 that is the center of the ink inlet 53, the convex portion 71 can be inserted into any concave portion 61. Therefore, there is no need to rotate the ink supply container 63 many times around the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 to confirm the suitable positional relationship between the concave portion 61 and the convex portion 71. 71 can be easily inserted.

  However, at this time, the protrusion 71 is slightly inserted into the recess 61, and the tip of the needle 56 located at the center of the ink inlet 53 is slightly opened from the tip of the protrusion 71. Although it is inserted inside, it does not reach the valve 74 located inside the ink outlet 65. The reason for this is that, as shown in FIG. 13, the tip of the convex portion 71 is more than the distance L1 between the upper surface 58 of the ink supply adapter 47 where the opening edge of the concave portion 61 is located and the upper end of the first concave and convex portion 62 in the concave portion 61. This is because the distance L2 between the ink outlet 65 and the valve 74 in the ink outlet 65 is longer. Therefore, when the convex portion 71 is further inserted downward from the state in the depth direction of the concave portion 61, the second concave and convex portion 72 on the outer surface of the convex portion 71 is engaged with the first concave and convex portion 62 on the inner surface of the concave portion 61. Match. When the convex portion 71 is further inserted toward the bottom surface in the depth direction of the concave portion 61 while maintaining the engaged state, the tip of the needle 56 of the ink inlet 53 reaches the position of the valve 74 of the ink outlet 65. Then, the valve 74 is opened.

  That is, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the tip of the needle 56 spreads the slit 75 from the lower side to the upper side (that is, from the outside to the inside of the ink outlet 65) with respect to the valve 74. Open the valve. As a result, the ink outlet 65 of the ink supply container 63 and the needle 56 of the ink inlet 53 of the ink tank 41 are connected, and black ink is supplied from the ink supply container 63 into the ink tank 41. At this time, the needle 56 of the ink inlet 53 functions as an ink flow path through which ink flows between two flow paths 54 and 55, and the other flow path as an air flow path through which air flows. Function. For example, when the user tries to connect the ink outlet 65 to the ink inlet 53 in a state where the ink supply container 63 is tilted, an ink channel is formed between the two channels 54 and 55 due to the difference in the tilting direction. The flow path is also changed.

  If the second uneven portion 72 does not engage the first uneven portion 62 after the protrusion 71 is inserted into the recess 61, the user can remove the ink supply container 63 of a color other than black at that time. You can recognize that you are trying to insert it by mistake. In this case, if the upper end of the first uneven portion 62 is positioned at the same height as the opening edge of the recessed portion 61, the engagement of the second uneven portion 72 with respect to the first uneven portion 62 is rejected. In addition, since the insertion of the convex portion 71 into the concave portion 61 is also rejected, the user may try to insert the convex portion 71 into the concave portion 61 many times, and unnecessarily spend unnecessary work time. is there. In this respect, in the present embodiment, since the height of the first concavo-convex portion 62 is lower than the opening edge of the concave portion 61, the convex portion 71 is guided to the bottom surface side in the depth direction of the concave portion 61 when inserted into the concave portion 61. It becomes easy to be done and it is suppressed that work time becomes uselessly long.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 14, 16 and 17, when the needle 56 of the ink inlet 53 on the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) side opens the valve 74 in the ink outlet 65 of the ink supply container 63, The positioning portion 73 of the ink supply container 63 contacts the upper surface 58 of the ink supply adapter 47 that is a part of the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) side. That is, the ink replenishing container 63 is brought into contact with the planar positioning portion 73 functioning as a positioning surface extending in a direction orthogonal to (crossing) the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 and the upper surface 58 of the ink replenishing adapter 47. The valve 74 is opened while being positioned in the direction of the central axis of the ink outlet 65 with respect to the needle 56 on the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) side.

  At that time, since the positioning portion 73 is positioned on the outer side in the radial direction of the ink outlet 65, the ink supply container 63 is stably held in the posture in which the ink outlet 65 is connected to the ink inlet 53. Further, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, when the positioning portion 73 of the ink supply container 63 contacts the upper surface 58 of the ink supply adapter 47, the ink inlet 53 where the proximal end of the needle 56 in the ink inlet 53 is located. There is a gap between the bottom surface of the ink supply and the tip of the ink outlet 65 of the ink supply container 63. For this reason, ink tends to accumulate on the bottom surface of the ink inlet 53 where the proximal end of the needle 56 is located, but it is also possible to prevent the ink that has accumulated from adhering to the tip of the ink outlet 65 from contaminating the ink supply container 63. The

  14 and 16, when the ink supply from the ink supply container 63 to the ink tank 41 is completed, the ink level in the ink tank 41 is higher than the upper limit mark 51 of the visual recognition unit 50. If it is still low, ink may be further replenished to the upper limit mark 51 using the same black ink replenishing container 63. The ink replenishing operation as described above is similarly performed for the ink tanks 42 to 45 of other colors other than the black ink tank 41.

According to the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1-1) The ink supply container 63 includes a planar positioning portion 73 that functions as a positioning surface extending in a direction orthogonal to (intersects) the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 when ink is supplied to the ink tanks 41 to 45. The ink supply adapter 47 which is a part of the ink tanks 41 to 45 abuts on the upper surface 58 of the adapter 47. Then, since the posture of the ink supply container 63 is stabilized in the direction orthogonal to (intersects) the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65, the valve 74 is opened with the valve 74 positioned with respect to the ink tanks 41 to 45, and the ink is supplied. Easy to replenish. Therefore, ink can be appropriately supplied to the ink tanks 41 to 45.

  (1-2) Since the valve 74 is a slit valve in which one or more slits 75 are provided in an elastic member made of a silicon film or the like, the ink supply container 63 having a simple structure is provided with a small number of parts. it can.

  (1-3) When the ink supply container 63 is connected to the ink tanks 41 to 45 from a direction in which the two flow paths 54 and 55 are aligned from the direction in which the needle 56 extends, the two flow paths are connected. One of the flow channels 54 and 55 on the side where the ink outlet 65 of the ink supply container 63 comes closer functions as an ink flow channel, and the other flow channel functions as an air flow channel. Therefore, the user may use any one of the two flow paths 54 and 55 as an ink flow path. It can be carried out.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments including the second embodiment, a part of the configuration of the ink supply container 63 is different from that of the first embodiment, and other configurations are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment. . Therefore, hereinafter, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 18, the ink supply container 63 according to the second embodiment has a small diameter portion 80, which is an example of a cylindrical portion that opens the ink outlet 65 toward the outside at the tip portion of the ink outlet forming portion 66. Is configured to function as That is, the cylindrical small-diameter portion 80 has a planar tip surface that is orthogonal (intersects) with the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65, and the direction in which the tip surface is orthogonal (intersects) with the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65. A positioning surface 84 extending in the direction is configured.

  As shown in FIG. 18, the positioning surface 84 is configured by a tip surface of a small diameter portion 80 that forms the ink outlet 65 on the inner peripheral side. Therefore, the container main body portion 64 is positioned in the direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 with respect to the valve 74 positioned on the positioning surface 84 inwardly of the opening edge of the ink outlet 65 in the small diameter portion 80. Located on the opposite side to the side. That is, the positioning surface 84 protrudes from the valve 74 toward the side where ink flows out from the ink outlet 65 (hereinafter also referred to as “container tip side”) in the direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65. Yes.

  In addition, the positioning surface 84 is configured by a tip surface that is a portion farthest from the container main body 64 in the direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 in the small diameter portion 80. Therefore, the positioning surface 84 is opposite to the side where the container main body 64 is located in the direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 rather than the ink outlet 65 formed on the inner peripheral side of the small diameter portion 80. It is located on the container tip side which is the side. The small-diameter portion 80, which is a cylindrical portion in the present embodiment, is a through-hole (hereinafter also referred to as a “tank-side through-hole”) 60 of the ink supply adapter 47 integral with the ink tank 41 (42 to 45). The needle (ink inlet channel portion) 56 has a shape that can be fitted into a substantially circular hole-shaped ink inlet 53 located at the center.

  As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, when ink is supplied from the ink supply container 63 of the second embodiment to the ink tank 41 (42 to 45), the small diameter portion 80 that forms the ink outlet 65 on the inner peripheral side is provided. It is inserted into the through hole 60 on the tank side from above. That is, the small-diameter portion 80 that functions as a positioning portion is inserted into the substantially circular hole-shaped ink inlet 53 in the through hole 60 so that the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 is aligned with the central axis of the ink inlet 53. Is done.

  At this time, the ink supply container 63 moving to the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) side has the positioning surface 84 at the tip of the small diameter portion 80 before the valve 74 inside the ink outlet 65, so that the ink tank 41 ( 42 to 45) side. The outer peripheral surface (outer surface) of the cylindrical small-diameter portion 80 in the ink supply container 63 is located on the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 with respect to the arc surface that forms the inner peripheral surface (inner surface) of the ink inlet 53. Slide along the direction. In other words, the positioning surface 84 that is the tip surface of the cylindrical small diameter portion (positioning portion) 80 slides on an arc surface that forms the inner peripheral surface of the ink inlet 53 in the through hole 60 on the tank side. The ink outlet 65 is guided in the direction in which the needle 56 is inserted.

  In the middle of the small diameter portion 80 of the ink supply container 63 moving toward the bottom of the through hole 60 with the positioning surface 84 at the tip thereof inserted into the ink inlet 53 of the through hole 60 on the tank side, the ink inlet When the distal end of the needle 56 of 53 reaches the position of the valve 74 of the ink outlet 65 from below, the needle 56 opens the valve 74. Then, when the small diameter portion 80 of the ink supply container 63 further moves toward the bottom portion of the through hole 60 from that state, the positioning surface 84 at the tip of the small diameter portion 80 comes into contact with the bottom portion. In other words, the ink supply container 63 has a stable posture because the positioning surface 84 that extends in the direction orthogonal to (intersects) the center axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 at the tip of the small diameter portion 80 abuts the bottom of the tank-side through hole 60. To do. As a result, the valve 74 is opened while being positioned in the direction of the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 with respect to the needle 56 on the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) side.

According to the said 2nd Embodiment, in addition to the effect of said (1-2) and (1-3), the following effects can be acquired.
(2-1) The ink replenishing container 63 is moved to the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) side, and the needle (ink inlet flow path portion) 56 of the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) is inserted into the ink outlet 65 to set the valve. When the valve 74 is opened, the positioning surface 84 which is the tip surface of the cylindrical small diameter portion (positioning portion) 80 moves to the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) side before the valve 74. At that time, the positioning surface 84 at the tip of the small-diameter portion 80 is guided by an arc surface forming the inner peripheral surface of the ink inlet 53 in the through hole 60 and smoothly moves in a direction in which the needle 56 is inserted into the ink outlet 65. To do. As a result, it becomes easy to guide the needle (ink inlet channel portion) 56 with respect to the valve 74 when ink is supplied.

  (2-2) The ink replenishing container 63 is moved to the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) side, and the needle (ink inlet flow path portion) 56 of the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) is inserted into the ink outlet 65 to set the valve. When the valve 74 is opened, the positioning surface 84 at the tip of the small diameter portion 80 approaches the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) before the ink outlet 65 on the inner peripheral side of the small diameter portion 80. Therefore, it is easy to prevent the ink outlet 65 from colliding with other members when the ink supply container 63 is brought close to the ink tank 41 (42 to 45). In addition, it is possible to protect the ink outlet 65 and easily prevent ink from adhering to other members.

  (2-3) The ink supply container 63 intersects the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 when the positioning surface 84 comes into contact with the bottom of the through hole 60 on the tank side when ink is supplied to the ink tank 41 (42 to 45). The posture is stabilized in the direction to do. Therefore, it is easy to supply ink, and the ink supply container 63 can appropriately supply ink to the ink tank 41 (42 to 45).

  (2-4) Since the ink replenishing container 63 can form the positioning surface 84 together with the ink outlet 65 in a small diameter portion (cylinder portion) 80 which is a part of the ink outlet forming portion 66, the positioning surface 84 is defined as the ink outlet 65. The structure can be made simpler than forming on a part of a convex portion or the like provided at another location.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 21, the ink supply container 63 of the third embodiment has a container tip in a direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 from a position outside the ink outlet 65 in the radial direction centered on the ink outlet 65. The convex part 71 which protrudes toward the side is comprised so that it may function as a positioning part. That is, the convex portion 71 has a flat tip surface that is orthogonal (intersects) with the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65, and the tip surface extends in a direction orthogonal (intersects) with the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65. A positioning surface 84 is configured.

  As shown in FIG. 21, the convex portion 71 is a container in a direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 rather than the small diameter portion 80 that forms the ink outlet 65 in which the valve 74 is located on the inner periphery side. It protrudes to the container front end side, which is the opposite side to the side where the main body 64 is located. Therefore, the positioning surface 84 which is the tip surface of the convex portion 71 is opposite to the side where the container main body portion 64 is located in the direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 with respect to the ink outlet 65 and the valve 74. Located on the container tip side.

  Further, the convex portion 71 is provided in a portion exposed to the outside in the container adding portion 67 which is a part of the ink outlet forming portion 66. That is, the convex portion 71 is provided in a portion of the ink supply container 63 that is outside the ink outlet 65 in the radial direction centered on the ink outlet 65. And the planar shape of the convex part 71 can be fitted in the substantially rectangular-shaped recessed part 61 connected from the front-back direction to the substantially circular hole-shaped ink inlet 53 located in the center in the through-hole 60 of the ink tank 41 (42-45). It has a nice shape. Between the outer peripheral surface (outer surface) of the cylindrical small-diameter portion 80 and the outer surface of the convex portion 71 facing this outer peripheral surface, the distal end surface of the small-diameter portion 80 and the distal end surface (positioning of the convex portion 71). A slit-like gap 86 is formed through which ink adhering to the surface 84) can be drawn by capillary action. In the case of the third embodiment, the first uneven portion 62 formed on the inner surface of the recess 61 in the through hole 60 of the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) in the first embodiment is not provided.

  As shown in FIG. 21, when ink is supplied from the ink supply container 63 of the third embodiment to the ink tank 41 (42 to 45), the convex portion 71 and the small diameter portion 80 at the tip of the ink supply container 63 are located on the tank side. Is inserted into the through hole 60 from above. That is, the convex portion 71 is inserted into the concave portion 61 in the through hole 60 on the tank side, and subsequently, the small diameter portion 80 is inserted into the ink inlet 53 in the through hole 60.

  At this time, in the ink supply container 63 that moves to the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) side, the positioning surface 84 at the tip of the convex portion 71 is ahead of the ink outlet 65 of the small-diameter portion 80 and the valve 74 at the inside. Then, it moves to the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) side. The outer surface of the convex portion 71 in the ink supply container 63 slides in the direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 with respect to the inner surface of the concave portion 61 of the through hole 60 on the tank side. In other words, the positioning surface 84, which is a substantially rectangular tip surface of the convex portion 71, is guided in the direction in which the needle 56 is inserted into the ink outlet 65 by sliding on the inner surface of the concave portion 61 in the through hole 60. .

  Then, the ink inlet 53 is in the middle of the projection 71 of the ink supply container 63 moving toward the bottom of the through hole 60 with the positioning surface 84 at the tip thereof being inserted into the recess 61 of the through hole 60 on the tank side. When the tip of the needle 56 reaches the position of the valve 74 at the ink outlet 65 from below, the needle 56 opens the valve 74. Then, when the convex portion 71 of the ink supply container 63 further moves toward the bottom portion of the through hole 60 from this state, the positioning surface 84 at the tip of the convex portion 71 comes into contact with the bottom portion. That is, the posture of the ink supply container 63 is stable because the positioning surface 84 that extends in the direction orthogonal to (intersects) the center axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 at the tip of the convex portion 71 contacts the bottom of the through hole 60. As a result, the valve 74 is opened while being positioned in the direction of the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 with respect to the needle 56 on the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) side.

  In addition, when the ink leaking from the ink outlet 65 flows so as to spread outward from the distal end surface of the small diameter portion 80 in the radial direction, the outer peripheral surface (outer surface) of the small diameter portion 80 and the outside of the convex portion 71. It is drawn into the gap 86 between the side surfaces by capillary action. Therefore, the ink leaking from the ink outlet 65 is prevented from remaining on the tip surface of the small diameter portion 80 or adhering to the positioning surface 84 which is the tip surface of the convex portion 71 to be solidified.

According to the third embodiment, in addition to the effects (1-2), (1-3), and (2-3), the following effects can be obtained.
(3-1) The ink replenishing container 63 is moved to the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) side, and the needle (ink inlet flow path portion) 56 of the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) is inserted into the ink outlet 65 to set the valve. When the valve 74 is opened, the substantially rectangular positioning surface 84 which is the tip surface of the convex portion 71 moves to the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) side before the valve 74. At that time, the positioning surface 84 at the tip of the convex portion 71 is guided by the inner surface of the substantially rectangular concave portion 61 in the tank-side through hole 60 and smoothly moves in the direction in which the needle 56 is inserted into the ink outlet 65. To do. As a result, it becomes easy to guide the needle (ink inlet channel portion) 56 with respect to the valve 74 when ink is supplied.

  (3-2) The ink supply container 63 is moved to the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) side, and the needle (ink inlet channel portion) 56 of the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) is inserted into the ink outlet 65 so that the valve When the valve 74 is opened, the positioning surface 84 at the tip of the convex portion 71 approaches the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) before the ink outlet 65 on the inner peripheral side of the small diameter portion 80. Therefore, it is easy to prevent the ink outlet 65 from colliding with other members when the ink supply container 63 is brought close to the ink tank 41 (42 to 45). Moreover, it is easy to prevent damage to the ink outlet 65 and ink adhesion to other members.

  (3-3) The ink leaking from the ink outlet 65 and adhering to the tip surface of the small diameter portion 80 or the ink adhering to the positioning surface 84 is drawn into the gap 86 between the small diameter portion 80 and the convex portion 71. Thus, dripping of ink and contamination to the outside can be reduced.

  (3-4) The convex portion 71 having the positioning surface 84 at the tip is provided at a portion exposed to the outside in the ink outlet forming portion 66, that is, at a position outside the ink outlet 65 in the radial direction centering on the ink outlet 65. ing. Therefore, when inserting the needle (ink inlet channel portion) 56 of the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) into the ink outlet 65 of the ink supply container 63, the convex portion 71 functioning as a positioning portion and the positioning surface 84 at the tip thereof are provided. Easy to see from outside.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 23, the ink supply container 63 of the fourth embodiment also has an ink outlet 65 from a position outside the ink outlet 65 in the radial direction centering on the ink outlet 65, as in the case of the third embodiment. The convex part 71 which protrudes toward the container front end side in the direction along the central axis 85 is configured to function as a positioning part. That is, the convex portion 71 is also provided at a portion exposed to the outside in the container addition portion 67 which is a part of the ink outlet forming portion 66, and the tip surface thereof is in a direction orthogonal (crossing) to the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65. An extending positioning surface 84 is formed. A slit-like gap 86 is similarly formed between the convex portion 71 and the small diameter portion 80.

  However, the convex portion 71 in the fourth embodiment is different from the convex portion 71 in the third embodiment, and the shape of the positioning surface 84 which is the tip surface thereof is not a substantially rectangular shape but a substantially T-shape. . That is, the positioning surface 84 in the fourth embodiment is a portion extending linearly in the radial direction centered on the ink outlet 65 and a radially outward end of the portion extending linearly in the radial direction from the radial direction to the left and right sides, respectively. It has a linearly extending portion. Therefore, the positioning surface 84 has a surface area farther from the ink outlet 65 in a direction intersecting (in this case, orthogonal) to the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 than a surface area closer to the ink outlet 65. The width in the direction (tangential direction) orthogonal to the radial direction around the ink outlet 65 is large. In other words, the positioning surface 84 in the fourth embodiment is in a direction intersecting (in this case, orthogonal) with the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 when inserted into the through hole 60 of the ink tank 41 (42 to 45). The area that is in contact with the bottom of the through hole 60 on the side far from the ink outlet 65 is formed to be larger than the area that is in contact with the side near the ink outlet 65. Therefore, the ink supply container 63 of the fourth embodiment has basically the same effects as the ink supply container 63 of the third embodiment except for the effects based on the difference in the shape of the positioning surface 84. .

According to the fourth embodiment, in addition to the effects (1-2), (1-3), (2-3), and (3-1) to (3-4), the following effects are obtained. Can be obtained.
(4-1) When the convex portion 71 is inserted into the through hole 60 of the ink tank 41 (42 to 45), the ink outlet 65 extends in a direction intersecting (in this case, orthogonal) with the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65. The area in contact with the bottom of the through hole 60 on the side far from the center is larger than the area in contact with the side close to the ink outlet 65. Therefore, the stability of the posture of the ink outlet 65 can be enhanced in the ink replenishment state in which the needle (ink inlet channel portion) 56 is inserted into the ink outlet 65 and the valve 74 is opened.

(Fifth embodiment)
Next, a fifth embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, the ink supply container 63 of the fifth embodiment also has an outer side of the ink outlet 65 in the radial direction centered on the ink outlet 65, as in the third and fourth embodiments. The convex portion 71 that protrudes toward the tip end side of the container in the direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 from this position is configured to function as a positioning portion. That is, the convex portion 71 is also provided at a portion exposed to the outside in the container addition portion 67 which is a part of the ink outlet forming portion 66, and the tip surface thereof is in a direction orthogonal (crossing) to the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65. An extending positioning surface 84 is formed. A slit-like gap 86 is similarly formed between the convex portion 71 and the small diameter portion 80.

  However, unlike the convex portions 71 in the third and fourth embodiments, the convex portion 71 in the fifth embodiment has a small projecting height toward the front end side of the container in the direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65. It is lower than 80. That is, the positioning surface 84 in the fifth embodiment is located closer to the container base end side, which is the side where the container main body 64 is located, in the direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 than the ink outlet 65 and the valve 74. doing.

  As shown in FIG. 25, when ink is supplied from the ink supply container 63 of the fifth embodiment to the ink tank 41 (42 to 45), the small diameter portion 80 is inserted into the ink inlet 53 in the through hole 60 on the tank side. Subsequently, the convex portion 71 is inserted into the concave portion 61 in the through hole 60. In this case, the front end of the needle 56 of the ink inlet 53 is seen from below before the convex portion 71 of the ink supply container 63 inserts the positioning surface 84 of the front end into the concave portion 61 of the through hole 60 on the tank side. The ink outlet 65 reaches the position of the valve 74, and the needle 56 opens the valve 74.

  Then, when the convex portion 71 of the ink supply container 63 moves from the state toward the bottom in the concave portion 61 of the through hole 60, the positioning surface 84 at the tip of the convex portion 71 extends vertically from the inner side surface of the concave portion 61. It abuts on the first uneven portion 62 provided in a rib shape. In this regard, the first uneven portion 62 serves as a contact portion that contacts the positioning surface 84 of the ink supply container 63 when positioning the valve 74 inside the ink outlet 65 with respect to the ink tank 41 (42 to 45). Function. Therefore, the ink supply container 63 has a positioning surface 84 extending in a direction orthogonal to (intersects) the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 at the tip of the convex portion 71 and the first uneven portion (contact portion) 62 in the through hole 60. The posture is stabilized by contact. As a result, the valve 74 is opened while being positioned in the direction of the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 with respect to the needle 56 on the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) side.

According to the fifth embodiment, in addition to the effects (1-2), (1-3), (3-3), and (3-4), the following effects can be obtained.
(5-1) When the ink supply container 63 is replenished with ink to the ink tank 41 (42 to 45), the positioning surface 84 comes into contact with the first uneven portion (contact portion) 62 in the through hole 60 on the tank side. The posture is stabilized in the direction intersecting the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65. Therefore, it is easy to supply ink, and the ink supply container 63 can appropriately supply ink to the ink tank 41 (42 to 45).

(Sixth embodiment)
Next, a sixth embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 26, the ink supply container 63 of the sixth embodiment is also located from the position outside the ink outlet 65 in the radial direction centered on the ink outlet 65, as in the third to fifth embodiments. A convex portion 71 protruding toward the container front end side in the direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 is configured to function as a positioning portion. That is, the convex portion 71 is also provided in a portion exposed to the outside in the container addition portion 67 which is a part of the ink outlet forming portion 66, and similarly between the convex portion 71 and the small diameter portion 80, a slit-like shape is provided. A gap 86 is formed.

  However, the convex portion 71 in the sixth embodiment is different from the convex portion 71 in the third to fifth embodiments, and the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) side when the valve 74 inside the ink outlet 65 is opened. The positioning surface that comes into contact with a part of the convex portion 71 is not constituted by the distal end surface. That is, the convex portion 71 in the sixth embodiment is a direction in which a part of the outer surface (or outer peripheral surface) facing outward in the radial direction centering on the ink outlet 65 intersects the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65. It is inclined to. And the positioning surface 84 is comprised by a part of outer surface (or outer peripheral surface) of the convex part 71 inclined in this way. The positioning surface 84 may be curved in a direction intersecting with the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65.

  In this case, in the direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65, the positioning surface 84 is moved toward the container base end side that is the side opposite to the container front end side (that is, the side where the container main body portion 64 is located). It is constituted by a conical surface or a slope inclined in a direction gradually away from the central axis 85 of 65. When the protrusion 71 is inserted into the through hole 60 on the tank side from the tip, a part of the surface area of the inclined positioning surface 84 exhibits a wedge effect on the opening edge of the through hole 60 on the tank side. Are formed so as to contact each other.

  As shown in FIG. 26, when ink is supplied from the ink supply container 63 of the sixth embodiment to the ink tank 41 (42 to 45), the small diameter portion 80 is inserted into the ink inlet 53 in the through hole 60 on the tank side. Subsequently, the convex portion 71 is inserted into the concave portion 61 in the through hole 60. In this case, before the inclined positioning surface 84 of the convex portion 71 of the ink supply container 63 comes into contact with the opening edge or the like of the through hole 60, the tip of the needle 56 of the ink inlet 53 extends from below to the ink outlet 65. The valve reaches the position of the valve 74, and the needle 56 opens the valve 74. When the small diameter portion 80 is inserted into the ink inlet 53 of the through hole 60, the inclined positioning surface 84 on the outer surface of the convex portion 71 is gradually moved along the positioning surface 84 from the state where the inclined positioning surface 84 is applied to the opening edge of the through hole 60. It is also possible to guide.

  Then, when the convex portion 71 of the ink supply container 63 moves from the state toward the bottom in the concave portion 61 of the through hole 60 on the tank side, the inclined positioning surface 84 of the outer surface of the convex portion 71 is formed in the through hole 60. Abuts the opening edge. In this case, the ink supply container 63 is positioned in the gravity direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 and the horizontal direction orthogonal to the gravity direction with respect to the opening edge of the through hole 60 on the tank side. . Therefore, the posture of the ink supply container 63 is stabilized because the positioning surface 84 inclined on the outer surface of the convex portion 71 comes into contact with the opening edge of the through hole 60. As a result, the valve 74 is opened while being positioned in the direction of the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 with respect to the needle 56 on the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) side.

According to the said 6th Embodiment, in addition to the effect of said (1-2), (1-3), (3-3), (3-4), the following effects can be acquired.
(6-1) A positioning surface 84 that contacts a part of the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) side for positioning is inclined (or curved) in a direction intersecting the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65. For this reason, when ink is supplied from the ink supply container 63 to the ink tank 41 (42 to 45), both in the direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 (gravity direction) and in the direction orthogonal to the central axis 85 (horizontal direction). Ink supply container 63 can be positioned, and ink supply can be performed appropriately.

(6-2) When the needle (ink inlet channel portion) 56 is inserted into and removed from the ink outlet 65, the ink supply container 63 can be gradually guided along the inclined (or curved) positioning surface 84.
(Seventh embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 27, the ink supply container 63 of the seventh embodiment also has an ink outlet 65 from a position outside the ink outlet 65 in the radial direction around the ink outlet 65, as in the sixth embodiment. The convex part 71 which protrudes toward the container front end side in the direction along the central axis 85 is configured to function as a positioning part. That is, the convex portion 71 is also provided in a portion exposed to the outside in the container addition portion 67 which is a part of the ink outlet forming portion 66, and similarly between the convex portion 71 and the small diameter portion 80, a slit-like shape is provided. A gap 86 is formed.

  However, unlike the convex portion 71 in the sixth embodiment, the convex portion 71 in the seventh embodiment has on the outer surface when the convex portion 71 is inserted into the concave portion 61 in the through hole 60 on the tank side. The inclined positioning surface 84 is not formed so as to be able to contact the opening edge of the through hole 60. That is, the convex portion 71 has a wedge effect with respect to the upper end of the first concavo-convex portion 62, the positioning surface 84 of the outer surface of which functions as a contact portion provided in a rib shape extending in the vertical direction from the inner surface of the concave portion 61. It is formed so that it may come into contact with it. The positioning surface 84 may be curved in a direction intersecting with the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 27, when ink is replenished from the ink replenishing container 63 of the seventh embodiment to the ink tank 41 (42 to 45), as in the case of the sixth embodiment, the tank side through-hole 60 is used. The small diameter portion 80 is inserted into the ink inlet 53, and subsequently, the convex portion 71 is inserted into the concave portion 61 in the through hole 60. In this case, the needle 56 of the ink inlet 53 is in a stage before the inclined positioning surface 84 of the convex portion 71 of the ink supply container 63 contacts the first uneven portion (contact portion) on the inner surface of the through hole 60. From the lower side to the position of the valve 74 of the ink outlet 65, and the needle 56 opens the valve 74. In the seventh embodiment as well, when the small diameter portion 80 is inserted into the ink inlet 53 of the through hole 60, the inclined positioning surface 84 of the outer surface of the convex portion 71 is positioned from the state where it is applied to the opening edge of the through hole 60. It is also possible to guide gradually along the surface 84.

  Then, when the convex portion 71 of the ink supply container 63 moves from the state toward the bottom in the concave portion 61 of the through hole 60 on the tank side, the inclined positioning surface 84 of the outer surface of the convex portion 71 is formed in the through hole 60. It contacts the first uneven portion (contact portion) on the inner surface. Also in this case, the ink replenishing container 63 has a gravity direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 and the gravity of the positioning surface 84 with respect to the first uneven portion (contact portion) of the through hole 60 on the tank side. Positioned in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the direction. Therefore, the posture of the ink supply container 63 is stabilized by the positioning surface 84 inclined on the outer surface of the convex portion 71 coming into contact with the first uneven portion (contact portion) on the inner surface of the through hole 60. As a result, the valve 74 is opened while being positioned in the direction of the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 with respect to the needle 56 on the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) side.

According to the said 7th Embodiment, the same effect as said (1-2), (1-3), (3-3), (3-4), (6-1), and (6-2). Can be obtained.
(Eighth embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 28, the ink supply container 63 of the eighth embodiment also has an ink outlet 65 from a position outside the ink outlet 65 in the radial direction centered on the ink outlet 65, as in the sixth embodiment. The convex part 71 which protrudes toward the container front end side in the direction along the central axis 85 is configured to function as a positioning part. That is, the convex portion 71 is also provided on a portion exposed to the outside in the container addition portion 67 which is a part of the ink outlet forming portion 66, and the outer surface (or the outer surface facing the outer side in the radial direction around the ink outlet 65) (or A positioning surface 84 is provided on the outer peripheral surface.

  However, unlike the convex portion 71 in the sixth embodiment, the convex portion 71 in the eighth embodiment is inclined in a direction in which the positioning surface 84 provided on the outer surface intersects the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65. It is not curved. The positioning surface 84 also extends in the direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 toward the container base end side that is opposite to the container distal end side (that is, the side where the container main body 64 is located). It is composed of a conical surface or a slope curved in a direction gradually away from the central axis 85. When the protrusion 71 is inserted into the through hole 60 on the tank side from the tip, a part of the surface area of the curved positioning surface 84 exerts a wedge effect on the opening edge of the through hole 60 on the tank side. Are formed so as to contact each other. The positioning surface 84 may be inclined in a direction intersecting with the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65.

  As shown in FIG. 28, when ink is supplied from the ink supply container 63 of the eighth embodiment to the ink tank 41 (42 to 45), as in the case of the sixth embodiment, the ink outlet 65 of the small diameter portion 80 is also supplied. The needle 56 at the ink inlet 53 is first inserted, and the valve 74 is opened. Thereafter, the curved positioning surface 84 on the outer surface of the convex portion 71 of the ink supply container 63 comes into contact with the opening edge of the through hole 60 on the tank side, and ink is supplied in that state.

According to the said 8th Embodiment, the same effect as said (1-2), (1-3), (3-3), (3-4), (6-1), and (6-2). Can be obtained.
(Ninth embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 29, the ink supply container 63 of the ninth embodiment differs from the first to eighth embodiments in that the positioning portion and the positioning surface are in the radial direction centered on the ink outlet 65 and the ink outlet 65. Is provided inside. That is, in the ink supply container 63 of the ninth embodiment, in the ink outlet forming part 66, the small diameter part 80 that is a cylindrical part that forms the ink outlet 65 on the inner peripheral side and the intermediate part 81 that is connected to the base end side thereof. A partition wall 87 is formed, and the partition wall 87 constitutes a positioning portion. A communication hole 88 that allows the ink outlet 65 to communicate with the ink storage chamber 76 is formed at a position where the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 passes through the central portion of the partition wall 87.

  In the partition wall 87, a positioning surface 84 is constituted by a wall surface located on the container front end side in the direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65. This positioning surface 84 is orthogonal to the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 so that the tip surface of the needle (ink inlet channel portion) 56 on the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) side can come into contact with the surface. It is formed in a planar shape extending in the (intersecting) direction.

  As shown in FIG. 29, when ink is supplied from the ink supply container 63 of the ninth embodiment to the ink tank 41 (42 to 45), the small diameter portion 80 is inserted into the ink inlet 53 in the through hole 60 on the tank side. When the tip of the needle 56 at the ink inlet 53 reaches the position of the valve 74 at the ink outlet 65 from below, the needle 56 opens the valve 74. Then, when the ink supply container 63 is further moved to the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) side from the state, the planar positioning surface 84 formed in the partition wall 87 inside the ink outlet 65 becomes a needle (ink inlet channel). Part) 56 is brought into contact with the front end surface. Therefore, the ink supply container 63 has a positioning surface 84 provided in a planar shape extending in a direction orthogonal to (intersects) the center axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 inside the ink outlet 65. The posture is stabilized by coming into contact with the tip surface. As a result, the valve 74 is opened while being positioned in the direction of the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 with respect to the needle 56 on the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) side.

According to the ninth embodiment, in addition to the effects (1-2) and (1-3), the following effects can be obtained.
(9-1) Since the positioning portion (in this case, the partition wall 87) and the positioning surface 84 are protected inside the ink outlet 65, the positioning portion 84 and the positioning surface 84 can be hardly damaged. Further, since the positioning portion (in this case, the partition wall 87) and the positioning surface 84 are close to the valve 74 inside the ink outlet 65, the valve 74 can be accurately positioned with respect to the ink tank 41 (42 to 45). Further, even if ink adheres to the positioning portion (in this case, the partition wall 87) and the positioning surface 84, it is positioned inside the ink outlet 65, so that it is difficult for ink to adhere to the outside of the ink supply container 63.

(10th Embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 30, the ink supply container 63 of the tenth embodiment also has a positioning portion and a positioning surface inside the ink outlet 65 in the radial direction centering on the ink outlet 65, as in the ninth embodiment. Is provided. In other words, the positioning portion is constituted by the partition wall 87 formed between the small diameter portion 80 and the intermediate portion 81 of the ink outlet forming portion 66, and the container leading end side in the direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 in the partition wall 87. A positioning surface 84 is constituted by the wall surface located at the position. In addition, a communication hole 88 that allows the ink outlet 65 to communicate with the ink storage chamber 76 is formed through the central portion of the partition wall 87.

  However, unlike the positioning surface 84 in the ninth embodiment, the positioning surface 84 in the tenth embodiment is inclined in a direction intersecting the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65. That is, the positioning surface 84 is configured by a conical surface or an inclined surface that is inclined in a direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 and gradually away from the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 toward the front end side of the container. . When the tip end surface of the needle (ink inlet channel portion) 56 that has opened the valve 74 abuts from below, a part of the surface area of the inclined positioning surface 84 is the needle (ink inlet channel portion) 56. It is formed so as to abut against the wedge effect.

According to the tenth embodiment, the same effects as the above (1-2), (1-3) and (9-1) can be obtained.
(Eleventh embodiment)
As shown in FIGS. 31 to 33, the ink supply unit 40 that constitutes the ink supply system together with the ink supply container 63 of the eleventh embodiment has a structure in which the ink inlet 53 is normally closed. That is, the ink supply unit 40 includes a lever-like cap support member 90 for each of the plurality of ink inlets 53. The base end portion of the cap support member 90 is rotatably supported by a rotation shaft 91 provided on the upper surface 58 of the ink supply adapter 47 so as to extend in a direction (horizontal direction) intersecting the central axis of the ink inlet 53. Has been. An elastic cap 92 having a shape that can be fitted to the ink inlet 53 is provided on the front end side of the center in the longitudinal direction of each cap support member 90. The cap support member 90 is usually provided with the elastic cap 92. It is in the closed state fitted in.

  As shown in FIGS. 31 and 32, at the time of ink replenishment, the cap support member 90 in the closed state with the elastic cap 92 fitted to the ink inlet 53 puts a hand on the bent handle portion 93 at the tip thereof. The elastic cap 92 is tilted to the open state in which the elastic cap 92 is separated from the ink inlet 53 by the user. As shown in FIG. 31, a unit cover 100 that collectively covers the tops of the plurality of cap support members 90 may be further provided so as to be freely opened and closed. The elastic cap 92 is made of an elastic material such as an elastomer, and the cap support member 90 is made of a material having a higher rigidity than the elastic cap 92 made of, for example, polystyrene or ABS resin.

  As shown in FIGS. 32 and 33, in the ink supply container 63 of the eleventh embodiment, the shoulder portion located on the leading end side of the ink outlet forming portion 66 forms a positioning portion, and the shoulder portion of the ink outlet 65 A planar surface extending in a direction orthogonal to (intersects) the central axis 85 constitutes the positioning surface 84. From the central portion of the positioning surface 84, a small diameter portion 80, which is a cylindrical portion that forms the ink outlet 65 on the inner peripheral side, protrudes toward the container front end side.

  When ink is supplied from the ink supply container 63 of the eleventh embodiment to the ink tank 41 (42 to 45), first, the elastic cap 92 connects the ink inlet 53 of the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) to be supplied with ink. The closed cap support member 90 is opened. Then, the ink outlet 65 of the ink supply container 63 is inserted into the opened needle (ink inlet channel portion) 56 of the ink inlet 53. Then, the tip of the needle 56 at the ink inlet 53 reaches the position of the valve 74 at the ink outlet 65 from below, and the needle 56 opens the valve 74. When the ink supply container 63 is further moved to the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) side from that state, the positioning surface 84 formed on the shoulder portion of the ink outlet forming portion 66 comes into contact with the upper surface of the cap support member 90, The ink supply container 63 and the valve 74 of the ink outlet 65 are positioned with respect to the ink tank 41 (42 to 45). That is, the cap support member 90 is positioned between the positioning surface 84 of the ink supply container 63 and a part (such as the through hole 60) on the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) side, and mediates the contact between them. It functions as an auxiliary member.

  In this case, the positioning surface 84 contacts the ink inlet 53 of another ink tank (for example, the ink tanks 42 and 44) adjacent to the ink tank (for example, the ink tank 43) to be replenished with ink. It is the upper surface of the cap support member 90 closed by Thus, a wide contact area is ensured by bringing the positioning surface 84 into contact with the upper surfaces of the cap support members 90 on both sides. Further, if the upper surface 58 of the ink supply adapter 47 in which the tank-side through hole 60 is formed is inclined or has a step, for example, it is not suitable for bringing the positioning surface 84 into contact therewith. A cap support member 90 having a flat portion is used as a positioning auxiliary member.

According to the eleventh embodiment, in addition to the effects (1-2) and (1-3), the following effects can be obtained.
(11-1) When ink is supplied from the ink supply container 63 to the ink tanks 41 (42 to 45), a positioning auxiliary member (in this case, the cap support member 90) is used, whereby various ink tanks 41 (42 to 42) are used. 45) can be appropriately positioned.

(Twelfth embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 34, in the ink supply container 63 of the twelfth embodiment, as in the case of the eleventh embodiment, when ink is supplied, other inks adjacent to the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) to be supplied with ink. The positioning surface 84 abuts on the upper surface of the cap support member 90 that closes the ink inlet 53 of the tank with the elastic cap 92. That is, when the ink outlet 65 of the ink supply container 63 is inserted into the opened needle (ink inlet channel portion) 56 of the ink inlet 53, the needle 56 opens the valve 74. When the ink supply container 63 is further moved from the state toward the ink tank 41 (42 to 45), the positioning surface 84 comes into contact with the upper surface of the cap support member 90.

  However, in the case of the twelfth embodiment, unlike the eleventh embodiment, not the ink outlet forming portion 66 but the shoulder portion of the container main body 64 on the container base end side as a positioning portion, and the container main body portion. A planar surface extending in a direction orthogonal to (intersects with) the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 at the shoulder portion of 64 constitutes the positioning surface 84. Therefore, when ink is replenished, the weight of the container main body 64 having the ink storage chamber 76 is directly applied to the cap support member 90 that functions as a positioning auxiliary member, so that the ink replenishing container 63 is positioned in a stable posture.

According to the twelfth embodiment, the same effects as the above (1-2), (1-3) and (11-1) can be obtained.
(13th Embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 35, in the ink supply system of the thirteenth embodiment, the tip surface of the convex portion 71 protruding to the container tip side of the ink supply container 63 constitutes the positioning surface 84. When ink is replenished, the ink absorbing material 89 is positioned as a positioning auxiliary member between the positioning surface 84 that is the tip surface of the convex portion 71 inserted into the through hole 60 on the tank side and the bottom of the through hole 60 on the tank side. Is configured to do. The ink absorbing material 89 is made of an elastic member such as a sponge, for example, and also functions as a buffer material between the convex portion 71 of the ink supply container 63 and the bottom of the through hole 60 on the tank side. The ink absorbing material 89 also has a function of adjusting the depth when the needle (ink inlet channel portion) 56 is inserted into the ink outlet 65 by adjusting the thickness thereof.

According to the thirteenth embodiment, in addition to the effects (1-2), (1-3) and (11-1), the following effects can be obtained.
(13-1) The ink absorbing material 89 can mitigate the impact when the positioning surface 84 of the ink supply container 63 comes into contact with a part of the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) side. Further, since the ink is absorbed by the ink absorbing material 89, dripping or scattering when the ink supply container 63 is removed can be reduced.

In addition, you may change the said embodiment as follows.
-In 2nd Embodiment shown in FIGS. 18-20, the container addition part 67 may be abbreviate | omitted.
The small-diameter portion 80 that forms the ink outlet 65 on the inner peripheral side is not necessarily limited to a cylindrical shape, but may be a rectangular tube shape depending on the shape of the inner surface of the ink inlet 53 in the through-hole 60 on the tank side. However, it is preferable that the ink outlet 65 on the inner peripheral side of the small diameter portion 80 has a circular opening shape.

  -In 3rd and 4th embodiment shown in Drawing 21-Drawing 23, if the height which protrudes to the container tip side of convex part 71 protrudes rather than small diameter part 80, the height will be high in the embodiment. It is not limited to that.

  -In 4th Embodiment, the shape of the front end surface of the convex part 71 which comprises the positioning surface 84 is the ink tank 41 (42-45) in the side far from the ink outlet 65 in the direction which cross | intersects the center axis | shaft 85 of the ink outlet 65. As long as the area in contact with a part of the side is larger than the area in contact with the side close to the ink outlet 65, it is not limited to the substantially T-shape in the embodiment. For example, it may be substantially Y-shaped or triangular.

  -In 5th Embodiment shown in FIG.24 and FIG.25, if the height which protrudes in the container front end side of the convex part 71 does not protrude rather than the small diameter part 80, the height is limited to the height in embodiment. Not.

In the sixth embodiment shown in FIG. 26, the inclined positioning surface 84 may extend to the tip of the convex portion 71.
-In 7th Embodiment shown in FIG. 27 (and 5th Embodiment shown in FIG. 25), the 1st uneven | corrugated | grooved part 62 formed as a contact part with respect to the positioning surface 84 in the inner surface of the recessed part 61 is other than rib shape. It may be a protrusion.

In the ninth and tenth embodiments shown in FIGS. 29 and 30, the positioning surface 84 provided inside the ink outlet 65 may be a concave spherical surface with a communication hole 88 formed in the center.
In the third to seventh embodiments, the width of the slit-shaped gap 86 is not limited to the width in the embodiment as long as the capillary phenomenon is exhibited.

The two channels 54 and 55 included in the needle (ink inlet channel unit) 56 of the ink inlet 53 may have a plurality of channel configurations other than two.
The ink supply container 63 may have a configuration in which the ink outlet forming part 66 and the container main body part 64 are integrated, and the positioning part and the positioning surface 84 are not the container adding part 67 but the ink outlet forming part 66 or the container main body part 64. It may be provided.

  In the eleventh and twelfth embodiments shown in FIGS. 31 to 34, the positioning auxiliary member that mediates the contact between the part on the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) side and the positioning portion is provided in the ink outlet forming portion 66. You may comprise by the container addition part 67 added.

In the thirteenth embodiment shown in FIG. 35, the positioning auxiliary member is not limited to the ink absorbing material 89, and may be a resin spacer, for example.
The valve 74 at the ink outlet 65 of the ink supply container 63 may be provided with a plurality of other slits 75 such as two or four as long as one or more slits 75 are provided. Further, the valve is not limited to the slit valve provided with the slit 75, and may be a valve having a configuration in which the needle 56 is pushed from below and displaced in the valve opening direction without the slit 75.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 ... Recording device, 22 ... Housing | casing, 23 ... Support stand, 24 ... Guide shaft, 25 ... Recording head, 26 ... Carriage, 27 ... Support hole, 28 ... Drive pulley, 29 ... Drive pulley, 30 ... Carriage motor, 31 ... timing belt, 32 ... discharge port, 33 ... discharge tray, 34 ... paper feed cassette, 35 ... open / close door, 36 ... rotary shaft, 37 ... window, 40 ... ink supply unit, 41-45 ... ink tank, 46 ... Ink supply tube, 47 ... Adapter for ink supply, 48 ... Stepped portion, 49 ... Ink chamber, 50 ... Viewing portion, 51 ... Upper limit mark, 52 ... Lower limit mark, 53 ... Ink inlet, 54, 55 ... Flow path, 56 ... Needle (ink inlet channel), 57 ... remaining amount sensor, 58 ... upper surface, 59 ... lower surface, 60 ... through-hole, 61 ... recessed portion, 62 ... first uneven portion (contact portion), 63 ... ink supply container, 6 ... container main body part, 65 ... ink outlet, 66 ... ink outlet forming part, 67 ... container addition part, 68 ... cap, 69 ... male screw part, 70 ... projection, 71 ... convex part, 72 ... second uneven part, 73 ... Positioning part, 74 ... valve, 75 ... slit, 76 ... ink storage chamber, 77 ... neck part, 78 ... male screw part, 79 ... large diameter part, 80 ... small diameter part (cylinder part), 81 ... intermediate part, 82 ... female screw , 83 ... Joint part, 84 ... Positioning surface, 85 ... Center axis, 86 ... Gap, 87 ... Partition, 88 ... Communication hole, 89 ... Ink absorbing material (positioning auxiliary member), 90 ... Cap support member (positioning auxiliary member) , 91... Rotating shaft, 92. Elastic cap, 93. Handle part, 100... Unit cover, P.

Claims (12)

An ink supply container for supplying ink to an ink tank having an ink inlet channel and an ink chamber communicating with the ink inlet channel;
A container body having an ink storage chamber capable of storing ink to be supplied to the ink tank;
An ink outlet forming portion provided at an end portion of the container main body portion and formed with an ink outlet that allows the ink to flow out of the ink containing chamber;
A valve that is provided in the ink outlet forming portion and seals the ink outlet so as to be openable and closable;
A positioning portion that contacts the part on the ink tank side when the valve opens to position the valve with respect to the ink tank;
With
The positioning portion has a positioning surface that is located on a side opposite to the side where the container main body portion is located with respect to the valve and extends in a direction intersecting with a central axis of the ink outlet,
The ink supply container, wherein the positioning surface is in contact with the part on the ink tank side when the ink inlet channel portion of the ink tank is inserted into the ink outlet and the valve is opened. . The ink supply container according to claim 1,
The ink replenishing container, wherein the positioning surface is located on a side opposite to the container main body side from the ink outlet in a direction along a central axis of the ink outlet. The ink supply container according to claim 1 or 2,
The ink replenishing container, wherein the positioning surface is formed at a tip of a cylindrical portion that opens at the end of the ink outlet forming portion with the ink outlet facing outward. An ink supply container for supplying ink to an ink tank having an ink inlet channel and an ink chamber communicating with the ink inlet channel;
A container body having an ink storage chamber capable of storing ink to be supplied to the ink tank;
An ink outlet forming portion provided at an end portion of the container main body portion and formed with an ink outlet that allows the ink to flow out of the ink containing chamber;
A valve that is provided in the ink outlet forming portion and seals the ink outlet so as to be openable and closable;
A positioning portion that contacts the part on the ink tank side when the valve opens to position the valve with respect to the ink tank;
With
The ink outlet is formed in a cylindrical portion that is a part of the ink outlet forming portion,
The positioning portion includes a positioning surface extending in a direction intersecting with the central axis of the ink outlet with a gap between the outer surface of the cylindrical portion,
The ink supply container, wherein the positioning surface is in contact with the part on the ink tank side when the ink inlet channel portion of the ink tank is inserted into the ink outlet and the valve is opened. .   5. The ink supply container according to claim 4, wherein the positioning surface has an area in contact with a part on the ink tank side on a side far from the ink outlet in a direction intersecting with a central axis of the ink outlet. An ink supply container having an area larger than an area in contact with a part on the ink tank side near the outlet. An ink supply container for supplying ink to an ink tank having an ink inlet channel and an ink chamber communicating with the ink inlet channel;
A container body having an ink storage chamber capable of storing ink to be supplied to the ink tank;
An ink outlet forming portion provided at an end portion of the container main body portion and formed with an ink outlet that allows the ink to flow out of the ink containing chamber;
A valve that is provided in the ink outlet forming portion and seals the ink outlet so as to be openable and closable;
A positioning portion that contacts the part on the ink tank side when the valve opens to position the valve with respect to the ink tank;
With
The positioning portion includes a positioning surface that is inclined or curved in a direction intersecting with the central axis of the ink outlet,
The ink supply container, wherein the positioning surface is in contact with the part on the ink tank side when the ink inlet channel portion of the ink tank is inserted into the ink outlet and the valve is opened. . The ink supply container according to claim 6,
The ink replenishing container, wherein the positioning surface is inclined or curved in a direction gradually separating from the central axis in a direction from the ink outlet toward the container main body. In the ink supply container according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The ink replenishing container, wherein the positioning part is provided in a portion exposed to the outside in at least one of the ink outlet forming part and the container main body part. An ink supply container for supplying ink to an ink tank having an ink inlet channel and an ink chamber communicating with the ink inlet channel;
A container body having an ink storage chamber capable of storing ink to be supplied to the ink tank;
An ink outlet forming portion provided at an end portion of the container main body portion and formed with an ink outlet that allows the ink to flow out of the ink containing chamber;
A valve that is provided in the ink outlet forming portion and seals the ink outlet so as to be openable and closable;
A positioning portion that contacts the part on the ink tank side when the valve opens to position the valve with respect to the ink tank;
With
An ink supply container comprising the positioning portion inside the ink outlet. An ink tank having an ink inlet channel and an ink chamber communicating with the ink inlet channel;
An ink supply container according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
When the valve of the ink supply container is positioned with respect to the ink tank via the positioning unit, the valve is positioned between the positioning unit and the part on the ink tank side, and the positioning unit and the ink A positioning auxiliary member that mediates contact with the part on the tank side;
An ink replenishing system comprising: The ink supply system according to claim 10.
The ink supply system according to claim 1, wherein the positioning auxiliary member is made of an ink absorbing material capable of absorbing ink. An ink supply container for supplying ink to an ink tank having an ink inlet channel and an ink chamber communicating with the ink inlet channel;
A container body having an ink storage chamber capable of storing ink to be supplied to the ink tank;
An ink outlet forming portion provided at an end portion of the container main body portion and formed with an ink outlet that allows the ink to flow out of the ink containing chamber;
A valve that is provided in the ink outlet forming portion and seals the ink outlet so as to be openable and closable;
An ink supply container comprising: a positioning portion that contacts a part on the ink tank side when the valve opens to position the valve with respect to the ink tank.

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