JP2018140585A - Image recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce leakage of a liquid stored in a liquid storage chamber to a head when the head is positioned below the liquid storage chamber.SOLUTION: A composite machine 10 includes: an ink cartridge 30 which has a storage chamber 57 of ink and is opened to the atmosphere; an ink storage chamber 160 which communicates with the storage chamber 57 through a communication port 184; a tank 103 that has a communication port 128 from which ink flows from the storage chamber 160 and is opened to the atmosphere; and a nozzle 29 which is mounted on a carriage 22 moving in a horizontal direction 9 and discharges the ink supplied from the storage chamber 160 through the communication port 128. The storage chamber 160 is positioned in a front side of the nozzle 29 and in a right side of the carriage 22. The communication port 128 flows ink from a front end of a right lower end of the storage chamber 160. A capacity of a portion that is above the communication port 184 and left of the communication port 128 in the storage chamber 160 is larger than a capacity of a distribution space of ink between the communication port 128 and the nozzle 29.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus including a plurality of liquid storage chambers communicated with each other.

  Conventionally, an image recording apparatus having a plurality of liquid storage chambers communicated with each other is known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an image recording apparatus that includes a plurality of liquid storage chambers that are divided into upper and lower portions so as to communicate with each other by partition walls.

  In the image recording apparatus as described above, the plurality of liquid storage chambers are opened to the atmosphere through a common atmosphere communication hole. In this case, the following problems occur.

  For example, among the plurality of liquid storage chambers, the liquid stored in the upstream liquid storage chamber that is not directly connected to the head is earlier than the downstream liquid storage chamber that is directly connected to the head having the nozzle. It is preferable in terms of the circulation of the liquid that it is consumed up. However, when a plurality of liquid storage chambers are opened to the atmosphere through a common air communication hole, it is difficult in terms of configuration to first consume the liquid stored in one of the plurality of liquid storage chambers.

  For example, when a plurality of liquid storage chambers are opened to the atmosphere through a common air communication hole, liquid supply to the head cannot be performed if the air communication hole is clogged.

JP-A-2015-199261

  In order to allow the liquid stored in one of the plurality of liquid storage chambers to be consumed first, an independent air communication hole is provided in each of the plurality of liquid storage chambers, and the air communication by each air communication hole is performed. It is conceivable to control. In addition, by providing an independent air communication hole in each of the plurality of liquid storage chambers, even if one air communication hole is clogged, the liquid supply to the head can be maintained by releasing the air through the other air communication hole.

  In the configuration in which the independent air communication holes are provided in each of the plurality of liquid storage chambers as described above, the following problems may occur. There is a risk that the posture of the image recording apparatus changes during transportation. For example, there is a risk that an image recording apparatus that has been in use (an attitude in which the lower surface is the lower end of the apparatus) during use will be in a vertical position (for example, an attitude in which the left side is the lower end of the apparatus) during transportation. In this case, the head may be positioned below the liquid storage chamber. Then, there is a possibility that the liquid flows out from the liquid storage chamber directly communicating with the head toward the head and the ink leaks from the head.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to reduce outflow of liquid stored in a liquid storage chamber to the head when the head is positioned below the liquid storage chamber. There is.

  (1) An image recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a first storage chamber for storing a liquid, a first tank having a first atmospheric communication portion for communicating the first storage chamber with the atmosphere, and the first storage chamber. A communication port that communicates, a second storage chamber that communicates with the communication port and stores liquid, a second atmosphere communication portion that communicates the second storage chamber with the atmosphere through a different path from the first atmosphere communication portion, and A second tank having a liquid outlet for discharging liquid from the second storage chamber, a transport mechanism for transporting a sheet along a transport path extending in a depth direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, and a position above the transport path. A carriage that moves in the width direction perpendicular to the vertical direction and the depth direction, and is mounted on the carriage, communicates with the liquid outlet through a flow path, and passes from the liquid outlet to the liquid outlet. Liquid supplied through the channel And a head having a nozzle for ejecting the serial conveying path. The second storage chamber is positioned in a first direction that is one of the depth directions than the nozzle and in a second direction that is one of the width directions rather than the transport path. The liquid outlet is below the center in the up-down direction of the second storage chamber, is in the first direction than the center in the depth direction of the second storage chamber, and the second storage chamber The liquid is allowed to flow out of the second storage chamber at a position that is in the second direction with respect to the center in the width direction. The second storage chamber is on the other side in the width direction above the liquid surface and above the liquid outlet in a state where an amount of liquid having the same height as the communication port is the liquid level is stored. A predetermined space is provided in the third direction. The volume of the predetermined space is larger than the volume of the liquid circulation space between the liquid outlet and the nozzle.

  In the use posture of the image recording apparatus, the second storage chamber is positioned in the second direction with respect to the conveyance path, and the carriage is movable in the width direction. When the image recording apparatus is rotated 90 degrees from the use posture and the second storage chamber is installed in a rotation posture positioned above the conveyance path, the carriage is movable in the vertical direction in the rotation posture. Here, when the carriage is positioned below the rotating image recording apparatus, the head mounted on the carriage is positioned below the second storage chamber. In this state, if the second storage chamber is filled with the liquid, the liquid stored in the second storage chamber may flow out to the head due to the hydraulic head pressure, and the liquid may flow out from the head.

  In this configuration, the liquid outlet of the second storage chamber is communicated with the second storage chamber at a position in the second direction from the center in the width direction of the second storage chamber. Moreover, the 2nd storage chamber is provided with the predetermined space in the upper part in a use attitude | position. In the use posture, air is stored in the predetermined space. As a result, when the image recording apparatus changes its posture from the use posture to the rotation posture, the air stored in the predetermined space in the use posture is in the third direction from the center in the width direction of the second storage chamber in the rotation posture. Come to be located. And the air which came to be located in 3rd direction rather than the center of the width direction of a 2nd storage chamber in a rotation attitude | position moves to the upper part of the 2nd storage chamber in a rotation attitude | position. Here, when the posture of the image recording apparatus is changed from the use posture to the rotation posture, the liquid outflow port communicates with the upper part of the second storage chamber in the rotation posture. Therefore, the air that has moved to the upper part of the second storage chamber in the rotating posture flows out from the liquid outlet.

  Here, the predetermined space is a space above the liquid level in a state where an amount of liquid having the same height as the communication port is the liquid level is stored in the second storage chamber. Further, the volume of the predetermined space is larger than the volume of the liquid circulation space between the liquid outlet and the nozzle. Therefore, when the amount of liquid equal to or less than the above amount is stored in the second storage chamber, the circulation space is filled with air that has flowed out of the liquid outlet. For this reason, the difference in water head pressure between the second storage chamber and the head is eliminated, so that the outflow of liquid from the liquid outlet can be prevented. Further, even when a larger amount of liquid than the above amount is stored in the second storage chamber, the outflow of the liquid from the liquid outlet can be suppressed to an amount different from the above amount.

  (2) The image recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a liquid level detection unit that detects the height of the liquid level stored in the second storage chamber.

  According to this configuration, the liquid level detection unit detects the height of the liquid level of the liquid stored in the second storage chamber. Therefore, a configuration in which the liquid stored in the first storage chamber is used before the liquid stored in the second storage chamber by controlling the air communication of at least one of the first atmospheric communication portion or the second atmospheric communication portion. In this case, the remaining amount of liquid can be detected even after the first storage chamber is empty.

  (3) The second storage chamber includes a buffer space provided in the predetermined space, a first space located below the buffer space and communicating with the liquid outlet, the buffer space, and the first space. A second space connecting the first space. The second space is connected to the end of the buffer space in the second direction.

  According to this configuration, when the image recording apparatus changes its posture from the use posture to the rotation posture, the second space is located at the upper end portion of the second storage chamber. Thereby, in the rotation posture, the air in the buffer space can be easily moved to the first space via the second space.

  (4) The second storage chamber further includes a third space connecting the buffer space and the first space in the third direction than the second space.

  According to this configuration, when the image recording apparatus changes its posture from the use posture to the rotation posture, the second space is located at the upper end of the second storage chamber, and the third space is located below the second space. Thereby, in the rotation posture, the air in the buffer space moves to the first space via the second space, and the liquid in the first space moves to the buffer space via the third space. In this way, movement of air and liquid can be promoted.

  (5) The second direction end of the first space is located in the second direction than the second direction end of the second space. The liquid outlet is formed on a surface that divides the second direction portion of the first space with respect to the second space.

  According to this configuration, when the image recording apparatus changes its posture from the use posture to the rotation posture, the liquid outlet is located above the second space. Thereby, even when the liquid level of the liquid comes into contact with the surface partitioning the second space due to surface tension, the liquid level of the liquid is a portion above the second space in the first space (the first position in the use posture). It is possible to reduce the possibility of contact with the surface that divides the second portion of the space in the second direction) by surface tension.

  (6) For example, the volume of the buffer space is smaller than the volume of the liquid in a state where the prescribed maximum amount of liquid is stored in the second storage chamber.

  (7) The image recording apparatus according to the present invention is arranged in the width direction corresponding to each of the plurality of first tanks arranged in the width direction and the plurality of first tanks. A plurality of the second tanks. The buffer space of a predetermined second tank of the plurality of second tanks, and the second tank of the plurality of second tanks located adjacent to each other in the third direction of the predetermined second tank. The position in the width direction overlaps with the liquid outlet.

  According to this configuration, in the image recording apparatus, the space occupied by the plurality of first tanks and the plurality of second tanks can be reduced in the width direction. Thereby, the image recording apparatus can be downsized in the width direction.

  (8) The volume of the predetermined space is larger than the volume of the second direction portion than the third direction end of the liquid outlet in the second storage chamber.

  According to this configuration, when the image recording apparatus changes its posture from the use posture to the rotation posture when a liquid having an amount equal to or lower than the communication port in the use posture is stored in the second storage chamber. Since the liquid outlet is above the liquid level, the liquid can be prevented from entering the liquid outlet. In addition, when the amount of liquid that is larger than the above amount is stored in the second storage chamber in the use posture, even if the image recording apparatus changes from the use posture to the rotation posture, the liquid that enters the liquid outlet Can be suppressed to the amount of difference from the above amount.

(9) The liquid outlet is formed in a section screen that divides the second direction end of the second storage chamber. The volume of the predetermined space is larger than the volume of the portion in the second direction than the position separated by the surface tension length in the third direction from the section screen in the second storage chamber,
The surface tension length is determined by the surface tension of the liquid stored in the second storage chamber in a state where the image recording apparatus is installed such that the section screen is a surface that divides the upper end of the predetermined space. Is the maximum distance in the vertical direction between the section screen and the liquid level that can contact the section screen.

  When the image recording apparatus changes its posture from the use posture to the rotation posture, if the liquid surface of the liquid comes into contact with the section screen due to surface tension, the liquid may enter the liquid outlet from the contacted portion. According to this configuration, since the liquid level of the liquid does not contact the section screen due to surface tension, the above entry can be prevented.

  (10) The first tank is the cartridge and includes a supply unit that supplies the liquid stored in the first storage chamber. The second tank is in communication with the communication port and includes a connection portion that can be connected to the supply portion. The second storage chamber stores the liquid supplied from the supply unit connected to the connection unit.

  According to this configuration, the remaining amount of the liquid stored in the first storage chamber can be increased only by replacing the first tank.

  According to the present invention, when the head is positioned below the liquid storage chamber, the outflow of the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber to the head can be reduced.

1A and 1B are external perspective views of the multifunction machine 10, in which FIG. 1A shows a state where the cover 87 is in the closed position, and FIG. 1B shows a state where the cover 87 is in the open position. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the printer unit 11. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the carriage 22, the platen 26, and the cartridge mounting unit 110. 4A and 4B are external perspective views of the cartridge mounting portion 110 on the opening 112 side. FIG. 4A shows a state where the ink cartridge 30Y is mounted, and FIG. 4B shows a state where the ink cartridges 30Y and 30B are mounted. FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of the cartridge mounting unit 110 on the tank 103 side. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VII-VII in FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 9A is a perspective view of the rotation member 50 and the support member 185, and FIG. 9B is a rear view of the rotation member 50 and the support member 185. FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of the ink cartridge 30. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the control unit 130. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XVI-XVI in FIG. 14A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XVIII-XVIII in FIG. 10, and FIG. 14B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 14A.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. The embodiment described below is merely an example of the present invention, and it is needless to say that the embodiment of the present invention can be changed as appropriate without departing from the gist of the present invention. In addition, the vertical direction 7 is defined with reference to a posture (the posture of FIG. 1, which may be referred to as “use posture”) in which the multifunction machine 10 can be used. The front-rear direction 8 (an example of the depth direction) is defined with the front surface 14A of the surface on which the opening 13 of the multifunction machine 10 is provided. A left-right direction 9 (an example of a width direction) is defined when the multifunction machine 10 is viewed from the front. In the present embodiment, in the use posture, the up-down direction 7 corresponds to the vertical direction, and the front-rear direction 8 and the left-right direction 9 correspond to the horizontal direction. The front-rear direction 8 and the left-right direction 9 are orthogonal to each other.

[Overall configuration of MFP 10]
As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction machine 10 (an example of an image recording apparatus) has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The multifunction machine 10 has a printer unit 11 at the bottom for recording an image on a sheet 12 (an example of a sheet, see FIG. 2) by an inkjet recording method. The printer unit 11 includes a housing 14 having an opening 13 formed on the front surface 14A. In addition, a display 200 that displays various types of information is provided on the front surface 14 </ b> A of the housing 14.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 14 includes a feeding roller 23, a feeding tray 15, a discharge tray 16, a transport roller pair 25, a recording unit 24, a discharge roller pair 27, The platen 26 and the cartridge mounting part 110 (see FIG. 1B) are arranged. The multifunction machine 10 has various functions such as a facsimile function and a print function.

[Feeding tray 15, discharge tray 16, feeding roller 23]
As shown in FIG. 1, the feeding tray 15 is inserted into and removed from the multifunction machine 10 by the user along the front-rear direction 8 through the opening 13. The opening 13 is located at the center in the left-right direction 9 on the front surface 14 </ b> A of the housing 14. As shown in FIG. 2, the feeding tray 15 can support a plurality of stacked sheets 12.

  The discharge tray 16 is disposed above the feeding tray 15. The discharge tray 16 supports the paper 12 discharged by the discharge roller pair 27.

  The feeding roller 23 feeds the paper 12 supported on the feeding tray 15 to the conveyance path 17. The feeding roller 23 is driven by a feeding motor 172 (see FIG. 12).

[Conveyance path 17]
As shown in FIG. 2, the conveyance path 17 indicates a space formed by an outer guide member 18 and an inner guide member 19 that are partially opposed to each other at a predetermined interval inside the printer unit 11. The conveyance path 17 is a path extending rearward from the rear end portion of the feeding tray 15. The conveyance path 17 is a path that extends U-turns forward while extending upward at the rear part of the printer unit 11 and reaches the discharge tray 16 through a space between the recording unit 24 and the platen 26. A conveyance path 17 between the conveyance roller pair 25 and the discharge roller pair 27 is provided at a substantially central portion of the multifunction machine 10 in the left-right direction 9 and extends in the front-rear direction 8. The conveyance direction of the paper 12 in the conveyance path 17 is indicated by a one-dot chain arrow in FIG.

[Conveying roller pair 25]
As shown in FIG. 2, the conveyance roller pair 25 is disposed in the conveyance path 17. The conveyance roller pair 25 includes a conveyance roller 25A and a pinch roller 25B that face each other. The transport roller 25A is driven by a transport motor 171 (see FIG. 12). The pinch roller 25B rotates with the rotation of the transport roller 25A. The paper 12 is sandwiched between the transport roller 25A and the pinch roller 25B that are normally rotated by the forward rotation of the transport motor 171 and is transported in the transport direction (forward). The conveyance roller pair 25 is an example of a conveyance mechanism.

[Discharge roller pair 27]
As shown in FIG. 2, the discharge roller pair 27 is disposed downstream in the transport direction from the transport roller pair 25 in the transport path 17. The discharge roller pair 27 includes a discharge roller 27A and a spur 27B that face each other. The discharge roller 27A is driven by a conveyance motor 171 (see FIG. 12). The spur 27B rotates with the rotation of the discharge roller 27A. The sheet 12 is nipped between the discharge roller 27A and the spur 27B that are normally rotated by the normal rotation of the conveyance motor 171 and is conveyed in the conveyance direction (forward). The discharge roller pair 27 is an example of a transport mechanism.

[Recording unit 24]
As shown in FIG. 2, the recording unit 24 is disposed between the conveyance roller pair 25 and the discharge roller pair 27 in the conveyance path 17. The recording unit 24 is disposed so as to face the platen 26 in the vertical direction 7 with the conveyance path 17 interposed therebetween. The recording unit 24 is located above the conveyance path 17, and the platen 26 is located below the conveyance path 17. The recording unit 24 includes a carriage 22 and a recording head 21 (an example of a head).

  As shown in FIG. 3, the carriage 22 is supported by guide rails 82 and 83 that extend in the left-right direction 9 at positions spaced in the front-rear direction 8. The guide rails 82 and 83 are supported by a frame (not shown) of the printer unit 11. The carriage 22 is connected to a known belt mechanism provided on the guide rail 83. The belt mechanism is driven by a carriage driving motor 173 (see FIG. 12). The carriage 22 connected to the belt mechanism reciprocates along the left-right direction 9 by driving the carriage driving motor 173. The movement region of the carriage 22 extends to the right and left from the conveyance path 17 as indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG.

  The ink tube 20 and the flexible flat cable 84 are extended from the carriage 22.

  The ink tube 20 connects the cartridge mounting part 110 and the recording head 21. The ink tube 20 supplies ink (an example of liquid) stored in each ink cartridge 30 (an example of the first tank and the cartridge) mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110 to the recording head 21. In this embodiment, the cartridge mounting unit 110 stores an ink cartridge 30B in which black ink is stored, an ink cartridge 30M in which magenta ink is stored, an ink cartridge 30C in which cyan ink is stored, and a yellow ink. The ink cartridge 30Y thus mounted is mounted. These four are collectively referred to as an ink cartridge 30. Ink flows through the internal space of the ink tube 20 (an example of a flow path). Four ink tubes 20 through which ink of each color (black, magenta, cyan, yellow) circulate are provided corresponding to the ink cartridges 30B, 30M, 30C, and 30Y, and the carriage 22 in a state where these are bundled. Is connected to a recording head 21 mounted on the head.

  The flexible flat cable 84 electrically connects the control unit 130 (see FIG. 12) and the recording head 21. The flexible flat cable 84 transmits a control signal output from the control unit 130 to the recording head 21.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the carriage 22 carries the recording head 21. The recording head 21 includes a plurality of nozzles 29 arranged on the lower surface, and a piezoelectric element 56 that discharges ink droplets from the nozzles 29 by deforming a part of the ink flow path formed in the recording head 21 (see FIG. 12). ). As will be described later, the piezoelectric element 56 is operated by being fed by the control unit 130.

  The recording unit 24 is controlled by the control unit 130. When the carriage 22 moves in the left-right direction 9, the recording head 21 ejects ink droplets from the nozzles 29 toward the transport path 17. Thus, an image is recorded on the sheet 12 supported by the platen 26. As a result, the ink stored in each ink cartridge 30 is consumed.

[Platen 26]
As shown in FIG. 2, the platen 26 is disposed between the conveyance roller pair 25 and the discharge roller pair 27 in the conveyance path 17. The platen 26 is disposed so as to face the recording unit 24 in the vertical direction 7 with the conveyance path 17 interposed therebetween. The platen 26 supports the paper 12 conveyed by the conveyance roller pair 25 from below.

[Cover 87]
As shown in FIG. 1B, an opening 85 is formed in the right part of the front surface 14 </ b> A of the housing 14. An accommodation space 86 that can accommodate the cartridge mounting portion 110 is formed behind the opening 85. A cover 87 is attached to the housing 14 so as to cover the opening 85. The cover 87 has a left-right direction 9 between a closed position for closing the opening 85 (position shown in FIG. 1A) and an open position for opening the opening 85 (position shown in FIG. 1B). Can be rotated around a rotation axis 87 </ b> A (rotation center) extending in the vertical direction.

[Cartridge mounting part 110]
As shown in FIG. 1B, the cartridge mounting part 110 is located at the right front part of the housing 14. As shown in FIG. 3, the cartridge mounting part 110 is located in front of the recording head 21. Further, the cartridge mounting part 110 is located on the right side of the transport path 17.

  4 to 6, the cartridge mounting unit 110 includes a cartridge case 101, a contact 106, a rod 125, a mounting sensor 113, a lock shaft 145, and a tank 103 (an example of a second tank). The liquid level sensor 55 is provided.

  The cartridge case 101 can accommodate four ink cartridges 30 each storing ink of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. The ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge case 101 by moving backward, and is removed from the cartridge case 101 by moving forward. Four contacts 106, rods 125, mounting sensors 113, lock shafts 145, tanks 103, and liquid level sensors 55 are provided corresponding to the four ink cartridges 30. The number of ink cartridges 30 that can be accommodated in the cartridge mounting unit 110 is not limited to four.

  The four contacts 106, the four rods 125, the four attachment sensors 113, the four lock shafts 145, and the four liquid level sensors 55 have the same configuration. Therefore, in the description of each part to be described later, only the configuration of one contact 106, one rod 125, one attachment sensor 113, one lock shaft 145, and one liquid level sensor 55 is described, and the remaining three are described. The description of is omitted.

  Each of the four tanks 103 stores one color ink of black, magenta, cyan, and yellow. In the following description, the four tanks are collectively referred to as a tank 103, a tank in which black ink is stored is referred to as a tank 103B, a tank in which magenta ink is stored is referred to as a tank 103M, and cyan ink is stored. This tank is referred to as tank 103C, and the tank in which yellow ink is stored is referred to as tank 103Y.

[Cartridge case 101]
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the cartridge case 101 has a box shape having an internal space. The inner space of the cartridge case 101 includes a top wall 141 that defines an upper end, a bottom wall 142 that defines a lower end, a back wall 143 that defines a rear end of the front-rear direction 8, and a pair of ends that define both ends in the left-right direction 9. And is defined by side walls 144, 146. On the other hand, the front end of the cartridge case 101 facing the back wall 143 in the front-rear direction 8 is an opening 112 that exposes the internal space of the cartridge case 101. The opening 112 is exposed to the outside of the multifunction device 10 through the opening 85 of the housing 14 when the cover 87 (see FIG. 1) is located at the open position.

  The ink cartridge 30 is inserted into and removed from the cartridge case 101 through the opening 85 of the housing 14 and the opening 112 of the cartridge mounting portion 110. The ink cartridge 30 is guided in the front-rear direction 8 by inserting the lower end portion of the ink cartridge 30 into the guide groove 109 provided on the bottom surface of the cartridge case 101. As shown in FIG. 4A, the cartridge case 101 is provided with three plates 104 that divide the internal space into four spaces that are long in the vertical direction 7. Four ink cartridges 30 are accommodated side by side in the left-right direction 9 in each space partitioned by the plate 104.

  FIG. 4A shows a state where only the ink cartridge 30 </ b> Y of the four ink cartridges 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110. FIG. 4B shows a state in which only the ink cartridges 30Y and 30B among the four ink cartridges 30 are mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110.

[Contact 106]
As shown in FIG. 6, a contact 106 is provided on the lower surface of the top wall 141 of the cartridge case 101. The contact 106 protrudes downward from the lower surface of the top wall 141 toward the internal space of the cartridge case 101. Although not shown in detail in each figure, the contact 106 is composed of four pieces arranged in the left-right direction 9 apart. Four contacts 106 are provided corresponding to the four ink cartridges 30 that can be accommodated in the cartridge case 101. The arrangement of the four contacts 106 corresponds to the arrangement of four electrodes 65 of the ink cartridge 30 described later. The contact 106 is made of a member having conductivity and elasticity, and can be elastically deformed upward. The number of contacts 106 and the number of electrodes 65 are arbitrary.

  The contact 106 is electrically connected to the control unit 130 (see FIG. 9) through an electric circuit. When the contact 106 and the corresponding electrode 65 are engaged and electrically conducted, a voltage is applied to the electrode 65, the electrode 65 is grounded, or power is supplied to the electrode 65. Data stored in the IC of the ink cartridge 30 can be accessed by electrical conduction between the contact 106 and the corresponding electrode 65. An output from the electric circuit is input to the control unit 130.

[Rod 125]
As shown in FIG. 6, a rod 125 is formed above the ink needle 102 in the back wall 143 of the cartridge case 101. The rod 125 protrudes forward from the back wall 143 of the cartridge case 101. The rod 125 has a cylindrical shape. The rod 125 is inserted into the atmosphere communication port 96 described later in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, that is, in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is positioned at the mounting position.

[Mounting sensor 113]
As shown in FIG. 6, a mounting sensor 113 is disposed on the lower surface of the top wall 141 of the cartridge case 101. The mounting sensor 113 detects whether or not the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110. The mounting sensor 113 is located in front of the rod 125 and behind the contact 106. In the present embodiment, the mounting sensor 113 includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit. The light emitting unit is provided on the right side or the left side of the light receiving unit and spaced from the light receiving unit. A light shielding plate 67 (to be described later) of the ink cartridge 30 that has been mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110 is disposed between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit. In other words, the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit are disposed to face each other with the light shielding plate 67 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110 being interposed therebetween.

  The mounting sensor 113 outputs different detection signals depending on whether or not the light emitted from the light emitting unit along the left-right direction 9 is received by the light receiving unit. For example, the mounting sensor 113 outputs a low level signal to the control unit 130 (see FIG. 12) on condition that the light output from the light emitting unit cannot be received by the light receiving unit (that is, the light receiving intensity is less than a predetermined intensity). Output to. On the other hand, the mounting sensor 113 outputs a high-level signal to the control unit 130 (see FIG. 12) on condition that the light output from the light emitting unit can be received by the light receiving unit (that is, the received light intensity is equal to or higher than a predetermined intensity). ).

[Lock shaft 145]
As shown in FIG. 6, the lock shaft 145 extends in the left-right direction 9 of the cartridge case 101 near the top wall 141 and the opening 112 of the cartridge case 101. The lock shaft 145 is a rod-shaped member extending along the left-right direction 9. The lock shaft 145 is, for example, a metal cylinder. Both ends of the lock shaft 145 in the left-right direction 9 are fixed to walls that define both ends of the cartridge case 101 in the left-right direction 9. The lock shaft 145 extends in the left-right direction 9 over four spaces in which the four ink cartridges 30 can be stored.

  The lock shaft 145 is for holding the ink cartridge 30 mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110 at the mounting position. The ink cartridge 30 is engaged with the lock shaft 145 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 110. Accordingly, the lock shaft 145 holds the ink cartridge 30 in the cartridge mounting portion 110 against the force with which the coil springs 78 and 98 of the ink cartridge 30 push the ink cartridge 30 forward.

[Tank 103]
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the cartridge mounting unit 110 includes four tanks 103B, 103M, 103C, and 103Y. The four tanks 103B, 103M, 103C, and 103Y are arranged side by side in the left-right direction 9. Each of the tanks 103B, 103M, 103C, and 103Y corresponds to the ink cartridge 30 of each color. That is, the ink stored in the ink cartridges 30 for each color can be distributed to the corresponding tanks 103B, 103M, 103C, and 103Y.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the tank 103 is located behind the back wall 143 of the cartridge case 101. As shown in FIG. 5, each of the tanks 103B, 103M, 103C, and 103Y has a box shape.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, each of the tanks 103 </ b> B, 103 </ b> M, 103 </ b> C, and 103 </ b> Y includes a box-shaped main body having a storage chamber 160 (an example of a second storage chamber) to be described later, and a connecting portion 107. I have. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the main body includes an upper wall 161, a front wall 162, a lower wall 163, a rear wall 164, a pair of side walls 165 and 166, and an upper wall constituting the convex portion 120. 120B and the front wall 120C are comprised.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the upper wall 161 includes a first upper wall 161A and a second upper wall 161B. The first upper wall 161A is located above the second upper wall 161B.

  The front wall 162 includes a first front wall 162A, a second front wall 162B, and a third front wall 162C. The first front wall 162A is located in front of the second front wall 162B. The third front wall 162C is located in front of the first front wall 162A.

  The lower wall 163 includes a first lower wall 163A and a second lower wall 163B. The first lower wall 163A is located above the second lower wall 163B.

  The first front wall 162A extends downward from the front end portion of the first upper wall 161A. The first lower wall 163A extends rearward from the lower end of the first front wall 162A. The second front wall 162B extends downward from the rear end portion of the first lower wall 163A. The upper wall 120B extends forward from the lower end of the second front wall 162B. The front wall 120C extends downward from the front end portion of the upper wall 120B. The second upper wall 161B extends forward from the lower end of the front wall 120C. The third front wall 162C extends downward from the front end portion of the second upper wall 161B. The second lower wall 163B extends rearward from the lower end of the third front wall 162C.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the side wall 165 is connected to the right end portions of the upper wall 161, the front wall 162, and the lower wall 163 corresponding to the tanks 103 </ b> B, 103 </ b> M, 103 </ b> C, and 103 </ b> Y. The side wall 166 is connected to the left end portions of the upper wall 161, the front wall 162, and the lower wall 163 corresponding to the tanks 103B, 103M, 103C, and 103Y.

  The rear wall 164 is a film that is welded to the rear end surfaces of the first upper wall 161A, the second lower wall 163B, and the side walls 165 and 166. In FIG. 5, the rear wall 164 (film) is omitted. In the present embodiment, the rear wall 164 is a film, but walls other than the rear wall 164 may be films. Further, the rear wall 164 may be a resin wall instead of a film.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the connection unit 107 is connected to the ink supply unit 34 of the ink cartridge 30 mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110. As a result, the connecting portion 107 communicates with the storage chamber 57 in which the ink in the ink cartridge 30 is stored. As a result, the ink stored in the ink cartridge 30 can flow to the storage chamber 160 via the connection portion 107. That is, the storage chamber 160 stores the ink supplied from the ink supply unit 34 connected to the connection unit 107. Details of the configuration of the connecting portion 107 and the storage chamber 160 will be described later.

[Connection 107]
The connection unit 107 is provided in each tank 103. The configuration of each connection unit 107 is common. Therefore, hereinafter, the configuration of one connection unit 107 among the four connection units 107 will be described, and description of the configuration of the remaining three connection units 107 will be omitted. As shown in FIG. 4A, the connection portion 107 includes a hollow ink needle 102 and a guide portion 105.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the ink needle 102 is made of a tubular resin, and is positioned below the back wall 143 of the cartridge case 101. The ink needle 102 is disposed on the back wall 143 of the cartridge case 101 at a position corresponding to the ink supply unit 34 (an example of a supply unit) of the ink cartridge 30 mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110. The ink needle 102 protrudes forward from the back wall 143 of the cartridge case 101.

  The guide portion 105 is disposed around the ink needle 102 and has a cylindrical shape. The guide portion 105 protrudes forward from the back wall 143 of the cartridge case 101, and its protruding end (front end) is open. The ink needle 102 is disposed at the center of the guide portion 105. The guide unit 105 has a shape in which the ink supply unit 34 of the ink cartridge enters inward.

  The connection unit 107 is not connected to the ink supply unit 34 of the ink cartridge 30 when the ink cartridge 30 is not mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110. On the other hand, in the process in which the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting part 110, that is, in the process in which the ink cartridge 30 moves to the mounting position (position shown in FIG. 6), the ink supply part 34 of the ink cartridge 30 is guided to the guide part 105. Enter. When the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted toward the back of the cartridge mounting portion 110, the ink needle 102 is formed in the ink supply portion 34 along the front-rear direction 8 as shown in FIG. 71 is inserted. Thereby, the connection part 107 and the ink supply part 34 are connected. The ink stored in the storage chamber 33 formed inside the ink cartridge 30 flows out into the tank 103 through the ink valve chamber 35 formed inside the ink supply unit 34 and the internal space of the ink needle 102. The tip of the ink needle 102 may be flat or pointed.

  A valve 114 and a coil spring 115 are accommodated in the internal space 117 of the ink needle 102. The valve 114 moves along the front-rear direction 8 to open and close the opening 116 formed at the protruding tip of the ink needle 102. That is, the valve 114 opens and closes the internal space 117 of the ink needle 102. The coil spring 115 biases the valve 114 forward. Accordingly, the valve 114 closes the opening 116 in a state where no external force is applied (a state where the ink cartridge 30 is not mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110). Further, in a state where no external force is applied, the front end portion of the valve 114 biased by the coil spring 115 projects forward from the opening 116. In the process in which the connection unit 107 and the ink supply unit 34 are connected, the valve 114 opens the opening 116. The operation in which the valve 114 opens the opening 116 will be described later.

[Outline of storage chamber 160]
In the present embodiment, the multifunction machine 10 includes four storage chambers 160B, 160M, 160C, and 160Y corresponding to the tanks 103B, 103M, 103C, and 103Y.

  In the following description, the four storage chambers are collectively referred to as a storage chamber 160. Further, a storage chamber provided in the tank 103B, that is, a storage chamber in which black ink is stored is referred to as a storage chamber 160B, and a storage chamber provided in the tank 103M, that is, a storage chamber in which magenta ink is stored. A storage chamber provided in the tank 103C, that is, a storage chamber in which cyan ink is stored is referred to as a storage chamber 160C, and a storage chamber provided in the tank 103Y, that is, a storage chamber in which yellow ink is stored. It is described as a storage chamber 160Y.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the storage chamber 160 is located in front of the nozzles 29 (see FIG. 2) of the recording head 21. The forward direction is an example of the first direction. In addition, the storage chamber 160 is located on the right side of the transport path 17. The rightward direction is an example of the second direction.

  The configuration of the three storage chambers 160M, 160C, and 160Y is generally the same. On the other hand, the configuration of the storage chamber 160B is different from the three storage chambers 160M, 160C, and 160Y. Therefore, first, the configuration of the three storage chambers 160M, 160C, and 160Y will be described, and then the configuration of the storage chamber 160B will be described.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration of the storage chambers 160M, 160C, and 160Y is generally the same, and the configuration of the storage chamber 160B is different from that of the storage chambers 160M, 160C, and 160Y, but the configuration of each storage chamber 160B is different. Is not limited to the difference described above. For example, the configuration of the storage chambers 160M, 160C, and 160Y may be the same as the configuration of the storage chamber 160B. For example, the configuration of the storage chamber 160B may be the same as the configuration of the storage chambers 160M, 160C, and 160Y. Further, for example, the configuration of the storage chamber 160M is the same as the configuration of the storage chamber 160B, while the configuration of the storage chambers 160C and 160Y may be different from the configuration of the storage chamber 160B.

[Reservoir 160M, 160C, 160Y]
Since the configurations of the storage chambers 160M, 160C, and 160Y are common, the configuration of one of the three storage chambers 160M, 160C, and 160Y will be described below, and the configuration of the remaining two storage chambers 160M and 160C will be described. Are explained as needed.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the storage chamber 160 </ b> Y includes a buffer space 180, a first space 181, and a second space 182.

  The buffer space 180 is partitioned by the lower surface of the first upper wall 161A, the rear surface of the first front wall 162A, the upper surface of the first lower wall 163A, the front surface of the rear wall 164, the left surface of the side wall 165, and the right surface of the side wall 166. .

  The first space 181 is defined by the lower surface of the second upper wall 161B, the rear surface of the third front wall 162C, the upper surface of the second lower wall 163B, the front surface of the rear wall 164, the left surface of the side wall 165, and the right surface of the side wall 166. Yes.

  The second space 182 is partitioned by the rear surface of the second front wall 162B, the front surface of the rear wall 164, the left surface of the side wall 165, and the right surface of the side wall 166.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the lower part of the left side of the side wall 165 (the part that defines the right end of the lower part of the first space 181) is not the lower part of the left side of the side wall 165 (the right end other than the lower part of the first space 181). The right end of the second space 182 and the right end of the buffer space 180 are located on the right side. That is, the right end position of the first space 181 of the storage chamber 160Y is on the right side of the right end positions of the buffer space 180 and the second space 182 of the storage chamber 160Y.

  Note that a side wall 165 that defines the right end of a storage chamber (for example, storage chamber 160Y) located on the left side of two adjacent storage chambers 160 and a storage chamber (on the right side of two adjacent storage chambers 160 ( For example, the side wall 166 that defines the left end of the storage chamber 160C) located on the right side of the storage chamber 160Y may be an independent wall, may be integrated, or only a part thereof is integrated. It may be made. In the present embodiment, the side wall 165 that defines the right end of the storage chamber 160Y and the side wall 166 that defines the left end of the storage chamber 160C are integrated only at the lower portion of the tank 103, and are independent from each other except at the lower portion of the tank 103. doing.

  The buffer space 180 is located above the second space 182. The first space 181 is located below the second space 182. The upper end of the second space 182 communicates with the buffer space 180. The lower end of the second space 182 communicates with the first space 181. That is, the second space 182 connects the buffer space 180 and the first space 181.

  The upper end of the second space 182 communicates with the right end portion of the buffer space 180. The lower end of the second space 182 communicates with the right end portion of the first space 181.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the upper end of the second space 182 communicates with the rear end portion of the buffer space 180. The lower end of the second space 182 communicates with the rear end portion of the first space 181.

  In a state where the specified maximum amount of ink is stored in the storage chamber 160Y, the position of the ink surface in the up-down direction 7 is the position P1. In the present embodiment, the position P1 is a position in the second space 182, but the position P1 may be a position other than the second space 182 (for example, in the buffer space 180). In this state, the storage chamber 160Y includes a liquid storage space and an atmosphere communication space. The liquid storage space is a portion below the position P1 in the storage chamber 160Y. The atmosphere communication space is a portion above the position P1 in the storage chamber 160Y.

  A convex portion 120 is formed above the first space 181 and in front of the second space 182. As for the convex part 120, the side wall which faces the left-right direction 9 is formed of the translucent member. The internal space of the convex part 120 is continuous with the first space 181 and the second space 182. The internal space of the convex portion 120 constitutes a part of the storage chamber 160Y. In the internal space of the convex portion 120, an arm 53 and a detected portion 54 of the rotating member 50 described later are located. The convex portion 120 may be continuous with only one of the first space 181 or the second space 182.

  A communication port 184 is formed in the third front wall 162C. The communication port 184 communicates with the first space 181. The first space 181 communicates with the internal space of the ink needle 102 of the connection portion 107 via the communication port 184. Thereby, the ink that has flowed out of the ink cartridge 30Y through the ink needle 102 flows into the storage chamber 160Y and is stored in the storage chamber 160Y.

  The buffer space 180 and the second space 182 are located above the liquid level in a state where an amount of ink having the same height as the communication port 184 and the liquid level is stored in the storage chamber 160Y. In the present embodiment, the liquid surface having the same height as the communication port 184 means that the liquid surface has the same height as the axial center of the ink needle 102 (in other words, the center of the communication port 184). The same height as the center of the mouth 71 is the liquid level. Specifically, the position P2 indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 6 is the liquid level.

  It should be noted that the fact that the same height as the communication port 184 becomes the liquid level is not limited to the fact that the position P2 becomes the liquid level. For example, the same height as the communication port 184 may be that the liquid level is the same height as the upper end and the lower end of the communication port 184.

  Further, in a state where an amount of ink having the same height as the upper end of the communication port 184 is the liquid level is stored in the storage chamber 160Y, the buffer space 180 is positioned above the liquid level. Here, the position of the liquid surface in the vertical direction 7 is a position P3 indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the storage chamber 160Y communicates with the ink flow path 126 via a communication port 128 (an example of a liquid outlet). In the present embodiment, the first space 181 communicates with the ink flow path 126 via the communication port 128. The communication port 128 is formed at the lower end of the side wall 165. The ink flow path 126 is a space surrounded by the side wall 165.

  Here, the lower portion of the side wall 165 (the portion defining the right end of the lower portion of the first space 181) is other than the lower portion of the side wall 165 (the right end other than the lower portion of the first space 181, the right end of the second space 182, and the buffer. It is located on the right side of the portion that divides the right end of the space 180. That is, the communication port 128 is formed in the lower part of the side wall 165 that is a part of the first space 181 that is defined by a portion on the right side of the second space 182.

  The communication port 128 is formed below the communication port 184.

  The buffer space 180 is located on the left side of the communication port 128. The leftward direction is an example of a third direction.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the communication port 128 communicates with the front end portion of the first space 181. That is, the communication port 128 is formed at the front end portion of the side wall 166.

  Further, the communication port 128 is located in front of the buffer space 180. That is, the atmosphere communication space including the buffer space 180 and the second space 182 is a space that extends to a position behind the communication port 128 in the front-rear direction 8.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the communication port 128Y of the storage chamber 160Y is located to the right of the communication port 184Y of the storage chamber 160Y. Similarly, the communication port 128M of the storage chamber 160M is located to the right of the communication port 184M of the storage chamber 160M, and the communication port 128C of the storage chamber 160C is to the right of the communication port 184C of the storage chamber 160C. The communication port 128B of the storage chamber 160B is located to the right of the communication port 184B of the storage chamber 160B.

  Further, the communication port 128Y of the storage chamber 160Y is located on the right side of the storage chamber 57Y of the ink cartridge 30Y communicating with the storage chamber 160Y. Similarly, the communication port 128M of the storage chamber 160M is located to the right of the storage chamber 57M of the ink cartridge 30M communicating with the storage chamber 160M, and the communication port 128C of the storage chamber 160C is connected to the storage chamber 160C. It is located to the right of the storage chamber 57C of the communicating ink cartridge 30C. In this embodiment, the communication port 128B of the storage chamber 160B is located on the left side of the right end of the storage chamber 57B of the ink cartridge 30B communicating with the storage chamber 160B. That is, the communication port 128B is not located on the right side of the storage chamber 57B. However, the communication port 128B may be located to the right of the storage chamber 57B.

  Of the four tanks 103, the communication port 128 of the tank 103 disposed on the left side of the predetermined tank 103 is located to the right of the left end of the ink cartridge 30 corresponding to the predetermined tank 103.

  More specifically, the communication port 128M of the tank 103M arranged on the left side of the tank 103B is located on the right side of the left end of the ink cartridge 30B corresponding to the tank 103B. Further, the communication port 128C of the tank 103C arranged on the left side of the tank 103M is located on the right side of the left end of the ink cartridge 30M corresponding to the tank 103M. Further, the communication port 128Y of the tank 103Y arranged on the left side of the tank 103C is located on the right side of the left end of the ink cartridge 30C corresponding to the tank 103C.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the ink flow path 126 extends rearward from the communication port 128. As shown in FIG. 5, the ink flow path 126 extending rearward extends upward from the rear end portion of the tank 103 and is continuous with the ink outflow port 127. The ink tube 20 is connected to the ink outflow port 127. As a result, the ink stored in the storage chamber 160 </ b> Y flows out from the communication port 128 and is supplied to the recording head 21 through the ink flow path 126 and the ink tube 20.

  The buffer space 180 communicates with the atmosphere communication port 124 (see FIG. 4) provided in the upper part of the tank 103. The buffer space 180 and the atmosphere communication port 124 communicate with each other through a through hole 119 (see FIG. 6) formed in the first front wall 162A. The through hole 119 is sealed with a semipermeable membrane 118. The air communication port 124, the through hole 119, the semipermeable membrane 118, and the air flow path 147 (see FIG. 5) that connects the air communication port 124 and the through hole 119 are examples of the second air communication portion. The atmosphere communication port 124 is open to the outside. Thereby, the storage chamber 160Y is open to the atmosphere. That is, the atmosphere communication port 124 allows the storage chamber 160Y to communicate with the atmosphere. The atmosphere communication port 124 communicates the storage chamber 160Y with the atmosphere through a path different from the atmosphere communication port 96 provided in the ink cartridge 30 described later.

  In the present embodiment, two atmospheric flow paths 147 are provided. One of the air flow paths 147 connects the air communication port 124 and the through hole 119 of the storage chamber 160B. The other of the atmospheric flow paths 147 connects the atmospheric communication ports 124 of the storage chambers 160M, 160C, and 160Y and the through holes 119. Note that the configuration of the atmospheric flow path 147 is not limited to the configuration described above. For example, only one atmospheric flow path 147 may be provided, and this single atmospheric flow path 147 may connect the atmospheric communication ports 124 of the storage chambers 160B, 160M, 160C, and 160Y and the through holes 119. .

  The through hole 119 and the atmosphere communication port 124 (see FIG. 4) are located behind the communication port 128 (see FIG. 6). That is, the atmosphere communication port 124 communicates the atmosphere communication space including the buffer space 180 with the atmosphere at a position behind the communication port 128.

  The volume of the portion above the position P2 in the storage chamber 160 (hereinafter referred to as a predetermined space) is larger than the volume of the ink circulation space between the communication port 128 and the nozzle 29 of the recording head 21. Here, the ink circulation space between the communication port 128 and the nozzle 29 is the volume of the ink flow path 126, the volume of the internal space of the ink tube 20, and the space in which ink is stored inside the recording head 21. The total volume.

  Further, the volume of the predetermined space is a portion on the right side of the position P4 (see FIG. 7) that is separated from the lower portion of the left side of the side wall 165 in the storage chamber 160Y by the surface tension length L1 (see FIG. 7) (see FIG. 7). It is larger than the volume of the hatched part. The surface tension length L1 indicates that the liquid level of the ink stored in the storage chamber 160Y is the surface tension in the lower left posture where the multifunction machine 10 is installed so that the left surface of the side wall 165 becomes a surface that defines the upper end of the storage chamber 160Y. Is the maximum distance along the predetermined direction that can contact the lower portion of the left surface of the side wall 165. Here, the lower left surface posture is the posture of the multifunction device 10 when the multifunction device 10 is installed such that the left surface of the housing 14 in the use posture is the lower surface. In addition, the predetermined direction is the vertical direction of the multifunction device 10 in the lower left side posture, that is, the left-right direction 9 of the multifunction device 10 in the use posture.

  Further, the volume of the predetermined space is smaller than the volume of the ink in a state where the specified maximum amount of ink is stored in the storage chamber 160Y. More specifically, the volume of the portion below the position P1 (see FIG. 6) in the storage chamber 160Y is larger than the volume of the predetermined space. Here, as described above, the position P1 is the position in the up-down direction 7 of the ink level when the specified maximum amount of ink is stored in the storage chamber 160Y in the state where the multifunction machine 10 is in the use posture. is there.

  The cross-sectional areas along the horizontal direction of the buffer space 180, the first space 181, and the second space 182 are generally rectangular.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the buffer space 180 and the first space 181 extend forward from the second space 182. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the distance L2 in the left-right direction 9 of the side walls 165, 166 in the portion defining the second space 182 is the distance in the left-right direction 9 of the side walls 165, 166 in the portion defining the buffer space 180. It is shorter than L4 and shorter than the interval L3 in the left-right direction 9 of the side walls 165 and 166 in the part that defines the first space 181. Therefore, the horizontal sectional area of the buffer space 180 is larger than the horizontal sectional area of the second space 182. Further, the horizontal cross-sectional area of the first space 181 is larger than the horizontal cross-sectional area of the second space 182.

[Reservoir 160B]
Below, the structure of the storage chamber 160B is demonstrated. In the description of the configuration of the storage chamber 160B, detailed description of the configuration common to the storage chambers 160M, 160C, and 160Y is omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, an inner wall 167 is formed in the storage chamber 160 </ b> B. The inner wall 167 is a wall extending in the up-down direction 7 and the left-right direction 9. The inner wall 167 is formed between the side walls 165 and 166 in the left-right direction 9. The front end of the inner wall 167 is connected to the front wall 162. The rear end of the inner wall 167 is connected to the rear wall 164. In other words, the rear wall 164 which is a film is welded to the rear end surface of the inner wall 167. In the present embodiment, the inner wall 167 extends straight along the vertical direction 7, but does not need to extend straight. For example, the inner wall 167 may extend while being inclined with respect to the vertical direction 7.

  The storage chamber 160B includes a third space 183 in addition to the three spaces (the buffer space 180, the first space 181 and the second space 182) constituting the storage chambers 160M, 160C and 160Y. That is, the storage chamber 160 </ b> B includes the buffer space 180, the first space 181, the second space 182, and the third space 183.

  The second space 182 is partitioned by the rear surface of the second front wall 162B, the front surface of the rear wall 164, the left surface of the side wall 165, and the right surface of the inner wall 167.

  The third space 183 is partitioned by the rear surface of the second front wall 162B, the front surface of the rear wall 164, the left surface of the inner wall 167, and the right surface of the side wall 166. The third space 183 is located below the buffer space 180 and above the first space 181. The upper end of the third space 183 communicates with the buffer space 180. The lower end of the third space 183 communicates with the first space 181.

  The upper end of the third space 183 communicates with the rear end portion of the buffer space 180. The lower end of the third space 183 communicates with the rear end portion of the first space 181. As shown in FIG. 7, the upper end of the third space 183 communicates with the left end of the buffer space 180. The lower end of the third space 183 communicates with the left end portion of the first space 181.

  The third space 183 is located to the left of the second space 182. The third space 183 is separated from the second space 182 by the inner wall 167. That is, the third space 183 does not communicate with the second space 182. As described above, the third space 183 connects the buffer space 180 and the first space 181 on the left side of the second space 182.

  The inner wall 167 divides the storage chamber 160B in the left-right direction 9. A rotating member 50 described later is disposed on the right side of the inner wall 167 in the storage chamber 160B. On the left side of the inner wall 167 in the storage chamber 160B, the storage chamber 160B communicates with the connecting portion 107 through the communication port 184. That is, the inner wall 167 defines a space between the connecting portion 107 and the rotation member 50 in the storage chamber 160B.

  The inner wall 167 is formed from the upper end to the lower end of the storage chamber 160B. That is, the inner wall 167 is formed from the buffer space 180 to the first space 181. Thus, the buffer space 180 is divided into two spaces in the left-right direction 9. The first space 181 is divided into two spaces in the left-right direction 9. A gap 167 </ b> A is formed at the upper end portion of the inner wall 167. Thereby, the buffer space 180 divided into two is mutually connected via the clearance gap 167A. Further, a gap 167 </ b> B is formed at the lower end portion of the inner wall 167. As a result, the first space 181 divided into two communicates with each other via the gap 167B.

  In addition, the inner wall 167 should just be formed ranging from the position above the to-be-detected part 54 of the communicating port 184 and the rotation member 50 mentioned later to the position below the communicating port 184 and to-be-detected part 54. That is, the inner wall 167 is not necessarily formed from the upper end portion to the lower end portion of the storage chamber 160B. For example, the upper end of the inner wall 167 may be located below the position shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the communication port 128 is formed on the right side of the inner wall 167 in the storage chamber 160B. The communication port 128 is formed below the gap 167B. The communication port 128 may be formed on the left side of the inner wall 167 in the storage chamber 160B. Further, the communication port 128 may be formed at the same position as the gap 167 </ b> B in the vertical direction 7. Further, the communication port 128 may be formed above the gap 167B.

  The cross-sectional area along the horizontal direction of the third space 183 is generally rectangular. The buffer space 180 and the first space 181 extend forward from the second space 182 and the third space 183. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the space L5 in the left-right direction 9 between the side wall 165 and the inner wall 167 in the portion that divides the second space 182, and the left-right direction of the inner wall 167 and the side wall 166 in the portion that divides the third space 183. 9 and the interval L6 are shorter than the interval L7 in the left-right direction 9 of the side walls 165 and 166 in the portion that partitions the buffer space 180 and the first space 181. Therefore, the horizontal sectional area of the buffer space 180 is larger than the sum of the horizontal sectional area of the second space 182 and the horizontal sectional area of the third space 183. Further, the horizontal sectional area of the first space 181 is larger than the sum of the horizontal sectional area of the second space 182 and the horizontal sectional area of the third space 183.

[Rotating member 50]
As shown in FIG. 6, the rotating member 50 is disposed in the storage chamber 160 of each tank 103. The rotation member 50 is supported by a support member 185 disposed in the storage chamber 160 so as to be rotatable in the directions of arrows 58 and 59. The rotating member 50 may be supported by other than the support member 185.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the support member 185 includes a right wall 186 and a left wall 187, a rear wall 188, and a bottom wall 189. The right wall 186 and the left wall 187 are opposed to each other in the left-right direction 9. The right wall 186 and the left wall 187 extend in the up-down direction 7 and the front-rear direction 8. The rear wall 188 connects the rear end of the right wall 186 and the rear end of the left wall 187. The bottom wall 189 connects the lower end of the right wall 186 and the lower end of the left wall 187. At the rear end of the right wall 186, a protrusion 186A protruding rearward is formed. As shown in FIG. 5, the protrusion 186 </ b> A is fitted in a recess 190 formed by a pair of protrusions formed on the second lower wall 163 </ b> B that partitions the storage chamber 160 of the tank 103. Thereby, the support member 185 is fixed in the storage chamber 160 of the tank 103.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the right wall 186 is located to the left of the communication port 128. As shown in FIG. 7, the right wall 186 is located between the right end and the left end of the second space 182 in the left-right direction 9. That is, the right wall 186 overlaps the second space 182 in the left-right direction 9. Note that the right wall 186 may overlap the second space 182 in the left-right direction 9, and the right wall 186 may not overlap the second space 182 in the left-right direction 9.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the right wall 186 is located behind the communication port 128. As shown in FIG. 7, the right wall 186 is located above the communication port 128. That is, the right wall 186 does not overlap with the communication port 128 in the up-down direction 7 and the front-rear direction 8.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the upper end of the right wall 186 is positioned below the second upper wall 161B. That is, a gap is formed between the upper end of the right wall 186 and the lower surface of the second upper wall 161B that defines the upper end of the first space 181.

  As described above, when the specified maximum amount of ink is stored in the storage chamber 160 in a state where the multifunction machine 10 is in the use posture, the position of the ink liquid level in the vertical direction 7 is the position P1 (FIG. 6). In this state, when the multifunction device 10 changes its posture from the use posture to the lower left posture (the posture of the multifunction device 10 when the multifunction device 10 is installed so that the left surface of the housing 14 in the use posture is the lower surface). The liquid level of the ink in each tank 103 is a position P5 shown in FIG. At this time, as shown in FIG. 8, the position of the right wall 186 in the left-right direction 9 is the same as the position P5. Note that the position of the right wall 186 in the left-right direction 9 may be a position different from the position P5, but is preferably in the vicinity of the position P5.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the rotation member 50 is disposed between the right wall 186 and the left wall 187 of the support member 185. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, the rotating member 50 includes a float 51, a shaft 52, an arm 53, and a detected portion 54.

  The float 51 is located below the rotating member 50. The float 51 is formed of a material having a specific gravity smaller than that of the ink stored in the storage chamber 160. The shaft 52 protrudes along the left-right direction 9 from the right and left surfaces of the float 51. The shaft 52 is inserted into a hole 191 formed in the right wall 186 and the left wall 187 of the support member 185. Thereby, the rotation member 50 is supported by the support member 185 so as to be rotatable about the shaft 52. The shaft 52 is located below the communication port 184. The float 51 and the shaft 52 are located in the first space 181.

  The arm 53 protrudes substantially upward from the float 51. The detected portion 54 is formed at the protruding tip portion of the arm 53. That is, the detected part 54 is formed at the turning tip of the turning member 50. A part of the arm 53 and the detected part 54 are located in the internal space 120 </ b> A of the convex part 120. The detected part 54 is located above the communication port 184. The detected portion 54 is configured in a plate shape extending in the vertical direction 7 and the front-rear direction 8. The detected portion 54 is formed of a material that blocks light output from a light emitting portion 55A of a liquid level sensor 55 described later.

  When the liquid level of the ink stored in the storage chamber 160 is a position above the position P <b> 2 in the vertical direction 7, in other words, the liquid level of the ink stored in the storage chamber 33 of the ink cartridge 30 is the ink in the vertical direction 7. When the position is above the position P <b> 2 of the supply unit 34, the rotating member 50 rotates in the direction of the arrow 58 due to the buoyancy acting on the float 51. Thereby, the rotation member 50 is located in the detection position shown as a continuous line in FIG.

  On the other hand, when the ink stored in the storage chamber 160 and the ink valve chamber 35 is consumed, the liquid level of the ink decreases, and when the ink reaches the position P2 in the vertical direction 7, the rotating member 50 follows the liquid level and moves to the arrow. It rotates in the direction of 59. Thereby, the rotation member 50 is located in the non-detection position shown with a broken line in FIG. That is, the rotating member 50 changes its state on condition that the liquid level of the ink stored in the storage chamber 160 is at the same position as the communication port 184 in the vertical direction 7.

  In the present embodiment, when the ink level reaches the position P2 in the vertical direction 7, the rotating member 50 rotates from the detection position to the non-detection position. You may be comprised so that it may rotate when it comes to the predetermined position which is lower than P2.

[Liquid level sensor 55]
The liquid level sensor 55 (see FIG. 6) detects a change in the state of the rotating member 50 including the detected portion 54. In the present embodiment, the liquid level sensor 55 includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit mounted on the substrate 60. The light emitting part and the light receiving part are arranged so as to sandwich the convex part 120 of the tank 103 with an interval in the left-right direction 9. The light emitting part is disposed on the right or left side of the convex part 120, and the light receiving part is disposed on the other right or left side of the convex part 120. The optical path of the light output from the light emitting unit coincides with the left-right direction 9. Between the light emitting part and the light receiving part, the detected part 54 of the rotating member 50 at the detection position is located.

  The liquid level sensor 55 outputs different detection signals depending on whether or not the light output from the light emitting unit is received by the light receiving unit. For example, the liquid level sensor 55 detects that the light output from the light emitting unit cannot be received by the light receiving unit (that is, the light level is less than a predetermined intensity). Is output to the control unit 130 (see FIG. 13). On the other hand, the liquid level sensor 55 receives a high level signal (“signal level is a threshold level” on condition that the light output from the light emitting unit can be received by the light receiving unit (that is, the light receiving intensity is equal to or higher than a predetermined intensity). The above signal "is output to the control unit 130.

  The detected portion 54 at the detection position is located between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion. Therefore, when the liquid level of ink stored in the storage chamber 160 of the tank 103 (in other words, the liquid level of ink stored in the storage chamber 33 of the ink cartridge 30) is a position above the position P2 in the vertical direction 7. Since the light output from the light emitting unit cannot be received by the light receiving unit, the liquid level sensor 55 outputs a low level signal to the control unit 130. On the other hand, the detected portion 54 at the non-detection position is at a position retracted from between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion. Therefore, when the liquid level of ink stored in the storage chamber 160 (in other words, the liquid level of ink stored in the storage chamber 33 of the ink cartridge 30) is the position P2 or less in the vertical direction 7, the light emitting unit Since the output light can be received by the light receiving unit, the liquid level sensor 55 outputs a high level signal to the control unit 130. The rotating member 50 and the liquid level sensor 55 described above are examples of the liquid level detection unit.

[Ink cartridge 30]
The ink cartridge 30 shown in FIGS. 6 and 10 is a container for storing ink. The posture of the ink cartridge 30 shown in FIGS. 6 and 10 is a usage posture.

  The ink cartridge 30 shown in FIG. 10 stores yellow ink. The ink cartridge 30 in which cyan and magenta ink is stored has the same configuration as the ink cartridge 30 in which yellow ink is stored, except for the presence or absence and position of a notch 66 described later. The ink cartridge 30 in which black ink is stored is longer in the left-right direction 9 than the ink cartridge 30 in which yellow, cyan, and magenta ink is stored, and the presence / absence and position of the notch 66 are excluded. The configuration is the same as that of the ink cartridge 30 in which yellow, cyan, and magenta inks are stored. Therefore, hereinafter, the configuration of the ink cartridge 30 in which yellow ink is stored will be described, and description of the configuration of the ink cartridge 30 in which cyan, magenta, and black ink are stored will be omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 10, the ink cartridge 30 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped casing 31. The housing 31 includes a rear wall 40, a step wall 49, a step wall 95, a front wall 41, an upper wall 39, a sub upper wall 91, a lower wall 42, a sub lower wall 48, and a right side wall 37. And a left side wall 38.

  The casing 31 as a whole has a flat shape in which the dimension along the left-right direction 9 is thin, and the dimension along each of the up-down direction 7 and the front-rear direction 8 is larger than the dimension along the left-right direction 9. In the casing 31, at least the front wall 41 has translucency so that the liquid level of the ink stored in the storage chamber 32 and the storage chamber 33 can be visually recognized from the outside.

  The sub lower wall 48 is located above the lower wall 42 and extends forward continuously from the lower end of the rear wall 40. In the present embodiment, the rear end of the sub lower wall 48 is located behind the rear end of the ink supply unit 34, and the front end of the sub lower wall 48 is located forward of the rear end of the ink supply unit 34. The lower wall 42 and the sub lower wall 48 are continuous by a step wall 49. The ink supply unit 34 extends rearward from the step wall 49 below the sub lower wall 48 and above the lower wall 42. In addition, the position of the rear end of the sub lower wall 48 is arbitrary, and may be positioned forward of the rear end of the ink supply unit 34, for example.

  On the outer surface of the upper wall 39, a convex portion 43 protruding upward is provided. The convex portion 43 extends along the front-rear direction 8. The surface facing backward in the convex portion 43 is a lock surface 151. The lock surface 151 is located above the upper wall 39. The lock surface 151 is a surface that can come in contact with the lock shaft 145 forward when the ink cartridge 30 is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 110. When the lock surface 151 contacts the lock shaft 145 forward, the ink cartridge 30 is held by the cartridge mounting portion 110 against the urging force of the coil springs 78 and 98.

  An inclined surface 155 is formed behind the lock surface 151 in the convex portion 43. The lock shaft 145 is guided along the inclined surface 155 in the process of mounting the ink cartridge 30 on the cartridge mounting portion 110. As a result, the lock shaft 145 is guided to a position in contact with the lock surface 151.

  An operation unit 90 is formed in front of the lock surface 151 on the upper wall 39. When the operation surface 92 of the operation unit 90 is pushed downward in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110, the lock surface 151 moves downward by rotating the ink cartridge 30. As a result, the lock surface 151 is positioned below the lock shaft 145. As a result, the ink cartridge 30 can be removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110.

  A light shielding plate 67 protruding upward is formed on the outer surface of the upper wall 39. The light shielding plate 67 extends in the front-rear direction 8. The light shielding plate 67 is located behind the convex portion 43.

  The light shielding plate 67 is positioned between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit of the mounting sensor 113 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110. As a result, the light shielding plate 67 blocks light from the mounting sensor 113 traveling in the left-right direction 9. More specifically, when the light output from the light emitting unit of the mounting sensor 113 hits the light shielding plate 67 before reaching the light receiving unit, the intensity of the light reaching the light receiving unit is less than a predetermined intensity, for example, zero. It becomes. The light blocking plate 67 may completely block the light from traveling from the light emitting unit to the light receiving unit, may partially attenuate the light, may bend the light traveling direction, It may be totally reflected.

  In the present embodiment, a notch 66 is formed in the light shielding plate 67. The notch 66 is a space recessed downward from the upper end of the light shielding plate 67, and extends in the front-rear direction 8. Since the notch 66 is positioned in the mounting sensor 113, the light output from the light emitting unit of the mounting sensor 113 is not blocked until it reaches the light receiving unit. Depending on the presence or absence of the notch 66, the type of the ink cartridge 30, that is, the type and initial amount of ink stored in the ink cartridge 30, can be determined. On the other hand, if the light shielding plate 67 does not have the notch 66, the light shielding plate 67 faces the light emitting portion of the mounting sensor 113 in the mounted ink cartridge 30.

  An IC substrate 64 is provided on the outer surface of the upper wall 39 between the light shielding plate 67 and the convex portion 43 in the front-rear direction 8. The IC substrate 64 is electrically connected to the contact 106 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110.

  The IC substrate 64 is obtained by mounting an IC (not shown in each figure) and four electrodes 65 on a substrate formed of silicon or the like. The four electrodes 65 are arranged along the left-right direction 9. The IC is a semiconductor integrated circuit, and stores information about the ink cartridge 30 such as data indicating information such as a lot number, date of manufacture, and ink color in a readable manner. The IC substrate 64 may be configured by providing an IC and an electrode on a flexible substrate having flexibility.

  Each electrode 65 is electrically connected to the IC. Each electrode 65 extends along the front-rear direction 8, and the four electrodes 65 are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction 9. Each electrode 65 is exposed on the upper surface of the IC substrate 64 so as to be electrically accessible.

  The step wall 95 extends upward from the front end of the sub upper wall 91 at the rear end of the outer surface of the upper wall 39. An air communication port 96 that allows the storage chamber 32 to communicate with the atmosphere is formed in the step wall 95. That is, the atmosphere communication port 96 is disposed above the center of the dimension of the casing 31 in the vertical direction 7. The air communication port 96 is a substantially circular opening formed in the step wall 95, and has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the rod 125 of the cartridge mounting part 110.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the rod 125 enters the atmosphere communication port 96 in the process of mounting the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge mounting portion 110. The rod 125 that has entered the air communication port 96 moves the valve 97 that seals the air communication port 96 rearward against the biasing force of the coil spring 98. The storage chamber 32 is opened to the atmosphere by moving the valve 97 rearward and away from the atmosphere communication port 96. The member that seals the atmosphere communication port 96 is not limited to the valve 97. For example, the atmosphere communication port 96 may be sealed with a seal that can be peeled off from the step wall 95.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a storage chamber 57 (an example of a first storage chamber) in which ink is stored, an air flow path 61 and a buffer space 62 through which air is circulated are formed inside the housing 31. ing. The storage chamber 57 includes a storage chamber 32, a storage chamber 33, and an ink valve chamber 35.

  The casing 31 includes a partition wall 44 and a lower wall 45 inside thereof. The partition wall 44 and the lower wall 45 are walls that extend in the front-rear direction 8 and the left-right direction 9, respectively. The partition wall 44 and the lower wall 45 face each other in the vertical direction 7.

  In the storage chamber 32, the upper side is defined by the lower surface of the partition wall 44, and the lower side is defined by the upper surfaces of the lower wall 45 and the sub lower wall 48. The storage chamber 32 has a rear side defined by the inner surfaces of the rear wall 40 and the step wall 49, and a front side defined by the inner surface of the front wall 41. The storage chamber 32 is partitioned on the left and right sides by the inner surfaces of the side walls 37 and 38, respectively. That is, the storage chamber 32 is defined by the lower surface of the partition wall 44, the upper surfaces of the lower wall 45 and the sub lower wall 48, the inner surfaces of the rear wall 40 and the step wall 49, the inner surface of the front wall 41, and the inner surfaces of the side walls 37 and 38. Space.

  The partition wall 44 separates the storage chamber 32 and the atmospheric flow path 61. A through hole 46 is formed at the front end of the partition wall 44. The storage chamber 32 and the atmospheric flow path 61 communicate with each other through the through hole 46.

  The lower wall 45 extends forward from the inner surface of the step wall 49. The lower wall 45 divides the storage chamber 57 into a storage chamber 32 above the lower wall 45 and a storage chamber 33 below the lower wall 45. A gap 45A is formed at the front end of the lower wall 45 (see FIGS. 13 and 14). The storage chamber 32 and the storage chamber 33 communicate with each other through a gap 45A.

  As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14A, the left end of the lower wall 45 is connected to the left side wall 38. That is, the lower wall 45 extends to the right from the inner surface of the left side wall 38, that is, the surface facing the right among the surfaces defining the storage chamber 32. The gap 45 </ b> A is formed at the right end of the lower wall 45. As shown in FIG. 13, the left end of the gap 45 </ b> A is located to the right of the left end of the through hole 46. The through hole 46 may be located on the left side of the gap 45A. Specifically, the right end of the through hole 46 may be located to the left of the left end of the gap 45A.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the lower wall 45 is located above the ink supply port 71.

  The storage chamber 33 is located below the storage chamber 32 in the use posture in the internal space of the housing 31 and stores ink. The volume in which the storage chamber 33 can store ink is smaller than the volume in which the storage chamber 32 can store ink.

  The storage chamber 33 is partitioned on the upper side by the lower surface of the lower wall 45, and on the lower side by the inner surface of the lower wall 42. The storage chamber 33 is partitioned on the front side by the inner surface of the front wall 41. The storage chamber 33 is partitioned on the left and right sides by the inner surfaces of the side walls 37 and 38. A partition wall 47 is formed between the storage chamber 33 and the ink valve chamber 35. The rear side of the storage chamber 33 is partitioned by the front surface of the partition wall 47. That is, the storage chamber 33 is a space defined by the lower surface of the lower wall 45, the inner surface of the lower wall 42, the inner surface of the front wall 41, the inner surfaces of the side walls 37 and 38, and the front surface of the partition wall 47. The storage chamber 33 communicates with the ink valve chamber 35 through a through hole 99 formed in the partition wall 47.

  One end of the atmospheric flow path 61 communicates with the storage chamber 32 through the through hole 46. The other end of the air flow path 61 communicates with the outside through the air communication port 96.

  An atmospheric valve chamber 36 is formed at the other end of the atmospheric flow path 61. A valve 97 and a coil spring 98 are accommodated in the atmospheric valve chamber 36. The atmospheric valve chamber 36 communicates with the outside through an atmospheric communication port 96. The valve 97 is movable to a closed position that seals the atmosphere communication port 96 and an open position that is separated from the atmosphere communication port 96. The coil spring 98 is disposed so as to be expandable and contractable along the front-rear direction 8 and urges the valve 97 in a direction in which the valve 97 abuts on the atmosphere communication port 96, that is, backward. The spring constant of the coil spring 98 is smaller than the spring constant of the coil spring 78 of the ink supply unit 34.

  A through hole 94 is formed in the wall 93 that partitions the atmospheric valve chamber 36. The atmospheric valve chamber 36 communicates with one end side of the atmospheric flow path 61 through the through hole 94. The through hole 94 is sealed with a semipermeable membrane 80.

  The buffer space 62 is formed between one end and the other end of the atmospheric flow path 61. Specifically, the buffer space 62 is formed between the through hole 94 and the through hole 46 in the atmospheric flow path 61. One end of the buffer space 62 communicates with one end side of the atmospheric flow path 61 (the side communicating with the storage chamber 32 through the through hole 46). The other end of the buffer space 62 communicates with the other end side (the side communicating with the atmospheric valve chamber 36 through the through hole 94) of the atmospheric flow path 61.

  As described above, the storage chamber 32 communicates with the outside through the atmospheric flow path 61 and the buffer space 62. The atmospheric communication port 96, the through hole 46, the through hole 94, the atmospheric flow path 61, and the buffer space 62 are examples of the first atmospheric communication unit.

  The area of the channel cross section orthogonal to the flow direction from one end to the other end in the buffer space 62 is larger than the area of the channel cross section in the atmospheric flow path 61.

  This will be described in detail below. In the present embodiment, the atmospheric flow path 61 and the buffer space 62 extend substantially along the front-rear direction 8 from the through hole 46 toward the atmospheric communication port 96. That is, the flow direction from one end to the other end in the atmospheric flow path 61 and the buffer space 62 is the front-rear direction 8. Thus, the cross section of the flow path is a surface extending in the vertical direction 7 and the horizontal direction 9. That is, the channel cross-section is a vertical cross-sectional area. Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the length of the buffer space 62 in the vertical direction 7 is longer than the length of the atmospheric flow path 61 in the vertical direction 7. Although not shown, the buffer space 62 and the atmospheric flow path 61 are both divided at the right end by the right side wall 37 of the ink cartridge 30 and at the left end by the left side wall 38 of the ink cartridge 30. Therefore, the length of the buffer space 62 in the left-right direction 9 is the same as the length of the atmospheric flow path 61 in the left-right direction 9. As described above, the vertical cross-sectional area in the buffer space 62 is larger than the vertical cross-sectional area in the atmospheric flow path 61.

  In this embodiment, the channel resistance of the channel that opens the storage chamber 160 of the tank 103 to the atmosphere is larger than the channel resistance of the channel that opens the storage chamber 57 of the ink cartridge 30 to the atmosphere. The flow path that opens the storage chamber 160 to the atmosphere is an air flow path 147 that connects the air communication port 124 and the through hole 119 (see FIG. 5). The passages that open the storage chamber 57 to the atmosphere are an atmosphere passage 61 and a buffer space 62.

  For example, the channel resistance is reduced by increasing the cross-sectional area of the channel. For example, the channel resistance is increased by increasing the length of the channel. Further, for example, the channel resistance is increased or decreased by changing the type of the semipermeable membrane. Further, for example, the channel resistance is increased by increasing the number of semipermeable membranes arranged in the channel.

  The flow path resistance of the flow path that opens the storage chamber 160 of the tank 103 to the atmosphere may be the same as the flow path resistance of the flow path that opens the storage chamber 57 of the ink cartridge 30 to the atmosphere. It may be smaller than the flow path resistance.

  The ink supply unit 34 protrudes rearward from the step wall 49. That is, the ink supply unit 34 is formed on the step wall 49. The ink supply unit 34 has a cylindrical outer shape. An internal space of the ink supply unit 34 is an ink valve chamber 35. The rear end of the ink supply unit 34 opens to the outside of the ink cartridge 30 through the ink supply port 71. A seal member 76 is provided at the rear end of the ink supply unit 34. The front end of the ink supply unit 34 communicates with the lower end of the storage chamber 33 through the through hole 99 as described above. That is, the ink supply unit 34 communicates with the lower end of the storage chamber 33. As described above, the ink supply port 71 communicates with the storage chamber 33 through the ink valve chamber 35.

  The ink valve chamber 35 is partitioned by the inner surface of the ink supply unit 34. The lower end 34A of the inner surface of the ink supply unit 34 defines the bottom (lowermost end) of the storage chamber 57. On the other hand, the bottom (lowermost end) of the storage chamber 160 of the tank 103 is partitioned by the second lower wall 163B. The second lower wall 163B is positioned below the lower end 34A of the inner surface of the ink supply unit 34.

  A valve 77 and a coil spring 78 are accommodated in the ink valve chamber 35. The valve 77 moves along the front-rear direction 8 to open and close the ink supply port 71 penetrating through the center of the seal member 76. The coil spring 78 urges the valve 77 backward. Therefore, the valve 77 closes the ink supply port 71 of the seal member 76 in a state where no external force is applied.

  The seal member 76 is a disk-shaped member having a through hole formed in the center. The seal member 76 is made of an elastic material such as rubber or elastomer, for example. The center of the seal member 76 is penetrated in the front-rear direction 8 to form a cylindrical inner peripheral surface, and an ink supply port 71 is formed by the inner peripheral surface. The inner diameter of the ink supply port 71 is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the ink needle 102.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110 in a state where the valve 77 closes the ink supply port 71 and the valve 114 closes the opening 116 of the ink needle 102, the ink cartridge 30 is in the process of mounting. The ink needle 102 enters the supply port 71 along the front-rear direction 8. That is, the connection unit 107 and the ink supply unit 34 are connected. At this time, the outer peripheral surface of the ink needle 102 comes into liquid-tight contact with the inner peripheral surface that defines the ink supply port 71 while elastically deforming the seal member 76. When the tip of the ink needle 102 passes through the seal member 76 and enters the ink valve chamber 35, it comes into contact with the valve 77. Further, when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110, the ink needle 102 moves the valve 77 backward against the urging force of the coil spring 78. As a result, the ink supply port 71 is opened.

  The tip of the ink needle 102 contacts the valve 77, while the valve 77 contacts the valve 114 from the front and pushes it. Then, the valve 114 moves backward against the urging force of the coil spring 115. Thereby, the opening 116 is opened. As a result, the ink stored in the storage chambers 32 and 33 and the ink valve chamber 35 can flow to the storage chamber 160 of the tank 103 through the internal space 117 of the ink needle 102. Here, the storage chambers 32 and 33, the ink valve chamber 35, and the storage chamber 160 are all open to the atmosphere. Therefore, the ink stored in the storage chamber 32, the storage chamber 33, and the ink valve chamber 35 of the ink cartridge 30 is supplied to the storage chamber 160 of the tank 103 by the water head difference through the ink supply unit 34.

  As shown in FIG. 11, a portion 121 (shown by hatching in FIG. 11) behind the communication port 128 in the atmosphere communication space (the portion above the position P <b> 1 in the storage chamber 160 </ b> Y) in the storage chamber 160 of the tank 103. The volume of the portion 121) is equal to the portion 122 (FIG. 11) of the storage chamber 33 and the ink valve chamber 35 in the ink cartridge 30 and the portion of the liquid storage space in the storage chamber 160 of the tank 103 in front of the communication port 128. The volume of the portion 122) indicated by hatching in FIG. In FIG. 11, the area of the portion 122 is larger than the area of the portion 121, but the length of the portion 122 in the left-right direction 9 is shorter than the length of the portion 121 in the left-right direction 9. It becomes larger than the volume of 122.

  As described above, when the specified maximum amount of ink is stored in the tank 103 and the ink cartridge 30 in the state in which the multifunction machine 10 is in the use posture, the position of the ink surface 7 in the vertical direction 7 is the position P1. Yes (see FIG. 6). In this state, when the multifunction device 10 changes its posture from the use posture to the rear lower posture (the posture of the multifunction device 10 when the multifunction device 10 is installed so that the rear surface of the housing 14 in the use posture is the lower surface). The liquid level of the ink in the ink cartridge 30 is a position P6 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 14, the gap 45A formed in the lower wall 45 is located above the position below the position P6 in the rear lower posture (forward in the use posture). That is, the gap 45 </ b> A is the liquid level of the maximum amount of ink that can be stored in the storage chamber 57 when the multifunction machine 10 is installed so that the inner surface of the rear wall 40 and the inner surface of the stepped wall 49 face upward. It is located above.

[Control unit 130]
Hereinafter, the schematic configuration of the control unit 130 will be described with reference to FIG. The control unit 130 controls the overall operation of the multifunction machine 10. The control unit 130 includes a CPU 131, a ROM 132, a RAM 133, an EEPROM 134, an ASIC 135, and an internal bus 137 that connects these components to each other.

  The ROM 132 stores a program for the CPU 131 to control various operations including recording control. The RAM 133 is used as a storage area for temporarily recording data, signals, and the like used when the CPU 131 executes the program. The EEPROM 134 stores settings, flags, and the like that should be retained even after the power is turned off.

  The ASIC 135 is connected with a transport motor 171, a feed motor 172, and a carriage drive motor 173. The ASIC 135 incorporates a drive circuit that controls each motor. When a driving signal for rotating each motor is input from the CPU 131 to a driving circuit corresponding to a predetermined motor, a driving current corresponding to the driving signal is output from the driving circuit to the corresponding motor. As a result, the corresponding motor rotates. That is, the control unit 130 controls the motors 171, 172, and 173.

  In addition, the piezoelectric element 56 is connected to the ASIC 135. The piezoelectric element 56 operates by being fed by the control unit 130 via a drive circuit (not shown). The control unit 130 controls power feeding to the piezoelectric element 56 and selectively ejects ink droplets from the plurality of nozzles 29.

  When recording an image on the paper 12, the control unit 130 controls the conveyance motor 171 so that the conveyance roller pair 25 and the discharge roller pair 27 alternately convey and stop the paper 12 for a predetermined line feed. Execute the process.

  The control unit 130 executes the ejection process while the paper 12 is stopped in the intermittent conveyance process. The ejection process is a process for ejecting ink droplets from the nozzles 29 by controlling power feeding to the piezoelectric element 56 while moving the carriage 22 along the left-right direction 9. By repeating the intermittent conveyance process and the discharge process, an image is recorded on the paper 12.

  In addition, a signal output from the mounting sensor 113 is input to the ASIC 135. When the signal input from the mounting sensor 113 is at a low level, the control unit 130 determines that the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110. On the other hand, when the signal input from the mounting sensor 113 is at a high level, the control unit 130 determines that the ink cartridge 30 is not mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110.

  Further, a signal output from the liquid level sensor 55 is input to the ASIC 135. When the signal input from the liquid level sensor 55 is at a low level, the control unit 130 determines that the liquid level of the ink stored in the tank 103 and the ink cartridge 30 is located above the position P2.

  On the other hand, when the signal input from the liquid level sensor 55 changes from the low level to the high level due to the state change of the rotating member 50, the control unit 130 determines the liquid level of the ink stored in the tank 103 and the ink cartridge 30. Is determined to be located at position P2 in the vertical direction 7.

  At this time, the control unit 130 needs to replace the ink cartridge 30 when the ink stored in the ink cartridge 30 is low or the ink stored in the ink cartridge 30 is exhausted. This is displayed on the display 200 (see FIG. 1), the LED is turned on, or a buzzer sound is emitted to notify the user.

  The control unit 130 may count the ink droplets ejected from the recording head 21 after the input signal from the liquid level sensor 55 has changed from the low level to the high level. Then, on condition that the dot count value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the control unit 130 sets the liquid level of the ink stored in the tank 103 and the ink cartridge 30 at a predetermined position below the position P2 in the vertical direction 7. You may judge that there is. At this time, the control unit 130 may execute notification similar to the above. The predetermined value is determined based on the volume of the storage chamber 160 below the connection portion 107.

  The control unit 130 determines the position in the vertical direction 7 of the liquid level of the ink stored in the storage chamber 33 for each of the four ink cartridges 30. Further, the control unit 130 determines the position in the vertical direction 7 of the liquid level of the ink stored in the storage chamber 160 for each of the tanks 103 corresponding to the four ink cartridges 30.

[Operational effects of this embodiment]
In the use posture of the multifunction machine 10, the storage chamber 160 is positioned to the right of the transport path 17, and the carriage 22 can move in the left-right direction 9. When the multifunction device 10 is rotated 90 degrees from the use posture, the storage chamber 160 is positioned above the transport path 17 in the lower left side posture (the multifunction device 10 is arranged such that the left surface of the housing 14 in the use posture is the lower surface. When installed in the attitude of the multifunction machine 10 when installed), the carriage 22 is movable in the up-down direction 7 in the lower left face attitude. Here, when the carriage 22 is positioned at the lower part of the multifunction device 10 in the lower left posture, the recording head 21 mounted on the carriage 22 is positioned below the storage chamber 160. If the storage chamber 160 is filled with ink in this state, the ink stored in the storage chamber 160 may flow out to the recording head 21 due to the hydraulic head pressure, and the ink may flow out of the recording head 21.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the communication port 128 of the storage chamber 160 communicates with the storage chamber 160 at a position on the right side of the center of the storage chamber 160 in the left-right direction 9. In addition, the storage chamber 160 has a predetermined space at the top in the use posture. In the use posture, air is stored in the predetermined space. As a result, when the multifunction device 10 changes its posture from the use posture to the lower left surface, the air stored in the predetermined space in the use posture is more to the left than the center in the left-right direction 9 of the storage chamber 160 in the lower surface. Will come to be located. And the air which came to be located in the left side rather than the center of the left-right direction 9 of the storage chamber 160 in the lower left surface posture moves to the upper part of the storage chamber 160 in the lower left surface posture. Here, when the multifunction device 10 changes its posture from the use posture to the lower left surface posture, the communication port 128 communicates with the upper portion of the storage chamber 160 in the lower left surface posture. Therefore, the air that has moved to the upper part of the storage chamber 160 in the lower left side posture flows out from the communication port 128.

  Here, the predetermined space is a space above the liquid level in a state where an amount of ink whose position P2 (see FIG. 6) is the liquid level is stored in the storage chamber 160. Further, the volume of the predetermined space is larger than the volume of the ink circulation space between the communication port 128 and the nozzle 29. Therefore, when the amount of ink equal to or less than the above amount is stored in the storage chamber 160, the circulation space is filled with air flowing out from the communication port 128. Therefore, there is no difference in water head pressure between the storage chamber 160 and the recording head 21, so that ink can be prevented from flowing out from the communication port 128. Further, even when a larger amount of ink than the above amount is stored in the storage chamber 160, the outflow of ink from the communication port 128 can be suppressed to a difference amount from the above amount.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the rotating member 50 and the liquid level sensor 55 detect the height of the liquid level of the ink stored in the storage chamber 160. Therefore, in a case where the ink stored in the storage chamber 57 is used up before the ink stored in the storage chamber 160 by controlling the atmospheric communication of at least one of the storage chamber 57 or the storage chamber 160, the storage is performed. Even after the chamber 57 becomes empty, the remaining amount of ink can be detected.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the second space 182 is located at the upper end of the storage chamber 160 when the multifunction device 10 changes its posture from the use posture to the lower left surface posture. Thereby, the air in the buffer space 180 can be easily moved to the first space 181 via the second space 182 in the lower left surface posture.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when the multifunction device 10 changes its posture from the use posture to the lower left posture, the second space 182 is located at the upper end of the storage chamber 160, and the third space 183 is more than the second space 182. Is also located below. Thereby, in the lower left surface posture, the air in the buffer space 180 moves to the first space 181 through the second space 182, and the ink in the first space 181 moves to the buffer space 180 through the third space 183. To do. Thus, the movement of air and ink can be promoted.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the right end of the first space 181 is located to the right of the right end of the second space 182. And the communication port 128 is formed in the lower part (refer FIG. 7) of the left surface of the side wall 165 which divides the right part rather than the right end of the 2nd space 182 in the 1st space 181. Then, when the multifunction device 10 changes its posture from the use posture to the lower left surface posture, the communication port 128 is positioned above the second space 182. Thus, even when the ink liquid level comes into contact with the surface defining the second space 182 due to surface tension, the possibility that the ink liquid level comes into contact with the lower part of the left side of the side wall 165 due to surface tension can be reduced. As a result, the outflow from the ink communication port 128 can be suppressed.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the volume of the predetermined space is larger than the volume of the portion on the right side of the left end of the communication port 128 in the storage chamber 160. For this reason, when the ink is stored in the storage chamber 160 at an amount equal to or less than the liquid level (position P2 is the liquid level) in the usage posture, the multifunction device 10 is lowered from the usage posture to the lower left side posture. When the posture is changed, the communication port 128 becomes higher than the ink level. As a result, it is possible to prevent the ink from entering the communication port 128. In addition, when ink larger than the above amount is stored in the storage chamber 160 in the use posture, the ink entering the communication port 128 even when the multifunction device 10 changes the posture from the use posture to the lower left side posture. Can be suppressed to the amount of difference from the above amount.

  Further, when the multifunction device 10 changes its posture from the use posture to the lower left surface posture, if the ink liquid level comes into contact with the lower part of the left side surface of the side wall 165 (see FIG. 7) due to surface tension, the ink is communicated from the contacted portion. There is a risk of entering 128. According to the present embodiment, the interval between the ink liquid level and the lower portion of the left side of the side wall 165 when the multifunction device 10 is in the lower left side posture is longer than the surface tension length. Therefore, the liquid level of the ink does not come into contact with the lower part of the left surface of the side wall 165 due to surface tension, so that the above entry can be prevented.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the remaining amount of ink stored in the storage chamber 57 can be increased simply by replacing the ink cartridge 30.

  In the present embodiment, the storage chamber 160 includes a first space 181 in the lower portion and a buffer space 180 in the upper portion. Air is stored in the buffer space 180. Accordingly, when the multifunction device 10 changes its posture from the use posture to the lower left surface posture, the air in the buffer space 180 moves and the air is positioned above the storage chamber 160. As a result, the outflow of ink from the storage chamber 160 to the communication port 128 is reduced.

  Here, when the multifunction device 10 is changed in posture from the use posture to the lower left surface posture, the ink and air may move, and the ink and air may be mixed and bubbled. However, in this embodiment, as will be described in detail below, it is possible to reduce the outflow of the generated foam from the communication port 128. When the multifunction device 10 is changed from the use posture to the lower left posture, the air in the buffer space 180 moves to the first space 181 through the second space 182, and the ink in the first space 181 is the second ink. It moves to the buffer space 180 through the space 182. Here, the horizontal sectional area of the second space 182 is smaller than the horizontal sectional area of the buffer space 180 and smaller than the horizontal sectional area of the first space 181. For this reason, in the second space 182, mixing of ink and air is suppressed, and generation of bubbles is suppressed. As a result, the outflow from the bubble communication port 128 can be reduced. That is, the outflow of ink from the communication port 128 can be reduced.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when the multifunction device 10 is changed from the use posture to the lower left surface posture, as shown in FIG. 8, when the ink liquid level is located in the vicinity of the right wall 186, For example, when the ink level is at position P5, the level touches the right wall 186 due to surface tension. Thereby, foaming due to vibration of the multifunction machine 10 can be suppressed.

  Further, when the multifunction device 10 is changed from the use posture to the lower left surface posture, when the ink liquid level is located below the right wall 186, the generated bubbles flow out to the communication port 128 to flow out to the right wall 186. Blocked by. Thereby, the outflow to the communicating port 128 of a bubble can be reduced.

  Further, when the multifunction device 10 is changed from the use posture to the lower left posture, if the ink level is located above the right wall 186, the ink located below the right wall 186 is mixed with the gas. However, only the ink located above the right wall 186 is mixed with gas. That is, the amount of liquid mixed with gas can be reduced. As a result, the generation of bubbles can be suppressed.

  Also, if the right wall 186 overlaps the communication port 128 in the up-down direction 7 and the front-rear direction 8, that is, if the right wall 186 faces the communication port 128 in the left-right direction 9, the left-right direction 9 (left surface) Bubbles generated at a position facing the right wall 186 in the vertical direction in the lower posture are blocked by the right wall 186 and cannot move to the left (lower in the lower left posture) than the right wall 186. As a result, there is a high possibility that bubbles move to the right (upward when in the lower left posture) and flow out of the communication port 128. However, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the right wall 186 does not overlap with the communication port 128 in the vertical direction 7 and the front-rear direction 8. Therefore, bubbles generated at a position facing the right wall 186 in the left-right direction 9 (up-down direction when the left face is in the lower position) can move leftward (downward when the left face is in the lower position) than the right wall 186. it can. As a result, the outflow of bubbles from the communication port 128 can be suppressed.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, a gap is formed between the upper end of the right wall 186 and the lower surface of the second upper wall 161B. Therefore, the ink located in the first space 181 can be smoothly sent to the second space 182 through the gap.

  Further, in a state where the prescribed maximum amount of ink is stored in the storage chamber 160, it is most likely that bubbles generated when the attitude of the multifunction machine 10 changes will flow out from the communication port 128. In this state, when the multifunction device 10 is changed from the use posture to the lower left surface posture, the ink liquid level is at the position P5. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the position of the right wall 186 in the left-right direction 9 is the same as the position P5. Therefore, when the multifunction device 10 is changed from the use posture to the lower left surface posture in such a state, the right wall 186 is positioned in the vicinity of the liquid surface, so that the liquid surface comes into contact with the right wall 186 due to surface tension. Thereby, foaming due to vibration of the multifunction machine 10 can be suppressed.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when the multifunction device 10 is changed in posture from the use posture to the lower left posture, the air in the buffer space 180 mainly moves to the first space 181 via the second space 182. Ink in the first space 181 moves to the buffer space 180 mainly through the third space 183. As a result, the amount of ink entering the second space 182 is reduced, so that the generation of bubbles in the second space 182 can be suppressed.

  Further, the storage chamber 160 is positioned in front of the nozzle 29 in the usage posture of the multifunction machine 10. The multifunction device 10 is rotated 90 degrees from the use posture, and the rear surface lower position in which the storage chamber 160 is located above the nozzle 29 (the multifunction device 10 is installed so that the rear surface of the housing 14 in the use posture is the lower surface. When installed in the attitude of the multi-function device 10 at the time, the liquid stored in the storage chamber 160 may flow out from the communication port 128 to the recording head 21 due to water head pressure, and ink may flow out from the recording head 21. .

  In the present embodiment, the atmosphere communication space is positioned above the liquid storage space in the use posture of the multifunction machine 10. When the multifunction device 10 changes its posture from the use posture to the lower rear posture, the atmosphere communication space is aligned with the liquid storage space along the horizontal direction. Thereby, the liquid stored in the liquid storage space flows into the atmosphere communication space. As a result, the outflow of ink stored in the storage chamber 160 in the use posture from the communication port 128 can be reduced.

  Further, when the multifunction device 10 changes its posture from the use posture to the rear lower posture, the ink stored in the storage chamber 57 enters the storage chamber 160 through the ink supply port 71, and the ink that has entered the storage chamber 160 has the hydraulic head pressure. May flow out from the communication port 128 to the recording head 21, and ink may flow out of the recording head 21.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the storage chamber 57 is divided into a storage chamber 32, a storage chamber 33, and an ink valve chamber 35 by a lower wall 45. As a result, when the multi-function device 10 is installed in the rear lower position, the ink stored in the storage chamber 32 is below the gap 45A formed in the lower wall 45 in the lower rear position (rear in the use position). Since the ink stored in the portion located at the position cannot move to the storage chamber 33 side and the ink valve chamber 35 side, there is no possibility of entering the storage chamber 160. As a result, the amount of ink that enters the storage chamber 160 can be reduced.

  Further, when the multifunction device 10 changes its posture from the use posture to the rear lower posture, the ink that may flow out from the communication port 128 to the recording head 21 is the ink stored in the storage chamber 32 and the ink valve chamber 35. Of the ink stored in the chamber 32, the ink stored in the portion located above the gap 45 </ b> A (the front in the use posture) in the lower rear surface posture and the communication port 128 among the ink stored in the liquid storage space. This ink is stored in the upper part of the lower rear posture (front side of the communication port 128 in the use posture).

  In the present embodiment, the volume of the rear part of the atmosphere communication space from the communication port 128, that is, the volume of the part 121 shown by hatching in FIG. 11, is the volume of the storage chamber 32, the volume of the ink valve chamber 35, and the liquid. It is larger than the total volume of the portion of the storage space in front of the communication port 128, that is, the volume of the portion 122 shown by hatching in FIG. As a result, when the multifunction device 10 changes its posture from the use posture to the lower back posture, the amount of ink flowing out from the communication port 128 can be reduced.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the gap 45 </ b> A is the maximum amount of liquid level that can be stored in the storage chamber 57 when the multi-function device 10 is installed in the lower back posture (position P <b> 6, see FIG. 14). It is located above (front in the use posture). Therefore, the ink stored in the storage chamber 32 does not enter the storage chamber 160, and only the ink stored in the storage chamber 33 and the ink valve chamber 35 enters the storage chamber 160. As a result, when the multifunction device 10 changes its posture from the use posture to the lower back posture, the amount of ink that enters the storage chamber 160 from the storage chamber 57 can be reduced.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the through hole 119 is positioned below the communication port 128 when the multifunction device 10 changes its posture from the usage posture to the rear lower posture. Thus, the ink reaches the through-hole 119 when the multifunction device 10 changes its posture from the use posture to the lower rear surface posture. However, in the present embodiment, ink can be prevented from leaking outside by the semipermeable membrane 118 attached to the through hole 119.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, in the use posture, the communication port 128M is located to the right of the communication port 184M and the storage chamber 57M. Therefore, when the multifunction device 10 changes its posture from the usage posture to the lower left surface posture, the communication port 128M is located above the communication port 184M and the storage chamber 57M in the lower left surface posture. Therefore, in the lower left face posture, the ink stored above the communication port 184M in the storage chamber 160M flows into the storage chamber 57M through the communication port 184M. Thereby, the amount of ink stored in the storage chamber 160M can be reduced, and the amount of air in the storage chamber 160M can be increased.

  Here, in the use posture, the communication port 128M causes the ink to flow out from the storage chamber 160M at a position on the right side of the center in the left-right direction 9 of the storage chamber 160M. Therefore, when the multifunction device 10 changes its posture from the use posture to the lower left surface posture, the communication port 128M causes the ink to flow out from the storage chamber 160M at a position above the center in the vertical direction of the storage chamber 160M in the lower left surface posture. . Accordingly, when the ink amount in the storage chamber 160M decreases and the ink moves downward in the lower left surface posture, the outflow of ink from the communication port 128M decreases. Thereby, the leakage of the ink stored in the storage chamber 160M from the recording head 21 can be reduced.

  Similarly to the above, leakage of ink stored in the storage chambers 160C and 160Y from the recording head 21 can be reduced.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the lower wall 45 extends rightward from the inner surface of the left side wall 38 in the use posture. Further, in the use posture, the left end of the gap 45 </ b> A is located to the right of the left end of the through hole 46. In the use posture, the upper space (storage chamber 32) of the two spaces divided by the lower wall 45 communicates with the first atmospheric flow path through the through hole 46, and the lower space of the two spaces. The storage chamber 33 and the ink valve chamber 35 communicate with the ink supply port 71.

  Therefore, when the multifunction device 10 changes its posture from the use posture to the lower left surface, the lower wall 45 extends upward from the inner surface of the left side wall 38 (the bottom surface in the lower left surface). In addition, the lower end of the gap 45 </ b> A is positioned above the lower end of the through hole 46.

  Accordingly, the ink that has flowed from the storage chamber 160 into the storage chamber 57 through the ink supply port 71 in the lower left surface posture is such that the liquid level is positioned above the lower end of the gap 45A in the storage chamber 33 and the ink valve chamber 35. It can be stored up to a certain amount. That is, according to the present embodiment, a large amount of ink flowing into the storage chamber 57 can be secured.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the flow path resistance of the flow path that opens the storage chamber 57 of the ink cartridge 30 to the atmosphere is higher than the flow path resistance of the flow path that opens the storage chamber 160 of the tank 103 to the atmosphere. Therefore, the ink stored in the storage chamber 57 can be preferentially consumed over the ink stored in the storage chamber 160.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the liquid that has flowed from the storage chamber 160 into the storage chamber 57 can be stored in the buffer space 62. Thereby, the amount of ink that can be sent from the storage chamber 160 to the storage chamber 57 can be increased.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the semipermeable membrane 118 blocks the ink flow in the atmospheric flow path 147, and the semipermeable membrane 80 blocks the ink flow in the atmospheric flow path 61. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the ink stored in the storage chamber 57 or the storage chamber 160 from leaking outside the ink cartridge 30 or the tank 103 through the atmospheric flow paths 147 and 61.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the communication port 128 of the tank 103 arranged on the left side of the predetermined tank 103 among the four tanks 103 corresponds to the predetermined tank 103. The ink cartridge 30 is positioned to the right of the left end. Therefore, the plurality of tanks 103 can be arranged compactly in the left-right direction 9.

[Modification]
In the above embodiment, the communication port 128 is located at the lower end, the right end, and the front end of the storage chamber 160. However, the position of the communication port 128 is not limited to the above. However, the communication port 128 is below the center in the up-down direction 7 of the storage chamber 160, ahead of the center in the front-rear direction 8 of the storage chamber 160, and to the right of the center in the left-right direction 9 of the storage chamber 160. It is preferable that it is provided in the position which is the direction. Further, the communication port 128 is preferably located on the right side of the buffer space 180.

  For example, the communication port 128 is not formed on the left side of the side wall 165 that is the right end of the storage chamber 160 but on the left side of the right end of the storage chamber 160 (for example, the third front wall 162C or the second lower wall 163B). May be. In this case, the volume of the predetermined space in the storage chamber 160 (above the position P2 in the storage chamber 160) is larger than the volume of the portion on the right side of the left end of the communication port 128 in the storage chamber 160.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the left end of the storage chamber 160 located to the right of the two adjacent storage chambers 160 is the storage chamber located to the left of the two adjacent storage chambers 160. It was located to the right of the right edge of 160. That is, the two adjacent storage chambers 160 did not overlap in the left-right direction 9. However, the two adjacent storage chambers 160 may be partially overlapped in the left-right direction 9. Further, a communication port 128 through which ink flows out from the storage chamber 160 located on the left side of the two adjacent storage chambers 160 may be formed in this overlapping portion. For example, the buffer space 180 of the storage chamber 160 of the predetermined tank 103 and the communication port 128 through which ink flows out from the storage chamber 160 of the tank 103 located on the left side of the predetermined tank 103 overlap in the left-right direction 9. May be.

  In the above-described embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the communication port 128 is located in front of the buffer space 180. However, the front end of the buffer space 180 may be located in front of the communication port 128. That is, the atmosphere communication space including the buffer space 180 may be a space that extends to a position ahead of the communication port 128 in the front-rear direction 8.

  In the above embodiment, the atmosphere communication port 124 (see FIG. 4) is located behind the communication port 128 (see FIG. 6). However, the atmosphere communication port 124 may be located in front of the communication port 128. That is, the atmosphere communication port 124 may communicate the buffer space 180 with the atmosphere at a position ahead of the communication port 128.

  In the above modification, the through-hole 119 is positioned above the communication port 128 when the multifunction device 10 changes its posture from the usage posture to the rear lower posture. Accordingly, when the multifunction device 10 changes its posture from the use posture to the rear lower surface posture, it is possible to reduce a possibility that ink leaks from the communication port 128 to the outside.

  In the above embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the buffer space 180 and the first space 181 protrude forward from the second space 182 in the storage chamber 160. However, the shape of the storage chamber 160 is not limited to the shape shown in FIG. For example, the buffer space 180 and the first space 181 may protrude rearward from the second space 182.

  In the above embodiment, the forward direction is the first direction, the right direction is the second direction, and the left direction is the third direction. However, the backward direction may be the first direction, the left direction may be the second direction, and the right direction may be the third direction. That is, the cartridge mounting unit 110 may be positioned behind the recording head 21 or may be positioned leftward of the transport path 17.

  In the above embodiment, the multi-function device 10 is configured to be able to mount the ink cartridge 30. Then, the ink was replenished to the multifunction machine 10 by replacing the ink cartridge 30. However, the multifunction machine 10 may include a tank having an inlet instead of the ink cartridge 30. In this case, the tank is used as a main tank and has the same configuration as the ink cartridge 30 described above. The tank 103 communicates with the main tank and is used as a sub tank. Further, when the ink stored in the main tank decreases, new ink is injected from the injection port. The main tank may be fixed to the housing 14 of the multifunction machine 10 or may be detachable from the housing 14.

  In the above embodiment, the mounting sensor 113 and the liquid level sensor 55 are optical sensors including a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit. However, the mounting sensor 113 and the liquid level sensor 55 may be different types of sensors from optical sensors such as proximity sensors.

  In the embodiment described above, it has been detected that the liquid level of the ink stored in the storage chamber 160 has become equal to or lower than the position P2 due to the rotation of the rotation member 50 disposed in the storage chamber 160 of each tank 103. However, the detection may be performed by other than the rotation of the rotation member 50.

  For example, a prism may be arranged at the same height as the position P2 in each tank 103. And, based on whether the traveling direction of the light incident on the prism differs depending on whether the liquid level of the ink stored in the storage chamber 160 is above the prism, that is, based on the transmission state of the light applied to the prism, It may be detected whether or not the liquid level of the ink stored in the storage chamber 160 is equal to or lower than the position P2. In this case, the prism corresponds to the detected part. In this case, the optical sensor that irradiates the prism with light corresponds to a detection unit that detects the detected portion. The state change of the detected part is a change in the transmission state of the light applied to the prism that is the detected part.

  Further, for example, a light-transmitting part is formed by forming a portion having a height including at least the position P <b> 1 in the wall of the main body of the storage chamber 160 with a member having a light-transmitting property, and outside the main body of the storage chamber 160. An optical transmission sensor may be provided. Then, depending on whether or not the liquid level of the ink stored in the storage chamber 160 is above the light emitting portion of the transmission sensor, the light incident on the light transmission portion of the wall of the storage chamber 160 passes through the light transmission portion. Then, the light reaches the inside of the storage chamber 160 and passes through the light transmitting portion again without reaching the light receiving portion without being attenuated by the ink in the storage chamber 160, or is attenuated by the ink in the storage chamber 160 and receives the light. Is stored in the storage chamber 160 based on whether it is attenuated and cannot reach the light receiving portion, that is, based on the attenuation state of light incident on the light transmitting portion of the wall of the main body of the storage chamber 160. It may be detected whether the liquid level of the ink is below the position P1. In this case, the translucent part formed in the wall of the main body of the storage chamber 160 corresponds to the detected part. In this case, the optical transmission type sensor corresponds to a detection unit that detects the detected portion. And the state change of a to-be-detected part is a change of the attenuation | damping state of the light irradiated to the translucent part which is a to-be-detected part.

  For example, two electrodes may be disposed in the storage chamber 160 of each tank 103. The two electrodes are mounted on the substrate 60. The lower end of one of the two electrodes is at a position slightly higher than the position P2. The other lower end of the two electrodes is positioned below the position P2. Then, based on whether or not a current flows through the ink between the two electrodes, it may be detected whether or not the liquid level of the ink stored in the storage chamber 160 is equal to or lower than the position P2. In this case, the two electrodes correspond to the detected part. In this case, the part (circuit) that detects the current mounted on the substrate corresponds to a detection part that detects the detected part. And the state change of a to-be-detected part is a change of the electricity supply state between two electrodes which are a to-be-detected part.

  In the above embodiment, the through hole 119 is sealed by the semipermeable membrane 118, but the through hole 119 may not be sealed by the semipermeable membrane 118. Further, although the through hole 94 is sealed by the semipermeable membrane 80, the through hole 119 may not be sealed by the semipermeable membrane 80.

  In the embodiment described above, the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110 by being inserted along the horizontal direction with respect to the cartridge mounting unit 110. However, the ink cartridge 30 may be mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110 by being inserted in the cartridge mounting unit 110 along the vertical direction 7 other than the horizontal direction.

  In the above-described embodiment, the connection unit 107 and the ink supply unit 34 extend along the horizontal direction, but may extend along other than the horizontal direction. For example, the connecting portion 107 may protrude upward from the cartridge case 101. Further, the ink supply unit 34 may protrude downward from the lower wall of the ink cartridge 30. In this case, the position P2 is set to, for example, the center position in the up-down direction 7 of the connection unit 107, the center position in the up-down direction 7 of the ink supply unit 34, or the like.

  In the above-described embodiment, ink is described as an example of liquid. For example, instead of ink, pretreatment liquid discharged onto paper or the like prior to ink during image recording is stored in the ink cartridge 30 or the tank 103. It may be. Further, water for cleaning the recording head 21 may be stored in the ink cartridge 30 or the tank 103.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... MFP 12 ... Paper 17 ... Conveying path 20 ... Ink tube 21 ... Recording head 22 ... Carriage 25 ... Conveying roller pair 27 ... Discharge roller pair 29- .... Nozzle 30 ... Ink cartridge 32 ... Storage chamber 33 ... Storage chamber 34 ... Ink supply section 45 ... Lower wall 45A ... Gap 49 ... Step wall 57 ... Storage Chamber 61 ... Atmospheric flow path 62 ... Buffer space 71 ... Ink supply port 103 ... Tank 107 ... Connection portion 118 ... Semipermeable membrane 119 ... Through hole 124 ... Atmosphere Communication port 128 ... Communication port 147 ... Atmospheric flow path 160 ... Storage chamber 180 ... Buffer space 181 ... First space 182 ... Second space 184 ... Communication port

Claims (10)

A first tank having a first storage chamber for storing liquid, and a first tank having a first atmosphere communication section for communicating the first storage chamber with the atmosphere;
A communication port that communicates with the first storage chamber, a second storage chamber that communicates with the communication port and stores liquid, and a second channel that communicates the second storage chamber with the atmosphere through a different path from the first atmosphere communication portion. A second tank having a liquid outflow port for flowing out the liquid from two atmospheric communication portions and the second storage chamber;
A transport mechanism that transports a sheet along a transport path extending in a depth direction perpendicular to the vertical direction;
A carriage that is located above the transport path and moves in a width direction perpendicular to the vertical direction and the depth direction;
A head mounted on the carriage, in communication with the liquid outlet through a flow path, and having a nozzle for discharging the liquid supplied from the liquid outlet through the flow path toward the transport path; With
The second storage chamber is located in a first direction that is one of the depth directions than the nozzle, and in a second direction that is one of the width directions than the transport path,
The liquid outlet is below the center in the up-down direction of the second storage chamber, is in the first direction than the center in the depth direction of the second storage chamber, and the second storage chamber In a position that is in the second direction from the center in the width direction, the liquid flows out from the second storage chamber,
The second storage chamber is on the other side in the width direction above the liquid surface and above the liquid outlet in a state where an amount of liquid having the same height as the communication port is the liquid level is stored. A predetermined space is provided in the third direction,
An image recording apparatus in which the volume of the predetermined space is larger than the volume of the liquid circulation space between the liquid outlet and the nozzle.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a liquid level detection unit that detects a height of a liquid level stored in the second storage chamber. The second storage chamber includes a buffer space provided in the predetermined space, a first space that is located below the buffer space and communicates with the liquid outlet, the buffer space, and the first space. A second space to be connected,
The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second space is connected to an end portion of the buffer space in the second direction.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second storage chamber further includes a third space connecting the buffer space and the first space in the third direction with respect to the second space. The second direction end of the first space is located in the second direction rather than the second direction end of the second space,
5. The image recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the liquid outlet is formed on a surface that divides a portion of the first space in the second direction with respect to the second space.   6. The image recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a volume of the buffer space is smaller than a volume of the liquid in a state where a prescribed maximum amount of liquid is stored in the second storage chamber. A plurality of the first tanks arranged side by side in the width direction;
A plurality of second tanks arranged side by side in the width direction corresponding to each of the plurality of first tanks,
The buffer space of a predetermined second tank of the plurality of second tanks, and the second tank of the plurality of second tanks located adjacent to each other in the third direction of the predetermined second tank. The image recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the position in the width direction overlaps with the liquid outlet.   8. The image recording according to claim 1, wherein a volume of the predetermined space is larger than a volume of the second direction portion than a third direction end of the liquid outlet in the second storage chamber. apparatus. The liquid outlet is formed on a section screen that divides the second facing end of the second storage chamber,
The volume of the predetermined space is larger than the volume of the portion in the second direction than the position separated by the surface tension length in the third direction from the section screen in the second storage chamber,
The surface tension length is determined by the surface tension of the liquid stored in the second storage chamber in a state where the image recording apparatus is installed such that the section screen is a surface that divides the upper end of the predetermined space. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the maximum distance in the vertical direction between the section screen and the liquid level that can be brought into contact with the section screen. The first tank is the cartridge, and includes a supply unit that supplies the liquid stored in the first storage chamber,
The second tank communicates with the communication port, and includes a connection portion connectable to the supply portion,
The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second storage chamber stores liquid supplied from the supply unit connected to the connection unit.

Images