JP6427865B2 - Recording device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus that performs recording by ejecting liquid onto a target.

  Conventionally, as a kind of recording apparatus, an ink jet printer that performs recording (printing) by ejecting ink as an example of liquid from a liquid ejecting head to a target such as paper is known. In such a printer, when a relatively large amount of printing is performed, it is required to continuously and stably supply ink to the liquid ejecting head. For this reason, a configuration has been proposed in which ink is supplied from an ink tank (liquid storage unit) having a relatively large ink storage capacity to a liquid ejecting head through a liquid supply tube (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

China Utility Model Registration Notice CN2825289Y

  In the printer having such a configuration, the ink tank is disposed so as not to hinder the operation of the printer. For example, the ink tank is not installed on the front side of the printer main body where the paper discharge unit is located, and is usually installed on the side of the printer main body, which is the left-right direction when viewed from the front side. It may be installed on the rear side of the printer body, which is the opposite side to the front side. For this reason, the installation area required for installing the ink tank in addition to the printer main body is increased. For example, when the ink tank is installed on the side of the printer main body, there is a problem that the installation location is restricted because the installation area is increased in the horizontal direction.

  In addition, the ink tank is also located at a location away from the front side of the printer main body where the user can easily access such as collecting paper discharged from the printer main body. Thus, for example, when an operator injects ink into such an ink tank so that the ink tank is filled with ink, the operator moves the ink tank from the side of the printer body to the front side. Therefore, it is necessary to facilitate access to the ink tank. At this time, when the ink tank is attached to the printer main body, the troublesome work of removing the ink tank from the printer main body is required. If the ink tank is not removed, an operation involving a load such as moving the printer body so that the ink tank moves to the front side is required.

  In addition, such a situation is not limited to a printer, but a liquid ejecting head that performs recording by ejecting liquid onto a target, a discharge unit that discharges the target, a liquid storage unit that can store liquid, and a liquid storage unit In general, the recording apparatus includes a liquid supply tube that supplies liquid to the liquid ejecting head. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a recording apparatus that can easily make a liquid container filled with a recording liquid while suppressing an increase in installation area. Is the main purpose.

Hereinafter, means for solving the above-described problems and the effects thereof will be described.
A recording apparatus that solves the above problems includes a liquid ejecting head that performs recording by ejecting liquid onto a target, and a discharge port that includes a discharge region from which the target recorded by the liquid ejecting head is discharged. And a liquid storage portion capable of storing the liquid supplied to the liquid ejecting head in the apparatus main body, the liquid storage portion being lower in the vertical direction than the discharge portion and Provided at a position that overlaps the discharge part in the vertical direction, the liquid storage part is provided with an injection port through which the liquid can be injected.

  According to this configuration, when accessing the liquid storage unit, the operator can access the liquid storage unit from the discharge side of the target without moving the recording apparatus. Therefore, it is possible to easily make the liquid container provided in the apparatus main body filled with the liquid by injecting the liquid from the injection port while suppressing an increase in the installation area of the recording apparatus.

In the recording apparatus, it is preferable that the injection port is provided so as to be displaceable with respect to the apparatus main body.
According to this structure, the operation | work which inject | pours a liquid into a liquid accommodating part can be made easy by displacing an injection port to the position which is easy to inject | pour a liquid with respect to an apparatus main body.

  A recording apparatus that solves the above problems includes a liquid ejecting head that performs recording by ejecting liquid onto a target, and a discharge port that includes a discharge region from which the target recorded by the liquid ejecting head is discharged. And a liquid storage portion capable of storing the liquid supplied to the liquid ejecting head in the apparatus main body, the liquid storage portion being lower in the vertical direction than the discharge portion and A liquid amount visualizing unit is provided at a position overlapping with the discharge unit in the vertical direction and is capable of visually recognizing the amount of the liquid contained in the liquid containing unit.

  According to this configuration, since the operator can visually grasp the amount of the liquid stored in the liquid storage unit, the liquid storage unit is filled with the liquid, for example, at the timing of injecting the liquid into the liquid storage unit. It is possible to easily know the timing when the state should be set. Therefore, it is possible to easily make the liquid container filled with the recording liquid while suppressing an increase in the installation area of the recording apparatus.

  In the recording apparatus, a supply cassette that can store the target supplied to the liquid jet head is vertically below the discharge unit and overlaps the discharge unit in the vertical direction in the apparatus main body. It is preferable that the liquid storage unit is provided at a position between the discharge unit and the supply cassette.

  According to this configuration, even if the recording apparatus is a supply cassette having a large vertical length that can supply a relatively large number of sheets P, the gap between the liquid storage unit and the liquid ejecting head can be reduced. The pressure loss in the liquid supply tube can be suppressed without becoming far away.

  In the recording apparatus, a supply cassette that can store the target supplied to the liquid jet head is vertically below the discharge unit and overlaps the discharge unit in the vertical direction in the apparatus main body. It is preferable that the liquid container is provided at a position below the supply cassette.

According to this configuration, by changing the size of the liquid storage part, the amount of liquid stored in the liquid storage part can be easily changed without changing the target supply path.
In the recording apparatus, the discharge unit is formed on a discharge direction side of the target from discharge means including a discharge roller that discharges the target and a driven roller that is disposed to face the discharge roller. It is preferable.

According to this configuration, since the discharge unit is located on the target discharge direction side in the apparatus main body, the liquid storage unit can be easily accessed from the target discharge side.
In the recording apparatus, it is preferable that the liquid storage portion is provided on an end portion side in the discharge direction of the target in the apparatus main body.

According to this configuration, since the operator can easily access the liquid storage unit from the target discharge direction, the liquid storage unit can be easily filled with the liquid.
In the recording apparatus, it is preferable that the apparatus main body is provided with a moving mechanism capable of moving the liquid container in the apparatus main body.

  According to this configuration, the liquid container can be moved to a position that can be accessed by the operator by moving the liquid container in the apparatus main body using the moving mechanism. Therefore, the liquid container can be easily filled with the liquid. can do.

  In the recording apparatus, it is preferable that the apparatus main body includes a storage unit that stores the liquid storage unit, and the moving mechanism moves the liquid storage unit by moving the storage unit.

According to this configuration, by storing the liquid storage unit in the movable storage unit, the liquid storage unit can be moved in the apparatus main body with a simple configuration.
The recording apparatus includes a liquid supply tube connected to the liquid storage unit and capable of supplying the liquid to the liquid ejecting head, and the liquid supply tube is in the direction intersecting the discharge direction of the target. The liquid is preferably supplied from the lower side to the upper side of the discharge portion.

According to this configuration, the liquid can be supplied from the liquid storage unit to the liquid ejecting head without hindering the discharge of the target to the discharge unit.
In the recording apparatus, it is preferable that the liquid supply tube is connected to an end portion on a side opposite to a discharge direction of the target with respect to the liquid storage portion.

  According to this configuration, the operator can access the liquid storage unit without obstructing the liquid supply tube from the target discharge direction, so that the liquid storage unit can be easily filled with the liquid.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a printer as an example of an embodiment of a recording apparatus. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a paper discharge unit included in the printer. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a paper supply cassette provided in the printer. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a liquid storage unit included in the printer. (A), (b) is a perspective view which shows the arrangement | positioning state of a liquid supply tube. The perspective view which shows the connection state to the liquid accommodating part of a liquid supply tube. The top view which looked at the printer from the upper direction of the perpendicular direction. The front view which shows the printer of the structure by which a liquid accommodating part is located below a supply cassette. The perspective view which shows a printer provided with an ink bag in a liquid accommodating part.

  Hereinafter, as an embodiment of a recording apparatus, a liquid ejecting head that ejects ink as an example of a recording liquid is provided, and an image including characters and figures is ejected by ejecting ink onto a sheet as an example of a target. An ink jet printer for printing (recording) will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a printer 11 as an example of a recording apparatus includes an upper housing 12A positioned on the antigravity direction (+ Z direction) side in the vertical direction and a lower housing positioned on the gravity direction (−Z direction) side. The apparatus main body includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped printer main body 12 including a plurality of housings, a side housing 12B and a lid housing 12C described later. The casings 12A, 12B, and 12C are connected and fixed to each other by screws 13 or the like. The printer 11 includes a liquid ejecting head 16, a discharge unit 20 from which the paper P is discharged, a liquid containing unit 30 that can store ink to be supplied to the liquid ejecting head 16, and a liquid ejecting unit. And a supply cassette 40 capable of storing the paper P supplied to the head 16.

  The liquid jet head 16 is positioned above the discharge unit 20 on the antigravity direction (+ Z direction) side in the vertical direction, and is transported below the liquid jet head 16 on the gravity direction (−Z direction) side. Ink is ejected onto the paper P to be printed. Further, the liquid ejecting head 16 is movable in a scanning direction (± X direction) that intersects the transport direction (+ Y direction) of the paper P. That is, the liquid ejecting head 16 is attached to the carriage 15 that slides along the guide rails 14A and 14B while being supported by the two guide rails 14A and 14B extending in the scanning direction. Accordingly, as the carriage 15 is moved in the scanning direction by a drive mechanism (not shown), the liquid ejecting head 16 moves in the scanning direction (± X direction).

  Thus, printing is performed on the paper P by appropriately ejecting ink from the liquid jet head 16 moving in the scanning direction onto the paper P moving in the transport direction. In this embodiment, the discharge direction when the printed paper P is discharged from the printer main body 12 is the same direction as the transport direction (+ Y direction) of the paper P, and this discharge direction side is the same as that of the printer main body 12. The front side, that is, the front side.

  In the carriage 15, a plurality of liquid supply tubes 50 for supplying the ink stored in the liquid storage unit 30 are forward (+ Y direction) opposite to the rear side supported by the two guide rails 14 </ b> A and 14 </ b> B. Connected to the side. Each of the connected liquid supply tubes 50 has a curved portion 50R that functions as a deformable movable portion that follows and deforms as the carriage 15 moves, and ink (not shown) provided on the moving carriage 15 from the liquid storage portion 30. Ink is supplied to the liquid jet head 16 via the flow path. In the present embodiment, six liquid supply tubes 50 are connected to the carriage 15 so as to be aligned in the front-rear direction.

  The liquid storage unit 30 is provided below the discharge unit 20 on the gravity direction (−Z direction) side in the vertical direction and at a position overlapping the discharge unit 20 in the vertical direction. The supply cassette 40 overlaps with the discharge unit 20 in the vertical direction, and is further below the liquid storage unit 30. That is, the liquid storage unit 30 is provided between the discharge unit 20 and the supply cassette 40. The paper P stored in the supply cassette 40 is provided from the supply cassette 40 to the rear side of the liquid storage unit 30 as indicated by a broken line arrow K1 in FIG. Then, the liquid is supplied (supplied) to the liquid jet head 16 through the supply path KK (see FIG. 6).

Next, the discharge unit 20, the supply cassette 40, and the liquid storage unit 30 will be described.
First, as shown in FIG. 2, the discharge unit 20 includes a first support base 21 that can be pulled out from the printer body 12 to the front side (+ Y direction side), and a second support base 21 that can be pulled out from the first support base 21 to the front side. A support base 22 is provided. Furthermore, a third support base 23 is rotatably supported by a rotary shaft 23a having an axis in the left-right direction (± X direction) at the front end portion of the second support base 22. The discharge unit 20 supports the paper P discharged from the printer main body 12 after printing from below.

  That is, as shown by a broken line arrow in FIG. 2, the discharge unit 20 is pulled out by first sliding the second support base 22 forward from the first support base 21 (printer body 12). Subsequently, the first support base 21 slides forward together with the second support base 22 and is pulled out from the printer main body 12. Further, the third support base 23 rotates so that its tip end is lifted from the rear side to the front side, and is pulled out from the second support base 22.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the discharge unit 20 has a discharge port 25 formed in front of the printer main body 12, and the printer main body 12 that is on the discharge direction side from the discharge port 25 by the discharge means of the paper P. It is discharged to the front side. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the upper surfaces of the respective support bases 21, 22, and 23 pulled out in the discharge direction side of the paper P as described above are used as the discharge area of the paper P, and support the paper P from below. When the printing unit 20 does not print on the paper P, the first support base 21, the second support base 22, and the third support base 23 are accommodated in the printer main body 12 as shown in FIG. 1. It is assumed that it was done.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, a roller pair of a discharge roller 27 that discharges the printed paper P and a driven roller 28 that is disposed to face the discharge roller 27 in the printer main body 12. It has a discharge means. Accordingly, the discharge unit 20 is formed to have a discharge region on the discharge direction side of the paper P from the discharge unit. Of course, the discharging means can adopt other configurations such as a conveyor belt in addition to such a pair of rollers.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the supply cassette 40 slides in the front-rear direction (± Y direction) with respect to the printer main body 12 (lower housing 12 </ b> B) by a slide structure (not shown) at the bottom of the printer main body 12. It is possible to be inserted and removed from the front side (front side) of the printer body 12. Then, when the paper cassette P is accommodated in the supply cassette 40, the supply cassette 40 is pulled forward as indicated by the broken line arrow in FIG.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4, in this embodiment, the liquid storage unit 30 has six liquid storage bodies 31 (see FIG. 5B) that store different types (for example, colors) of ink. doing. The liquid storage unit 30 is a substantially box-shaped storage in which the six liquid storage bodies 31 are individually separable and arranged in a line in the horizontal direction (± X direction) as the scanning direction and open upward. It is housed in the section 32 and is provided in the printer main body 12 on the end side in the paper P discharge direction (+ Y direction) (see FIG. 1).

  In the present embodiment, each liquid container 31 is a so-called ink tank, or a so-called ink tank, formed of a material (resin or metal) having rigidity capable of containing ink. In addition, each liquid container 31 may be accommodated in the accommodating part 32 in the state joined mutually. Also, each liquid container 31 does not necessarily contain six different types of ink, and may contain two or more and five or less types of ink. Furthermore, one type (for example, black) of ink may be stored in a plurality (here, a maximum of six) of liquid containers 31. Further, in this case, a plurality of liquid containers 31 containing the same type (for example, black) of ink may be connected to form one liquid container 31.

  The storage unit 32 that stores the liquid storage unit 30 enables the storage unit 32 to move in the front-rear direction (± Y direction) with respect to the printer main body 12 on both side surfaces in the left-right direction (± X direction). A slide mechanism (not shown) is provided as a moving mechanism. Therefore, the liquid storage unit 30 is pulled out of the printer main body 12 and stored in the printer main body 12 by the storage unit 32 slidably moving in the front-rear direction (± Y direction) with respect to the printer main body 12. Is possible.

  In addition, the liquid storage unit 30 includes a liquid amount visualizing unit 33 that can visually recognize the liquid amount (remaining amount) of the ink stored in each liquid container 31. The liquid amount visualizing portion 33 is an area portion of the liquid containing portion 30 (liquid containing body 31) that is visible through a substantially rectangular through hole 32H provided on the front side surface of the containing portion 32, and this liquid amount visualizing portion. In 33, the liquid level of the ink in the liquid container 31 is formed so as to be visible. Furthermore, the liquid container 30 has a lower liquid level line 34b indicating that it is necessary to inject ink into the liquid container 31 and the ink injection into the liquid container 31 in the liquid amount visualizing unit 33. An upper limit liquid level line 34a indicating the limit is formed.

  Further, the liquid storage unit 30 includes six injection ports 35 each capable of injecting ink into each liquid container 31. Each inlet 35 is an opening inside a cylindrical portion 36 that protrudes upward at the front end portion of the upper surface of each liquid container 31. That is, each cylindrical portion 36 has a communication hole in which the one end side communicates with the atmosphere and the other end side communicates with the interior of the liquid container 31, and an opening is formed inside the cylindrical portion 36 communicating with the atmosphere in the communication hole. By functioning as 35, ink can be injected into the liquid container 31.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, an expandable bellows portion is formed in the cylindrical portion 36, and the injection port 35 is provided to be displaceable with respect to the printer body 12 by expanding and contracting the bellows portion. For example, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 4, the injection port 35 can be displaced away from the printer body 12 by extending the bellows portion.

  Although not shown in FIG. 4, a cap for preventing ink leakage from the injection port 35 and ink evaporation is attached to each liquid container 31 as necessary. Of course, when the ink is injected, the cap is removed from the injection port 35.

  In addition, the liquid storage unit 30 includes a first cover member 37 and a second cover member 38 that cover the top surface of each liquid container 31 in order to suppress adhesion of foreign matter to the injection port 35 and the vicinity of the injection port 35. ing. The first cover member 37 is provided on the front side of the second cover member 38 so as to cover the inlet 35 and is detachably attached to the upper surface of each liquid container 31. That is, by removing the first cover member 37 as shown by the solid line arrow in FIG. 4, the inlet 35 of each liquid container 31 is exposed.

  The second cover member 38 is formed with six substantially triangular separation walls 38 a corresponding to the cylindrical portions 36 of the respective liquid storage portions 30. The separation wall 38a prevents the ink spilled from the injection port 35 from flowing into another injection port 35, and keeps the ink spilled from the injection port 35 around the cylindrical portion 36 including the injection port 35. The flow is suppressed.

  Next, an arrangement state of the liquid supply tube 50 that supplies ink from the liquid storage unit 30 to the liquid ejecting head 16 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5A shows the printer 11 with the upper housing 12A of the printer main body 12 removed, and FIG. 5B shows the liquid container 30 in FIG. 5A. The upper component and the second cover member 38 are further removed. Further, FIG. 6 is illustrated in a state where the state of FIG. 5B is viewed from a different direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 5A, 5 </ b> B, and 6, the printer 11 is supplied from the liquid container 31 of the liquid container 30 provided in the lower housing 12 </ b> B of the printer body 12 from the discharge unit 20. Ink is supplied to the carriage 15 (liquid ejecting head 16) located above by the liquid supply tube 50, respectively. In other words, each liquid supply tube 50 has flexibility, and one end 51 a of the liquid supply tube 50 is a side end portion in the direction (−Y direction) opposite to the discharge direction (+ Y direction) of the paper P with respect to the liquid storage unit 30. And communicates with each liquid container 31. The liquid supply tube 50 is located on the outer side of the discharge unit 20 in the left-right direction (± X direction) intersecting with the discharge direction (+ Y direction) of the paper P, from the lower side (−Z direction side) of the discharge unit 20 to the upper side. A substantially C-shaped bent channel portion 52C for supplying ink to the (+ Z direction side) is disposed. That is, the liquid supply tube 50 is discharged from the discharge unit 20 when the bent flow path unit 52C is positioned outside the discharge unit 20 in the right direction (+ X direction) when viewed from the front side of the printer main body 12. It is configured not to engage with the paper P.

  Furthermore, after the liquid supply tube 50 is disposed above the discharge part 20 so as to extend leftward (−X direction) from the bent flow path part 52C, the other end has a substantially semicircular shape. A curved portion 50R that is curved is formed and connected to the carriage 15. Therefore, the ink flowing out from the liquid storage unit 30 flows from the lower side to the upper side in the bent flow path part 52C located at the outer end of the discharge part 20 in the right direction (+ X direction), and then the liquid supply tube 50 is further bent. It flows through the part 50R and flows into the carriage 15.

  As a result, in the liquid supply tube 50, the bending portion 50R functions as a deformable movable portion that follows and deforms while changing the formation position as the carriage 15 moves, and ink is supplied from the liquid storage portion 30 to the moving carriage 15. Supply. The ink supplied to the carriage 15 is supplied to the liquid ejecting head 16 via an ink flow path (not shown) provided in the carriage 15. In this way, in the printer 11, the ink is supplied from the liquid storage unit 30 provided on the lower side of the printer main body 12 to the liquid ejecting head 16 provided on the upper side of the printer main body 12 by the flexible liquid supply tube 50. Supply is possible.

  In the present embodiment, the length of the liquid supply tube 50 that supplies ink from the liquid storage unit 30 to the liquid ejecting head 16 is constant regardless of the size of the supply cassette 40. For example, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 6, even if the supply cassette 40 is a thick supply cassette 40 having a large vertical length capable of supplying a relatively large number of sheets P, the liquid container 30 is Since it is located below the discharge unit 20, the liquid storage unit 30 and the liquid jet head 16 are not far apart.

  In the present embodiment, each liquid supply tube 50 includes at least two tubes that can be disconnected and connected. That is, each liquid supply tube 50 has an upstream tube 51 connected to the liquid storage unit 30 and a downstream tube 52 connected to the carriage 15 as shown in FIGS. The upstream tube 51 can be disconnected from and connected to the downstream tube 52 by a connecting portion 53 provided at the upstream end of the bent flow passage portion 52C. And the opening 12K for performing the isolation | separation operation | work or connection operation | work of the upstream side tube 51 and the downstream side tube 52 is provided in 12 A of upper side housing | casings and the lower housing | casing 12B, respectively. In the present embodiment, the opening 12K of the upper housing 12A is not shown.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, it is set as the structure covered with the lid | cover housing | casing 12C so that the bending flow path part 52C of each liquid supply tube 50 may not be exposed. That is, the lid housing 12C is detachably attached to the printer main body 12 so as to close the openings 12K provided in the upper housing 12A and the lower housing 12B. When the upstream tube 51 and the downstream tube 52 are disconnected or connected, they are removed from the printer body 12, and the upstream tube 51 and the downstream tube 52 are disconnected or connected. After that, it is attached to the printer body 12.

  Next, referring to FIGS. 1, 4, 6, and 7, in the operation of the present embodiment, that is, when there is no ink to be supplied from the liquid storage unit 30 to the liquid ejecting head 16, the injection port 35. An injection operation (action) for injecting ink from the liquid into the liquid container 30 (liquid container 31) will be described. This injection operation is performed by an ink injection operator (simply called “worker”) such as a consignor entrusted with ink injection or a user of the printer 11.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, when injecting ink into the liquid storage unit 30 (liquid storage unit 31), the operator first moves the liquid storage unit 30 from the printer main body 12 to the front side (front side). Pull out to. In the present embodiment, the liquid storage unit 30 is pulled out in the paper discharge direction (+ Y direction) together with the storage unit 32 from the printer main body 12 by a slide mechanism provided in the storage unit 32 as indicated by a broken line in FIG. Note that the storage portion 32 is rotated about the vertical direction as an axial direction as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 6 by a hinge (not shown) provided at an end portion in the right direction (+ X direction) when viewed from the front side. A rotation mechanism that is pulled out from the end side in the left direction (−X direction) when viewed from the front side by (swinging) may be provided as a moving mechanism.

  At this time, on the front side of the printer main body 12, a discharge space occupied by the discharge unit 20 that is normally drawn out to receive the discharged paper P is secured. Accordingly, the operator can perform the drawing operation of the liquid storage unit 30 without moving the printer 11 from the front side (front side) of the printer main body 12 having the discharge space. The operator pulls out the liquid storage unit 30 by a predetermined amount to the front side (front side) of the printer main body 12 by this drawing operation.

  Next, the operator opens the first cover member 37 of the liquid storage unit 30 extracted in this manner to expose the injection port 35, and extends the bellows portion of the cylindrical portion 36 as necessary to fill the injection port. 35 is displaced upward. Then, the operator injects ink into the liquid container 31 from the injection port 35 exposed or displaced in this manner, so that the liquid container 30 is filled with ink.

  At this time, the operator can check the liquid amount of the ink injected into the liquid storage unit 30 (liquid storage body 31) by the liquid amount visualizing unit 33 provided on the front side of the printer main body 12. Therefore, the operator can easily inject ink up to the upper limit liquid surface line 34 a indicating the injection limit of the ink into each liquid container 31 of the liquid container 30.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, the liquid container 30 filled with ink in this way is pushed into the printer body 12 together with the container 32, and the printer 11 is ready for printing. In the printer 11 in the printable state, the liquid storage unit 30 pushed into the printer main body 12 is below the discharge unit 20 in the vertical direction (−Z direction), and is perpendicular to the discharge unit 20. It is provided at a position that overlaps in the direction. Therefore, the liquid storage unit 30 suppresses an increase in the area of the printer body 12 viewed from the vertical direction, that is, the area of the printer body 12 occupied when the printer 11 is installed.

According to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) When accessing the liquid storage unit 30 (liquid storage body 31), the operator can access the liquid storage unit 30 from the discharge side of the paper P without moving the printer 11. Accordingly, by injecting ink from the injection port 35, the liquid storage portion 30 provided in the printer main body 12 can be easily filled with the ink for printing (recording). Further, since the liquid storage unit 30 is provided so as to overlap the discharge unit 20 in the printer main body 12 when viewed from the vertical direction, the installation area of the printer 11 is increased even if the liquid storage unit 30 having a relatively large ink storage capacity is provided. Is suppressed.

(2) The operation of injecting ink into the liquid storage unit 30 can be facilitated by displacing the injection port 35 to a position where ink can be easily injected into the printer main body 12.
(3) Since the operator can grasp the amount of ink stored in the liquid storage unit 30 by visual observation, the liquid storage unit 30 is filled with ink, for example, when the ink is injected into the liquid storage unit 30. It is possible to easily know the timing when the state should be set. Therefore, it is possible to easily make the liquid container 30 provided in the printer main body 12 filled with ink for printing (recording) while suppressing an increase in the installation area of the printer 11.

  (4) Even if the printer 11 is a thick supply cassette having a large vertical length in which the supply cassette 40 can supply a relatively large number of sheets P, the printer 11 is arranged between the liquid storage unit 30 and the liquid ejecting head 16. However, the pressure loss in the liquid supply tube 50 can be suppressed. In other words, the printer 11 can include the supply cassette 40 that can arbitrarily change the number of sheets P that can be accommodated without changing the pressure loss in the liquid supply tube 50.

(5) Since the discharge unit 20 is located on the discharge direction side of the paper P in the printer main body 12, the liquid storage unit 30 can be easily accessed from the discharge side of the paper P.
(6) Since the operator can easily access the liquid storage unit 30 from the discharge direction of the paper P, the liquid storage unit 30 can be easily filled with ink.

  (7) In the printer main body 12, the liquid container 30 can be moved to a position where the operator can access by moving the liquid container 30 by the slide mechanism provided in the container 32. Can be easily filled condition.

(8) By storing the liquid storage unit 30 in the movable storage unit 32, the liquid storage unit 30 can be moved in the printer main body 12 with a simple configuration.
(9) Ink can be supplied from the liquid storage unit 30 to the liquid ejecting head 16 without hindering the discharge of the paper P to the discharge unit 20. In addition, since the length of the paper P is normally longer than the length of the direction intersecting the discharge direction, the arrangement position of the liquid supply tube 50 is set to the direction intersecting the discharge direction of the paper P. Thus, the length of the liquid supply tube 50 can be suppressed.

  (10) Since the operator can access the liquid storage unit 30 from the discharge direction of the paper P without being obstructed by the liquid supply tube 50, the liquid storage unit 30 can be easily filled with ink. it can.

The above embodiment may be changed to another embodiment as described below.
In the above embodiment, the liquid storage unit 30 may be provided below the supply cassette 40 instead of between the discharge unit 20 and the supply cassette 40. This modification will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the supply cassette 40 is disposed above the lower housing 12 </ b> B of the printer body 12, and the liquid storage unit 30 is positioned below (−Z direction) so as to overlap the supply cassette 40 in the vertical direction. ). Accordingly, the storage portion 32 that stores the liquid storage portion 30 is also disposed below the supply cassette 40. As a result, the supply path KK of the paper P supplied from the supply cassette 40 toward the liquid ejecting head 16 is formed above the liquid storage unit 30 (+ Z direction). Therefore, although not shown here, the occupied area of the liquid storage unit 30 allowed in the lower housing 12B of the printer main body 12 does not need to be provided with the supply path KK of the paper P. It is possible to make it larger than the above embodiment in the front-rear direction (± Y direction).

  In addition, since the liquid storage part 30 is arrange | positioned under the supply cassette 40, as shown with the broken line in FIG. 8, the length of the up-down direction of the bending flow path part 52C becomes long compared with the case of the said embodiment. The lid housing 12C that covers the long bent flow path portion 52C also has a shape that is long in the vertical direction.

According to this modification, it replaces with the effect (4) in the said embodiment, and there exists the following effect.
(11) Although the liquid supply tube 50 becomes longer and the flow loss increases, by changing the size of the liquid storage unit 30, it is stored in the liquid storage unit 30 without changing the supply path KK of the paper P. The amount of ink can be easily changed.

  In the above embodiment, the liquid storage unit 30 may include the liquid storage body 31 having a structure other than the ink tank formed of a material having rigidity. For example, the liquid container 31 may be an ink bag 39 that can store ink in a bag portion (bag) formed by a sheet member having a low rigidity and a high flexibility. This modification will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the present modification has a configuration in which one ink bag 39 is used instead of the two liquid containers 31 positioned in the left direction (−X direction) when viewed from the front side in the above embodiment. Show. That is, in this modification, the liquid storage unit 30 supplies ink from one ink bag 39 and four liquid containers 31 to the liquid ejecting head 16. Of course, all six liquid containers 31 may be replaced with ink bags 39.

  When the liquid container 31 is configured by the ink bag 39 in the liquid container 30 as in this modification, the ink bag 39 is inserted through the substantially rectangular through-hole 32H provided on the front side surface of the container 32. The shape of the bag portion can be visually confirmed. That is, by visually recognizing the change shape of the bag portion that changes so as to be crushed, it is possible to recognize the decrease in the amount of ink stored in the ink bag 39. Therefore, in this modification, the through hole 32H functions as the liquid amount visualizing part 33.

  In this modification, an operation is performed to fill the ink bag 39 that is visually recognized as having run out of ink. In this operation, when the ink bag 39 is provided with an injection port capable of injecting ink, the ink is injected into the bag portion from the injection port as in the above embodiment. Alternatively, if the ink bag 39 is not provided with an inlet that can inject ink, the liquid supply tube 50 is disconnected, and the ink bag 39 is replaced with another ink bag 39 filled with ink. After that, the liquid supply tube 50 is connected again. Of course, during these operations, it is preferable for the operator to pull out the liquid storage unit 30 (ink bag 39) from the printer main body 12 to the front side.

  In the above-described embodiment, the liquid supply tube 50 does not necessarily have to be connected to the end portion on the opposite side to the discharge direction (+ Y direction) of the paper P with respect to the liquid storage unit 30. For example, the liquid supply tube 50 may have one end 51 a connected to the gravity direction (−Z direction) side with respect to the liquid storage unit 30. Alternatively, for example, when the liquid storage unit 30 is formed of one liquid storage body 31, one end 51a of the liquid supply tube 50 may be connected to the right side (+ X direction) side with respect to the liquid storage unit 30. .

  In the above embodiment, the liquid supply tube 50 does not necessarily have to be disposed outside the discharge unit 20 in the direction (± X direction) intersecting the discharge direction (+ Y direction) of the paper P. For example, the paper P may be disposed at a position that does not interfere with the feeding of the paper P supplied from the supply cassette 40 to the liquid ejecting head 16 in the opposite direction (−Y direction) to the paper P discharge direction (+ Y direction). . Of course, in this case, although a specific description is omitted, the arrangement position of the liquid supply tube 50 from the liquid container 30 to the carriage 15 in the printer main body 12 is different from that in the above embodiment.

  In the above embodiment, the liquid storage unit 30 is not necessarily configured to move by the movement of the storage unit 32 that is moved by the slide mechanism. For example, the liquid storage unit 30 may be provided with a moving mechanism, and the liquid storage unit 30 may directly move without the storage unit 32 interposed therebetween. In this case, the printer main body 12 is not necessarily provided with the storage portion 32 of the liquid storage portion 30.

  In the above embodiment, the printer main body 12 does not necessarily have to include a moving mechanism that can move the liquid storage unit 30. For example, although not shown, when the ink injection port 35 is exposed and located on the front side (+ Y direction side) of the liquid storage unit 30 (storage unit 32), the liquid storage unit 30 is moved to move the printer main body. 12 There is no need to pull out.

  In the above embodiment, the liquid storage unit 30 is not necessarily provided on the end side in the discharge direction (+ Y direction) of the paper P in the printer main body 12. For example, the liquid storage unit 30 may be provided in the printer body 12 on the end side in the direction (−Y direction) opposite to the paper P discharge direction (+ Y direction). In short, if the printer 11 is provided at a position below the discharge unit 20 in the vertical direction and overlapping the discharge unit 20 in the vertical direction, an increase in the installation area of the printer 11 is suppressed. Of course, in this case, the liquid storage unit 30 is preferably provided at a position where the liquid storage unit 30 can be moved out of the printer main body 12 by the slide mechanism.

  In the above embodiment, the liquid storage unit 30 is not necessarily provided between the discharge unit 20 and the supply cassette 40. For example, in the printer 11 configured such that the supply cassette 40 that can store the paper P is not provided below the discharge unit 20 in the vertical direction, such as when the paper P supply unit is provided behind the printer main body 12, The accommodating part 30 should just be provided in the position which overlaps with the discharge part 20 in the perpendicular direction.

  In the above embodiment, the liquid storage unit 30 does not necessarily include the liquid amount visualizing unit 33 that can visually recognize the amount of ink stored in the liquid storage unit 30. For example, the ink consumption amount ejected from the liquid ejecting head 16 in the printer 11 can be calculated, and the user can be notified of the remaining amount of ink in the liquid storage unit 30 using the calculated ink consumption amount. In this case, the liquid amount visualizing part 33 is unnecessary.

  In the above-described embodiment, the injection port 35 is not necessarily provided so as to be displaceable with respect to the printer main body 12. For example, if it is possible to inject ink from the injection port 35 without displacing the injection port 35, it is not necessary to displace the injection port 35.

  In the above embodiment, the liquid storage unit 30 may not necessarily include the injection port 35 that can inject ink. For example, when the liquid storage unit 30 is configured with the ink bag 39 as in the above modification, the ink bag 39 that has run out of ink is filled with ink without being injected into the bag. Replace with a new ink bag 39. Therefore, in such a case, the liquid container 30 does not need to include the ink injection port 35.

  The liquid ejecting head 16 is not limited to a so-called serial head type that ejects ink by reciprocating with the carriage 15 in a direction intersecting the transport direction of the paper P. That is, in the state in which the length size forms an overall shape corresponding to the width size of the paper P and the longitudinal direction thereof is fixedly arranged so as to be along the width direction intersecting the transport direction of the paper P, substantially the entire longitudinal direction thereof It may be a so-called line head type in which liquid is ejected from a large number of nozzles provided so as to extend toward the medium.

  In the above embodiment, the printer 11 may be a recording device that ejects or discharges liquid other than ink. Note that the state of the liquid ejected as a minute amount of liquid droplets from the recording apparatus includes granular, tear-like, and thread-like ones. The liquid here may be any material that can be ejected from the recording apparatus. For example, it may be in a state in which the substance is in a liquid phase, such as a liquid with high or low viscosity, sol, gel water, other inorganic solvents, organic solvents, solutions, liquid resins, liquid metals (metal melts ). Further, not only a liquid as one state of a substance but also a substance in which particles of a functional material made of a solid such as a pigment or a metal particle are dissolved, dispersed or mixed in a solvent is included. Typical examples of the liquid include ink and liquid crystal as described in the above embodiment. Here, the ink includes general water-based inks and oil-based inks, and various liquid compositions such as gel inks and hot melt inks. As a specific example of the recording apparatus, for example, a liquid containing a material such as an electrode material or a color material used for manufacturing a liquid crystal display, an EL (electroluminescence) display, a surface light emitting display, a color filter or the like in a dispersed or dissolved form. There is a recording device that jets. Further, it may be a recording device for ejecting bioorganic substances used for biochip manufacturing, a recording device for ejecting liquid as a sample used as a precision pipette, a textile printing device, a microdispenser, or the like. In addition, a transparent resin liquid such as ultraviolet curable resin is used to form a recording device that injects lubricating oil pinpointed into precision machines such as watches and cameras, and micro hemispherical lenses (optical lenses) used in optical communication elements. It may be a recording apparatus that jets onto a substrate. Further, it may be a recording apparatus that ejects an etching solution such as acid or alkali in order to etch a substrate or the like.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Printer (an example of a recording device), 12 ... Printer main body (an example of an apparatus main body), 16 ... Liquid ejecting head, 20 ... Discharge part, 25 ... Discharge port, 27 ... Discharge roller, 28 ... Driven roller, 30 ... Liquid Accommodating unit, 32... Accommodating unit, 33... Liquid amount visualizing unit, 35... Injection port, 40.

Claims (7)

A liquid ejecting head that performs recording by ejecting liquid onto a target;
A discharge portion formed with a discharge port including a discharge region from which the target recorded by the liquid jet head is discharged;
A liquid container that can contain the liquid to be supplied to the liquid ejecting head and includes an injection port capable of injecting the liquid;
Wherein a position overlapping in the discharge unit and the vertical direction in the depth direction of and the apparatus main body A vertically below the discharge portion, the drawer can be provided to slide from the main body, housing for accommodating the liquid container And
A cover member that is provided in the storage unit, is an upper surface of the storage unit, and covers a position at which the injection port of the liquid storage unit is disposed;
In the main body of the device,
The recording apparatus is configured such that the cover member can be opened in a state where the storage portion is pulled out from the apparatus main body to a position where the cover member is exposed, and the injection port is exposed when the cover member is released. In the apparatus main body, a supply cassette capable of accommodating the target to be supplied to the liquid ejecting head is vertically lower than the discharge section and in the vertical direction with respect to the discharge section in the depth direction of the apparatus main body. Provided in overlapping positions,
The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit is provided between the discharge unit and the supply cassette. In the apparatus main body, a supply cassette capable of accommodating the target to be supplied to the liquid ejecting head is vertically lower than the discharge section and in the vertical direction with respect to the discharge section in the depth direction of the apparatus main body. Provided in overlapping positions,
The storage unit, a recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 is provided below the supply cassette.   The said discharge part is formed in the discharge direction side of the said target from the discharge means which has the discharge roller which discharges | emits the said target, and the driven roller arrange | positioned facing the said discharge roller. The recording apparatus according to any one of the above.   The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit is provided on an end side in a discharge direction of the target in the apparatus main body. A liquid supply tube connected to the liquid container and capable of supplying the liquid to the liquid jet head;
6. The liquid supply tube according to claim 1, wherein the liquid supply tube is disposed outside the discharge unit in a direction intersecting a discharge direction of the target, and supplies the liquid from a lower side to an upper side of the discharge unit. The recording device according to item. A liquid supply tube connected to the liquid container and capable of supplying the liquid to the liquid jet head;
The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid supply tube is connected to an end portion on a side opposite to a discharge direction of the target with respect to the liquid storage portion.