JP6488714B2 - Recording device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a recording apparatus that performs recording on a recording medium.
In the present application, the recording apparatus includes types such as a serial printer that performs recording while the recording head moves in a predetermined direction, a copier that includes these printer functions, and a facsimile.

  In recent years, in a recording apparatus such as an ink jet printer, a large-capacity ink storage tank has been provided inside or outside the apparatus main body in order to improve the recordable number of recording media. Patent Document 1 describes an example of a recording apparatus including this large-capacity ink storage tank.

JP 2012-152994 A

  The recording apparatus described in Patent Document 1 is configured such that a carriage inserted into a carriage guide shaft can reciprocate in the apparatus width direction. The upper portion of the carriage is supported by a guide frame extending in the apparatus width direction.

  In the recording apparatus described in Patent Document 1, a plurality of large-capacity ink tanks are provided on the side surface of the apparatus main body, and ink tubes are connected to the ink tanks. The ink tube connected to the ink tank extends in the apparatus width direction, and has a folded portion on the left side of the carriage in the apparatus width direction with respect to the reciprocating movement of the carriage in the apparatus width direction. Is configured to follow and deform.

  Incidentally, in recent years, in order to improve the recording quality of the recording medium, the nozzle density of the recording head provided in the carriage has been increased. Specifically, the number of nozzles that eject ink onto the recording medium in the recording head is increased.

  However, when the number of nozzles in the recording head is increased, the required amount of ink supplied to the recording head increases. Therefore, the diameter of the ink tube that supplies ink from the ink tank to the carriage is increased. When the recording head with the increased number of nozzles is applied to the recording apparatus described in Patent Document 1, since the diameter of the ink tube is large, the tube bending reaction force generated at the folded portion increases. As a result, the tube bending reaction force acts so as to separate the carriage from the guide frame, and the landing position of the ink ejected from the recording head is displaced, which may reduce the recording quality on the recording medium. There is.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus that improves the recording quality on a recording medium by stabilizing the posture of the carriage.

  In order to achieve the above object, a recording apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a recording head that performs recording by discharging liquid onto a recording medium, and the recording head is provided, and moves along a first direction. A possible carriage, a first sliding portion provided on one side of the carriage in the second direction intersecting the first direction, and the carriage from the other side in the second direction A second sliding portion provided on an arm portion that protrudes in a second direction and extends in the first direction to contact the first sliding portion to support the carriage and to A first guide member for guiding movement; and extending in the first direction, spaced from the first guide member in the second direction, and in contact with the second sliding portion While supporting the carriage A second guide member that guides movement of the carriage; a liquid storage portion that stores the liquid; and a tube that supplies the liquid delivered from the liquid storage portion to the carriage, and extends from the carriage. A tube extending in a direction crossing the second direction and extending in the up-down direction and extending in the opposite direction, and the tube passes through at least one of the upper and lower sides of the arm portion and the second direction. It is characterized by extending in the intersecting direction.

  In this specification, the “direction intersecting the second direction” indicates not only the first direction that is the device width direction, but also an inclination in the device depth direction that is the second direction along the device width direction. Thus, it also includes a direction extending obliquely and a direction extending obliquely in the apparatus height direction.

  According to this aspect, the carriage is supported by the first guide member and the second guide member that are spaced apart from each other in the second direction, and the liquid delivered from the liquid container is supplied to the carriage. The tube to be supplied to the carriage extends from the carriage and extends in a direction intersecting the second direction, is folded back in the vertical direction and extends in the opposite direction, and the first sliding portion in the second direction And the second sliding portion extend in a direction intersecting with the second direction. Here, a restoring force is generated in the tube so as to loosen the curve, that is, to restore the tube to a straight extension state. The restoring force acts on the carriage to which the tube is connected. For example, by lifting the carriage, the first sliding portion and the second sliding portion are moved to the first guide member. Alternatively, the second guide member is separated from the second guide member.

  The restoring force generates a moment force that tries to rotate the carriage with the first sliding portion as a fulcrum. This moment force increases in proportion to the distance from the first sliding portion to the tube.

  In this aspect, the tube extends in a direction intersecting the second direction between the first sliding portion and the second sliding portion in the second direction. In the direction, the distance between the tube and the first sliding portion is shorter than the distance between the first sliding portion and the second sliding portion. That is, the distance between the tube and the first sliding portion can be made shorter than when the tube is disposed outside the second sliding portion with respect to the first sliding portion. . As a result, the moment force when the tube is positioned between the first sliding portion and the second sliding portion causes the tube to move with respect to the first sliding portion. It can be made smaller than the moment force in the case where it is arranged outside the sliding portion 2.

  Thereby, the separation of the carriage from the first guide member or the second guide member can be suppressed. Accordingly, since the posture of the recording head, and thus the carriage, with respect to the recording medium can be stabilized, it is possible to suppress a decrease in recording quality on the recording medium.

  Further, according to this aspect, the arm portion that protrudes from the carriage in the second direction is provided with the second sliding portion, and the tube has at least one of the upper and lower sides of the arm portion. And extending in a direction intersecting the second direction. Therefore, in this aspect, the distance between the first sliding portion and the second sliding portion in the second direction can be increased. As a result, the moment force due to the weight of the carriage acting on the second sliding portion and having the first sliding portion as a fulcrum can be increased. As a result, the separation of the carriage from the first guide member or the second guide member can be suppressed, and as a result, a decrease in recording quality can be suppressed. Further, as the distance between the arm portions becomes longer, the inclination of the carriage with the first direction as the rotation axis becomes smaller, so that the recording quality of the recording head onto the recording medium can be maintained.

  In a recording apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the first sliding portion sandwiches the first guide member together with the carriage in the second direction, and moves in the second direction. The carriage is held, the second sliding part is supported by the second guide member from below, and the tube is spaced from the first sliding part in the second direction by the first direction. It is arrange | positioned in the position longer than the distance with 2 sliding parts.

  According to this aspect, the first sliding portion sandwiches the first guide member together with the carriage in the second direction, and holds the carriage in the second direction. When the guide member is guided by one guide member and moves in the first direction, the displacement of the carriage in the second direction can be restricted, thereby preventing a decrease in recording quality.

  The recording apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the second aspect, the tube is bent and bent through a lower portion of the arm portion, and is connected to the carriage above the arm portion. And

  According to this aspect, since the tube is bent and bent through the lower part of the arm part and connected to the carriage above the arm part, the bending radius of the tube can be increased. As a result, it is possible to reduce the restoring force that tries to moderate the bending generated in the tube. Accordingly, it can be more reliably suppressed that the restoring force tries to separate the carriage from the first guide member or the second guide member against the weight of the carriage. As a result, it is possible to suppress a decrease in recording quality in the recording medium.

  A recording apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in any one of the first to third aspects, the first sliding portion is provided in a lower portion of the carriage.

  The recording apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the recording apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the distance between the tube and the first sliding portion in the second direction is the first distance. The distance between the sliding portion and the second sliding portion is shorter.

  According to this aspect, the distance between the tube and the first sliding portion in the second direction is shorter than the distance between the first sliding portion and the second sliding portion. Therefore, the moment force generated in the carriage can be made smaller than the moment force due to the weight of the carriage acting on the second sliding portion. Thereby, the separation of the carriage from the second guide member can be suppressed. As a result, it is possible to suppress a decrease in recording quality in the recording medium.

  A recording apparatus according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the recording apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein a plurality of the tubes are provided, and a portion of the tube that is curved and folded back is in the first direction of the carriage. The tube diameter conversion member is provided at a position outside the movement region of the folded portion in the first direction, and the tube diameter from the liquid storage portion to the tube diameter conversion member is the tube diameter. It is characterized by being thicker than the tube diameter from the conversion member to the carriage through the folded portion.

  According to this aspect, the tube diameter from the liquid storage part to the tube diameter conversion member is thicker than the tube diameter from the tube diameter conversion member to the carriage through the folded portion. That is, the diameter of the tube from the liquid container to the tube diameter conversion member is large, and the diameter of the tube from the tube diameter conversion member to the carriage is small. For this reason, pressure loss is reduced by increasing the tube diameter in the path from the liquid storage part to the tube diameter conversion member, compared to the case where the tube diameter is reduced in all paths from the liquid storage part to the carriage. This can reduce the number of nozzles in the recording head.

  Further, in this aspect, the tube diameter from the tube diameter conversion member to the carriage is thin, that is, the tube diameter of the portion corresponding to the operation of the carriage is thin, so that the reaction force of the tube transmitted to the carriage can be reduced, The recording quality of the recording head onto the recording medium can be maintained.

  The recording apparatus according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the recording apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein a plurality of the tubes are arranged along the second direction, and the first direction is the most in the second direction. The diameter of the tube near the sliding portion is larger than the diameter of the other tubes.

  According to this aspect, among the tubes arranged in the second direction, the tube arranged closest to the first sliding portion is thicker than the other tubes. Here, the restoring force that tries to moderate the curvature generated in the tube increases as the diameter of the tube increases. Therefore, in this aspect, the tube having the largest restoring force is disposed closer to the first sliding portion, but the distance between the tube having the largest restoring force and the first sliding portion can be shortened, A moment force for rotating the carriage with the first sliding portion as a fulcrum can be reduced. Therefore, the carriage can be prevented from being separated from the second guide member. As a result, it is possible to suppress a decrease in recording quality in the recording medium.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the eighth aspect, the liquid is ink, and the thickest diameter tube supplies black ink to the recording head.

  According to this aspect, the thickest tube supplies black ink to the recording head. Here, the recording apparatus uses ink of a plurality of colors, for example, black, cyan, magenta, yellow, etc., but the amount of black ink used is the largest. In this aspect, the black ink can be supplied from the liquid storage portion toward the recording head with the tube having the thickest diameter among the plurality of tubes. That is, since the supply amount of the black ink that is most used to the recording head can be increased, the supply of the black ink to the recording head can be stabilized.

  The recording apparatus according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is the recording apparatus according to the seventh or eighth aspect, wherein a plurality of the liquid storage portions are provided along the second direction, and the plurality of the liquid storage portions are provided. At least a part of the liquid container located closest to the second sliding part in the second direction and at least a part of the tube having the largest tube diameter are at the same position in the second direction. And the liquid container located closest to the second sliding portion is connected to the tube having the largest tube diameter.

  According to this aspect, among the plurality of the liquid storage portions provided, at least a part of the liquid storage portion positioned closest to the second sliding portion along the second direction, and the tube diameter most The at least part of the thick tube is at the same position in the second direction, and the liquid container located closest to the second sliding portion is connected to the tube having the thickest tube diameter. Yes. In other words, the distance in the second direction between the liquid container located closest to the second sliding part and the tube having the largest tube diameter is greater than the distance between the other liquid container and the other tube. It's short. Therefore, the path length from the liquid storage part located closest to the second sliding part in the tube having the largest tube diameter to the carriage is the path length from the other liquid storage part to the carriage in the other tube. Can be shorter than the length.

  The recording apparatus according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is the recording apparatus according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, further comprising a tube guide member that extends along the first direction and guides the tube. The member is disposed below the arm portion.

  A recording apparatus according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention is the tube guide member according to the tenth aspect, further comprising a holding member that holds a discharge roller that extends along the first direction and discharges the recording medium. And the holding member are separated from each other.

  According to this aspect, since the tube guide member and the holding member are spaced apart from each other, the tube guide member and the holding member are not subjected to a restoring force to loosen the curve generated in the tube via the tube guide member. It can suppress that a holding member receives the said restoring force, and bends. As a result, since the holding member can be prevented from being bent, the displacement of the discharge roller due to the bending of the holding member is unlikely to occur, so that it is possible to suppress a decrease in discharge performance of the recording medium.

  The recording apparatus according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention is the recording apparatus according to any one of the first to eleventh aspects, wherein the arm portion is provided at the lower portion of the carriage from the center of the carriage in the first direction. It protrudes in the direction and extends, and its tip extends downward.

  According to this aspect, since the second sliding portion is provided in the arm portion extending in the second direction from the carriage, the first in the second direction without increasing the size of the carriage. The distance between the sliding portion and the second sliding portion can be increased. As a result, the increase in the size of the carriage can be suppressed, the size of the carriage can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced.

1 is an external perspective view of a printer according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an internal structure of the printer according to the invention. FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating an internal structure of the printer according to the invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a carriage according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a path of an ink tube from an ink tank to a tube diameter conversion member. The perspective view which shows a tube diameter conversion member. The side view of the carriage which concerns on a 1st Example. FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the carriage according to the first embodiment. (A) is a bottom view which shows a 1st sliding member, (B) is a perspective view which shows a 1st guide member and a 1st sliding member. Sectional drawing which shows the relationship between a tube guide member and a holding member. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing the relationship between the ink tube protection member according to the first embodiment and a rib provided at the bottom of the image reading apparatus. FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view showing a relationship between a protection member of an ink tube and a rib according to a modification of the first embodiment provided at the bottom of the image reading apparatus. Sectional drawing which shows the relationship between the arm part which concerns on the example of a change of a 1st Example, and a tube guide member. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a relationship between force and moment in the carriage according to the first embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, about the same structure in each Example, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and it demonstrates only in the first Example, The description of the structure is abbreviate | omitted in a subsequent Example.

  1 is an external perspective view of the printer according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the printer according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the printer according to the present invention. 4 is a perspective view of the carriage according to the first embodiment, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a path of the ink tube from the ink tank to the tube diameter conversion member, and FIG. 6 is a view of the tube diameter conversion member. FIG. 7 is a side view of the carriage according to the first embodiment.

  FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the carriage according to the first embodiment, FIG. 9A is a bottom view showing the first sliding member, and FIG. 9B is a diagram showing the main guide rail and the first sliding member. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the relationship between the tube guide member and the holding member, and FIG. 11 shows the ink tube protection member and the bottom of the image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 12 is a side sectional view showing the relationship with the provided rib, and FIG. 12 is a side showing the relationship between the ink tube protection member and the rib according to the modified example of the first embodiment provided at the bottom of the image reading apparatus. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the relationship between the arm portion and the tube guide member according to a modified example of the first embodiment, and FIG. 14 shows the force and moment in the carriage according to the first embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the relationship.

  In the XYZ coordinate system shown in each figure, the X direction (device width direction) as the “first direction” is the scanning direction of the recording head, and the Y direction as the “second direction” is the recording device. The depth direction, the sheet conveyance direction, and the Z direction indicate the “direction in which the distance (gap) between the recording head and the sheet changes”, that is, the apparatus height direction. In each figure, the -Y direction is the front side of the apparatus, and the + Y direction side is the back side of the apparatus.

■■■ Example ■■■■
<<< Printer overview >>>
An ink jet printer 10 (hereinafter referred to as a printer 10) as an example of a recording apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. The printer 10 is configured as a multifunction machine including an apparatus main body 12 and an image reading device 14. The apparatus main body 12 includes a recording medium storage cassette 16 for storing a recording medium, and an ink tank 18 as a “liquid storage portion” for storing ink as “liquid”.

  The image reading apparatus 14 is attached to the upper part of the apparatus main body 12 via a hinge 20 (see FIG. 2) provided on the upper part of the apparatus main body 12. The image reading apparatus 14 is configured to be rotatable with respect to the apparatus main body 12 with the hinge 20 as a fulcrum. In the present embodiment, the hinge 20 is provided on the back side of the apparatus main body 12, and the image reading device 14 rotates from the front side to the back side of the apparatus main body 12. Further, the image reading apparatus 14 in the present embodiment is configured as a scanner unit as an example.

  The recording medium accommodation cassette 16 is configured to accommodate a plurality of recording media, and is detachably attached from the front side (the −Y axis direction side in FIG. 1) of the apparatus main body 12. In this specification, the recording medium refers to paper such as plain paper, cardboard, and photographic paper as an example.

  Further, a plurality of ink tanks 18 are provided as large-capacity tanks for storing ink on the right side surface of the apparatus main body 12 (on the −X axis direction side in FIG. 1) (see FIG. 5). Further, the plurality of ink tanks 18a, 18b, 18c, and 18d are provided corresponding to each color of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow, for example.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the configuration in the apparatus main body 12 will be described. A carriage 22 that is movable in the apparatus width direction (X-axis direction in FIG. 2) is provided in the apparatus main body 12. The carriage 22 is driven in the apparatus width direction by a carriage drive mechanism 26 driven by a drive motor 24 (see FIG. 2).

  In this embodiment, the carriage drive mechanism 26 includes a drive pulley (not shown) attached to the drive motor 24, a driven pulley 28 spaced from the drive pulley in the apparatus width direction, and the drive pulley. And a toothed belt 30 wound around a driven pulley. A part of the toothed belt 30 is held by the carriage 22.

  Therefore, when the drive pulley is driven to rotate by the drive motor 24, the toothed belt 30 is driven, and the carriage 22 that grips a part of the toothed belt 30 is moved in the apparatus width direction.

  A recording head 32 is provided at the bottom of the carriage 22 (see FIGS. 7 and 8). Further, a medium support member 34 extending in the apparatus width direction is provided below the carriage 22. At least a part of the medium support member 34 is provided in the movement region of the carriage 22 in the apparatus width direction. The medium support member 34 faces the recording head 32 when the carriage 22 moves in the movement region of the carriage 22. To do.

  The medium support member 34 supports the recording medium conveyed from the recording medium accommodation cassette 16. The recording head 32 faces the paper supported by the medium support member 34. Further, the medium support member 34 defines the distance (gap) between the recording surface of the recording medium and the head surface of the recording head 32 by supporting the recording medium from below. The surface of the recording head 32 facing the recording medium is provided with a plurality of nozzle holes (not shown), and the recording medium is ejected from the nozzle holes toward the recording surface of the recording medium. To record.

  Further, a transport roller pair 36 is provided on the rear side of the carriage 22 in the apparatus depth direction (upstream side in the transport path). The conveyance roller pair 36 includes a conveyance driving roller 36a and a conveyance driven roller 36b (see FIG. 2).

  Further, a discharge roller pair 38 is provided on the front side of the carriage 22 in the apparatus depth direction (downstream side in the transport path). The discharge roller pair 38 includes a discharge drive roller 38a and a discharge driven roller 38b (see FIGS. 3 and 10). In the present embodiment, the discharge driven roller 38 b is configured as a spur and is rotatably held by a holding member 40 attached to the apparatus main body 12.

  Further, a discharge stacker 42 is provided on the apparatus front side in the apparatus depth direction with respect to the discharge roller pair 38 (downstream side in the transport path). The recording medium discharged by the discharge roller pair 38 can be stacked on the discharge stacker 42.

  Here, the conveyance path of the recording medium will be described. The recording medium accommodated in the recording medium accommodation cassette 16 is conveyed by a feeding roller (not shown) from the recording medium accommodation cassette 16 on the downstream side of the conveyance path. It is conveyed toward the pair 36. The recording medium is nipped between the transport driving roller 36a and the transport driven roller 36b, and transported toward the medium support member 34 located on the downstream side of the transport path. Next, the recording medium transported onto the medium support member 34 is recorded by the recording head 32. Then, the recording medium on which the recording is performed is nipped between the discharge driving roller 38a and the discharge driven roller 38b, and is discharged toward the discharge stacker 42.

<<< Overview of carriage >>>
Next, the outline of the carriage 22 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 5, and 7, the carriage 22 is provided at a box-shaped housing 44, an arm portion 46 that protrudes from the housing 44 toward the device front side in the device depth direction, and a bottom portion of the housing 44. The recording head 32 (see FIG. 8) is provided.

  Further, the carriage 22 is configured to reciprocate in the apparatus width direction within the apparatus main body 12. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the apparatus main body 12 is provided with a first guide member 48 extending in the apparatus width direction and a distance on the front side of the apparatus with respect to the first guide member 48 in the apparatus depth direction. A second guide member 50 that is disposed and extends in the apparatus width direction is attached. In the present embodiment, the first guide member 48 and the second guide member 50 are configured as guide rails.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9B, the first guide member 48 includes a flat portion 48a and an inverted portion 48b extending from the flat portion 48a in the apparatus height direction, and the flat portion 48a and the inverted portion. Each 48b extends in the apparatus width direction.

  The casing 44 is provided with a gap adjusting means 52 (see FIG. 9B) on the back side of the apparatus, which is “one side” in the apparatus depth direction. Although not shown, the gap adjusting means 52 is configured to be able to adjust the position of the carriage 22 in the apparatus height direction. Further, the gap adjusting means 52 is provided with a first sliding portion 54.

  The first sliding portion 54 includes a horizontal sliding portion 54a that slides in contact with the flat portion 48a of the first guide member 48, and an inverted sliding portion 54b that slides in contact with the inverted portion 48b. (Refer to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9A). The horizontal sliding portion 54 a is supported in the apparatus height direction by the flat portion 48 a of the first guide member 48.

  Further, on the apparatus rear side of the housing 44, a housing sliding portion 44a is provided at a position facing the inverted sliding portion 54b of the first sliding portion 54 with the inverted portion 48b of the first guide member 48 interposed therebetween. Is provided. That is, the inverted portion 48b of the first guide member 48 is sandwiched between the inverted sliding portion 54b of the first sliding portion 54 and the housing sliding portion 44a.

  Therefore, when the carriage 22 moves in the apparatus width direction, the carriage 22 is not only guided by the inverted portion 48b of the first guide member 48, but can also restrict displacement of the carriage 22 in the apparatus depth direction. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in recording quality for the recording medium in the printer 10.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the arm portion 46 protrudes from the housing 44 toward the front side of the apparatus, and extends downward toward the second guide member 50 at the tip of the protruding portion. The arm portion 46 is provided with a second sliding portion 56 at a portion in contact with the second guide member 50. That is, the carriage 22 is supported by the second guide member 50 via the second sliding portion 56.

  Therefore, the carriage 22 is supported by the first guide member 48 via the first sliding portion 54 and supported by the second guide member 50 via the second sliding portion 56 in the apparatus height direction. Has been.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the distance L1 from the first sliding portion 54 to the second sliding portion 56 in the apparatus depth direction is such that the second sliding portion 56 is provided on the front side of the apparatus of the housing 44. In this case, the distance is longer than the distance from the first sliding portion 54 to the second sliding portion 56. As a result, when the height in the apparatus height direction on the back side of the carriage 22 is displaced by the gap adjusting means 52, the inclination angle of the recording head 32 with respect to the recording surface of the recording medium supported by the medium supporting member 34 is Get smaller. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in recording quality in the recording medium.

<<< Ink supply path >>>
Next, the ink supply path will be described with reference to FIGS. A plurality of connection adapters 58 are attached in the housing 44 of the carriage 22. 5 shows the carriage 22 with the connection adapter 58 removed. In this embodiment, connection adapters 58 a, 58 b, 58 c and 58 d corresponding to black, cyan, magenta and yellow are attached to the housing 44. The connection adapters 58a, 58b, 58c, and 58d supply ink of each color supplied from the ink tanks 18a, 18b, 18c, and 18d to the recording head 32, respectively.

  The ink tanks 18a, 18b, 18c, and 18d are aligned along the apparatus depth direction. In this embodiment, the ink tank 18a that stores black ink is located closest to the front side of the apparatus, the ink tank 18b that stores cyan toward the back side of the apparatus, the ink tank 18c that stores magenta, and the ink that stores yellow. They are arranged in the order of the tanks 18d.

  Ink tubes 60a, 60b, 60c, and 60d are extended from the respective ink tanks 18a, 18b, 18c, and 18d toward the front side of the apparatus in the apparatus depth direction. Each of the ink tubes 60a, 60b, 60c, and 60d extends in the region where the ink tank 18a is provided in the apparatus depth direction, and changes its direction from the side where the ink tank 18 is provided to the opposite side in the apparatus width direction. .

  3 to 5, a tube guide member 62 extending in the apparatus width direction is provided above the second guide member 50 in the apparatus main body 12. A tube diameter conversion member 64 is attached to the tube guide member 62. Ink tubes 60a, 60b, 60c, and 60d that extend from the respective ink tanks 18a, 18b, 18c, and 18d in the apparatus depth direction and change the direction in the apparatus width direction are connected to the tube diameter conversion member 64.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the tube diameter conversion member 64 includes a plurality of connectors 64a, 64b, 64c, 64d, 64e, 64f, 64g, and 64h. The plurality of connectors 64a, 64b, 64c, 64d are aligned in the apparatus depth direction (Y-axis direction in FIG. 6) and arranged on one side (−X-axis direction side in FIG. 6) of the tube diameter conversion member 64. . The plurality of connectors 64e, 64f, 64g, 64h are aligned in the apparatus depth direction (Y-axis direction in FIG. 6) and arranged on the other side (+ X-axis direction side in FIG. 6) of the tube diameter conversion member 64. Yes.

  In this embodiment, the ink tubes 60a, 60b, 60c, and 60d are connected to the connectors 64a, 64b, 64c, and 64d, respectively. Further, in this embodiment, the connectors 64e, 64f, 64g, and 64h are provided at positions corresponding to the connectors 64a, 64b, 64c, and 64d, respectively, in the apparatus depth direction.

  Further, the ink tubes 66a, 66b, 66c, 66d are connected to the connectors 64e, 64f, 64g, 64h, respectively, and the ink tubes 66a, 66b, 66c, 66d are connected from the tube diameter converting member 64 to the other in the apparatus width direction. It extends toward the side (+ X axis direction side in FIG. 6). The diameters of the ink tubes 66b, 66c, and 66d are set to be thinner than the diameters of the ink tubes 60b, 60c, and 60d.

  Here, the diameters of the connectors 64b, 64c, and 64d are set larger than the diameters of the connectors 64f, 64g, and 64h. That is, the diameters of the ink tubes 60b, 60c, and 60d connected to the connectors 64b, 64c, and 64d are larger than the diameters of the ink tubes 66b, 66c, and 66d connected to the connectors 64f, 64g, and 64h. Therefore, the diameter dimension of the ink tube connected to one side and the other side of the tube diameter conversion member 64 is converted.

  In this embodiment, the diameter of the ink tube 66a connected to the connector 64e is set to the same size as the diameter of the ink tube 60a connected to the connector 64a. That is, in this embodiment, the tube diameter is not converted between the connector 64a and the connector 64e, and ink is supplied from the ink tank 18a to the connection adapter 58a by the ink tubes 60a and 66a having the same diameter.

  4 and 7, the tube guide member 62 is provided between the first sliding portion 54 and the second sliding portion 56 in the apparatus depth direction, more specifically, the housing of the carriage 22. 44 is provided between an end portion of the front side of the device 44 and the second sliding portion 56. That is, the ink tube 60 and the ink tube 66 extended from the ink tank 18 pass under the arm portion 46 between the first sliding portion 54 and the second sliding portion 56 in the apparatus depth direction. It extends in the device width direction.

  In the present embodiment, the positional relationship between the first sliding portion 54, the second sliding portion 56, and the ink tube 66 in the apparatus depth direction is such that the first sliding portion 54 and the ink tube 66 in the apparatus depth direction. Is set to be longer than the distance between the ink tube 66 and the second sliding portion 56.

  Further, the ink tubes 66a, 66b, 66c, and 66d extending from the tube diameter conversion member 64 are guided and extended by the tube guide member 62 on the side opposite to the side where the ink tank 18 is provided in the apparatus width direction, and are bent and folded. The connection adapters 58a, 58b, 58c, and 58d that are attached to the casing 44 of the carriage 22 are connected to the ink tank 18 side. In other words, the ink tube 66 is curved through the lower portion of the arm portion 46, is folded in the vertical direction, passes through the upper portion of the arm portion, and is connected to the connection adapter 58.

  Therefore, the ink stored in the ink tank 18 is supplied to the recording head 32 via the ink tube 60, the tube diameter conversion member 64, the ink tube 66, and the connection adapter 58.

<<< Moment force acting on the carriage >>>
Here, the force and moment acting on the carriage 22 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram relating to the force and moment acting on the carriage 22. In FIG. 14, only one ink tube 66 is shown for explanation.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the inverted portion 48 b of the first guide member 48 on the back side of the carriage 22 in the apparatus depth direction is connected to the inverted sliding portion 54 b of the first sliding portion 54 and the casing 44 of the carriage 22. It is in a state of being sandwiched. Further, since the second sliding portion 56 is only supported from below by the second guide member 50 on the front side in the apparatus depth direction of the carriage 22, the carriage 22 uses the first sliding portion 54 as a fulcrum. It is easy to turn clockwise in FIG.

  In addition, a restoring force F1 is generated in the ink tube 66 so as to make the curve gentle, that is, to restore the ink tube 66 to a straight extension state. The restoring force F1 acts on the carriage 22 to which the ink tube 66 is connected. For example, the carriage 22 is lifted to move the first sliding portion 54 and the second sliding portion 56 to the first guide member. 48 or the second guide member 50.

  Since the restoring force F1 acts on the front side of the casing 44 of the carriage 22, the rotational moment N1 that tries to rotate the carriage 22 in the clockwise direction in FIG. 14 with the first sliding portion 54 as a fulcrum in the carriage 22. Occurs. Here, the rotational moment N1 is the product of the length of the line segment S1 connecting the first sliding portion 54 and the ink tube 66 with a straight line and the component orthogonal to the line segment S1 in the restoring force F1.

  However, since the description is complicated, in this embodiment, the product of the distance L1 in the apparatus depth direction from the first sliding portion 54 to the ink tube 66 and the restoring force F1 is defined as a rotational moment N1. Similarly, the rotational moment N2 in the second sliding portion 56 to be described later is not the distance of the line segment S2 connecting the first sliding portion 54 and the second sliding portion 56 but the distance L2 in the apparatus depth direction. Suppose you want. In addition, since the influence of the position of the center of gravity can be reduced by considering the load (restoring force F1 and own weight F2), the consideration of the position of the center of gravity is omitted.

  Therefore, the rotational moment N1 has a relationship of N1 = F1 × L1. As a result, the rotational moment N1 increases in proportion to the distance L1 from the first sliding portion 54 to the ink tube 66.

  On the other hand, the second weight 56 that is applied to the arm 46 out of the weight of the carriage 22 acts on the second sliding portion 56 provided in the arm 46. Specifically, the own weight F <b> 2 of the carriage 22 acts downward in the apparatus height direction, that is, toward the second guide member 50. That is, the second sliding portion 56 presses the second guide member 50 by its own weight F2 of the carriage 22. Here, since the own weight F2 acts on the side opposite to the side where the restoring force F1 acts on the second sliding part 56, the second sliding part 56 faces the direction opposite to the rotational moment N1. A rotational moment N2 acts.

  Here, the rotational moment N2 is represented by the product of the own weight F2 of the carriage 22 and the distance L2 from the first sliding portion 54 to the second sliding portion 56 in the apparatus depth direction. That is, there is a relationship of N2 = F2 × L2.

  In this embodiment, since the ink tube 66 extends in the apparatus width direction between the first sliding part 54 and the second sliding part 56 in the apparatus depth direction, the first slide in the apparatus depth direction. The distance L1 from the moving part 54 to the ink tube 66 is shorter than the distance L2 from the first sliding part 54 to the second sliding part 56. That is, the distance L2 from the first sliding portion 54 to the second sliding portion 56 has a relationship of L2> L1 with respect to the distance L1 from the first sliding portion 54 to the ink tube 66.

  Therefore, by setting the own weight F2 of the carriage 22 to a load larger than the value obtained by dividing the rotational moment N1 by the distance L2, the relationship of rotational moment N2> rotational moment N1 is maintained in the carriage 22. As a result, the rotational moment N2 becomes larger than the rotational moment N1, and therefore the separation of the second sliding portion 56 from the second guide member 50 can be suppressed.

  In the present embodiment, the ink tube 66 extends in the apparatus width direction between the first sliding portion 54 and the second sliding portion 56 in the apparatus depth direction. The distance L2 between the ink tube 66 and the first sliding portion 54 can be made shorter than when the sliding portion 54 is disposed outside the second sliding portion 56, that is, on the front side of the apparatus. As a result, when the ink tube 66 is positioned between the first sliding portion 54 and the second sliding portion 56, the rotational moment N1 causes the ink tube 66 to move relative to the first sliding portion 54. It can be made smaller than the rotational moment when it is arranged outside the second sliding portion 56.

  Thereby, the separation of the carriage 22 from the first guide member 48 or the second guide member 50 can be suppressed. Accordingly, since the posture of the recording head 32 and thus the carriage 22 with respect to the recording medium can be stabilized, it is possible to suppress a decrease in recording quality on the recording medium.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a second sliding portion 56 is provided on the arm portion 46 that protrudes from the housing 44 of the carriage 22 to the front side of the device in the depth direction of the device. Yes. Thereby, distance L2 of the 1st sliding part 54 in the apparatus depth direction and the 2nd sliding part 56 can be lengthened. Accordingly, it is possible to increase the rotational moment N2 due to the weight of the carriage 22 acting on the second sliding portion 56 and having the first sliding portion 54 as a fulcrum. As a result, separation of the carriage 22 from the first guide member 48 or the second guide member 50 can be suppressed. Accordingly, since the posture of the recording head 32 and thus the carriage 22 with respect to the recording medium can be stabilized, it is possible to suppress a decrease in recording quality on the recording medium.

  Further, as the distance of the arm portion 46 in the apparatus depth direction increases, the inclination of the carriage 22 with the apparatus width direction as the rotation axis decreases, so that the recording quality of the recording head 32 onto the recording medium can be maintained.

  Further, in this embodiment, the ink tube 66 is bent and bent through the lower portion of the arm portion 46 and is connected to the connection adapter 58 attached to the carriage 22 above the arm portion 46, so that the ink tube 66 is turned back. The radius of curvature of the portion 68 can be increased. As a result, it is possible to reduce the restoring force F1 that tries to moderate the curvature generated in the ink tube 66. As a result, it is possible to more reliably suppress the restoring force F1 from attempting to separate the carriage 22 from the first guide member 48 or the second guide member 50 against the dead weight F2 of the carriage 22. As a result, it is possible to suppress a decrease in recording quality in the recording medium.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 14, the distance L1 from the first sliding portion 54 to the ink tube 66 in the apparatus depth direction is greater than the distance L2 from the first sliding portion 54 to the second sliding portion 56. Also short. Therefore, the rotational moment N1 generated in the carriage 22 can be made smaller than the rotational moment N2 due to the own weight F2 of the carriage 22 acting on the second sliding portion 56. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the carriage 22 from being separated from the second guide member 50. As a result, it is possible to suppress a decrease in recording quality in the recording medium.

  3 and 4, the portion 68 that is bent and folded in the path from the tube diameter conversion member 64 of the ink tube 66 to the connection adapter 58 of the carriage 22 is accompanied by the movement of the carriage 22 in the apparatus width direction. Then, it moves while deforming following the device width direction. In the present embodiment, the tube diameter conversion member 64 is provided at a position outside the moving region of the portion 68 that is folded back in the apparatus width direction.

  In other words, in this embodiment, the tube diameter of the ink tube 60 from the ink tank 18 to the tube diameter conversion member 64 is larger than the tube diameter of the ink tube 66 to the carriage 22 via the portion 68 that turns back from the tube diameter conversion member 64. thick. That is, the diameter of the tube from the ink tank 18 to the tube diameter conversion member 64 is large, and the diameter of the tube from the tube diameter conversion member 64 to the carriage 22 is small. Therefore, the tube diameter of the ink tube 60 in the path from the ink tank 18 to the tube diameter conversion member 64 is smaller than that in the case where the tube diameter of the ink tubes 60 and 66 is reduced in all paths from the ink tank 18 to the carriage 22. By increasing the thickness, the pressure loss can be reduced and the nozzle omission in the recording head 32 can be suppressed.

  Further, since the tube diameter of the ink tube 66 from the tube diameter conversion member 64 to the carriage 22 is thin, that is, the tube diameter of the portion corresponding to the operation of the carriage 22 is thin, the reaction force of the ink tube 66 transmitted to the carriage 22 can be reduced. The recording quality of the recording head 32 onto the recording medium can be maintained.

  In this embodiment, the ink tubes 66a, 66b, 66c, 66d are arranged on the tube guide member 62 in the apparatus depth direction. Here, the ink tube 66a having the largest diameter is disposed on the back side, that is, closer to the first sliding portion 54 in the apparatus depth direction. Here, the ink tube 66 a is connected to the ink tube 60 a via the tube diameter conversion member 64. The ink tube 60a is connected to an ink tank 18a that stores black ink. Therefore, in this embodiment, the black ink is sent by the ink tubes 60a and 66a having a large tube diameter in the path from the ink tank 18a to the carriage 22.

  In the present embodiment, among the plurality of ink tubes 66a, 66b, 66c, 66d arranged in the apparatus depth direction as shown in FIG. 7, the ink tube 66a arranged closest to the first sliding portion 54 is the other. It is thicker than the ink tubes 66b, 66c, 66d. Here, the restoring force F1 that tries to moderate the curvature generated in the folded portion 68 of the ink tube 66 increases as the diameter of the ink tube 66 increases. Accordingly, in the present embodiment, the ink tube 66a having the largest restoring force F1 is disposed closer to the first sliding portion 54, but the ink tube 66a having the largest restoring force F1 and the first sliding portion 54 are arranged. Therefore, the rotational moment N1 that attempts to rotate the carriage 22 with the first sliding portion 54 as a fulcrum can be reduced. Accordingly, the carriage 22 can be prevented from being separated from the second guide member 50. As a result, it is possible to suppress a decrease in recording quality in the recording medium.

  In the present embodiment, the thickest diameter ink tube 66 a supplies black ink to the recording head 32. Here, the printer 10 uses inks of a plurality of colors, for example, black, cyan, magenta, yellow, etc., but the amount of black ink used is the largest. In the present embodiment, black ink can be supplied from the ink tank 18a toward the recording head 32 by the ink tube 66a having the thickest diameter among the plurality of ink tubes 66a, 66b, 66c, 66d. That is, since the supply amount of the black ink with the largest usage amount to the recording head 32 can be increased, the supply of the black ink to the recording head 32 can be stabilized.

  5 and 7, at least a part of the ink tank 18a positioned closest to the second sliding portion 56 along the apparatus depth direction among the ink tanks 18a, 18b, 18c, and 18d; At least a part of the ink tube 66a having the largest tube diameter is at the same position in the apparatus depth direction. The ink tank 18a positioned closest to the second sliding portion 56 is connected via the ink tube 66a having the largest tube diameter, the ink tube 60a, and the tube diameter conversion member 64.

  That is, the distance in the apparatus depth direction between the ink tank 18a located closest to the second sliding portion 56 and the ink tube 66a having the largest tube diameter is the other ink tanks 18b, 18c, 18d and the other ink tubes 66b. , 66c, 66d. Accordingly, after extending from each ink tank 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d in the apparatus depth direction, the ink is changed in the apparatus width direction and ink is transferred in the ink tubes 60a, 60b, 60c, 60d connected to the tube diameter conversion member 64. The path length of the tube 60a can be minimized.

  As a result, the path length from the ink tank 18a located closest to the second sliding portion 56 to the carriage 22 in the ink tubes 60a and 66a having the largest tube diameters is the other ink tubes 60b, 60c, 60d, 66b, The path length from the other ink tanks 18b, 18c, 18d to the carriage 22 in 66c, 66d can be made shorter.

  3 and 10, the tube guide member 62 is provided in a state of being separated in the apparatus height direction from the holding member 40 that rotatably holds the discharge driven roller 38b.

  In the present embodiment, since the tube guide member 62 and the holding member 40 are separated from each other, the holding force 40 is not received via the tube guide member 62 without receiving the restoring force F1 that tries to loosen the curve generated in the ink tube 66. It can suppress that the member 40 receives the restoring force F1, and bends. As a result, since the holding member 40 can be prevented from being bent, the displacement of the discharge driven roller 38b due to the bending of the holding member 40 hardly occurs, so that it is possible to suppress a decrease in discharge performance of the recording medium.

  In this embodiment, since the second sliding portion 56 is provided on the arm portion 46 extending from the carriage 22 in the apparatus depth direction, the first sliding portion 54 in the apparatus depth direction without increasing the size of the carriage 22. And the distance L2 between the second sliding portion 56 can be increased. As a result, the increase in the size of the carriage 22 can be suppressed, the size of the carriage 22 can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced.

<<< Ink tube protection member >>>
Referring to FIG. 11, in the ink tube 66, between the ink tube 66 and the tube guide member 62, the outer peripheral side of the bent portion 68, and between the ink tube 66 and the bottom 14 a of the image reading device 14 Is provided with an ink tube protection member 70. The ink tube protection member 70 is a film-like flexible member, and is attached so as to be positioned on the outer peripheral side of the curve of the portion 68 that is folded back along the path of the ink tube 66. In this embodiment, as an example, the ink tube protection member is made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) resin.

  A plurality of ribs 72 and 74 are provided on the bottom 14a of the image reading device 14 at positions corresponding to the positions of the ink tubes 66 in the apparatus depth direction. In the present embodiment, the rib 72 is provided at a position corresponding to the ink tube 66a having the largest tube diameter in the apparatus depth direction. The rib 74 is provided between the ink tube 66b and the ink tube 66d in the apparatus depth direction.

  In the present embodiment, the width of the rib 72 in the apparatus depth direction is set larger than the width of the rib 74. The ribs 72 and 74 receive the restoring force F <b> 1 from the ink tube 66 received through the ink tube protection member 70. Here, since the ink tube 66a having the largest tube diameter is located on the side where the rib 72 is provided, the restoring force F1a from the ink tube 66 received by the rib 72 is from the ink tube 66 received by the rib 74. It is larger than the restoring force F1b.

  However, in this embodiment, the width of the rib 72 is larger than the width of the rib 74, so that the contact surface pressure of the rib 72 with the ink tube protection member 70 can be lowered. In this embodiment, the wear resistance of the ink tube protection member 70 is set smaller than that of the ribs 72 and 74. As a result, uneven wear resulting from the difference in the magnitude of the restoring force F1 of the ink tube 66 in the apparatus depth direction in the ink tube protection member 70 can be suppressed.

<<< Example of change of embodiment >>>
(1) In this embodiment, the wear resistance of the ink tube protection member 70 is set to be smaller than that of the ribs 72 and 74. However, instead of this configuration, the wear resistance of the ink tube protection member 70 is set to the ribs 72 and 74. A larger value may be set. If set in this way, uneven wear of the ribs 72 and 74 can be suppressed.
(2) In the present embodiment, the rib 72 has a width larger than the rib 74 in the apparatus depth direction, but instead of this structure, as shown in FIG. The protruding amount of the rib 72 from the bottom portion 14 a of the image reading device 14 may be set smaller than the protruding amount of the rib 74 from the bottom portion 14 a of the image reading device 14. By setting in this way, the radius of curvature of the ink tube 66a on the rib 72 side becomes larger than that of the other ink tubes 66b, 66c, 66d. , 66d can be made smaller than the restoring force F1b. As a result, the contact surface pressure of the rib 72 with the ink tube protection member 70 can be lowered. Accordingly, uneven wear caused by the difference in the restoring force F1 of the ink tube 66 in the apparatus depth direction in the ink tube protection member 70 can be suppressed.

(3) In the present embodiment, the ink tube 66 and the tube guide member 62 are configured to pass below the arm portion 46, but instead of this configuration, the ink tube 66 and the tube guide member as shown in FIG. You may arrange | position 62 so that it may pass over the arm part 46. FIG.
(4) Further, in this embodiment, the arm portion 46 protruding from the carriage 22 is provided and the ink tube 66 passes through the lower portion of the arm portion 46. However, instead of this configuration, the housing 44 of the carriage 22 is provided. A second sliding part 56 is provided at the lower part of the front side of the apparatus, and the ink tube 66 is passed between the first sliding part 54 and the second sliding part 56 at the lower part of the housing 44. May be.
(5) In the present embodiment, the tube diameters of the ink tubes 60 and 66 are converted by the tube diameter conversion member 64. However, instead of this configuration, the rigidity of the ink tubes 60 and 66 may be changed.
(6) In the present embodiment, in the first guide member 48 having the flat part 48a and the inverted part 48b, the horizontal sliding part 54a and the inverted sliding part 54b of the first sliding part 54 come into contact with each other and slide. Although it is configured to move, the first guide member 48 may be a shaft-shaped member instead of this configuration.

  In summary, the printer 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a recording head 32 that performs recording by ejecting ink onto a recording medium, and a carriage 22 that includes the recording head 32 and is movable along the apparatus width direction. And a first sliding portion 54 provided on one side of the carriage 22 in the apparatus depth direction, and an arm 46 extending in the apparatus depth direction from the other side of the carriage 22 in the apparatus depth direction. A second sliding portion 56, a first guide member 48 that extends in the apparatus width direction, contacts the first sliding portion 54, supports the carriage 22, and guides the movement of the carriage 22. When the carriage 22 is supported by extending in the width direction and spaced from the first guide member 48 in the apparatus depth direction and in contact with the second sliding portion 56 A second guide member 50 for guiding the movement of the carriage 22, an ink tank 18 for containing ink, and ink tubes 60, 66 for supplying ink sent from the ink tank 18 to the carriage 22. The ink tubes 60 and 66 extend from the carriage 22 and extend in a direction intersecting the apparatus depth direction, and are folded in the vertical direction and extend in the opposite direction. The ink tubes 60 and 66 extend in a direction crossing the apparatus depth direction through at least one of the upper and lower sides of the arm portion 46.

  The inverted sliding portion 54b of the first sliding portion 54 sandwiches the inverted portion 48b of the first guide member 48 together with the housing sliding portion 44a of the carriage 22 in the apparatus depth direction, and the carriage in the second direction. The second sliding portion 56 is held and supported by the second guide member 50 from below. The ink tubes 60 and 66 are disposed at a position where the distance L2 from the first sliding portion 54 is longer than the distance from the second sliding portion 56 in the apparatus depth direction.

  The ink tubes 60 and 66 are bent and bent under the arm portion 46, and are connected to the connection adapter 58 attached to the carriage 22 above the arm portion 46. Further, the first sliding portion 54 is provided in the lower portion of the housing 44 of the carriage 22.

  A distance L1 between the ink tubes 60 and 66 and the first sliding portion 54 in the apparatus depth direction is shorter than a distance L2 between the first sliding portion 54 and the second sliding portion 56.

  A plurality of ink tubes 66 are provided, and a portion 68 that is bent and folded in the ink tubes 66a, 66b, 66c, and 66d follows the movement of the carriage 22 in the apparatus width direction. A tube diameter conversion member 64 is provided at a position outside the moving region of the folded portion 68 in the apparatus width direction. The tube diameter of the ink tube 60 from the ink tank 18 to the tube diameter conversion member 64 is larger than the tube diameter of the ink tube 66 to the carriage 22 through a portion 68 that is folded back from the tube diameter conversion member 64.

  A plurality of ink tubes 66a, 66b, 66c, 66d are arranged along the apparatus depth direction, and the diameter of the tube 66a closest to the first sliding portion 54 in the apparatus depth direction is larger than the diameters of the other tubes 66b, 66c, 66d. Also thick. The liquid is ink, and the tube 66 a having the thickest diameter supplies black ink to the recording head 32.

  A plurality of ink tanks 18a, 18b, 18c, and 18d are provided along the apparatus depth direction. Among the plurality of provided ink tanks 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d, at least a part of the ink tank 18a positioned closest to the second sliding portion 56 in the apparatus depth direction and at least one of the tubes 66a having the largest tube diameter. The unit is at the same position in the apparatus depth direction. The ink tank 18a located closest to the second sliding portion 56 is connected via the ink tube 66a having the largest tube diameter, the ink tube 60a, and the tube diameter conversion member 64.

  The printer 10 includes a tube guide member 62 that extends along the apparatus width direction and guides the ink tubes 66a, 66b, 66c, and 66d. The tube guide member 62 is disposed below the arm portion 46.

  The printer 10 includes a holding member 40 that holds a discharge driven roller 38b that extends in the apparatus width direction and discharges a recording medium. The tube guide member 62 and the holding member 40 are separated from each other in the apparatus height direction.

  The arm portion 46 extends from the center of the carriage 22 in the apparatus width direction at the lower part of the carriage 22 so as to protrude in the apparatus depth direction, and the tip thereof extends downward.

In this embodiment, the carriage 22 according to the present invention is applied to an ink jet printer as an example of a recording apparatus. However, the present invention can also be applied to other liquid ejecting apparatuses in general.
Here, the liquid ejecting apparatus uses an ink jet recording head, and is not limited to a recording apparatus such as a printer, a copier, and a facsimile machine that discharges ink from the recording head to perform recording on a recording medium. And a device for ejecting a liquid corresponding to the application from a liquid ejecting head corresponding to the ink jet recording head to an ejected medium corresponding to the recording medium, and attaching the liquid to the ejected medium.

  In addition to the recording head, as a liquid ejecting head, a color material ejecting head used for manufacturing a color filter such as a liquid crystal display, and an electrode material (conductive paste) used for forming an electrode such as an organic EL display or a surface emitting display (FED) Examples thereof include an ejection head, a bioorganic matter ejection head used for biochip production, and a sample ejection head as a precision pipette.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and these are also included in the scope of the present invention. Needless to say.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Printer, 12 apparatus main body, 14 image reading apparatus, 14a bottom part,
16 Recording medium storage cassette, 18, 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d Ink tank,
20 hinge, 22 carriage, 24 drive motor, 26 carriage drive mechanism,
28 driven pulley, 30 timing belt, 32 recording head, 34 medium support member,
36 transport roller pair, 36a transport drive roller, 36b transport driven roller,
38 discharge roller pair, 38a discharge drive roller, 38b discharge driven roller,
40 holding member, 42 discharge stacker, 44 housing, 44a housing sliding portion,
46 arm part, 48 first guide member, 48a flat part, 48b inverted part,
50 second guide member, 52 gap adjusting means, 54 first sliding portion,
54a horizontal sliding part, 54b inverted sliding part, 56 second sliding part,
58, 58a, 58b, 58c, 58d Connection adapter,
60, 60a, 60b, 60c, 60d ink tube, 62 tube guide member,
64 tube diameter conversion member,
64a, 64b, 64c, 64d, 64e, 64f, 64g, 64h connectors,
66, 66a, 66b, 66c, 66d ink tube, 68 folded portion,
70 Ink tube protection member, 72, 74 Rib,
F1, F1a, F1b Restoring force, F2 dead weight, L1, L2 distance,
N1, N2 Rotation moment, S1, S2 line segment

Claims (12)

A recording head for recording by discharging liquid onto a recording medium;
A carriage provided with the recording head and movable in a first direction;
A first sliding portion provided on one side of the carriage in a second direction intersecting the first direction;
A second sliding portion provided on an arm portion extending in the second direction from the other side in the second direction in the carriage;
A first guide member extending in the first direction, contacting the first sliding portion to support the carriage and guiding the movement of the carriage;
Extending in the first direction and spaced from the first guide member in the second direction, contacting the second sliding portion to support the carriage and moving the carriage A second guiding member for guiding;
A liquid container for containing the liquid;
A tube for supplying the liquid delivered from the liquid storage unit to the carriage, the tube extending from the carriage, extending in a direction intersecting the second direction, and folded in the vertical direction and extending in the opposite direction; With
At least a part of the arm portion extends downward after protruding in the second direction,
The tube extends in a direction intersecting the second direction through the lower portion of the arm portion between a portion extending below the arm portion and the carriage.
A recording apparatus. A recording head for recording by discharging liquid onto a recording medium;
A carriage provided with the recording head and movable in a first direction;
A first sliding portion provided on one side of the carriage in a second direction intersecting the first direction;
A second sliding portion provided on an arm portion extending in the second direction from the other side in the second direction in the carriage;
A first guide member extending in the first direction, contacting the first sliding portion to support the carriage and guiding the movement of the carriage;
Extending in the first direction and spaced from the first guide member in the second direction, contacting the second sliding portion to support the carriage and moving the carriage A second guiding member for guiding;
A liquid container for containing the liquid;
A tube for supplying the liquid delivered from the liquid storage unit to the carriage, the tube extending from the carriage, extending in a direction intersecting the second direction, and folded in the vertical direction and extending in the opposite direction; With
The tube extends in a direction crossing the second direction through the lower part of the arm part, and then is bent and folded, and is connected to the carriage above the arm part.
A recording apparatus. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first sliding portion sandwiches the first guide member together with the carriage in the second direction, and holds the carriage in the second direction. And
The second sliding portion is supported from below by the second guide member,
The tube is disposed at a position where the distance from the first sliding portion in the second direction is longer than the distance from the second sliding portion.
A recording apparatus. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first sliding portion is provided at a lower portion of the carriage. 5.
A recording apparatus. 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the tube and the first sliding portion in the second direction is the first sliding portion and the first sliding portion. Shorter than the distance to the sliding part of 2,
A recording apparatus. In the recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, a plurality of the tubes are provided, and a curved and folded portion of the tubes follows the movement of the carriage in the first direction,
A tube diameter conversion member is provided at a position deviating from the movement region of the folded portion in the first direction;
The tube diameter from the liquid storage part to the tube diameter conversion member is thicker than the tube diameter from the tube diameter conversion member to the carriage through the folded portion,
A recording apparatus. 7. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the tubes are arranged along the second direction, and are closest to the first sliding portion in the second direction. The tube diameter is thicker than other tube diameters,
A recording apparatus. The recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the liquid is ink, and the thickest tube supplies black ink to the recording head.
A recording apparatus. The recording apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, wherein a plurality of the liquid storage portions are provided along the second direction,
At least a part of the liquid storage part located closest to the second sliding part in the second direction among the plurality of liquid storage parts provided, and at least a part of the tube having the largest tube diameter Are in the same position in the second direction,
The liquid container located closest to the second sliding portion is connected to the tube having the largest tube diameter.
A recording apparatus. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a tube guide member that extends along the first direction and guides the tube.
The tube guide member is disposed below the arm portion,
A recording apparatus. The recording apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a holding member that extends along the first direction and holds a discharge roller that discharges the recording medium.
The tube guide member and the holding member are separated from each other.
A recording apparatus. 12. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the arm portion extends in a lower portion of the carriage so as to protrude from the center of the carriage in the first direction in the second direction. And its tip extends downward,
A recording apparatus.

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