JP6668698B2 - Recording device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording device typified by a facsimile, a printer, and the like, and more particularly, to a recording device having liquid storage units at a plurality of locations outside a carriage.

  2. Description of the Related Art As a recording apparatus represented by a facsimile or a printer, there is a so-called serial type ink jet recording apparatus having a recording head for discharging ink as a liquid and a carriage movable in a predetermined direction.

  Here, the inkjet recording apparatus includes a type in which an ink storage unit (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as an “ink cartridge”) that stores ink is mounted on a carriage, and a type in which the ink cartridge is mounted outside the carriage. When the ink cartridge is mounted outside the carriage, the ink cartridge and the carriage (recording head) are connected by an ink supply tube (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP-A-09-323430

  After the ink supply tube extends from the carriage, the ink supply tube is bent and folded back toward the ink cartridge, so that the carriage receives the restoring force of the ink supply tube. The ink supply tube deforms following the movement of the carriage. At this time, since the curvature of the curved portion of the ink supply tube changes, the external force applied to the carriage by the ink supply tube also changes with the movement of the carriage. This change in the external force adversely affects the movement of the carriage.

  In view of such a problem, in the ink jet printer described in Patent Document 1, a plurality of ink supply tubes are divided into two groups, and one group and the other group are arranged on the carriage from the side facing the traveling direction of the carriage. It is configured to penetrate inside. As a result, when the carriage travels, the fluctuation of the load applied to the carriage by the ink supply tubes of one group and the fluctuation of the load applied to the carriage by the ink supply tubes of the other group are combined. Fluctuates the load applied to the carriage.

  However, the fluctuation of the load applied to the carriage by the ink supply tube also depends on the extension form when the ink supply tube extends from the carriage. In the ink jet printer described in Patent Document 1, no particular consideration is given to the detailed structure when the ink supply tube extends from the carriage, and there is still room for optimization.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus that further considers the adverse effect of an ink supply tube on a carriage.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording apparatus including a liquid ejection head for ejecting a liquid to a medium, in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction. A moving carriage, a liquid storage unit provided at a plurality of locations outside the carriage for storing liquid discharged from the liquid discharge head, and movement of the carriage guiding the liquid from the liquid storage unit to the carriage. A plurality of liquid tubes that follow and deform according to the operation, and a tube holding portion provided on the carriage that holds a portion of the liquid tube extending from the carriage, wherein the plurality of liquid tubes are A first liquid tube extending from the tube holding portion in the first direction, bending and changing direction, and extending in the second direction; A second liquid tube extending in the second direction, bending and changing direction, and extending in the first direction, wherein the first liquid tube and the second liquid tube are connected to the tube holding portion. And the tube holding portion extends at a height position when one side of the first liquid tube and the second liquid tube extends at the other side. And a height adjustment unit for approaching the height position.

  According to this aspect, since the first liquid tube and the second liquid tube intersect at the tube holding portion and extend in opposite directions, compared to a form in which the first liquid tube and the second liquid tube extend without intersecting at the tube holding portion. In addition, the tube holding area can be reduced, and the tube holding portion can be reduced in size. The details will be described later with reference to the drawings.

  In this aspect, the tube holding portions for holding the portions of the first liquid tube and the second liquid tube extending to the opposite sides from the carriage are respectively the first liquid tube and the second liquid tube. Of the first liquid tube, the height of the curved portion of the first liquid tube, the height of the curved portion of the first liquid tube; The difference from the curvature of the curved portion of the liquid tube can be reduced. Thereby, the difference between the load applied to the carriage by the first liquid tube and the load applied to the carriage by the second liquid tube can be reduced, and recording is further considered due to the adverse effect of the liquid tube on the carriage. The device can be configured.

  In the present specification, the height position when the first liquid tube and the second liquid tube extend from the carriage does not necessarily mean the vertical direction, but the first liquid tube. And the position in the direction in which the curvature of the curved portion of the second liquid tube changes.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the height adjusting section has a small curvature of the curved portion when the first liquid tube and the second liquid tube are curved and change directions. Thus, a height position when one of the first liquid tube and the second liquid tube extends is closer to a height position when the other side extends.

  According to this aspect, the height adjustment unit is configured to reduce the curvature of the first liquid tube and the second liquid tube when the first liquid tube and the second liquid tube are bent so that the first liquid tube and the second liquid tube have a small curvature. Since the height position when one side of the tube and the second liquid tube extends is closer to the height position when the other side extends, the first liquid tube and the second liquid tube are The load applied to the carriage can be suppressed, and the movement of the carriage can be further stabilized.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or the second aspect, the height adjustment unit is configured to determine a height position at which the first liquid tube extends from the tube holding unit, The height position when the second liquid tube extends from the tube holding portion is aligned.

  According to this aspect, the height adjustment unit is configured such that the height position when the first liquid tube extends from the tube holding unit and the second liquid tube extends from the tube holding unit. In this case, the difference between the load applied to the carriage by the first liquid tube and the load applied to the carriage by the second liquid tube can be further reduced, or the difference can be eliminated. be able to. As a result, the movement of the carriage can be further stabilized.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the tube holding portion is provided on the front side of the apparatus in the carriage in the discharge direction of the medium on which recording is performed. In the carriage, a tube connecting portion to which the first liquid tube and the second liquid tube are connected is provided on a vertical upper surface side of the carriage, and the first liquid tube and the second liquid tube are And extending from the tube connecting portion toward the front side of the apparatus, extending from the carriage via the tube holding portion, and then bending vertically downward.
According to this aspect, it is possible to obtain the same operation and effect as any of the first to third aspects.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, in the moving direction of the carriage, the tube holding portion is provided in a central region of the carriage.

  According to this aspect, in the moving direction of the carriage, the tube holding portion is provided in the central region of the carriage, and thus the tube length of the first liquid tube and the tube length of the second liquid tube. Can be suppressed. As a result, the difference between the load applied to the carriage by the first liquid tube and the load applied to the carriage by the second liquid tube can be further reduced or the difference can be eliminated. The moving operation can be stabilized.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, a plurality of the liquid storage sections are provided on a side surface in the first direction on a front side of an apparatus body including the carriage, and The first liquid tube is provided on the side in the second direction, and the first liquid tube is connected to the liquid container provided on the side in the second direction, and the second liquid tube is It is characterized in that it is connected to the liquid storage section provided on the side surface in the first direction.

  According to this aspect, since the first liquid tube and the second liquid tube are directly connected to the liquid storage portion that is bent and turned back, the first liquid tube and the second liquid tube are connected to each other. The liquid length of the second liquid tube can be reduced, and good liquid supply and suppression of increase in apparatus cost can be realized.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect, the plurality of liquid storage sections are provided on both sides in the moving direction of the carriage with respect to a discharge port for discharging a medium on which recording has been performed. And

  An eighth aspect of the present invention is the display device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the first liquid tube extends in the second direction by bending and changing its direction and extending in the second direction. And a pressing member for pressing a portion of the second liquid tube extending in the first direction, the second liquid tube extending in the first direction by bending and changing the direction, wherein the pressing member is provided with the first liquid. A portion for holding the tube and a portion for holding the second liquid tube are displaced from each other on the side where the tube length from the holding member to the carriage is longer.

  According to this aspect, the holding member for holding the first liquid tube and the second liquid tube has a portion for holding the first liquid tube and a portion for holding the second liquid tube. Since the position of the tube from the holding member to the carriage is longer on the side where the tube length is longer, each holding member can hold each liquid tube at an appropriate position with a single holding member. Cost reduction can be achieved. The operation and effect will be described later in detail.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an apparatus main body of a printer according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an apparatus main body of the printer according to the invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a carriage according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of the ink tubes in the ink tube holding section of the carriage according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an ink tube holding section of the carriage according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is an exemplary perspective view of the ink tube holding unit as viewed from a different angle from FIG. 5; FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating a state of the ink tube in a state where the carriage is located at a home position side. FIG. 5 is a front view showing a state of the ink tubes in a state where the carriage is located on a side opposite to a home position side. (A) is a schematic diagram of a configuration in which ink tubes are not crossed by an ink tube holding unit, and (B) is a schematic diagram of a configuration in which ink tubes are crossed by an ink tube holding unit. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a holding member for holding the ink tube according to the present invention. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a relationship between the ink tube and the pressing member when the bending start point of the ink tube in the moving direction of the carriage is shifted. FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the pressing member interferes with the ink tube when the pressing member is provided at a position deviated from the central region of the movement region of the carriage. FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the carriage and the ink tube routing according to the second embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same reference numerals are given to the same components in each embodiment, and only the first embodiment will be described, and the description of the configuration will be omitted in the subsequent embodiments.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the apparatus main body of the printer according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the apparatus main body of the printer according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the carriage according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of the ink tubes in the ink tube holding section of the carriage according to the present invention, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the ink tube holding section of the carriage according to the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the tube holding unit viewed from a different angle from FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is a front view showing a state of the ink tube in a state where the carriage is located at the home position side.

  FIG. 8 is a front view showing the state of the ink tubes in a state where the carriage is located on the side opposite to the home position side. FIG. 9A is a schematic diagram of a configuration in which the ink tubes are not crossed by the ink tube holding section. FIG. 9B is a schematic view of a configuration in which the ink tubes are crossed by the ink tube holding section, FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a holding member for holding down the ink tubes according to the present invention, and FIG. 11 is a carriage. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the relationship between the ink tube and the pressing member when the bending start point of the ink tube in the moving direction of the carriage is shifted, and FIG. 12 shows a case where the pressing member is provided at a position outside the central region of the moving region of the carriage. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a state in which a pressing member interferes with an ink tube in FIG. Is a plan view showing the wiring of the ink tube.

  In the XYZ coordinate system shown in each figure, the X direction is the scanning direction of the recording head, the width direction of the recording device, the Y direction is the depth direction of the recording device, and the Z direction is the distance between the recording head and the medium. The direction in which the distance (gap) changes, that is, the height direction of the recording apparatus is shown. In each drawing, the −X direction side is the home position side, the −Y direction is the apparatus front side, the + Y direction side is the apparatus rear side, the + Z axis direction side is the apparatus upper side, and the −Z axis direction side is the apparatus upper side. Lower side. In this embodiment, the “first direction” refers to the −X-axis direction (rightward in the device width direction in FIG. 1) in the device width direction, and the “second direction” refers to + X in the device width direction. It points in the axial direction (to the left in the device width direction in FIG. 1).

■■■ First embodiment ■■■■
<<<< Printer Overview >>>>
Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, components of an inkjet printer 10 (hereinafter, referred to as “printer 10”) as an example of a recording apparatus will be described. The printer 10 includes an apparatus main body 12. In the apparatus main body 12, a carriage 14 movable in the apparatus width direction is provided. At the bottom of the carriage 14, a recording head 16 (see FIGS. 7 and 8) as a "liquid ejection head" for ejecting ink as a "liquid" onto a medium is provided. The “medium” in this embodiment includes A4 size, B5 size, photographic paper, and postcards.

  In a central area on the front side of the apparatus main body 12, a medium discharge area 18 for discharging the medium on which ink has been ejected by the recording head 16 to the front side of the apparatus is provided. The end of the medium discharge area 18 on the front side of the apparatus constitutes a part of a “discharge port” for discharging the medium. In addition, a plurality of ink storage units 20 as “liquid storage units” detachable from the apparatus main body 12 are attached to both sides of the medium discharge area 18 in the apparatus width direction on the front surface of the apparatus.

  More specifically, two ink storage sections 20A and 20B are attached to the apparatus main body 12 on the left side (the X-axis direction in FIGS. 1 and 2) of the medium discharge area 18 in the apparatus width direction. Have been. In the present embodiment, as an example, black ink is stored in the ink storage unit 20A, and cyan ink is stored in the ink storage unit 20B. In addition, two ink storage units 20C and 20D are attached to the apparatus main body 12 on the right side surface side (the −X axis direction side in FIGS. 1 and 2) of the medium discharge area 18. In the present embodiment, as an example, magenta ink is stored in the ink storage unit 20C, and yellow ink is stored in the ink storage unit 20D.

  The carriage 14 will be further described. As shown in FIG. 2, the carriage 14 has a position on the right end side (the position of the carriage 14 shown by a solid line in FIG. 2) and a position on the left end side (a carriage 14 'shown by a virtual line in FIG. 2) in the apparatus width direction. ) Can be reciprocated. In this embodiment, the position on the right end side of the apparatus main body 12 is the home position of the carriage 14. Further, in FIG. 2, a reference symbol W indicates a moving area of the carriage 14 in the apparatus main body 12 in the apparatus width direction.

  On the back side of the carriage 14, a frame member 22 extending in the apparatus width direction is provided. A carriage drive motor 24 is attached to the back of the right end of the frame member 22. A drive pulley (not shown) is attached to a drive shaft of the carriage drive motor 24. A driven pulley (not shown) is rotatably attached to the left end of the frame member 22. A toothed belt 26 is looped between the driving pulley and the driven pulley. The carriage 14 grips at least a part of the toothed belt 26 on the rear side of the carriage.

  By driving the carriage drive motor 24, the drive pulley is driven to rotate, and the toothed belt 26 also rotates according to the rotation direction of the drive pulley. Then, the carriage 14 moves in the device width direction according to the rotation of the toothed belt 26.

  Further, a medium support member 28 is provided on the left side of the carriage 14 in the apparatus width direction in the movement area W of the carriage 14 with respect to the home position of the carriage 14. The medium support member 28 defines the distance (gap) between the recording surface of the medium and the head surface of the recording head 16 of the carriage 14 by supporting the medium from below.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a transport drive roller 30 and a transport driven roller 32 that rotates in contact with the transport drive roller 30 are provided on the rear side of the medium support member 28 in the apparatus depth direction. I have. Although not shown, a pair of discharge rollers is also provided on the front side of the medium supporting member 28 in the apparatus depth direction.

  In this embodiment, a medium is fed from a medium feeding means (not shown) provided on the back side of the apparatus main body 12 toward the transport driving roller 30 and the transport driven roller 32. Then, the transport drive roller 30 and the transport driven roller 32 nip the fed medium and transport the medium toward the medium support member 28. The medium conveyed to the medium support member 28 is subjected to recording by receiving the ink from the recording head 16 of the carriage 14 during the recording operation, and then is subjected to recording by a discharge roller (not shown). It is discharged toward.

<<<< About carriage >>
Further, the carriage 14 will be described with reference to FIGS. The carriage 14 includes a box-shaped housing 34 whose upper side in the apparatus height direction is open. A plurality of ink relay sections 36 are detachably attached to the housing 34 from the upper side in the apparatus height direction. In the present embodiment, four ink relay units 36A, 36B, 36C, and 36D corresponding to the colors of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow are mounted on the housing 34.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a tube connecting portion 38 is provided on the upper surface side of the carriage 14 in the device height direction, that is, on the upper surface side of the ink relay portion 36. Then, one end of an ink tube 40 as a “liquid tube” is connected to the tube connecting portion 38 as shown in FIG.

  In this embodiment, one end of an ink tube 40A corresponding to black ink is connected to the ink relay unit 36A, and the other end is connected to the ink storage unit 20A. Further, one end of an ink tube 40B corresponding to cyan ink is connected to the ink relay unit 36B, and the other end is connected to the ink storage unit 20B. In this embodiment, the ink tubes 40A and 40B correspond to a “first liquid tube”.

  Further, one end of an ink tube 40C corresponding to magenta ink is connected to the ink relay unit 36C, and the other end is connected to the ink storage unit 20C. One end of an ink tube 40D corresponding to yellow ink is connected to the ink relay section 36D, and the other end is connected to the ink storage section 20D. In this embodiment, the ink tubes 40C and 40D correspond to a “second liquid tube”. Note that the drawing of the ink tube 40 will be described after the description of the tube holding unit 42.

<<<< About tube holding part >>>>
A tube holding portion 42 is provided on the housing 34 of the carriage 14 so as to project from the front side of the apparatus toward the front side of the apparatus. In the present embodiment, the tube holding portion 42 is provided in the housing 34 in the central region in the device width direction. The tube holding portion 42 is configured to change the direction of the ink tube 40 in the device width direction while guiding the ink tube 40 from the inside of the housing 34, that is, from the tube connection portion 38 side.

  4 to 6, in the present embodiment, the tube holding portion 42 has a first guide portion 44 for guiding the ink tubes 40A and 40B, and a second guide portion for guiding the ink tubes 40C and 40D. 46 are provided.

  The first guide portion 44 extends from the inside of the housing 34 toward the front side of the device in the tube holding portion 42, and changes its direction to the right in the device width direction (−X-axis direction in FIG. 5) on the way, and extends. I have. On the other hand, the second guide portion 46 extends from the inside of the housing 34 toward the front side of the device in the tube holding portion 42, and extends halfway to the left in the device width direction (+ X axis direction in FIG. 5). ing. In the second guide portion 46, the height position of the outlet 46b (left side in the device width direction) in the device height direction is higher than the height position of the entrance 46a (tube connection portion 38 side) in the device height direction. It is configured to be. That is, the second guide portion 46 is formed as an inclined surface having an upward slope from the entrance 46a toward the exit 46b.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the inlet 46a of the second guide portion 46 (on the tube connecting portion 38 side) of the tube holding portion 42 is located below the inlet 44a of the first guide portion 44 in the device height direction. positioned. The second guide portion 46 is a portion of the first guide portion 44 extending rightward in the device width direction while being inclined upward in the device height direction toward the outlet 46b (leftward in the device width direction), that is, the outlet. It crosses the lower side of the portion extending toward 44b.

  That is, the first guide part 44 and the second guide part 46 cross three-dimensionally in the tube holding part 42. In this embodiment, the outlet 44b of the first guide portion 44 (right side in the device width direction) and the outlet 46b of the second guide portion 46 (right side in the device width direction) have the same height in the device height direction. It is set to be. More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the height positions of the ink tubes 40A and 40B extending from the outlet 44b in the device height direction and the device heights of the ink tubes 40C and 40D extending from the outlet 46b. The height position in the vertical direction is aligned with the same position.

  In this embodiment, the curvature radii R1 of the curved portions of the ink tubes 40A and 40B extending from the outlet 44b and the curvature radii R2 of the curved portions of the ink tubes 40C and 40D extending from the outlet 46b are substantially the same. The height positions of the outlets 44b and 46b are set in the apparatus height direction so as to have a radius. In addition, when the curvature radii R1 and R2 of the curved portion of the ink tube 40 increase, the external force applied by the ink tube 40 to the carriage 14 decreases. In this embodiment, the curvature radii R1 and R2 of the ink tube 40 decrease. The height positions of the outlet 44b and the outlet 46b in the apparatus height direction are set so as to increase.

  If the radius of curvature is, for example, R, the curvature is represented by 1 / R. As the radius of curvature R increases, the curvature 1 / R decreases, and the external force applied by the ink tube 40 to the carriage 14 decreases.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the second guide portion 46 includes a height position in the apparatus height direction at the outlet 46b of the ink tubes 40C and 40D guided by the second guide portion 46, and the first guide portion 44. Function as a "height adjustment unit" for bringing the height positions in the apparatus height direction closer to the outlets 44b of the ink tubes 40A and 40B guided in the apparatus height direction, or aligning the height positions in the apparatus height direction.

  Here, with reference to FIGS. 9A and 9B, advantages of the configuration in which the ink tubes 40A, 40B and the ink tubes 40C, 40D intersect in the tube holding unit 42 will be described. 9A has a configuration in which the ink tubes 40A and 40B do not intersect with the ink tubes 40C and 40D.

  In the tube holding section 48, the ink tubes 40A and 40B extend forward (-Y direction) from the back side of the device and then extend rightward (-X-axis direction) in the device width direction. In this configuration, the tube holding section 48 guides the ink tubes 40A and 40B by bending them at substantially right angles. The tube holder 48 guides the ink tubes 40C and 40D by bending the ink tubes 40A and 40B in a direction opposite to the ink tubes 40A and 40B to the left (+ X axis direction) in the device width direction.

  That is, the holding regions of the ink tubes 40A and 40B and the holding regions of the ink tubes 40C and 40D in the tube holding unit 48 do not overlap in the apparatus width direction. Therefore, the length L1 of the tube holding section 48 in the apparatus width direction is the sum of the holding areas of the ink tubes 40A and 40B and the holding areas of the ink tubes 40C and 40D.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9B, the tube holding portion 42 of the present embodiment has a configuration in which the ink tubes 40A, 40B and the ink tubes 40C, 40D intersect. It becomes the structure which overlaps in the apparatus width direction. That is, at least a part of the tube holding area of the ink tubes 40A and 40B in the apparatus width direction overlaps with at least a part of the tube holding area of the ink tubes 40C and 40D in the apparatus width direction. As a result, assuming that the length L2 of the tube holding portion 42 in the device width direction is shorter than the length L1 of the tube holding portion 48 in the device width direction.

  Therefore, by configuring the ink tubes 40 to intersect in the device width direction as in the present embodiment, the tube holding area of the tube holding section 42 is changed to the tube holding area of the tube holding section 48 in a form in which the ink tubes 40 do not intersect. Can be smaller than Thereby, the size of the tube holding part 42 can be reduced.

<<<< Ink tube routing >>>>
The routing of the ink tubes 40A, 40B, 40C, and 40D will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 7, and 8. An ink tube guide member 50 attached to the apparatus main body 12 and extending in the apparatus width direction is provided below the tube holding section 42 in the apparatus height direction. The illustration of the ink tube guide member 50 is omitted in FIGS. 7 and 8.

  The ink tubes 40A, 40B extend from the ink relay sections 36A, 36B to the front side of the apparatus, and traverse above the ink tubes 40C, 40D along the first guide section 44 of the tube holding section 42, and from the tube holding section 42. Extends to the right in the machine width direction.

  Then, the ink tubes 40A and 40B are curved downward in the device height direction, and the direction in the device width direction is changed from rightward (−X-axis direction in FIGS. 3, 7, and 8) to leftward (FIG. 3, FIG. 7 and the + X axis direction in FIG. 8). The ink tubes 40A and 40B are guided by the ink tube guide member 50 and extend toward the ink storage units 20A and 20B provided on the left side surface of the apparatus main body 12, and are connected to the ink storage units 20A and 20B, respectively. .

  The ink tubes 40C and 40D extend from the ink relay portions 36C and 36D to the front side of the apparatus, and pass under the ink tubes 40A and 40B along the second guide portion 46 of the tube holding portion 42 to hold the tube. It extends from the part 42 to the left in the device width direction.

  The ink tubes 40C and 40D bend downward in the device height direction, and change the direction in the device width direction from the left (+ X axis direction in FIGS. 3, 7, and 8) to the right (FIGS. 3, 7). And (−X axis direction in FIG. 8). The ink tubes 40C and 40D are guided by the ink tube guide member 50 and extend toward the ink storage units 20C and 20D provided on the right side surface of the apparatus main body 12, and are connected to the ink storage units 20C and 20D, respectively. I have.

<<<< Retaining member >>
The holding member 52 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 10 to 12. As shown in FIG. 2, the holding member 52 is attached to the ink tube guide member 50 by a fastening member such as a screw. In the present embodiment, the pressing member 52 is disposed in an intermediate area of the moving area W of the carriage 14 in the apparatus width direction.

  The pressing member 52 includes a portion that presses the ink tubes 40A and 40B, that is, a first pressing portion 52a, and a portion that presses the ink tubes 40C and 40D, that is, a second pressing portion 52b. In the present embodiment, the first holding portion 52a corresponds to a “portion for holding the first liquid tube”, and the second holding portion 52b corresponds to a “portion for holding the second liquid tube”.

  In this embodiment, the first holding portion 52a is located above the ink tubes 40A and 40B, and the second holding portion 52b is located above the ink tubes 40C and 40D. Then, in the holding member 52, the first holding portion 52a and the second holding portion 52b are shifted in the device width direction.

  More specifically, the first pressing portion 52a is positioned leftward in the apparatus width direction so that the tube length from the portion of the ink tubes 40A and 40B pressed by the first pressing portion 52a to the carriage 14 becomes longer. It is shifted. On the other hand, the second pressing portion 52b is shifted rightward in the apparatus width direction so that the tube length from the portion of the ink tubes 40C and 40D pressed by the second pressing portion 52b to the carriage 14 becomes longer. I have.

  Further, the first holding portion 52a and the second holding portion 52b are formed in the holding member 52 in the device width direction so that the tube length from the portion held by the holding portions 52a and 52b to the carriage 14 becomes longer. By displacing the positions, it is possible to prevent the bending starting point of the curved portion of the ink tube 40 from interfering with the first pressing portion 52a and the second pressing portion 52b.

  Referring to FIG. 11, for example, a variation may occur in the assembly of the ink tubes 40C and 40D, and the bending starting point of the curved portion of the ink tubes 40C and 40D may be shifted to the right in the apparatus width direction, that is, closer to the home position. is there. Also in this case, in the present embodiment, the second pressing portion 52b is configured such that the tube length from the portion of the ink tubes 40C and 40D pressed by the second pressing portion 52b to the carriage 14 becomes long. Since they are displaced in the width direction, it is possible to suppress interference between the second pressing portion 52b and the bending starting points of the curved portions of the ink tubes 40C and 40D.

  Similarly, the first holding portion 52a is also shifted in the device width direction so that the tube length from the portion of the ink tubes 40A and 40B held by the first holding portion 52a to the carriage 14 becomes longer. Therefore, the interference between the first holding portion 52a and the starting point of the bending portion of the ink tubes 40A and 40B can be suppressed.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the pressing member 52 is disposed in the central area of the moving area W of the carriage 14. Here, as an example, a case will be described in which the pressing member 52 is displaced from the central region of the moving region W of the carriage 14 toward the curved portions of the ink tubes 40C and 40D as shown in FIG. When the holding member 52 is arranged in this manner, the bending starting point of the curved portion of the ink tubes 40C and 40D is displaced from the left to the right in the device width direction according to the movement of the carriage 14 in the device width direction, and the second There is a possibility that it will interfere with the pressing portion 52b.

  Then, when the bending starting points of the curved portions of the ink tubes 40C and 40D interfere with the second pressing parts 52b, the bending starting points are pressed by the second pressing parts 52b. In this state, when the carriage 14 further moves to the right in the device width direction, that is, to the home position side, the follow-up deformation corresponding to the movement of the carriage 14 in the ink tubes 40C and 40D is restricted by the second pressing portion 52b. Therefore, the ink tubes 40C and 40D cannot follow the movement of the carriage 14 toward the home position, and pull the carriage 14 in the direction opposite to the moving direction, that is, to the left in the apparatus width direction. As a result, the movement operation of the carriage 14 in the apparatus width direction becomes unstable.

  However, in this embodiment, since the pressing member 52 is provided in the center area of the moving area W of the carriage 14 as described above, the pressing sections 52a, 52b and the ink tubes 40A, 40B, 40C due to the movement of the carriage 14 are provided. , 40D can be reduced, and the movement of the carriage 14 can be stabilized.

<<< Modification of First Embodiment >>>>
(1) In this embodiment, the height position of the outlet 44b of the first guide portion 44 and the height position of the outlet 46b of the second guide portion 46 are substantially the same in the apparatus height direction. However, instead of this configuration, the height position of the outlet 44b of the first guide portion 44 and the height position of the outlet 46b of the second guide portion 46 may be shifted in the device height direction.
(2) Also, in the present embodiment, the first guide portion 44 is configured to cross over the second guide portion 46, but instead of this configuration, the second guide portion 46 is replaced with the first guide portion. A configuration that crosses above 44 may be used.
(3) In the present embodiment, the number of the ink tubes 40 connecting the carriage 14 and the ink storage unit 20 is four, but instead of this structure, two, three, or five or more ink tubes are used. The ink tube 40 can be used. In this case, the apparatus main body 12 is provided with the ink storage units 20 corresponding to the number of the ink tubes 40.
(4) In the present embodiment, the first guide portion 44 and the second guide portion 46 are configured to guide two ink tubes 40 each, but the number of the ink tubes 40 may be changed as appropriate. In this case, the difference between the external force exerted by the ink tube 40 extending from the first guide portion 44 on the carriage 14 and the external force exerted on the carriage 14 by the ink tube 40 extending from the second guide portion 46 becomes smaller. Thus, the relationship between the height position of the outlet 44b of the first guide portion 44 and the height position of the outlet 46b of the second guide portion 46 may be set.
(5) In the present embodiment, the ink storage units 20A, 20B, 20C, and 20D provided on the front side of the apparatus are provided on the left and right sides with the medium discharge area 18 interposed therebetween. A configuration in which the ink storage units 20A, 20B, 20C, and 20D are collectively provided on one side may be adopted.

■■■ Second embodiment ■■■■
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the bending direction of the curved portion of the ink tube 54 is in the apparatus depth direction.

  In this embodiment, the carriage 56 is configured to be movable in the apparatus width direction by a carriage driving unit 58 disposed on the front side in the apparatus depth direction with respect to the carriage 56. Specifically, the carriage driving means 58 includes a driving pulley 60 provided on the right side in the device width direction, a driven pulley 62 provided on the left side in the device width direction, and a loop between the driving pulley 60 and the driven pulley 62. And a toothed belt 64 provided. The carriage 56 holds at least a part of the toothed belt 64. When the driving pulley 60 is driven to rotate by a driving motor (not shown), the toothed belt 64 also rotates. Thus, the carriage 56 moves in the apparatus width direction according to the rotation direction of the toothed belt 64.

  In addition, the ink relay units 36A, 36B, 36C, and 36D are detachably attached to the carriage 56 in the present embodiment from the back side in the apparatus depth direction. One ends of the ink tubes 54A, 54B, 54C, 54D are connected to the ink relay sections 36A, 36B, 36C, 36D, respectively. On the lower surface of the carriage 56, a recording head 66 that discharges ink toward the medium is provided. A tube holding section 68 is provided in a central area of the carriage 56 in the apparatus width direction. In the present embodiment, the tube holding portion 68 protrudes upward in the device height direction.

  Also in this embodiment, the tube holding section 68 is provided with a first guide section and a second guide section for guiding the ink tube 54 extending from the ink relay section 36. The illustration of the first guide portion and the second guide portion in FIG. 13 is omitted. Also in the present embodiment, the first guide portion and the second guide portion are configured to intersect with each other, so that the extending positions of the ink tubes 54 in the depth direction of the apparatus are made closer or aligned.

  In the present embodiment, the ink tubes 54A and 54B extending from the ink relay sections 36A and 36B are guided by a first guide section (not shown) of the tube holding section 68 and extend rightward in the apparatus width direction. Then, the ink tubes 54A and 54B extending from the outlet of the first guide portion of the tube holding portion 68 curve toward the front side in the device depth direction, and change their direction from right to left in the device width direction. The ink tubes 54A and 54B extending leftward in the apparatus width direction are guided by an ink tube guide member 70 provided on the front side of the apparatus, and are provided at the left end of the apparatus width direction on the front side of the apparatus. 72A and 72B.

  The ink tubes 54C and 54D extending from the ink relay sections 36C and 36D are guided by a second guide section (not shown) of the tube holding section 68 and extend to the left in the apparatus width direction. Then, the ink tubes 54C and 54D extending from the outlet of the second guide portion of the tube holding portion 68 curve toward the front side in the device depth direction, and change their direction from left to right in the device width direction. The ink tubes 54C and 54D extending rightward in the apparatus width direction are guided by an ink tube guide member 70 provided on the front side of the apparatus, and are provided at the right end of the apparatus width direction on the front side of the apparatus. 72C and 72D respectively.

  In this embodiment, the positions of the ink tubes 54A, 54B extending from the outlet of the first guide portion of the tube holding portion 68 in the device depth direction and the ink tubes 54C, 54D extending from the outlet of the second guide portion are different. The position in the apparatus depth direction is aligned with the same position.

  In the present embodiment, the curvature radii R3 of the curved portions of the ink tubes 54A and 54B extending from the outlet of the first guide portion of the tube holding portion 68, and the ink tubes extending from the outlet of the second guide portion The extending positions of the ink tubes 54A and 54B in the apparatus depth direction (the exit positions of the first guide portions) and the ink tubes 54C and 54D such that the curvature radii R4 of the curved portions of the 54C and 54D are substantially the same. (The exit position of the second guide portion) is set.

<<< Modification of Second Embodiment >>>
In the present embodiment, the ink tubes 54A, 54B, 54C, and 54D extending from the tube holding unit 68 are configured to bend toward the front side in the device depth direction. It is good also as composition which curves 54A, 54B, 54C, and 54D to the device depth direction back side.

<<< Modification of First and Second Embodiments >>>
In the above description, the printer 10 is configured to perform recording using four color inks. However, instead of this configuration, the printer 10 may be configured to use at least two colors of ink. In the above description, the ink storage units 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, 72A, 72B, 72C, and 72D corresponding to the four color inks are arranged on the front side of the apparatus main body 12 including the carriages 14 and 56 in the apparatus depth direction. The right side and the left side in the device width direction are arranged so that the ink colors are two colors each. Instead of this configuration, one of the right side and the left side in the device width direction is used. One side may be provided with an ink storage section corresponding to three color inks, and the other side may be provided with an ink storage section corresponding to one color ink, or the right side and the left side may be provided with three color inks respectively. A configuration may be provided in which a corresponding ink storage unit is provided. In addition, according to the number of ink colors used in the printer 10, that is, the number of ink storage portions arranged on the right side in the width direction and the left side in the device width direction in accordance with the number of ink storage portions corresponding to the colors of ink. May be appropriately adjusted.

  To summarize the above description, the printer 10 includes the recording heads 16 and 66 that eject ink to the medium, and the carriages 14 and 56 that move rightward in the device width direction and leftward in the device width direction that is the opposite direction, and Ink storage units 20 and 72 provided at a plurality of locations outside the carriages 14 and 56 for storing ink ejected from the recording heads 16 and 66, and guide the ink from the ink storage units 20 and 72 to the carriages 14 and 56. A plurality of ink tubes 40, 54 that follow and deform according to the movement of the carriages 14, 56, and the carriages 14, 56, which hold portions of the ink tubes 40, 54 extending from the carriages 14, 56. Tube holding portions 42 and 68. The plurality of ink tubes 40 and 54 extend rightward in the device width direction from the tube holding portions 42 and 68, and are curved to change the direction and extend leftward in the device width direction with ink tubes 40A, 40B, 54A and 54B. Ink tubes 40A, 40B, 54A, which extend from the tube holding portion 42 to the left in the device width direction, bend and change directions, and extend to the right in the device width direction. , 54B and the ink tubes 40C, 40D, 54C, 54D intersect at the tube holding portions 42, 68 and extend in opposite directions, respectively. The tube holding portions 42, 68 define the ink tubes 40A, 40B, 54A, 54B and Height position (position in the depth direction) when one of the ink tubes 40C, 40D, 54C, 54D extends. And a second guide portion 46 close to the height position (position in the depth direction) at which the other side is extended.

  According to the above configuration, the ink tubes 40A, 40B, 54A, 54B and the ink tubes 40C, 40D, 54C, 54D intersect at the tube holding portions 42, 68 and extend in opposite directions, so that the tube holding portions 42, 68 In this case, the tube holding region can be made smaller and the tube holding portions 42 and 68 can be made smaller than in the case of extending without crossing.

  In the above configuration, the tube holding portions 42 and 68 for holding the portions of the ink tubes 40A, 40B, 54A and 54B and the ink tubes 40C, 40D, 54C and 54D extending from the carriage 14 extend to the opposite sides. The height position (position in the depth direction) when one side of the tubes 40A, 40B, 54A, 54B and the ink tubes 40C, 40D, 54C, 54D extends is the height position (the depth direction) when the other side extends. , The second guide portion 46 in the present embodiment, the curvature radii R1 and R3 of the curved portions of the ink tubes 40A, 40B, 54A and 54B, and the ink tubes 40C and 40D. , 54C, 54D can be made smaller than the curvature radii R2, R4 of the curved portions. Thus, the difference between the load applied to the carriages 14 and 56 by the ink tubes 40A, 40B, 54A and 54B and the load applied to the carriages 14 and 56 by the ink tubes 40C, 40D, 54C and 54D can be reduced. , 54 on the carriages 14, 56 can be configured in the printer 10 with further consideration.

  In the printer 10, the second guide portion 46, which is an example of the height adjustment portion in the present embodiment, is configured such that the ink tubes 40A, 40B, 54A, 54B and the ink tubes 40C, 40D, 54C, 54D are curved and oriented. When one of the ink tubes 40A, 40B, 54A, 54B and the ink tubes 40C, 40D, 54C, 54D is extended so that the curvature radii R1, R2, R3, R4 of the curved portions when changing are increased. The height position (position in the depth direction) is made closer to the height position (position in the depth direction) when the other side extends.

  According to the above configuration, the second guide portion 46 is provided with the curvature radii R1, R2 of the curved portions when the ink tubes 40A, 40B, 54A, 54B and the ink tubes 40C, 40D, 54C, 54D bend and change directions. , R3, R4, the height position (position in the depth direction) when one of the ink tubes 40A, 40B, 54A, 54B and the ink tubes 40C, 40D, 54C, 54D extends is set to the other side. Since it is close to the height position (position in the depth direction) at the time of extension, the load applied to the carriages 14, 56 by the ink tubes 40A, 40B, 54A, 54B and the ink tubes 40C, 40D, 54C, 54D can be suppressed. Thus, the movement of the carriages 14 and 56 can be further stabilized.

  Further, in the printer 10, the second guide portion 46 includes a height position (a position in the depth direction) when the ink tubes 40A, 40B, 54A, 54B extend from the tube holding portions 42, 68, and an ink tube 40C. , 40D, 54C, 54D are aligned with the height position (position in the depth direction) when extending from the tube holding portion 42.

  According to the above-described configuration, the second guide portion 46 includes a height position (a position in the depth direction) when the ink tubes 40A, 40B, 54A, 54B extend from the tube holding portions 42, 68, and the ink tube 40C. , 40D, 54C, 54D are aligned with the height positions (positions in the depth direction) when extending from the tube holding portions 42, 68, so that the loads applied to the carriages 14, 56 by the ink tubes 40A, 40B, 54A, 54B. And the load applied to the carriages 14, 56 by the ink tubes 40C, 40D, 54C, 54D can be further reduced, or the difference can be eliminated. As a result, the movement of the carriages 14, 56 can be further stabilized.

  In the printer 10, the tube holding unit 42 is provided on the front side of the apparatus on the carriage 14 in the direction of discharging the medium on which the recording has been performed. In the carriage 14, the ink tubes 40A and 40B and the ink tubes 40C and 40D are provided. The tube connecting portion 38 to be connected is provided on the upper surface side of the carriage 14 in the vertical direction. The ink tubes 40A, 40B and the ink tubes 40C, 40D extend from the tube connecting portion 38 toward the front side of the apparatus, and the tube holding portion 42 , And then bends vertically downward.

In the printer 10, the tube holding unit 42 is provided in a central area of the carriage 14 in the moving direction of the carriage 14.
According to this configuration, in the moving direction of the carriage 14, since the tube holding portion 42 is provided in the central region of the carriage 14, the difference between the tube lengths of the ink tubes 40A and 40B and the tube lengths of the ink tubes 40C and 40D. Can be suppressed. As a result, the difference between the load applied to the carriage 14 by the ink tubes 40A and 40B and the load applied to the carriage 14 by the ink tubes 40C and 40D can be further reduced or eliminated, and the movement of the carriage 14 Can be stabilized.

  Further, in the printer 10, the plurality of ink storage units 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, 72A, 72B, 72C, 72D are located on the right side in the device width direction on the front side in the device depth direction of the device main body 12 including the carriages 14, 56. And the ink tubes 40A, 40B, 54A, 54B provided on the left side of the apparatus in the width direction of the apparatus, and the ink tubes 40A, 40B, 54A, 54B are connected to the ink storage sections 20A, 20B, 72A, 72B provided on the left side of the apparatus in the width direction of the apparatus. The tubes 40C, 40D, 54C, and 54D are connected to ink storage units 20C, 20D, 72C, and 72D provided on the right side in the device width direction.

  According to the above configuration, the ink tubes 40A, 40B, 54A, 54B and the ink tubes 40C, 40D, 54C, 54D are the ink storage portions 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, 72A, 72B, 72C of the curved and folded destinations. , 72D as it is, the length of the ink tubes 40A, 40B, 54A, 54B and the length of the ink tubes 40C, 40D, 54C, 54D can be suppressed, and good liquid supply and suppression of increase in apparatus cost can be achieved. And can be realized.

  In the printer 10, the ink storage units 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, 72A, 72B, 72C, 72D are arranged in a direction in which the carriage 56 moves with respect to a medium discharge area 18 for discharging a medium on which recording has been performed. It is provided on both sides in the width direction.

  Further, in the printer 10, the portions of the ink tubes 40A and 40B that are curved and change the direction and extend leftward in the device width direction, and the portions that extend in the device width direction and the ink tubes 40A and 40B that change the direction and curve rightward in the device width direction. A holding member 52 for holding a portion of the tubes 40C and 40D extending rightward in the device width direction is provided. The holding member 52 includes a first holding portion 52a which is a portion for holding the ink tubes 40A and 40B, and ink tubes 40C and 40D. The second holding portion 52b, which is a portion for holding the ink, is displaced to the side where the tube length from the holding member 52 of each of the ink tubes 40A, 40B, 40C, and 40D to the carriage 14 is longer.

  According to the above configuration, the holding member 52 for holding the ink tubes 40A, 40B and the ink tubes 40C, 40D is composed of the first holding portion 52a for holding the ink tubes 40A, 40B, and the second holding member for holding the ink tubes 40C, 40D. Since the portion 52b is displaced to the side where the tube length from the holding member 52 of each of the ink tubes 40A, 40B, 40C, and 40D to the carriage 14 is longer, each of the ink tubes 40A is held by one holding member 52. , 40B, 40C, and 40D can be held at appropriate positions, so that the device configuration can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.

In the present embodiment, the carriage 14 according to the present invention is applied to an ink jet printer as an example of a recording apparatus, but may be applied to other liquid ejecting apparatuses in general.
Here, the liquid ejecting apparatus is not limited to a recording apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile that uses an ink jet recording head and discharges ink from the recording head to perform recording on a recording medium. And a device for ejecting a liquid corresponding to the intended use from a liquid ejecting head corresponding to the ink jet recording head to a medium to be ejected corresponding to a recording medium, and adhering the liquid to the medium to be ejected.

  As a liquid ejecting head, in addition to the recording 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 include an ejection head, a biological organic matter ejection head used for biochip production, and a sample ejection head as a precision pipette.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and they are also included in the scope of the present invention. Needless to say.

10 printer, 12 device main body, 14, 14 ', 56 carriage
16, 66: recording head, 18: medium discharge area,
20, 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, 72, 72A, 72B, 72C, 72D: ink container, 22: frame member, 24: carriage drive motor, 26: toothed belt,
28: medium support member, 30: transport drive roller, 32: transport driven roller, 34: housing,
36, 36A, 36B, 36C, 36D ... ink relay section, 38 ... tube connection section,
40, 40A, 40B, 40C, 40D, 54, 54A, 54B, 54C, 54D: ink tube, 42, 68: tube holding portion, 44: first guide portion, 44a, 46a: inlet, 44b, 46b: outlet , 46... Second guide portion, 48.
50, 70: ink tube guide member, 52: pressing member, 52a: first pressing portion,
52b: second pressing portion, 58: carriage driving means, 60: driving pulley,
62: driven pulley, 64: toothed belt, L1, L2: length, R: moving area,
R1, R2, R3, R4: radius of curvature, W: moving area

Claims (9)

A carriage that includes a liquid ejection head that ejects liquid to a medium, and that moves in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction;
A liquid storage portion provided at a plurality of locations outside the carriage and configured to store liquid discharged from the liquid discharge head;
A plurality of liquid tubes that guide a liquid from the liquid storage section to the carriage, and follow and deform with the movement of the carriage,
A tube holding portion provided on a side surface of the carriage, which holds a portion of the liquid tube extending from the carriage,
The plurality of liquid tubes extend from the tube holding unit in the first direction, bend and change directions to extend in the second direction, and the first liquid tube extends from the tube holding unit to the first liquid tube. A second liquid tube extending in the second direction, bending and changing direction, and extending in the first direction.
The first liquid tube and the second liquid tube cross each other in the apparatus width direction in the tube holding portion and extend in opposite directions, respectively.
The tube holding unit includes a height adjustment unit that brings a height position when one side of the first liquid tube and the second liquid tube extends closer to a height position when the other side extends. ,
A recording device characterized by the above-mentioned.   The recording device according to claim 1,
  The tube holding section is provided on a side of the carriage, on a front side of the apparatus that is a side in which a medium on which recording has been performed is ejected,
  In the carriage, a tube connection portion to which the first liquid tube and the second liquid tube are connected is provided on a vertical upper surface side of the carriage.
A recording device, characterized in that:   3. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first liquid tube and the second liquid tube extend from the tube connection part toward the front side of the apparatus, and from the carriage via the tube holding part. 4. After extending, it curves vertically downward,
A recording device, characterized in that: 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the height adjustment unit is configured to determine a curvature of a curved portion of the first liquid tube and a curvature of a curved portion of the second liquid tube. 5. As the difference becomes smaller, the height position when one of the first liquid tube and the second liquid tube extends is closer to the height position when the other side extends,
A recording device, characterized in that: 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the height adjustment unit includes a height position when the first liquid tube extends from the tube holding unit, and 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid tubes are aligned with a height position when the liquid tubes extend from the tube holding section. 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the tube holding unit is provided in a central region of the carriage in a moving direction of the carriage.
A recording device, characterized in that: 7. The recording apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of liquid storage units include: a side surface in the first direction on a front side in a depth direction of an apparatus main body including the carriage; Provided on the side surface side in the second direction,
The first liquid tube is connected to the liquid storage portion provided on a side surface in the second direction,
The second liquid tube is connected to the liquid storage portion provided on a side surface in the first direction.
A recording device, characterized in that: 8. The recording apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the plurality of liquid storage units are provided on both sides in a movement direction of the carriage with respect to a discharge port for discharging a medium on which recording has been performed.
A recording device, characterized in that: The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first liquid tube extends in the second direction by bending and changing its direction, and extending in the second direction. And a pressing member for changing a direction by bending and pressing a portion of the second liquid tube extending in the first direction, the portion extending in the first direction.
The holding member is configured such that a portion for holding the first liquid tube and a portion for holding the second liquid tube are displaced on the side where the tube length from the holding member to the carriage of each liquid tube is long. ing,
A recording device, characterized in that:

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