JP6938963B2 - Image recording device - Google Patents

Description

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

Conventionally, an image recording device having a plurality of liquid storage chambers communicating with each other is known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an image recording apparatus including a plurality of liquid storage chambers which are vertically divided into upper and lower parts so as to communicate with each other by a partition wall.

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

For example, among a plurality of liquid storage chambers, the liquid stored in the upstream liquid storage chamber that does not directly communicate with the head is placed first, rather than the liquid storage chamber on the downstream side that directly communicates with the head having the nozzle. It is preferable to consume the liquid completely in terms of liquid circulation. However, when a plurality of liquid storage chambers are opened to the atmosphere by a common air communication hole, it is structurally difficult to consume the liquid stored in one of the plurality of liquid storage chambers first.

Further, for example, when a plurality of liquid storage chambers are opened to the atmosphere by a common air communication hole, if the air communication hole is clogged, the liquid cannot be supplied to the head.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-199261

In order to enable the liquid stored in one of the plurality of liquid storage chambers to be consumed first, each of the plurality of liquid storage chambers is provided with an independent air communication hole, and the air communication by each air communication hole is provided. Can be controlled. Further, by providing independent air communication holes in each of the plurality of liquid storage chambers, even if one air communication hole is clogged, the liquid supply to the head can be maintained by opening the atmosphere through the other air communication holes.

In the configuration in which independent air communication holes are provided in each of the plurality of liquid storage chambers as described above, the following problems may occur. The posture of the image recording device may change during transportation. For example, an image recording device that was in a working posture (a posture in which the lower surface is the lower end of the device) during use may be placed in a vertical posture (for example, a posture in which the left surface is the lower end of the device) during transportation. In this case, the head may be located below the liquid storage chamber. Then, the liquid may flow out from the liquid storage chamber that directly communicates with the head toward the head, and ink may leak from the head.

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

(1) The image recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a first storage chamber for storing a liquid, a first tank having a first air communication unit for communicating the first storage chamber with the atmosphere, and the first storage chamber. A communication port that communicates, a second storage chamber that communicates with the communication port and stores liquid, a second atmospheric communication section that communicates the second storage chamber with the atmosphere by a route different from the first atmospheric communication section, and A second tank having a liquid outlet for flowing liquid from the second storage chamber, a transport mechanism for transporting sheets along a transport path extending in a depth direction orthogonal to the vertical direction, and a transport mechanism located above the transport path. A carriage that moves in the vertical direction and the width direction that is orthogonal to the depth direction, and a carriage that is mounted on the carriage and communicates with the liquid outlet via the flow path, from the liquid outlet to the liquid outlet. It includes a head having a nozzle that discharges the liquid supplied through the flow path toward the transfer path. The second storage chamber is located in the first direction, which is one of the depth directions of the nozzle, and in the second direction, which is one of the width directions of the transport path. The liquid outlet is below the center of the second storage chamber in the vertical direction, is in the first direction from the center of the second storage chamber in the depth direction, and is in the second storage chamber. The liquid is discharged from the second storage chamber at a position facing the second direction from the center in the width direction. The second storage chamber is the other side above the liquid level and in the width direction above the liquid outlet in a state where an amount of liquid having a liquid level at the same height as the communication port is stored. A predetermined space is provided in the third direction. The volume of the predetermined space is larger than the volume of the liquid flow space between the liquid outlet and the nozzle.

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

In this configuration, the liquid outlet of the second storage chamber is communicated with the second storage chamber at a position facing second from the center in the width direction of the second storage chamber. In addition, the second storage chamber is provided with a predetermined space at the upper part in the usage posture. In the usage posture, air is stored in the predetermined space. As a result, when the posture of the image recording device changes from the usage posture to the rotation posture, the air stored in the predetermined space in the usage posture becomes the third direction from the center in the width direction of the second storage chamber in the rotation posture. Will be located. Then, the air that is located in the third direction from the center in the width direction of the second storage chamber in the rotating posture moves to the upper part of the second storage chamber in the rotating posture. Here, when the posture of the image recording device changes from the usage posture to the rotation posture, the liquid outlet communicates with the upper part of the second storage chamber in the rotation posture. Therefore, the air that has moved to the upper part of the second storage chamber in the rotating posture flows out from the liquid outlet.

Here, the predetermined space is a space above the liquid level in a state where an amount of liquid having a liquid level at the same height as the communication port is stored in the second storage chamber. Further, the volume of the predetermined space is larger than the volume of the liquid flow space between the liquid outlet and the nozzle. Therefore, when a liquid of the above amount or less is stored in the second storage chamber, the distribution space is filled with the air flowing out from the liquid outlet. Therefore, since the difference in head pressure between the second storage chamber and the head is eliminated, it is possible to prevent the liquid from flowing out from the liquid outlet. Further, even when a liquid larger than the above amount is stored in the second storage chamber, the outflow of the liquid from the liquid outlet can be suppressed to the amount different from the above amount.

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

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

(3) The second storage chamber includes a buffer space provided in the predetermined space, a first space located below the buffer space and communicating with the liquid outlet, the buffer space, and the first space. It has a second space that connects one space. The second space is connected to the second-facing end of the buffer space.

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

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

According to this configuration, when the posture of the image recording device changes from the usage posture to the rotation posture, the second space is located at the upper end of the second storage chamber, and the third space is located below the second space. As a result, in the rotating posture, the air in the buffer space moves to the first space through the second space, and the liquid in the first space moves to the buffer space through the third space. In this way, the movement of air and liquid can be promoted.

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

According to this configuration, when the posture of the image recording device changes from the usage posture to the rotation posture, the liquid outlet is located above the second space. As a result, even when the liquid level of the liquid abuts on the surface partitioning the second space due to surface tension, the liquid level of the liquid is the portion above the second space in the first space (in the usage posture, the first It is possible to reduce the possibility of abutment by surface tension on the surface partitioning the second space (the portion facing the second space) in the space.

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

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

According to this configuration, in the image recording apparatus, the space occupied by the plurality of first tanks and the plurality of second tanks can be reduced in the width direction. As a result, the image recording device can be miniaturized in the width direction.

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

According to this configuration, when the liquid in the second storage chamber is stored in the second storage chamber at the same height as the communication port at the same height as the communication port in the usage posture, the posture of the image recording device changes from the usage posture to the rotation posture. Since the liquid outlet is above the liquid level of the liquid, it is possible to prevent the liquid from entering the liquid outlet. Further, when a liquid larger than the above amount is stored in the second storage chamber in the usage posture, the liquid entering the liquid outlet even when the posture of the image recording device changes from the usage posture to the rotation posture. Can be suppressed to the amount of difference from the above amount.

(9) The liquid outlet is formed on a section screen that partitions the second facing end of the second storage chamber. The volume of the predetermined space is larger than the volume of the second facing portion at a position separated by the surface tension length in the third direction from the ward screen in the second storage chamber.
The surface tension length is such that the liquid level of the liquid stored in the second storage chamber is the surface tension when the image recording device is installed so that the screen of the section is the surface that partitions the upper end of the predetermined space. This is the maximum distance in the vertical direction between the screen and the liquid level that can come into contact with the screen.

If the liquid level of the liquid comes into contact with the screen due to surface tension when the image recording device changes its posture from the used posture to the rotating posture, the liquid may enter the liquid outlet from the contacted portion. According to this configuration, since the liquid level of the liquid does not come into contact with the screen due to surface tension, the above-mentioned intrusion can be prevented.

(10) the first tank is a cartridges, comprising a supply unit for supplying the liquid stored in the first storage chamber. The second tank communicates with the communication port and includes a connection unit that can be connected to the supply unit. The second storage chamber stores the liquid supplied from the supply unit connected to the connection unit.

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

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

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

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. It goes without saying that the embodiments described below are merely examples of the present invention, and the embodiments of the present invention can be appropriately changed without changing the gist of the present invention. Further, the vertical direction 7 is defined with reference to the posture in which the multifunction device 10 is installed on a horizontal surface so that it can be used (the posture in FIG. 1 and may be referred to as “use posture”). The front-rear direction 8 (an example in the depth direction) is defined with the surface of the multifunction device 10 where the opening 13 is provided as the front surface 14A. When the multifunction device 10 is viewed from the front, the left-right direction 9 (an example in the width direction) is defined. In the present embodiment, in the usage posture, the vertical direction 7 corresponds to the vertical direction, and the front-rear direction 8 and the horizontal direction 9 correspond to the horizontal direction. The front-rear direction 8 and the left-right direction 9 are orthogonal to each other.

[Overall configuration of multifunction device 10]
As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction device 10 (an example of an image recording device) has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The multifunction device 10 has a printer unit 11 at the bottom, which records an image on paper 12 (an example of a sheet, see FIG. 2) by an inkjet recording method. The printer unit 11 has a housing 14 having an opening 13 formed in the front surface 14A. Further, a display 200 for displaying various information is provided on the front surface 14A of the housing 14.

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

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

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

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

[Transport path 17]
As shown in FIG. 2, the transport path 17 refers to a space in which a part thereof is formed inside the printer unit 11 by the outer guide members 18 and the inner guide members 19 facing each other at predetermined intervals. The transport path 17 is a path extending rearward from the rear end of the feed tray 15. The transport path 17 is a path that extends upward at the rear portion of the printer unit 11 and makes a U-turn forward, passes through the space between the recording unit 24 and the platen 26, and reaches the discharge tray 16. The transport path 17 between the transport roller pair 25 and the discharge roller pair 27 is provided at a substantially central portion of the multifunction device 10 in the left-right direction 9, and extends in the front-rear direction 8. The transport direction of the paper 12 in the transport path 17 is indicated by the arrow of the alternate long and short dash line in FIG.

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

[Discharge roller vs. 27]
As shown in FIG. 2, the discharge roller pair 27 is arranged downstream of the transport roller pair 25 in the transport path 17 in the transport direction. The discharge roller pair 27 has a discharge roller 27A and a spur 27B facing each other. The discharge roller 27A is driven by a transport motor 171 (see FIG. 12). The spur 27B rotates with the rotation of the discharge roller 27A. The paper 12 is sandwiched between the discharge roller 27A and the spur 27B that rotate forward by the forward rotation of the transport motor 171 and is transported in the transport direction (forward). The discharge roller pair 27 is an example of a transport mechanism.

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

As shown in FIG. 3, the carriages 22 are supported by guide rails 82 and 83 extending in the left-right direction 9 at positions separated from each other in the front-rear direction 8. The guide rails 82 and 83 are supported by a frame (not shown) of the printer unit 11. The carriage 22 is connected to a known belt mechanism provided on the guide rail 83. The belt mechanism is driven by a carriage drive motor 173 (see FIG. 12). The carriage 22 connected to the belt mechanism reciprocates along the left-right direction 9 by being driven by the carriage driving motor 173. The moving region of the carriage 22 extends from the carrier path 17 to the right and left as shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG.

An ink tube 20 and a flexible flat cable 84 extend from the carriage 22.

The ink tube 20 connects the cartridge mounting portion 110 and the recording head 21. The ink tube 20 supplies the ink (an example of a liquid) stored in each ink cartridge 30 (an example of a first tank and a cartridge) mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110 to the recording head 21. In the present embodiment, the cartridge mounting portion 110 stores an ink cartridge 30B in which black ink is stored, an ink cartridge 30M in which magenta ink is stored, an ink cartridge 30C in which cyan ink is stored, and yellow ink. The ink cartridge 30Y is installed. In addition, these four are collectively referred to as an ink cartridge 30. The ink circulates in the internal space of the ink tube 20 (an example of a flow path). Four ink tubes 20 through which inks of each color (black, magenta, cyan, yellow) are distributed are provided corresponding to the ink cartridges 30B, 30M, 30C, and 30Y, and the carriage 22 is in a bundled state. It is connected to the recording head 21 mounted on the.

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

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

The recording unit 24 is controlled by the control unit 130. When the carriage 22 is moving in the left-right direction 9, the recording head 21 ejects ink droplets from the nozzle 29 toward the transport path 17. As a result, the image is recorded on the paper 12 supported by the platen 26. In addition, this consumes the ink stored in each ink cartridge 30.

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

[Cover 87]
As shown in FIG. 1 (B), an opening 85 is formed in the right portion of the front surface 14A of the housing 14. Behind the opening 85, a storage space 86 capable of accommodating the cartridge mounting portion 110 is formed. A cover 87 is attached to the housing 14 so as to cover the opening 85. The cover 87 is located in the left-right direction 9 between the closed position for closing the opening 85 (the position shown in FIG. 1 (A)) and the open position for opening the opening 85 (the position shown in FIG. 1 (B)). It is rotatable around the rotation axis 87A (rotation center) extending to.

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

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

The cartridge case 101 can accommodate four ink cartridges 30 in which inks of each color of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black are stored. The ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge case 101 by moving backward, and is removed from the cartridge case 101 by moving forward. Four contacts 106, a rod 125, a mounting sensor 113, a lock shaft 145, a tank 103, and a liquid level sensor 55 are provided corresponding to each of the four ink cartridges 30. The number of ink cartridges 30 that can be accommodated in the cartridge mounting portion 110 is not limited to four.

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

In addition, ink of any one color of black, magenta, cyan, and yellow is stored in each of the four tanks 103. In the following description, the four tanks are collectively referred to as tank 103, the tank in which black ink is stored is referred to as tank 103B, the tank in which magenta ink is stored is referred to as tank 103M, and cyan ink is stored. The tank to be used is referred to as tank 103C, and the tank in which yellow ink is stored is referred to as tank 103Y.

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

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

Note that FIG. 4A shows a state in which only the ink cartridge 30Y out of the four ink cartridges 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110. FIG. 4B shows a state in which only the ink cartridges 30Y and 30B among the four ink cartridges 30 are mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110.

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

The contact 106 is electrically connected to the control unit 130 (see FIG. 9) via an electric circuit. By engaging the contact 106 with the corresponding electrode 65 and conducting electrical conduction, a voltage is applied to the electrode 65, the electrode 65 is grounded, and electric power is supplied to the electrode 65. The electrical conduction between the contact 106 and the corresponding electrode 65 makes it possible to access the data stored in the IC of the ink cartridge 30. The output from the electric circuit is input to the control unit 130.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, each tank 103B, 103M, 103C, 103Y has a box-shaped main body having a storage chamber 160 (an example of a second storage chamber) described later inside, and a connection portion 107. I have. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the main body includes an upper wall 161, a front wall 162, a lower wall 163, a rear wall 164, a pair of side walls 165 and 166, and an upper wall constituting a convex portion 120. It is composed of 120B and a front wall 120C.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The connection unit 107 is not connected to the ink supply unit 34 of the ink cartridge 30 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is not mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110. On the other hand, in the process of inserting the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge mounting unit 110, that is, in the process of moving the ink cartridge 30 to the mounting position (position shown in FIG. 6), the ink supply unit 34 of the ink cartridge 30 is guided by the guide unit 105. Enter into. Further, when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted toward the back of the cartridge mounting portion 110, the ink needle 102 is formed in the ink supply portion 34 along the front-rear direction 8 as shown in FIG. It is inserted in 71. As a result, the connection unit 107 and the ink supply unit 34 are connected. Then, the ink stored in the storage chamber 33 formed inside the ink cartridge 30 flows out to the tank 103 through the internal space of the ink valve chamber 35 and the ink needle 102 formed inside the ink supply unit 34. The tip of the ink needle 102 may be flat or sharp.

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

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

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

As shown in FIG. 3, the storage chamber 160 is located in front of the nozzle 29 (see FIG. 2) of the recording head 21. The forward orientation is an example of the first orientation. Further, the storage chamber 160 is located to the right of the transport path 17. The rightward orientation is an example of the second orientation.

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

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

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

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the storage chamber 160Y is composed of a buffer space 180, a first space 181 and a second space 182.

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

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

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

As shown in FIG. 7, the lower part of the left side surface of the side wall 165 (the portion partitioning the right end of the lower part of the first space 181) is other than the lower part of the left side surface of the side wall 165 (the right end other than the lower part of the first space 181). It is located to the right of the right end of the second space 182 and the portion partitioning the right end of the buffer space 180). That is, the position of the right end of the first space 181 of the storage chamber 160Y is to the right of the position of the right end of the buffer space 180 and the second space 182 of the storage chamber 160Y.

The side wall 165 that partitions the right end of the storage chamber (for example, storage chamber 160Y) located on the left side of the two adjacent storage chambers 160 and the storage chamber located on the right side of the two adjacent storage chambers 160 (for example, the storage chamber 160Y). For example, the side wall 166 that partitions the left end of the storage chamber 160C) located to the right of the storage chamber 160Y may be an independent wall, may be integrated, or only a part of the side wall may be integrated. It may be converted. In the present embodiment, the side wall 165 for partitioning the right end of the storage chamber 160Y and the side wall 166 for partitioning the left end of the storage chamber 160C are integrated only in the lower part of the tank 103, and are independent except for the lower part of the tank 103. doing.

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

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

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

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

A convex portion 120 is formed above the first space 181 and in front of the second space 182. The convex portion 120 has a side wall facing the left-right direction 9 formed by a light-transmitting member. The internal space of the convex portion 120 is continuous with the first space 181 and the second space 182. The internal space of the convex portion 120 constitutes a part of the storage chamber 160Y. An arm 53 of a rotating member 50 and a detected portion 54, which will be described later, are located in the internal space of the convex portion 120. The convex portion 120 may be continuous with only one of the first space 181 and the second space 182.

A communication port 184 is formed on the third front wall 162C. The communication port 184 communicates with the first space 181. The first space 181 communicates with the internal space of the ink needle 102 of the connecting portion 107 via the communication port 184. As a result, the ink flowing out of the ink cartridge 30Y through the ink needle 102 flows into the storage chamber 160Y and is stored in the storage chamber 160Y.

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

Note that the fact that the liquid level is at the same height as the communication port 184 does not mean that the position P2 is the liquid level. For example, the fact that the liquid level is at the same height as the communication port 184 may mean that the liquid level is at the same height as the upper end or the lower end of the communication port 184.

Further, the buffer space 180 is located above the liquid level in a state where the amount of ink whose liquid level is the same as the upper end of the communication port 184 is stored in the storage chamber 160Y. Here, the position of the liquid surface in the vertical direction 7 is the position P3 shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG.

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

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

Further, the communication port 128 is formed below the communication port 184.

Further, the buffer space 180 is located to the left of the communication port 128. The leftward orientation is an example of a third orientation.

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

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

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

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

Further, the communication port 128 of the tank 103 arranged to the left of the predetermined tank 103 among the four tanks 103 is located to the right of the left end of the ink cartridge 30 corresponding to the predetermined tank 103.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Further, the volume of the predetermined space is the portion to the right of the position P4 (see FIG. 7) separated by the surface tension length L1 (see FIG. 7) to the left from the lower part of the left surface of the side wall 165 in the storage chamber 160Y (FIG. 7). It is larger than the volume of the part indicated by hatching. The surface tension length L1 is such that the liquid level of the ink stored in the storage chamber 160Y is the surface tension in the left side lower posture in which the multifunction device 10 is installed so that the left surface of the side wall 165 is the surface that partitions the upper end of the storage chamber 160Y. It is the maximum distance along a predetermined direction that can be brought into contact with the lower part of the left surface of the side wall 165. Here, the left side lower posture is the posture of the multifunction device 10 when the multifunction device 10 is installed so that the left side of the housing 14 is the lower surface in the use posture. Further, the predetermined direction is the vertical direction of the multifunction device 10 in the lower left side posture, that is, the left-right direction 9 of the multifunction device 10 in the usage posture.

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

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

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

[Storage room 160B]
The configuration of the storage chamber 160B will be described below. In the description of the configuration of the storage chamber 160B, detailed description of the configuration common to the storage chambers 160M, 160C, and 160Y will be omitted.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The inner wall 167 divides the storage chamber 160B into 9 in the left-right direction. A rotating member 50, which will be described later, is arranged on the right side of the inner wall 167 in the storage chamber 160B. On the left side of the inner wall 167 of the storage chamber 160B, the storage chamber 160B communicates with the connection portion 107 through the communication port 184. That is, the inner wall 167 partitions the space between the connecting portion 107 and the rotating member 50 in the storage chamber 160B.

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

The inner wall 167 may be formed from a position above the communication port 184 and the detected portion 54 of the rotating member 50 described later to a position below the communication port 184 and the detected portion 54. That is, the inner wall 167 does not necessarily have to be formed from the upper end to the lower end of the storage chamber 160B. For example, the upper end of the inner wall 167 may be located below that shown in FIG.

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

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

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

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the support member 185 includes a right wall 186 and a left wall 187, a rear wall 188, and a bottom wall 189. The right wall 186 and the left wall 187 are arranged to face each other in the left-right direction 9. The right wall 186 and the left wall 187 extend in the vertical direction 7 and the front-rear direction 8. The rear wall 188 connects the rear end of the right wall 186 and the rear end of the left wall 187. The bottom wall 189 connects the lower end of the right wall 186 and the lower end of the left wall 187. At the rear end of the right wall 186, a protrusion 186A projecting rearward is formed. As shown in FIG. 5, the protrusion 186A fits into the recess 190 formed by a pair of protrusions formed on the second lower wall 163B that partitions the storage chamber 160 of the tank 103. As a result, the support member 185 is fixed in the storage chamber 160 of the tank 103.

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

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

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

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

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

The float 51 is located below the rotating member 50. The float 51 is made of a material having a lower specific density than the ink stored in the storage chamber 160. The shaft 52 projects from the right and left surfaces of the float 51 along the left-right direction 9. The shaft 52 is inserted into the holes 191 formed in the right wall 186 and the left wall 187 of the support member 185. As a result, the rotating member 50 is rotatably supported by the supporting member 185 about the shaft 52. The shaft 52 is located below the communication port 184. The float 51 and the shaft 52 are located in the first space 181.

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

When the liquid level of the ink stored in the storage chamber 160 is above the position P2 in the vertical direction 7, in other words, the liquid level of the ink stored in the storage chamber 33 of the ink cartridge 30 is the ink in the vertical direction 7. When the position is above the position P2 of the supply unit 34, the rotating member 50 rotates in the direction of the arrow 58 due to the buoyancy acting on the float 51. As a result, the rotating member 50 is located at the detection position shown by the solid line in FIG.

On the other hand, when the liquid level of the ink drops due to the consumption of the ink stored in the storage chamber 160 and the ink valve chamber 35 and reaches the position P2 in the vertical direction 7, the rotating member 50 follows the liquid level and has an arrow. It rotates in the direction of 59. As a result, the rotating member 50 is located at the non-detection position shown by the broken line in FIG. That is, the rotating member 50 changes its state on condition that the height of the liquid level of the ink stored in the storage chamber 160 is at the same position as the communication port 184 in the vertical direction 7.

In the present embodiment, when the liquid level of the ink reaches the position P2 in the vertical direction 7, the rotating member 50 rotates from the detected position to the non-detected position, but the liquid level of the ink is positioned in the rotating member 50. It may be configured to rotate when it reaches a predetermined position below P2.

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

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

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

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

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

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

As a whole, the housing 31 has a flat shape in which the dimensions along the left-right direction 9 are thin and the dimensions along the vertical direction 7 and the front-rear direction 8 are larger than the dimensions along the left-right direction 9. In the housing 31, at least the front wall 41 has translucency so that the liquid levels of the ink stored in the storage chamber 32 and the storage chamber 33 can be visually recognized from the outside.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

An IC substrate 64 is provided on the outer surface of the upper wall 39 between the light-shielding plate 67 and the convex portion 43 in the front-rear direction 8. The IC board 64 conducts with the contact 106 when the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 (A), the left end of the lower wall 45 is connected to the left wall 38. That is, the lower wall 45 extends to the right from the inner surface of the left side wall 38, that is, the surface that divides the storage chamber 32 and faces the right side. The gap 45A is formed at the right end of the lower wall 45. As shown in FIG. 13, the left end of the gap 45A is located to the right of the left end of the through hole 46. The through hole 46 may be located to the left of the gap 45A. Specifically, the right end of the through hole 46 may be located to the left of the left end of the gap 45A.

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

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

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

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

An atmospheric valve chamber 36 is formed at the other end of the atmospheric flow path 61. A valve 97 and a coil spring 98 are housed in the atmospheric valve chamber 36. The atmospheric valve chamber 36 communicates with the outside through an atmospheric communication port 96. The valve 97 can be moved to a closed position for sealing the atmospheric communication port 96 and an open position away from the atmospheric communication port 96. The coil spring 98 is arranged so as to be expandable and contractible along the front-rear direction 8, and urges the valve 97 in the direction of contacting the atmospheric communication port 96, that is, backward. The spring constant of the coil spring 98 is smaller than the spring constant of the coil spring 78 of the ink supply unit 34.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

As shown in FIG. 11, of the air communication space (the part above the position P1 in the storage chamber 160Y) in the storage chamber 160 of the tank 103, the portion 121 behind the communication port 128 (shown by hatching in FIG. 11). The volume of the portion 121) is a portion 122 (FIG. 11) in which the storage chamber 33 and the ink valve chamber 35 of the ink cartridge 30 and the portion of the liquid storage space in the storage chamber 160 of the tank 103 in front of the communication port 128 are combined. It is larger than the volume of the portion 122) indicated by the hatching. In FIG. 11, although the area of the portion 122 is larger than the area of the portion 121, the volume of the portion 121 is a portion because the length of the portion 122 in the left-right direction 9 is shorter than the length of the portion 121 in the left-right direction 9. It will be larger than the volume of 122.

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

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

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

A transport motor 171, a feed motor 172, and a carriage drive motor 173 are connected to the ASIC 135. The ASIC 135 incorporates a drive circuit that controls each motor. When a drive signal for rotating each motor is input from the CPU 131 to a drive circuit corresponding to a predetermined motor, a drive current corresponding to the drive signal is output from the drive circuit to the corresponding motor. This causes the corresponding motor to rotate. That is, the control unit 130 controls each of the motors 171, 172, and 173.

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

When the control unit 130 records an image on the paper 12, the transfer motor 171 controls the transfer roller pair 25 and the discharge roller pair 27 to alternately repeat the transfer and stop of the sheet 12 for a predetermined line feed. Let the process be executed.

The control unit 130 executes the ejection process while the paper 12 is stopped in the intermittent transfer process. The ejection process is a process of controlling the power supply to the piezoelectric element 56 while moving the carriage 22 along the left-right direction 9 to eject ink droplets from the nozzle 29. An image is recorded on the paper 12 by repeating the intermittent transfer process and the discharge process.

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

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

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

At this time, the control unit 130 needs to replace the ink cartridge 30 because the ink stored in the ink cartridge 30 is low or the ink stored in the ink cartridge 30 is exhausted. This is notified to the user by displaying it on the display 200 (see FIG. 1), turning on the LED, or emitting a buzzer sound.

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

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

[Action and effect of this embodiment]
In the usage posture of the multifunction device 10, the storage chamber 160 is located to the right of the transport path 17, and the carriage 22 can move in the left-right direction 9. The multifunction device 10 is rotated 90 degrees from the use posture, and the multifunction device 10 is placed in the lower left side posture in which the storage chamber 160 is located above the transport path 17 (the left side of the housing 14 in the use posture is the lower surface). When installed in the posture of the multifunction device 10 when it is installed), the carriage 22 is in a state of being movable in the vertical direction 7 in the posture of lowering the left surface. Here, when the carriage 22 is located below the multifunction device 10 in the lower left position, the recording head 21 mounted on the carriage 22 is located below the storage chamber 160. If the storage chamber 160 is filled with ink in this state, the ink stored in the storage chamber 160 may flow out to the recording head 21 due to the water head pressure, and the ink may flow out from the recording head 21.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the communication port 128 of the storage chamber 160 communicates with the storage chamber 160 at a position to the right of the center of the storage chamber 160 in the left-right direction 9. Further, the storage chamber 160 is provided with a predetermined space at the upper part in the usage posture. In the usage posture, air is stored in the predetermined space. As a result, when the multifunction device 10 changes its posture from the usage posture to the left lower posture, the air stored in the predetermined space in the usage posture is left of the center of the storage chamber 160 in the left-right direction 9 in the left lower posture. Will be located in. Then, the air located to the left of the center of the storage chamber 160 in the left-right direction 9 in the left-side lower posture moves to the upper part of the storage chamber 160 in the left-side lower posture. Here, when the multifunction device 10 changes its posture from the use posture to the lower left side posture, the communication port 128 communicates with the upper part of the storage chamber 160 in the lower left side posture. Therefore, the air that has moved to the upper part of the storage chamber 160 in the lower left posture flows out from the communication port 128.

Here, the predetermined space is a space above the liquid level in a state where the amount of ink whose liquid level is at the position P2 (see FIG. 6) is stored in the storage chamber 160. Further, the volume of the predetermined space is larger than the volume of the ink distribution space between the communication port 128 and the nozzle 29. Therefore, when the ink of the above amount or less is stored in the storage chamber 160, the distribution space is filled with the air flowing out from the communication port 128. Therefore, since the difference in head pressure between the storage chamber 160 and the recording head 21 is eliminated, it is possible to prevent the ink from flowing out from the communication port 128. Further, even when more ink than the above amount is stored in the storage chamber 160, the outflow of ink from the communication port 128 can be suppressed to the amount of difference from the above amount.

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

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

Further, according to the present embodiment, when the multifunction device 10 changes its posture from the usage posture to the lower left side posture, the second space 182 is located at the upper end of the storage chamber 160, and the third space 183 is from the second space 182. Is also located below. As a result, in the lower left posture, the air in the buffer space 180 moves to the first space 181 via the second space 182, and the ink in the first space 181 moves to the buffer space 180 via the third space 183. do. In this way, the movement of air and ink can be promoted.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the right end of the first space 181 is located to the right of the right end of the second space 182. The communication port 128 is formed in the lower part of the left surface (see FIG. 7) of the side wall 165 that partitions the portion to the right of the right end of the second space 182 in the first space 181. Then, when the multifunction device 10 changes its posture from the use posture to the lower left side posture, the communication port 128 is located above the second space 182. As a result, even when the liquid surface of the ink abuts on the surface partitioning the second space 182 by surface tension, the possibility that the liquid surface of the ink abuts on the lower part of the left surface of the side wall 165 due to surface tension can be reduced. As a result, the outflow from the ink communication port 128 can be suppressed.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the volume of the predetermined space is larger than the volume of the portion to the right of the left end of the communication port 128 in the storage chamber 160. Therefore, when the amount of ink that is equal to or less than the liquid level (position P2 is the liquid level) at the same height as the communication port 184 in the use posture is stored in the storage chamber 160, the compound machine 10 is in the lower left side posture from the use posture. When the posture changes to, the communication port 128 becomes above the liquid level of the ink. As a result, it is possible to prevent the ink from entering the communication port 128. Further, when more ink than the above amount is stored in the storage chamber 160 in the use posture, even if the multifunction device 10 changes its posture from the use posture to the lower left side posture, the ink that enters the communication port 128 enters the communication port 128. Can be suppressed to the amount of difference from the above amount.

Further, when the attitude of the multifunction device 10 changes from the usage posture to the lower left side posture, when the liquid level of the ink comes into contact with the lower part of the left side surface (see FIG. 7) of the side wall 165 due to surface tension, the ink communicates from the contacted portion. There is a risk of entering 128. According to the present embodiment, the distance between the liquid surface of the ink and the lower part of the left surface of the side wall 165 when the multifunction device 10 is in the lower left surface position is longer than the surface tension length. Therefore, since the liquid surface of the ink does not come into contact with the lower part of the left surface of the side wall 165 due to surface tension, the above-mentioned intrusion can be prevented.

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

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

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

Further, according to the present embodiment, when the posture of the composite machine 10 is changed from the usage posture to the lower left posture, as shown in FIG. 8, when the liquid level of the ink is located in the vicinity of the right wall 186, For example, when the liquid level of the ink is at position P5, the liquid level comes into contact with the right wall 186 due to surface tension. As a result, foaming due to vibration of the multifunction device 10 can be suppressed.

Further, when the posture of the multifunction device 10 is changed from the usage posture to the lower left posture, if the liquid level of the ink is located below the right wall 186, the generated bubbles flow out to the communication port 128 on the right wall 186. Is blocked by. Thereby, the outflow of bubbles to the communication port 128 can be reduced.

Further, when the posture of the compound machine 10 is changed from the usage posture to the lower left side posture, when the liquid level of the ink is located above the right wall 186, the ink located below the right wall 186 is mixed with the gas. Instead, only the ink located above the right wall 186 is mixed with gas. That is, the amount of liquid mixed with the gas can be reduced. As a result, the generation of bubbles can be suppressed.

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

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

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

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

Further, in the usage posture of the multifunction device 10, the storage chamber 160 is located in front of the nozzle 29. The multifunction device 10 is installed so that the storage chamber 160 is located above the nozzle 29 in a rear-facing downward posture (the rear surface of the housing 14 in the usage posture is the lower surface) when the multifunction device 10 is rotated 90 degrees from the usage posture. When the multifunction device 10 is installed in the posture of the multifunction device 10), the liquid stored in the storage chamber 160 may flow out from the communication port 128 to the recording head 21 due to the water head pressure, and ink may flow out from the recording head 21. ..

In the present embodiment, in the usage posture of the multifunction device 10, the air communication space is located above the liquid storage space. When the attitude of the multifunction device 10 changes from the posture in which it is used to the attitude below the rear surface, the atmospheric communication space is aligned with the liquid storage space in the horizontal direction. As a result, the liquid stored in the liquid storage space flows into the atmospheric communication space. As a result, it is possible to reduce the outflow of the ink stored in the storage chamber 160 from the communication port 128 in the usage posture.

Further, when the multifunction device 10 changes its posture from the usage posture to the rearward downward posture, the ink stored in the storage chamber 57 penetrates into the storage chamber 160 through the ink supply port 71, and the ink that has penetrated into the storage chamber 160 has a head pressure. There is a possibility that ink may flow out from the communication port 128 to the recording head 21 and ink may flow out from the recording head 21.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the storage chamber 57 is divided into a storage chamber 32, a storage chamber 33, and an ink valve chamber 35 by a lower wall 45. As a result, when the multifunction device 10 is installed in the rear surface downward posture, the ink stored in the storage chamber 32 is below the gap 45A formed in the lower wall 45 in the rear surface lower posture (rear in the usage posture). Since the ink stored in the portion located in the above cannot move to the storage chamber 33 side and the ink valve chamber 35 side, there is no possibility that the ink will infiltrate into the storage chamber 160. As a result, the amount of ink that penetrates into the storage chamber 160 can be reduced.

Further, when the posture of the compound machine 10 changes from the usage posture to the rear lower posture, the ink that may flow out from the communication port 128 to the recording head 21 is stored in the storage chamber 32 and the ink valve chamber 35. Of the ink stored in the chamber 32, the ink stored in the portion located above the gap 45A (front in the usage posture) in the rear surface lower posture, and the ink stored in the liquid storage space, which is higher than the communication port 128. It is the ink stored in the upper part (in front of the communication port 128 in the use posture) in the rear surface lower posture.

In the present embodiment, the volume of the portion of the air communication space behind the communication port 128, that is, the volume of the portion 121 shown by hatching in FIG. 11, is the volume of the storage chamber 32, the volume of the ink valve chamber 35, and the liquid. It is larger than the total volume of the portion of the storage space in front of the communication port 128, that is, the volume of the portion 122 shown by hatching in FIG. As a result, the amount of ink flowing out from the communication port 128 can be reduced when the attitude of the multifunction device 10 changes from the posture in which it is used to the posture below the rear surface.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the gap 45A is the maximum amount of liquid level defined so that it can be stored in the storage chamber 57 when the multifunction device 10 is installed in the rear surface downward posture (see position P6, FIG. 14). It is located above (front in the usage posture). Therefore, the ink stored in the storage chamber 32 does not penetrate into the storage chamber 160, and only the ink stored in the storage chamber 33 and the ink valve chamber 35 penetrates into the storage chamber 160. As a result, the amount of ink that penetrates from the storage chamber 57 into the storage chamber 160 can be reduced when the posture of the multifunction device 10 changes from the usage posture to the rearward downward posture.

Further, according to the present embodiment, when the multifunction device 10 changes its posture from the use posture to the rear surface lower posture, the through hole 119 is located below the communication port 128. As a result, the ink reaches the through hole 119 when the posture of the multifunction device 10 changes from the posture in which it is used to the posture below the rear surface. However, in the present embodiment, the semipermeable membrane 118 attached to the through hole 119 can prevent the ink from leaking to the outside.

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

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

In the same manner as described above, it is possible to reduce leakage of ink stored in the storage chambers 160C and 160Y from the recording head 21.

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

Therefore, when the multifunction device 10 changes its posture from the usage posture to the left side lower posture, the lower wall 45 is in a state of extending upward from the inner surface of the left side wall 38 (which is the bottom surface in the left side lower posture). Further, the lower end of the gap 45A is located above the lower end of the through hole 46.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In the above modification, when the multifunction device 10 changes its posture from the usage posture to the rear surface lower posture, the through hole 119 is located above the communication port 128. As a result, when the attitude of the multifunction device 10 changes from the posture in which it is used to the posture below the rear surface, the possibility that ink leaks from the communication port 128 to the outside can be reduced.

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

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

In the above embodiment, the multifunction device 10 is configured so that the ink cartridge 30 can be mounted. Then, the ink cartridge 30 was replaced, so that the ink was replenished in the multifunction device 10. However, the multifunction device 10 may include a tank provided with an injection port instead of the ink cartridge 30. In this case, the tank is used as a main tank and has the same configuration as the ink cartridge 30 described above. Further, the tank 103 communicates with the main tank and is used as a sub tank. Further, when the amount of ink stored in the main tank is low, new ink is injected from the injection port. Further, the main tank may be fixed to the housing 14 of the multifunction device 10 or may be detachable from the housing 14.

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

In the above embodiment, it has been detected that the liquid level of the ink stored in the storage chamber 160 is below the position P2 due to the rotation of the rotating member 50 arranged in the storage chamber 160 of each tank 103. However, the detection may be performed by a method other than the rotation of the rotating member 50.

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

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

Further, for example, two electrodes may be arranged in the storage chamber 160 of each tank 103. The two electrodes are mounted on the substrate 60. The lower end of one of the two electrodes is located slightly higher than the position P2. The other lower end of the two electrodes is located below position P2. Then, it may be detected whether or not the liquid level of the ink stored in the storage chamber 160 is equal to or lower than the position P2 based on whether or not a current flows between the two electrodes through the ink. In this case, the two electrodes correspond to the detected portion. Further, in this case, the portion (circuit) for detecting the current mounted on the substrate corresponds to the detecting portion for detecting the detected portion. The state change of the detected portion is a change in the energized state between the two electrodes which are the detected portions.

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

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

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

In the above embodiment, the ink is described as an example of a liquid. For example, instead of the ink, a pretreatment liquid that is ejected to paper or the like prior to the ink at the time of image recording is stored in the ink cartridge 30 or the tank 103. You may be. Further, water for cleaning the recording head 21 may be stored in the ink cartridge 30 or the tank 103.

10 ... Multifunction device 12 ... Paper 17 ... Transport path 20 ... Ink tube 21 ... Recording head 22 ... Carriage 25 ... Transport roller vs. 27 ... Discharge roller vs. 29 ...・ ・ Nozzle 30 ・ ・ ・ Ink cartridge 32 ・ ・ ・ Storage room 33 ・ ・ ・ Storage room 34 ・ ・ ・ Ink supply unit 45 ・ ・ ・ Lower wall 45A ・ ・ ・ Gap 49 ・ ・ ・ Step wall 57 ・ ・ ・ Storage Room 61 ... Air flow path 62 ... Buffer space 71 ... Ink supply port 103 ... Tank 107 ... Connection 118 ... Semi-transparent film 119 ... Through hole 124 ... Atmosphere Communication port 128 ... Communication port 147 ... Atmospheric flow path 160 ... Storage chamber 180 ... Buffer space 181 ... First space 182 ... Second space 184 ... Communication port

Claims (10)

A first storage chamber for storing liquids, and a first tank having a first air communication unit that communicates the first storage chamber with the atmosphere.
A communication port that communicates with the first storage chamber, a second storage chamber that communicates with the communication port and stores liquid, and a second storage chamber that communicates with the atmosphere through a route different from that of the first atmospheric communication unit. 2 An air communication part, a second tank having a liquid outlet for flowing liquid from the second storage chamber, and a second tank.
A transport mechanism that transports sheets along a transport path that extends in the depth direction orthogonal to the vertical direction,
A carriage that is located above the transport path and moves in the width direction orthogonal to the vertical direction and the depth direction.
A head mounted on the carriage, communicating with the liquid outlet via the flow path, and having a nozzle for discharging the liquid supplied from the liquid outlet through the flow path toward the transport path. , Equipped with
The second storage chamber is located in the first direction, which is one of the depth directions of the nozzle, and in the second direction, which is one of the width directions of the transport path.
The liquid outlet is below the center of the second storage chamber in the vertical direction, is in the first direction from the center of the second storage chamber in the depth direction, and is in the second storage chamber. The liquid is discharged from the second storage chamber at a position facing the second direction from the center in the width direction.
The second storage chamber is the other side above the liquid level and in the width direction above the liquid outlet in a state where an amount of liquid having a liquid level at the same height as the communication port is stored. With a predetermined space in the third direction,
An image recording device in which the volume of the predetermined space is larger than the volume of the liquid flow space between the liquid outlet and the nozzle. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a liquid level detection unit that detects the height of the liquid level of the liquid stored in the second storage chamber. The second storage chamber includes a buffer space provided in the predetermined space, a first space located below the buffer space and communicating with the liquid outlet, the buffer space, and the first space. With a second space to connect,
The image recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second space is connected to the end of the buffer space in the second direction. The image recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second storage chamber further includes a third space connecting the buffer space and the first space in the third direction rather than the second space. The second-facing end of the first space is located in the second direction with respect to the second-facing end of the second space.
The image recording apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the liquid outlet is formed on a surface that partitions a portion of the first space that faces the second direction more than the second space. The image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the volume of the buffer space is smaller than the volume of the liquid in a state where the specified maximum amount of liquid is stored in the second storage chamber. A plurality of the first tanks arranged side by side in the width direction,
A plurality of the second tanks arranged side by side in the width direction corresponding to each of the plurality of the first tanks are provided.
The buffer space of the predetermined second tank of the plurality of the second tanks, and the second tank of the plurality of the second tanks located adjacent to the predetermined second tank in the third direction. The image recording device according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the liquid outlet is a position where the positions in the width direction overlap. The image recording according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the volume of the predetermined space is larger than the volume of the second-facing portion of the second storage chamber, which is larger than the volume of the third-facing end of the liquid outlet. Device. The liquid outlet is formed on a section screen that partitions the second facing end of the second storage chamber.
The volume of the predetermined space is larger than the volume of the second facing portion at a position separated by the surface tension length in the third direction from the ward screen in the second storage chamber.
The surface tension length is such that the liquid level of the liquid stored in the second storage chamber is the surface tension when the image recording device is installed so that the screen of the section is the surface that partitions the upper end of the predetermined space. The image recording device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, which is the maximum distance between the screen and the liquid level in the vertical direction that can come into contact with the screen. The first tank is a cartridges, provided with a supply unit for supplying the liquid stored in the first storage chamber,
The second tank communicates with the communication port and includes a connection unit that can be connected to the supply unit.
The image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the second storage chamber stores the liquid supplied from the supply unit connected to the connection unit.

Images