JP7513169B2 - Ink refill container - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an ink supply container that supplies ink to an ink tank that stores ink to be supplied to a recording device, and an ink supply system that includes such an ink supply container.

Conventionally, a recording device that ejects ink onto a medium to perform recording has an ink tank that stores ink inside and is connected in a state in which the ink can be supplied. When the ink remaining in the ink tank in such a recording device becomes low, ink is replenished from the outside of the ink tank using an ink supply container (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2001-146021 A

However, the task of refilling ink into ink tanks needs to be done properly to prevent ink refill failures and the like, and such refilling work has traditionally been done by the user of the recording device. Therefore, to enable users to perform such ink refilling work properly, further improvements have been required, for example, in ink refill containers.

The present invention was made in consideration of these circumstances, and its purpose is to provide an ink supply container that can properly supply ink to an ink tank, and an ink supply system that includes such an ink supply container.

The means for solving the above problems and their effects will be described below.
An ink supply container that solves the above problem is an ink supply container that supplies ink to an ink tank having an ink inlet flow path portion and an ink chamber communicating with the ink inlet flow path portion, and comprises: a container main body portion having an ink storage chamber capable of storing ink to be supplied to the ink tank; an ink outlet forming portion provided at an end of the container main body portion and having an ink outlet formed therein that allows the ink to flow out of the ink storage chamber; a valve provided on the ink outlet forming portion for sealing the ink outlet so that it can be opened and closed; and a positioning portion that abuts against a part of the ink tank side when the valve is open, thereby positioning the valve relative to the ink tank, the positioning portion being located on the opposite side to the side on which the container main body portion is located with respect to the valve, and having a positioning surface that extends in a direction intersecting the central axis of the ink outlet, and the positioning surface abuts against the part of the ink tank side when the ink inlet flow path portion of the ink tank is inserted into the ink outlet and the valve is open.

According to this configuration, when the ink supply container is moved toward the ink tank and the ink inlet flow path of the ink tank is inserted into the ink outlet to open the valve, the positioning surface moves toward the ink tank before the valve. Therefore, for example, if the ink tank is provided with a configuration capable of guiding the movement of the positioning surface in the direction in which the ink inlet flow path is inserted into the ink outlet, it becomes easier to guide the ink inlet flow path relative to the valve. Furthermore, when the positioning surface of the ink supply container abuts against a part of the ink tank side during ink supply to the ink tank, the position is stabilized in the direction intersecting the central axis of the ink outlet, making it easier to supply ink and allowing the ink tank to be properly supplied with ink.

In the ink supply container, it is preferable that the positioning surface is located on the opposite side of the ink outlet from the container main body in a direction along a central axis of the ink outlet.
According to this configuration, when the ink inlet flow passage part on the ink tank side is inserted into the ink outlet of the ink supply container, the positioning surface approaches the ink tank before the ink outlet. Therefore, when the ink supply container is brought close to the ink tank, it is easy to prevent the ink outlet from colliding with other members. This also makes it easy to prevent damage to the ink outlet and adhesion of ink to other members.

In the ink supply container, it is preferable that the positioning surface is formed at a tip of a tubular portion that opens the ink outlet toward the outside at an end of the ink outlet forming portion.
According to this configuration, the positioning surface can be formed on the cylindrical portion that is part of the ink outlet forming portion together with the ink outlet, so that the structure can be made simpler than if the positioning surface were formed on a protrusion or the like provided in a location separate from the ink outlet.

Another ink supply container that solves the above problem is an ink supply container that supplies ink to an ink tank having an ink inlet flow path and an ink chamber that communicates with the ink inlet flow path, and includes a container body having an ink storage chamber that can store the ink to be supplied to the ink tank, an ink outlet forming part that is provided at the end of the container body and has an ink outlet that allows the ink to flow out of the ink storage chamber, a valve that is provided at the ink outlet forming part and seals the ink outlet so that it can be opened and closed, and a positioning part that abuts against a part of the ink tank side when the valve is open and positions the valve with respect to the ink tank, the ink outlet being formed in a cylindrical part that is a part of the ink outlet forming part, the positioning part having a positioning surface that extends in a direction intersecting the central axis of the ink outlet with a gap provided between the positioning surface and the outer surface of the cylindrical part, and the positioning surface abuts against the part of the ink tank side when the ink inlet flow path of the ink tank is inserted into the ink outlet and the valve is open.

With this configuration, when ink is refilled from the ink refill container to the ink tank, the positioning surface extending in a direction intersecting the central axis of the ink outlet abuts against a part of the ink tank, allowing ink to be refilled appropriately in a stable state. In addition, ink adhering to the ink outlet or positioning surface can be drawn into the gap, potentially reducing ink dripping and external contamination.

In the above-mentioned ink supply container, it is preferable that the area of the positioning surface that abuts against a part of the ink tank side on the side farther from the ink outlet in a direction intersecting the central axis of the ink outlet is larger than the area of the positioning surface that abuts against a part of the ink tank side on the side closer to the ink outlet.

According to this configuration, in an ink replenishing state in which the ink inlet channel portion is inserted into the ink outlet to open the valve, it is possible to improve the stability of the attitude of the ink outlet.
Another ink supply container that solves the above problem is an ink supply container that supplies ink to an ink tank having an ink inlet flow path portion and an ink chamber communicating with the ink inlet flow path portion, and comprises: a container main body portion having an ink storage chamber capable of storing ink to be supplied to the ink tank; an ink outlet forming portion provided at an end of the container main body portion and having an ink outlet formed therein that allows the ink to flow out of the ink storage chamber; a valve provided in the ink outlet forming portion for sealing the ink outlet so that it can be opened and closed; and a positioning portion that abuts against a part of the ink tank side when the valve is open, thereby positioning the valve relative to the ink tank, the positioning portion having a positioning surface that is inclined or curved in a direction intersecting the central axis of the ink outlet, and the positioning surface abuts against the part of the ink tank side when the ink inlet flow path portion of the ink tank is inserted into the ink outlet and the valve is open.

With this configuration, when replenishing ink from the ink replenishing container to the ink tank, the ink replenishing container can be positioned in both directions along the central axis of the ink outlet and perpendicular to the central axis, allowing ink to be replenished appropriately.

In the above-mentioned ink supply container, the positioning surface is inclined or curved in a direction gradually moving away from the central axis in a direction from the ink outlet toward the container body.
According to this configuration, when the ink inlet channel portion is inserted into or removed from the ink outlet, the ink supply container can be gradually guided along the inclined or curved positioning surface.

In the ink supply container, it is preferable that the positioning portion is provided on a portion exposed to the outside of at least one of the ink outlet forming portion and the container body.
With this configuration, when inserting the ink inlet flow passage of the ink tank into the ink outlet of the ink supply container, the positioning portion is easily visible from the outside. Also, when the positioning portion is provided on the portion of the container body that is exposed to the outside, the container body containing the ink is positioned, and therefore the heavy portion is positioned, resulting in a stable ink supply posture.

Another ink supply container that solves the above problem is an ink supply container that supplies ink to an ink tank having an ink inlet flow path and an ink chamber that communicates with the ink inlet flow path, and is provided with a container main body having an ink storage chamber that can store the ink to be supplied to the ink tank, an ink outlet forming part provided at an end of the container main body and having an ink outlet that allows the ink to flow out of the ink storage chamber, a valve provided in the ink outlet forming part that seals the ink outlet so that it can be opened and closed, and a positioning part that abuts against a part of the ink tank side when the valve is opened to position the valve relative to the ink tank, and the positioning part is provided inside the ink outlet.

With this configuration, the positioning part is protected inside the ink outlet, making it less susceptible to damage, compared to when it is provided outside the ink outlet. Also, because the positioning part is close to the valve inside the ink outlet, the valve can be positioned with high precision relative to the ink tank. Furthermore, even if ink adheres to the positioning part, it is located inside the ink outlet, making it difficult for ink to adhere to the outside of the ink supply container.

The ink supply system that solves the above problem includes an ink tank having an ink inlet flow path and an ink chamber that communicates with the ink inlet flow path, an ink supply container configured as described above, and a positioning assistance member that is located between the positioning portion and the part of the ink tank when the valve of the ink supply container is positioned relative to the ink tank via the positioning portion, and mediates the contact between the positioning portion and the part of the ink tank.

With this configuration, when refilling ink from the ink refill container to the ink tank, the positioning assistance member can be used to perform appropriate positioning for various ink tanks.

In the above ink supply system, the positioning assistance member is preferably made of an ink absorbing material capable of absorbing ink.
According to this configuration, the ink absorbent material can absorb the impact when the positioning portion of the ink supply container abuts against a part of the ink tank. Also, because the ink absorbent material absorbs the ink, dripping and splashing can be reduced when the ink supply container is removed.

Another ink supply container that solves the above problem is an ink supply container that supplies ink to an ink tank having an ink inlet flow path and an ink chamber that communicates with the ink inlet flow path, and includes a container main body having an ink storage chamber capable of storing the ink to be supplied to the ink tank, an ink outlet forming part provided at an end of the container main body and having an ink outlet that allows the ink to flow out of the ink storage chamber, a valve provided in the ink outlet forming part that seals the ink outlet so that it can be opened and closed, and a positioning part that abuts against a part of the ink tank side when the valve is opened to position the valve relative to the ink tank.

With this configuration, when the positioning portion of the ink supply container abuts against a part of the ink tank during ink supply, the valve that opens and closes the ink outlet is positioned relative to the ink tank. This makes ink supply easier and allows ink to be properly supplied to the ink tank.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a recording apparatus in a see-through state. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an ink supply unit provided in a housing of the recording apparatus. FIG. FIG. 4 is a partially broken cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. FIG. 5 is a partially broken cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an ink supply container according to the first embodiment. FIG. FIG. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10-10 in FIG. 9 . 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 11-11 in FIG. 9 . FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway front view showing the ink supply system immediately before an ink supply operation. FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway side view showing the ink supply system immediately before an ink supply operation. FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway front view showing the ink supply system during ink supply operation. FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway side view showing the ink refill system during an ink refill operation. FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway front view showing the ink supply system in a positioned state. FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway side view showing the ink supply system in a positioned state. FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view of an ink supply container according to a second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a partial plan view of the ink supply unit during ink replenishment in the second embodiment. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along line F20-F20 in FIG. 19 . FIG. 13 is a partial perspective view of an ink supply container according to a third embodiment. FIG. 13 is a partially cutaway side view showing an ink supply system according to a third embodiment. FIG. 13 is a partial perspective view of an ink supply container according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. 13 is a partial perspective view of an ink supply container according to a fifth embodiment. FIG. 13 is a partially cutaway side view showing an ink supply system according to a fifth embodiment. FIG. 13 is a partially cutaway side view showing an ink supply system according to a sixth embodiment. FIG. 13 is a partially cutaway side view showing an ink supply system according to a seventh embodiment. FIG. 23 is a partially cutaway side view showing an ink supply system according to an eighth embodiment. FIG. 13 is a partially cutaway side view showing an ink supply system according to a ninth embodiment. FIG. 23 is a partially cutaway side view showing an ink supply system according to a tenth embodiment. FIG. 23 is a perspective view of an ink supply unit according to an eleventh embodiment. FIG. 23 is a partial plan view of the ink supply unit during ink replenishment in the eleventh embodiment. A cross-sectional view taken along line F33-F33 in Figure 32. FIG. 23 is a partially cutaway front view showing an ink supply system according to a twelfth embodiment. FIG. 23 is a partially cutaway side view showing an ink supply system according to a thirteenth embodiment.

First Embodiment
A first embodiment of an ink supply system including an ink tank and an ink supply container in a recording device will be described below with reference to the drawings. The recording device of this embodiment is an inkjet printer that records (prints) an image or the like on a medium by ejecting ink onto the medium. In addition, in the drawings, a recording device having a predetermined height in the up-down direction, a predetermined width in the left-right direction, and a predetermined depth in the front-to-back direction is placed on a horizontal plane. In each drawing, arrows indicate the up-down direction along a vertical line, the left-to-right direction along the horizontal plane perpendicular to the vertical line, and the front-to-back direction along the horizontal plane perpendicular to both the up-down direction and the left-to-right direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, the recording device 21 includes a rectangular parallelepiped housing 22 with the left-right direction as the longitudinal direction. FIG. 1 shows a simplified view of the inside of the housing 22 of the recording device 21 in a see-through state. A support table 23 with the left-right direction as the longitudinal direction is provided in the lower part of the housing 22 toward the rear, with its upper surface aligned approximately horizontally. Paper P, which is an example of a medium, is supported on the upper surface of the support table 23 and transported forward in the transport direction. A guide shaft 24 extending in the left-right direction is installed above the support table 23 in the housing 22, and a carriage 26 having a recording head 25 on its lower surface that ejects ink is supported on the guide shaft 24. That is, the carriage 26 is supported so as to be freely movable back and forth in the left-right direction relative to the guide shaft 24 with the guide shaft 24 inserted through a support hole 27 penetrating in the left-right direction.

A drive pulley 28 and a driven pulley 29 are rotatably supported in the housing 22 at positions near both ends of the guide shaft 24. The output shaft of a carriage motor 30 is connected to the drive pulley 28, and an endless timing belt 31, a part of which is connected to the carriage 26, is wound between the drive pulley 28 and the driven pulley 29. When the carriage 26 is driven by the carriage motor 30 and guided by the guide shaft 24 via the timing belt 31 to move back and forth along the left-right direction, which is the scanning direction for the paper P, ink is ejected from the recording head 25 on the underside of the carriage 26 onto the paper P, which is transported forward on the support base 23.

As shown in FIG. 1, a rectangular discharge port 32 is opened at a position on the front side of the housing 22 in front of the support base 23, which discharges paper P, on which recording has been performed by ejecting ink from the recording head 25 as the paper is transported on the support base 23 inside the housing 22, to the front. A rectangular plate-shaped discharge tray 33 capable of supporting paper P discharged from inside the housing 22 is provided at the discharge port 32 so as to be freely retractable forward, which is the discharge direction. A paper feed cassette 34 capable of storing multiple sheets of paper P used for recording in a stacked state is attached to the lower side of the discharge tray 33 inside the discharge port 32 so as to be freely inserted and removed in the front-rear direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, on the front of the housing 22, at a position closer to the left-right end than the exhaust port 32 (the right end in FIG. 1), there is an opening/closing door 35 whose front and top are rectangular and whose right side is a right-angled triangle, and which can be opened and closed in the front-rear direction around a rotation axis 36 at the bottom of the opening/closing door 35 that runs along the left-right direction. A window 37 made of a rectangular transparent member is formed on the front of the opening/closing door 35, so that the user can see inside the housing 22 (particularly the back side of the front of the opening/closing door 35) when the opening/closing door 35 is closed.

In the housing 22 of the recording device 21, an ink supply unit 40 that supplies ink to the recording head 25 is housed behind the opening and closing door 35, i.e., near the front and toward the end (in this case, toward the right end). The ink supply unit 40 is a structure that includes multiple (five in this embodiment) ink tanks 41-45 and can be handled as a unit, and as will be described later, each of the ink tanks 41-45 can be replenished with ink.

2 and 3, the ink supply unit 40 includes five ink tanks 41 to 45 in a deformed box shape that is long in the front-rear direction, five ink supply tubes 46 drawn out from the rear side of each ink tank 41 to 45, and a rectangular ink supply adapter 47 to which the ink tanks 41 to 45 are assembled together. The ink supply adapter 47 is integrated with the ink tanks 41 to 45 by being assembled to a step portion 48 cut out and formed in the upper front half of all the ink tanks 41 to 45 when all the ink tanks 41 to 45 are arranged side by side with the thickness direction being the left-right direction. As shown in FIG. 1, the ink supply tubes 46 drawn out from the ink tanks 41 to 45 are connected to an ink flow path (not shown) formed in the carriage 26, and are connected to the recording head 25 through the ink flow path. The ink supply adapter 47 may be a part of the housing 22 that covers the ink tanks 41 to 45, or may be formed integrally with the ink tanks 41 to 45.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the ink tanks 41 to 45 each have an ink chamber 49 capable of storing ink IK therein. In this embodiment, black ink is stored in the ink chamber 49 of the ink tank 41 located at the right end in the horizontal arrangement direction. In addition, inks of colors other than black (cyan, magenta, yellow, etc.) are stored in the ink chambers 49 of the other ink tanks 42 to 45 arranged to the left of the right end ink tank 41 in the horizontal arrangement direction. In addition, a visibility portion 50 made of transparent resin that enables the liquid level of the ink IK in the ink chamber 49 to be visible is provided in the front wall portion of the ink tanks 41 to 45 that is visible through the window portion 37 on the front surface of the housing 22. The visible portion 50 is marked with an upper limit mark 51 that indicates the upper limit of the liquid level of the ink IK stored in the ink chamber 49 (an example of an indication of the amount of ink that can be injected without the ink overflowing from the ink inlet 53) and a lower limit mark 52 that indicates the lower limit (for example, an indication to encourage refilling of ink).

As shown in FIG. 4, an ink inlet 53 that allows ink to flow from the outside into the ink chamber 49 is provided above the horizontal portion of the step portion 48 in the ink tanks 41 to 45. The ink inlet 53 includes a needle 56 that is an example of an ink inlet flow path portion that extends vertically upward and has flow paths 54, 55 that communicate the inside of the ink chamber 49 with the outside. Inside the cylindrical needle 56, two flow paths 54, 55 are partitioned by a partition wall formed at the center position in the front-to-rear direction so as to extend in the up-down direction. Therefore, the flow paths 54, 55 in this embodiment are formed with approximately the same height and cross-sectional area at the tip opening. In addition, a remaining amount sensor 57 for detecting the remaining amount of ink IK in the ink chamber 49 is provided at the lower rear part of the ink chamber 49. In addition, the remaining amount sensor 57 does not have to be provided.

As shown in Figures 2 to 5, the ink supply adapter 47 has an upper surface 58 that is a horizontal surface that is perpendicular to (intersects with) the direction in which the needle 56 extends, and a through hole 60 that penetrates vertically to the lower surface 59 is formed on the upper surface 58 as an ink inlet forming portion. This through hole 60 consists of a circular ink inlet 53 with the needle 56 located in the center, and a pair of rectangular holes connected to the front and rear of the ink inlet 53, and the lower opening is blocked by the horizontal part of the step portion 48 that protrudes the needle 56 upward in the ink tanks 41 to 45.

Therefore, in the through hole 60, a pair of front and rear rectangular holes with the lower openings blocked form a pair of front and rear recesses 61 that open to the upper side, which is the direction in which the needle 56 extends, recessed vertically downward in the depth direction so as to be point symmetrical about the ink inlet 53. In other words, in the ink supply adapter 47 integrated with the ink tanks 41 to 45, a plurality of recesses 61 (two pairs of front and rear recesses in this case) that are point symmetrical about the ink inlet 53 are formed in the area outside the ink inlet 53 including the needle 56. In this case, the tip of the needle 56 located at the center of the circular ink inlet 53 is located closer to the ink chamber 49 than the top surface 58 of the ink supply adapter 47, which is the opening edge of the through hole 60 that includes the ink inlet 53 and the recesses 61. That is, the upper surface 58 of the ink supply adapter 47 extends in a direction intersecting the extension direction of the needle 56 at a position outside the tip of the needle 56 in the direction in which the needle 56 extends. Meanwhile, the lower surface 59 of the ink supply adapter 47 functions as a tank engagement portion that collectively engages from above the multiple ink tanks 41 to 45 that are arranged side by side in the left-right direction.

In addition, the upper opening edge of each through hole 60 on the upper surface 58 of the ink supply adapter 47 is colored in a specific color. That is, it is colored in the same color as the ink stored in the ink chamber 49 of the ink tank 41 to 45 into which the ink flows in through the ink inlet 53 of the through hole 60. In this respect, the upper opening edge of each through hole 60 in the ink supply adapter 47 functions as a first part that shows to the outside information related to the ink stored inside the ink tank 41 to 45 whose ink chamber 49 communicates with the ink inlet 53 of the through hole 60. Incidentally, the upper opening edge of the through hole 60 in which the ink inlet 53 communicating with the ink chamber 49 of the ink tank 41 that stores black ink is located is colored black.

In addition, on the inner surface of the recess 61 (specifically, the inner surface along the vertical direction), at a position closer to the bottom surface side (i.e., the horizontal part side of the step portion 48) than the upper opening edge of the recess 61, a first uneven portion (first key structure portion) 62 having a characteristic uneven shape in the horizontal direction is provided so as to extend along the depth direction of the recess 61 (in other words, the direction of the central axis of the ink inlet 53). As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the first uneven portion 62 is provided for each of the ink inlets 53 of the multiple ink tanks 41 to 45 (five in this embodiment). Therefore, in the ink supply adapter 47, the rectangular recess 61 in each through hole 60 formed at a position corresponding to each ink tank 41 to 45 in the vertical direction has a first uneven portion 62 different from the first uneven portion 62 provided on the inner surface of the recess 61 of the other through hole 60 for each through hole 60 formed therein. That is, these first uneven portions 62 function as identification portions that allow identification of ink supply containers 63 (see FIG. 6, etc.) that have ink outlets 65 (see FIG. 6, etc.) that are connected to ink inlets 53 in through holes 60 in which the first uneven portions 62 are formed. Note that "a position that is closer to the bottom than the upper opening edge of the recess 61" means that it is sufficient for the position to be slightly recessed from the opening edge toward the bottom.

Next, we will explain the ink supply container 63, which constitutes an ink supply system together with the ink tanks 41 to 45 and supplies ink to the ink tanks 41 to 45 when the ink level is low.

As shown in Figures 6 to 8, the ink supply container 63 in the first embodiment includes a cylindrical container body 64 as its main body, and an ink outlet forming portion 66 provided at the tip of the container body 64, with an ink outlet 65 formed at the tip to allow ink to flow out of the ink supply container 63. The ink outlet forming portion 66 in this embodiment is configured with a separate container attachment portion 67 that is added to surround the ink outlet 65 at a part of its tip side. The ink outlet forming portion 66 may be configured to be integral with the end of the container body 64 or may be configured to be separate. Furthermore, the container attachment portion 67 may not be a separate component added to the ink outlet forming portion 66, but may be configured to be integrally formed at the tip side of the ink outlet forming portion 66.

The ink outlet 65 of the ink outlet forming portion 66, together with the surrounding container attachment portion 67, is covered by a bottomed cylindrical cap 68, and is therefore concealed from the outside when the ink supply container 63 is stored. That is, a male thread portion 69 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical lower end of the container attachment portion 67, while a female thread portion (not shown) is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cap 68. Then, by screwing the female thread portion of the cap 68 onto the male thread portion 69 of the container attachment portion 67, the cap 68 is attached to the tip of the ink supply container 63 so as to cover the ink outlet 65.

In addition, the entire outer surface of the container attachment part 67 is colored in a specific color. That is, it is colored in the same color as the color of the ink contained in the container body part 64 to which the container attachment part 67 is attached. In this respect, the container attachment part 67 in the ink supply container 63 functions as a second part that shows information related to the ink contained inside the ink supply container 63 to the outside. Incidentally, the outer surface of the container attachment part 67 in the ink supply container 63 that contains black ink is colored black. In addition, multiple (four in this embodiment) protrusions 70 are formed at equal angular intervals (90 degree intervals as an example) on the outer circumferential surface of each base end of the container body part 64 and the cap 68. Incidentally, these protrusions 70 are formed to prevent the cylindrical ink supply container 63 from rolling. Furthermore, for example, the container body part 64 of the ink supply container 63 that contains black ink may be formed thicker than the container body part 64 of the ink supply container 63 that contains ink of other colors. In this case, the ink outlet forming portion 66 may have the same thickness and shape for black ink and other color inks.

As shown in Figs. 6 to 8, in the upper part of the cylindrical lower end where the male thread portion 69 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the container attachment portion 67, a convex portion 71 is formed in the area that is outside the ink outlet 65 in the radial direction centered on the ink outlet 65, protruding upward in the direction of the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 in the opposite direction to the direction in which the container body portion 64 is located relative to the ink outlet 65. This convex portion 71 functions as a second fitting portion that can be fitted with the concave portion 61 on the upper surface 58 of the ink supply adapter 47 as the first fitting portion when the tip of the needle 56 on the ink inlet 53 side is inserted into the ink outlet 65, and is provided in a pair sandwiching the ink outlet 65 from both sides in the radial direction (front and rear in the figure) in the same way as the pair of concave portions 61 that sandwich the ink inlet 53 from the front and rear. Note that, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the convex portion 71 is formed inward from the outer circumferential surface of the container body portion 64 in the radial direction centered on the ink outlet 65 in the ink supply container 63.

As shown in Figures 6 and 9, the outer surface of each convex portion 71 (both left and right sides in Figures 6 and 9) is formed with a second uneven portion (second key structure portion) 72 that can engage with a first uneven portion (first key structure portion) 62 formed on the inner surface of the recess 61 of the ink supply adapter 47. This second uneven portion 72 is provided to extend along the protruding direction of the convex portion 71 (in other words, the direction of the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65), and when the convex portion 71 is fitted into the recess 61 and the second uneven portion 72 is engaged with the first uneven portion 62, the ink outlet 65 of the ink supply container 63 is connected to the ink inlet 53 on the ink tank 41-45 side.

A positioning portion 73 having a planar shape perpendicular (intersecting) to the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 is provided between the cylindrical lower end of the container attachment portion 67 where the male thread portion 69 is formed and the convex portion 71 where the second uneven portion 72 is formed, so as to be located radially outward of the ink outlet 65 when the ink outlet 65 is viewed in the direction of its central axis 85. In other words, this positioning portion 73 constitutes a part of the outer surface of the container attachment portion 67, which is a part of the outer surface of the ink supply container 63, and is provided at a position closer to the container body portion 64 than the tip of the convex portion 71 in the direction of the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65. And, since this positioning portion 73 is provided in the container attachment portion 67 that is added to the ink outlet forming portion 66 in the ink supply container 63, it can be said that the positioning portion 73 is provided on the outer side of the ink outlet forming portion 66.

9, the ink outlet 65 formed in the ink outlet forming portion 66 is provided with a valve 74 made of an elastic material such as a silicon membrane that seals the ink outlet 65 in an openable and closable manner. The valve 74 is provided at a position where the positioning portion 73 is closer to the container body portion 64 in the direction of the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 (see, for example, FIG. 14). The valve 74 is provided with a plurality of slits 75 (three in this embodiment) that intersect at equal angular intervals (120 degrees apart, for example) with the center as the intersection point, and is configured to open when the slits 75 are pushed from the outside to the inside of the ink outlet 65. That is, when the tip of the needle 56 on the ink inlet 53 side is inserted into the ink outlet 65, the normally closed valve 74 is pushed inward by the tip of the needle 56 to open the valve.

At that time, the positioning portion 73 abuts against the upper surface 58 of the ink supply adapter 47, in which the through hole 60 including the ink inlet 53 and the recess 61 is formed, on the outer side of the radial direction of the ink outlet 65, and positions the valve 74 with respect to the ink tanks 41 to 45 in the direction of the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65. In this respect, the planar positioning portion 73 functions as a positioning surface extending in a direction perpendicular (intersecting) to the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65. Meanwhile, the upper surface 58 of the ink supply adapter 47 is a part of the ink tanks 41 to 45 side against which the positioning portion 73 of the ink supply container 63 abuts when the valve 74 of the ink outlet 65 of the ink supply container 63 is opened to supply ink to the ink tanks 41 to 45, and functions as a receiving surface that receives the planar positioning portion 73.

10 and 11, the container body 64 of the ink supply container 63 is a bottle-shaped member having an ink storage chamber 76 capable of storing ink IK therein, and a male screw portion 78 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the neck portion 77 at the upper end of the container body 64. On the other hand, the ink outlet forming portion 66 provided at the upper end of the container body 64 has a large diameter portion 79 located on the outer circumferential side of the neck portion 77 of the container body 64, a small diameter portion 80 which is a cylindrical portion that opens the ink outlet 65 toward the outside at the position furthest from the container body 64, and an intermediate portion 81 that connects the large diameter portion 79 and the small diameter portion 80. The ink outlet forming portion 66 is attached to the upper end of the container body 64 by screwing the female screw portion 82 formed on the inner circumferential surface of the large diameter portion 79 into the male screw portion 78 formed on the outer circumferential surface of the neck portion 77 of the container body 64.

The container attachment portion 67, which is attached to the ink outlet forming portion 66 of the ink supply container 63 so as to surround the ink outlet 65, has a cylindrical lower end portion with a male thread portion 69 formed on its outer circumferential surface, which constitutes a joint portion 83 whose lower end surface is joined to the upper end surface of the large diameter portion 79 of the ink outlet forming portion 66. This joint portion 83 is joined to the large diameter portion 79 of the ink outlet forming portion 66 by having the surface areas of its inner circumferential surface facing each other in the front-to-rear direction come into surface contact with the front outer surface and the rear outer surface of the intermediate portion 81 of the ink outlet forming portion 66.

Next, the operation of the ink supply system configured as described above will be explained, focusing on the operation when ink is supplied to the ink tanks 41 to 45 of the ink supply unit 40 using the ink supply container 63.

As a premise, as shown in FIG. 2, the ink level in the black ink tank 41 located at the far right of the multiple ink tanks 41 to 45 arranged side by side has dropped to the height of the lower limit mark 52 marked at the bottom of the visual confirmation section 50, so the following description will be given of the case where ink is refilled into this ink tank 41. It is also assumed that the ink refill container 63 used for ink refilling contains a sufficient amount of black ink, and that the cap 68 has been removed from the ink refill container 63 in advance. Furthermore, it is assumed that the shape of the second uneven portion 72 formed on the outer surface of the convex portion 71 of the ink refill container 63 matches the shape of the first uneven portion 62 formed on the inner surface of the concave portion 61 located in front of and behind the ink inlet 53 to the ink tank 41, and that it can be engaged when the convex portion 71 is inserted into the concave portion 61.

When refilling the ink tank 41 with ink, the user first rotates the opening and closing door 35 of the housing 22 from the closed state shown in FIG. 1 forward around the rotation shaft 36 to open it. Then, the top surface 58 of the ink refill adapter 47, which has the ink inlets 53 to the ink tanks 41 to 45 formed therein, of the ink supply unit 40 is exposed to the outside of the housing 22, and the user can connect the ink outlet 65 of the ink refill container 63 to the desired ink inlet 53 from above.

As shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the user holds the ink supply container 63 containing the black ink to be used for ink supply upside down so that the ink outlet 65 is located above the rightmost through hole 60 of the ink supply adapter 47. That is, the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 of the ink supply container 63 is aligned with the central axis of the ink inlet 53 of the ink tank 41 to be replenished. At this time, the user compares the color (second part) of the container attachment part 67 of the ink supply container 63 held in the hand with the color (first part) of the upper opening periphery of the through hole 60 in which the ink inlet 53 of the ink tank 41 to be replenished is provided. If the colors are the same (in this case, both are black), the user confirms that he is holding an ink supply container 63 suitable for this ink supply, and proceeds to the subsequent work of ink supply.

12 and 13, the ink supply container 63 is lowered, and the protrusion 71 of the ink supply container 63 is inserted into the recess 61 of the ink supply adapter 47 that is integral with the ink tank 41. Then, the insertion of the protrusion 71 into the recess 61 ensures that the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 coincides with the central axis of the ink inlet 53. In this case, the recess 61 is in a position that is point-symmetrical with respect to the needle 56, which is the center of the ink inlet 53, so that the protrusion 71 can be inserted into any recess 61. Therefore, there is no need to rotate the ink supply container 63 many times around the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 to check the appropriate positional relationship between the recess 61 and the protrusion 71, and the user can easily insert the protrusion 71 into the recess 61.

However, at this point, the convex portion 71 is only slightly inserted into the concave portion 61, and the tip of the needle 56 located at the center of the ink inlet 53 is inserted into the opening of the ink outlet 65 that protrudes slightly from the tip of the convex portion 71, but has not yet reached the valve 74 located deep inside the ink outlet 65. The reason for this is that, as shown in Figure 13, the distance L2 between the tip of the convex portion 71 and the valve 74 in the ink outlet 65 is longer than the distance L1 between the top surface 58 of the ink supply adapter 47, where the opening edge of the concave portion 61 is located, and the top end of the first concave portion 62 in the concave portion 61. Therefore, if the convex portion 71 is further inserted downward in the depth direction of the concave portion 61 from that state, the second concave portion 72 on the outer surface of the convex portion 71 will engage with the first concave portion 62 on the inner surface of the concave portion 61. Then, while maintaining this engaged state, if the protrusion 71 is further inserted in the depth direction of the recess 61 toward the bottom side, the tip of the needle 56 of the ink inlet 53 reaches the position of the valve 74 of the ink outlet 65, opening the valve 74.

That is, as shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, the tip of the needle 56 pushes the slit 75 from below to above (i.e., from the outside to the inside of the ink outlet 65) against the valve 74, opening the valve 74. As a result, the ink outlet 65 of the ink supply container 63 is connected to the needle 56 of the ink inlet 53 of the ink tank 41, and black ink is supplied from the ink supply container 63 to the ink tank 41. At this time, one of the two flow paths 54, 55 of the needle 56 of the ink inlet 53 functions as an ink flow path that circulates ink, and the other flow path functions as an air flow path that circulates air. For example, if a user tries to connect the ink outlet 65 to the ink inlet 53 while tilting the ink supply container 63, the flow path that becomes the ink flow path will change from the two flow paths 54, 55 depending on the tilt direction.

In addition, if the second uneven portion 72 does not engage with the first uneven portion 62 after the convex portion 71 is inserted into the concave portion 61, the user can recognize at that point that he is about to insert an ink supply container 63 of a color other than black by mistake. In this case, if the upper end of the first uneven portion 62 is configured to be located at the same height as the opening edge of the concave portion 61, not only will the engagement of the second uneven portion 72 with the first uneven portion 62 be rejected, but the insertion of the convex portion 71 into the concave portion 61 will also be rejected, so the user may try to insert the convex portion 71 into the concave portion 61 many times, wasting work time unnecessarily. In this regard, in the present embodiment, since the height of the first uneven portion 62 is lower than the opening edge of the concave portion 61, the convex portion 71 is easily guided toward the bottom side in the depth direction of the concave portion 61 when inserted into the concave portion 61, and unnecessary prolongation of the work time is also suppressed.

Furthermore, as shown in Figures 14, 16 and 17, when the needle 56 of the ink inlet 53 on the ink tank 41 (42-45) side opens the valve 74 in the ink outlet 65 of the ink supply container 63, the positioning portion 73 of the ink supply container 63 abuts against the upper surface 58 of the ink supply adapter 47, which is part of the ink tank 41 (42-45) side. In other words, the ink supply container 63 opens with the valve 74 positioned in the direction of the central axis of the ink outlet 65 relative to the needle 56 on the ink tank 41 (42-45) side due to the abutment of the planar positioning portion 73, which functions as a positioning surface extending in a direction perpendicular (intersecting) to the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65, with the upper surface 58 of the ink supply adapter 47.

In addition, since the positioning portion 73 is located radially outward of the ink outlet 65, the ink supply container 63 is stably maintained in a position in which the ink outlet 65 is connected to the ink inlet 53. Also, as shown in Figures 14 and 15, when the positioning portion 73 of the ink supply container 63 abuts against the upper surface 58 of the ink supply adapter 47, a gap exists between the bottom surface of the ink inlet 53 where the base end of the needle 56 of the ink inlet 53 is located and the tip of the ink outlet 65 of the ink supply container 63. Therefore, although ink is likely to accumulate on the bottom surface where the base end of the needle 56 of the ink inlet 53 is located, it is also possible to prevent the accumulated ink from adhering to the tip of the ink outlet 65 and soiling the ink supply container 63.

As shown in Figures 14 and 16, when ink replenishment from the ink supply container 63 to the ink tank 41 is completed, if the ink level in the ink tank 41 is still lower than the upper limit mark 51 of the visual confirmation section 50, the same black ink supply container 63 may be used to further replenish the ink up to the upper limit mark 51. Note that the above-mentioned ink replenishment work is also performed in the same way for the ink tanks 42 to 45 of colors other than the black ink tank 41.

According to the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1-1) When replenishing ink to the ink tanks 41 to 45, the ink supply container 63 has a planar positioning portion 73 that functions as a positioning surface extending in a direction perpendicular to (intersecting with) the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65, which abuts against the upper surface 58 of the ink supply adapter 47 that is part of the ink tanks 41 to 45. Then, the position of the ink supply container 63 becomes stable in the direction perpendicular to (intersecting with) the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65, so that the valve 74 opens while being positioned relative to the ink tanks 41 to 45, facilitating ink replenishing. Therefore, ink can be appropriately replenished to the ink tanks 41 to 45.

(1-2) The valve 74 is a slit valve with one or more slits 75 in an elastic member such as a silicone membrane, making it possible to provide an ink supply container 63 with a simple structure and a small number of parts.

(1-3) When the ink supply container 63 is connected to the ink tanks 41 to 45 in a state tilted from the direction in which the needle 56 extends along the radial direction in which the two flow paths 54, 55 are aligned, one of the two flow paths 54, 55 that is closer to the ink outlet 65 of the ink supply container 63 first functions as an ink flow path, and the other flow path functions as an air flow path. Therefore, the user can use either of the two flow paths 54, 55 as the ink flow path, and can quickly perform ink supply work without having to worry about which flow path to use as the ink flow path.

Second Embodiment
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that in each of the following embodiments, including this second embodiment, a part of the configuration of the ink supply container 63 is different from that of the first embodiment, but the other configurations are almost the same as those of the first embodiment. Therefore, hereinafter, the same components as those of the first embodiment will be given the same reference numerals, and duplicated explanations will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 18, the ink supply container 63 of the second embodiment is configured so that the small diameter portion 80, which is an example of a cylindrical portion that opens the ink outlet 65 toward the outside at the tip of the ink outlet forming portion 66, functions as a positioning portion. That is, the cylindrical small diameter portion 80 has a planar tip surface that is perpendicular (intersects) with the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65, and this tip surface forms a positioning surface 84 that extends in a direction perpendicular (intersects) with the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65.

As shown in FIG. 18, the positioning surface 84 is formed by the tip surface of the small diameter portion 80 that forms the ink outlet 65 on the inner periphery side. Therefore, the positioning surface 84 is located on the opposite side to the side where the container body portion 64 is located, in the direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65, with respect to the valve 74 that is located deeper inside than the opening edge of the ink outlet 65 in the small diameter portion 80. In other words, the positioning surface 84 protrudes toward the side where ink flows out of the ink outlet 65 (hereinafter also referred to as the "container tip side") beyond the valve 74 in the direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65.

The positioning surface 84 is formed by the tip surface of the small diameter portion 80, which is the farthest part from the container body portion 64 in the direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65. Therefore, the positioning surface 84 is located on the container tip side, which is opposite the side where the container body portion 64 is located, in the direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65, rather than the ink outlet 65 formed on the inner periphery side of such a small diameter portion 80. Note that the small diameter portion 80, which is a cylindrical portion in this embodiment, has a shape that can be fitted into the ink inlet 53, which is a substantially circular hole shape with the needle (ink inlet flow passage portion) 56 located in the center, in the through hole (hereinafter also referred to as the "tank side through hole") 60 of the ink supply adapter 47 integrated with the ink tank 41 (42-45).

As shown in Figures 19 and 20, when refilling ink from the ink refill container 63 of the second embodiment into the ink tank 41 (42-45), the small diameter portion 80 that forms the ink outlet 65 on the inner periphery is inserted from above into the through hole 60 on the tank side. That is, the small diameter portion 80 that functions as a positioning portion is inserted into the ink inlet 53 of a roughly circular hole shape in the through hole 60 so that the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 is aligned with the central axis of the ink inlet 53 and fitted into it.

At this time, the ink supply container 63 moving toward the ink tank 41 (42-45) has the positioning surface 84 at the tip of the small diameter section 80 move toward the ink tank 41 (42-45) before the valve 74 at the innermost part of the ink outlet 65. The outer peripheral surface (outer surface) of the cylindrical small diameter section 80 of the ink supply container 63 slides in a direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 against the arc surface that forms the inner peripheral surface (inner surface) of the ink inlet 53. In other words, the positioning surface 84, which is the tip surface of the cylindrical small diameter section (positioning section) 80, slides against the arc surface that forms the inner peripheral surface of the ink inlet 53 in the through hole 60 on the tank side, and is guided in the direction of inserting the needle 56 into the ink outlet 65.

Then, when the tip of the needle 56 of the ink inlet 53 reaches the position of the valve 74 of the ink outlet 65 from below while the small diameter portion 80 of the ink supply container 63 is moving toward the bottom of the through hole 60 with the positioning surface 84 of its tip inserted into the ink inlet 53 of the through hole 60 on the tank side, the needle 56 opens the valve 74. Then, when the small diameter portion 80 of the ink supply container 63 moves further toward the bottom of the through hole 60 from that state, the positioning surface 84 of the tip of the small diameter portion 80 abuts against the bottom. That is, the ink supply container 63 is stabilized in position because the positioning surface 84 extending in a direction perpendicular (intersecting) to the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 at the tip of the small diameter portion 80 abuts against the bottom of the through hole 60 on the tank side. As a result, the valve 74 is opened in a state where it is positioned in the direction of the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 relative to the needle 56 on the ink tank 41 (42-45) side.

According to the second embodiment, in addition to the effects (1-2) and (1-3) above, the following effects can be obtained.
(2-1) When the ink supply container 63 is moved to the ink tank 41 (42-45) side and the needle (ink inlet flow passage portion) 56 of the ink tank 41 (42-45) is inserted into the ink outlet 65 to open the valve 74, the positioning surface 84, which is the tip surface of the cylindrical small diameter portion (positioning portion) 80, moves to the ink tank 41 (42-45) side before the valve 74. At that time, the positioning surface 84 at the tip of the small diameter portion 80 is guided by the arc surface that forms the inner circumferential surface of the ink inlet 53 in the through hole 60, and moves smoothly in the direction in which the needle 56 is inserted into the ink outlet 65. As a result, it becomes easier to guide the needle (ink inlet flow passage portion) 56 to the valve 74 during ink supply.

(2-2) When the ink supply container 63 is moved toward the ink tank 41 (42-45) and the needle (ink inlet flow passage portion) 56 of the ink tank 41 (42-45) is inserted into the ink outlet 65 to open the valve 74, the positioning surface 84 at the tip of the small diameter portion 80 approaches the ink tank 41 (42-45) before the ink outlet 65 on the inner periphery of the small diameter portion 80 approaches the ink tank 41 (42-45). This makes it easier to prevent the ink outlet 65 from colliding with other members when the ink supply container 63 approaches the ink tank 41 (42-45). This also makes it easier to protect the ink outlet 65 and prevent ink from adhering to other members.

(2-3) When the positioning surface 84 of the ink supply container 63 comes into contact with the bottom of the through-hole 60 on the tank side during ink supply to the ink tank 41 (42 to 45), the ink supply container 63 stabilizes its position in a direction intersecting with the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65. This makes it easier to supply ink, and the ink supply container 63 can properly supply ink to the ink tank 41 (42 to 45).

(2-4) The ink supply container 63 can have a simpler structure than if the positioning surface 84 were formed on a part of a protrusion or the like provided in a location separate from the ink outlet 65, because the positioning surface 84 can be formed on the small diameter portion (tubular portion) 80, which is part of the ink outlet forming portion 66, together with the ink outlet 65.

Third Embodiment
Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
21 , the ink supply container 63 of the third embodiment is configured so that a protrusion 71 that protrudes from a position that is outside the ink outlet 65 in a radial direction centered on the ink outlet 65 toward the tip of the container in a direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 functions as a positioning portion. That is, the protrusion 71 has a planar tip surface that is perpendicular to (intersects with) the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65, and this tip surface forms a positioning surface 84 that extends in a direction perpendicular to (intersects with) the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65.

21, the protrusion 71 protrudes toward the container tip side, which is opposite the side where the container body part 64 is located, in the direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65, further than the small diameter part 80 that forms the ink outlet 65 on the inner periphery side, with the valve 74 located at the innermost part. Therefore, the positioning surface 84, which is the tip surface of the protrusion 71, is located toward the container tip side, which is opposite the side where the container body part 64 is located, in the direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65, further than the ink outlet 65 and the valve 74.

The protrusion 71 is provided in a portion exposed to the outside of the container attachment portion 67, which is a part of the ink outlet forming portion 66. That is, the protrusion 71 is provided in a portion of the ink supply container 63 that is outside the ink outlet 65 in the radial direction centered on the ink outlet 65. The planar shape of the protrusion 71 is such that it can be fitted into the approximately rectangular recess 61 that is connected from the front to back to the ink inlet 53, which is approximately a circular hole shaped and located in the center of the through hole 60 of the ink tank 41 (42 to 45). A slit-like gap 86 is formed between the outer peripheral surface (outer surface) of the cylindrical small diameter portion 80 and the outer surface of the protrusion 71 that faces the outer peripheral surface, through which ink adhering to the tip surface of the small diameter portion 80 and the tip surface (positioning surface 84) of the protrusion 71 can be drawn in by capillary action. In addition, in the case of this third embodiment, the first uneven portion 62 formed on the inner surface of the recess 61 in the through hole 60 of the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) in the first embodiment is not provided.

As shown in FIG. 21, when replenishing ink from the ink replenishing container 63 of the third embodiment to the ink tank 41 (42-45), the convex portion 71 and small diameter portion 80 at the tip of the ink replenishing container 63 are inserted from above into the through hole 60 on the tank side. That is, the convex portion 71 is inserted into the concave portion 61 inside the through hole 60 on the tank side, and then the small diameter portion 80 is inserted into the ink inlet 53 inside the through hole 60.

At this time, the ink supply container 63 moving toward the ink tank 41 (42-45) has the positioning surface 84 at the tip of the protrusion 71 move toward the ink tank 41 (42-45) before the ink outlet 65 of the small diameter section 80 and the valve 74 at the back of the ink outlet 65. Then, the outer surface of the protrusion 71 in the ink supply container 63 slides against the inner surface of the recess 61 of the through hole 60 on the tank side in a direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65. In other words, the positioning surface 84, which is the approximately rectangular tip surface of the protrusion 71, slides against the inner surface of the recess 61 in the through hole 60, and is guided in the direction of inserting the needle 56 into the ink outlet 65.

Then, when the tip of the needle 56 of the ink inlet 53 reaches the position of the valve 74 of the ink outlet 65 from below while the protrusion 71 of the ink supply container 63 is moving toward the bottom of the through hole 60 with the positioning surface 84 of its tip inserted into the recess 61 of the through hole 60 on the tank side, the needle 56 opens the valve 74. When the protrusion 71 of the ink supply container 63 moves further toward the bottom of the through hole 60 from that state, the positioning surface 84 of the tip of the protrusion 71 abuts against the bottom. That is, the ink supply container 63 is stabilized in position because the positioning surface 84 extending in a direction perpendicular (intersecting) to the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 at the tip of the protrusion 71 abuts against the bottom of the through hole 60. As a result, the valve 74 is opened in a state where it is positioned in the direction of the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 relative to the needle 56 on the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) side.

In addition, when ink leaking from the ink outlet 65 flows so as to spread outward in the radial direction from the tip surface of the small diameter portion 80, it is drawn into the gap 86 between the outer peripheral surface (outer surface) of the small diameter portion 80 and the outer surface of the convex portion 71 by capillary action. Therefore, ink leaking from the ink outlet 65 is prevented from remaining on the tip surface of the small diameter portion 80 or adhering to the positioning surface 84, which is the tip surface of the convex portion 71, and solidifying.

According to the third embodiment, in addition to the effects (1-2), (1-3) and (2-3) above, the following effect can be obtained.
(3-1) When the ink supply container 63 is moved to the ink tank 41 (42-45) side and the needle (ink inlet flow path) 56 of the ink tank 41 (42-45) is inserted into the ink outlet 65 to open the valve 74, the substantially rectangular positioning surface 84, which is the tip surface of the convex portion 71, moves to the ink tank 41 (42-45) side before the valve 74. At that time, the positioning surface 84 at the tip of the convex portion 71 is guided by the inner surface of the substantially rectangular recessed portion 61 in the through-hole 60 on the tank side, and moves smoothly in the direction of inserting the needle 56 into the ink outlet 65. As a result, it becomes easier to guide the needle (ink inlet flow path) 56 to the valve 74 during ink supply.

(3-2) When the ink supply container 63 is moved toward the ink tank 41 (42-45) and the needle (ink inlet flow passage portion) 56 of the ink tank 41 (42-45) is inserted into the ink outlet 65 to open the valve 74, the positioning surface 84 at the tip of the convex portion 71 approaches the ink tank 41 (42-45) before the ink outlet 65 on the inner periphery of the small diameter portion 80 approaches the ink tank 41 (42-45). This makes it easier to prevent the ink outlet 65 from colliding with other components when the ink supply container 63 is brought close to the ink tank 41 (42-45). This also makes it easier to prevent damage to the ink outlet 65 and adhesion of ink to other components.

(3-3) Ink that leaks from the ink outlet 65 and adheres to the tip surface of the small diameter portion 80, or that adheres to the positioning surface 84, can be drawn into the gap 86 between the small diameter portion 80 and the protruding portion 71, thereby reducing ink dripping and contamination to the outside.

(3-4) The protrusion 71 having the positioning surface 84 at its tip is provided in the portion of the ink outlet forming portion 66 exposed to the outside, i.e., in a position that is outside the ink outlet 65 in the radial direction from the ink outlet 65. Therefore, when the needle (ink inlet flow passage portion) 56 of the ink tank 41 (42-45) is inserted into the ink outlet 65 of the ink supply container 63, the protrusion 71 that functions as a positioning portion and the positioning surface 84 at its tip are easily visible from the outside.

Fourth Embodiment
Next, a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
23, like the third embodiment, the ink supply container 63 of the fourth embodiment is configured such that a convex portion 71 that protrudes from a position that is outside the ink outlet 65 in the radial direction centered on the ink outlet 65 toward the container tip side in a direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 functions as a positioning portion. That is, this convex portion 71 is also provided in a portion exposed to the outside of the container attachment portion 67 that is a part of the ink outlet forming portion 66, and its tip surface constitutes a positioning surface 84 that extends in a direction perpendicular to (intersecting with) the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65. A slit-shaped gap 86 is also formed between the convex portion 71 and the small diameter portion 80.

However, unlike the protrusion 71 in the third embodiment, the shape of the positioning surface 84, which is the tip surface of the protrusion 71 in the fourth embodiment, is not substantially rectangular but substantially T-shaped. That is, the positioning surface 84 in the fourth embodiment has a portion that extends linearly in a radial direction centered on the ink outlet 65, and a portion that extends linearly to both the left and right sides from the radial outer end of the portion that extends linearly in the radial direction. Therefore, the width of the surface area of the positioning surface 84 in the direction perpendicular to the radial direction centered on the ink outlet 65 is larger in the direction intersecting (perpendicular in this case) the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 in the direction farther from the ink outlet 65 than in the direction closer to the ink outlet 65. In other words, the positioning surface 84 in the fourth embodiment is formed so that when inserted into the through hole 60 of the ink tank 41 (42-45), the area of contact with the bottom of the through hole 60 on the side farther from the ink outlet 65 in the direction intersecting (orthogonal in this case) the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 is larger than the area of contact on the side closer to the ink outlet 65. Therefore, the ink supply container 63 of the fourth embodiment has basically the same effects as the ink supply container 63 of the third embodiment, except for the effects based on the difference in the shape of the positioning surface 84.

According to the fourth embodiment, in addition to the effects (1-2), (1-3), (2-3), and (3-1) to (3-4) described above, the following effects can be obtained.
(4-1) When the convex portion 71 is inserted into the through-hole 60 of the ink tank 41 (42 to 45), in a direction intersecting (orthogonal in this case) the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65, the area of contact with the bottom of the through-hole 60 on the side farther from the ink outlet 65 becomes larger than the area of contact on the side closer to the ink outlet 65. Therefore, in an ink refilling state in which the needle (ink inlet flow path portion) 56 is inserted into the ink outlet 65 to open the valve 74, the stability of the attitude of the ink outlet 65 can be improved.

Fifth Embodiment
Next, a fifth embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
24 and 25, like the third and fourth embodiments, the ink supply container 63 of the fifth embodiment is configured such that a convex portion 71 that protrudes from a position that is outside the ink outlet 65 in the radial direction centered on the ink outlet 65 toward the container tip side in a direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 functions as a positioning portion. That is, this convex portion 71 is also provided in a portion exposed to the outside of the container attachment portion 67 that is a part of the ink outlet forming portion 66, and its tip surface constitutes a positioning surface 84 that extends in a direction perpendicular to (intersecting with) the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65. A slit-shaped gap 86 is also formed between the convex portion 71 and the small diameter portion 80.

However, unlike the protrusions 71 in the third and fourth embodiments, the protrusions 71 in the fifth embodiment protrude lower toward the tip of the container in the direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 than the small diameter portion 80. That is, the positioning surface 84 in the fifth embodiment is located closer to the base end of the container, where the container body 64 is located, in the direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 than the ink outlet 65 and the valve 74.

As shown in FIG. 25, when replenishing ink from the ink replenishing container 63 of the fifth embodiment to the ink tank 41 (42-45), the small diameter portion 80 is inserted into the ink inlet 53 in the through hole 60 on the tank side, and then the convex portion 71 is inserted into the concave portion 61 in the through hole 60. In this case, before the convex portion 71 of the ink replenishing container 63 inserts its tip positioning surface 84 into the concave portion 61 of the through hole 60 on the tank side, the tip of the needle 56 of the ink inlet 53 reaches from below to the position of the valve 74 of the ink outlet 65, and the needle 56 opens the valve 74.

When the protrusion 71 of the ink supply container 63 moves from that state toward the bottom inside the recess 61 of the through hole 60, the positioning surface 84 at the tip of the protrusion 71 abuts against the first uneven portion 62, which is provided in the form of a rib extending vertically from the inner surface of the recess 61. In this respect, the first uneven portion 62 functions as an abutment portion that abuts against the positioning surface 84 of the ink supply container 63 when positioning the valve 74 inside the ink outlet 65 with respect to the ink tank 41 (42 to 45). Therefore, the ink supply container 63 is stabilized in position when the positioning surface 84 extending in a direction perpendicular (intersecting) to the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 at the tip of the protrusion 71 abuts against the first uneven portion (abutment portion) 62 inside the through hole 60. As a result, the valve 74 is opened in a state where it is positioned in the direction of the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 with respect to the needle 56 on the ink tank 41 (42 to 45).

According to the fifth embodiment, in addition to the effects (1-2), (1-3), (3-3), and (3-4) described above, the following effects can be obtained.
(5-1) When the positioning surface 84 of the ink supply container 63 comes into contact with the first uneven portion (contact portion) 62 in the through-hole 60 on the tank side during ink supply to the ink tank 41 (42 to 45), the ink supply container 63 stabilizes its position in a direction intersecting with the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65. This makes it easier to supply ink, and the ink supply container 63 can properly supply ink to the ink tank 41 (42 to 45).

Sixth Embodiment
Next, a sixth embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
26, like the third to fifth embodiments, the ink supply container 63 of the sixth embodiment is configured so that a convex portion 71 that protrudes from a position that is outside the ink outlet 65 in the radial direction centered on the ink outlet 65 toward the container tip side in a direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 functions as a positioning portion. That is, this convex portion 71 is also provided in a portion exposed to the outside in the container attachment portion 67 that is a part of the ink outlet forming portion 66, and a slit-like gap 86 is similarly formed between the convex portion 71 and the small diameter portion 80.

However, unlike the protrusions 71 in the third to fifth embodiments, the positioning surface that abuts against a part of the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) when the valve 74 inside the ink outlet 65 is opened is not formed by the tip surface of the protrusion 71. That is, in the protrusions 71 in the sixth embodiment, a part of the outer surface (or outer peripheral surface) that faces outward in the radial direction from the ink outlet 65 is inclined in a direction that intersects with the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65. The positioning surface 84 is formed by a part of the outer surface (or outer peripheral surface) of the protrusion 71 that is inclined in this way. Note that the positioning surface 84 may be configured to be curved in a direction that intersects with the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65.

In this case, the positioning surface 84 is composed of a conical surface or a slope that is inclined in a direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65, gradually moving away from the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 as it moves toward the base end of the container, which is the side opposite the tip end of the container (i.e., the side where the container body 64 is located). When the protrusion 71 is inserted from the tip into the through-hole 60 on the tank side, a part of the surface area of the inclined positioning surface 84 is formed to abut against the opening edge of the through-hole 60 on the tank side, exerting a wedge effect.

As shown in FIG. 26, when replenishing ink from the ink replenishing container 63 of the sixth embodiment to the ink tank 41 (42-45), the small diameter portion 80 is inserted into the ink inlet 53 in the through hole 60 on the tank side, and then the convex portion 71 is inserted into the concave portion 61 in the through hole 60. In this case, before the inclined positioning surface 84 of the convex portion 71 of the ink replenishing container 63 abuts against the opening edge of the through hole 60, the tip of the needle 56 of the ink inlet 53 reaches the position of the valve 74 of the ink outlet 65 from below, and the needle 56 opens the valve 74. Note that when inserting the small diameter portion 80 into the ink inlet 53 of the through hole 60, it is also possible to gradually guide it along the positioning surface 84 from a state in which the inclined positioning surface 84 on the outer surface of the convex portion 71 is abutted against the opening edge of the through hole 60.

When the protrusion 71 of the ink supply container 63 moves from this state toward the bottom inside the recess 61 of the through-hole 60 on the tank side, the inclined positioning surface 84 on the outer surface of the protrusion 71 abuts against the opening edge of the through-hole 60. In this case, the ink supply container 63 is positioned with the positioning surface 84 relative to the opening edge of the through-hole 60 on the tank side in the direction of gravity along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 and in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the direction of gravity. Therefore, the ink supply container 63 is stabilized in its posture as the inclined positioning surface 84 on the outer surface of the protrusion 71 abuts against the opening edge of the through-hole 60. As a result, the valve 74 is opened with the valve 74 positioned in the direction of the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 relative to the needle 56 on the ink tank 41 (42-45) side.

According to the sixth embodiment, in addition to the effects (1-2), (1-3), (3-3), and (3-4) described above, the following effects can be obtained.
(6-1) For positioning purposes, the positioning surface 84 that comes into contact with a portion of the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) is inclined (or curved) in a direction intersecting with the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65. Therefore, when replenishing ink from the ink replenishing container 63 to the ink tank 41 (42 to 45), the ink replenishing container 63 can be positioned in both directions along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 (the direction of gravity) and in a direction perpendicular to the central axis 85 (the horizontal direction), allowing ink to be replenished appropriately.

(6-2) When inserting or removing the needle (ink inlet flow passage portion) 56 into or from the ink outlet 65 , the ink supply container 63 can be gradually guided along the inclined (or curved) positioning surface 84 .
Seventh Embodiment
27, like the sixth embodiment, the ink supply container 63 of the seventh embodiment is configured so that a convex portion 71 that protrudes from a position that is outside the ink outlet 65 in the radial direction centered on the ink outlet 65 toward the container tip side in a direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 functions as a positioning portion. That is, this convex portion 71 is also provided in a portion exposed to the outside in the container attachment portion 67 that is a part of the ink outlet forming portion 66, and a slit-like gap 86 is similarly formed between the convex portion 71 and the small diameter portion 80.

However, unlike the protrusion 71 in the sixth embodiment, the protrusion 71 in the seventh embodiment is not formed so that the inclined positioning surface 84 on the outer surface can abut against the opening edge of the through hole 60 when the protrusion 71 is inserted into the recess 61 in the through hole 60 on the tank side. In other words, the protrusion 71 is formed so that the positioning surface 84 on its outer surface abuts against the upper end of the first uneven portion 62, which functions as an abutment portion provided in the form of a rib extending vertically from the inner surface of the recess 61, exerting a wedge effect. The positioning surface 84 may be configured to be curved in a direction that intersects with the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 27, when replenishing ink from the ink replenishing container 63 of the seventh embodiment to the ink tank 41 (42-45), as in the sixth embodiment, the small diameter portion 80 is inserted into the ink inlet 53 in the through hole 60 on the tank side, and then the convex portion 71 is inserted into the concave portion 61 in the through hole 60. In this case, before the inclined positioning surface 84 of the convex portion 71 of the ink replenishing container 63 abuts against the first concave-convex portion (abutment portion) on the inner side of the through hole 60, the tip of the needle 56 of the ink inlet 53 reaches the position of the valve 74 of the ink outlet 65 from below, and the needle 56 opens the valve 74. Note that, in this seventh embodiment, when inserting the small diameter portion 80 into the ink inlet 53 of the through hole 60, it is also possible to gradually guide the inclined positioning surface 84 on the outer side of the convex portion 71 along the positioning surface 84 from a state in which the inclined positioning surface 84 on the outer side of the convex portion 71 is placed against the opening edge of the through hole 60.

When the protrusion 71 of the ink supply container 63 moves from this state toward the bottom inside the recess 61 of the through hole 60 on the tank side, the inclined positioning surface 84 on the outer side of the protrusion 71 abuts against the first uneven portion (abutment portion) on the inner side of the through hole 60. In this case, the ink supply container 63 is also positioned with the positioning surface 84 relative to the first uneven portion (abutment portion) of the through hole 60 on the tank side in the gravity direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 and in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the gravity direction. Therefore, the ink supply container 63 is stabilized in position as the positioning surface 84 on the outer side of the protrusion 71 abuts against the first uneven portion (abutment portion) on the inner side of the through hole 60. As a result, the valve 74 is opened in a state where it is positioned in the direction of the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 relative to the needle 56 on the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) side.

According to the seventh embodiment, it is possible to obtain the same effects as those in (1-2), (1-3), (3-3), (3-4), (6-1) and (6-2) above.
Eighth embodiment
28, like the sixth embodiment, the ink supply container 63 of the eighth embodiment is configured so that a protrusion 71 that protrudes from a position outside the ink outlet 65 in the radial direction centered on the ink outlet 65 toward the container tip side in a direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 functions as a positioning portion. That is, this protrusion 71 is also provided in a portion exposed to the outside in the container attachment portion 67 that is a part of the ink outlet forming portion 66, and a positioning surface 84 is provided on the outer surface (or outer peripheral surface) that faces outward in the radial direction centered on the ink outlet 65.

However, unlike the protrusion 71 in the sixth embodiment, the positioning surface 84 provided on the outer surface of the protrusion 71 in the eighth embodiment is curved, not inclined, in a direction intersecting the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65. This positioning surface 84 is also composed of a conical surface or a slope that is curved in a direction gradually moving away from the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 as it moves toward the container base end side, which is the opposite side to the container tip side (i.e., the side where the container body part 64 is located), in the direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65. When the protrusion 71 is inserted from the tip into the through hole 60 on the tank side, a part of the surface area of the curved positioning surface 84 is formed to abut against the opening edge of the through hole 60 on the tank side, exerting a wedge effect. The positioning surface 84 may be configured to be inclined in a direction intersecting the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65.

As shown in FIG. 28, when replenishing ink from the ink replenishing container 63 of the eighth embodiment to the ink tank 41 (42-45), similar to the sixth embodiment, the needle 56 of the ink inlet 53 is first inserted into the ink outlet 65 of the small diameter portion 80, and the valve 74 is opened. After that, the curved positioning surface 84 on the outer surface of the protruding portion 71 of the ink replenishing container 63 abuts against the opening edge of the through-hole 60 on the tank side, and ink is replenished in this state.

According to the eighth embodiment, it is possible to obtain the same effects as those in (1-2), (1-3), (3-3), (3-4), (6-1) and (6-2) above.
Ninth embodiment
29, the ink supply container 63 of the ninth embodiment is different from the first to eighth embodiments in that the positioning portion and the positioning surface are provided inside the ink outlet 65 in the radial direction centered on the ink outlet 65. That is, in the ink outlet forming portion 66 of the ink supply container 63 of the ninth embodiment, a partition wall 87 is formed between the small diameter portion 80, which is a cylindrical portion that forms the ink outlet 65 on the inner periphery side, and an intermediate portion 81 that is connected to the base end side of the small diameter portion 80, and this partition wall 87 constitutes the positioning portion. At the center portion of the partition wall 87, at the position where the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 passes, a communication hole 88 that communicates the ink outlet 65 with the ink storage chamber 76 is formed through the partition wall 87.

The partition 87 has a wall surface that is located on the tip side of the container in the direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65, forming a positioning surface 84. This positioning surface 84 is formed in a planar shape that extends in a direction perpendicular to (intersecting with) the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 so that the tip surface of the needle (ink inlet flow path portion) 56 on the ink tank 41 (42-45) side can abut in a surface contact state.

29, when replenishing ink from the ink replenishing container 63 of the ninth embodiment to the ink tank 41 (42-45), the small diameter portion 80 is inserted into the ink inlet 53 in the through hole 60 on the tank side, and when the tip of the needle 56 of the ink inlet 53 reaches the position of the valve 74 of the ink outlet 65 from below, the needle 56 opens the valve 74. Then, when the ink replenishing container 63 is further moved from that state toward the ink tank 41 (42-45), the planar positioning surface 84 formed on the partition wall 87 inside the ink outlet 65 abuts against the tip surface of the needle (ink inlet flow passage portion) 56. Therefore, the positioning surface 84 provided in a planar shape extending in a direction perpendicular (intersecting) to the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 inside the ink outlet 65 abuts against the tip surface of the needle (ink inlet flow passage portion) 56, stabilizing the position of the ink replenishing container 63. As a result, the valve 74 is opened while being positioned in the direction of the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 relative to the needle 56 on the ink tank 41 (42-45) side.

According to the ninth embodiment, in addition to the effects (1-2) and (1-3) described above, the following effects can be obtained.
(9-1) Compared to when the positioning portion (in this case, the partition wall 87) and the positioning surface 84 are provided outside the ink outlet 65, they are protected inside the ink outlet 65, making them less susceptible to damage. Also, because the positioning portion (in this case, the partition wall 87) and the positioning surface 84 are close to the valve 74 inside the ink outlet 65, the valve 74 can be positioned with high accuracy relative to the ink tank 41 (42 to 45). Furthermore, even if ink adheres to the positioning portion (in this case, the partition wall 87) and the positioning surface 84, they are located inside the ink outlet 65, so ink is less likely to adhere to the outside of the ink supply container 63.

Tenth embodiment
30, in the ink supply container 63 of the tenth embodiment, similarly to the ninth embodiment, a positioning portion and a positioning surface are provided inside the ink outlet 65 in a radial direction centered on the ink outlet 65. That is, the positioning portion is constituted by a partition 87 formed between the small diameter portion 80 and the intermediate portion 81 of the ink outlet forming portion 66, and the positioning surface 84 is constituted by a wall surface of the partition 87 located on the container tip side in the direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65. Also, a communication hole 88 is formed through the central portion of the partition 87, communicating the ink outlet 65 with the ink containing chamber 76.

However, unlike the positioning surface 84 in the ninth embodiment, the positioning surface 84 in the tenth embodiment is inclined in a direction intersecting the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65. That is, the positioning surface 84 is composed of a conical surface or an inclined surface that is inclined in a direction along the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65, and gradually moves away from the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 toward the tip of the container. When the tip surface of the needle (ink inlet flow path portion) 56 that has opened the valve 74 abuts from below, a part of the surface area of the inclined positioning surface 84 abuts against the needle (ink inlet flow path portion) 56, exerting a wedge effect.

According to the tenth embodiment, it is possible to obtain the same effects as those in (1-2), (1-3) and (9-1) above.
Eleventh Embodiment
As shown in Figures 31 to 33, the ink supply unit 40, which constitutes an ink supply system together with the ink supply container 63 of the eleventh embodiment, has a structure in which the ink inlet 53 is normally closed. That is, the ink supply unit 40 is provided with a lever-shaped cap support member 90 for each of the ink inlets 53. The base end of the cap support member 90 is rotatably supported by a rotation shaft 91 provided on the upper surface 58 of the ink supply adapter 47 so as to extend in a direction intersecting the central axis of the ink inlet 53 (horizontal direction). An elastic cap 92 shaped to be able to fit into the ink inlet 53 is provided on the tip side of each cap support member 90 from the center in the longitudinal direction, and the cap support member 90 is normally in a closed state with the elastic cap 92 fitted into the ink inlet 53.

31 and 32, when refilling ink, the cap support member 90, which is in a closed state with the elastic cap 92 fitted into the ink inlet 53, is tilted to an open state in which the elastic cap 92 is separated from the ink inlet 53 by the user who places his or her hand on the bent handle 93 at the tip of the cap support member 90. As shown in FIG. 31, a unit cover 100 that collectively covers the upper parts of the multiple cap support members 90 may also be provided so as to be freely opened and closed. The elastic cap 92 is formed of an elastic material such as an elastomer, and the cap support member 90 is formed of a material having a higher rigidity than the elastic cap 92, such as polystyrene or ABS resin.

As shown in Figures 32 and 33, in the ink supply container 63 of the eleventh embodiment, the shoulder portion located on the container tip side of the ink outlet forming portion 66 constitutes a positioning portion, and a planar surface extending in a direction perpendicular (intersecting) to the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 at the shoulder portion constitutes a positioning surface 84. From the center of this positioning surface 84, a small diameter portion 80, which is a cylindrical portion that forms the ink outlet 65 on the inner peripheral side, protrudes toward the container tip side.

When replenishing ink from the ink replenishing container 63 of the eleventh embodiment to the ink tank 41 (42-45), first, the cap support member 90, which has the elastic cap 92 blocking the ink inlet 53 of the ink tank 41 (42-45) to be replenishing ink, is opened. Then, the ink outlet 65 of the ink replenishing container 63 is inserted into the needle (ink inlet flow passage portion) 56 of the opened ink inlet 53. Then, the tip of the needle 56 of the ink inlet 53 reaches the position of the valve 74 of the ink outlet 65 from below, and the needle 56 opens the valve 74. Then, when the ink replenishing container 63 is further moved toward the ink tank 41 (42-45) from that state, the positioning surface 84 formed on the shoulder portion of the ink outlet forming portion 66 abuts on the upper surface of the cap support member 90, and the ink replenishing container 63 and the valve 74 of its ink outlet 65 are positioned relative to the ink tank 41 (42-45). That is, the cap support member 90 is positioned between the positioning surface 84 of the ink supply container 63 and a part of the ink tank 41 (42-45) (such as the through hole 60), and functions as a positioning auxiliary member that mediates their contact.

In this case, the positioning surface 84 abuts against the upper surface of the cap support member 90 that closes with an elastic cap 92 the ink inlet 53 of another ink tank (e.g., ink tanks 42, 44) adjacent to the ink tank to be replenished with ink (e.g., ink tank 43). In this way, a wide abutment area is ensured by abutting the positioning surface 84 against the upper surfaces of the adjacent cap support members 90. Also, if the upper surface 58 of the ink refill adapter 47 on which the tank-side through-hole 60 is formed is, for example, inclined or has a step and is therefore unsuitable for abutment with the positioning surface 84, the cap support member 90 having a certain flat portion is used as a positioning auxiliary member.

According to the eleventh embodiment, in addition to the effects (1-2) and (1-3) described above, the following effects can be obtained.
(11-1) When replenishing ink from the ink supply container 63 to the ink tanks 41 (42 to 45), by using a positioning assistance member (in this case, the cap support member 90), appropriate positioning can be performed for the various ink tanks 41 (42 to 45).

Twelfth Embodiment
34, like the 11th embodiment, the ink supply container 63 of the 12th embodiment is configured such that, during ink supply, a positioning surface 84 abuts against the upper surface of a cap support member 90 that closes, with an elastic cap 92, the ink inlet 53 of another ink tank adjacent to the ink tank 41 (42-45) to be supplied with ink. That is, when the ink outlet 65 of the ink supply container 63 is inserted into the needle (ink inlet flow path portion) 56 of the opened ink inlet 53, the needle 56 opens the valve 74. Then, when the ink supply container 63 is moved further toward the ink tank 41 (42-45) from that state, the positioning surface 84 abuts against the upper surface of the cap support member 90.

However, in the case of the 12th embodiment, unlike the 11th embodiment, the positioning portion is not the ink outlet forming portion 66, but rather the shoulder portion of the container body 64 closer to the base end of the container, and a flat surface extending in a direction perpendicular (intersecting) to the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 at the shoulder portion of the container body 64 constitutes the positioning surface 84. Therefore, when ink is refilled, the weight of the container body 64 having the ink storage chamber 76 is directly applied to the cap support member 90 which functions as a positioning auxiliary member, so that the ink refill container 63 is positioned in a stable posture.

According to the twelfth embodiment, it is possible to obtain the same effects as those in (1-2), (1-3) and (11-1) above.
Thirteenth Embodiment
35, in the ink supply system of the thirteenth embodiment, the tip surface of the convex portion 71 protruding from the tip side of the ink supply container 63 constitutes a positioning surface 84. During ink supply, an ink absorbent 89 is positioned as a positioning assistant member between the positioning surface 84, which is the tip surface of the convex portion 71 inserted into the through hole 60 on the tank side, and the bottom of the through hole 60 on the tank side. The ink absorbent 89 is made of an elastic member such as a sponge, and also functions as a buffer material between the convex portion 71 of the ink supply container 63 and the bottom of the through hole 60 on the tank side. The ink absorbent 89 also has a function of adjusting the depth at which the needle (ink inlet flow path portion) 56 is inserted into the ink outlet 65 by adjusting its thickness.

According to the thirteenth embodiment, in addition to the effects (1-2), (1-3) and (11-1) above, the following effects can be obtained.
(13-1) The ink absorbent 89 can absorb the impact when the positioning surface 84 of the ink supply container 63 abuts against a part of the ink tank 41 (42 to 45). In addition, since the ink absorbent 89 absorbs the ink, dripping and splashing can be reduced when the ink supply container 63 is removed.

The above embodiment may be modified as follows.
In the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 18 to 20, the container attachment portion 67 may be omitted.
The small diameter portion 80 that forms the ink outlet 65 on the inner circumference side is not necessarily limited to a cylindrical shape, and may be a square tube shape depending on the shape of the inner surface of the ink inlet 53 in the through hole 60 on the tank side. However, it is preferable that the ink outlet 65 on the inner circumference side of the small diameter portion 80 has a circular opening shape.

- In the third and fourth embodiments shown in Figures 21 to 23, the height of the protrusion 71 protruding toward the tip of the container is not limited to the height in the embodiments, so long as it protrudes beyond the small diameter portion 80.

- In the fourth embodiment, the shape of the tip surface of the convex portion 71 constituting the positioning surface 84 is not limited to the approximate T-shape of the embodiment, so long as the area of contact with a part of the ink tank 41 (42-45) on the side farther from the ink outlet 65 in the direction intersecting the central axis 85 of the ink outlet 65 is larger than the area of contact on the side closer to the ink outlet 65. For example, it may be an approximate Y-shape or a triangular shape.

- In the fifth embodiment shown in Figures 24 and 25, the height of the protrusion 71 protruding toward the tip of the container is not limited to the height in the embodiment, so long as it does not protrude beyond the small diameter portion 80.

In the sixth embodiment shown in FIG. 26 , the inclined positioning surface 84 may extend to the tip of the protrusion 71 .
In the seventh embodiment shown in Figure 27 (and the fifth embodiment shown in Figure 25), the first uneven portion 62 formed on the inner surface of the recess 61 as an abutment portion for the positioning surface 84 may be in the form of a protrusion other than a rib.

In the ninth and tenth embodiments shown in FIGS. 29 and 30, the positioning surface 84 provided inside the ink outlet 65 may be a concave spherical surface with a communication hole 88 formed in the center.
In the third to seventh embodiments, the width of the slit-like gap 86 is not limited to the width in the embodiments, so long as the width is such that capillary action can be exhibited.

The two flow paths 54, 55 of the needle (ink inlet flow path portion) 56 of the ink inlet 53 may be configured to have a number of flow paths other than two.
- The ink supply container 63 may have a configuration in which the ink outlet forming portion 66 and the container main body portion 64 are integrated, and the positioning portion and positioning surface 84 may be provided on the ink outlet forming portion 66 or the container main body portion 64 instead of the container attachment portion 67.

- In the eleventh and twelfth embodiments shown in Figures 31 to 34, the positioning assistance member that mediates the contact between a part of the ink tank 41 (42 to 45) and the positioning portion may be configured as a container attachment portion 67 that is added to the ink outlet forming portion 66.

In the thirteenth embodiment shown in FIG. 35, the positioning auxiliary member is not limited to the ink absorbent material 89, and may be, for example, a spacer made of resin.
The valve 74 of the ink outlet 65 of the ink supply container 63 may have one or more slits 75, but may have two, four, or other multiple slits 75. In addition, the valve is not limited to a slit valve having slits 75, and may have no slits 75 and may be a valve that is pushed from below by the needle 56 and displaced in the valve opening direction.

21...recording device, 22...housing, 23...support stand, 24...guide shaft, 25...recording head, 26...carriage, 27...support hole, 28...driving pulley, 29...driven pulley, 30...carriage motor, 31...timing belt, 32...discharge port, 33...discharge tray, 34...paper feed cassette, 35...opening and closing door, 36...rotating shaft, 37...window, 40...ink supply unit, 41-45...ink tank, 46...ink supply tube, 47...ink refill adapter, 48...step, 49...ink chamber, 50...visible portion, 51...upper limit mark, 52...lower limit mark, 53...ink inlet, 54, 55...flow path, 56...needle (ink inlet flow path portion), 57...remaining amount sensor, 58...upper surface, 59...lower surface, 60...through hole, 61...recess, 62...first irregularity part (contact part), 63...ink supply container, 64...container body part, 65...ink outlet, 66...ink outlet forming part, 67...container additional part, 68...cap, 69...male thread part, 70...projection, 71...convex part, 72...second uneven part, 73...positioning part, 74...valve, 75...slit, 76...ink storage chamber, 77...neck part, 78...male thread part, 79...large diameter part, 80...small diameter part (cylinder part), 81...middle part, 82...female thread part, 83...joint part, 84...positioning surface, 85...center axis, 86...gap, 87...partition wall, 88...communicating hole, 89...ink absorbing material (positioning auxiliary member), 90...cap support member (positioning auxiliary member), 91...rotating shaft, 92...elastic cap, 93...handle part, 100...unit cover, P...paper, IK...ink, L1, L2...distance.

Claims (4)

An ink supply container for supplying ink to a printer, the printer having an ink inlet and a needle disposed at the ink inlet and having a flow path;
the ink supply container comprises a container body having an ink storage chamber capable of storing ink, and an ink outlet forming portion connected to the container body,
The ink outlet forming portion is
a cylindrical portion having an ink outlet formed on an inner circumferential side;
A valve disposed within the cylindrical portion;
a partition wall located between the valve and the ink chamber in the direction of a central axis of the cylindrical portion, protruding from an inner circumference of the cylindrical portion toward the central axis, the partition wall having a communication hole formed in a central portion of the partition wall to communicate between the ink outlet side and the ink chamber side;
having
In an open valve state in which the needle is inserted into the cylindrical portion and the valve is opened, the partition comes into contact with the needle.
Ink refill container. 2. The ink supply container according to claim 1,
The partition wall has a plane extending in a radial direction of the cylindrical portion,
the flat surface contacts the needle in the open valve state;
Ink refill container. 2. The ink supply container according to claim 1 ,
the partition wall has an inclined surface inclined in a direction intersecting the central axis,
The beveled surface contacts the needle in the open valve state.
Ink refill container. The ink supply container according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The valve is a valve having a slit provided in an elastic member.
Ink refill container.