Technical Field
[OOOl]
The present invention relates to a recording apparatus,
such as an ink jet printer.
Background Art
[0002]
Heretofore, as a kind of recording apparatus, an ink
jet printer which performs recording (printing) by causing a
recording head thereof to eject ink onto a medium, such as
paper, is well known. In such a printer, when performing a
relatively large amount of printing, it becomes necessary to
feed ink to a recording head continuously and stably. For
this reason, among printers of this type, there is a printer
configured such that a large-capacity liquid container
containing an ink pack or the like therein is provided
outside the apparatus housing of the printer, and ink is fed
from the large-capacity liquid container to a recording head
disposed inside the apparatus housing through an ink feeding
tube (for example, refer to PTL 1).
Citation List
Patent Literature
[0003]
PTL 1: JP-A-2013-121659
Summary of Invention
Technical Problem
[0004]
In such a printer described above, a liquid container
is disposed outside the apparatus housing. For this reason,
there is a problem that the installation area of the entire
printer increases by an area equal to the installation area
of the liquid container and which must be added to the
installation area of the apparatus housing. Under such a
situation, in order to solve the problem described above, an
arrangement, in which a liquid container is disposed inside
the apparatus housing, and in the inside of the apparatus
housing, ink is fed from the liquid container to a recording
head through an ink feeding tube, has been conceived.
[0005]
When, however, such an arrangement is implemented,
since the liquid container requires a replacement task to be
performed, there arises a new problem in that, when the
replacement task is carried out, connecting the liquid
container to the ink feeding tube can become difficult.
[0006]
In addition, such a problem is relatively common with
respect to not only an ink jet printer, but also a recording
apparatus configured such that a liquid container, which
contains liquid to be fed to a recording head disposed
inside the apparatus housing, is also disposed inside the
apparatus housing, and a liquid feeding path conrlecting the
liquid container to the recording head is provided.
[0007]
The present invention is made in view of such
circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a
recording apparatus in which it is possible to, without
increasing the installation area of the entire apparatus,
easily feed the liquid to the recording head from the liquid
container, which is likewise disposed inside the apparatus
housing, through the liquid feeding path.
Solution to Problem
[0008]
Hereinafter, means for realizing such a recording
apparatus as well as the effects thereof will be described.
In order to solve the problem, there is provided a,
recording apparatus that includes a recording head that is
disposed inside an apparatus housing and that ejects a
liquid onto a medium; a liquid container attaching/detaching
unit that is configured such that a liquid container which
contains the liquid is attached/detached to/from the liquid
container attaching/detaching unit itself and that is
configured to be inserted/extracted through an
inserting/extracting opening provided in the apparatus
housing; and a liquid feeding path that feeds the liquid
from the liquid container to the recording head. Further,
the liquid feeding path encompasses a unit-side path
provided in the liquid container attaching/detaching unit
and an apparatus-housing-side path provided in the apparatus
housing. Further, the unit-side path and the apparatushousing-
side path are mutually connected by the insertion of
the liquid container attaching/detaching unit through the
inserting/extracting opening of the apparatus housing, and
the mutual connection is disconnected by the extraction of
the liquid container attaching/detaching unit through the
inserting/extracting opening of the apparatus housing.
[0009]
According to this configuration, it is possible to
easily attach/detach the liquid container to/from the liquid
container attaching/detaching unit in a state of having
being extracted through the inserting/extracting opening.
Further, when the liquid container attaching/detaching unit
containing the liquid container attached therein has been
inserted through the inserting/extracting opening, the unitside
path and the apparatus-housing-side path, which
separately constitute the liquid feeding path, are connected
to each other and, as a result, it becomes possible to feed
the liquid from the liquid container to the recording head.
Further, in such a case, since the liquid container is
disposed inside the apparatus housing, the installation area
of the entlre recording apparatus does not increase.
Accordingly, it is possible to, without increasing the
installation area of the entire apparatus, easily feed the
liquid to the recording head from the liquid container,
which is likewise disposed inside the apparatus housing,
through the liquid feeding path.
[OOlO]
Further, in the recording apparatus according to the
above aspect of the invention, preferably, each of a unitside
connection portion constituting the unit-side path and
connected to the apparatus-housing-side path and an
apparatus-housing-side connection portion constituting the
apparatus-housing-side path and connected to the unit-side
path includes a valve mechanism which is opened when both of
the unit-side connection portion and the apparatus-housingside
connection portion are connected to each other, and
which is closed when both of the unit-side connection
portion and the apparatus-housing-side connection portion
are disconnected from each other.
[ OOll]
According to thls configuration, when the liquid
contamer attaching/detaching unit containing the liquid
container therein has been inserted through the
inserting/extracting opening and the unit-side connection
portion and the apparatus-side connection portion become
mutually connected, the valve mechanism provided in both
connection portions is open state. Thus, the unit-side path
and the apparatus-housing-side path are connected to each
other and, as a result, it becomes possible to feed the
liquid from the liquid container to the recording head. In
contrast, when the liquid container attaching/detaching unit
is extracted through the inserting/extracting opening and
both of the connection portions are disconnected from each
other, the valve mechanism provided in both connection
portions becomes closed. Thus, when, for example, for the
purpose of attachment/detachment replacement of the liquid
container, the liquid container attaching/detaching unit has
been extracted through the inserting/extracting opening of
the apparatus housing, it is possible to suppress the ink
from leaking from the unit-side path and the apparatushousing-
side path.
[0012]
Further, preferably, the recording apparatus according
to the above aspect of the invention further includes a
movement resistance applying portion that, before the unitside
path and the apparatus-housing-side path are mutually
connected after initiating the insertion of the liquid
container attaching/detaching unit through the
inserting/extracting opening, makes contact with and applies
a movement resistance force to the liquid container
attaching/detaching unit while moving in an insertion
direction in which the liquid container attaching/detaching
unit is inserted, and the liquid container
attaching/detaching unit further moves in the insertion
direction while moving against the movement resistance force
applied by the movement resistance applying portion, and the
movement of the liquid container attaching/detaching unit
brings the unit-side path into contact with the apparatushousing-
side path.
[0013]
According to this configuration, even when the liquid
container attaching/detaching unit has been extracted
forcibly by a user through the inserting/extracting opening
of the apparatus housing, it is possible to prevent, by
utilizing the movement resistance applying portion, the
occurrence of a situation in which the unit-side connection
portion and the apparatus-housing-side connection portion
collide with each other due to the force applied by the user.
[0014]
Further, in the recording apparatus according to the
above aspect of the invention, preferably, the movement
resistance applying portion is configured to include a force
applying member that, when the movement resistance applying
portion is in contact with the liquid container
attaching/detaching unit which further moves in the
insertion direction, applies an energizing force to the
liquid container attaching/detaching unit in a direction in
which the liquid container attaching/detaching unit is
extracted through the inserting/extracting opening, and that,
when the movement resistance applying portion is in contact
with the liquid container attaching/detaching unit and the
unit-side path and the apparatus-housing-side path are
connected to each other, enters a force accumulation state.
[0015]
According to this configuration, when the liquid
container attaching/detaching unit is extracted through the
lnserting/extracting opening, the force applying member
enters a state in which an accumulated force is released as
an energizing force applied in the extraction direction, and
thus, an operation of extracting the liquid container
attaching/detaching unit becomes easy.
[0016]
Further, in the recording apparatus according to the
above aspect of the invention, preferably, the liquid
container attaching/detaching unit further includes a pump
mechanism that is driven in order to cause the liquid to
move and flow, through the unit-side path, from an upstream
side, at which the llquid container is disposed, toward a
downstream side.
[0017]
According to this configuration, for example, even when
the liquid container attaching/detaching unit is disposed at
a lower portion in the vertical direction in the apparatus
housing; while the recording head is disposed at an upper
portion in the vertical direction in the apparatus housing,
it is possible to smoothly feed ink from the liquid
container attached to the liquid container
attaching/detaching unit to the recording head by utilizing
the drive of the pump mechanism.
[GO181
Further, in the recording apparatus according to the
above aspect of the invention, preferably, in the liquid
container attaching/detaching unit, a plurality of liquid
containers Including the liquid container are
attached/detached to/from the liquid container
attaching/detachlng unit itself, and a plurality of unitside
paths which include the unit-side path and each of
whlch is associated with a corresponding one of the
plurality of liquid containers are provided; while, in the
apparatus housing, a plurality of apparatus-housing-side
paths which include the apparatus-housing-side path and each
of which is associated with a corresponding one of the
plurality of unit-side paths, are provided.
[0019]
According to this configuration, it is possible to
perform multi-color recording with a plurality of inks onto
a medium.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0020]
[Fig. 11 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a recording
apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention when
the recording apparatus is seen obliquely from the front
upper left side thereof.
[Fig. 21 Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view
illustrating an internal configuration of the same recording
apparatus.
[Fig. 31 Fig. 3 is a disassembled perspective view of a
liquid container.
[Fig. 41 Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a liquid
container In a modification example.
[Fig. 51 Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a liquid
container attaching/detaching unit in a modification example
when the liquid container attaching/detaching unit is seen
obliquely from the front lower right side thereof.
[Fig. 61 Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram that describes a
positional relation between a guide rail and a guide slot,
(a) is a schematic diagram that describes a state in which
the insertion of a liquid container attaching/detaching unit
is completed, and (b) is a schematic diagram that describes
a state in which the insertion of a liquid container
attaching/detaching unit 1s in the process of insertion or
extraction.
[Fig. 71 Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a
positional relation between a unit-side connection portion
and an apparatus-housing-side connection portion in a
modification example of an embodiment of the invention.
Description of Embodiments
[00211
Hereinafter, a recording apparatus according to an
embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
In addition, the recording apparatus according to this
embodiment is, for example, an ink jet printer which
performs recording (printing) by ejecting ink, which is an
example liquid, onto a medium, such as paper. In addition,
hereinafter, when describing a direction, unless otherwise
noted, the description will be made on the basis of
directions shown in Fig. 1.
[0022]
As shown in Fig. 1, a multifunction printer 11 includes
a recording apparatus 12 that performs a recording operation
by ejecting ink; a reading apparatus 13 that reads
information recorded on a printing medium (omitted from
illustration); and an automatic printing medium feeding
portion 14 capable of feeding a plurality of printing media
stacked in layers to the reading apparatus 13 on a sheet-bysheet
basis. The reading apparatus 13 is disposed on a boxshaped
apparatus housing 12A of the recording apparatus 12;
and the automatic printing medium feeding portion 14 is
disposed on the reading apparatus 13. At an upper front
portion of the apparatus housing 12A of the recording
apparatus 12, there are provided an operation portion 15
which is operated by a user who desires to input information
to the multifunction printer 11, and a display portion 16 on
which various information pieces are displayed. Further, in
the inside of the apparatus housing 12A there is provided a
recording portion 17 that performs recording by ejecting ink
onto paper P having been fed.
[0023]
That is, in the inside of the apparatus housing 12A, a
guide shaft 18 is disposed between both side faces of the
apparatus housing 12A so as to extend along the
leftward/rightward direction, which is a main scanning
direction relative to the paper P, and a carriage 19 is
supported by the guide shaft 18 so as to be capable of
moving along the main scanning direction. This carriage 19
reciprocates along the main scanning direction by being
driven by a carriage motor (not illustrated). Further, a
recording head 20 that performs recording by ejecting lnk
onto the paper P is attached to the lower face of the
carriage 19.
[0024]
In addition, although not illustrated, a plurality of
nozzle rows each constituted of a plurality of nozzles
through each of which ink is ejected are provided on the
recording head 20. Further, ink feeding tubes 21 as an
example of the plurality of liquid feeding paths are routed
inside the apparatus housing 12A in a state in which the
downstream edge of each of the ink feeding tubes 21 is
connected to the recording head 20 so as to be associated
with a corresponding one of the plurality of nozzle rows.
Further, in the inside of the apparatus housing 12A, a board
unit 22, which functions as a control unit provided with
driving circuits for driving a movement mechanism of the
carriage 19, an ink ejection mechanism for the recording
head 20, and the like, is disposed at a right side position
of the right-side edge of an area which is along the main
scanning direction and within which the carriage 19 moves.
[0025]
As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a paper ejecting opening 23
capable of ejecting the paper P which is ejected from the
recording portion 17 to the outside of the apparatus housing
12A is provided at the front slde of the apparatus housing
12A. Further, in the inside of this paper ejection opening
23, a paper catch tray 24 capable of catching the paper P,
which is ejected from the recording portion 17 inside the
apparatus housing 12A to the outside of the apparatus
housing 12A, is provided. Further, in the apparatus housing
12A, a paper feeding cassette 25 and a liquid container
attaching/detaching unit 26 are disposed at respective lower
side positions of the paper catch tray 24 so as to be
capable of being freely inserted/extracted into/from the
apparatus housing 12A. The feeding cassette 25 is capable
of containing the paper P to be fed to the recording portion
17, in a state in which the paper P is stacked in layers.
Further, the liquid container attaching/detaching unit 26
contains a liquid container 27 containing ink to be fed to
the recording head 20, in a state in which the liquid
container 27 is attachable/detachable to/from the liquid
container attaching/detaching unit 26 itself.
[0026]
As shown in Fig. 2, in the inside of the apparatus
housing 12A, an area where the paper feeding cassette 25 is
disposed and an area where the liquid container
attaching/detaching unit 26 is disposed are partitioned by a
partitioning wall 28 in the upward/downward direction. The
paper feeding cassette 25 is capable of freely moving along
the upper face of the partitioning wall 28 in an
insertion/extraction direction in which insertion/extraction
lnto/from the apparatus housing 12A 1s performed. In
addition, an eave-shaped gripper 25a gripped by a user when
performing insertion/extraction of the paper feeding
cassette 25 into/from the apparatus housing 12A is provided
at the front edge of the paper feeding cassette 25.
Similarly, an eave-shaped gripper 26a gripped by a user when
performing insertion/extraction of the liquid container
attaching/detaching unit 26 to/from the apparatus housing
12A is provided at the front edge of the liquid container
attaching/detaching unit 26.
[00273
Further, in an inner portion inside the apparatus
housing 12A when viewed inward from the paper ejecting
opening 23, a path constituting member 29 whose upper face
forms a portion of a transportation path for the paper P is
provided at a position facing the upper face of the
partitioning wall 28, and a roller 30 is pivotally supported
by the path constituting member 29 so as to be capable of
freely swinging. Further, in the inside of the apparatus
housinglZA, a separation slope 31 whose gradient rises in
the backward direction is provided behind the paper feeding
roller 30. Further, a curved transportation path 33 which
extends from the separation slope 31 obliquely upward along
the outer circumferential face of a reverse rotation roller
32 is formed, and further, a transportation path 34 which is
continuous with the curved transportation path 33 and which
is also capable of transporting the paper P toward the
recording portion 17 is formed.
[0028]
In the recording portion 17, a supporting table 35
capable of supporting the paper P is provided at a position
facing the recording head 20 in the upward/downward
direction, and a paper feeding roller pair 36 and a paper
ejecting roller pair 37 are disposed at a backward position
and a forward position, respectively, which interpose the
supporting table 35 therebetween. Further, in the inslde of
the apparatus housing 12A, a transportation path 39 is
formed between the lower face of a frame 38, which supports
the reverse rotation roller 32, and the upper face of the
path constituting member 29. The transportation path 39
makes it possible to, without causing the paper P to passing
through the curved transportation path 33, transport the
paper P from the upper face of the supporting table 35
toward a portion at which the separation slope 31 and the
curved transportation path 33 are continuous with each other.
[0029]
That is, in Fig. 2, when the paper feeding roller 30 is
rotated by being driven by a paper feeding-out motor (not
illustrated), the paper P, whlch is stacked in layers inside
the paper feedlng cassette 25, is fed out toward the
separation slope 31 which 1s located at a back side posltion
of the paper feeding roller 30. Further, the paper P having
been separated into single sheets at the separation slope 31
is transported to the recording unit 17 via the curved
transportation path 33 and the transportation path 34, and
at the recording portion 17, ink is ejected onto the upward
facing obverse face of the paper P. Further, the paper P on
which printing has been performed by the ejection of ink is
ejected from the paper ejecting opening 23 by the rotation
of the paper ejecting roller pair 37.
[0030]
Further, when double-sided printing is performed,
reverse rotation of the paper feeding roller pair 36 causes
the paper P, whose obverse side has been subjected to
printing, to pass through the transportation path 39; return
to the position at which the separation slope 31 and the
curved transportation path 33 become continuous with each
other; and be transported again toward the recording unit 17
via the curved transporta.tion path 33, in a state in which
the obverse and reverse sides of the paper P are turned
upside down. As a result, double-sided printing is
performed at the printing portion 17 by the ejection of ink
onto the upward facing reverse face of the paper P, and
subsequently, the paper is ejected from the paper ejecting
opening 23 by the rotation of the paper ejecting roller pair
37.
[0031]
In addition, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a mounting tray
40 is provided at the upper portion of the back side of the
apparatus housing 12A. This mounting tray 40 is capable of
mounting the paper P thereon when the paper P is fed from
the upper backward portion of the apparatus housing 12A
toward the recording portion 17. Further, the paper P
.
mounted on this mounting tray 40 is caused to enter a midway
position on the transportation path 34 from an oblique upper
direction by the rotation of the paper feeding roller 41,
and the entered paper P is transported toward the recording
unit 17 by the rotation of the paper feeding roller pair 36.
[0032]
As shown in Fig. 2, a space located at the lower side
of the partitioning wall 28 inside the apparatus housing 12A
is a mounting portion 42 for mounting the liquid container
attaching/detaching unit 26, which can be freely
inserted/extracted into/from the mounting portion 42 along
the upper face of the bottom wall 43 of the apparatus
housing 12A through an inserting/extracting opening 42a
which is an opening located at the front edge side of the
mounting portion 42. Incidentally, the liquid container
attaching/detaching unit 26 forms a rectangular-box shape
whose size in the frontward/backward direction is long and
which has a bottom face and an open top face. Further, in
the inside of the liquid container attaching/detaching unit
26, the liquid container 27 is mounted so as to be freely
attachable/detachable to/from the liquid container
attaching/detaching unit 26.
[0033]
As shown In Fig. 3, the liquid container 27 includes an
ink pack 44 which has flexibility and contains ink therein;
a tube-shaped liquid lead-out member 45 which communicates
between the inside and the outside of the ink pack 44, in
the state of being projected from the ink pack 44; an
attachment 46 which holds the ink pack 44 through the liquid
lead-out member 45; and a cover 47 for the attachment 46.
An edge opening of the liquid lead-out member 45 of the ink
pack 44 is a liquid lead-out opening 48. Further, in the
inside of the liquid lead-out opening 48, there are
installed a shieling member 50 including a feeding hole 49
at the central portion thereof; a valve 51 capable of
opening/closing the feeding hole 49; and a coil spring 52
which energizes the valve 51 toward the shieling member 50
side. That is, the ink pack 44 is capable of guiding out
ink contained therein from the liquid lead-out opening 48
when the valve 51, which closes the feeding hole 49 of the
shieling member 50 in a normal state, is caused to open the
feeding hole 49 by being pushed by a liquid feeding member,
such as an ink feedlng needle (omitted from illustration),
having been inserted into the liquid lead-out opening 48.
[0034]
Further, the attachment 46 is a rectangular-shaped
resln member which is more rigid than the ink pack 44, and
is provided, at the front side thereof, wlth an opening 53
capable of, in a state of holding the ink pack 44, exposing
the liquid lead-out opening 48 of the liquid lead-out member
45. Further, at the back side of the opening 53, a pair of
ribs 54 capable of pinching the liquid lead-out member 45 of
the ink pack 44 from both of the left and right sides are
provided, and further, each of vertical walls 55 is formed
at a corresponding one of the left side of one of the ribs
54 and the right side of the other one of the ribs 54 so as
to extend in the leftward/rightward direction. Further, the
attachment 46 includes latching concave portions 57 formed
thereon, each of which is capable of latching a
corresponding one of latching convex portions 56 formed on
the cover 47. Further, the attachment 46 is provided, at a
side face thereof, with a connection terminal 58 including a
circuit board (omitted from illustration) on which a circuit
stores therein pieces of information related to a kind of
ink, a remaining amount of ink contained in the ink pack 44,
and the like.
[0035]
Next, the liquid container attaching/detaching unit 26
as well as a liquid feeding path which connects the
recording head 20 to the liquid container 27 mounted in the
liquid container attaching/detaching unit 26 will be
described in detail.
As shown in Fig. 2, the liquid container
attaching/detaching unit 26 is structured so as to be
partitioned into two layers of an upper layer and a lower
layer by a supporting plate 60, and the liquid container 27
is attached to the supporting plate 60 so as to be mounted
thereon. Further, a sliding member 61 is disposed at a
front portion on the supporting plate 60 so as t o be capable
of freely moving in the frontward/backward direction between
a position denoted by a chain double-dashed line and a
position denoted by a full line in Fig. 2. This sliding
member 61 is a member provided therein with the ink feeding
needle (omitted from illustration) which is inserted into
the liquid lead-out opening 48 of the ink pack 44, and the
sliding member 61 is normally stayed at the position denoted
by the chain double-dashed line, in the state of being
energized by a spring (omitted from illustration). Further,
when having been pushed by the attachment 46 of the liquid
container 27 in the frontward direction while moving against
the energizing force of the spring, the sliding member 61
moves from the position denoted by the chain double-dashed
line to the position denoted by the full line.
LO0361
Further, in the inside of the sliding member 61, the
upstream edge of an ink feeding tube 21a constituting the
unit-side paths is connected to the base edge side of the
ink feeding needle (i.e., the opposite side of the ink
feeding needle's tip inserted into the liquid lead-out
opening 48 of the ink pack 44). Further, this ink feeding
tube 2la is pulled into a lower layer chamber 62, a space
formed at the lower side of the supporting plate 60, at a
front side position of the sliding member 61, and further,
the ink feeding tube 21a is pulled out again toward the
upper side of the supporting plate 60 at a back side
position of the ink pack 44. In addition, at a position
above a connection portion where the ink feeding tube 21a is
connected to the sliding member 61 and a contact portion
where the attachment 46 of the liquid container 27 is in
contact with the sliding member 61, a blindfold plate 63 is
provided so as to, when the liquid container
attaching/detaching unit 26 is in the state of belng
extracted through the inserting/extracting opening 42a,
cause these connection and contact portions to be invisible
from a user.
[0037]
As shown in Fig. 2, the ink feeding tube 21a having
been pulled out toward the upper side of the supporting
plate 60 from the lower layer chamber 62 side of the liquld
container attaching/detaching unit 26 reaches a unit-side
connection portion 66, which is attached to the back face of
a backward wall 65 of the liquid container
attaching/detaching unit 26, via a pump mechanism 64 which
is provided with a tube pump and the like and which is
disposed on the supporting plate 60, and the downstream edge
of the ink feeding tube 21a is connected to the unit-side
connection portion 66. In addition, at a position above a
portion where the ink feeding tube 21a is pulled toward the
upper side of the supporting plate 60 from the lower layer
chamber 62 side of the liquid container attaching/detaching
unit 26, and a portion where the pump mechanism 64 provided
with a tube pump and the like is disposed, a blindfold plate
65a is provided so as to, when the liquid container
attaching/detaching 26 is ln the state of being extracted
from the inserting/extracting opening 42a, cause these
portions to be invisible from a user.
[a0381
Further, a vertical wall 67, which faces the backside
face of the backward wall 65 of the liquid container
attaching/detaching unit 26, is vertically disposed at a
position in the vicinity of the backside edge of the
apparatus housing 12A on a bottom wall 43 of the apparatus
housing 12A, and an apparatus-housing-side connection
portion 68, whlch is capable of being connected to the unitside
connection portion 66 of the llquid container
attaching/detaching unit 26, is attached to the front side
face of the vertical wall 67. In addition, in each of the
unit-side connection portion 66 and the apparatus-housingside
connection portion 68, there is provided a valve
mechanism 69 which is made opened in a state in which both
of the connection portions 66 and 68 are connected to each
other and which is made closed in a state in which both of
the connection portions 66 and 68 are disconnected from each
other.
[0039]
Further, as shown in Fig. 2, a coil spring 70 is
interposed between the backward wall 65 of the liquid
container attaching/detaching unit 26 and the vertical wall
67 of the apparatus housing 12A, so as to be capable of
freely expanding/contracting in the frontward/backward
direction. The back edge of this coil spring 70 is fixedly
attached to, as a fixed edge, the front-side face of the
vertical wall 67 of the apparatus housing 12A; while an
abutting plate 71 capable of being contacted with the
backward wall 65 of the liquid container attaching/detaching
unit 26 is attached to, as a free edge, to the front edge of
the coil spring 70. That is, the entire length of the coil
spring 70 in the state of not being expanded/contracted is
longer than that shown in Fig. 2, and the length of the coil
spring 70 is set to a length which, when the liquid
container attaching/detaching unit 26 is inserted through
the mounting portion 42 through the inserting/extracting
opening 42a, enables the abutting plate 71 to be contacted
with the backward wall 65 of the liquid container attaching/
detaching unit 26 before the unit-side connection portion 66
and the apparatus-housing-side connection portion 68 become
mutually connected.
[0040]
Further, when, in the above contact state, the liquid
container attaching/detaching unit 26 is further inserted
backward in an insertion direction in which the liquid
container attaching/detaching unit 26 is inserted, the coil
spring 70 is contracted by being pushed by the backward wall
65 of the liquid container attaching/detaching unit 26 and,
simultaneously therewith, functions as a movement resistance
applying portion for applying a frontward energizing force,
which energizes the extraction of the liquid container
attaching/detaching unit 26 through the inserting/extracting
opening 42a, to the liquid container attaching/detaching
unit 26 as a movement resistance force. Further, the coil
spring 70 is configured to, when the unit-side connection
portion 66 and the apparatus-housing-side connection portion
68 have become mutually connected after the completion of
the mounting of the liquid container attaching/detaching
unit 26 into the mounting portion .42, enters a force
accumulation state in which a frontward force which
energizes the extraction of the liquid container
attaching/detaching unit 26 through the inserting/extracting
opening 42a is accumulated.
[00411
In addition, in this case, the liquid container
attaching/detaching unit 26 is prevented from being
extracted away from the inserting/ejecting opening 42a such
that the front edge of the liquid container
attaching/detaching unit 26 is latched together with the
back side face of a convex portion 43a which has a cross
section of a right-angle triangle shape and which is
provided at the front edge of the bottom wall 43 of the
apparatus housing 12A. Further, when the front edge of the
liquid container attach~ng/detaching unit 26 is picked up
and thereby the stopping state of the liquid container
attaching/detaching unit 26 with respect to the convex
portion 43a is released, the liquid container
attaching/detaching unit 26 is made movable in a direction
in which the llquid container attaching/detaching unit 26 is
extracted through the inserting/extracting opening 42a by
the energizing force of the coil spring 70, functioning as
an assistance force for assisting the extraction thereof.
Further, as shown in Fig. 2, the apparatus-housing-side
connection portion 68 is connected to the upstream edge of
the ink feeding tube 21b which constitutes the apparatushousing-
side path and has a downstream edge connected to the
recording head 20. Further, when the unit-side connection
portion 66 of the liquid container attaching/detaching unit
26 having been attached to the mounting portion 42 and the
apparatus-housing-side connection unit 68 of the apparatus
housing 12A have become mutually connected, it becomes
possible to feed ink to the recording head 20 from the
liquid container 27 via the ink feeding tube 21.
[0042]
Incidentally, a plurality of the liquid container 27
(whose number is, for example, four) are provided so as to
be arranged in the leftward/rightward direction on the
supporting plate 60 of the liquid container
attaching/detaching unit 26. That is, the liquid container
27 containing black ink, the liquid container 27 containing
cyan ink, the liquid container 27 containing magenta ink,
and the liquid container 27 containing yellow ink are
mounted on the supporting plate 60 so as to be arranged in
the leftward/rightward direction. With respect to the
plurality of liquid containers 27 each containing a
corresponding one of the color inks, the ink pack 44 of the
liquid container 27 containing the black ink has a larger
ink containable capacity than the ink pack 44 of any other
one of the liquid containers 27. In addition, the capacity
of the lower layer chamber 62 of the liquid container
attachingldetaching unit 26 is larger than the total
capacity of the ink packs 44 of all the liquid containers 27
arranged on the supporting plate 60.
[0043]
Further, on the supporting plate 60, a plurality of the
sliding members 61 each associated with a corresponding one
of the plurality of liquid containers 27 (whose number is
four in this case) are provided, and similarly, a plurality
of the ink feeding tubes 21a (whose number is four) are each
connected to a corresponding one of the sliding members 61.
Further, on the supporting plate 60, a plurality of the pump
mechanisms 64 (whose number is four) through each of which a
corresponding one of the ink feeding tubes 21a (whose number
is four) is routed are provided, and the downstream edges of
the ink feeding tubes 21a are each connected to a
corresponding one of the unit-side connection portions 66.
Further, a plurality of the apparatus-housing-side
connection portions 68 (whose number is four) each
associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of
unit-side connection portions 66 (whose number is four) are
provided inside the apparatus housing 12A. Moreover, each
of the downstream edges of the plurality of ink feeding
tubes 21b (whose number is four), the upstream edges of
which are each connected to a corresponding one of the
apparatus-housing-side connection portions 68, is connected
to a corresponding one of the nozzle rows of the recording
head 20, each of the nozzle rows being associated with a
corresponding one of the ink colors.
[0044]
As shown in Fig. 2, the ink feeding tube 21b
constituting the apparatus-housing-side path is routed in
the inside of the apparatus housing 12A so as to avoid the
mounting portion 42, which is a movement area for the liquid
container attaching/detaching unit 26, a movement area for
the paper feeding cassette 25, and the transportation paths
33, 34, and 39 for the paper P. Further, although not
illustrated, signal wirings, which electrically connect
between the connection terminal 58 of the liquid container
27 and the board unit 22 as a controller of the recording
apparatus 12, are routed along the ink feeding tubes 21a
constituting the unit-side paths and the ink feeding tubes
21b constituting the apparatus-housing-side paths. Moreover,
a connection mechanism (omitted from illustration) capable
of electrically connecting between unit-side signal wirings
and apparatus-housing-side signal wirings is provided in
each of the unit-side connection unit 66 and the apparatushousing-
side connection portion 68.
[GO451
Next, behaviors of the recording apparatus 12 of this
embodiment, having been configured in such a way as
described above, will be described below focusing attention
on behaviors when a user performs attaching/detaching
replacement of the liquid container 27.
For example, in the state shown in Fig. 2, when old-tonew
replacement of the liquid container 27 containing ink to
be fed to the recording head 20 is performed, the liquid
container attaching/detaching unit 26 is extracted through
the inserting/extracting opening 42a of the apparatus
housing 12A. Further, an old liquid container 27 is
detached from the upper face of the supporting plate 60 of
the liquid container attaching/detaching unit 26. That is,
when one push operation of the attachment 46 of the old
liquid container 27 toward the sliding member 61 is
performed, a connection state in which the attachment 46 of
the old liquid container 27 and the sliding member 61 are
joined each other is released, and the old liquid container
27 becomes in the state of being detachable from the upper
face of the supporting plate 60.
[GO461
Further, next, a new liquid container 27 as a
substitution for the detached old liquid container 27 is
mounted on the supporting plate 60, and when one push
operation of the attachment 46 toward the sliding member 61
is further performed in a state in which the attachment 46
and the sliding member 61 are abutted to each other, the new
liquid container 27 becomes in the state of causing the
attachment 46 to be joined with the sliding member 61, and
the new liquid container 27 becomes in an attached state.
As a result, it becomes possible to feed ink from the new
liquid container 27 to the ink feeding tube 21a constituting
the unit-side path. Simultaneously therewith, communication
from the connection terminal 58 of the new liquid container
27 to signal wirings routed along the ink feeding tube 21a
becomes possible.
[0047]
Further, next, the liquid container attaching/detaching
unit 26 to which a new liquid container 27 has been attached
in such a way as described above is inserted through the
inserting/extracting opening 42a of the apparatus housing
12A. Subsequently, the backward wall 65, which is located
at a forward position in the insertion direction of the
liquid container attaching/detaching unit 26, is contacted
with the abutting plate 71 which is attached to the tip of
the coil spring 70, and the movement speed of the liquid
container attaching/detaching unit 26 in the insertion
direction degreases due to the influence of an elastic force
of the coil spring 70. Further, when, in such a connection
state, a user further pushes the liquid container
attaching/detaching unlt 26 forward in the insertion
direction, as shown in Fig. 2, the liquid container
attaching/detaching unit 26 enters a state of causing the
coil spring 70 to be contracted and enter a force
accumulation state, and causing both of the connection
portions 66 and 68 to be connected to each other, and the
mounting of the liquid container attaching/detaching unit 26
into the mounting portion 42 inside the apparatus housing
12A is brought to completion.
[00481
Further, the connection between the unit-side
connection portion 66 and the apparatus-side connection
portion 68 causes the valve mechanism 69 provided in each of
the both connection portions 66 and 68 to open and, as a
result, it becomes possible to feed ink from the ink feeding
tube 21a constituting the unit-side path to the ink feeding
tube 21b constituting the apparatus-side path. Further,
when, in this state, the pump mechanism 64 is driven, the
ink is favorably fed to the recording head 20 which is
located at an upper position than that of the liquid
container 27 in the vertical direction.
[00491
Meanwhile, when, in this state, the liquid container
attaching/detaching unit 26 is moved in a direction in which
the inserting/extracting opening 26 of the apparatus housing
12A is extracted through the inserting/extracting opening
42a, the unit-side connection portion 66 and the apparatushousing-
side connection portion 68 become in a disconnected
state and, as a result, the valve mechanism 69 provided in
each of the both connection portions 66 and 68 closes. Thus,
ink inside each of the ink feeding tubes 21a and 21b is
suppressed from being leaked from a corresponding one of the
both connection portions 66 and 68. Further, when the
liquid container attaching/detaching unit 26 is extracted
from the inserting/extracting opening 42a, the energizing
force of the coil spring 70 pushes, as an assisting force,
the liquid container attaching/detaching unit 26, and thus,
it becomes possible for a user to easily perform an
extraction operation.
[0050]
Further, if ink is leaked from the liquid container 27
attached to the liquid container attaching/detaching unit 26,
the leaked ink flows into the lower layer chamber 62 and is
stored therein. Further, in such a case, even if all inks
are leaked from all the liquid containers 27 and flow into
the lower layer chamber 62, any ink is not leaked out from
the lower layer chamber 62. Thus, it becomes possible to
suppress the apparatus housing 12A from being tainted by the
leaked ink.
[0051]
According to this embodiment, it is possible to obtain
the following advantageous effects.
(1)It is possible to easily attach/detach the liquid
container 27 to/from the liquid container
attaching/detaching unit 26 in a state of having being
extracted from the inserting/extracting opening 42a of the
apparatus housing 12A. Further, when the liquid container
attaching/detaching unit 26 containing the liquid container
27 attached therein has been inserted through the
inserting/extracting opening 42a of the apparatus housing
12A, the ink feeding tube 21a and the ink feeding tube 21b,
which are associated wlth the unit-side path and the ink the
apparatus-housing-side path, respectively, and which
separately constitute the liquid feeding path, are connected
to each other and, as a result, it becomes possible to feed
ink from the liquid container 27 to the recording head 20.
Further, in such a case, since the liquid container 27 is
disposed inside the apparatus housing 12A, the installation
area of the entire recording apparatus 12 does not increase.
Accordingly, it is possible to, without increasing the
installation area of the entire apparatus, easily feed ink
to the recording head 20 from the liquid container 27, which
is likewise disposed inside the apparatus housing 12A,
through the ink feeding tube 21 which is an example of the
liquid feeding path.
[0052]
(2) When the liquid container attaching/detaching unit
26 containing the liquid container 27 therein has been
inserted through the inserting/extracting opening 42a and
the unit-side connection portion 66 and the apparatus-side
connection portion 68 become mutually connected, the valve
mechanism 69 provided in both of the connection portions 66
and 68 becomes is open state. Thus, the ink feeding tube
21a constituting the unit-side path and the ink feeding tube
21b constituting the apparatus-housing-side path are
connected to each other and, as a result, it becomes
possible to feed ink from the liquid container 27 to the
recording head 20. In contrast, when the liquid container
attaching/detaching unit 26 is extracted through the
inserting/extracting 42a and both of the connection portions
66 and 68 are disconnected from each other, the valve
mechanism 69 provided in both of the connection portions 66
and 68 becomes closed. Thus, when, for example, for the
purpose of attachment/detachment replacement of the liquid
container 27, the liquid container attaching/detaching unit
26 has been extracted through the inserting/extracting
opening 42a of the apparatus housing 12A, it is posslble to
suppress the ink from leaking from the ink feeding tube 21a
constituting the unit-side path and the ink feeding tube 21b
constituting the apparatus-housing-side path.
[0053]
(3) For example, even when the liquid container
attaching/detaching unit 26 has been extracted forcibly by a
user through the inserting/extracting opening 42a of the
apparatus housing 12A, it is possible to prevent, by
utilizing the behavior of the coil spring 70 functioning as
the movement resistance applying portion, the occurrence of
a situation in which the unit-side connection portion 66 and
the apparatus-housing-side connection portion 68 collide
with each other due to the force applied by the user.
[0054]
(4) When the liquid container attaching/detaching unit
26 is extracted through the inserting/extracting opening 42a,
the coil spring 70, which is an example of the force
applying member, enters a state in which an accumulated
force is released as an energ~zing force applied in the
extraction direction, and thus, an operation of extracting
the liquid container attaching/detaching unit 26 becomes
easy.
[0055]
(5) For example, even when the llquid container
attaching/detaching unit 26 is disposed at a lower portion
in the vertical direction in the apparatus housing 12A;
while the recording head 20 is disposed at an upper portion
in the vertical direction in the apparatus houslng 12A, it
is possible to smoothly feed ink from the liquid container
27 attached to the liquid container attaching/detaching unit
26 to the recording head 20 by utilizing the drive of the
pump mechanism 64.
[0056]
(6) It is possible to perform multi-color recording
with a plurality of inks onto the paper P which is an
example of a medium.
(7) In the liquid container attaching/detaching unit 26,
the sliding member 61 is disposed in the vicinity of the
front edge of the supporting plate 60, and thus, a user can
perform attachment/detachment of the liquid container 27
even when only the around half of the liquid container
attaching/detaching unit 26 is in a state of being extracted
from the inserting/extracting opening 42a.
[0057]
In addition, the aforementioned embodiment may be
modified as described below.
As denoted by a chain double-dashed line in Fig. 2, an
abutting member 72 may be provided in the vertical direction
so as to extend from the lower face of the partitioning wall
28, which is a ceiling of the mounting portion 42, and be
capable of abutting onto the vertical wall 55 of the
attachment 46 of the liquid container 27. In this case, the
attachment 46 for the liquid container 27 is caused to be
aligned with the sliding member 61 on the supporting plate
60, and further, even when the liquid container 27 is placed
at a position distanced from the sliding member 61, in the
process of inserting the liquid container
attaching/detaching unit 26, the abutting member 72 abuts
onto the vertical wall 55 of the attachment 46 and thereby
causes the liquid container 27 to move to the sliding member
61 side. Accordingly, a user does not need to perform
alignment of the liquid container 27 so as to strictly cause
the attachment 46 and the sliding member 61 to be in the
abutted state, and thus, this mechanism enables improvement
of the efficiency of an operation for attachment/detachment
of the liquid container 27.
[0058]
As shown in Fig. 4, the liquid container 27A may not
be configured so as to be connected to the ink feeding tube
21 when the attachment 46 has become in the state of being
joined with the sliding member 61, but may be configured so
as to be connected to the ink feeding tube 21 by causing a
cap member 75, which is attached to the upstream edge of the
ink feeding tube 21, to be fitted into the edge of the
liquid lead-out member 45 having been passed through the
attachment 46. Through this mechanism, it is also possible
to connect the liquid container 27A to the ink feeding tube
21 on the liquid container attaching/detaching unit 26 in a
manner intending the suppression of the ink leakage.
[0059]
As shown in Figs. 5, 6(a), and 6(b), a guide rail 80
made of a resin material may be formed on each of the side
faces of a liquid container attaching/detaching unit 26A,
and a guide slot 81 may be formed on each of the inner side
faces of the mounting portion 42 inside the apparatus
housing 12A. In this case, the guide rail 80 forms a convex
shape extending approximately along the insertion direction
of the liquid container attaching/detaching unit 26A from
the inserting/extracting opening 42a, and includes an
insertion-side edge portion 80a and an extraction-side edge
portion 80b, each forming a ring shape having an inside
space.
[0060]
Meanwhile, the innermost portion of the guide slot 81
is made a striking portion 82 which is struck by the
insertion-side edge portion 80a of the guide rail 80.
Further, the entrance portion of the guide slot 81 is formed
into a taper face 83, and the inner bottom face of a portion
distanced from the taper face 83 by a short distance in a
direction toward the innermost portion of the guide slot 81
is formed into an oblique face 84 which abuts onto the
extraction-side edge portion 80b of the guide rail 80 in the
state of having been inserted in the guide slot 81, so as to
be capable of restricting the extraction of the guide rail
80 from the inside of the guide slot 81. Moreover, a
protruding portion 85 may be formed on a portion of the
ceiling face in the vicinity of the innermost portion of the
guide slot 81 so as to be capable of applying a movement
resistance force to the insertion-side edge portion 80a by
being slidingly contacted with the insertion-side edge
portion 80a of the guide rail 80 which is inserted into the
guide slot 81.
[0061]
In the case where this mechanism is implemented, when
the liquid container attaching/detaching unit 26A is
forcibly inserted by a user through the inserting/extracting
opening 42a of the apparatus housing 12A, the protruding
portlon 85 provided inside the guide slot 81 functions as a
movement resistance applying portlon; thereby, without
providing the coil spring 70, causing the speed of the
movement of the liquid container attaching/detachlng unit
26A in the insertion direction to be reduced.
[0062]
As shown in Figs. 5 and 7, a convex portion 91 whose
cross-section face forms a right-angle triangle may be
formed at the lower face of the liquid contamer
attaching/detaching unit 26A, and a concave portion 92 whose
cross-section face forms a right-angle triangle may be
formed on the upper face of the bottom wall 43 of the
apparatus housing 12A so as to be capable of being fitted to
the convex portion 91. Further, the liquid container
attaching/detaching unit 26A may be configured such that the
unit-side connection portion 66 is provided on a vertical
edge face constituting the convex portion 91 and facing
backward, and the ink feeding tube 21a constituting the
unit-side path is connected to the unit-side connection
portion 66. Further, the apparatus housing 12A may be
configured such that the apparatus-side connection portion
68 is provided on a vertical edge face constituting the
concave portion 92 and facing frontward, and the ink feeding
tube 21b constituting the apparatus-housing-side path is
connected to the apparatus-side connection portion 68.
[0063]
Through this mechanism, the liquid container
attaching/detaching unit 26A does not need to be configured
to have the two upper and lower layers. Further, this
mechanism suppresses the increase of the depth size of the
apparatus housing 12A, and further makes it possible to
connect the ink feeding tube 21a constituting the unit-s~de
path to the ink feeding tube 21b constituting the apparatusside
path through an operation of inserting the liquid
container attaching/detaching unit 26A. Accordingly, this
mechanism makes an operation of connecting the ink feeding
tubes 21a and 21b simple and easy, and contributes to
downsizing of the recording apparatus 12.
[GO641
The inserting/extracting opening 42a may be formed not
at the front face of the apparatus housing 12A but at either
the left side or the right side thereof, and the liquid
container attaching/detaching unit 26/26A may be configured
to be inserted or extracted in the leftward/rightward
direction.
The liquid container attaching/detaching unit 26/26A
may be configured to mount not only the liquid container
27/27A but also a waste liquid tank which collects waste ink
having been ejected, as waste liquid, by the recording head
20 via a waste liquid collecting tube.
[0065]
The liquid contalner 27/27A attached to the liquid
container attaching/detaching unit 26/26A may be configured
to include an inlet through which ink can be refilled and
which is normally closed by a cover member and is made
capable of being refilled when needed. Through this
mechanism, it is possible to fixedly dispose the liquid
container 27/27A.
[0066]
The total number and the kinds of the liquid
containers 27/27A attached/detached to/from the liquid
container attaching/detaching unit 26/26A may be optionally
determined, and, as an example, only a single container
27/27A of a large capacity for black ink may be attached to
the liquid container attaching/detaching unit 26/26A.
[0067]
The pump mechanism 64 may not necessarily be provided
in the liquid container attaching/detaching unit 26.
Further, as a kind of pump for the pump mechanism 64, in
addition to the tube pump, any one of various kinds of pumps,
such as a diaphragm pump and a piston pump, can be employed.
[00681
As a kind of the force applying member which also
functions as the movement resistance applying portion, in
addition to such a coil spring as the coil spring 70, any
one of various kinds of spring, such as a helical spring and
a plate spring, can be employed.
As the valve mechanism 69, various kinds of valve
mechanism, such as an electromagnetic valve which takes a
close-to-open action upon detection of contact between both
of the connection portions 66 and 68, and another valve
mechanism in which, when both of the connection portions 66
and 68 have been contacted with each other, each of valves
of the both connection portions 66 and 68 is pushed by a
member protruding from the opposite connection portion, and
moves backward, while moving against energizing force, from
a position where the valve is closed to a position where the
valve is opened, can be employed.
[0069]
In the liquid container attaching/detaching unit 26
shown in Fig. 2, the sliding member 61 may be disposed in
the vicinity of a back edge portion on the supporting plate
60. Through this mechanism, the length of the ink feeding
tube 21a constituting the unit-side path can be made short.
[0070]
In the aforementioned embodiment, the recording
apparatus 12 is embodied into a serial printer, but may be a
line printer or a page printer.
. In the aforemelitioned embodiment, the recording
apparatus 12 may be a liquid ejecting apparatus that sprays
or ejects liquids other than inks. In addition, when a
liquid is ejected from a liquid ejecting apparatus in the
form of minute liquid droplets, the minute liquid droplets
include grain-shaped droplets, teardrop-shaped droplets, and
trailing-string-shaped droplets. Further, as the liquid
mentioned above, any material capable of being ejected from
a liquid ejecting apparatus can be employed. For example,
any substance in the state of being in a liquid phase can be
used, and such substances include high-viscosity or lowviscosity
liquid objects, sol, gel water, other organic
solvents, inorganic solvents, solutions, liquid resins, and
fluid objects, such as liquid metals (metallic melts).
Further, not only a liquid as one of states of a substance,
but also an object obtained by dissolving, dispersing, or
mixlng particles of a functional material made of a solid,
such as a pigment or a metallic particle, into a solvent, or
the like, is included. As representative examples of the
liquid, ink such as described in the aforementioned
embodiment, liquid crystal, and the like, can be given.
Here, the ink encompasses aqueous ink and oil-based ink,
which are commonly used, as well as various liquid
constituents, such as gel ink and hot-melt ink.
[0071]
Speciflc examples of the liquid ejecting apparatus
include a liquid crystal display, an electroluminescence
(EL) display, and a plane emission display, as well as a
liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a liquid including a
material, such as an electrode material or a color material,
for use in manufacturing of color filters, and the like, in
the form of dispersion or dissolution. Further, the liquid
ejecting apparatus may be a liquid ejecting apparatus that
ejects a living organic material for use in manufacturing of
biotlps, a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a liquid
which is used as a precise pipet and becomes a sample, a
print apparatus, a micro dispenser, or the like. Moreover,
the liquid ejecting apparatus may be a liquid ejectlng
apparatus that ejects, in a pinpoint manner, lubricating oil
onto a precision machine, such as a watch or a camera, or a
liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a transparent resin
liquid, such as an ultraviolet hardening resin liquid, for
use in forming a minute hemispheric lens (optical lens) used
in optical communication elements, and the like, onto a
substrate. Further, the liquid ejecting apparatus may be a
liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects an acid or alkaline
etching liquid for use in etching of a substrate or the like.
Reference Signs List
[0072]
12 RECORDING APPARATUS
12A APPARATUS HOUSING
20 RECORDING HEAD
21, 21A, 21B INK FEEDING TUBE (LIQUID FEEDING PATH,
UNIT-SIDE PATH, APPARATUS-HOUSING-SIDE PATH)
26, 26A LIQUID CONTAINER ATTACHING/DETACHING UNIT
27, 27A LIQUID CONTAINER
42a INSERTING/EXTRACTING OPENING
64 PUMP MECHANISM
66 UNIT-SIDE CONNECTION PORTION
68 APPARATUS-HOUSING-SIDE CONNECTION PORTION
69 VALVE MECHANISM
70 COIL SPRING (FORCE APPLYING MEMBER, MOVEMENT
RESISTANCE APPLYING PORTION)
85 PROTRUDING PORTION
P PAPER (MEDIUM)
WE CLAIM:
[Claim 11
A recording apparatus comprising:
a recording head that is disposed inside an apparatus
housing and that ejects a liquid onto a medium;
a liquid container attaching/detaching unit that is
configured such that a liquid container which contains the
liquid is attached/detached to/from the liquid container
attaching/detaching unit itself and that is configured to be
inserted/extracted through an inserting/extracting opening
provided in the apparatus housing; and
a liquid feeding path that feeds the liquid from the
liquid container to the recording head,
wherein the liquid feeding path encompasses a unit-side
path provided in the liquid container attaching/detaching
unit and an apparatus-housing-side path provided in the
apparatus housing, and
wherein the unit-side path and the apparatus-housingside
path are mutually connected by the insertion of the
liquid container attachlng/detaching unit through the
inserting/extracting opening of the apparatus housing, and
the mutual connection is disconnected by the extraction of
the liquid container attaching/detaching unit through the
inserting/extracting opening of the apparatus housing.
[Claim 21
The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
each of a unit-side connection portion constituting the
unit-side path and connected to the apparatus-housing-side
path and an apparatus-housing-side connection portion
constituting the apparatus-housing-side path and connected
to the unit-side path includes a valve mechanism which is
opened when both of the unit-side connection portion and the
apparatus-housing-side connection portion are connected to
each other, and which is closed when both of the unit-side
connection portion and the apparatus-housing-side connection
portion are disconnected from each other.
[Claim 31
The recording apparatus according to claim 2, further
comprising:
a movement resistance applying portlon that, before the
unlt-side path and the apparatus-housing-side path are
mutually connected after initiating the insertion of the
liquid container attaching/detaching unit through the
inserting/extracting openlng, makes contact with and applies
a movement resistance force to the liquid container
attaching/detaching unit while moving in an insertion
direction in which the liquid container attaching/detaching
unit is inserted,
wherein the liquid container attaching/detaching unit
further moves in the insertion direction while moving
against the movement resistance force applied by the
movement resistance applying portion, and the movement of
the liquid container attaching/detaching unit brings the
unit-side path into contact with the apparatus-housing-side
path.
[Claim 41
The recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein
the movement resistance applying portion is configured to
include a force applying member that, when the movement
resistance applying portion is in contact with the liquid
container attaching/detaching unit which further moves in
the insertion direction, applies an energizing force to the
liquid container attaching/detaching unit in a direction in
whlch the liquid container attaching/detaching unit is
extracted through the inserting/extracting opening, and that,
when the movement resistance applying portion is in contact
with the liquid container attaching/detaching unit and the
unit-side path and the apparatus-housing-side path are
connected to each other, enters a force accumulation state.
[Claim 51
The recording apparatus according to any one of claims
1 to 4, wherein the liquid container attaching/detaching
unit further includes a pump mechanism that is driven ln
order to cause the liquid to move and flow, through the
unit-side path, from an upstream side, at which the liquid
container is disposed, toward a downstream side.
[Claim 61
The recording apparatus according to any one of claims
1 to 5, wherein, in the liquid container attaching/detaching
unit, a plurality of liquid containers including the liquid
container are attached/detached to/from the liquid container
attaching/detaching unit itself, and a plurality of unitside
paths which include the unit-side path and each of
which is associated with a corresponding one of the
plurality of liquid containers are provided; while, in the
apparatus housing, a plurality of apparatus-housing-side
paths which include the apparatus-housing-side path and each
of which is associated with a corresponding one of the
plurality of unit-side paths are provided.