Supply unit and liquid ejection device

Abstract

The present application provides a supply unit and a liquid ejection device, which can reduce the force required when connecting a liquid container and a liquid introduction portion. A supply unit (25) which detachably mounts a liquid container (24) provided with a connection portion having elasticity is provided with: a liquid introduction portion (60) connected to the connection portion of the liquid container; a first force applying member (83) which applies a force to the liquid container in a direction opposite to the connection direction when the direction in which the liquid container is connected to the liquid introduction portion (60) is defined as the connection direction; and a fitting lever (92) having a fitting portion (96) which fits with the liquid container when the liquid container is connected to the liquid introduction portion, wherein the fitting lever has an operation portion (98) operated by a user, and a pressing portion (97) which can press the liquid container, and by operating the operation portion, the fitting of the fitting portion with the liquid container is released, and the liquid container is pressed in the direction of separation by the pressing portion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a supply unit and a liquid ejection device. Background Technology

[0002] In the prior art, a liquid ejection device as shown in Patent Document 1 is known, which is equipped with a liquid container and ejects the liquid contained in the liquid container.

[0003] The liquid container described in Patent Document 1 has an insertion path formed on one side for inserting an ink receiving tube into a liquid dispensing device, and a sealing member made of an elastomer is provided on the insertion path. When the liquid container is installed on the liquid dispensing device, the ink receiving tube of the liquid dispensing device abuts against the sealing member and connects to the liquid container. Furthermore, a spring is provided in the liquid dispensing device to press the liquid container in the removal direction. When the liquid container changes from a state of being snapped onto the liquid dispensing device to a state of being released, it moves in the removal direction by means of the spring.

[0004] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2016-10888

[0005] However, in the configuration described in Patent Document 1, the ink receiving tube is disengaged from the tube insertion path and the liquid container is ejected by pressing the ejector spring. Therefore, the pressing force of the ejector spring needs to be increased. When the liquid container is installed in the liquid dispensing device, a force greater than the pressing force of the ejector spring is required to push the liquid container in. Therefore, there is a technical problem that the force required for installation also increases when the pressing force of the ejector spring increases. Summary of the Invention

[0006] A supply unit is provided with a liquid container that can be detachably installed. The liquid container has a resilient connecting portion. The supply unit includes: a liquid inlet portion connected to the connecting portion of the liquid container; a force-applying member that applies force to the liquid container in a disengagement direction opposite to the connecting direction when the direction in which the liquid container is connected to the liquid inlet portion is set as the connection direction; and a locking rod having a locking portion that engages with the liquid container when the liquid container is connected to the liquid inlet portion. The locking rod has an operating portion operated by a user and a pressing portion that can press the liquid container. By operating the operating portion, the locking portion is released from engagement with the liquid container, and the pressing portion presses the liquid container in the disengagement direction.

[0007] The liquid ejection device includes: the supply unit described above; and a liquid nozzle that ejects the liquid supplied by the supply unit to the medium. Attached Figure Description

[0008] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional view of a liquid ejection device.

[0009] Figure 2 It is a three-dimensional diagram of a liquid container.

[0010] Figure 3 This is a rear view of the liquid container.

[0011] Figure 4 This is a diagram showing the outline structure of the supply unit.

[0012] Figure 5 It is a cross-sectional view used to illustrate the structure of the supply unit and the liquid container.

[0013] Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional view of the supply unit when the support component is in the guide position.

[0014] Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional view of the supply unit when the support component is in the connection position.

[0015] Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional view of the supply unit immediately after the locking lever has been operated.

[0016] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of a liquid injection device equipped with a waste liquid container.

[0017] Figure 10 It has Figure 9 A 3D view of a multi-functional integrated machine with a liquid injection device.

[0018] Figure 11 This is a perspective view of the mounting section for installing the waste liquid container.

[0019] Figure 12 This is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the waste liquid container.

[0020] Figure 13 yes Figure 12 Front view of the waste liquid container.

[0021] Figure 14 yes Figure 12 Rear view of the waste liquid container.

[0022] Figure 15 yes Figure 12 A side view of the waste liquid container.

[0023] Figure 16 yes Figure 12 A top view of the waste liquid container.

[0024] Figure 17 yes Figure 12 An exploded three-dimensional view of the waste liquid container.

[0025] Figure 18 yes Figure 12 An enlarged cross-sectional view of the waste liquid container.

[0026] Figure 19 yes Figure 12 An exploded three-dimensional view of the waste liquid container.

[0027] Figure 20 yes Figure 19 Top view.

[0028] Figure 21 yes Figure 20 CC section view.

[0029] Figure 22 yes Figure 12 A three-dimensional diagram of the waste liquid absorber in the waste liquid container.

[0030] Figure 23 yes Figure 15 AA sectional view.

[0031] Figure 24 yes Figure 16 BB cross-sectional view.

[0032] Figure 25 It is shown Figure 12 A side view of the waste liquid container before it is installed in the mounting section.

[0033] Figure 26 It is shown Figure 12 A side view of the waste liquid container in its state when installed in the mounting section.

[0034] Figure 27 It is shown Figure 12 An enlarged sectional view of the waste liquid container when it is installed in the mounting section.

[0035] Figure 28 This is an explanation Figure 12 A schematic diagram illustrating the function of the reflective element in the waste liquid container.

[0036] Figure 29 Showing the view from the inside of the waste liquid container Figure 28 Side view of the reflective part.

[0037] Figure 30 This is a top view showing a modified example of a waste liquid container. Detailed Implementation

[0038] First Implementation Method

[0039] The supply unit 25 and the liquid ejection device 11 of the first embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The liquid ejection device 11 is, for example, an inkjet printer that ejects ink, which is a liquid, from a medium 12 such as paper for printing.

[0040] In the accompanying drawings, it is assumed that the liquid ejection device 11 is placed on a horizontal plane. The Z-axis represents the direction of gravity, and the X and Y axes represent the directions along the horizontal plane. The X, Y, and Z axes are orthogonal to each other. When the user is facing the front of the liquid ejection device 11, the Y-axis represents the depth direction of the liquid ejection device 11. The direction along the Y-axis from the front towards the inside is defined as the +Y direction, and its opposite direction is defined as the -Y direction. Furthermore, the X-axis represents the width direction of the liquid ejection device 11. The left direction along the X-axis when the user is facing the front of the liquid ejection device 11 is defined as the +X direction, and the right direction is defined as the -X direction. Furthermore, the downward direction along the Z-axis is defined as the +Z direction, and the upward direction is defined as the -Z direction.

[0041] A. Overall structure of the liquid ejection device

[0042] like Figure 1 As shown, the liquid dispensing device 11 may also include one or more media receiving sections 13, stackers 14, and operation sections 15. Each media receiving section 13 is, for example, a container capable of holding one or more media 12. The stacker 14 is configured to receive printed media 12. The operation section 15 is, for example, a touch panel for operating the liquid dispensing device 11. The touch panel may also be configured to face the front of the liquid dispensing device 11.

[0043] The liquid ejection device 11 may also include an image reading unit 16 for reading images of the original document and an automatic feed unit 17 for feeding the original document to the image reading unit 16. The image reading unit 16 and the automatic feed unit 17 are, for example, disposed above the stacker 14.

[0044] The liquid dispensing device 11 includes a control unit 19 that controls various actions performed by the liquid dispensing device 11. The control unit 19 may be configured as: 1) one or more processors that operate according to a computer program; 2) one or more dedicated hardware circuits such as an ASIC that executes at least a portion of the various processes; or 3) a circuit including combinations of these. The processor includes a CPU and memories such as RAM and ROM, which store program code or instructions configured to cause the CPU to execute processes. Memory, or computer-readable medium, includes all usable media that can be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer.

[0045] The liquid dispensing device 11 includes a supply unit 25. The supply unit 25 may also include a mounting portion 28 for detachably mounting one or more liquid containers 24. The mounting portion 28 may also have multiple slots corresponding to the various liquid containers 24. The mounting portion 28 has an insertion port 28o for inserting the liquid container 24. The insertion port 28o is open, for example, facing the front of the liquid dispensing device 11. The liquid dispensing device 11 may also include a cover (not shown) covering the insertion port 28o. This cover may be movable between a position covering the insertion port 28o and a position with the insertion port 28o open.

[0046] The insertion port 28o is configured to open, for example, on the front side of the liquid ejection device 11 in the -Y direction. In this case, the liquid container 24 is inserted through the insertion port 28o, for example, from the front side of the liquid ejection device 11 in the +Y direction.

[0047] The multiple liquid containers 24 (24C, 24M, 24Y, 24K) can also hold different types of liquids, such as inks of different colors. For example, liquid containers 24C, 24M, 24Y, and 24K can hold cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks, respectively. The multiple liquid containers 24 can also have different liquid capacities. For example, the liquid container 24K holding black ink can have a larger liquid capacity compared to the other liquid containers 24C, 24M, and 24Y. The liquid container 24K can also have a longer width, i.e., a longer length along the X-axis, compared to the other liquid containers 24C, 24M, and 24Y.

[0048] The liquid ejection device 11 includes a liquid nozzle 18 having a plurality of nozzles (not shown). The liquid nozzle 18 is configured to eject liquid supplied from the liquid container 24 installed in the supply unit 25 from the nozzles to the medium 12.

[0049] B. Structure of liquid containers

[0050] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the liquid container 24 is, for example, a box having a first end wall 142, an upper wall 143, a bottom wall 144, a first side wall 145, a second side wall 146, and a second end wall 147. When the liquid container 24 is installed in the liquid dispensing device 11, it is inserted starting from the first end wall 142.

[0051] like Figure 2 As shown, the liquid container 24 may also have an identification portion 430 on its bottom wall 144 for identifying the type of liquid container 24. The identification portion 430 may, for example, be a plurality of protrusions arranged in the width direction.

[0052] The liquid container 24 may also have a positioning hole 448 on its bottom wall 144. The positioning hole 448 may also be a recess that opens on the bottom wall 144. The liquid container 24 may also have a discharge portion 30 that opens on the bottom wall 144. The liquid contained in the liquid container 24 is discharged from the liquid container 24 through the discharge portion 30.

[0053] The liquid container 24 may also have a circuit board 150 in the portion formed by cutting off the angle where the bottom wall 144 intersects with the first end wall 142. The circuit board 150 may also have connection terminals 521 and a storage medium 525. The storage medium 525 may also store relevant information about the liquid container 24, such as information about the liquid contained in the liquid container 24.

[0054] The liquid container 24 may also have two receiving portions 447 extending along the Y-axis, respectively, on the first sidewall 145 and the second sidewall 146. In the first sidewall 145 and the second sidewall 146, the receiving portions 447 may also include a first receiving portion 447a and a second receiving portion 447b with different heights. The first receiving portion 447a may also be a groove extending along the bottom wall 144. The second receiving portion 447b is located at a higher position than the first receiving portion 447a, i.e., on the -Z side of the first receiving portion 447a, and the length of the second receiving portion 447b along the Y-axis is shorter than the length of the first receiving portion 447a along the Y-axis. The second receiving portion 447b may also be disposed near the circuit board 150.

[0055] like Figure 3 As shown, the liquid container 24 has an engaging recess 497 on its second end wall 147. The engaging recess 497 is a recess that opens on the second end wall 147 and is located, for example, on the +Z side of the second end wall 147, i.e., near the bottom wall 144. The engaging recess 497 may also be located at the center of the second end wall 147 in the width direction. A stepped difference is formed on the second end wall 147, and the -Z side end wall 147b is located on the -Y side relative to the +Z side end wall 147a where the engaging recess 497 is located. A protrusion 148 is formed in the liquid container 24 at a location further in the -Y direction than the end wall 147a.

[0056] C. Structure of the mounting section

[0057] like Figure 4 As shown, the mounting section 28 includes a box-shaped frame 80, a support member 90, a rotating shaft 91, and a liquid inlet 60. The support member 90, the rotating shaft 91, and the liquid inlet 60 are disposed within the frame 80. The liquid container 24 is inserted into the frame 80 through the insertion port 28o and moves toward the inward side of the frame 80. At this time, the direction of movement of the liquid container 24, that is, the insertion direction toward the mounting section 28, is the +Y direction.

[0058] The support member 90 supports the liquid container 24 and extends along a straight guide path 82, which intersects both a vertical line along the Z-axis and a rotation axis 91 along the X-axis. That is, the guide path 82 extends along the direction of movement of the liquid container 24, i.e., the Y-axis. The support member 90 has a front end region where the starting end of the guide path 82 is located and a rear end region where the ending end of the guide path 82 is located. The rear end region of the support member 90 and the rotation axis 91 are located inside the frame 80, i.e., away from the insertion port 28o in the +Y direction. The support member 90 may also have a base plate 90a and two side ribs 90b. The two side ribs 90b are respectively located at both ends of the base plate 90a in the width direction.

[0059] The support member 90 may also have one or more guide portions 247 for guiding the movement of the liquid container 24. The guide portion 247 may be, for example, a pair of guide rails disposed on a pair of side ribs 90b, or a single guide rail disposed on the base plate 90a.

[0060] The guide portion 247 may also have a first guide portion 247a and a second guide portion 247b configured to engage with the first receiving portion 447a and the second receiving portion 447b, respectively. The first guide portion 247a and the second guide portion 247b may, for example, be protrusions extending along the long side of the support member 90. The second guide portion 247b is located at a position higher than the first guide portion 247a, i.e., on the -Z side of the first guide portion 247a, and the length of the second guide portion 247b along the long side is shorter than the length of the first guide portion 247a along the long side. The second guide portion 247b may also be positioned closer to the rotation axis 91 than the first guide portion 247a. The first guide portion 247a may also be positioned corresponding to the liquid inlet portion 60 in the direction of movement of the liquid container 24.

[0061] The rotating shaft 91 has an axis that intersects both the vertical line along the Z-axis and the guide path 82 along the Y-axis, and is located at the end region of the support member 90. That is, the axis of the rotating shaft 91 extends along the X-axis. The support member 90 is configured to rotate about the rotating shaft 91 between a guide position that guides the liquid container 24 along the guide path 82 and a connection position where the liquid container 24 is connected to the liquid inlet 60. The connection position is located further in the +Z direction than the guide position. Figure 4 In the diagram, the support member 90 located in the guide position is shown in solid line, and the liquid container 24 installed on the mounting portion 28 in the guide position is shown in dashed line. Furthermore, the support member 90 and the liquid container 24 at the connection position are shown in double dashed line. It should be noted that the rotating shaft 91 corresponds to the second rotating shaft. Moreover, the guide position corresponds to the first position, and the connection position corresponds to the second position.

[0062] The liquid inlet 60 is a cylindrical component that is inserted through the outlet 30 of the liquid container 24 and is disposed below the support member 90. When the support member 90 is in the connected position, the liquid inlet 60 is connected to the liquid container 24. The liquid inlet 60 can also be configured to be inclined relative to the guide path 82. More specifically, the liquid inlet 60 can also be inclined such that its front end is positioned closer to the insertion port 28° than its rear end. For example, in the liquid inlet 60, its centerline forms an angle greater than 0° and less than or equal to 15° relative to a vertical line.

[0063] The mounting portion 28 may also include a first force-applying member 83, which applies force to the support member 90 in the -Z direction from the connection position toward the guide position. The first force-applying member 83 is, for example, a coil spring. When the liquid container 24 is mounted on the mounting portion 28, the first force-applying member 83 applies force to the liquid container 24 in the -Z direction via the support member 90. Furthermore, when the liquid container 24 is not in the mounting portion 28 and is not installed, the support member 90 is positioned in the guide position by the force applied by the first force-applying member 83.

[0064] With the support member 90 in the uninstalled state in the guide position, when the liquid container 24 is installed on the mounting part 28, the user inserts the liquid container 24 into the insertion port 28o with an appropriate orientation and pushes it in the +Y direction. The liquid container 24 is guided in the +Y direction along the guide path 82 as the receiving part 447 engages with the guide part 247, reaching a predetermined position on the support member 90 at the end of the guide path 82. In this state, the protrusion 148 of the liquid container 24 protrudes from the insertion port 28o towards the -Y side. Then, the user pushes the protrusion 148 in the +Z direction, and the support member 90 rotates about the rotation axis 91 to the connection position, connecting the outlet part 30 of the liquid container 24 to the liquid inlet part 60. It should be noted that the +Z direction, which is the direction from the guide position to the connection position, i.e., the direction in which the liquid container 24 connects to the liquid inlet part 60, corresponds to the connection direction, and its opposite direction, the -Z direction, which is the direction from the connection position to the guide position, corresponds to the disengagement direction. In other words, the first force-applying component 83 applies force to the support component 90 in the disengagement direction.

[0065] The supply unit 25 may also have a first storage section 33, a connecting path 34, and a second storage section 35 below the support member 90. A liquid inlet 60 protrudes upward from the first storage section 33. When the liquid inlet 60 is connected to the liquid container 24, liquid in the liquid container 24 is introduced into the first storage section 33 through the liquid inlet 60 and temporarily stored therein. The second storage section 35 communicates with the first storage section 33 via the connecting path 34. Liquid in the first storage section 33 flows into the second storage section 35 via the connecting path 34. The supply unit 25 is configured to supply liquid from the second storage section 35 to the liquid nozzle 18 (see reference 18). Figure 1 Supply liquid.

[0066] like Figure 5 As shown, the mounting portion 28 may also have an upwardly protruding positioning protrusion 248 near the liquid inlet portion 60. The liquid container 24 is positioned by engaging with the positioning protrusion 248 through the positioning hole 448. The positioning protrusion 248 may also be inclined at the same angle as the liquid inlet portion 60. In the base plate 90a of the support member 90, the portion corresponding to the area above the positioning protrusion 248 and the liquid inlet portion 60 is cut off.

[0067] Furthermore, an annular connecting portion 31, which connects to the liquid inlet portion 60, is disposed on the inner wall of the outlet portion 30 of the liquid container 24. The connecting portion 31 is formed of an elastic material such as rubber. When the liquid inlet portion 60 is inserted through the outlet portion 30 of the liquid container 24, the connecting portion 31 adheres tightly to the outer surface of the liquid inlet portion 60 to improve the airtightness of the outlet portion 30. It should be noted that when the support member 90 is returned from the connected position to the guided position to release the connection between the liquid container 24 and the liquid inlet portion 60, it is necessary to release the tightness of the connecting portion 31, thus requiring a greater force compared to simply lifting the liquid container 24 and the support member 90.

[0068] like Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the mounting portion 28 may also include a locking rod 92 disposed opposite to the front end region of the support member 90. The locking rod 92, the positioning protrusion 248, and the liquid inlet portion 60 may also be arranged sequentially in the +Y direction. The locking rod 92 may also have a base 93 fixed to the frame 80 and a movable portion 94 capable of rotating relative to the base 93. The movable portion 94 rotates relative to the base 93 about a rotation axis 94a extending along the X-axis. The rotation axis 94a corresponds to the first rotation axis.

[0069] The movable part 94 has an engaging part 96, a pressing part 97, and an operating part 98, which are integrally formed. The engaging part 96 extends upward from the rotation axis 94a in the -Z direction, and a protrusion 96a protruding toward the support member 90 is formed near its upper end. The protrusion 96a is configured to include a bottom surface 96b facing the +Z direction and an inclined surface 96c facing the direction formed by the combination of the +Y and -Z directions. In addition, the engaging rod 92 has a second force-applying member 95 that applies force to the engaging part 96 in the +Y direction, i.e., to the support member 90. The engaging part 96 receives the force from the second force-applying member 95 and maintains an attitude that is approximately parallel to the vertical line. The second force-applying member 95 is, for example, a coil spring.

[0070] At the support member 90 from the guide position (refer to) Figure 6 ) To the connection position (reference) Figure 7 During rotation, the liquid container 24 contacts the inclined surface 96c of the protrusion 96a, and the engaging portion 96 rotates in a manner that resists the force applied by the second force-applying member 95, causing the protrusion 96a to move in the -Y direction. Afterwards, the support member 90 reaches the connection position. When the liquid container 24 is connected to the liquid inlet 60, the protrusion 96a faces the engaging recess 497 of the liquid container 24 and enters the interior of the engaging recess 497 by the force applied by the second force-applying member 95. Thus, the engaging portion 96 engages with the engaging recess 497 of the liquid container 24. In this state, by the force applied by the first force-applying member 83, the support member 90 returns to the guide position and is suppressed by the bottom surface 96b of the protrusion 96a, thereby fixing the liquid container 24.

[0071] The pressing part 97 is configured to press the liquid container 24 in the -Z direction over the support member 90. The pressing part 97 extends in the +Y direction, and when the support member 90 is in the connected position, the pressing part 97 is positioned directly below the base plate 90a of the support member 90.

[0072] The operating part 98 extends from the rotation axis 94a in the -Y direction. The engaging rod 92 is positioned on the mounting part 28 such that at least the operating part 98 is located on the outside of the insertion port 28o, i.e., on the -Y side. The operating part 98 is operated by the user when removing the installed liquid container 24. When the operating part 98 is pushed downwards in the +Z direction, the movable part 94 moves about the rotation axis 94a. Figures 5-8 It rotates to the right, that is, in the direction that opposes the force applied by the second force-applying component 95.

[0073] like Figure 7 As shown, when the support member 90 is in the connected position, that is, when the liquid container 24 is connected to the liquid inlet 60, and the operating part 98 is pushed in so that the movable part 94 rotates, as... Figure 8As shown, the protrusion 96a of the engaging portion 96 disengages from the engaging recess 497, thereby releasing the engagement between the engaging portion 96 and the liquid container 24. In conjunction with this action, the pressing portion 97 contacts the lower surface of the base plate 90a of the support member 90, pressing the support member 90 in the -Z direction. This causes the support member 90 to rise slightly, releasing the tight contact between the connecting portion 31 of the liquid container 24 and the liquid inlet portion 60, and disengaging the connection between the liquid container 24 and the liquid inlet portion 60. Then, through the application of force by the first force-applying member 83, the liquid container 24 and the support member 90 are further pushed in the -Z direction, and the support member 90 returns to the guide position. In this state, the user can easily remove the liquid container 24.

[0074] It should be noted that the distance from the rotating shaft 94a to the operating part 98 can also be longer than the distance from the rotating shaft 94a to the pressing part 97. Specifically, if the position where the pressing part 97 contacts the base plate 90a when the operating part 98 is pushed downwards is defined as the pressing position, then the distance from the rotating shaft 94a to the front end of the operating part 98 can also be longer than the distance from the rotating shaft 94a to the pressing position of the pressing part 97. This reduces the force required by the user to push the operating part 98 upwards by pressing the support member 90. However, assuming the user pushes it to a position further inwards than the front end of the operating part 98, the distance from the rotating shaft 94a to that position can also be longer than the distance from the rotating shaft 94a to the pressing position. Furthermore, the distance from the rotating shaft 91 of the support member 90 to the pressing position is longer than the distance from the rotating shaft 91 to the connection point between the liquid inlet 60 and the liquid container 24. Therefore, the force required for the pressing part 97 to push the support member 90 upwards can be reduced.

[0075] D. Effects of this implementation method

[0076] As explained above, according to this embodiment, in the engaging lever 92, when the operating part 98 is operated, the engaging part 96 is released from the liquid container 24, and the liquid container 24 is pressed in the -Z direction by the pressing part 97. Therefore, compared with the structure that the liquid container 24 is disengaged solely by the applied force of the first force-applying member 83, the applied force of the first force-applying member 83 can be reduced. As a result, the force required to connect the liquid container 24 to the liquid inlet 60 can be reduced.

[0077] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, after the support member 90 is pressed in the -Z direction by the pressing part 97, thereby releasing the tight contact between the connecting part 31 of the liquid container 24 and the liquid inlet part 60, the support member 90 moves to the guide position due to the force applied by the first force-applying member 83. In other words, the distance by which the liquid container 24 on the support member 90 moves in the -Z direction due to the pressing part 97 is shorter than the distance by which the liquid container 24 moves in the -Z direction due to the force applied by the first force-applying member 83. Therefore, it is not a problem for the pushing amount of the pushing operation part 98 to be small, and the enlargement of the locking rod 92 can be suppressed.

[0078] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the locking lever 92 is arranged such that the operation part 98 is located outside the insertion port 28o of the mounting part 28, thus the operation part 98 can be easily operated.

[0079] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the liquid container 24 is configured to be supported by the support member 90 and to receive the force applied by the first force-applying member 83 and the pressure applied by the pressing part 97 through the support member 90. Therefore, it is possible to easily install the liquid container 24 onto the mounting part 28 or remove the liquid container 24 from the mounting part 28.

[0080] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the support member 90 moves between the guide position and the connection position by rotating about the rotation axis 91, thus making it easy to connect and disconnect the liquid container 24.

[0081] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the liquid inlet portion 60 is arranged in an inclined position relative to the guide path 82, so that the connection of the liquid container 24 can be smoothly performed when the support member 90 is rotated.

[0082] E. Other implementation methods

[0083] This embodiment can be modified and implemented as described below. This embodiment and the following modifications can be combined and implemented within the scope of technical non-contradiction.

[0084] The connection direction and disconnection direction of the liquid container 24 may not be along the Z-axis; for example, they may be along the horizontal direction.

[0085] • The pressing part 97 of the locking rod 92 can also be structured so that it does not contact the base plate 90a of the support member 90 when the operating part 98 is not pushed in.

[0086] • The first force-applying component 83 may also be a structure that applies force directly to the liquid container 24 in the -Z direction without passing through the support component 90. Similarly, the pressing part 97 may also be a structure that presses the liquid container 24 directly in the -Z direction without passing through the support component 90.

[0087] • The liquid ejection device 11 can also be a liquid ejection device that sprays or ejects liquids other than ink. The state of the liquid ejected from the liquid ejection device in the form of tiny droplets includes granular, teardrop-shaped, and thread-like states with trailing tails. The liquid described here can be any material that can be ejected from the liquid ejection device. For example, the liquid can be any liquid in its liquid phase state, including liquids with high or low viscosity, sols, gel water, other inorganic solvents, organic solvents, solutions, liquid resins, liquid metals, and molten metals. Liquids include not only liquids as a state of matter, but also liquids formed by dissolving, dispersing, or mixing particles of functional materials composed of solids such as pigments and metal particles in a solvent. Representative examples of liquids include inks and liquid crystals as described in the above embodiments. Here, inks include general water-based inks and oil-based inks, as well as various liquid compositions such as gel inks and hot-melt inks. Specific examples of liquid ejection devices include those that eject liquids in dispersed or dissolved form, including electrode materials or color materials used in the manufacture of liquid crystal displays, electroluminescent displays, surface-emitting displays, and color filters. Liquid ejection devices can also be devices for ejecting biological organic matter used in biochip manufacturing, devices for ejecting liquids as samples using precision pipettes, dyeing devices, or microdispensers. Liquid ejection devices can also be devices for ejecting lubricating oil from protruding points into precision instruments such as watches and cameras, and devices for ejecting transparent resin liquids such as UV-curable resins onto a substrate to form micro-hemispherical lenses and optical lenses used in optical communication components. Liquid ejection devices can also be devices for ejecting etching solutions such as acids or alkalis to etch substrates.

[0088] Second Implementation Method

[0089] The liquid injection device of the second embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0090] The liquid jetting device 111 of this embodiment is an inkjet printer that records ink, an example of a liquid, by jetting a medium S such as paper that is transported along the Y-axis, which intersects the Z-axis along the jetting direction of the liquid.

[0091] like Figure 9As shown, the liquid jetting device 111 includes: a liquid jetting section 113 with one or more nozzles 112 openings capable of jetting liquid droplets; a supply flow path 115 for supplying liquid from a liquid supply source 114 to the liquid jetting section 113; a conveying device 116 for conveying the medium S; and a control unit 1100 for controlling these structural components. When the position where the liquid jetting section 113 jets liquid is taken as the recording position, the conveying device 116 includes: a plurality of conveying rollers 117 for conveying the medium S along a conveying path through the recording position; and a conveyor belt 118 for conveying the medium S at the recording position. It should be noted that the conveying direction of the medium S at the recording position along the Y-axis is set as the +Y direction.

[0092] The liquid jetting section 113 of this embodiment is a row nozzle whose recording range covers the entire length of the medium S along the X-axis, which intersects the Y-axis and Z-axis. It should be noted that in this embodiment, the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are orthogonal to each other. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the +Z direction, which is the direction of gravity, is designated as the jetting direction; however, an inclined direction intersecting both the horizontal direction and the direction of gravity may also be designated as the jetting direction.

[0093] The liquid supply source 114 can, for example, be formed as a box-shaped liquid container that is detachably mounted on the container mounting portion 126 of the liquid injection device 111. Alternatively, the liquid supply source 114 can be replenished by injecting liquid into a liquid tank mounted on the container mounting portion 126.

[0094] The liquid jetting device 111 includes: a container 119 capable of holding multiple recording media S; a holding tray 120 for holding recording media S after recording is completed; a maintenance device 121 for maintaining the liquid jetting unit 113; and a mounting part 130 for detachably mounting a waste liquid container 150, which can hold liquid discharged as waste liquid during maintenance of the liquid jetting unit 113, etc.

[0095] In the liquid injection device 111, in the liquid injection section 113, maintenance operations such as rinsing, sealing, and suction cleaning are performed to prevent or eliminate poor spraying caused by clogging of the nozzle 112 or adhesion of foreign matter. The maintenance device 121 includes a cover 122, a waste liquid flow path 123 connecting the cover 122 and the mounting section 130, a suction pump 124 disposed in the middle of the waste liquid flow path 123, and a moving structure 125.

[0096] The movable structure 125 causes the cover 122 to be in Figure 9 The retreat position indicated by the solid line and Figure 9 The cap 122 moves between the capping positions indicated by the double-dotted line. At the capping position, the cap 122 contacts the liquid injection section 113. It should be noted that when the cap 122 moves to the capping position, the conveyor belt 118 moves from... Figure 9 The support position indicated by the solid line is set back to Figure 9 The retreat position is indicated by the double-dotted line.

[0097] The cap 122 is moved to the capping position and contacts the liquid injection section 113 in a manner that surrounds the nozzle 112, thereby sealing the nozzle. When liquid injection is not in progress, sealing the nozzle 112 prevents it from drying out, thus suppressing the occurrence of poor injection.

[0098] Rinsing refers to the forced ejection (discharge) of droplets from nozzle 112, unrelated to recording, to remove foreign matter, air bubbles, or deteriorated liquid that may be the cause of poor spraying. Deteriorated liquid refers to, for example, ink that has thickened due to the evaporation of solvent components. The liquid discharged as waste liquid by rinsing can be contained either by cover 122 or by a separate rinsing tank for containing the waste liquid discharged by rinsing.

[0099] Furthermore, when the cap 122 is in the sealed position, the suction pump 124 is driven to apply negative pressure to the nozzle 112, performing suction cleaning by drawing liquid out of the nozzle 112 through this negative pressure. The liquid discharged from the nozzle 112 by suction cleaning is contained as waste liquid in the waste liquid container 150. Additionally, when the cap 122 contains waste liquid discharged through rinsing, the suction pump 124 is driven while the cap 122 is away from the liquid spray section 113, so that the waste liquid contained in the cap 122 is contained in the waste liquid container 150 through the waste liquid flow path 123.

[0100] It should be noted that by performing suction cleaning when the liquid jet device 111 is first used, liquid is filled in the area of ​​liquid flow from the liquid supply source 114 to the nozzle 112, which is referred to as initial filling.

[0101] like Figure 10 As shown, the liquid injection device 111 can be a multi-function device 110 with an image reader 127 and an automatic feed device 128 mounted vertically above it. Furthermore, when operating the container 119, holding tray 120, or container mounting section 126 from the front, an operation section 129, such as an LCD panel, can be provided at the front of the multi-function device 110. In this case, the liquid injection device 111 can be operated by operating the operation section 129.

[0102] In this embodiment, in the liquid injection device 111, the mounting portion 130 is disposed near the bottom, which is lower than the container mounting portion 126, and at the downstream end in the conveying direction, i.e., near the left end when viewed from the front. Furthermore, the waste liquid container 150 is mounted on the mounting portion 130 as it moves relative to the liquid injection device 111 in the +X direction from the front towards the inside; therefore, the +X direction is the mounting direction. On the other hand, the -X direction, which is the opposite direction, is the direction for removing the waste liquid container 150; therefore, it is the removal direction. In the waste liquid container 150, the direction along the X-axis is the long side direction. Furthermore, in the liquid injection device 111, the mounting portion 130 is disposed on the inside side in the mounting direction, i.e., behind the +X side.

[0103] Next, the structure of the mounting section 130 will be described in detail.

[0104] like Figure 11 As shown, the mounting section 130 includes: a discharge section 131 for discharging waste liquid; two positioning sections 132L and 132R for positioning the waste liquid container 150; a device-side terminal section 141 electrically connected to the waste liquid container 150; and an optical sensor 135 for detecting the containment state of the waste liquid in the waste liquid container 150.

[0105] Within the mounting section 130, the discharge section 131 and the device-side terminal section 141 are arranged along the Y-axis, with the device-side terminal section 141 located on the +Y side of the discharge section 131. Two positioning sections 132L and 132R are arranged along the Y-axis on the lower side (+Z side) of the discharge section 131. Furthermore, an optical sensor 135 is disposed on the +Z side of the device-side terminal section 141, located on the front side (-X side) further in the mounting direction than the device-side terminal section 141.

[0106] The discharge section 131 is formed into a generally cylindrical shape that protrudes in the -X direction, and the downstream end of the waste liquid flow path 123 opens at the front end of the cylinder. In addition, the mounting section 130, like the discharge section 131, has a terminal holding section 142 that protrudes in the -X direction, and the device-side terminal section 141 is held in an inclined position by the terminal holding section 142.

[0107] The optical sensor 135 is a reflective optical sensor having a light-emitting part 135a that emits light and a light-receiving part 135b that receives light. The light-emitting part 135a, for example, has a light-emitting diode and is positioned to emit light in the -X direction, which is the direction in which the light-emitting part 135a faces the waste liquid container 150 mounted on the mounting part 130. The light-receiving part 135b, for example, has a phototransistor and is positioned to receive reflected light emitted from the light-emitting part 135a toward the waste liquid container 150.

[0108] The terminal holding portion 142 has an inclined surface 143, which is formed to intersect both the gravity direction and the mounting direction at an angle, with the -X side, which is the front end side, being higher than the +X side, which is the end side. The device-side terminal portion 141 is configured as a leaf spring that can protrude obliquely downwards from the inclined surface 143.

[0109] The terminal holding portion 142 has a pair of guide protrusions 144L and 144R located on the +Y side and -Y side of the inclined surface 143. The guide protrusion 144L is disposed on the +Y side of the inclined surface 143, and the guide protrusion 144R is disposed on the -Y side of the inclined surface 143.

[0110] Next, an embodiment of the waste liquid container 150 will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0111] In this embodiment, the waste liquid container 150, when installed in the mounting section 130, contains waste liquid such as waste ink generated by maintenance operations such as suction cleaning in the liquid spraying device 111.

[0112] like Figure 12 As shown, the waste liquid container 150 is formed into a generally cuboid shape with its long side along the X-axis and its width along the Y-axis. It should be noted that, when describing the waste liquid container 150, the +Z direction is the direction of gravity when installed on the liquid injection device 111. The waste liquid container 150 has: a bottom-shaped housing 152 with an opening on one side at the top in the installed state; and a plate-shaped cover member 151 covering the opening of the housing 152. The housing 152 and the cover member 151 together form a chamber 170 capable of containing waste liquid (see reference). Figure 19 ).

[0113] like Figure 12 As shown, a vent hole 151a is preferably provided on the cover member 151. This allows waste liquid to be easily introduced into the waste liquid container 150, or promotes the evaporation of the introduced waste liquid.

[0114] like Figures 12-16 As shown, the area of ​​the bottom 154 of the housing accommodating the housing 152 is larger than the area of ​​the housing sidewalls 155F and 155S that intersect the bottom 154 and extend along the X-axis. Furthermore, a pair of guide rails 154a extending along the X-axis are protruding from the bottom 154 of the housing. It should be noted that the liquid injection device 111 is provided with a guide portion (not shown) that engages with the guide rails 154a when the waste liquid container 150 is installed.

[0115] like Figure 14As shown, the housing 152 has a handle 153 at its front side (-X side) in the mounting direction. The handle 153 is intended for placing a hand on the handle 153 when removing the waste liquid container 150 from the liquid spraying device 111. The handle 153 can be formed by protruding from the housing 152 or by recessing a portion into which a hand can be placed.

[0116] like Figure 12 As shown, the housing 152 has the following features at its inner (+X) end in the mounting direction: a connecting portion 161 that connects to the discharge portion 131 in the mounting state of the mounting portion 130, and a housing-side terminal portion 156 that is electrically connected to the device-side terminal portion 141 in the mounting state of the mounting portion 130. The connecting portion 161 has a connecting opening 161a that opens in the mounting direction to allow connection to the discharge portion 131. The connecting opening 161a connects to the housing chamber 170 (see reference 150), which serves as the space within the waste liquid housing 150. Figure 19 It should be noted that the receiving body side terminal portion 156 is preferably arranged between the two guide rails 154a in the direction along the Y-axis.

[0117] In the width direction of the waste liquid container 150, i.e., along the Y-axis, a connection opening 161a is disposed on the -Y side, and a connection recess 162 is formed on the +Y side of the connection opening 161a such that it opens in both the +X and -Z directions in the installed state. The bottom surface of the connection recess 162 is formed with an incline that is higher on the -X side than on the +X side, facing the inclined surface 143 of the mounting portion 130. A container-side terminal portion 156 is disposed on the bottom surface of this connection recess 162, i.e., on the upward incline. Thus, the container-side terminal portion 156 is disposed in the width direction alongside the connection opening 161a. The container-side terminal portion 156 is composed of a circuit board with multiple terminals formed on its front side, and a memory (not shown) electrically connected to these multiple terminals is disposed on the back side of the circuit board. Furthermore, in the connecting recess 162, guide recesses 162L and 162R are recessed at the +Y side and -Y side of the receiving body side terminal portion 156, respectively, and are capable of engaging with the guide protrusions 144L and 144R of the terminal holding portion 142.

[0118] In the housing 152, two positioning recesses 134L and 134R are provided on the +Z side of the connecting opening 161a, arranged along the Y-axis. When the waste liquid container 150 is installed on the mounting part 130, the positioning parts 132L and 132R are inserted into the positioning recesses 134L and 134R, respectively.

[0119] In the housing 152, a reflective portion 157 is provided below the terminal portion 156 on the housing side, i.e. in the +Z direction. This reflective portion 157 can reflect the emitted light from the light-emitting portion 135a of the optical sensor 135 toward the light-receiving portion 135b when it is mounted on the mounting portion 130. In other words, the reflective portion 157 is configured to face the mounting direction.

[0120] Therefore, in the waste liquid container 150 in the installed state, the connection opening 161a is located on the -Y side, which is one side of the width direction, and the container-side terminal portion 156 and the reflective portion 157 are located on the +Y side, which is the other side of the width direction. Furthermore, the container-side terminal portion 156 is located further towards the extraction direction side, i.e., the -X side, than the connection opening 161a, and the reflective portion 157 is located even further towards the extraction direction side than the container-side terminal portion 156.

[0121] In the width direction of the housing 152, a recess 158 is provided between the connection opening 161a and the housing side terminal portion 156. This recess 158 can be considered to be arranged together with the positioning recess 134L in the width direction between the connection opening 161a and the reflective portion 157.

[0122] like Figure 17 As shown, the housing 152 is formed as a bottomed box with an opening facing upwards in the installed state. The waste liquid container 150 includes a plurality of waste liquid absorbers 171 and protective absorbers 174 housed within the housing 152, i.e., within the container chamber 170. The waste liquid absorbers 171 and protective absorbers 174 are, for example, composed of plate-shaped porous materials, capable of absorbing and retaining waste liquid through the capillary force of the pores.

[0123] like Figure 18 As shown, the connecting part 161 includes a cylindrical insertion tube 165, sealing members 166 and 167, and a fixing member 168. The sealing member 166 seals the insertion tube 165 and the discharge part 131 when the waste liquid container 150 is installed on the mounting part 130. Furthermore, the sealing member 167 seals the housing 152 and the insertion tube 165. The fixing member 168 is secured by screws 169 (see reference). Figure 13 The insertion tube 165 and sealing members 166 and 167 are fixed to the housing 152 so that the insertion tube 165 and sealing members 166 and 167 are held in the housing 152. A connection opening 161a is formed on the fixing member 168, and when the fixing member 168 is fixed to the housing 152, the connection opening 161a communicates with the housing 170 through the insertion tube 165.

[0124] like Figure 19As shown, the storage chamber 170, which serves as the space within the waste liquid container 150, is configured to include multiple waste liquid storage chambers 173 for containing waste liquid, and a detection chamber 175 for detecting the state of the waste liquid within the storage chamber 170. The multiple waste liquid storage chambers 173 are separated by multiple partitions 172 arranged at predetermined intervals along their long sides. In this embodiment, three waste liquid storage chambers 173A, 173B, and 173C are sequentially formed starting from the +X side. The insertion tube 165 of the connecting portion 161 is disposed within the waste liquid storage chamber 173A. Furthermore, the detection chamber 175 is disposed on the +Y side of the waste liquid storage chamber 173A and is separated from the waste liquid storage chamber 173 by a partition 172T. To prevent waste liquid from crossing the partition 172T from the waste liquid storage chamber 173A into the detection chamber 175, it is preferable that the waste liquid absorber 171 is in contact with the wall of the partition 172T on the waste liquid storage chamber 173A side.

[0125] like Figures 19-21 As shown, an opening is formed in the partition 172 on the bottom side (+Z side) of the housing 152, and each waste liquid receiving chamber 173 communicates with each other on the bottom side of the housing 152. Furthermore, multiple positioning ribs 159 extending along the X-axis are arranged on the bottom surface of the housing 152 for positioning the waste liquid absorber 171. It should be noted that in the housing 152, the reflector 157 is disposed on the outer wall of the detection chamber 175 on the +X side.

[0126] like Figure 22 As shown, a notch 171r is formed at the bottom of the waste liquid absorber 171 housed in waste liquid receiving chambers 173B and 173C to form a gap with the bottom surface of the receiving shell 152. Therefore, as... Figure 23 As shown, with the waste liquid absorber 171 disposed inside the housing 152, a space is formed at the bottom of the housing 152 that connects the three waste liquid receiving chambers 173A, 173B, and 173C.

[0127] Furthermore, as described above, an opening is formed on the bottom side of the partition 172 that accommodates the housing 152, therefore, as Figure 24 As shown, in the housing 152, below the partition 172, a gap SP is formed between the waste liquid absorbers 171 contained in adjacent waste liquid receiving chambers 173 in the ±X direction. This gap SP communicates with the space formed by the notch 171r at the bottom of the waste liquid absorber 171. It should be noted that this communicating space is referred to as the waste liquid induction flow path.

[0128] Waste liquid discharged from the discharge section 131 through the insertion pipe section 165 into the receiving housing 152 flows into waste liquid receiving chambers 173A and 173B. Then, the waste liquid flows through the induction flow path to the bottom of the waste liquid receiving chamber 173. The induction flow path contacts all the waste liquid absorbers 171 within the waste liquid receiving body 150, so that the waste liquid introduced into the waste liquid receiving chamber 173 is not absorbed more by a portion of the waste liquid absorbers 171 near the inlet, but is efficiently absorbed by all the waste liquid absorbers 171 during its flow in the induction flow path. Furthermore, when the amount of waste liquid flowing in the induction flow path increases, a portion of the waste liquid is absorbed by the waste liquid absorbers 171 while flowing vertically upward through the gap SP.

[0129] It should be noted that if the volume of the induction flow path is small, when a large amount of waste liquid is introduced into the waste liquid container 150 at once, the absorption by the waste liquid absorber 171 may not be able to keep up with the inflow rate of the waste liquid, causing the introduced waste liquid to overflow from the connection opening 161a. Therefore, it is preferable that the volume of the induction flow path is greater than or equal to the maximum amount of waste liquid discharged in a single suction cleaning. On the other hand, if the volume of the induction flow path is too large, the volume of the waste liquid absorber 171 will become smaller, and thus the volume of waste liquid that can be absorbed and retained will be smaller. Therefore, it is preferable that the volume of the induction flow path is set to be equal to the maximum amount of waste liquid discharged in a single suction cleaning.

[0130] like Figure 19 As shown, in the housing 152, the detection chamber 175 and the waste liquid receiving chamber 173A are separated by a partition 172T, but not completely separated. Instead, they are connected through a communication space 176 provided on the +X side of the partition 172T. Specifically, the detection chamber 175 and the waste liquid receiving chamber 173A are connected at a position closer to the end than the front end of the insertion tube 165, which discharges waste liquid into the waste liquid receiving chamber 173A.

[0131] like Figure 17 As shown, the protective absorber 174 is disposed within the communicating space 176 to obstruct the connection between the detection chamber 175 and the waste liquid receiving chamber 173A. The bottom surface of the communicating space 176 is located at a position higher than the bottom surface of the waste liquid receiving chamber 173A, i.e., on the -Z side. When repeated suction cleaning is performed, and the waste liquid receiving chamber 173 contains an amount of waste liquid that cannot be completely absorbed by the waste liquid absorber 171, the waste liquid overflows to the outside of the waste liquid absorber 171, i.e., into the space within the waste liquid receiving chamber 173, and the water level of the waste liquid rises each time suction cleaning is performed. Furthermore, when the water level of the waste liquid reaches the height of the bottom surface of the communicating space 176, the waste liquid begins to be absorbed by the protective absorber 174. Moreover, when repeated suction cleaning is performed, and an amount of waste liquid that the protective absorber 174 cannot completely absorb flows in, the waste liquid flows from the protective absorber 174 into the detection chamber 175.

[0132] Next, the installation operation of the waste liquid container 150 on the mounting part 130 and the function of the waste liquid container 150 will be explained.

[0133] like Figure 25 and Figure 26 As shown, the mounting part 130 is disposed on the -X side of the back base 183, which is fixed to the main body of the liquid injection device 111. The mounting part 130 is connected to the back base 183 by one or more springs 181, and is subjected to force in the -X direction by the springs 181. The back base 183 is fixed to the bottom base 185 at its +Z side end. The bottom base 185 is a plate-shaped member extending from the back base 183 in the -X direction, and its upper surface is substantially horizontal. An anti-detachment protrusion 187 protruding in the -Z direction is provided at the -X side end of the bottom base 185.

[0134] like Figure 25 As shown, with the +X side end of the bottom 154 of the waste liquid container 150 in contact with the bottom base 185, when the waste liquid container 150 is moved relative to the mounting portion 130 in the +X direction, the discharge portion 131 connects to the connecting portion 161 of the waste liquid container 150. At this time, the position of the waste liquid container 150 in the ±Y direction is positioned by inserting the positioning portions 132L and 132R into the positioning recesses 134L and 134R.

[0135] In addition, such as Figure 26 As shown, when the -X side end of the bottom 154 of the housing exceeds the anti-detachment protrusion 187, the -X side end is lowered in the +Z direction and placed on the bottom base 185. At this time, the ±Z direction position of the waste liquid container 150 is determined. Simultaneously, the waste liquid container 150, which is forced in the -X direction by the spring 181, is restricted from moving in the -X direction by the anti-detachment protrusion 187, thus determining its ±X direction position. At this time, as... Figure 27 As shown, the reflective part 157 of the waste liquid container 150 is positioned opposite the optical sensor 135.

[0136] Furthermore, at this time, by moving the receiving body-side terminal portion 156 in the mounting direction so as to contact and submerge into the device-side terminal portion 141 disposed on the inclined surface 143, the receiving body-side terminal portion 156 and the device-side terminal portion 141 are electrically connected. It should be noted that by contacting and submerging the receiving body-side terminal portion 156 into the device-side terminal portion 141 on the inclined surface 143, even if dust or other deposits are attached to the receiving body-side terminal portion 156 or the device-side terminal portion 141, such deposits can be wiped off, ensuring the electrical contacts are secure.

[0137] Furthermore, when the container-side terminal 156 contacts the device-side terminal 141, the guide protrusions 144L and 144R of the terminal holding portion 142 engage with the guide recesses 162L and 162R of the waste liquid container 150, respectively, thereby accurately positioning the container-side terminal 156 on the device-side terminal 141. When the container-side terminal 156 is electrically connected to the device-side terminal 141, the control unit 1100 can write the expected cumulative discharge amount into the memory of the container-side terminal 156 each time suction cleaning is performed, or read the cumulative discharge amount from the memory.

[0138] It should be noted that whether the waste liquid container 150 is properly installed can be determined by the control unit 1100 detecting the electrical connection between the container-side terminal 156 and the device-side terminal 141. However, since the container-side terminal 156 and the device-side terminal 141 have a predetermined range in the plane, and are facing each other and in contact in a state of inclination intersecting the installation direction, the control unit 1100 can detect the connection as long as they are partially in contact, even if they are not fully inserted into the connection opening 161a of the discharge section 131.

[0139] like Figure 28 As shown, the preferred reflector 157 has a prism (critical angle prism) whose light reflection state changes depending on whether there is waste liquid in the detection chamber 175, as it occurs within the receiving chamber 170. In this case, the reflector 157 is configured such that two sides of the prism protrude from the detection chamber 175 formed within the waste liquid receiving body 150, and the remaining side protrudes from the outside of the waste liquid receiving body 150.

[0140] Furthermore, when the light emitted from the light-emitting part 135a of the optical sensor 135 enters the prism from the surface exposed on the outside of the waste liquid container 150, if there is no waste liquid in the area in contact with the prism within the detection chamber 175, then... Figure 28 As indicated by the arrow in the solid line, the incident light is reflected on the other two surfaces and received by the light-receiving part 135b. Conversely, when the area in the detection chamber 175 that contacts the prism is filled with waste liquid, as... Figure 28 As shown by the dashed line, the incident light is not reflected but passes through the prism. Therefore, the light-receiving part 135b does not receive reflected light.

[0141] As waste liquid flows into the detection chamber 175, the amount of reflected light received by the light-receiving part 135b of the optical sensor 135 decreases, thereby detecting that the remaining capacity of the waste liquid that can be contained in the waste liquid container 150 is exhausted or reduced. Therefore, if insufficient remaining capacity is detected, the control unit 1100 detects whether the waste liquid container 150 is full or has insufficient remaining capacity based on the detection signal from the optical sensor 135.

[0142] It should be noted that when the space where the waste liquid initially flows in is used as the detection chamber 175, it is necessary to wait for the waste liquid to be absorbed by the waste liquid absorber 171 before detection can be performed. Therefore, time is required until the detection is completed. In this embodiment, the waste liquid flowing into the waste liquid container 150 flows into the induction flow path and is absorbed by the waste liquid absorber 171. The overflowing waste liquid then flows into the detection chamber 175. Therefore, it is not necessary to wait for the waste liquid flowing into the detection chamber 175 to be absorbed by the waste liquid absorber 171 before detecting insufficient remaining capacity. Detection of full state or insufficient remaining capacity can be performed quickly.

[0143] When the control unit 1100 detects that the waste liquid container 150 is full or has insufficient remaining capacity, the control unit 1100 activates the operation unit 129 (see reference) which is composed of an LCD panel or the like. Figure 10 Errors can be displayed on the screen, prompting the user to replace the waste liquid container 150. It should be noted that if the reflector 157 is positioned above the detection chamber 175, it can detect when the liquid is depleted (full). If the reflector 157 is positioned below the detection chamber 175, it can detect when the liquid is reduced (insufficient remaining capacity).

[0144] like Figure 29 As shown, when the reflector 157 is used as a prism, it is preferable to arrange the prism so that the ridge line RG formed by the intersection of the two faces of the prism facing the detection chamber 175 extends in the vertical direction. When the detection chamber 175 contains a small amount of waste liquid, if an impact is applied to the waste liquid container 150, the waste liquid in the detection chamber 175 may sometimes adhere to the prism. In this case, if the prism is arranged so that the ridge line RG formed by the intersection of the two faces extends in the vertical direction, compared to when the ridge line RG extends horizontally, even if the waste liquid temporarily adheres to the prism, the waste liquid will quickly flow down, thus avoiding incorrect detection of remaining capacity due to waste liquid adhesion.

[0145] As explained above, the following effects can be obtained according to the above implementation method.

[0146] (1) When the waste liquid container 150 is viewed along the installation direction, the connection opening 161a is not located in the center of the width direction but is located at a position offset towards the -Y side, and the container side terminal portion 156 and the reflective portion 157 are located on the +Y side. Therefore, even when the waste liquid is hanging down from the connection opening 161a in the direction of gravity, it is possible to suppress the waste liquid from adhering to the container side terminal portion 156 and the reflective portion 157.

[0147] (2) The reflector 157 is arranged facing the mounting direction, so the optical sensor 135 and the device-side terminal 141 can be arranged side by side in the mounting section 130. As a result, the mounting section 130 can be prevented from becoming too large in the direction along the Y-axis.

[0148] (3) The container side terminal portion 156 is provided at a position parallel to the connection opening 161a in the width direction. That is, the height of the container side terminal portion 156 and the connection opening 161a are approximately equal, so it is possible to prevent waste liquid hanging from the connection opening 161a from adhering to the container side terminal portion 156.

[0149] (4) A recess 158 and a positioning recess 134L are provided between the connection opening 161a and the reflective part 157 in the width direction. Therefore, the waste liquid hanging down from the connection opening 161a is difficult to reach the reflective part 157, and the waste liquid can be suppressed from adhering to the reflective part 157.

[0150] (5) The container side terminal 156 is provided closer to the take-out direction side than the connection opening 161a and is provided on an upward inclined surface. Therefore, it is possible to further suppress the waste liquid hanging from the connection opening 161a from adhering to the container side terminal 156.

[0151] (6) The reflective part 157 is located at a position lower than the container side terminal part 156. Therefore, it can be said that it is located at a position where waste liquid hanging down from the connection opening 161a can easily enter. However, since the reflective part 157 is located at a position further to the take-out direction than the container side terminal part 156, it is possible to suppress waste liquid from adhering to the reflective part 157.

[0152] (7) The reflector 157 has a prism whose light reflection state changes depending on whether there is waste liquid, so it can detect with excellent accuracy whether the waste liquid container 150 is full of waste liquid.

[0153] (8) The detection chamber 175 is separated from the waste liquid container 173 by a partition 172T and a protective absorber 174, which can suppress the flow of waste liquid into the detection chamber 175 even when a large amount of waste liquid flows violently into the waste liquid container 150. In addition, even if the waste liquid container 150 is tilted, the partition 172T and the protective absorber 174 can prevent waste liquid from flowing into the detection chamber 175.

[0154] (9) The detection chamber 175 is not located directly below the insertion tube section 165, but is located at a position offset from the waste liquid receiving chamber 173A where the insertion tube section 165 is located towards the +Y side. Therefore, even if the waste liquid receiving body 150 rotates around the Y axis, the waste liquid receiving chamber 173A becomes lower than the waste liquid receiving chamber 173C, and there is no possibility that the waste liquid discharged from the insertion tube section 165 flows through the outer surface of the insertion tube section 165 and into the detection chamber 175.

[0155] (10) In the housing 152, the communication space 176 between the detection chamber 175 and the waste liquid receiving chamber 173 is located closer to the end than the front end of the insertion tube 165, which discharges waste liquid into the waste liquid receiving chamber 173. Therefore, it is possible to prevent waste liquid discharged from the insertion tube 165 from directly adhering to the protective absorber 174 disposed in the communication space 176 and flowing into the detection chamber 175.

[0156] It should be noted that the above embodiments can also be modified according to the variations shown below. Furthermore, the above embodiments and variations can be implemented through appropriate combinations.

[0157] ·like Figure 30 As shown, the connection opening 161a of the waste liquid container 150 can also be configured on the -X side, which is the front side in the installation direction, rather than the +X side, which is the inner side in the installation direction.

[0158] The orientation of the inclination of the container-side terminal portion 156 and the device-side terminal portion 141 can also be opposite to that in the above embodiment. That is, in the installed state where the waste liquid container 150 is installed on the mounting portion 130, the device-side terminal portion 141 can also be disposed below the container-side terminal portion 156. Furthermore, the orientation of the inclination of the container-side terminal portion 156 and the device-side terminal portion 141 can also be perpendicular to the X direction, or perpendicular to the Y direction, or perpendicular to the Z direction.

[0159] • The connection opening 161a can also be disposed on the +Y side in the width direction of the waste liquid container 150. In this case, the container-side terminal portion 156 and the reflective portion 157 are disposed on the -Y side.

[0160] • If at least one of the receiving body-side terminal portion 156 and the reflective portion 157 is located on the opposite side of the connection opening 161a, it can be disposed on the housing sidewalls 155F and 155S. For example, as in the above embodiment, when the connection opening 161a is disposed on the -Y side, at least one of the receiving body-side terminal portion 156 and the reflective portion 157 can also be disposed on the housing sidewall 155S on the +Y side.

[0161] When the waste liquid container 150 is installed in a suitable position regardless of the amount of waste liquid it contains, the reflector 157 can also reflect the emitted light towards the receiver 135b. In this case, the reflector 157 is, for example, a mirror, and when the waste liquid container 150 is installed on the mounting portion 130, the optical sensor 135 receives the light reflected by the reflector 157. On the other hand, when the waste liquid container 150 is not installed on the mounting portion 130, the optical sensor 135 does not receive light. Thus, the installation status of the waste liquid container 150 can be detected by the optical sensor 135.

[0162] In the event that waste liquid accidentally flows from the waste liquid containment chamber 173 over the upper end of the partition 172T into the detection chamber 175, in order to avoid the waste liquid affecting the detection results of the optical sensor 135, a waste liquid absorber 171 may be arranged between the upper end of the partition 172T and the reflector 157 in the detection chamber 175.

[0163] • The interior of the waste liquid receiving chamber 173 may not be provided with an induced flow path formed by the notch 171r and gap SP of the waste liquid absorber 171.

[0164] • The waste liquid container 150 may also lack the waste liquid absorber 171 and the protective absorber 174. In this case, no communication space 176 is provided between the waste liquid container 173 and the detection chamber 175, and if the waste liquid in the waste liquid container 173 exceeds the height of the partition 172T, the waste liquid will flow into the detection chamber 175.

[0165] • In cases where the waste liquid introduced into the waste liquid container 150 may experience increased viscosity and decreased fluidity due to evaporation, potentially clogging the induction flow path, a flow path connecting the induction flow path and the detection chamber 175 may be provided. On the other hand, if the possibility of decreased fluidity due to increased viscosity of the waste liquid is low, as in the above embodiment, it is preferable to provide the detection chamber 175 as a space independent of the induction flow path, i.e., a space not directly connected to the induction flow path.

[0166] The waste liquid container 150 can also function as an accessory as described below: it is installed on the liquid injection device 111 to discharge waste liquid generated within the liquid injection device 111 into a waste liquid tank located outside the main body of the device 111 via a pipe or the like. In this case, if the waste liquid tank is positioned lower in the direction of gravity than the discharge section 131, the waste liquid can flow down naturally.

[0167] Alternatively, the container connection can be positioned on the front side (-X side) of the waste liquid container 150 in the installation direction, allowing the waste liquid tank located on the outside of the main body of the liquid injection device 111 to be detachably connected to the container connection. Therefore, when the waste liquid container 150 is used as an accessory, it does not need to be replaced. Consequently, the waste liquid container 50 can be fixed to the liquid injection device 111 without being removed from it.

[0168] • The liquid jetting device 11 is not limited to a line printhead with a recording range covering the entire width of the medium S. For example, it may be a serial printhead that alternates between liquid jetting while the carriage of the liquid jetting unit 113 moves along the guide shaft in the ±X direction and conveying the medium S in the +Y direction.

[0169] • The liquid ejected by the liquid ejection unit 113 is not limited to ink; for example, it may be a liquid formed by dispersing or mixing functional material particles in a liquid. For example, it may be configured to eject a liquid containing materials such as electrode materials and color materials (pixel materials) used in the manufacture of liquid crystal displays, EL (electroluminescent) displays, and surface-emitting displays in a dispersed or dissolved manner for recording.

[0170] • The medium S is not limited to paper; it can also be plastic film, thin sheet material, or fabric used in printing and dyeing equipment. Furthermore, the medium S is not limited to thin sheets or plates; it can also be clothing such as T-shirts, tableware, or stationery.

[0171] • The waste liquid container 150 can also contain and liquefy waste liquid formed by water vapor that is dispersed along with liquid spraying, etc. It can contain not only liquids used for spraying onto targets, but also various functional liquids such as cleaning fluids used for cleaning liquid spraying parts, etc. In addition, it can also be a waste liquid container in a device other than the liquid spraying device, which can contain any waste liquid such as used inspection fluids and reagents used for inspection, etc.

[0172] • The device equipped with the waste liquid container 150 is not limited to a liquid spraying device that sprays liquid. It can also be a cleaning device that consumes cleaning liquid while cleaning the object and discharges the used cleaning liquid as waste liquid, or a liquid circulation device that discharges a portion of the circulating liquid that has been circulated a predetermined number of times as waste liquid for replacement, etc.

Claims

1. A supply unit, characterized in that, The liquid container is detachably mounted and has a resilient connecting portion. The supply unit includes: A liquid inlet is connected to the connecting portion of the liquid container; The force-applying component applies force to the liquid container in a disengagement direction that is the opposite of the connection direction when the direction in which the liquid container is connected to the liquid inlet is set as the connection direction. as well as The locking lever has a locking portion that engages with the liquid container when the liquid container is connected to the liquid inlet. The locking lever includes an operating part for user operation and a pressing part for pressing the liquid container. By operating the operating part, the locking part is released from the liquid container, and the pressing part presses the liquid container in the disengagement direction. The engaging part, the operating part, and the pressing part are rotatable about the first rotating axis. The engaging portion extends upward in a first direction from the first rotation axis, the pressing portion extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and the operating portion extends in a third direction opposite to the second direction. When the operating portion is pressed in a fourth direction perpendicular to the third direction and opposite to the first direction, the engaging portion, the operating portion, and the pressing portion rotate about the first rotation axis. The distance from the first rotating shaft to the operating part is longer than the distance from the first rotating shaft to the pressing part.

2. The supply unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The distance the liquid container moves in the detachment direction due to the pressing of the pressing part is shorter than the distance the liquid container moves in the detachment direction due to the force applied by the force-applying component.

3. The supply unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The supply unit also includes: A mounting part for mounting the liquid container. The mounting portion includes an insertion port for inserting the liquid container. The engaging lever is configured such that the operating part is located outside the insertion port.

4. The supply unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The supply unit also includes: Support components that support the liquid container The force-applying component applies force to the liquid container through the supporting component. The pressing part presses the liquid container through the support member.

5. The supply unit according to claim 4, characterized in that, The support member is rotatable between a first position and a second position about a second rotation axis intersecting the connection direction, wherein the second position is located further towards the connection direction than the first position. With the support member in the first position, the liquid container is guided to a predetermined position on the support member along a guide path intersecting both the connection direction and the second rotation axis. The support member rotates from the first position to the second position while the liquid container is in the predetermined position, and the liquid inlet is connected to the liquid container.

6. The supply unit according to claim 5, characterized in that, The liquid inlet is configured in an inclined position relative to the guide path.

7. A liquid ejection device, characterized in that, have: The supply unit as described in any one of claims 1 to 6; and The liquid nozzle sprays the liquid supplied by the supply unit into the medium.

Images