Printing apparatus

Abstract

The invention relates to a printing apparatus. The conveying unit is configured to convey a printing medium in a first direction; a printing unit configured to perform printing by ejecting a printing agent onto the printing medium conveyed by the conveying unit; the first tank is configured to store a printing agent to be supplied to the printing unit; and a second tank configured to be mounted side by side with the first tank in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and formed such that a storage chamber storing a printing agent to be supplied to the printing unit overlaps with the first tank when viewed from the first direction, and that a storage chamber storing the printing agent to be supplied to the printing unit overlaps with the second tank when viewed from a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction. The storage chamber overlaps the first can.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing apparatus equipped with a tank for storing a liquid such as ink. Background Art

[0002] Ink tanks are installed in inkjet printing apparatuses, and the ink tanks store ink to be supplied to a print head that ejects ink. In inkjet printing apparatuses capable of color printing, ink tanks independent of each other for each available ink color are installed side by side in the width direction.

[0003] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2018-069696 discloses a technology in which the width of a specific ink tank is widened compared to other ink tanks among a plurality of ink tanks in order to increase the amount of ink that can be stored in the specific ink tank.

[0004] The minimum width of the ink tank is determined according to the length of the injection port for injecting ink in the width direction. Therefore, in the case where the width of the other ink tanks is the minimum width and it is desired to increase the storage capacity of a specific ink tank and widen the width of the specific ink tank for this purpose, the width of the other ink tanks will not be reduced by the amount of the widened width of the specific ink tank. Therefore, in the inkjet printing device, a large space is required to accommodate these ink tanks, which may lead to an increase in the size of the device. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present invention has been achieved in view of the above-mentioned problem, and provides a technology capable of suppressing the expansion of a space for housing a tank storing a printing agent.

[0006] A printing device includes: a conveying unit, which is configured to convey a printing medium along a first direction; a printing unit, which is configured to perform printing by ejecting ink onto the printing medium conveyed by the conveying unit; a first tank, which is configured to store ink to be supplied to the printing unit; and a second tank, which is configured to be installed side by side with the first tank in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and is formed so that when viewed from the first direction, a storage chamber storing ink to be supplied to the printing unit overlaps with the first tank, wherein when viewed from a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction, the storage chamber overlaps with the first tank.

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress expansion of a space for storing a tank storing printing agent.

[0008] Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a printing device;

[0010] Figure 2 It is a block diagram of the control unit;

[0011] Figure 3A and Figure 3B It is a stereogram of the ink tank unit;

[0012] Figure 4A and Figure 4B It is a schematic construction diagram of a specific ink tank;

[0013] Figure 5A and Figure 5B This is a schematic diagram of the construction of another ink tank;

[0014] Fig. 6A and Figure 6B is a diagram of the structure around the detection pin in the ink tank;

[0015] Figure 7 It is a side view of a particular ink tank;

[0016] Figure 8 yes Figure 3A A cross-sectional view along line VIII-VIII of ;

[0017] Fig. 9 yes Figure 8 Magnified view around the middle fixed part;

[0018] Fig. 10A and Fig. 10B is a diagram showing a modified example of the printing apparatus and the ink tank unit;

[0019] FIG. 11A to FIG. 11C is a diagram showing a modified example of the printing apparatus and the ink tank unit;

[0020] Fig.12 is a diagram showing a modified example of the fixing portion; and

[0021] Fig.13A and Fig. 13B yes Fig.12 A cross-sectional view of the ink tank is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] Hereinafter, a detailed description of an example of an embodiment of a printing device is given with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention, and each combination of the characteristics described in the embodiments is not necessarily essential to the solution provided by the present invention. In addition, the positions, shapes, etc. of the constituent elements described in the embodiments are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to these examples.

[0023] (Structure of printing equipment)

[0024] The printing device according to the present embodiment may be a device equipped with only a function of printing an image by ejecting ink onto a print medium, or the printing device may be a multi-function peripheral equipped with a function of reading an image, etc. In the present embodiment, a printing device capable of performing color printing by ejecting ink of multiple colors is described as an example. Therefore, in the present embodiment, an ink tank storing ink as a liquid is described as an example of a tank.

[0025] Note that in the present embodiment, the liquid that can be stored in the tank (hereinafter also referred to as a "liquid storage tank") is not limited to the ink used as the printing agent, but includes various known printing agents used for printing, such as a processing liquid for performing a specific process on the ejected ink. Alternatively, it includes various liquids in various known devices for ejecting liquids to obtain a desired final product.

[0026] In this specification, when facing the side where the print medium is discharged after printing, the direction from the left side of the device toward the right side is explained as the X direction, the direction from the back side (rear side) toward the near side (front side) is explained as the Y direction, and the direction from the lower side toward the upper side is explained as the Z direction. In this way, the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction are directions from one side to the other side, and are directions orthogonal to each other. In this specification, each direction is expressed as "+ (positive)" in the case of from one side to the other side, and is expressed as "- (negative)" in the case of from the other side to the one side.

[0027] Figure 1 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a printing device equipped with a liquid storage tank according to the present embodiment. The printing device 10 is equipped with a conveying section 12 and a printing section 14. The conveying section 12 conveys the printing medium supplied from a supply section not shown in the figure in the Y direction, and the printing section 14 ejects ink and performs printing on the printing medium conveyed by the conveying section 12. Note that the printing medium on which the printing section 14 has performed printing is discharged to the outside of the device by a discharge section (not shown in the figure) at the front of the device. In addition, the printing device 10 is also equipped with a storage section 11 for storing a tank (described later) that stores ink used by the printing section 14 when printing. In addition, the printing device 10 is equipped with a control section 200 (see Figure 2 ).

[0028] The conveying section 12 is equipped with a conveying roller 16 driven by a driving section (not shown in the figure) and a pinch roller 18 that is in pressure contact with the conveying roller 16 and is driven in association with the conveying roller 16. The print medium supplied by the supply section is clamped by the conveying roller 16 and the pinch roller 18, and is conveyed to the printing section 14 by the rotation of the conveying roller 16. The conveying roller 16 is a metal roller that has been processed to have fine roughness on the surface that is in pressure contact with the pinch roller 18, so that frictional force is generated between the print medium and the roller as the roller clamps the print medium with the pinch roller 18. The pinch roller 18 is elastically urged against the conveying roller 16 by an urging member such as a spring.

[0029] The printing section 14 is equipped with a print head 20 that ejects ink and performs printing onto a print medium transported by the transport section 12, and a platen 22 that supports the transported print medium in a printing area in which ink is ejected by the print head 20 onto the print medium. The platen 22 is configured to face a jet orifice face in the print head 20 where a jet orifice for ejecting ink is formed, and thereby the print medium supported by the platen 22 is maintained at a predetermined distance from the jet orifice face of the print head 20. The print medium on which printing has been performed by the printing section 14 is transported to the discharge section, and is discharged from the front of the printing device 10 to the outside of the device by the discharge section. In the discharge section, for example, after printing, the print medium is discharged by being sandwiched between a discharge roller and a spur. The discharge roller is, for example, a rubber roller having a large friction coefficient, and the spur is elastically urged against the discharge roller by, for example, an urging unit such as a spring.

[0030] The print head 20 is mounted on a carriage 24, which can reciprocate in the X direction while facing the surface of the print medium supported by the platen 22. Accordingly, the print head 20 is configured to be reciprocating in the X direction via the carriage 24. The carriage 24 is installed to have the ability to slide on a pair of guide rails 26 extending in the X direction. The print head 20 is mounted on the carriage 24 in a removable manner. In addition, the print head 20 is configured to be able to eject ink using an inkjet system. The print head 20 is equipped with a structure that generates thermal energy, such as, for example, a heating element, wherein the thermal energy is used as energy for ejecting ink. Note that the inkjet system applied to the print head 20 is not limited to a method using a heating element, but various known methods such as a method using a piezoelectric element can be used.

[0031] In the print head 20, a plurality of ejection ports for ejecting ink are arranged in a row on an ejection port face facing the platen 22 to form an ejection port row. The ejection port row extends in a direction intersecting the moving direction of the print head 20, for example, along the Y direction. The print head 20 is configured to be able to eject four different colors of ink. Accordingly, an ejection port row is formed for each color on the ejection port face of the print head 20.

[0032] In the present embodiment, the print head 20 is configured to be able to eject four colors of ink, including black (Bk) ink, cyan (C) ink, magenta (M) ink, and yellow (Y) ink. Note that the ink that can be ejected from the print head 20 is not limited to the above four colors. In other words, the ink that can be ejected from the print head 20 may be a color different from the above colors, or the number of colors may be more or less than the above four colors.

[0033] The print head 20 is connected to an ink tank unit 28 (described later) that is housed in the housing portion 11 and independently stores each type of ink, and is configured to be able to eject the ink supplied from the ink tank unit 28 from the ejection port. The ink tank unit 28 is connected to the print head 20 via a tube 34 for each type of ink. In addition, the printing apparatus 10 is configured so that the ink stored in the ink tank unit 28 can be independently supplied to the print head 20 for each type of ink.

[0034] During printing in the printing apparatus 10 equipped with the printing section 14, the printing medium is first conveyed to the printing start position by the conveying section 12. Next, a printing operation is performed on the printing medium conveyed to the printing start position, in which the print head 20 ejects ink while moving in the X direction. Thereafter, the conveying section 12 performs a conveying operation to convey the printing medium only by a predetermined amount, and then performs a printing operation again. In this way, the printing apparatus 10 performs predetermined printing on the printing medium by alternately and repeatedly performing the conveying operation and the printing operation.

[0035] The storage section 11 stores the ink tank unit 28, which stores ink to be supplied to the print head 20 independently for each type of ink. In the present embodiment, the storage section 11 is positioned on the right front side of the printing apparatus 10, that is, positioned in front of the print head 20 in the standby position. Note that the standby position is a position where the print head 20 is positioned when printing is not performed, such as Figure 1 shown.

[0036] In the present embodiment, the ink tank unit 28 is equipped with an ink tank 30Bk for storing Bk ink, an ink tank 30C for storing C ink, an ink tank 30M for storing M ink, and an ink tank 30Y for storing Y ink. In the present embodiment, the ink tank 30C, the ink tank 30M, and the ink tank 30Y have the same configuration. An injection port 302 (see FIG. 2 ) for injecting the corresponding ink into the ink tank is installed at the top of each of the ink tanks 30. Figure 3A ) and a plug member 32 that can be opened and closed to cover the injection port 302 or to expose the injection port 302 to the outside. Note that the detailed configuration of each of the ink tanks 30 will be described later.

[0037] In addition, although not shown in the figure, the printing apparatus 10 is equipped with a recovery unit for performing a recovery operation to maintain and recover good ink ejection performance in the print head 20. The recovery unit is arranged at a position opposite to the ejection port face of the print head 20 positioned at the standby position. The recovery unit is equipped with, for example, a capping portion for capping and protecting the ejection port face of the print head 20, a suction portion for forcibly sucking ink from the print head 20 when the ejection port face is in a capped state, and a wiping portion for wiping the ejection port face.

[0038] (Structure of control unit)

[0039] Next, a description is given about the configuration of a control section that controls the entire printing apparatus 10 . Figure 2 2 is a block diagram showing a control section. The control section 200 that controls the overall operation in the printing apparatus 10 is equipped with a central processing unit (CPU) 202, and the CPU 202 controls the operation of each component in the printing apparatus 10 based on various programs, performs processing on input image data, etc. In addition, the control section 200 is equipped with a ROM 204 and a RAM 206, and the ROM 204 stores various control and image data processing programs implemented by the CPU 202, and the RAM 206 is used as a storage area for saving various data for controlling the printing apparatus 10 and is used as a work area.

[0040] In addition, the control section 200 is equipped with a user interface (UI) 208 including keys operated by the user and a display panel displaying various information, and an input / output interface circuit (I / O) 210 for various externally connected devices. A sensor 212 installed in the printing apparatus 10 is connected to the control section 200 via the I / O 210. Note that for ease of understanding, Figure 2 In the embodiment, the sensor 212 is used to collectively represent various detection units installed in the printing device 10. The sensor 212 includes, for example, a detection pin 604 (see Fig. 6A ), which can detect whether the remaining amount of ink stored in the ink tank 30 has become a predetermined amount or less, etc.

[0041] Note that although the details will be described later, a substrate 300 is attached to the ink tank 30 (see Figure 3A) to connect the detection pin 604, the power supply (not shown in the figure) and the control unit 200. Therefore, a voltage is applied to the detection pin 604 from the power supply via the substrate 300, and the detection result of the detection pin 604 is output to the control unit 200 via the substrate 300. Then, based on the detection result, the control unit 200 detects whether the remaining amount of ink has become a predetermined amount or less. In addition, the control unit 200 is equipped with a counter 214, which counts the number of times the ink is ejected from the print head 20 via the I / O 210. The counter 214 counts the number of ejections for each type of ink. The control unit 200 calculates the consumption of ink at the moment when an operation such as ejecting ink ends by multiplying the count value of the counter 214 by the ejection volume of the ink used in one cycle. Note that the ejection volume of the ink used in one cycle is previously maintained in a storage area such as the RAM 206. In addition, the control unit 200 writes information about the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank 30. The control section 200 manages the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank 30 by, for example, calculating the consumption of ink from a point in time when the remaining amount of ink becomes a predetermined amount or less based on the detection result of the detection pin 604 .

[0042] (Structure of ink tank)

[0043] Next, a description is given about the configuration of the ink tank unit 28 and the ink tank 30. Note that, for the ink tank 30, the ink tank 30C, the ink tank 30M, and the ink tank 30Y have the same configuration as each other, and the configuration of the ink tank 30Bk is different from the configurations of the other three ink tanks. For this reason, in the description of the configuration of the ink tank 30, the description of the configuration of the ink tank 30Bk and the configuration of the ink tank 30C is given, and the description of the configuration of the ink tank 30M and the ink tank 30Y is omitted.

[0044] Figure 3A and Figure 3B 2 is a schematic structural diagram of the ink tank unit 28 . Figure 3A is a stereogram, and Figure 3B is a plan view. Note that the substrate 300 is Figure 3A In the attached state, the substrate 300 is Figure 3B In a disassembled state. Figure 4A and Figure 4B It is a schematic structural diagram of the ink tank 30Bk. Figure 5A and Figure 5B is a schematic diagram of the structure of the ink tank 30C. FIG. 3A to FIG. 5B In the figure, for the sake of ease of understanding, the plug member 32 is omitted. Figure 3A and Figure 3B In the following drawings, when describing the ink tank unit 28 and the ink tank 30 , the description will be given in the orientation when they are stored in the storage section 11 of the printing apparatus 10 .

[0045] <Schematic diagram of ink tank unit 28>

[0046] In the ink tank unit 28, the ink tank 30C, the ink tank 30M and the ink tank 30Y having the same configuration as each other and the ink tank 30Bk having a capacity larger than that of the ink tank 30C and the other ink tanks are installed side by side in the X direction (see FIG. Figure 3B In the ink tank unit 28, the substrate 300 is fixed to each of the ink tanks 30 (see Figure 3A ). In the ink tank unit 28, the injection ports 302 formed at the tops of the respective ink tanks 30 are designed to be arranged at equal intervals. In the ink tank unit 28, the ink tanks 30 are connected to the tubes 34 at the joints 304, respectively.

[0047] <Structure of ink tank 30Bk>

[0048] The ink tank 30Bk having a capacity larger than the ink tank 30C and the like is provided with a main body portion 402 formed with a width W1 in the X direction and a main body portion 402 having a width W1 formed in the X direction on one side (i.e., on the rear side (see Figure 4A )) An enlarged portion 404 extending in the X direction. Note that in the ink tank unit 28, the ink tank 30Bk, the ink tank 30C, the ink tank 30M and the ink tank 30Y are arranged sequentially in the +X direction. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the enlarged portion 404 in the ink tank 30Bk extends in the +X direction at the location where the other ink tanks 30C, 30M and 30Y are located. The main body 402 is equipped with a storage chamber 406, which is communicated with the enlarged portion 404 and stores ink together with the enlarged portion 404. Note that the enlarged portion 404 in the ink tank 30Bk is constructed together with the storage chamber 406 for storing ink, and the installation of the enlarged portion 404 enables the ink tank 30Bk to store more ink than other ink tanks.

[0049] The main body 402 is provided with a buffer portion 408 formed on the upper front side of the storage chamber 406 to serve as an atmosphere communication flow path for the storage chamber 406, and an inlet path 410 that allows the ink injected from the injection port 302 to flow into the storage chamber 406 (see FIG. Figure 4B). In addition, the main body 402 is equipped with a connection path 412 that connects the storage chamber 406 to the joint 304. An opening 412a is formed at one end of the connection path 412 that extends near the bottom surface of the storage chamber 406, and the other end of the connection path 412 is connected to the joint 304. The ink stored in the storage chamber 406 is transferred from the opening 412a to the joint 304 via the connection path 412. The opening 412a is positioned at the front side of the storage chamber 406, and the bottom surface of the storage chamber 406 is formed as a slope that is gently downward from the rear side to the front side. In addition, the main body 402 is equipped with an insertion portion 414 and a fixing member 416, and the detection pin 604 can be inserted through the insertion portion 414 on the upper rear side of the storage chamber 406, and the fixing member 416 can fix the substrate 300.

[0050] The buffer portion 408 is equipped with five buffer chambers. Specifically, the buffer portion 408 is equipped with a first buffer chamber 420 positioned at the lower rear side of the buffer portion 408, a second buffer chamber 422 positioned at the lower front side of the buffer portion 408, and a third buffer chamber 424 positioned at the upper side of the first buffer chamber 420. In addition, the buffer portion 408 is equipped with a fourth buffer chamber 426 positioned at the upper rear side of the second buffer chamber 422 and a fifth buffer chamber 428 positioned at the upper front side of the second buffer chamber 422.

[0051] The storage chamber 406 is connected to the first buffer chamber 420 via a small chamber 430. The small chamber 430 is positioned on the upper rear side of the storage chamber 406 and behind the insertion portion 414 and in front of the expansion portion 404 in the Y direction. An opening 432 is formed on the bottom surface of the small chamber 430, and the small chamber 430 and the storage chamber 406 are connected via the opening 432. In addition, the small chamber 430 is connected to the first buffer chamber 420 via a flow path 434, and the first buffer chamber 420 is connected to the second buffer chamber 422 via a flow path 436. In addition, the second buffer chamber 422 is connected to the third buffer chamber 424 via a flow path 438, and the third buffer chamber 424 is connected to the fourth buffer chamber 426 via a flow path 440. In addition, the fourth buffer chamber 426 is connected to the fifth buffer chamber 428 via a flow path 442, and the fifth buffer chamber 428 is connected to the outside of the ink tank 30Bk via an atmospheric communication port 444.

[0052] In this way, the storage chamber 406 is configured to communicate with the outside via the small chamber 430, the first buffer chamber 420, the second buffer chamber 422, the third buffer chamber 424, the fourth buffer chamber 426, and the fifth buffer chamber 428. In addition, the first buffer chamber 420 opens in the +X direction, and the flow path 436 is configured to open in a direction different from the first buffer chamber 420 (i.e., in the -X direction). Similarly, the second buffer chamber 422, the third buffer chamber 424, and the fourth buffer chamber 426 open in the -X direction, while the flow path 438, the flow path 440, and the flow path 442 open in the +X direction. Because the buffer chamber and the flow path communicating with the buffer chamber open in different directions, this configuration makes it difficult for the ink stored in the storage chamber 406 to leak to the outside via the atmosphere communication port 444 regardless of the posture of the ink tank 30Bk. Note that on the side surface on the left side of the ink tank 30Bk, the main body 402 and the expansion part 404 are welded with a film (not shown in the figure), and on the side surface on the right side, the main body 402 is welded with another film (not shown in the figure). This seals the storage chamber 406, each buffer chamber in the buffer part 408, the inlet path 410, the connection path 412, and the flow path communicating with each buffer chamber. The right side surface of the expansion part 404 is constructed of the same material as the main body 402 and the like, and is closed.

[0053] <Structure of ink tank 30C>

[0054] The configuration of the ink tank 30C is substantially the same as that of the ink tank 30Bk, except for the configuration of the communication port and the fact that no configuration corresponding to the expansion portion 404 is provided. Specifically, the ink tank 30C having a smaller capacity than the ink tank 30Bk has a main body portion 502 formed with a width W2 in the X direction, which is smaller than the width W1 (see Figure 5A ). The main body 502 is equipped with a storage chamber 506 for storing ink. Note that, unlike the ink tank 30Bk, the structure corresponding to the expansion portion 404 is not installed in the ink tank 30C, and the ink tank 30C is formed smaller than the ink tank 30Bk in the X direction. Therefore, the amount of ink that can be stored in the storage chamber 506 is smaller than the amount of ink that can be stored in the storage chamber 406.

[0055] The main body 502 is provided with a buffer portion 508 formed on the upper front side of the storage chamber 506 to serve as an atmosphere communication flow path, and an inlet path 510 that allows the ink injected from the injection port 302 to flow into the storage chamber 506 (see FIG. Figure 5B). In addition, the main body 502 is equipped with a connection path 512 that connects the storage chamber 506 to the joint 304. An opening 512a is formed at one end of the connection path 512 that extends near the bottom surface of the storage chamber 506, and the other end of the connection path 512 is connected to the joint 304. The ink stored in the storage chamber 506 is transferred from the opening 512a to the joint 304 via the connection path 512. The opening 512a is positioned at the front side of the storage chamber 506, and the bottom surface of the storage chamber 506 is formed as a slope that is gently downward from the rear side to the front side. In addition, the main body 502 is equipped with an insertion portion 514 and a fixing member 516, and the detection pin 604 can be inserted through the insertion portion 514 on the upper rear side of the storage chamber 506, and the fixing member 516 can fix the substrate 300.

[0056] The buffer portion 508 is equipped with five buffer chambers. Specifically, the buffer portion 508 is equipped with a first buffer chamber 520 positioned at the lower rear side of the buffer portion 508, a second buffer chamber 522 positioned at the lower front side of the buffer portion 508, and a third buffer chamber 524 positioned at the upper side of the first buffer chamber 520. In addition, the buffer portion 508 is equipped with a fourth buffer chamber 526 positioned at the upper rear side of the second buffer chamber 522 and a fifth buffer chamber 528 positioned at the upper front side of the second buffer chamber 522.

[0057] The storage chamber 506 is in communication with the first buffer chamber 520 via the opening 532. The opening 532 is positioned on the upper surface of the storage chamber 506 and is positioned approximately at the center of the storage chamber 506 in the Y direction. The first buffer chamber 520 is in communication with the second buffer chamber 522 via the flow path 536, the second buffer chamber 522 is in communication with the third buffer chamber 524 via the flow path 538, and the third buffer chamber 524 is in communication with the fourth buffer chamber 526 via the flow path 540. In addition, the fourth buffer chamber 526 is in communication with the fifth buffer chamber 528 via the flow path 542, and the fifth buffer chamber 528 is in communication with the outside of the ink tank 30C via the atmosphere communication port 544.

[0058] In this way, the storage chamber 506 is configured to communicate with the outside via the first buffer chamber 520, the second buffer chamber 522, the third buffer chamber 524, the fourth buffer chamber 526, and the fifth buffer chamber 528. In addition, the first buffer chamber 520 opens in the +X direction, and the flow path 536 is configured to open in a direction different from the first buffer chamber 520 (i.e., in the -X direction). Similarly, the second buffer chamber 522, the third buffer chamber 524, and the fourth buffer chamber 526 open in the -X direction, while the flow path 538, the flow path 540, and the flow path 542 open in the +X direction. Because the buffer chamber and the flow path communicating with the buffer chamber open in different directions, this configuration makes it difficult for the ink stored in the storage chamber 506 to leak to the outside via the atmosphere communication port 544 regardless of the posture of the ink tank 30C. Note that on the left and right surfaces of the ink tank 30C, a film (not shown in the figure) is welded on each side of the main body 502, which seals the storage chamber 506, each buffer chamber in the buffer portion 508, the inlet path 510, the connection path 512, and the flow path connected to each buffer chamber.

[0059] <Structure of ink tank unit 28>

[0060] In the ink tank unit 28, the ink tank 30C, the ink tank 30M, and the ink tank 30Y are installed side by side in the X direction together with the ink tank 30Bk. At this time, the ink tanks 30C, 30M, and 30Y having the same structure are configured to be aligned with respect to the Y direction. On the other hand, in the ink tank 30Bk, only the expansion portion 404 is formed larger in the Y direction. Therefore, in the ink tank unit 28, the ink tanks 30C, 30M, 30Y, and the main body 402 of the ink tank 30Bk are configured so that their positions are aligned with respect to the Y direction. In addition, the expansion portion 404 of the ink tank 30Bk is configured at a position overlapping with at least one of the ink tanks 30C, 30M, and 30Y in the X direction. In other words, when viewed from the Y direction, the expansion portion 404 overlaps with at least one of the ink tanks 30C, 30M, and 30Y. In addition, when viewed from the front side of the printing device 10, the expansion portion 404 is positioned adjacent to the rear side of the overlapping ink tanks (see Figure 3A ).

[0061] In the present embodiment, the enlarged portion 404 is configured to overlap with at least one of the ink tanks 30C, 30M, and 30Y. Therefore, the number of overlapping ink tanks and the amount of overlap in the X direction can be adjusted by changing the size and shape of the enlarged portion 404. In addition, for example, in the case where the enlarged portion 404 overlaps with the ink tank 30C when viewed from the Y direction, it is sufficient that the enlarged portion 404 overlaps with at least a portion of the ink tank 30C. Similarly, in the case where the enlarged portion 404 overlaps with the ink tanks 30C, 30M, and 30Y, it is sufficient that the enlarged portion 404 overlaps with at least a portion of the ink tank 30C, the ink tank 30M, and the ink tank 30Y when viewed from the Y direction.

[0062] In this way, such an expansion portion is installed for an ink tank whose capacity is expected to be increased, and the expansion portion is formed to overlap with other ink tanks installed side by side in the X direction, so that the size increase in the X direction of the ink tank whose capacity is to be increased can be suppressed. In the present embodiment, the size (W1) of the main body 402 of the ink tank 30Bk in the X direction is larger than the size (W2) of the main body 502 of the ink tank 30C in the X direction. For example, by designing the expansion portion 404 to be larger in the ink tank 30Bk, the size of the ink tank 30Bk in the X direction can be made to match W2 while maintaining the capacity of the ink tank 30Bk. This allows the size of the ink tank unit 28 in the X direction to be miniaturized, and the size of the storage portion 11 (which is the space for storing the ink tank unit 28) can be reduced in the X direction.

[0063] In the present embodiment, for example, the capacity of the ink tank 30Bk is about 70 ml, and the capacity of the ink tanks 30C, 30M, and 30Y is about 40 ml. Note that the ratio of Bk ink used in business documents is high. For this reason, in the printing apparatus 10, the ink tank 30Bk storing Bk ink is formed with a capacity larger than that of the ink tanks storing other color inks.

[0064] <Structure of the cell>

[0065] Next, a description is given of the configuration of the small chamber 430 installed in the ink tank 30Bk. Fig. 6A and Figure 6B This is an enlarged view of the area surrounding the chamber 430 of the ink tank 30Bk. Fig. 6A It is a stereogram. Figure 6B is from Fig. 6A A view of the area around the chamber 430 as viewed from the direction of arrow A. Figure 7 It is a left side view of the ink tank 30Bk.

[0066] The small chamber 430 installed between the storage chamber 406 and the buffer portion 408 is formed to allow the ink stored in the storage chamber 406 to flow even if there is no air expansion or the like inside the storage chamber 406 when the ink tank 30Bk is in a posture different from the posture during use. The posture during use is, for example, a posture in which the ink tank unit 28 is stored in the storage portion 11 of the printing apparatus 10 placed on a horizontal surface (see Figure 3A ). In addition, in the description given below, “a posture different from the posture during use” is appropriately referred to as an “abnormal posture”.

[0067] Specifically, in the chamber 430, the opening 432 is formed as a slit extending in the X direction and is large enough so that the ink stored in the storage chamber 406 does not form a meniscus (see FIG. Fig. 6A). As a result, if the ink tank 30Bk presents an abnormal posture and the opening 432 is lower than the liquid level of the ink, gas-liquid exchange occurs at the opening 432, and the small chamber 430 is filled with ink. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the small chamber 430 serves as an inflow chamber into which the ink from the storage chamber 406 can flow.

[0068] In addition, a communication port 602 communicating with the flow path 434 is formed in the small chamber 430, and the small chamber 430 communicates with the first buffer chamber 420 of the buffer portion 408 via the communication port 602 and the flow path 434 (see FIG. 4 ). Figure 6B The size of the communication port 602, or in other words, the opening size, is a size that allows the ink stored in the storage chamber 406 to form a meniscus at the communication port 602. The size of the communication port 602 is, for example, 1.6 mm in the Y direction and 2.0 mm in the Z direction.

[0069] Therefore, due to the meniscus formed by the ink at the communication port 602 of the small chamber 430, if the ink simply flows into the small chamber 430, the ink does not flow from the communication port 602 into the flow path 434, and does not flow out of the first buffer chamber 420. On the other hand, if a pressure change occurs inside the storage chamber 406, such as the expansion of the air inside the storage chamber 406 when the ink in the small chamber 430 forms a meniscus at the communication port 602, the meniscus is destroyed and the ink flows out of the communication port 602 into the first buffer chamber 420 via the flow path 434. Therefore, in the ink tank 30Bk, in the case where the ink tank 30Bk is in an abnormal posture, the buffer portion 408 is configured to be able to accommodate the ink that cannot be retained in the storage chamber 406 due to the expansion of the air inside the storage chamber 406, etc. In other words, in the present embodiment, the buffer portion 408 serves as a storage chamber that can accommodate the liquid that flows out of the storage chamber 406.

[0070] The communication port 602 is designed to be positioned at the center of the internal volume of the storage chamber 406 in the Y direction. Even when, for example, the front side of the ink tank 30Bk is in a downwardly tilted posture or the rear side of the ink tank 30Bk is in a downwardly tilted posture, the air in the storage chamber 406 expands, which reduces the difference in the amount of ink flowing into the communication port 602 due to the tilt. Note that the center of the internal volume is an imaginary line 702 passing through the communication port 602 (see FIG. Figure 7 ) position, where the storage chamber 406 is divided into one side along the Y direction with an internal volume equal to the internal volume of the other side. Note that, for example, the opening 432 is also formed at a position substantially consistent with the communication port 602 in the Y direction.

[0071] The opening 532 of the ink tank 30C is similarly designed to be positioned at the center of the internal volume of the storage chamber 506 in the Y direction (see Figure 5A). Note that in the ink tank 30Bk, since the expansion portion 404 is installed on the rear side, the center of the internal volume is positioned further to the rear side due to the internal volume of the expansion portion 404. As a result, in the ink tank 30Bk, with respect to the Y direction, the communication port 602 and the opening 432 are positioned between the wall 704 on the rear side of the buffer portion 408 and the wall 706 on the rear side of the expansion portion 404. On the other hand, in the ink tank 30C, since the expansion portion is not installed, the center of the internal volume of the storage chamber 506 is positioned at or around the center of the storage chamber 506 with respect to the Y direction. That is, in the ink tank 30C, the opening 532 is positioned in front of the rear side surface of the buffer portion 508.

[0072] <Detection pin>

[0073] Next, a description is given of a detection pin 604 (see FIG. 1 ) capable of detecting whether the liquid stored in the storage chamber 406 has become a predetermined amount or less. Fig. 6A ) for the description.

[0074] In the ink tank 30Bk, a pair of detection pins 604 are inserted through the insertion portion 414, and the detection pins 604 are positioned inside the storage chamber 406. In addition, in the ink tank 30C, the detection pins 604 are inserted through the insertion portion 514, and the detection pins 604 are positioned inside the storage chamber 506. The detection using the detection pins 604 is performed by energizing between the pair of detection pins 604. Since if both detection pins 604 are immersed in ink, energization occurs via the ink, it can be detected that more than a predetermined amount of ink is stored inside the storage chamber 406. On the other hand, if the detection pins 604 are exposed to the outside of the ink, energization does not occur because there is only air between the two detection pins 604, and therefore it can be detected that the ink in the storage chamber 406 has become less than a predetermined amount.

[0075] For example, in the ink tank 30Bk, the closer the detection pin 604 is to the center of the storage chamber 406, the less the position of the detection pin 604 configured in the Y direction is affected by the posture of the ink tank 30Bk. The center of the storage chamber 406 described herein is the position between the wall 708 and the wall 706 on the front side of the main body 402. If the detection pin 604 is positioned near the wall 706, then compared with the case where the ink tank 30Bk is tilted to the rear side, when the ink tank 30Bk is tilted to the front side, the position of the liquid level of the ink near the detection pin 604 in the Z direction will be significantly different. For this reason, it is preferred that the detection pin 604 is placed at or near the center of the storage chamber 406, where, even during abnormal postures, the position change of the liquid level of the ink in the Z direction is small. In the present embodiment, in the ink tank 30Bk, the wall 706, the communication port 602, the detection pin 604, the wall 704 and the wall 708 are positioned sequentially in the +Y direction.

[0076] Note that the detection pin 604 is made of a metal or other conductive material due to the compression spring 802 (see Figure 8 ) and is electrically connected to a circuit mounted on the substrate 300. The substrate 300 is connected to a power source through a cable from a connector. A voltage is applied from the power source to the detection pin 604, and the control section 200 determines whether there is energization based on the resistance value between the two detection pins 604, or in other words, determines whether the ink in the storage chamber is a predetermined amount or less.

[0077] In the present embodiment, two detection pins are used as detection pins for detecting the remaining amount of liquid, but are not limited thereto. For example, multiple detection pins having different lengths in the Z direction can be used so that the remaining amount of liquid can be detected by a combination of two detection pins that are not energized among the multiple detection pins.

[0078] <Fixed components>

[0079] Next, a description is given about the configuration of the fixing members 416 and 516 for fixing the substrate 300 . Figure 8 It is along Figure 3A A cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. Fig. 9 yes Figure 8 An enlarged view of the area around the fixed component.

[0080] The fixing member 416 and the fixing member 516 installed in the corresponding ink tank 30 are structures for fixing the substrate 300, on which a circuit or the like is formed to output a signal from the detection pin 604 installed in the corresponding ink tank 30, to the corresponding ink tank 30. Note that since both the fixing member 416 and the fixing member 516 have the same structure, in the following description, the description about the fixing member 516 is given and the description about the fixing member 416 is omitted.

[0081] The fixing member 516 extends in the ink tank 30C perpendicularly to the plane 800 in which the insertion portion 514 is formed, and the detection pin 604 is inserted through the insertion portion 514. In the present embodiment, the fixing member 516 extends parallel to the Z direction. The fixing member 516 is positioned between the two detection pins 604 with respect to the Y direction (see Figure 8 The fixing member 516 is provided with a shaft portion 902 extending in the Z direction and a regulating portion 904 at the front end of the shaft portion 902 for regulating the removal of the inserted substrate 300 (see Fig. 9 ).

[0082] Note that the substrate 300 is electrically connected to the detection pin 604 via the compression spring 802 while being fixed by the fixing member 516. As a result, when the substrate 300 is fixed to the fixing member 516, the substrate 300 is continuously urged in a predetermined direction (upward in this embodiment) by the compression spring 802. Therefore, the regulation portion 904 can be inserted into the hole portion 310 (see FIG. 1 ) installed in the substrate 300. Figure 3A and Fig. 9 ) for insertion of the fixing member 516, and the regulating portion 904 is configured so that the upward movement of the substrate 300 caused by the urging of the compression spring 802 after the insertion can be regulated.

[0083] Specifically, the regulation portion 904 is formed in an arrow shape and is formed to gradually widen from the front end 902a of the shaft portion 902 toward the lower side in the Y direction. In more detail, the regulation portion 904 is equipped with a return portion 904a extending from the front end 902a of the shaft portion 902 to the lower front side and a return portion 904b extending to the lower rear side. The return portions 904a and 904b are connected to the shaft portion 902 only at the front end 902a. Therefore, the return portions 904a and 904b are bent toward the shaft portion 902 side, that is, toward the center of the fixing member 516, by the pressure from the upper side to the lower side (the direction opposite to the force direction of the compression spring 802), and once the pressure is released, the bending is released (resovled). In addition, due to the pressure from the lower side to the upper side, the return portions 904a and 904b are bent in a direction away from the shaft portion 902, that is, in a direction away from the center of the fixing member 516.

[0084] In order to fix the substrate 300 to the fixing member 516, the fixing member 516 is inserted into the hole portion 310 from the upper side. At this time, the return portions 904a and 904b of the regulation portion 904 are bent toward the shaft portion 902 side due to the movement of the hole portion 310 toward the lower side, allowing insertion into the hole portion 310, and the bending is released at the moment when the hole portion 310 is positioned below the regulation portion 904. In this case, the front end 904aa of the return portion 904a becomes positioned outside the hole portion 310, that is, on the front side of the outer periphery of the hole portion 310, and the front end 904ba of the return portion 904b becomes positioned outside the hole portion 310, that is, on the rear side of the outer periphery of the hole portion 310. Although the substrate 300 is urged upward by the compression spring 802, its movement to the upper side is regulated because the front ends of the return portions 904a and 904b are positioned outside the hole portion 310. Therefore, in this embodiment, the fixing member 516 serves as a regulating member for regulating the upward movement of the substrate 300 due to the compression spring 802. In addition, in this embodiment, the fixing member 516 and the compression spring 802 as the urging member work together to serve as a fixing portion for fixing the substrate 300.

[0085] By forming the fixing member 516 in this way, it becomes easy to fix the substrate 300 to the ink tank 30C, and it becomes difficult to remove the substrate 300 from the ink tank 30C. Therefore, it is difficult to remove the substrate 300 from the ink tank unit 28, to which the substrate 300 is fixed together with the fixing member 416, which has the same structure as the fixing member 516. In addition, since the fixing members 416 and 516 and the compression spring 802 work together to fix the substrate 300, the displacement of the configuration position of the substrate 300 due to the vibration of the device or the like is suppressed, and damage to the components is also reduced.

[0086] (Functional Effect)

[0087] As described above, in the present embodiment, the ink tank installed side by side with a plurality of ink tanks in the X direction is provided with a storage chamber formed so as to overlap with at least one of the other ink tanks when viewed from the Y direction. This makes it possible to suppress the enlargement of the ink tank unit in the X direction where the ink tanks are installed side by side, and to suppress the expansion of the space for storing the ink tank unit in the X direction. In addition, by changing the shape of the enlarged portion, the internal volume ratio between the ink tank of the larger capacity and the other ink tanks can be changed, thereby increasing the degree of freedom in setting the ink capacity ratio between the two types of ink tanks.

[0088] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, in the ink tank equipped with the above-mentioned storage chamber, a small chamber is provided between the storage chamber and the buffer portion that can accommodate the ink that cannot be held in the storage chamber, which makes it easy for the ink to enter and exit the storage portion. Furthermore, a communication port is installed in the small chamber, which is connected to the flow path connected to the buffer portion, and the size of the opening of the communication port is designed to allow the ink to form a meniscus. This prevents the ink that has flowed into the small chamber from flowing into the buffer portion when the ink tank is in an abnormal posture, and allows the ink to flow into the buffer chamber when the air inside the storage chamber expands when the ink has flowed into the small chamber. Furthermore, the communication port is positioned at the center of the internal volume of the storage chamber. This makes it possible to suppress the amount of ink flowing into the communication port even if the air in the storage chamber expands when the ink tank is in an abnormal posture.

[0089] In addition, in this embodiment, the compression spring disposed above the detection pin for detecting the remaining amount of ink in the storage chamber applies force to the substrate formed with the loop upward, and the fixing member regulates the movement of the substrate toward the upper side, thereby fixing the substrate to the ink tank. This makes it difficult to remove the substrate from the ink tank, and also makes it difficult for the configuration position of the substrate to be displaced due to vibration generated in the device, thereby reducing damage to the components.

[0090] (Other Embodiments)

[0091] Note that the above-described embodiment may be modified as shown in the following (1) to (10).

[0092] (1) In the above embodiment, the storage section 11 is positioned on the right front side of the printing apparatus 10. In addition, in the storage section 11, the ink tank 30Bk, the ink tank 30C, the ink tank 30M, and the ink tank 30Y are arranged in sequence in the +X direction. The position of the storage section 11 in the printing apparatus 10 and the order in which each of the ink tanks is arranged in the storage section 11 are not limited thereto. For example, the storage section 11 may be positioned on the left front side of the printing apparatus 10 (see FIG. 2 ). Fig. 10A ). In addition, in this case, the ink tank 30C, the ink tank 30M, the ink tank 30Y and the ink tank 30Bk can be arranged in sequence in the +X direction (see Fig. 10B ). Therefore, in this case, the enlarged portion 404 of the ink tank Bk extends in the -X direction and overlaps with at least one of the ink tanks 30C, 30M, and 30Y when viewed from the Y direction. Fig. 10A and Fig. 10B is a diagram showing a modified example of the printing apparatus. Fig. 10A FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a modification of the arrangement position of the storage portion 11. Fig. 10B 1 is a diagram showing a variation of the arrangement position of each of the ink tanks in the storage section 11. Fig. 10A and Fig. 10B For ease of understanding, only the main constructions are shown in a simplified form.

[0093] (2) In the above-described embodiment, the enlarged portion 404 of the ink tank 30Bk is configured to overlap with at least one of the ink tanks 30C, 30M, and 30Y when viewed from the Y direction, but this is not limited thereto. Fig.11A As shown, the expanded portion 404 ′ of the ink tank 30Bk′ may be configured to overlap with at least one of the ink tanks 30C′, 30M′, and 30Y′ in the X direction and the Z direction. Fig.11A 30 is a diagram showing a modified example of the ink tank 30. Fig.11A For ease of understanding, each configuration is shown in a simplified form, and the ink tanks 30C', 30M', and 30Y' are shown with dotted lines.

[0094] (3) In the above-mentioned embodiment, in the main body 402 of the ink tank 30Bk, the storage chamber 406 is formed together with the expansion portion 404, and the expansion portion 404 overlaps with the ink tanks 30C, 30M, 30Y, etc. in the X direction, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the expansion portion 1104 that overlaps with at least one of the ink tanks 30C, 30M, 30Y in the X direction may be formed on the upper side of the expansion portion 404, and the main body 402 and the expansion portion 1104 may be formed with a buffer portion 408 that serves as an atmosphere communication flow path (see Fig. 11B ). Fig. 11B is a diagram showing a modified example of the ink tank 30Bk. Fig. 11BFor ease of understanding, the various structures are shown in a simplified form, and the ink tanks 30C, 30M and 30Y are shown with dotted lines.

[0095] (4) In the above-described embodiment, the storage section 11 is installed in the printing apparatus 10, and ink is supplied to the print head 20 from each of the ink tanks 30 of the ink tank unit 28 stored in the storage section 11 via the tube 34. For example, each of the ink tanks 30 may be mounted on the carriage 24, and each of the ink tanks 30 may be configured to be removable from the carriage 24 (see Fig. 11C ). In this case, for example, each of the ink tanks 30 may be arranged in the order of the ink tank 30C, the ink tank 30M, the ink tank 30Y, and the ink tank 30Bk in the +X direction. Fig. 11C is a diagram showing a modified example of the printing apparatus 10. Note that Fig. 11C In order to facilitate understanding, various structures are shown in a simplified form.

[0096] (5) In the above embodiment, two return portions 904a, 904b are formed as the regulating portion 904 of the fixing member 416, 516, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, one or more than three return portions may be formed. In addition, in the above embodiment, one fixing member is provided for one ink tank 30, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and a plurality of fixing members may be provided for one ink tank 30.

[0097] (6) In the above embodiment, the substrate 300 is fixed to the ink tank unit 28 by the fixing members 416 and 516 arranged between the two detection pins 604 in the Y direction, but it is not limited to this. The mechanism for fixing the substrate 300 may be a form in which the substrate 300 is fixed using the claw portion of the long side of the fixing substrate 300 in each of the ink tanks 30. Figures 12 to 13B , a detailed description is given of the configuration of the claw portion provided for fixing the long side of the substrate 300. Note that since the following description is a description of a modified example of the fixing mechanism different from the above-described embodiment, an ink tank unit configured with an ink tank not provided with an enlarged portion is described as an example. Note that, of course, the modified example of the fixing mechanism described herein can be applied to an ink tank unit provided with an ink tank having an enlarged portion.

[0098] Fig.12 is a diagram showing an example of an ink tank unit having a base plate fixed by another form of fixing mechanism. Fig.13A It is along Fig.12 The cross-sectional view taken along the XIIIa-XIIIa line is Fig. 13B It is along Fig.12 In the ink tank unit 1210 equipped with three ink tanks 1202, 1204 and 1206, the substrate 1212 is fixed by the claw portion 1220 (see Fig.12 ), the three ink tanks 1202, 1204 and 1206 are each formed with a claw portion 1220 constituting another form of fixing mechanism. In each of the ink tanks 1202, 1204 and 1206, two detection pins 604 are installed side by side along the X direction (see Fig.13A ). In addition, the detection pin 604 is electrically connected to a circuit formed on the substrate 1212 through the compression spring 802.

[0099] The claw 1220 is equipped with a first claw 1230, which abuts on the top surface of the front long side of the substrate 1212, which extends and is fixed in the ink tank unit 1210 along the X direction. In addition, the claw 1220 is equipped with a second claw 1232, which abuts on the top surface of the rear long side of the substrate 1212. The first claw 1230 and the second claw 1232 are arranged at positions that do not overlap each other in the X direction, for example. In the present embodiment, a pair of detection pins 604 are positioned between the first claw 1230 and the second claw 1232 in the X direction.

[0100] The first claw 1230 is mounted on the wall 1208 positioned at the rear side of the buffer portion, and extends from the wall 1208 to the lower rear side. The second claw 1232 extends from the front end of the rising portion 1234 standing on the plane 1209, which is parallel to the XY plane and positioned at the rear side of the wall 1208. The first claw 1230 is bent toward the wall 1208 due to the pressure from the upper side to the lower side, and the second claw 1232 is bent toward the rising portion 1234 due to the pressure from the upper side. Then, if these pressures are released, the bending occurring in the first claw 1230 and the second claw 1232 is released. In addition, the first claw 1230 is bent away from the wall 1208 due to the pressure from the lower side to the upper side. In addition, the second claw 1232 is bent away from the rising portion 1234 due to the pressure from the lower side.

[0101] In order to fix the substrate 1212 to the claw 1220, the substrate 1212 is pressed from the upper side of the claw 1220. At this time, the first claw 1230 is bent toward the wall 1208 side and the second claw 1232 is bent toward the rising portion 1234 side, and the bending is released when the substrate 1212 is positioned below the claw 1220.

[0102] Here, the interval in the Y direction between the wall 1208 as a supporting member for the first claw 1230 and the rising portion 1234 as a supporting member for the second claw 1232 is equal to or longer than the length of the substrate 1212 in the Y direction. Note that the length of the substrate 1212 in the Y direction is the length in the Y direction in the region where the substrate 1212 is fixed to each of the ink tanks by the claw 1220. In addition, the interval in the Y direction between the front end 1230a of the first claw 1230 and the front end 1232a of the second claw 1232 is shorter than the length of the substrate 1212 in the Y direction.

[0103] This allows the front end 1230a of the first claw 1230 and the front end 1232a of the second claw 1232 to be positioned on the front surface of the substrate 1212, wherein the substrate 1212 is in a state of being positioned lower than the claw 1220. At this time, the substrate 1212 is urged upward by the compression spring 802, but the upward movement is regulated by the first claw 1230 and the second claw 1232.

[0104] Note that the claw portion 1220 may be configured so that one side of the two claw portions does not bend due to pressure from the up and down directions, while the other side bends due to pressure from the up and down directions. In addition, since it is sufficient that the substrate can be fixed to the ink tank unit, each of the ink tanks may be configured to be equipped with one claw portion. In this case, for example, adjacent ink tanks should have claw portions installed at different positions in the Y direction. In other words, in the case of, for example Fig.12 In the ink tank unit, ink tanks 1202 and 1206 will be equipped with only the first claw 1230, while ink tank 1204 will be equipped with only the second claw 1232.

[0105] (7) In the above-described embodiment, the fixing member 416 for fixing the substrate 300 is installed in each of the ink tank units 28, and the ink tank unit 28 is formed so that a specific ink tank among the four ink tanks 30 overlaps at least a portion of the other ink tanks. The fixing member 416 is not limited to being formed only in this type of ink tank unit 28, but may be formed in each ink tank of an ink tank unit configured with a plurality of ink tanks having the same shape as each other.

[0106] (8) In the above-described embodiment, the printing apparatus 10 is a so-called serial scanning type printing apparatus that performs printing by ejecting ink onto a printing medium conveyed in the Y direction while moving the printing head in the X direction, but is not limited thereto. A printing apparatus to which the present invention can be applied may be, for example, a so-called line printing apparatus that is equipped with a printing head having a nozzle array formed in the X direction, the length of the nozzle array corresponding to the width of a printable printing medium, and that performs printing from a fixed printing head onto a printing medium conveyed in the Y direction.

[0107] (9) In the above embodiment, one ink tank is installed with a storage chamber formed larger due to the enlarged portion, but it is not limited to this, and a plurality of such ink tanks may be installed. For example, in the ink tank 30Bk, the enlarged portion may extend in the +X direction to overlap with the ink tank 30C in the X direction, and in the ink tank 30Y, the enlarged portion may extend in the -X direction to overlap with the ink tank 30M in the X direction. In addition, in the above embodiment, three ink tanks without the enlarged portion 404 are installed, but it is not limited to this. There may be one, two, or even four or more ink tanks without the enlarged portion 404 installed.

[0108] (10) The above-mentioned embodiment and the various forms shown in (1) to (9) can be combined as appropriate.

[0109] While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

Claims

1. A printing device, comprising: a conveying unit configured to convey the printing medium along a first direction; a printing unit configured to perform printing by ejecting a printing agent onto the printing medium conveyed by the conveying unit; a first tank configured to store a printing agent to be supplied to the printing unit; as well as a second tank configured to be installed side by side with the first tank in a second direction intersecting the first direction and formed so that a storage chamber storing a printing agent to be supplied to the printing unit overlaps with the first tank when viewed from the first direction, Wherein when viewed from a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction, the storage chamber overlaps with the first tank.

2. The printing device according to claim 1, in, The second tank is further provided with a second chamber for storing the printing agent flowing from the storage chamber on the upper side of the storage chamber.

3. The printing device according to claim 2, Wherein the second chamber overlaps with the first tank when viewed from the first direction.

4. The printing device according to claim 2, The second tank is further provided with an inflow chamber, into which the printing agent in the storage chamber flows, and The inflow chamber includes a communication port, and the communication port allows the inflow printing agent to flow to the second chamber when a pressure change occurs.

5. The printing device according to claim 4, The communication port has a size that allows the printing agent stored in the storage chamber to form a meniscus.

6. The printing device according to claim 4, The communication port is positioned at the center of the internal volume of the storage chamber in the first direction.

7. The printing device according to claim 1, The second tank further comprises: a detection unit configured to detect the amount of liquid in the storage chamber; as well as The fixing unit is configured to fix a substrate electrically connected to the detection unit.

8. The printing device according to claim 7, The fixing unit is provided with a force applying member that applies force to the substrate in a predetermined direction; and A regulating member regulates movement of the substrate in the predetermined direction caused by the urging member.

9. The printing device according to claim 8, The urging member is made of a conductive material and electrically connects the detection unit to the substrate.

10. The printing device according to claim 7, The detection unit is arranged at or around the center of the storage chamber in the first direction.

11. The printing device according to claim 8, wherein the regulating member is provided with a return portion, the return portion being formed to widen in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction, wherein the return portion is bent toward the center of the regulating member when inserted into the hole portion of the substrate moved in the reverse direction, thereby allowing insertion into the hole portion, and in, After being inserted into the hole, the return portion bends in a direction away from the center of the regulating member, thereby regulating movement of the substrate in the predetermined direction while the substrate is urged in the predetermined direction by the urging member.

12. The printing device according to claim 11, Wherein two of the return parts are installed along the first direction.

13. The printing device according to claim 8, wherein the regulating member is provided with a claw portion supported by the supporting member and formed to extend away from the supporting member in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction, wherein the claw portion is bent toward the supporting member so as to allow the substrate to move in the opposite direction, and in, After the movement, the claw portion bends in a direction away from the supporting member, thereby regulating the movement of the substrate in the predetermined direction while the substrate is urged in the predetermined direction by the urging member.

14. The printing device according to claim 13, The regulating member includes a plurality of the claws installed at intervals along the first direction.

15. The printing device according to claim 14, The plurality of claws installed at intervals along the first direction are installed at positions different from each other in the second direction.

16. The printing device according to claim 1, The second tank is further provided with an injection port for injecting printing agent into the storage chamber.

17. The printing device according to any one of claims 1 to 16, further comprising A moving unit is configured to move the printing unit in the second direction, wherein the first tank and the second tank are mounted to the moving unit.

18. A printing device comprising: a conveying unit configured to convey the printing medium along a first direction; a printing unit configured to perform printing by ejecting a printing agent onto the printing medium conveyed by the conveying unit; a first tank configured to store a printing agent to be supplied to the printing unit and configured with an injection port for injecting the printing agent into the inside; as well as A second tank is configured to be installed side by side with the first tank in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and is formed so that when viewed from a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction, a storage chamber storing a printing agent to be supplied to the printing unit overlaps with the first tank.

19. The printing device according to claim 18, The second tank includes an injection port for injecting printing agent into the interior.

Images