Liquid ejecting apparatus

Abstract

A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid ejecting head configured to eject liquid onto a recording medium; a liquid container having a filling port to allow liquid to be injected through the filling port, the liquid container being configured to accommodate liquid to be supplied to the liquid ejecting head; a cap held by the first operating portion, the first operating portion being pivotably movable about a first pivot axis, the cap being movable to a closed position in which the cap closes the filling port and an open position in which the cap opens the filling port; and a second operation part configured to move the first operation part from the closed position to the open position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to liquid ejection devices. Background Art

[0002] An inkjet printer (image recording device) is known, which includes an ink tank capable of containing ink to be consumed at a recording head configured to eject ink. When the ink container of such an image recording device can be replenished with ink by injecting ink therein, the container has a filling port, which is closed by a cap. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2021-94789 discloses a structure of a cap rod that can be closed in a closed position in which the cap rod closes the filling port of a liquid container and opened in an open position in which the cap rod opens the filling port of the liquid container.

[0003] However, according to the configuration described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2021-94789, the user applies force from the front side of the device using a finger to open the cap rod. Therefore, this configuration has the problem of increasing the user's operating range because the user needs to continue applying force until the user fully opens the cap rod.

[0004] The present invention is directed to improving the operability of a cap configured to close a filling port of a liquid container. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present invention provides a liquid ejection device, comprising: a liquid ejection head, configured to eject liquid onto a recording medium; a liquid container, having a filling port to allow liquid to be injected through the filling port, the liquid container being configured to contain liquid to be supplied to the liquid ejection head; a cap held by a first operating part, the first operating part being capable of pivotally moving around a first pivot axis, the cap being capable of moving to a closed position in which the cap closes the filling port and an open position in which the cap opens the filling port; and a second operating part, configured to move the first operating part from the closed position to the open position.

[0006] Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

[0008] Figure 2 It is a stereoscopic view near the ink tank in the first embodiment.

[0009] Figure 3 It is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the cap rod in the closed position in the first embodiment taken along the YZ plane.

[0010] Figure 4A , Figure 4B , Figure 4C , Figure 4D and Figure 4ECollectively, it is a transition diagram when the cap rod moves from the closed position to the open position in the first embodiment.

[0011] Figure 5A , Figure 5B , Figure 5C , Figure 5D and Figure 5E The cap rod in the first embodiment is collectively shown in the transition diagram from the open position to the closed position.

[0012] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the ink tank and the retaining member in the first embodiment, taken along the XZ plane.

[0013] Fig. 7A and Figure 7B The configuration of the cap rod and the cover in the first embodiment is shown.

[0014] Fig. 8A and Figure 8B Schematic diagram of the cap rod and the operating rod in the second embodiment.

[0015] Fig.9A and Fig. 9B Schematic diagram of the cap rod and the operating rod in the third embodiment.

[0016] Fig. 10A and Fig. 10B Schematic diagram of the cap rod and the operating rod in the fourth embodiment.

[0017] Fig.11A and Fig. 11B Schematic diagram of the cap rod and the operating rod in the fifth embodiment.

[0018] Fig. 12A and Fig. 12B Schematic diagram and stereogram of the cap rod in the sixth embodiment.

[0019] Fig.13A and Fig. 13B is a perspective view of the cap and the operating lever configured to close the ink filling port in the first embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] First embodiment

[0021] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention, but to specifically embody the present invention according to the claims. Although a plurality of features are described in the embodiments, not all features are essential to the present invention, and a plurality of features may be appropriately combined. In other words, the embodiments described below may be implemented separately, or the embodiments described below may be implemented as a combination of a plurality of elements or their features when necessary or when it is beneficial to combine elements of features from the various embodiments in a single embodiment. In addition, in the drawings, the same or similar components are represented by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are sometimes omitted.

[0022] Note that "recording" in the present disclosure refers to forming meaningful information such as text, graphics, etc. In addition, "recording" also refers to forming an image, design, pattern, etc. on a recording medium or processing the medium in a broad sense, regardless of whether it is meaningful or not, and regardless of whether it appears to be visually perceptible to humans. In addition, "recording" is sometimes also referred to as "text printing" or "printing".

[0023] Furthermore, the “recording medium (sheet)” includes various transportable media such as cloth, plastic film (OHP), metal plate, glass, ceramic, wood, leather, etc., in addition to recording paper used in general image forming apparatuses.

[0024] In addition, "ink" should be interpreted broadly as in the definition of "recording (printing)" described above, and refers to a liquid that can be used to form an image, design, pattern, etc. or process a recording medium by applying it to a recording medium, or refers to a liquid that can be used for ink processing. Note that "ink" is sometimes also referred to as "liquid". "Ink processing" refers to, for example, solidification or insolubilization of a colorant in ink to be applied to a recording medium.

[0025] Furthermore, hereinafter, an axis in the main scanning direction of the carriage is defined as an X axis, an axis in the recording medium conveying direction is defined as a Y axis, and an axis in a direction perpendicular to a plane on which the recording apparatus is installed is defined as a Z axis.

[0026] First, the outline of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. First, the outline of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described. Figure 11 is a perspective view of an inkjet recording device as a liquid ejection device according to the present invention. The inkjet recording device 100 (hereinafter referred to as the recording device 100) includes a sheet stacking portion 101 configured to stack recording media at the front portion in the +Y direction. During recording on the recording medium, the recording medium is fed one by one from the sheet stacking portion 101 by a feed roller (not shown). The fed recording medium is clamped between a conveying roller 1 and a pinch roller 2 driven by the conveying roller 1, and is conveyed in the Y direction while being guided onto and supported on a platen 3 by the rotation of the conveying roller 1. The conveying roller 1 is a metal roller whose surface is processed to have fine concave-convex portions to generate a large frictional force, and the pinch roller 2 is elastically biased against the conveying roller 1 by a pressing unit such as a spring (not shown).

[0027] The platen 3 supports the back side of the recording medium so as to maintain a predetermined distance between the ink ejection surface which is the bottom side of the recording head (liquid ejection head) 4 and the front side of the recording medium which faces the ink ejection surface. The recording head 4 forms an image on the recording medium conveyed onto the platen 3, and then the recording medium is conveyed while being clamped between a discharge roller (not shown) and a driven roller (not shown) which is a rotating body driven by the discharge roller. The discharge roller is a rubber roller having a large friction coefficient. The driven roller is elastically biased against the discharge roller by a pressing unit such as a spring (not shown). The recording medium clamped between the discharge roller and the driven roller is discharged to the outside of the device by the rotation of the discharge roller.

[0028] The recording head 4 includes a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink in an ink ejection surface, and forms an image by ejecting the ink from the nozzles onto a recording medium. The recording head 4 includes a unit (e.g., a heating resistor element) configured to generate thermal energy for ejecting ink, and adopts a method of using thermal energy to cause a change in the state of ink (film boiling), thereby achieving high-density and high-definition recording. Note that this method using thermal energy is not the only option, and vibration energy may also be used.

[0029] The recording head 4 is detachably mounted on the carriage 7 in a state where the ink ejection surface faces the platen 3. The carriage 7 can be reciprocated along the guide rails 5 and 6 arranged up and down by a driving unit such as a motor (not shown), and the recording head 4 ejects ink while moving along with the reciprocating movement of the carriage 7. The moving direction of the carriage 7 is a direction intersecting the recording medium conveying direction (Y direction), and is referred to as a main scanning direction. On the other hand, the recording medium conveying direction (Y direction) is referred to as a sub-scanning direction. In the present embodiment, the main scanning direction is the X direction.

[0030] A plurality of individual ink tanks (liquid containers) 8 are fixed to the front of the recording apparatus 100 while corresponding to the colors of ink ejected from the recording head 4. The plurality of ink tanks 8 are collectively held by a holding member 16 and installed in the recording apparatus 100. The ink tanks 8 are connected to the recording head 4 via a plurality of supply tubes 9 corresponding to the respective ink colors through joints (not shown). Through the supply tubes 9, the ink of the color contained in each ink tank 8 can be individually supplied to the nozzles of the recording head 4 corresponding to the ink color.

[0031] A recovery unit 10 is provided in a non-recording area outside the recording medium passing area and within the X-direction moving range of the recording head 4 so as to face the ink ejection surface of the recording head 4. The recovery unit 10 includes a cap configured to cover the ink ejection surface of the recording head 4, a suction mechanism configured to suck ink from the nozzle of the recording head 4 when the ink ejection surface is covered, a cleaning blade configured to remove dirt on the ink ejection surface, and the like. The recovery unit 10 performs periodic maintenance on the recording head 4 to maintain the ejection performance of the recording head 4. The ink tube valve 11 is provided on the path of the supply tube 9 between the carriage 7 and the ink tank 8, and can open and close the supply tube 9.

[0032] Figure 2 8B, 8C, 8M, and 8Y, and different colors of ink are contained in the respective ink tanks. Specifically, the ink tank 8B contains black ink, the ink tank 8C contains cyan ink, the ink tank 8M contains magenta ink, and the ink tank 8Y contains yellow ink. In addition, when viewed from the front side of the device, the ink tanks 8B, 8C, 8M, and 8Y are arranged on the right side of the main scanning direction of the carriage 7. Note that the number of ink tanks 8, the ink color, and the configuration of the ink tanks 8 are not limited to those in the above-mentioned examples.

[0033] Each of the ink tanks 8B, 8C, 8M and 8Y is equipped with a supply needle 13, and the supply needle is provided with an ink filling port 12 that opens upward in the Z direction. The user replenishes ink by inserting an ink supply container (not shown) onto the supply needle 13 and injecting ink into the ink tank 8 through the ink filling port 12. The cap 14 configured to seal the outer periphery of the supply needle 13 closes the ink filling port 12, and the ink filling port 12 is closed except when the ink is replenished to the ink tank 8. The cap 14 is flexible and is in close (tight) contact with the outer periphery of the supply needle 13 to hermetically seal the ink filling port 12. Therefore, the ink contained in the ink tank 8 is prevented from flowing to the outside of the ink tank 8 through the ink filling port 12.

[0034] Fig.13A 1 is a perspective view of a cap configured to close the ink filling port 12 in this embodiment. The cap 14 made of a flexible material closes the ink filling port 12 except when the ink tank 8 is replenished with ink. Fig.13AAs shown, the cap 14 is held by the cap rod 15 and moves with the operation of the cap rod 15. By engaging the shaft engaging portion 130 of the cap rod with the shaft (pivot shaft) 32 (see FIG. 1 ) mounted on the holding member 16, the cap 14 is moved. Figure 3 ) is engaged, the cap rod can pivot about the shaft 32. The position of the cap rod 15 when the cap 14 closes the ink filling port 12 is referred to as the closed position. Fig.13A The position of the cap lever 15 when the cap lever 15 is upright is referred to as the open position. The cap lever 15 includes a rib 22 that can abut against a rib 23 of an operating lever 18 (described later) and a spring 17 (see FIG. Figure 3 ) of the spring hook 30. The spring 17 in the present embodiment is a tension spring.

[0035] In addition, in this embodiment, the cap rod 15 is moved from the closed position to the open position by the user operating the operating rod 18 disposed at the front side of the device relative to the cap rod 15 (i.e. disposed in the +Y direction relative to the cap rod 15). Fig. 13B As shown, the operating lever 18 includes a shaft engaging portion 131 configured to engage with a shaft (pivot shaft) 33 supported by the holding member 16, and through such engagement with the shaft 33, the operating lever can pivot about the shaft 33. The operating lever 18 includes an operating surface 26 that allows a user to pivotally move the operating lever 18 by grasping the operating surface 26 with fingers, and the operating lever includes a rib 23. The operating lever 18 also includes an abutment portion 19 that is configured to abut on the cap rod 15 when the user operates the operating lever 18, and the operating lever includes a spring hook 34 that is configured to hold the spring 24 (see Figure 3 ).

[0036] Figure 3 : is a cross-sectional view of the cap rod 15 in the closed position taken along the YZ plane. The cap rod 15 is always biased in the B1 direction (clockwise direction) in the figure, that is, from the closed position to the open position, by the spring 17 connected to the spring hook 30 and the spring hook 31 of the retaining member 16 at both ends. When the cap rod 15 is in the closed position, the supply needle 13 remains sealed by the cap 14, and the cap rod 15 is maintained in the closed position by the retaining force generated by the friction caused under this condition. As the cap rod 15 moves toward the open position, when the retaining force between the cap 14 and the supply needle 13 becomes smaller than the biasing force of the spring 17, the cap rod 15 moves to the open position under the action of the biasing force of the spring 17. That is, in a certain range of the cap rod 15 moving from the closed position to the open position, the retaining force between the cap 14 and the supply needle 13 is greater than the biasing force of the spring 17, thereby keeping the cap 14 and the supply needle 13 in contact with each other. On the other hand, when the position of the cap lever 15 is displaced further toward the open position side relative to the certain range, the biasing force of the spring 17 becomes greater than the retaining force between the cap 14 and the replenishing needle 13, and thereby the cap lever 15 moves toward the open position.

[0037] The operating rod 18 is moved in a direction in which the spring 24 is connected to the spring hook 34 included in the operating rod 18 and the spring hook 35 provided for the holding member 16 at both ends. Figure 3 In the state shown (default state), the operating lever 18 is biased in the -Z direction. The user applies force in the A1 direction (counterclockwise direction) by grasping the operating surface 26 with a finger, thereby pivoting the operating lever 18 in the A1 direction about the axis 33. The spring 24 is a tension spring. At this time, the operating lever 18 is biased by the spring 24, and thus has a torque to rotate in the A2 direction (clockwise direction); when the user stops applying force to the operating surface 26, the operating lever 18 pivotally moves in the A2 direction to return to the position of the default state.

[0038] FIG. 4A to FIG. 4E The cap rod 15 is a transition diagram when it moves from the closed position to the open position. Figure 4A In the embodiment, the cap rod 15 is in the closed position. In the embodiment, the user operates the operating rod 18 to move the cap rod 15 from Figure 4A The closed position in Figure 4E The open position in the Figure 4A In the closed position, the rib 22 provided on the cap rod 15 and the rib 23 provided on the operating rod 18 abut against each other, thereby fixing the position of the cap rod 15. At this time, the inner periphery of the cap 14 is in close contact with the outer periphery of the supply needle 13 to close the ink filling port 12. When the operating rod 18 is pivotally moved in the A1 direction, as shown in FIG. Figure 4B The abutment portion 19 of the operating lever 18 shown abuts on the sliding surface 20 of the cap lever 15, and the cap lever 15 begins to pivotally move toward the open position as the operating lever 18 pivotally moves. Here, the sliding surface 20 of the cap lever 15 is the surface of the cap lever 15 that faces the abutment portion 19 of the operating lever 18. Since the rib 23 moves in the A1 direction as the operating lever 18 pivotally moves, this position restriction on the cap lever 15 caused by the abutment of the rib 23 and the rib 22 is released by the pivotal movement of the operating lever 18.

[0039] As described above, in the closed position, the inner periphery of the cap 14 is in close (tight) contact with the outer periphery of the replenishment needle 13; even at a certain midpoint when moving to the open position, a retaining force due to friction is generated under the condition that a part of the inner periphery of the cap 14 is in contact with the outer periphery of the replenishment needle 13. The retaining force is a force that restricts the movement of the cap rod 15 in the B1 direction so that the cap rod 15 is kept in the closed position. Figure 4B The operating lever 18 in the middle is further pivotally moved in the direction A1 to enter Figure 4CIn the state of , the range of contact between the inner periphery of the cap 14 and the outer periphery of the supply needle 13 is reduced, and the holding force caused by friction is reduced. When the holding force becomes smaller than the biasing force of the spring 17, the cap rod moves in the B1 direction under the biasing force of the spring 17, and as Figure 4D The cap 14 is shown separated from the supply needle 13. While the abutment surface 400 of the cap rod 15 abuts against the abutment surface 401 of the retaining member 16, the cap rod 15 continues to move in the B1 direction due to the biasing force of the spring 17, so that the cap rod 15 remains in the open position. Here, since the cap rod 15 moves toward the open position by the biasing force of the spring 17, the spring hook 31 can be located below the abutment surface 401. By positioning the spring hook below the abutment surface 401, a torque sufficient to move the cap rod 15 toward the open position can be generated.

[0040] In the present embodiment, by the pivotal movement of the operating lever 18, the abutment 19 contacts the sliding surface 20 of the cap rod 15, and the abutment pushes up the cap rod 15 while the abutment slides on the sliding surface. The abutment 19 pushes the cap rod 15 upward to a position where the holding force generated by the friction between the cap 14 and the replenishment needle 13 becomes smaller than the biasing force of the spring 17, and the user can move the cap rod 15 from the closed position to the open position by operating the operating lever 18.

[0041] As described above, the user can move the cap lever 15 from the closed position to the open position by pivotally moving the operating lever 18. Since the cap lever 15 is biased by the spring 17, the range required for the operating lever 18 to pivotally move can be from the closed position to the position where the holding force generated by the friction between the cap 14 and the supply needle 13 becomes smaller than the biasing force of the spring 17, so the area required for the user to perform the operation can be reduced.

[0042] The operating surface 26 of the operating lever 18 forms an angle in the +Y direction relative to the vertical direction (Z direction). That is, the operating surface 26 is inclined toward the front of the recording device 100. In addition, in other words, the operating surface 26 forms an angle in the A1 direction relative to the XZ plane. The angle may be greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees. With this configuration, the user can visually identify the operating surface 26 from the +Z direction, so that the operating lever 18 can be easily identified. Even when the user applies a force in the -Z direction to the operating surface 26, a component force is generated in the A1 direction, so that the user can pivotally move the operating lever 18.

[0043] The operating rod 18 is colored according to the different colors of the ink contained in the ink tank 8. For example, the operating rod 18 is colored in a color corresponding to the ink contained in the ink tank 8, and is colored black when used as an operating rod for opening and closing the ink filling port 12 of the ink tank 8B. Therefore, the user can predict the color in the ink tank 8 based on the color of the operating rod 18, and the user can be restrained from opening the cap 14 of the ink tank 8 with a different color when injecting ink into the ink tank 8. In addition, by color-coding only the operating rod 18 and not color-coding the cap rod 15 for different ink tanks 8, the user can easily recognize that the operating rod 18 is the member that the user is to operate in order to open the cap rod 15. Note that this color change of the operating rod 18 is not the only option, and a mark corresponding to the ink color may be given on the operating rod 18, or both color coding and marking may be used.

[0044] The rib 23 provided on the operating lever 18 is provided near the operating surface 26, closer to the end of the operating lever 18 in the X direction, and is shaped so as to protrude in the -Y direction, that is, toward the cap lever 15 side. When the user pivotally moves the operating lever 18 by grasping the operating surface 26 with a finger, the rib 23 can suppress the finger from sliding and falling off in the X direction, so that the user can stably operate the operating lever 18. In addition, since the rib 23 suppresses the finger from sliding in the X direction, when operating one of the operating levers 18, it is possible to suppress the user from touching the adjacent operating lever 18 and accidentally opening the cap lever 15. Note that the rib 23 can be provided on each of the two ends of the operating lever 18 in the X direction.

[0045] Will refer to FIG. 5A to FIG. 5E Describe the transition of the cap rod 15 from the open position to the closed position. Figure 5A To the open position in the middle, the user pushes the cap rod 15 in the direction B2 opposite to the direction B1, and Figure 5B As shown, the cap rod 15 is pivotally moved. Figure 5C When the cap rod 15 is in the middle position, the rib 22 of the cap rod 15 and the rib 23 of the operating rod abut against each other. Although the operating rod 18 is biased by the spring 24 to remain in the default state as described above, when the cap rod 15 is further pushed in the B2 direction with the rib 22 and the rib 23 abutting against each other, the rib 23 and the operating rod 18 receiving the thrust via the rib 22 pivotally move in the A1 direction ( Figure 5D ), rib 22 moves below rib 23. Figure 5D In the embodiment, the operating rod 18 and the rib 23 pivotally moved in the A1 direction return to the default state under the bias of the spring 24, and the rib 22 is thus subjected to a force applied from the rib 23 in the -Z direction. By the thrust from the rib 23 in the -Z direction and the thrust applied by the user, the cap rod 15 moves to the position as shown in FIG. Figure 5E In the closed position shown. FIG. 5D to FIG. 5EDuring the state change accompanying the displacement, the user feels a click feeling, and can recognize that the cap 14 has closed the ink filling port 12 .

[0046] The end of the cap rod 15 on the opposite side of the shaft 32, i.e., in the +Y direction, is an operating surface 21, which has an inclined inclined surface composed of a gentle curved surface. In the cap rod 15 in the closed position, the operating surface 21 is a curved surface inclined in the -Z direction (downward in the vertical direction) toward the end of the cap rod 15 in the +Y direction. When the user pivotally moves the cap rod 15 from the open position to the closed position, due to the above-mentioned inclination, the finger moves from the end of the cap rod 15 along the curved surface of the operating surface 21 in the -Y direction. Therefore, during the operation process of moving to the cap closed position, the user's finger moves from the end of the cap rod 15 to the position directly above the cap 14 while naturally moving to change the operating position, and effective force transmission can be achieved when the cap 14 is installed on the supply needle 13. Therefore, the friction between the cap 14 and the supply needle 13 can be overcome and the cap 14 can be installed on the supply needle 13.

[0047] Figure 6 2 is a cross-sectional view of the ink tank 8 and the holding member 16 taken along the XZ plane. The upright wall 25 having a height in the +Z direction (upward in the vertical direction) is configured by using the holding member 16 to surround the supply needle 13. The tip position of the supply needle 13 is lower than the highest position of the upright wall 25 in the Z direction. Therefore, even when ink droplets are dispersed near the supply needle 13 during the opening and closing of the cap rod 15 or the injection of ink into the ink tank 8, the ink droplets are blocked by the upright wall 25, so that the ink droplets can be suppressed from adhering to the supply needle 13, the cap rod 15 and the operating rod 18 of the adjacent ink tank 8.

[0048] Fig. 7A and Figure 7B The configuration of the cap lever 15 and the cover 27 is shown. The recording device 100 of the present embodiment includes the cover 27 configured to cover the cap lever 15 and the operating lever 18 when closed, and the rib 28 is provided on the inner side (side surface on the cap lever side) of the cover 27. Fig. 7A , the cover 27 and the cap rod 15 are open. When the user moves the cap rod 15 to the open position, the user opens the cover 27 and operates the operating rod 18. When the user closes the cover 27 with the cap rod 15 in the open position, the rib 28 abuts against the cap rod 15 and pivotally moves the cap rod 15 to the closed position. Therefore, the user applies a force to close the cover 27, and the force is thereby transmitted to the cap rod 15 via the rib 28; therefore, the cap rod 15 can be pushed to the closed position.

[0049] As described above, when opening the ink filling port, the user can pivotally move the cap lever toward the open position by operating the operating lever. In addition, when pivotally moving the cap lever from the open position to the closed position, the user can recognize the closing of the ink filling port by feeling a click. Through these configurations, the operability of the cap can be improved.

[0050] Second embodiment

[0051] A second embodiment will be described below, but descriptions of similar constituent parts to those of the first embodiment will be omitted. Fig. 8A and Figure 8B 1 is a schematic diagram of the cap rod 15 and the operating rod 18 in the second embodiment. Although the abutment portion 19 of the operating rod 18 in the first embodiment is flipped into a U shape relative to the operating rod 18, Fig. 8A The bottom of the operating lever 18 shown can simply serve as the abutment 19. Figure 8B As shown, by pivotally moving the operating lever 18 to a position where the abutment 19 abuts against the sliding surface 20 of the cap rod 15, the sliding surface 20 is lifted by the abutment 19, and the cap rod 15 can be pivotally moved. This structure enables the user to pivotally move the cap rod 15 to the open position by operating the operating lever 18, thereby improving the operability of the cap.

[0052] Third embodiment

[0053] A third embodiment will be described below, but descriptions of similar constituent parts to those of the first embodiment will be omitted. Fig.9A and Fig. 9B 1 is a schematic diagram of the cap rod 15 and the operating rod 18 in the third embodiment. In this embodiment, the abutment portion 19 of the operating rod 18 is inclined in the -Z direction as it moves in the -Y direction. Fig.9A When the operating rod 18 is translated along the -Y direction from the closed position in Fig. 9B The sliding surface 20 of the cap rod 15 shown is lifted in the +Z direction along the inclination of the abutment portion 19. As in the first embodiment, the cap rod 15 is then moved to the open position by the bias of the spring 17. When the cap rod 15 moves from the open position to the closed position, the sliding surface 20 of the cap rod 15 abuts on the abutment portion 19 of the operating rod 18, so that the operating rod 18 is translated in the +Y direction. This configuration enables the user to pivotally move the cap rod 15 to the open position by operating the operating rod 18, thereby improving the operability of the cap.

[0054] Fourth embodiment

[0055] A fourth embodiment will be described below, but descriptions of similar constituent parts to those of the first embodiment will be omitted. Fig. 10A and Fig. 10B1 is a schematic diagram of the cap rod 15 and the operating rod 18 in the fourth embodiment. In this embodiment, the abutment portion 19 is inclined in the +Z direction as it advances in the -Y direction. The abutment portion 19 and the sliding surface 20 inside the cap rod 15 abut against each other, and when the user moves Fig. 10A When the operating rod 18 in FIG. 1 is translated along the +Y direction, as shown in FIG. Fig. 10B The sliding surface 20 is shown to be lifted in the +Z direction along the inclination of the abutment 19. As in the first embodiment, the cap rod 15 is then moved to the open position by the bias of the spring 17. Since the abutment 19 is composed of a curved surface protruding toward the sliding surface 20, the abutment 19 slides smoothly without being caught by the sliding surface 20 during the opening and closing operation of the cap rod 15.

[0056] This configuration enables the user to pivotally move the cap lever 15 toward the open position by operating the operating lever 18 , thereby improving the operability of the cap.

[0057] Fifth embodiment

[0058] A fifth embodiment will be described below, but descriptions of similar constituent parts to those of the first embodiment will be omitted. Fig.11A and Fig. 11B 1 is a schematic diagram of the cap rod 15 and the operating rod 18 in the fifth embodiment. The user can make a transition from the cap closed position to the open position by translating the operating rod 18 in the -Z direction. By operating the operating rod 18, the link member 29 is pivotally moved, so that the cap rod 15 can be pivotally moved. This configuration enables the user to pivotally move the cap rod 15 to the open position by operating the operating rod 18 using the link member 29, thereby improving the operability of the cap.

[0059] Sixth embodiment

[0060] A sixth embodiment will be described below, but descriptions of similar constituent parts to those of the first embodiment will be omitted. Fig. 12A is a schematic diagram of the cap lever 218 in the sixth embodiment. In this embodiment, the cap 14 configured to close the ink filling port 12 of the ink tank 8 is held by the cap lever 218, and the user moves the cap lever 218 to the open position by lifting the cap lever 218. The finger hook 201 is provided on the end of the cap lever 218 in the +Y direction, and the user grabs the finger hook 201 with a finger from the -Z direction, applies a force in the C1 direction, and pivotally moves the cap lever 218 to the open position.

[0061] The finger hook 201 has a rib 223 at the end in the X direction, and the rib 223 extends in the -Z direction when the cap lever 218 is in the closed position. Even when the user applies force in the C1 direction by grabbing the finger hook 201 with the finger, the rib 223 can suppress the user's finger from falling off in the +X direction. Fig. 12BWhen the user operates the cap rod 218 when the plurality of cap rods 218 are adjacent to each other, the rib 223 can also prevent the user from erroneously operating the adjacent cap rod 218. With the above configuration, the operability of the cap is improved.

[0062] According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the operability of a cap configured to close a filling port of a liquid container.

[0063] Although the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the appended claims and their features should be given the broadest interpretation to cover all modifications and equivalent structures and functions known to those skilled in the art.

[0064] The open position may also be referred to as an open position or an opened position. The closed position may also be referred to as a closed position or a closed position.

Claims

1. A liquid ejection device, comprising: a liquid ejecting head configured to eject liquid onto a recording medium; a liquid container having a filling port to allow liquid to be injected via the filling port, the liquid container being configured to contain liquid to be supplied to the liquid ejecting head; a cap held by a first operating portion, the first operating portion being pivotally movable about a first pivot axis, the cap being movable to a closed position in which the cap closes the filling port and an open position in which the cap opens the filling port; and The second operating portion is configured to move the first operating portion from the closed position to the open position.

2. The liquid ejecting device according to claim 1, wherein The first operating portion is biased in a direction from the closed position to the open position by the first biasing unit.

3. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The second operating portion is pivotally movable about a second pivot axis different from the first pivot axis.

4. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: The direction in which the first pivot axis extends and the direction in which the second pivot axis extends are the same direction.

5. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: When the first operating portion is in the closed position, the first operating portion is held in the closed position by the abutment between the first rib provided on the first operating portion and the second rib provided on the second operating portion.

6. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein: The second operating portion includes an inclined portion inclined toward the front of the liquid ejecting apparatus.

7. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein: The second operating portion is pivotally movable to a first position, where the second operating portion holds the first operating portion in the closed position via the second rib, and a second position, where the second operating portion no longer holds the first operating portion in the closed position via the second rib.

8. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 7, wherein: The second rib is provided at an end portion of the inclined portion in a direction intersecting with the inclination direction of the inclined portion of the second operating portion.

9. The liquid ejecting device according to claim 7, further comprising: The second biasing unit is arranged to bias the second operating portion to maintain the second operating portion in the first position.

10. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 9, wherein The second operating portion is pivotally moved from the second position to the first position by the bias of the second biasing unit.

11. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: The second operating portion includes an abutment portion configured to abut against the first operating portion and move the first operating portion in a direction from the closed position to the open position when the second operating portion pivotally moves about the second pivot axis when the first operating portion is in the closed position.

12. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The second operating portion is closer to the front side of the liquid ejecting apparatus than the first operating portion.

13. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The first operating portion includes an inclined surface that is inclined downward in a vertical direction toward a front side of the liquid ejecting apparatus when the first operating portion is in the closed position.

14. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The liquid ejecting apparatus includes a plurality of liquid containers, each of which includes a corresponding first operating portion and a corresponding second operating portion.

15. The liquid ejecting device according to claim 1, further comprising: The upright wall is arranged near the filling port, and the highest position of the upright wall is higher than the filling port in the vertical direction.

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