Image formation device

Abstract

To provide an image formation device that has a high-capacity storage chamber while enhancing versatility of components.SOLUTION: A multifunctional machine 10 includes: an ink cartridge 30 including a first storage chamber 80 and a supply port 93; an ink needle 102; four outflow ports 116; four ink tubes 32 and a recording head 39 connected to the four ink tubes 32 and discharging ink from a plurality of nozzles 40.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus equipped with a recording head having a plurality of nozzle groups. [Background technology]

[0002] Printers are known that include a recording head that ejects ink supplied from an ink cartridge through nozzles. The ink cartridge and the recording head are connected to each other via a flow path formed by, for example, a tube so that the ink can be supplied (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6384357 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The printer described in Patent Document 1 prints color images on fabrics such as T-shirts. On the other hand, there are monochrome printers that use only black ink, for example as printers for business use that mainly print characters. In monochrome printers for business use, it is desirable that the storage chamber for storing black ink is large-capacity, and that a large number of sheets can be printed without refilling the storage chamber with black ink. However, designing components for a monochrome printer separately from a printer that prints color images poses a problem of high development costs.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus having a large-capacity storage chamber while improving the versatility of its components. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] (1) An image forming apparatus according to the present invention comprises a liquid container having a first storage chamber for storing liquid and a supply port connecting the first storage chamber to the outside, a joint connected to the supply port of the liquid container, a branching section connected to the joint and branching into a plurality of flow paths, a plurality of tubes connected to each of the plurality of flow paths of the branching section, and a recording head connected to a plurality of the tubes and having a plurality of nozzle groups leading to each of the plurality of tubes, and ejecting liquid from each of the nozzle groups.

[0007] A monochrome image is formed using a print head having a plurality of nozzle groups.

[0008] (2) The branch portion may have a second storage chamber that stores liquid, and the plurality of flow paths may communicate with the second storage chamber.

[0009] When no liquid is stored in the first storage chamber, the liquid stored in the second storage chamber is supplied to the print head.

[0010] (3) The plurality of flow paths may each communicate with the second storage chamber.

[0011] (4) The multiple flow paths may merge into one flow path and communicate with the second storage chamber.

[0012] (5) The liquid container may have a first atmosphere communication port connecting the first storage chamber to the outside, the branching portion may have a second atmosphere communication port connecting the second storage chamber to the outside, and the second storage chamber may have a space located below the first storage chamber.

[0013] The difference between the liquid level in the first reservoir and the liquid level in the second reservoir causes liquid to flow from the first reservoir to the second reservoir.

[0014] (6) The liquid container may have one of the first storage chambers and a plurality of the supply ports, and the joint may be connected to each of the plurality of supply ports.

[0015] Since the liquid stored in the first storage chamber flows out through a plurality of supply ports, problems such as a shortage of liquid supply due to flow path resistance of the supply ports are unlikely to occur.

[0016] (7) The liquid container may be a cartridge that is detachably attached to the joint.

[0017] (8) The branching section may have a detection section that detects the liquid stored in the second storage chamber.

[0018] Since there is no need to provide a detection unit in the liquid container, the structure of the liquid container is simplified.

[0019] (9) The recording head may eject liquid from the plurality of nozzle groups while moving in a scanning direction.

[0020] (10) An image forming apparatus according to the present invention comprises a liquid container having a first storage chamber for storing liquid and a supply port connecting the first storage chamber to the outside, a joint connected to the supply port of the liquid container, a tube connected to the joint, a branching section connected to the tube and branching into a plurality of flow paths, and a recording head having a plurality of nozzle groups connected to each of the plurality of flow paths, and ejecting liquid from each of the nozzle groups.

[0021] A monochrome image is formed using a recording head having a plurality of nozzle groups. The first storage chamber of the liquid container has a large capacity. Effect of the Invention

[0022] According to the present invention, an image forming apparatus having a large-capacity storage chamber while increasing the versatility of its components is realized. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a multifunction device 10. As shown in FIG. [Diagram 2]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view that illustrates a schematic internal configuration of the printer unit 11. As shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a plan view that illustrates a schematic internal configuration of the printer unit 11. As shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a partial enlarged view showing the nozzle surface of the recording head 39. As shown in FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a front view showing the cartridge mounting portion 110. As shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the ink cartridge 30. As shown in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a rear view of the ink cartridge 30 according to the modified example. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a tank 103 according to a modified example. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a tank 103 according to a modified example. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section of a tank 130 and a bottle 131 according to a modified example. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a schematic internal configuration of the printer unit 11 according to a modified example. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the flow path member 150. As shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that the embodiment described below is merely one example of the present invention, and it goes without saying that the embodiment of the present invention can be appropriately modified within the scope of the present invention. In addition, in the following description, the progress from the starting point of the arrow to the end point is expressed as a direction, and the movement on the line connecting the starting point and the end point of the arrow is expressed as a direction. That is, a direction is one component of a direction. Upward and downward are each one component of the up-down direction 7, and are opposite to each other. Leftward and rightward are each one component of the left-right direction 9, and are opposite to each other. Forward and backward are each one component of the front-rear direction 8, and are opposite to each other. In this embodiment, the up-down direction 7 corresponds to the vertical direction, and the front-rear direction 8 and the left-right direction 9 correspond to the horizontal direction.

[0025] Furthermore, a top-bottom direction 7 is defined based on the state (the state in Figure 1, which may be referred to as the "usage state") or posture (the posture in Figure 1, which may be referred to as the "usage posture") in which the multifunction device 10 is installed and usable, a front-to-back direction 8 is defined with the side on which the opening 13 of the multifunction device 10 is provided being the near side (front), and a left-to-right direction 9 is defined when viewing the multifunction device 10 from the near side (front).

[0026] [Overall configuration of multifunction device 10] As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction device 10 has an outer shape of a roughly rectangular parallelepiped. The multifunction device 10 has a printer unit 11. The printer unit 11 records an image on paper 12 (see FIG. 2) by an inkjet recording method. As shown in FIG. 2, the printer unit 11 has a feed unit 15, a feed tray 20, a discharge tray 21, a transport roller unit 54, a recording unit 24, a discharge roller unit 55, a platen 42, and a refill unit 100. The multifunction device 10 has various functions such as a facsimile function and a print function. The refill unit 100 is located behind a cover 70 that is provided on the front of the multifunction device 10 so as to be able to open and close. When the cover 70 is opened, the refill unit 100 is exposed to the outside and becomes accessible. The multifunction device 10 is an example of an image forming device.

[0027] [Feed tray 20, output tray 21] As shown in FIG. 1 , an opening 13 is located on the front side of the multifunction device 10, at the center in the left-right direction 9. The feed tray 20 moves in the front-rear direction 8 through the opening 13 by a user's operation. The feed tray 20 supports a plurality of stacked sheets of paper 12. The discharge tray 21 is located above the feed tray 20. The discharge tray 21 moves in the front-rear direction together with the feed tray 20. The discharge tray 21 supports the sheets of paper 12 discharged by the discharge roller section 55.

[0028] [Feeding section 15] The feeding section 15 feeds the paper 12 supported by the feeding tray 20 to the transport path 65. As shown in FIG. 2, the feeding section 15 includes a feeding roller 25, a feeding arm 26, and a shaft 27. The feeding roller 25 is rotatably supported at the tip of the feeding arm 26. The feeding roller 25 rotates in a direction to transport the paper 12 in the transport direction 16 by reverse rotation of a transport motor (not shown). The feeding arm 26 is rotatably supported by the shaft 27 supported by the frame of the printer section 11. The feeding arm 26 is biased to rotate toward the feeding tray 20 by its own weight or by elastic force of a spring or the like.

[0029] [Transportation Route 65] As shown in FIG. 2, the conveying path 65 refers to a space defined by an outer guide member and an inner guide member (not shown) opposed to each other at a predetermined interval inside the printer unit 11. The conveying path 65 extends from the rear end of the feed tray 20 to the rear side of the printer unit 11. The conveying path 65 makes a U-turn while extending from the bottom to the top at the rear side of the printer unit 11, and reaches the discharge tray 21 through the space between the recording unit 24 and the platen 42. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the conveying path 65 between the conveying roller unit 54 and the discharge roller unit 55 is located approximately in the center of the multifunction device 10 in the left-right direction 9, and extends in the front-rear direction 8. The conveying direction 16 of the paper 12 in the conveying path 65 is indicated by an arrow in FIG. 2.

[0030] [Transport roller unit 54] As shown in FIG. 2, the transport roller unit 54 is located upstream of the recording unit 24 in the transport direction 16. The transport roller unit 54 has a transport roller 60 and a pinch roller 61. The transport roller 60 and the pinch roller 61 face each other in the vertical direction 7. The transport roller 60 rotates when the drive of the transport motor is transmitted to it. The pinch roller 61 rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the transport roller 60. When the transport roller 60 rotates forward due to the forward rotation of the transport motor, the paper 12 is sandwiched between the transport roller 60 and the pinch roller 61 and transported in the transport direction 16.

[0031] [Discharge roller section 55] As shown in FIG. 2, the discharge roller unit 55 is located downstream of the recording unit 24 in the transport direction 16. The discharge roller unit 55 has a discharge roller 62 and a spur 63. The discharge roller 62 and the spur 63 face each other in the up-down direction 7. The discharge roller 62 rotates by the drive transmitted from the transport motor. The spur 63 rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the discharge roller 62. When the discharge roller 62 rotates forward due to the forward rotation of the transport motor, the paper 12 is sandwiched between the discharge roller 62 and the spur 63 and transported in the transport direction 16.

[0032] [Record 24] 2, the recording unit 24 is located between the transport roller unit 54 and the discharge roller unit 55 in the transport direction 16. The recording unit 24 faces the platen 42 in the up-down direction 7, with the transport path 65 in between. The recording unit 24 is located above the transport path 65 in the up-down direction 7. The recording unit 24 includes a carriage 23 and a recording head 39.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 3, the carriage 23 is supported by guide rails 43 and 44. The guide rails 43 and 44 are supported by a frame of the printer unit 11. The guide rails 43 and 44 are spaced apart in the front-rear direction 8 and each extend in the left-right direction 9. The carriage 23 is connected to a known belt mechanism provided on the guide rail 44. The belt mechanism rotates when drive is transmitted from a carriage motor (not shown). When the belt mechanism rotates, the carriage 23 moves in the left-right direction 9. The movement range of the carriage 23 is indicated by a dashed line in FIG. 3. The carriage 23 moves to the right and left in the left-right direction 9 from the transport path 65. The left-right direction 9 is an example of a scanning direction.

[0034] The refill unit 100 and the recording head 39 are connected by ink tubes 32. A control board (not shown) on which a control unit (not shown) is mounted and a head control board (not shown) provided in the recording head 39 are electrically connected by a flexible flat cable 33. The ink tubes 32 and the flexible flat cable 33 each extend from the carriage 23. The ink tubes 32 supply the ink stored in the refill unit 100 to the recording head 39. More specifically, the four ink tubes 32 through which the ink flows extend from a tank 103 and are connected to the recording head 39. The flexible flat cable 33 transmits a control signal output from the control unit to the recording head 39.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 2, the carriage 23 carries a recording head 39. As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of nozzles 40 are positioned on the bottom surface of the recording head 39. The plurality of nozzles 40 are arranged in a row along the front-rear direction 8. The rows of the plurality of nozzles 40 are separated into four rows in the left-right direction 9. The four rows of the plurality of nozzles 40 correspond to the four ink tubes 32, respectively. Ink is supplied to the plurality of nozzles 40 in each row through each ink tube 32.

[0036] Although not shown in the figure, the recording head 39 has a plurality of piezoelectric elements corresponding to the plurality of nozzles 40. In image recording, a head control board provided in the recording head 39 selectively applies a drive voltage to the plurality of piezoelectric elements based on recording data. The plurality of piezoelectric elements are selectively deformed, causing ink to be selectively ejected as minute ink droplets from the plurality of nozzles 40. As the carriage 23 moves, the recording head 39 ejects ink droplets toward the paper 12 supported by a platen 42. In this way, an image is recorded on the paper 12. The plurality of nozzles 40 are an example of a nozzle group.

[0037] [Platen 42] 2 and 3, the platen 42 is located between the transport roller unit 54 and the discharge roller unit 55 in the transport direction 16. The platen 42 faces the recording unit 24 in the up-down direction 7. The platen 42 supports the paper 12 transported by the transport roller unit 54 from below.

[0038] [Refill unit 100] As shown in FIG. 2, the multifunction device 10 includes a refill unit 100. The refill unit 100 supplies ink to the recording head 39. The refill unit 100 includes a cartridge mounting section 110 in which the ink cartridge 30 can be mounted, and a tank 103. Note that FIG. 2 shows a state in which the ink cartridge 30 has been completely mounted in the cartridge mounting section 110. That is, in FIG. 2, the ink cartridge 30 is in a mounted state. The position of the ink cartridge 30 in this state is the usage position. Also, the relative positional relationship between the recording section 24 and the refill unit 100 in FIG. 2 is different from the actual positional relationship. That is, in FIG. 2, the first storage chamber 80 of the ink cartridge 30 is located above the recording section 24, but in reality, the first storage chamber 80 is located below the recording section 24.

[0039] [Cartridge mounting section 110] 5, the cartridge mounting section 110 includes a cartridge case 101 and an ink needle 102. The cartridge mounting section 110 is capable of housing an ink cartridge 30 that stores black ink.

[0040] 5, the cartridge case 101 is box-shaped with an opening 112 facing backward. The opening 112 may be exposed to the front of the multifunction device 10. The front of the multifunction device 10 is the surface that a user faces when using the multifunction device 10. When the cover 70 of the multifunction device 10 is opened, the opening 112 of the cartridge case 101 is exposed to the outside. The ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge case 101 through the opening 112, and is removed from the cartridge case 101 through the opening 112.

[0041] The ink needle 102 is a hollow tube. The ink needle 102 is located under an end surface 111 of the cartridge case 101. The end surface 111 is a surface that defines the rear end of the internal space of the cartridge case 101. The ink needle 102 protrudes forward from the end surface 111. The front ends of the ink needles 102 open forward. Four ink needles 102 are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction 9 on the end surface 111. Of the four ink needles 102, the one ink needle 102 located at the left end is connected to the ink supply unit 92 of the ink cartridge 30. The ink needle 102 is an example of a joint.

[0042] A lock shaft 113 is located in the internal space of the cartridge case 101, near the opening 112 and near the upper end. The lock shaft 113 is a rod extending in the left-right direction 9. The lock surface 90 of the ink cartridge 30 abuts against the lock shaft 113 from the front. This causes the ink cartridge 30 to be held in the cartridge case 101.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 2, the tank 103 is located behind the cartridge case 101. As shown in FIG. 3, there is one tank 103, and the tank 103 is approximately the same size as the cartridge case 101 in the left-right direction 9. As shown in FIG. 2, the tank 103 is box-shaped and has a second storage chamber 115 therein. The second storage chamber 115 stores ink. An atmosphere communication port 114 is located at the top of the tank 103. The second storage chamber 115 communicates with the outside of the tank 103 through the atmosphere communication port 114. This allows the second storage chamber 115 to be open to the atmosphere. The second storage chamber 115 communicates with the internal spaces of the four ink needles 102 on the front side. In this embodiment, ink flows into the second storage chamber 115 through one ink needle 102 located at the left end of the four ink needles 102. The atmosphere communication port 114 is an example of a second atmosphere communication port.

[0044] Four outlet ports 116 are located below the second storage chamber 115. In FIG. 1, one outlet port 116 is shown, but the four outlet ports 116 are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction 9. Four ink tubes 32 are connected to the four outlet ports 116, respectively. The ink stored in the second storage chamber 115 is supplied to the recording head 39 from the four outlet ports 116 through the four ink tubes 32. The four outlet ports 116 are an example of a branching portion and a plurality of flow paths. In this embodiment, the ink needle 102 is connected to the outlet port 116 via the second storage chamber 115 of the tank 103, but the meaning of the ink needle 102 (an example of a joint) and the outlet port 116 (branching portion) being connected includes the second storage chamber 115 being interposed between the ink needle 102 and the outlet port 116 as in this embodiment.

[0045] The tank 103 has an ink sensor 104. The ink sensor 104 is located outside the tank 103 at the same position as the ink needle 102 in the vertical direction 7. The ink sensor 104 has a light-emitting element that irradiates light toward the tank 103 and a light-receiving element that receives light from the tank 103. The outer wall of the tank 103 at a position facing the ink sensor 104 is a light-transmitting prism. The prism reflects light from the light-emitting element when it is in contact with the ink in the second storage chamber 115, and transmits light from the light-emitting element when it is not in contact with the ink. The ink sensor 104 outputs a signal according to the intensity of the light received by the light-receiving element. Based on the signal output from the ink sensor 104, the controller determines whether or not there is ink in the second storage chamber 115 at the height where the ink sensor 104 is located.

[0046] [Ink Cartridge 30] The ink cartridge 30 is a container in which ink is stored. In this embodiment, black ink is stored in the ink cartridge 30. Each dimension of the ink cartridge 30 in the up-down direction 7, the front-rear direction 8, and the left-right direction 9 is slightly smaller than the inner dimensions of the cartridge case 101. FIG. 6 shows the ink cartridge 30 in a usage position. The ink cartridge 30 has a front wall 81, a rear wall 82, an upper wall 83, a lower wall 84, and side walls 85 and 86. As shown in FIG. 2, the internal space surrounded by these walls is a first storage chamber 80 (see FIG. 2). The first storage chamber 80 stores ink.

[0047] An upwardly protruding protrusion 87 is located on the upper wall 83. The inside of the protrusion 87 is a space, which communicates with an atmosphere communication port 89 of the first storage chamber 80. The protrusion 87 has an upward opening 88. The atmosphere communication port 89 communicates with the outside of the ink cartridge 30 through the opening 88 and the internal space of the protrusion 87. This allows the first storage chamber 80 to be in communication with the atmosphere.

[0048] The surface of the protrusion 87 facing forward is the locking surface 90. The locking surface 90 is located above the upper wall 83. The locking surface 90 extends along the up-down direction 7. When the ink cartridge 30 is installed in the cartridge mounting portion 110, the locking surface 90 abuts against the locking shaft 113 facing forward.

[0049] The upper end of the protrusion 87 behind the locking surface 90 is inclined upward and backward. During the process of inserting the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge mounting portion 110, the locking shaft 113 abuts against the upper end of the protrusion 87 and is smoothly guided forward beyond the locking surface 90.

[0050] An operating portion 91 is located on the upper wall 83 in front of the locking surface 90. The operating portion 91 is a portion that is operated by the user in order to remove the ink cartridge 30 from the cartridge mounting portion 110.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 6, the ink supply unit 92 is located below and to the left of the rear wall 82. The ink supply unit 92 has a supply port 93 that opens rearward. The supply port 93 communicates with the first storage chamber 80. The supply port 93 is opened and closed by a valve or the like. One of the four ink needles 102, which is located at the left end, is inserted into the supply port 93. The internal space of the ink needle 102 inserted into the supply port 93 communicates with the first storage chamber 80. The ink in the first storage chamber 80 flows out into the second storage chamber 115 of the tank 103 through the internal space of the ink needle 102 inserted into the supply port 93. Since the first storage chamber 80 and the second storage chamber 115 are each connected to the atmosphere, the difference (head difference) between the ink liquid level in the first storage chamber 80 and the ink liquid level in the second storage chamber 115 causes ink to flow from the first storage chamber 80 to the second storage chamber 115.

[0052] [Effects of the embodiment] According to the embodiment described above, the multifunction device 10 that records monochrome images is realized by using the recording head 39 having a plurality of nozzles 40, the four ink tubes 32 connected to the recording head 39, and the cartridge mounting unit 110 having the four ink needles 102. On the other hand, the recording head 39 having four rows of nozzles 40 can also be used in a printer that records color images using four colors of ink. In addition, the four ink tubes 32 connected to the recording head 39 can supply four colors of ink to the recording head 39. In addition, the cartridge mounting unit 110 having the four ink needles 102 can also accommodate four ink cartridges that respectively store four colors of ink. Therefore, parts can be shared between the multifunction device 10 that records monochrome images and the printer that records color images.

[0053] In addition, because ink is supplied from one ink cartridge 30 to the recording head 39 through four ink tubes 32, the cross-sectional area of ​​one ink tube 32 is prevented from becoming large compared to when the same flow rate of ink is supplied through one ink tube 32. In addition, when recording monochrome images, one ink cartridge 30 is mounted in a cartridge mounting section 110 capable of mounting four ink cartridges, so the ink cartridge 30 has a large capacity. By making the ink cartridge 30 large capacity, the amount of ink ejected from the recording head 39 per unit time, i.e., the multifunction device 10 with a high duty, is realized.

[0054] Furthermore, since the refill unit 100 has the tank 103, when no ink is stored in the first storage chamber 80 of the ink cartridge 30, the ink stored in the second storage chamber 115 of the tank 103 is supplied to the recording head 39 to perform image recording. In addition, in a printer that records color images, the tank 103 having one second storage chamber 115 is disposed in the same space as four second storage chambers that respectively store ink of multiple colors, so that the tank 103 has a large capacity.

[0055] In addition, since the first storage chamber 80 and the second storage chamber 115 are each connected to the atmosphere, the difference (head difference) between the ink level in the first storage chamber 80 and the ink level in the second storage chamber 115 causes ink to flow from the first storage chamber 80 to the second storage chamber.

[0056] Furthermore, since the tank 103 has the ink sensor 104, there is no need to provide a detection unit for detecting ink in the ink cartridge 30. This simplifies the structure of the ink cartridge 30.

[0057] [Variations] Although the ink cartridge 30 described above has one ink supply unit 92, as shown in FIG. 7, the ink cartridge 30 may have four ink supply units 92. Each of the four ink supply units 92 communicates with the first storage chamber 80 of the tank 103. When the ink cartridge 30 is mounted in the cartridge mounting unit 110, the four ink needles 102 are inserted into the supply ports 93 of the four ink supply units 92. As a result, ink flows from the first storage chamber 80 to the second storage chamber 115 of the tank 103 through the four supply ports 93, so that ink supply shortages and the like are unlikely to occur due to flow path resistance in the ink needles 102 and the ink supply units 92. In this modified example, the four ink needles 102 are an example of a joint.

[0058] Furthermore, in a mode in which four ink needles 102 are inserted into the supply ports 93 of the four ink supply portions 92 of the ink cartridge 30 as in the modified example described above, four second storage chambers 115 may be provided in the tank 103 corresponding to the four ink needles 102, as shown in Fig. 8. In this case, four outlet ports 116 correspond to the four second storage chambers 115, respectively. In this case, the four ink needles 102 are an example of a joint and a branch portion.

[0059] Furthermore, the tank 103 described above has four outlet ports 116, but as shown in Fig. 9, the tank 103 may have one outlet port 116. In this case, the flow path 117 connected to the one outlet port 116 may branch into four branch paths 118-121, which are connected to the four ink tubes 32, respectively. The branch paths 118-121 are an example of a plurality of flow paths and branching portions. In this case, the ink cartridge 30 shown in Fig. 7 may be used.

[0060] 9, the tank 103 may be omitted. In this case, the flow path 117 is connected to the leftmost ink needle 102 of the four ink needles 102 in the embodiment.

[0061] In addition, in the refill unit 100 described above, ink is supplied from the first storage chamber 80 of the ink cartridge 30 to the second storage chamber 115 of the tank 103 by a head difference, but the method of supplying ink is not limited to this. For example, ink may be supplied from the first storage chamber 80 to the second storage chamber 115 by gas-liquid replacement called chicken feed, or ink may be supplied from the first storage chamber 80 to the second storage chamber 115 by a pump or the like.

[0062] In addition, the refill unit 100 described above is an embodiment in which the ink cartridge 30 is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 110, but the configuration of the refill unit 100 is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, an embodiment in which ink is supplied from a bottle 131 to a tank 130 fixed to the multifunction device 10 may be adopted. The tank 130 is box-shaped. The internal space of the tank 130 is a storage chamber 132. The storage chamber 132 stores ink. The tank 130 has an ink needle 133 that protrudes outward. The ink needle 133 is a tube having two flow paths, a gas flow path and a liquid flow path. The gas flow path and the liquid flow path of the ink needle 133 communicate with the outside of the tank 130 and the storage chamber 132, respectively. The storage chamber 132 is an example of a second storage chamber. The ink needle 133 is an example of a joint.

[0063] The tank 130 has an air vent 134. The storage chamber 132 is in communication with the outside through the air vent 134. The tank 130 has four outlet ports 135. Although one outlet port 135 is shown in FIG. 10, the four outlet ports 135 are located at intervals in the left-right direction 9 (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 10). The four outlet ports 135 are connected to the four ink tubes 32, respectively. The four outlet ports 135 are an example of a plurality of flow paths and branching parts. The tank 130 shown in FIG. 10 has one outlet port 135, and as shown in FIG. 9, a flow path connected to one outlet port 135 may branch into four branching paths, which are connected to the four ink tubes 32, respectively.

[0064] The internal space of the bottle 131 is a storage chamber 136. The bottle 131 has an opening 137. The storage chamber 136 communicates with the outside through the opening 137. The opening 137 is closed by a valve 138 biased by a spring 139. When the ink needle 133 enters the opening 137, the valve 138 moves away from the opening 137 against the biasing force of the spring 139, and ink flows out from the storage chamber 136 to the storage chamber 132 through the ink needle 133 by gas-liquid replacement. The bottle 131 is an example of a liquid container. The storage chamber 136 is an example of a first storage chamber. The opening 137 is an example of a supply port. The ink needle 133 may be provided in the bottle 131 instead of the tank 130 and communicate with the opening 137. In this case, the tank 130 has an opening to which the ink needle 133 is connected. The ink needle 133 of the bottle 131 is inserted into the opening of the tank 130. In this case, the ink needle 133 provided on the bottle 131 is an example of a joint.

[0065] Furthermore, although the tank 103 described above has the ink sensor 104, the tank 103 does not necessarily have to have the ink sensor 104.

[0066] Furthermore, the above-mentioned recording head 39 ejects ink while being mounted on the carriage 23 and moving in the left-right direction 9, but the recording head 39 does not have to be mounted on the carriage 23. In this case, the nozzle surface of the recording head 39 spans the movement range of the carriage 23. The recording head 39 may be singular or plural.

[0067] In the embodiment described above, the branching portion is realized in the refill unit 100, but instead, the branching portion may be realized in the recording head 39. For example, as shown in Fig. 11, the tank 103 in the refill unit 100 has one outlet port 116. One ink tube 32 is connected to one outlet port 116. The recording head 39 has a flow path member 150 (see Fig. 12) to which one ink tube 32 is connected.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 12, the flow path member 150 has a connection port 151 to which the ink tube 32 is connected. The connection port 151 communicates with one flow path 152. The flow path 152 branches into four branch paths 153-156. Although not shown in the figure, the four branch paths 153-156 are each connected to a row of nozzles 40 in the recording head 39. The branch paths 153-156 are an example of a plurality of flow paths and branching parts. Even with this modification, a monochrome image is formed using the recording head 39 having a plurality of nozzles 40. In addition, the first storage chamber 80 of the ink cartridge 30 has a large capacity.

[0069] Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the number of ink needles 102 and ink tubes 32, and the number of rows of the plurality of nozzles 40 are illustrated as four, but these numbers may be other than four.

[0070] Also, according to the embodiment described above, the recording head 39 having four rows of nozzles 40 can be used in a printer that records color images using, for example, four color inks. In this case, four ink cartridges are mounted in the refill unit 100, but the refill unit 100 can also be used in a printer that records color images using three or less ink cartridges. For example, among the four color ink cartridges, CMYK, the three color ink cartridges CMY may be mounted in the refill unit 100, and the K ink cartridge may be mounted in a refill unit other than the refill unit 100. In such a printer, ink may be supplied from the ink cartridges 30 to the recording head 39 through three ink tubes 32 in the refill unit 100, and ink may be supplied to the recording head 39 from the K ink cartridge mounted in another refill unit through one ink tube 32. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] 10...Multifunction device (image forming device) 30 Ink cartridge (liquid container) 32 Ink tube (tube) 39 Recording head 40 Nozzle 80...1st storage chamber 89 Atmospheric vent port (first atmospheric vent port) 93 Supply port 102,133 Ink needle (joint) 104 Ink sensor (detection unit) 114: Atmospheric vent port (second atmospheric vent port) 115...Second storage chamber 116,135···Outlet port (branch, flow path) 117...Flow path 118~121, 153~156... Branching passage (branching section, flow passage) 131 Bottle (liquid container) 132...Storage chamber (second storage chamber) 136...Storage chamber (1st storage chamber) 137... Opening (supply port)

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus connected to a liquid container having a first storage chamber for storing liquid, a tank having a second storage chamber for storing the liquid supplied from the liquid container and a plurality of outlet ports through which the liquid flows out from the second storage chamber; a plurality of tubes connected to the plurality of outlet ports, respectively; an image forming apparatus comprising: a recording head connected to the plurality of tubes, having a plurality of nozzle groups each communicating with the plurality of tubes, and discharging liquid from each of the nozzle groups;

2. The tank has one or more inflow sections through which liquid flows from the liquid container into the second storage chamber, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the number of the inflow sections is smaller than the number of the tubes.

3. An image forming apparatus as described in claim 2, wherein the number of the inflow sections is one.

4. An image forming device as described in claim 1, wherein the multiple tubes are arranged to extend in the left-right direction and are arranged side by side in the front-to-back direction.

5. the liquid container has a first atmosphere communication port that communicates the first storage chamber with the outside, The tank has a second atmosphere communication port that communicates the second storage chamber with the outside, 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second storage chamber has a space located below the first storage chamber of the liquid container connected to the image forming apparatus.

6. The liquid supply device further includes a joint that is connected to a supply port of the liquid container.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second storage chamber is supplied with liquid from the first storage chamber via the joint.

7. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the joint and the supply port are detachable.

8. The tank is provided with the joint having two flow paths each connecting the outside of the tank to the second storage chamber, 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the two flow paths enter the supply port of the liquid container.

9. An image forming apparatus as described in claim 1, having a detection unit that detects liquid stored in the second storage chamber.

10. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording head ejects liquid from the plurality of nozzle groups while moving in a scanning direction.

11. a liquid container having a first storage chamber for storing a liquid and a supply port connecting the first storage chamber to the outside; a joint connected to a supply port of the liquid container; A tube connected to the joint; a branching portion connected to the tube and branching into a plurality of flow paths; an image forming apparatus including a recording head having a plurality of nozzle groups each connected to the plurality of flow paths, the recording head ejecting liquid from each of the nozzle groups;

Images