Image recording device

Abstract

To provide an image recording device which suppresses leakage of a liquid from a discharge head and leakage of a liquid through an atmosphere communication chamber, even when the discharge head is placed on a floor surface in a state of being below a liquid tank.SOLUTION: An image recording device 11 includes a housing 14, a liquid tank 18 having an inlet 143 and an outlet 186, and a discharge head 21A for discharging a liquid flowing out from the outlet 186. The liquid tank 18 has an atmosphere communication chamber 112, and a communication channel 146 having a communication port 146A for making the liquid storage chamber 111 and the atmosphere communication chamber 112 communicate with each other. The liquid tank 18 is positioned on a side closer to one side than a center in a horizontal direction 9 of the housing 14 in a use attitude. The atmosphere communication chamber 112 is positioned below the liquid storage chamber 111 in the use attitude. The outlet 186 and the communication port 146A are positioned on a side closer to one side than a center in the horizontal direction 9 of the liquid tank 18 in the use attitude.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus having an ejection head that ejects liquid supplied from a liquid tank. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a recording device having a recording head that ejects ink supplied from an ink tank. The recording device described in Patent Document 1 has a housing, an ink tank fixed to the left end of the housing, and a recording head located rearward and to the right of the ink tank. The ink tank has an ink storage chamber that stores ink and an air communication chamber that communicates with the atmosphere. The ink storage chamber has an outlet located rearward of the center in the front-rear direction and to the right of the center in the left-right direction. The ink storage chamber communicates with the recording head through a tube connected to an ink outflow section extending from the outlet. The air communication chamber communicates with the ink storage chamber through a communication flow path. The communication flow path has a communication port that communicates with the ink storage chamber. The communication port is located to the right of the center in the left-right direction of the ink storage chamber. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-81086 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the image recording device of Patent Document 1, for example, in order to effectively utilize the mounting space during transportation, the image recording device may be placed sideways. In this case, for example, if the image recording device is placed on the floor so that the right end of the ink tank is at the bottom end, the recording head is placed below the ink tank. If the recording device is placed on the floor so that the right end of the ink tank is at the bottom end, the recording head is placed below the ink tank. In this case, the outlet and the communication port are located below the center of the ink storage chamber in the vertical direction, so that the pressure of the ink stored in the ink storage chamber is likely to act on the recording head through the outlet and the tube, or to act on the communication port. For this reason, there is a possibility that the ink stored in the ink storage chamber may leak from the recording head or leak to the outside of the ink tank through the communication flow path and the atmosphere communication chamber.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its object is to provide an image recording device that prevents liquid from leaking from the ejection head or through the atmosphere communication chamber, even when the device is placed on the floor with the ejection head facing downward relative to the liquid tank. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] (1) The image recording device according to the present invention includes a housing, a liquid tank fixed to the housing and having an inlet for injecting liquid, a liquid storage chamber communicating with the inlet, and an outlet communicating with the liquid storage chamber, and an ejection head for ejecting liquid flowing out of the liquid storage chamber through the outlet. The liquid tank has an atmosphere communication chamber communicating with the atmosphere, and a communication flow path communicating the liquid storage chamber and the atmosphere communication chamber, the communication flow path having a communication port opening into the liquid storage chamber. The liquid tank is located on one side of the center in the left-right direction of the housing in the usage position. The atmosphere communication chamber is located below the liquid storage chamber in the usage position. The outlet and the communication port are located on the one side of the center in the left-right direction of the liquid tank in the usage position.

[0007] When the liquid tank is located on one side of the center of the left-right direction of the housing in the usage posture, the ejection head is likely to be located on the other side opposite to the one side of the liquid tank in the left-right direction. Therefore, for example, when the image recording device is placed on the floor so that the other end of the liquid tank in the left-right direction is at the lower end, the ejection head is likely to be in a state of being lower than the liquid tank. In this case, since the outlet and the communication port are located above the center of the liquid tank in the up-down direction, the pressure of the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber is unlikely to act on the ejection head through the outlet. Therefore, the liquid is prevented from leaking from the recording head. Similarly, the pressure of the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber is unlikely to act on the communication port. Furthermore, the atmosphere communication chamber is located on the side of the liquid storage chamber. Therefore, the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber is unlikely to flow out to the outside through the communication port, the communication flow path, and the atmosphere communication chamber.

[0008] (2) In the usage position, the ejection head may be located rearward of the liquid tank in the front-rear direction. The outlet and the communication port may be located forward of a center of the liquid tank in the front-rear direction.

[0009] When the image recording device is placed on the floor so that the rear end of the liquid tank is at the bottom end, the ejection head is at a lower position relative to the liquid tank. In this case, the outlet and the communication port are located above the center of the liquid tank in the vertical direction, so that the pressure of the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber is unlikely to act on the ejection head through the outlet. This prevents the liquid from leaking from the recording head. Similarly, the pressure of the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber is unlikely to act on the communication port. Furthermore, the atmosphere communication chamber is located to the side of the liquid storage chamber. This prevents the liquid stored in the liquid tank from leaking out to the outside through the communication port, the communication flow path, and the atmosphere communication chamber.

[0010] (3) The liquid tank may have a partition wall separating the liquid storage chamber and the atmosphere communication chamber. The outlet may be located on an upper surface of the partition wall and rearward of the communication port in the front-rear direction in the usage position. The liquid tank may have a tank body having an open end on the one side in the left-right direction, a film attached to the one end of the tank body, and a supply flow path connected to the outlet, for supplying liquid flowing out of the liquid storage chamber through the outlet to the ejection head. The supply flow path may be recessed from the one end of the partition wall toward the other side opposite to the one side, and may be defined by a first groove extending downward from the outlet and bending rearward, and extending rearward along the one end of the partition wall, and the film. The communication flow path may be recessed from the one end of the partition wall toward the other end, and may be defined by a second groove extending downward from the communication port and the film.

[0011] The supply flow path and the communication flow path are located at one end of the partition wall, and therefore, when the image recording device is placed on the floor so that the other end of the liquid tank in the left-right direction is at the lower end, the other end is at the upper end of the liquid tank. Therefore, the pressure of the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber is unlikely to act on the supply flow path and the communication flow path. The supply flow path extends downward from an outlet located rearward in the front-rear direction from the communication port on the upper surface of the partition wall and bends rearward. Therefore, the supply flow path can easily approach the ejection head located rearward of the liquid tank while avoiding the communication flow path extending downward from the communication port. Since the supply flow path and the communication flow path are partitioned by a single film, the structure is simpler than, for example, a case in which the communication flow path is partitioned by a film attached to one end of the tank body and the supply flow path is partitioned by a film attached to the other end of the tank body.

[0012] (4) The liquid tank may have a front wall that defines the liquid storage chamber and a partition wall that separates the liquid storage chamber from the atmosphere communication chamber. The communication port may be adjacent to the front wall on an upper surface of the partition wall in the usage position.

[0013] When liquid is ejected from the ejection head, air bubbles flow into the liquid storage chamber through the atmosphere communication chamber, the communication flow path, and the communication port, and rise near the front wall. Because the air bubbles are easily visible, it is easy to tell that liquid is being consumed during operation of the image recording device.

[0014] (5) The liquid tank may have a front wall that defines the liquid storage chamber and a partition wall that defines the liquid storage chamber and the atmosphere communication chamber. The communication port may be located on an upper surface of the partition wall away from the front wall in the usage position.

[0015] When liquid is ejected from the ejection head, air bubbles that flow into the liquid storage chamber through the atmosphere communication chamber, the communication flow path, and the communication port are prevented from remaining in the communication port or adhering to the front wall, which makes it difficult to reduce the visibility of the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid storage chamber. Effect of the Invention

[0016] According to the present invention, an image recording device is provided that prevents liquid from leaking from the head or through the atmosphere communication chamber, even when the device is placed on the floor with the ejection head facing downward relative to the liquid tank. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a multifunction peripheral 10 according to a first embodiment, in which (A) shows a state in which a scanner unit 12 is in a closed position, and (B) shows a state in which the scanner unit 12 is in an open position. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a schematic internal structure of the printer unit 11. As shown in FIG. [Diagram 3]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the recording unit 21, the black tank 18, and the peripheral configuration of the black tank 18. As shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a side view of the tank body 141. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the black tank 18. As shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a detailed configuration of the valve 170A and the valve opening / closing mechanism 160A. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the operation of cover 100A, cap 104, and valve 170A, where (A) shows the state when cover 100A is in position P1, (B) shows the state when cover 100A is in position P7, and (C) shows the state when cover 100A is in position P2. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the black tank 18 and the head 21A when the multifunction device 10 is placed on a floor surface 190 so that the right wall 152 of the black tank 18 is at the lower end. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the ink storage chamber 111 of the black tank 18 in the state shown in FIG. 8, cut along a plane parallel to the surface from which the injection part 143 protrudes on the upper wall 153. As shown in FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the black tank 18 and the head 21A when the multifunction device 10 is placed on a floor surface 190 so that the rear wall 155 of the black tank 18 is at the lower end. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a front view showing the tank body 141 in which the upper communication port 146A is located rearwardly away from the rear surface of the front wall 151. FIG.

[0018] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below. The first embodiment described below is merely one example of the present invention, and it goes without saying that the first embodiment of the present invention can be modified as appropriate without changing the gist of the present invention. In the following description, the direction is expressed as the progress from the starting point of the arrow to the end point, and the movement on the line connecting the starting point and the end point of the arrow. In other words, the direction is one component of the direction. Furthermore, the up-down direction 7 is defined based on the posture (see FIG. 1, sometimes referred to as the "use posture") in which the multifunction device 10 and the black tank 18 and the three-color tank 19 installed in the multifunction device 10 are installed on a horizontal surface so that they can be used, the front-rear direction 8 is defined with the surface of the housing 14 of the multifunction device 10 where the opening 13 (see FIG. 1) is provided as the front, and the left-right direction 9 is defined when the multifunction device 10 is viewed from the front. The up-down direction 7, the front-rear direction 8, and the left-right direction 9 are perpendicular to each other.

[0019] [First embodiment] [Overall configuration of multifunction device 10] 1A, the multifunction device 10 has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape. The multifunction device 10 has a scanner unit 12 and a printer unit 11. The multifunction device 10 may also have a facsimile function. The printer unit 11 is an example of an image recording device.

[0020] [Scanner unit 12, housing 15] As shown in FIG. 1A, the scanner unit 12 is located at the top of the multifunction device 10. The scanner unit 12 is disposed in a housing 15. The housing 15 is generally rectangular parallelepiped in shape. The housing 15 is connected to the housing 14 by a connector 16 near the rear wall of the housing 14. The connector 16 allows the housing 15 to rotate relative to the housing 14. As shown in FIG. 1B, when the front part of the housing 15 is lifted by the user of the multifunction device 10, the housing 15 is opened relative to the housing 14. In the space between the scanner unit 12 and the printer unit 11, i.e., above the printer unit 11, the recording unit 21 (see FIG. 2) and covers 100A, 100B, etc., located inside the housing 14, are exposed to the outside. In this state, the user can operate the covers 100A, 100B, etc. As shown in FIG. 1A, when the housing 15 is closed, the recording unit 21, covers 100A and 100B, etc. are not exposed to the outside.

[0021] [Printer unit 11, housing 14] The printer unit 11 is located at the bottom of the multifunction device 10, and records an image on a sheet-like recording medium 5 (see FIG. 2) by an inkjet recording method. The recording medium 5 is, for example, paper, cloth, a plastic sheet, an OHP sheet, an envelope, etc.

[0022] The printer unit 11 includes a feed path 71 (see FIG. 1B) and a feed tray 17 (see FIG. 1A) in the housing 15. The feed path 71 is a path through which the recording medium 5 (see FIG. 2) on which an image is recorded passes. The feed tray 17 opens and closes the feed path 71 on the upper surface of the housing 15. The feed tray 17 closes the feed path 71 in a first state (a state shown by a solid line in FIG. 1) in which the feed tray 17 is rotated so as to form a part of the upper surface of the housing 15. On the other hand, the feed tray 17 opens the feed path 71 in a second state (a state shown by a broken line in FIG. 1) in which the feed tray 17 is rotated so as to protrude rearward from the housing 14. In the second state, the upper surface of the feed tray 17 becomes a tray surface that supports the recording medium 5 and guides it to the feed path 71.

[0023] The printer unit 11 has a housing 14. The housing 14 has a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape and a box shape that is open at the top. An opening 13 is formed in a front wall 14A of the housing 14. The printer unit 11 has a conveying unit 20, a conveying path 72, a recording unit 21, and a discharge tray 22 in the internal space of the housing 14, as shown in FIG.

[0024] The transport unit 20 transports the recording medium 5 on the feed tray 17 via a feed path 71 to a transport path 72, i.e., below the head 21A of the recording unit 21. In this embodiment, the transport unit 20 has an upstream transport unit 20a and a downstream transport unit 20b. The upstream transport unit 20a is located near the feed path 71 on the downstream side of the transport direction of the feed path 71. The downstream transport unit 20b is located near the recording unit 21 on the upstream side of the recording unit 21 in the transport direction. The driving of the transport unit 20 is controlled by a controller (not shown).

[0025] The conveying path 72 is a path along which the recording medium 5 that has passed through the feeding path 71 is conveyed. The conveying path 72 extends from the position of the upstream conveying section 20a to the downstream conveying section 20b, and is formed below the recording unit 21, extending from the downstream conveying section 20b to the front of the recording unit 21.

[0026] The recording unit 21 includes a head 21A and a guide rail 21B that guides the head 21A in the left-right direction 9. Ink stored in the black tank 18 and the three-color tanks 19 is supplied to the head 21A. The head 21A ejects ink toward the recording medium 5 from a plurality of nozzles formed on a lower surface 21C of the head 21A. This causes an image to be recorded on the recording medium 5. In other words, the recording unit 21 consumes ink. The ejection of ink from the head 21A is controlled by a controller (not shown). The head 21A is an example of an ejection head.

[0027] 1, the discharge tray 22 is disposed in the opening 13 of the housing 14, below and in front of the recording unit 21. The discharge tray 22 supports a sheet on which an image has been recorded by the recording unit 21.

[0028] [Black Tank 18, 3-color Tank 19] 1, the printer unit 11 further includes a black tank 18 and a three-color tank 19 inside the housing 14. The black tank 18 and the three-color tank 19 are fixed inside the housing 14. The black tank 18 and the three-color tank 19 are fixed in the housing 14 means that the black tank 18 and the three-color tank 19 are not expected to be replaced by the user, and ink is replenished in a state where the black tank 18 and the three-color tank 19 are fixed to the housing 14. The black tank 18 is an example of a liquid tank.

[0029] The black tank 18 is placed in the tank housing section 101A in a usage position. The black tank 18 stores black ink. Black ink is an example of a liquid. In the usage position, the tank housing section 101A is located to the left of the head 21A in the left-right direction 9. In this embodiment, the tank housing section 101A is located at the left end of the front end in the housing 14 in the usage position. The tank housing section 101A is located forward of the head 21A in the front-rear direction 8. The space in the tank housing section 101A is partitioned by the bottom (not shown) of the housing 14, the front wall 14A, the left wall 14B, the top wall 14C, etc. The top wall 14C is disposed at the top ends of the front wall 14A and the left wall 14B, etc., and closes the top end of the space in the tank housing section 101A. An opening 14D is formed in the center of the top wall 14C. The injection section 143 of the black tank 18 is exposed from the opening 14D.

[0030] The black tank 18 has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape. As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the black tank 18 has a tank body 141, a film 161, a communication flow path 146, and a supply flow path 181.

[0031] [Tank body 141] The tank body 141 is made of a resin material such as polypropylene. The resin material has a degree of translucency that allows the amount of ink stored in the black tank 18 to be visually confirmed from the outside through a window formed in the front wall 14A (see FIG. 1). The tank body 141 is integrally molded by injection molding the resin material. Note that the tank body 141 does not have to be integrally molded, and may instead be configured by combining a plurality of members.

[0032] 4 and 5, the tank body 141 is box-shaped with an opening at its left end in the left-right direction 9. Specifically, the tank body 141 includes a front wall 151, a right wall 152, an upper wall 153, a lower wall 154, a rear wall 155, and a partition wall 156.

[0033] The front wall 151 is flat and extends in the vertical direction 7 and the horizontal direction 9. The front and rear surfaces of the front wall 151 are rectangular in shape that is longer in the vertical direction 7 than in the horizontal direction 9. The right wall 152 is flat and extends in the vertical direction 7 and the front-rear direction 8. The left and right surfaces of the right wall 152 are substantially rectangular in shape, with the lower side slightly longer rearward in the vertical direction 8 than the upper side from the center in the vertical direction 7. The front end of the right wall 152 is connected to the right end of the rear surface of the front wall 151. The upper wall 153 is flat and extends in the vertical direction 8 and the horizontal direction 9. The upper and lower surfaces of the upper wall 153 are rectangular in shape that is longer in the vertical direction 8 than in the horizontal direction 9. The front end of the upper wall 153 is connected to the upper end of the rear surface of the front wall 151. The right end of the upper wall 153 is connected to the upper end of the left surface of the right wall 152. The lower wall 154 has a flat plate shape that extends in the front-rear direction 8 and the left-right direction 9. The upper and lower surfaces of the lower wall 154 are rectangular and longer in the front-rear direction 8 than the upper wall 153. The front end of the lower wall 154 is connected to the lower end of the rear surface of the front wall 151. The right end of the lower wall 154 is connected to the lower end of the left surface of the right wall 152.

[0034] The rear wall 155 has a shape in which a flat plate extending in the up-down direction 7 and the left-right direction 9 is bent in a stepped shape. Specifically, the rear wall 155 has a rear upper wall 155A, a rear middle wall 155B, and a rear lower wall 155C. The rear upper wall 155A is flat and extends in the up-down direction 7 and the left-right direction 9. The front and rear surfaces of the rear upper wall 155A are rectangular that are longer in the up-down direction 7 than in the left-right direction 9. The upper end of the rear upper wall 155A is connected to the rear end of the lower surface of the upper wall 153. The right end of the rear upper wall 155A is connected to the rear end of the left surface of the right wall 152. The rear middle wall 155B is flat and extends in the front-back direction 8 and the left-right direction 9. The upper and lower surfaces of the rear middle wall 155B are rectangular that are longer in the left-right direction 9 than in the front-back direction 8. The front end of the rear middle wall 155B is connected to the lower end of the rear surface of the rear upper wall 155A. The right end of the rear middle wall 155B is connected to the rear end of the left surface of the right wall 152. The rear lower wall 155C is flat and extends in the up-down direction 7 and the left-right direction 9. The front and rear surfaces of the rear lower wall 155C are rectangular and longer in the left-right direction 9 than in the up-down direction 7. The upper end of the rear lower wall 155C is connected to the rear end of the lower surface of the rear middle wall 155B. The right end of the rear lower wall 155C is connected to the rear end of the left surface of the right wall 152. The lower end of the rear lower wall 155C is connected to the rear end of the upper surface of the lower wall 154.

[0035] The partition wall 156 is flat and extends in the front-rear direction 8 and the left-right direction 9. The upper and lower surfaces of the partition wall 156 are rectangular and longer in the front-rear direction 8 than in the left-right direction 9. The partition wall 156 is located below the middle of the tank body 141 in the up-down direction 7. The rear end of the partition wall 156 is connected to the lower end of the front surface of the rear upper wall 155A. The lower surface of the partition wall 156 is flush with the lower end of the rear upper wall 155A and the lower surface of the rear middle wall 155B. The front end of the partition wall 156 is connected to the rear surface of the front wall 151. The right end of the partition wall 156 is connected to the left surface of the right wall 152. The partition wall 156 is an example of a partition wall.

[0036] [Film 161] The film 161 has the same shape as the left surface of the tank body 141. In other words, the outer edge of the film 161 is shaped to follow the outer edge of the left end of the tank body 141. The film 161 is attached to the left end of the tank body 141 by welding. This seals the left side of the tank body 141. The film 161 may be attached to the left end of the tank body 141 by an adhesive.

[0037] [Ink Reservoir 111] An ink storage chamber 111 is defined by a front wall 151, a right wall 152, an upper wall 153, a rear upper wall 155A, a partition wall 156, and a film 161. The ink storage chamber 111 is capable of storing ink. A cylindrical injection hole 142 penetrating the upper wall 153 in the up-down direction 7 is opened in the ink storage chamber 111. The ink storage chamber 111 is an example of a liquid storage chamber.

[0038] Injection hole 142 is located at the left end of top wall 153. A cylindrical injection section 143 is provided extending upward from the position of injection hole 142 on the upper surface of top wall 153. The upper end of injection section 143 opens upward. In this way, injection section 143 and injection hole 142 communicate between ink storage chamber 111 and the outside of black tank 18. A user can inject ink from the outside into ink storage chamber 111 through injection section 143. Injection hole 142 and injection section 143 are examples of an injection port.

[0039] [Atmospheric Chamber 112] The air chamber 112 is defined by the front wall 151, the right wall 152, the bottom wall 154, the rear bottom wall 155C, the partition wall 156, and the film 161. The air chamber 112 is located below the ink storage chamber 111. The ink storage chamber 111 and the air chamber 112 are vertically defined by the partition wall 156. The air chamber 112 has an inlet hole that extends downward from the upper surface of the rear interior wall 155B. The inlet hole is located to the left of the center of the rear interior wall 155B in the left-right direction 9.

[0040] A gas inlet section 145 is provided extending upward from the position of the inlet hole on the upper surface of the rear interior wall 155B. An inlet flow passage 145A is formed in the gas inlet section 145. One end of the inlet flow passage 145A communicates with the atmospheric chamber 112 through the inlet hole. One end of the inlet flow passage 145A is connected to one end of the atmospheric tube 34A.

[0041] The atmospheric tube 34A is made of an elastically deformable resin material. The atmospheric tube 34A extends upward from the other end of the inflow passage 145A along the rear upper wall 155A (see Figs. 3 and 5). The other end of the atmospheric tube 34A reaches a position near the upper wall 153 in the vertical direction 7. The atmospheric tube 34A is fixed to the rear upper wall 155A near the other end. The other end of the atmospheric tube 34A is open to the atmosphere. The atmospheric chamber 112 is in communication with the outside of the black tank 18 via the inlet hole, the gas inlet portion 145, and the atmospheric tube 34A. The atmospheric chamber 112 is an example of an atmospheric communication chamber.

[0042] [Communicating passage 146] The communication flow path 146 communicates between the ink storage chamber 111 and the atmospheric chamber 112 so that ink and air can flow between them. The communication flow path 146 is defined by a film 161 attached to the left end of the tank body 141 and a communication groove 165. The communication groove 165 is a groove recessed rightward from the left end of the tank body 141. Specifically, the communication groove 165 has a partition wall groove 165A, a front wall groove 165B, and a lower wall groove 165C.

[0043] The partition groove 165A is a groove recessed rightward from the left end of the partition 156. The partition groove 165A extends along the left end of the partition 156 in the up-down direction 7 at a position adjacent to the rear surface of the front wall 151. The upper end of the partition groove 165A opens upward on the upper surface of the partition 156. At the position of the upper end of the partition groove 165A, an upper communication port 146A is defined by the inner surface of the partition groove 165A, the rear surface of the front wall 151, and the film 161. The upper communication port 146A is rectangular. The upper communication port 146A opens to the ink storage chamber 111. The upper communication port 146A is an example of a communication port.

[0044] The front wall groove 165B is a groove recessed rightward from the left end of the front wall 151. The front wall groove 165B extends along the left end of the front wall 151 in the up-down direction 7. The upper end of the front wall groove 165B is located at the same height as the partition wall 156. The lower end of the front wall groove 165B is located at the same height as the lower wall 154. The front wall groove 165B extends rearward from the upper end of the front wall groove 165B and is connected to the partition wall groove 165A. The front wall groove 165B extends rearward from the lower end of the front wall groove 165B to the front end of the lower wall 154.

[0045] The lower wall groove 165C is a groove recessed from the left end of the lower wall 154 toward the right. The lower wall groove 165C extends rearward from the front end of the lower wall 154 and bends upward. The front end of the lower wall groove 165C is connected to the lower end of the front wall groove 165B. The lower wall groove 165C opens upward on the upper surface of the lower wall 154. At the position of the upper end of the lower wall groove 165C, the lower communication port 146B is defined by the inner surface of the lower wall groove 165C and the film 161. The lower communication port 146B is rectangular. The lower communication port 146B opens to the atmospheric chamber 112. The communication groove 165 is an example of a second groove.

[0046] [Supply Channel 181] The supply flow path 181 is a flow path for supplying ink stored in the ink storage chamber 111 to the head 21A. The supply flow path 181 is defined by the film 161 attached to the left end of the tank body 141 and the supply groove 185. The supply groove 185 is a groove recessed from the left end of the partition wall 156 toward the right. The supply groove 185 extends downward from a position slightly spaced rearward from the upper communication port 146A on the upper surface of the partition wall 156, bends rearward, and extends rearward to the rear middle wall 155B. The upper end of the supply groove 185 opens upward on the upper surface of the partition wall 156. At the position of the upper end of the supply groove 185, an outlet 186 is defined by the inner surface of the supply groove 185 and the film 161. The outlet 186 opens to the ink storage chamber 111. The supply groove 185 is an example of a first groove.

[0047] An outflow hole 171 extending through the rear interior wall 155B in the up-down direction 7 opens at the rear end of the supply groove 185. An upper end of the outflow hole 171 opens at the upper surface of the rear interior wall 155B.

[0048] A liquid outflow section 144 is provided extending upward from the position of the outflow hole 171 on the upper surface of the rear interior wall 155B. An outflow flow path 144A is formed in the liquid outflow section 144. One end of the outflow flow path 144A communicates with the supply flow path 181 through the outflow hole 171. One end of the ink tube 32A is connected to the other end of the outflow flow path 144A.

[0049] The ink tube 32A is made of an elastically deformable resin material. The ink tube 32A extends upward along the rear upper wall 155A of the black tank 18 to the left of the atmospheric tube 34A (see Figs. 3 and 5). The ink tube 32A is fixed to the rear upper wall 155A at a predetermined position near the upper wall 153 in the up-down direction 7. The other end of the ink tube 32A is connected to the head 21A. The ink in the ink storage chamber 111 flows out from the liquid outflow section 144 through the supply flow path 181 and the outflow hole 171 into the ink tube 32A, and is supplied to the head 21A through the ink tube 32A.

[0050] When ink is ejected from the head 21A toward the recording medium 5, the ink stored in the ink storage chamber 111 flows out from the outlet 186 opening into the ink storage chamber 111 through the supply flow path 181, the outlet hole 171, the outlet flow path 144A, and the ink tube 32A to the head 21A. The volume of the ink in the ink storage chamber 111 decreases, and the air pressure in the ink storage chamber 111 decreases. The air pressure in the ink storage chamber 111 decreases, and the air in the atmospheric chamber 112 flows from the lower communication port 146B into the communication flow path 146, and flows from the upper communication port 146A into the ink storage chamber 111. The air that flows into the ink storage chamber 111 becomes air bubbles and rises near the front wall 151. Then, the outside air flows into the atmospheric chamber 112 through the atmospheric tube 34A, the inflow flow path 145A, and the inflow hole.

[0051] In FIG. 1, the three-color tank 19 is placed in the tank housing section 101B (see FIG. 1). The three-color tank 19 stores three colors of ink (one example of liquid), namely cyan, magenta, and yellow. The three-color tank 19 has the same configuration as the black tank 18, except that the positions of the supply flow path 181, the communication flow path 146, and the film 161 are reversed for each of the three colors (see FIG. 2). Therefore, a detailed description of the configuration of the three-color tank 19 will be omitted. Compared with the tank housing section 101A, the tank housing section 101B has a similar configuration to the tank housing section 101A, except that the tank housing section 101B is disposed to the right of the opening 13 at the front end of the internal space of the housing 14, the size of the internal space is different, and three openings for the injection section 143 are formed in the upper wall 14C. Therefore, a detailed description of the configuration of the tank housing section 101B will be omitted.

[0052] [Cover 100A, 100B, Cap 104] 1(B), the printer unit 11 further includes covers 100A and 100B inside the housing 14. The cover 100A is exposed to the outside when the scanner unit 12 is opened relative to the printer unit 11. The cover 100A is disposed above the upper wall 14C of the tank housing unit 101A.

[0053] The cover 100A is movable between position P1 (see FIG. 7(A)) and position P2 (see FIG. 7(C)). The cover 100A in position P1 covers the upper wall 14C of the tank accommodation section 101A and the filling section 143 of the black tank 18 (see FIG. 1). The cover 100A in position P2 exposes the upper wall 14C of the tank accommodation section 101A and the filling section 143 of the black tank 18 to the outside.

[0054] A shaft 102A is disposed near the rear end of the cover 100A at position P1. The shaft 102A extends in the left-right direction 9. The shaft 102A is supported by the housing 14 (see FIG. 1) so as to be rotatable about the central axis of the shaft 102A. The cover 100A rotates together with the shaft 102A so that the front end portion of the cover 100A moves upward, and thereby the cover 100A moves from position P1 to position P2. The cover 100A rotates together with the shaft 102A so that the front end portion of the cover 100A moves downward, and thereby the cover 100A moves from position P2 to position P1.

[0055] A cap 104 is connected to the lower surface 103A of the cover 100A at position P1. The cap 104 protrudes downward from the lower surface 103A in the up-down direction 7. The cap 104 can fit into the injection part 143 of the black tank 18 to seal the injection part 143. The cover 100A is moved from position P2 to position P1 by a user's operation. In conjunction with this user's operation, the cap 104 fits into the injection part 143 to seal the injection part 143. Also, the cover 100A is moved from position P1 to position P2 by a user's operation. In conjunction with this user's operation, the cap 104 is removed from the injection part 143 to open the injection part 143.

[0056] The cover 100B has a similar configuration to the cover 100A, except that it is a different size from the cover 100A, is disposed above the upper wall 14C of the tank housing portion 101B, and is connected to the caps 104 for each of the three colors. Therefore, a detailed description of the cover 100B will be omitted.

[0057] [Valves 170A, 170B, valve opening / closing mechanisms 160A, 160B] The printer unit 11 further includes, inside the housing 14 (see FIG. 1), a valve 170A and a valve opening / closing mechanism 160A (see FIG. 3), and a valve 170B and a valve opening / closing mechanism 160B (see FIG. 2).

[0058] The valve 170A is a tube valve that opens and closes the ink tube 32A and the atmospheric tube 34A that are aligned along the rear wall 155 of the black tank 18. For convenience of illustration, the valve 170A of the ink tube 32A and the valve 170A of the atmospheric tube 34A are shown separately in Figures 3 and 7. However, as shown in Figure 6, the valve 170A opens and closes the ink tube 32A and the atmospheric tube 34A at the same position in the up-down direction 7.

[0059] In FIG. 6, the valve 170A is specifically a rod-shaped member extending in the left-right direction 9. The valve 170A has a length in the left-right direction 9 that allows it to abut against both the ink tube 32A and the atmospheric tube 34A on the rear wall 155. The valve 170A is supported by a support member (not shown) provided on the housing 14 or the like so as to be movable in the front-rear direction 8. The front end of the valve 170A is movable in the front-rear direction 8 between position P5 (see FIG. 6(A)) and position P6 (see FIG. 6(B)). Position P5 is behind position P6 in the front-rear direction 8. In the position P5, the front end of the valve 170A contacts the ink tube 32A and the atmospheric tube 34A from the rear or moves away from them to the rear. In the position P5, the valve 170A opens the ink tube 32A and the atmospheric tube 34A without elastically deforming them (see FIG. 6(A)). As a result, liquid or gas can flow through the internal spaces of the ink tube 32A and the atmospheric tube 34A. At the position P6, the front end of the valve 170A elastically crushes the ink tube 32A and the atmospheric tube 34A (see FIG. 6(B)). As a result, the valve 170A at position P6 closes the ink tube 32A and the atmospheric tube 34A. As a result, liquid or gas cannot flow through the internal spaces of the ink tube 32A and the atmospheric tube 34A.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 6A, the valve opening / closing mechanism 160A has a pressing portion 162A. The pressing portion 162A is fixed to the shaft 102A and rotates around the central axis of the shaft 102A as the cover 100A rotates. The pressing portion 162A extends radially from the central axis of the shaft 102A. When the cover 100A is at position P1, the pressing portion 162A extends obliquely downward and forward from the shaft 102A, and a tip portion 164A of the pressing portion 162A is in contact with or separated from the valve 170A. At this time, the valve 170A is held at position P5 by the elastic forces of the ink tube 32A and the atmospheric tube 34A. 6(B), when the cover 100A is in position P2, the pressing portion 162A extends generally forward from the shaft 102A, and the tip portion 164A abuts against the valve 170A. The valve 170A with which the tip portion 164A abuts is held in position P6 against the elastic forces of the ink tube 32A and the atmospheric tube 34A.

[0061] The tip portion 164A forms a part of the outer surface of a columnar shape whose axis is the central axis of the shaft 102A. The tip portion 164A rotates around the central axis together with the shaft 102A in response to the movement of the cover 100A between positions P1 and P2. Therefore, even if the cover 100A rotates slightly from position P2 toward position P1, the tip portion 164A abuts against the valve 170A.

[0062] [Operation of cover 100A, cap 104, and valve 170A] In the process of moving the cover 100A from position P1 to position P2 by the user's operation, the cover 100A passes through position P7 (see FIG. 7(B)). Position P7 is a position between positions P1 and P2.

[0063] As shown in Fig. 7(A), with the cover 100A at position P1, the cap 104 is completely fitted into the injection part 143 of the black tank 18. At this time, the tip part 164A of the valve opening and closing mechanism 160A is in slight contact with the valve 170A, and the front end of the valve 170A is at position P5 (see Fig. 6(A)). At this time, the valve 170A at position P5 opens the ink tube 32A and the atmospheric tube 34A.

[0064] As cover 100A moves from position P1 to position P7, tip 164A begins to press valve 170A, and the front end of valve 170A begins to displace from position P5 (see FIG. 6A) to position P6 (see FIG. 6B). That is, when cover 100A is located closer to position P1 than position P7, valve 170A opens at least a portion of ink tube 32A and atmospheric tube 34A and does not close them completely. When cover 100A is located closer to position P1 than position P7, cap 104 still seals injection portion 143 and hermetically seals the inside of ink storage chamber 111.

[0065] As shown in FIG. 7(B), when the cover 100A reaches position P7, the front end of the valve 170A reaches position P6 (see FIG. 6(B)). The valve 170A in position P6 completely closes the ink tube 32A and the atmospheric tube 34A. Even when the cover 100A is located between positions P7 and P2, the valve 170A is in position P6 and continues to close the ink tube 32A and the atmospheric tube 34A. In this case, ink does not flow between the ink storage chamber 111 and the head 21A. Furthermore, gas does not flow between the atmospheric chamber 112 and the outside of the black tank 18.

[0066] After the cover 100A reaches position P7, when the valve 170A completely closes the ink tube 32A and the atmospheric tube 34A, at least a part of the cap 104 is removed from the injection part 143, and the injection part 143 is opened to the atmosphere. In the process of the cover 100A moving from position P7 to position P2, as shown in FIG. 7C, the cap 104 is completely removed from the injection part 143, and the user can inject ink into the ink storage chamber 111. At this time, since gas does not flow between the atmospheric chamber 112 and the outside of the black tank 18, ink does not flow from the ink storage chamber 111 to the atmospheric chamber 112. In addition, even if the ink level in the ink storage chamber 111 is located above the lower surface 21C of the head 21A, ink does not flow from the ink storage chamber 111 to the head 21A.

[0067] On the other hand, in the process of cover 100A moving from position P2 to position P1 by the user's operation, cap 104 starts to fit into injection portion 143 when it is at a position slightly closer to position P2 than position P7, and seals injection portion 143 just before cover 100A reaches position P7. This hermetically seals ink storage chamber 111. After that, that is, while cover 100A reaches position P7 and then position P1, cap 104 completely fits into injection portion 143 and maintains a state in which ink storage chamber 111 is hermetically sealed.

[0068] When the cover 100A reaches position P7 after the cap 104 seals the injection portion 143, the front end of the valve 170A starts to move from position P6 to position P5, and the valve 170A starts to open the ink tube 32A and the atmospheric tube 34A. Thereafter, as the cover 100A moves from position P7 to position P1, the front end of the valve 170A reaches position P5, and the valve 170A completely opens the ink tube 32A and the atmospheric tube 34A.

[0069] Incidentally, compared to the valve 170A, the valve 170B (see FIG. 2) has a similar configuration to the valve 170A except that it has a length capable of contacting the three ink tubes 32B and the three atmospheric tubes 34B arranged along the rear wall 155 of the three-color tank 19. Also, compared to the valve opening / closing mechanism 160B (see FIG. 2), compared to the valve opening / closing mechanism 160A, it has a similar configuration to the valve opening / closing mechanism 160A except that it is arranged on the cover 100B and is capable of opening and closing the ink tubes 32B and the atmospheric tube 34B (see FIG. 2). Therefore, detailed descriptions of the configurations and operations of the valve 170B and the valve opening / closing mechanism 160A will be omitted.

[0070] [Effects of the embodiment] In the multifunction device 10, the black tank 18 is located to the left of the head 21A in the left-right direction 9 in the usage position. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, when the multifunction device 10 is placed on the floor surface 190 so that the right wall 152 of the black tank 18 is at the lower end, the head 21A is located below the black tank 18. In this case, the outlet 186 and the upper communication port 146A that open to the ink storage chamber 111 are located at the upper end of the black tank 18 (see FIG. 9). Therefore, even when the ink storage chamber 111 is fully filled with ink, the outlet 186 and the upper communication port 146A are located at approximately the same height as the ink liquid level L1, so that the pressure of the ink stored in the ink storage chamber 111 is unlikely to act on the head 21A through the outlet 186. This prevents ink from leaking from the head 21A. Similarly, the pressure of the ink stored in the ink storage chamber 111 is unlikely to act on the upper communication port 146A. Furthermore, the atmospheric chamber 112 is located to the side of the ink storage chamber 111. For this reason, the ink stored in the ink storage chamber 111 is unlikely to flow out from the upper communication port 146A through the communication flow path 146, the atmospheric chamber 112, the inflow hole, the inflow flow path 145A, and the atmospheric tube 34A to the outside.

[0071] In the multifunction device 10, the black tank 18 is located forward of the head 21A in the front-rear direction 8 in the usage position. For this reason, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, when the multifunction device 10 is placed on the floor surface 190 so that the rear wall 155 of the black tank 18 is at the lower end, the head 21A is located below the black tank 18. In this case, the outlet 186 and the upper communication port 146A that open to the ink storage chamber 111 are located at the upper end of the black tank 18. Therefore, even when the ink storage chamber 111 is fully filled with ink, the outlet 186 and the upper communication port 146A are located at approximately the same height as the ink liquid level L2, so that the pressure of the ink stored in the ink storage chamber 111 is unlikely to act on the head 21A through the outlet 186. Therefore, the ink is prevented from leaking from the head 21A. Similarly, the pressure of the ink stored in the ink storage chamber 111 is unlikely to act on the upper communication port 146A. Furthermore, the atmospheric chamber 112 is located to the side of the ink storage chamber 111. For this reason, the ink stored in the ink storage chamber 111 is less likely to flow out to the outside from the upper communication port 146A through the communication flow path 146, the atmospheric chamber 112, the inflow hole, the inflow flow path 145A, and the atmospheric tube 34A.

[0072] Since the supply flow passage 181 and the communicating flow passage 146 are located at the left end of the partition wall 156, when the multifunction device 10 is placed on the floor surface 190 so that the right wall 152 of the black tank 18 is at the lower end as shown in Fig. 8, they are at the upper end of the black tank 18 (see Fig. 9). Therefore, even when the ink storage chamber 111 is fully filled with ink, the supply flow passage 181 and the communicating flow passage 146 are located at approximately the same height as the ink liquid level L1, so that the pressure of the ink stored in the ink storage chamber 111 is unlikely to act on the supply flow passage 181 and the communicating flow passage 146. In the multifunction device 10, the supply flow passage 181 extends downward from an outlet 186 located on the upper surface of the partition wall 156 rearward of the upper communicating port 146A in the front-rear direction 8 and bends backward (see Fig. 4). Therefore, the supply flow path 181 can easily approach the head 21A located behind the black tank 18 while avoiding the communicating flow path 146 extending downward from the upper communicating port 146A. The supply flow path 181 and the communicating flow path 146 are partitioned by a single film 161, and therefore the structure is simpler than, for example, a case in which the communicating flow path 146 is partitioned by a film attached to the left end of a tank body that is open at both ends in the left-right direction 9, and the supply flow path 181 is partitioned by a film attached to the right end of the tank body.

[0073] In the multifunction device 10, when ink is ejected from the head 21A, air flows into the ink storage chamber 111 from the upper communication port 146A through the atmospheric chamber 112 and the communication flow path 146, and turns into air bubbles that rise near the front wall 151. For this reason, the user can easily visually recognize the air bubbles, and therefore easily know that ink is being consumed during image recording.

[0074] [Variations] In the multifunction device 10, the black tank 18 is located at the left end of the internal space of the housing 14 in the usage position, but it is sufficient if the black tank 18 is located to the left of the center of the housing 14 in the left-right direction 9.

[0075] In the multifunction device 10, the outlet 186 and the upper communication port 146A are located at the left end of the partition wall 156 in the usage position, but it is sufficient if they are located to the left of the center of the black tank 18 in the left-right direction 9.

[0076] In the multifunction device 10, the outlet 186 opening into the ink storage chamber 111 is located at a position slightly rearward and spaced from the upper communication port 146A on the upper surface of the partition wall 156, but the location is not limited to this as long as it is located to the left of the center in the left-right direction 9 of the tank body 141. For example, the outlet 186 may be located at the rear end of the partition wall 156.

[0077] In the multifunction device 10, the upper communication port 146A opening into the ink storage chamber 111 is located at a position adjacent to the rear surface of the front wall 151 on the upper surface of the partition wall 156, but the position is not limited to this as long as it is located to the left of the center in the left-right direction 9 of the tank body 141. For example, the upper communication port 146A may be located at the rear end portion of the partition wall 156.

[0078] In the multifunction device 10, the head 21A is located rearward of the black tank 18 in the usage posture, but it may be located at a position coinciding with the black tank 18 in the front-rear direction 8.

[0079] In the multifunction device 10, the communication flow path 146 is defined by the communication groove 165 and the film 161, but this is not limited to the present embodiment as long as the communication flow path 146 is located to the left of the middle of the tank body 141 in the left-right direction 9. For example, the communication flow path 146 may be formed by a through hole that passes through the partition wall 156 in the up-down direction 7.

[0080] In the multifunction device 10, the supply flow path 181 is defined by the supply groove 185 and the film 161, but this is not limited to the present embodiment as long as the supply flow path 181 is located to the left of the middle of the tank body 141 in the left-right direction 9. For example, the supply flow path 181 may be formed by a through hole that penetrates the front wall 151 in the front-rear direction 8.

[0081] In the multifunction device 10, the tank body 141 is a box-shaped body with an opening at the left end, but the left end does not have to be open. In this case, the film 161 is omitted.

[0082] In the multifunction device 10, the upper communication port 146A opening into the ink storage chamber 111 is located adjacent to the rear surface of the front wall 151, but as shown in FIG. 11, it may be located away from the rear surface of the front wall 151. In this way, when ink is ejected from the head 21A, air that flows into the ink storage chamber 111 from the upper communication port 146A through the air chamber 112 and the communication flow path 146 becomes air bubbles and rises to a position away from the rear surface of the front wall 151. This prevents air bubbles rising in the ink storage chamber 111 from staying at the upper communication port 146A or adhering to the rear surface of the front wall 151. This makes it difficult to reduce the visibility of the remaining amount of ink in the ink storage chamber 111. [Explanation of symbols]

[0083] 11 Printer section (image recording device) 14... Enclosure 18···Black tank (liquid tank) 21A···Head (ejection head) 111 Ink storage chamber (liquid storage chamber) 112 Atmospheric chamber (atmospheric communication chamber) 141 Tank body 142...Injection hole (inlet) 143...Injection part (inlet) 146...Communicating flow path 146A...Top communication port (communication port) 151...Front wall 156 Partition wall (partition wall) 161··Film 165...Communication groove (2nd groove) 181 Supply channel 185... Supply groove (1st groove) 186...outlet

Claims

1. A housing and a liquid tank fixed to the housing and having an inlet for injecting a liquid, a liquid storage chamber communicating with the inlet, and an outlet communicating with the liquid storage chamber; an ejection head that ejects the liquid flowing out of the liquid storage chamber through the outlet, the liquid tank has an atmosphere communication chamber communicating with the atmosphere, and a communication flow path communicating between the liquid storage chamber and the atmosphere communication chamber, the communication flow path having a communication port opening into the liquid storage chamber, the liquid tank is located on one side of a center in a left-right direction of the housing in a usage posture, The atmosphere communication chamber is located below the liquid storage chamber in the usage position, The image recording device, in the usage position, wherein the outlet and the communication port are located on the one side of the center of the liquid tank in the left-right direction.

2. the ejection head is located rearward of the liquid tank in a front-rear direction in the usage posture, The image recording device according to claim 1 , wherein the outlet and the communication port are located forward of a center of the liquid tank in the front-rear direction.

3. the liquid tank has a partition wall that separates the liquid storage chamber from the atmosphere communication chamber, The outlet is located on an upper surface of the partition wall and rearward of the communication port in the front-rear direction in the use posture, The liquid tank is a tank body having an open end on the one side in the left-right direction; a film attached to the one end of the tank body; a supply flow path connected to the outlet, for supplying the liquid flowing out from the liquid storage chamber through the outlet to the ejection head; the supply flow path is recessed from the one end of the partition wall toward the other side opposite to the one side, extends downward from the outlet and bends rearward, and is defined by a first groove extending rearward along the one end of the partition wall and the film, 3. The image recording device according to claim 2, wherein the communication flow passage is recessed from the one end of the partition wall toward the other end, and is defined by a second groove extending downward from the communication opening and by the film.

4. the liquid tank has a front wall that defines the liquid storage chamber, and a partition wall that defines the liquid storage chamber and the atmosphere communication chamber, The image recording device according to claim 1 , wherein the communication opening is adjacent to the front wall on an upper surface of the partition wall in the usage position.

5. the liquid tank has a front wall that defines the liquid storage chamber, and a partition wall that defines the liquid storage chamber and the atmosphere communication chamber, The image recording device according to claim 1 , wherein the communication opening is located on the upper surface of the partition wall away from the front wall in the usage position.

Images