Tank

Abstract

To provide a tank in which a liquid injected into a storage chamber through an injection port is prevented from adhering to an inner surface of an upper wall behind the injection port.SOLUTION: A tank 100 includes: a lower wall 105; an upper wall 104; a storage chamber 111A; an injection port 119 that is located in the upper wall 104 and through which a liquid is injected into the storage chamber 111A; and a rib 305A that intersects an imaginary line 188 that passes through a center of the injection port 119 and extends toward the storage chamber 111A, the imaginary line 188 extending in a direction orthogonal to a surface 104B of the upper wall 104 in which the injection port 119 is disposed. An upper end 217 of the rib 305A is located further rearward than the imaginary line 188. A lower end 218 of the rib 305A is located further forward than the imaginary line 188.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a tank for storing a liquid.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an ink tank for storing ink. The ink tank described in Patent Document 1 includes a front wall, a right wall, a left wall, an upper wall, a lower wall, and a rear wall. An ink chamber is defined by the front wall, the right wall, the left wall, the upper wall, the lower wall, and the rear wall. A supply port into which a nozzle portion of a bottle for storing ink is inserted is located on an inclined wall of the front wall. An air communication passage that communicates the ink chamber with the outside of the ink tank is located behind the supply port on the upper wall. A partition is located below the supply port in the ink chamber. The partition extends so as to incline downward toward the rear or extends horizontally toward the rear.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When the partition extends as described above, the liquid that has fallen onto the partition may bounce back toward the rear. For this reason, the liquid that has bounced back on the partition may adhere to the inner surface of the upper wall behind the supply port, and there is a risk that the adhered liquid may block, for example, the air communication passage located on the upper wall.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a tank in which the liquid injected into the storage chamber through the injection port is suppressed from adhering to the inner surface of the upper wall behind the injection port.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] (1) The present disclosure relates to a tank. The tank includes a lower wall that extends in a direction intersecting the vertical direction, an upper wall that is located above the lower wall and extends in the direction intersecting the vertical direction, a storage chamber defined by the lower wall and the upper wall for storing a liquid, an injection port that is located on the upper wall through which the liquid is injected into the storage chamber, and a rib that is a virtual line extending through the injection port toward the storage chamber and intersects a virtual line extending in a direction orthogonal to the surface of the upper wall where the injection port is disposed. The upper end of the rib is located behind the virtual line. The lower end of the rib is located in front of the virtual line.

[0007] Since the rib intersects a virtual line that extends through the injection port toward the storage chamber and extends in a direction orthogonal to the surface of the upper wall where the injection port is disposed, the liquid injected into the storage chamber through the injection port contacts the rib and flows down. Therefore, the liquid in the storage chamber is suppressed from falling vigorously, and thus the liquid in the storage chamber is suppressed from foaming. Since the upper end of the rib is located behind the virtual line and the lower end of the rib is located in front of the virtual line, the liquid injected into the storage chamber through the injection port is less likely to bounce back toward the inner surface of the upper wall behind the injection port. Therefore, it is suppressed that the liquid injected into the storage chamber through the injection port adheres to the inner surface of the upper wall behind the injection port.

[0008] (2) The tank may include a left wall having a right surface that defines the left end of the storage chamber and a right wall having a left surface that defines the right end of the storage chamber. The rib may be connected to one of the right surface and the left surface.

[0009] After the liquid injected into the storage chamber through the injection port contacts the rib and flows down, it is more likely to flow down along one of the right surface and the left surface, so that the liquid in the storage chamber is further suppressed from falling vigorously.

[0010] (3) The above-mentioned tank may include a left wall having a right surface defining the left end of the above-mentioned storage chamber, and a right wall having a left surface defining the right end of the above-mentioned storage chamber. The above-mentioned rib may be separated from the above-mentioned right surface and the above-mentioned left surface.

[0011] Since the liquid injected into the storage chamber through the injection port can easily flow in the front-rear direction on both sides of the rib in the left-right direction, the height of the liquid level in the storage chamber is likely to be evened out.

[0012] (4) The above-mentioned tank may include a front wall having a rear surface defining the front end of the above-mentioned storage chamber. The front surface of the above-mentioned front wall may have a visible surface through which the above-mentioned storage chamber can be visually recognized from the front. The portion where the above-mentioned rib is connected to one of the above-mentioned right surface and the above-mentioned left surface may be located outside the above-mentioned visible surface in the left-right direction.

[0013] It becomes difficult to visually recognize through the visible surface that the liquid injected into the storage chamber through the injection port flows down along one of the right surface and the left surface.

[0014] (5) The lower end of the above-mentioned rib may be inclined with respect to the left-right direction so as to extend downward as it goes toward the side to which the above-mentioned rib is connected among the above-mentioned right surface and the above-mentioned left surface.

[0015] The liquid that has flowed down to the lower end of the rib can easily flow toward the side to which the rib is connected among the right surface and the left surface.

[0016] (6) At least one of the above-mentioned right surface and the above-mentioned left surface may have a plane extending in the vertical direction and the front-rear direction, and a stepped portion protruding from the above-mentioned plane. The front end of the above-mentioned stepped portion may have a stepped surface inclined with respect to the left-right direction so as to go backward as it goes toward one side in the left-right direction. The above-mentioned rib may be connected to the above-mentioned stepped surface located on one of the above-mentioned right surface and the above-mentioned left surface.

[0017] The liquid flowing down while contacting the rib is likely to move to the stepped surface, so it is likely to flow down along the stepped surface.

[0018] (7) The storage chamber may have an offset chamber that is offset in one of the left - right directions with respect to the center in the left - right direction between the right side surface and the left side surface. The rib may be connected to the surface of the right side surface and the left side surface on the side where the offset chamber is offset in the one direction with respect to the center.

[0019] (8) The visual recognition surface may have a first mark indicating that the liquid level in the storage chamber is at a first position, and a second mark indicating that the liquid level in the storage chamber is at a second position that is lower than the first position. The lower end of the rib may be located above the second mark.

[0020] The rib hardly inhibits the liquid injected into the storage chamber through the injection port from moving backward in the storage chamber.

[0021] (9) The lower end of the rib may be located below the first mark.

[0022] The liquid injected into the storage chamber through the injection port is likely to come into contact with the rib.

[0023] (10) The tank may be located behind the injection port, and may include a nozzle that defines an air flow path that communicates the storage chamber with the outside of the storage chamber and through which air can flow. The rib may be connected to the rear end side of the injection port.

[0024] Since one end on the storage chamber side in the air flow path and the injection port are partitioned in the front - rear direction by the rib, the liquid injected into the storage chamber through the injection port is unlikely to enter the air flow path.

[0025] (11) The upper wall may have an inclined wall that is inclined in the vertical direction so as to go downward as it goes forward. The injection port and the nozzle may be located on the inclined wall. The nozzle may extend obliquely upward in the front direction.

[0026] When the liquid bottle is connected to the injection port, the air flow path of the nozzle is located above the liquid flow path through which the liquid is injected from the liquid bottle through the injection port. Therefore, since the air in the tank is lighter than the liquid, it is easier to flow through the air flow path, and since the liquid in the liquid bottle is heavier than the air, it is easier to flow through the liquid flow path. Accordingly, the flow path through which the liquid flows and the flow path through which the air flows are easily separated, so that the gas-liquid replacement between the liquid bottle and the tank becomes smoother. As a result, the injection of the liquid is performed smoothly.

[0027] (12) The rib may extend in the vertical direction.

[0028] The liquid injected into the storage chamber through the injection port more reliably contacts the rib and easily flows down along the rib.

[0029] (13) The end of the nozzle on the storage chamber side may open obliquely downward to the rear.

[0030] Compared with the case where the end of the nozzle on the storage chamber side opens downward, it is more difficult for a meniscus to form at the opening of the nozzle on the storage chamber side, so that the air in the tank easily flows through the air flow path.

[0031] (14) The tank may further include a convex portion protruding toward the storage chamber side from the opening end of the nozzle on the storage chamber side.

[0032] Since the opening end of the nozzle on the storage chamber side is uneven due to the convex portion, it is more difficult for a liquid meniscus to form at the opening end of the nozzle on the storage chamber side.

[0033] (15) The upper wall is located behind the injection port and may have an air communication port that communicates the storage chamber with the outside of the storage chamber.

[0034] The liquid injected into the storage chamber through the injection port is less likely to bounce back toward the inner surface of the upper wall behind the injection port due to the ribs, so that the liquid injected into the storage chamber through the injection port is prevented from blocking the air communication port located behind the injection port.

Advantages of the Invention

[0035] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the liquid injected into the storage chamber through the injection port from adhering to the inner surface of the upper wall behind the injection port.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0036]

Figure 1

Figure 2

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Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0037] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. It should be noted that the embodiments described below are merely examples of the present invention, and it goes without saying that the embodiments of the present invention can be appropriately changed without changing the gist of the present invention. In the following description, a single direction from the starting point to the end point of a single arrow is expressed as the direction, and the bidirectional of both arrows is expressed as the direction. That is, the direction is a component of the direction. The upward and downward directions are each a component of the vertical direction and are opposite to each other. The leftward and rightward directions are each a component of the horizontal direction and are opposite to each other. The forward and backward directions are each a component of the front-rear direction and are opposite to each other. In this embodiment, the vertical direction corresponds to the vertical direction, and the front-rear direction and the left-right direction correspond to the horizontal direction.

[0038] Furthermore, the vertical direction is defined based on the state or posture in which the multifunction machine 10 is installed for use, the front-rear direction is defined with the side where the opening 13 of the multifunction machine 10 is provided as the front side, and the left-right direction is defined when viewing the multifunction machine 10 from the front side. Note that the state of FIG. 1 may be referred to as the "use state". Also, the posture of FIG. 1 may be referred to as the "use posture". The front side where the opening 13 of the multifunction machine 10 is provided is the front surface.

[0039] [Overall Configuration of the Multifunction Machine 10] As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction machine 10 has a casing 8 in the shape of a generally rectangular parallelepiped. The multifunction machine 10 has a scanner unit 9 and a printer unit 11 in the internal space of the casing 8. The scanner unit 9 is located at the upper part in the internal space of the casing 8. The scanner unit 9 has a scanning function. The printer unit 11 is located below the scanner unit 9 in the internal space of the casing 8. The printer unit 11 has a printing function. The printer unit 11 records an image on the paper 12 shown in FIG. 2 by an inkjet recording method. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printer unit 11 includes a feeding unit 15, a feeding tray 20, a discharge tray 21, a conveyance path 65, a conveyance roller unit 54, a recording unit 24, a discharge roller unit 55, a platen 42, and an ink tank set 51. Note that the multifunction machine 10 may be one in which the scanner unit 9 is omitted.

[0040] [Feeding tray 20, Discharge tray 21] As shown in FIG. 1, an opening 13 is located at the front surface of the multifunction machine 10 and at the central portion in the left-right direction. The feeding tray 20 moves back and forth through the opening 13 by a user's operation. As shown in FIG. 2, the feeding tray 20 supports a plurality of stacked papers 12. The discharge tray 21 is located above the feeding tray 20. The discharge tray 21 moves back and forth together with the feeding tray 20. The discharge tray 21 supports the paper 12 discharged by the discharge roller unit 55.

[0041] [Feeding unit 15] The paper feed unit 15 feeds the paper 12 supported on the paper feed tray 20 to the conveyance path 65. As shown in FIG. 2, the paper feed unit 15 includes a paper feed roller 25, a paper feed arm 26, and a shaft 27. The paper feed roller 25 is rotatably supported at the tip portion of the paper feed arm 26. The paper feed roller 25 is driven by a conveyance motor (not shown) and rotates in the direction of conveying the paper 12 in the conveyance direction 16. Hereinafter, the rotation of the paper feed roller 25, the conveyance roller 60, and the discharge roller 62 in the direction of conveying the paper 12 in the conveyance direction 16 is referred to as "forward rotation". The paper feed arm 26 is rotatably supported by a shaft 27 supported by the frame of the printer unit 11. The paper feed arm 26 is biased to rotate toward the paper feed tray 20 by its own weight or an elastic force such as a spring.

[0042] [Conveyance path 65] As shown in FIG. 2, the conveyance path 65 refers to, for example, a space defined by an outer guide member 18 and an inner guide member 19 facing each other at a predetermined interval. The conveyance path 65 extends rearward from the rear end portion of the paper feed tray 20 to the rear of the printer unit 11. The conveyance path 65 extends upward from below while making a U-turn behind 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 FIGS. 2 and 3, the conveyance path 65 between the conveyance roller unit 54 and the discharge roller unit 55 is located approximately at the center of the multifunction machine 10 in the left-right direction and extends in the front-rear direction. The conveyance direction 16 of the paper 12 in the conveyance path 65 is indicated by the arrow of the dashed line in FIG. 2.

[0043] [Conveyance roller unit 54] As shown in FIG. 2, the conveyance roller unit 54 is located upstream of the recording unit 24 in the conveyance direction 16. The conveyance roller unit 54 has a conveyance roller 60 and a pinch roller 61. The conveyance roller 60 and the pinch roller 61 face each other in the vertical direction. The conveyance roller 60 is rotated by the drive of a conveyance motor. The pinch roller 61 is rotated along with the rotation of the conveyance roller 60. When the conveyance roller 60 rotates forward due to the forward rotation of the conveyance motor, the paper 12 is sandwiched between the conveyance roller 60 and the pinch roller 61 and conveyed in the conveyance direction 16.

[0044] [Discharge roller section 55] As shown in FIG. 2, the discharge roller section 55 is located downstream of the recording section 24 in the conveyance direction 16. The discharge roller section 55 has a discharge roller 62 and an impeller 63. The discharge roller 62 and the impeller 63 face each other in the vertical direction. The discharge roller 62 is rotated by transmission of drive from a conveyance motor. The impeller 63 is rotated along with the rotation of the discharge roller 62. When the discharge roller 62 rotates forward due to the forward rotation of the conveyance motor, the sheet 12 is sandwiched between the discharge roller 62 and the impeller 63 and conveyed in the conveyance direction 16.

[0045] [Recording section 24] As shown in FIG. 2, the recording section 24 is located between the conveyance roller section 54 and the discharge roller section 55 in the conveyance direction 16. The recording section 24 faces the platen 42 in the vertical direction with the conveyance path 65 interposed therebetween. The recording section 24 is located above the conveyance path 65 in the vertical direction. The recording section 24 includes a carriage 23 and a recording head 39.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 3, the carriage 23 is supported by guide rails 43, 44. The guide rails 43, 44 are supported by the frame of the printer section 11. The guide rails 43, 44 are spaced apart in the front-rear direction and each extends in the left-right direction. The guide rails 43, 44 reach outward of the conveyance path 65 in the left-right direction. The carriage 23 is connected to a known belt mechanism provided on the guide rail 44. The belt mechanism is rotated by transmission of drive from a carriage motor (not shown). When the belt mechanism rotates, the carriage 23 moves in the left-right direction. The movement range of the carriage 23 is indicated by a dashed-dotted line in FIG. 3. The carriage 23 moves to the right and left in the left-right direction from the conveyance path 65.

[0047] The ink tank 100 and the recording head 39 are connected by an ink tube 32. The control board with a control unit (not shown) implemented thereon and the recording head 39 are electrically connected by a flexible flat cable 33. The ink tube 32 and the flexible flat cable 33 extend from the carriage 23 respectively. The ink tube 32 supplies the ink stored in the ink tank 100 to the recording head 39. The flexible flat cable 33 transmits the control signal output from the control unit to the recording head 39.

[0048] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the carriage 23 mounts the recording head 39. The recording head 39 is movable in the left - right direction by the movement of the carriage 23 between a standby position P1 and a maintenance position P2. The standby position P1 is located to the left of the conveyance path 65. The left side is an example of the opposite side. The maintenance position P2 is located to the right of the conveyance path 65. A plurality of nozzles 40 are located on the lower surface of the recording head 39. The recording head 39 discharges the ink as minute ink droplets from the nozzles 40. In the process of the carriage 23 moving, the recording head 39 discharges the ink droplets toward the paper 12 supported by the platen 42. Thereby, an image is recorded on the paper 12.

[0049] [Platen 42] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the platen 42 is located between the conveyance roller unit 54 and the discharge roller unit 55 in the conveyance direction 16. The platen 42 faces the recording unit 24 in the vertical direction. The platen 42 supports the paper 12 conveyed by the conveyance roller unit 54 from below.

[0050] [Ink tank set 51] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the ink tank set 51 has an ink tank 100, a tank cover 110, and a tank cap 127. The ink tank 100 is an example of a tank. Note that in FIG. 4, the tank cap 127 is omitted. As shown in FIG. 1, the ink tank set 51 is located inside the multifunction machine 10. The ink tank set 51 is fixed to the multifunction machine 10 so that the user cannot easily remove it from the multifunction machine 10. An opening is located at the front of the casing 8 of the multifunction machine 10 and at the right end in the left-right direction. The ink tank set 51 is located behind the opening of the casing 8. In other words, the ink tank set 51 is located to the right of the center in the left-right direction in the internal space of the casing 8.

[0051] A cover 70 is provided on the casing 8 so as to be located in front of the opening of the casing 8. The cover 70 is rotatable about a rotation axis extending in the left-right direction at the lower end side in the up-down direction. The cover 70 is rotatable from the covering position shown in FIG. 1 that covers the opening of the casing 8 to an exposing position that exposes the opening of the casing 8 to the outside of the multifunction machine 10. That is, the cover 70 is rotatable from the covering position shown in FIG. 1 that covers the ink tank set 51 to an exposing position that exposes the ink tank set 51 to the outside of the multifunction machine 10. The cover 70 has an opening. Even when the cover 70 is in the covering position, a part of the ink tank set 51 is exposed to the outside of the multifunction machine 10 through the opening of the cover 70. Note that the fact that a part of the ink tank set 51 is exposed to the outside of the multifunction machine 10 through the opening of the cover 70 means that the user can at least visually recognize a part of the ink tank set 51 from the outside of the multifunction machine 10 through the opening of the cover 70, and does not mean that a part of the ink tank set 51 protrudes to the outside of the multifunction machine 10 through the opening of the cover 70.

[0052] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, the ink tank 100 has four ink chambers 111A, 111B, 111C, and 111D inside. The four ink chambers 111A, 111B, 111C, and 111D are arranged in sequence from left to right along the left - right direction. The three ink chambers 111A, 111B, and 111C store any one of yellow, cyan, and magenta inks with different colors. The ink chamber 111D stores black ink. Ink is an example of a liquid. Each of the ink chambers 111A, 111B, 111C, and 111D is an example of a storage chamber. Note that examples of the types of ink include pigment ink containing pigments and dye ink containing dyes. Further, each of the ink chambers 111A, 111B, 111C, and 111D may store a cleaning liquid containing water instead of ink. The cleaning liquid is an example of a liquid.

[0053] As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 9, the outer shape of the ink tank 100 is generally a rectangular parallelepiped. The ink tank 100 has a front wall 101, a right wall 102, a left wall 103, an upper wall 104, a lower wall 105, a rear wall 106, and four partition walls 131, 132, 133, and 134. The front wall 101, the right wall 102, the left wall 103, the upper wall 104, the rear wall 106, and the four partition walls 131, 132, 133, and 134 are integrally formed, for example, by injection - molding a resin material. As shown in FIG. 14, the wall 511 integrally formed by injection - molding has an opening facing downward. The lower wall 105 is a molded product different from the wall 511 integrally formed by injection - molding.

[0054] The lower wall 105 is welded to the lower end of the integrally - formed wall 511 in a state of covering the opening 512 of the integrally - formed wall 511. Thereby, the lower wall 105 is liquid - tightly connected to the lower end of the integrally - formed wall 511. Examples of welding include heat welding by applying heat from the outside, high - frequency welding and ultrasonic welding by heating with high - frequency waves or ultrasonic waves, and laser welding by heating with the heat of laser light. The front wall 101, the right wall 102, the left wall 103, the upper wall 104, and the rear wall 106 have a light - transmissivity such that the liquid level of the ink inside can be visually recognized from the outside of the ink tank 100.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 5, the front surface 101B of the front wall 101 has five concave surfaces 232 and four visible surfaces 233. The four concave surfaces 232 are spaced apart in the left-right direction. The four concave surfaces 232 are surfaces that are recessed rearward on the front surface 101B. The four concave surfaces 232 extend along the vertical direction from the upper end to the lower end of the front wall 101. Each visible surface 233 is located between the concave surfaces 232 adjacent to each other in the left-right direction. Each visible surface 233 coincides with each ink chamber 111A, 111B, 111C, 111D in the left-right direction. The user can visually recognize each ink chamber 111A, 111B, 111C, 111D through each visible surface 233.

[0056] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 12, the three partition walls 131, 132, 133 are spaced apart in the left-right direction. Each partition wall 131, 132, 133 is in the shape of a flat plate that extends in the front-rear direction and the vertical direction. The partition wall 131 is located at a distance to the right of the left wall 103. The partition wall 132 is located at a distance to the right of the partition wall 131. The partition wall 133 is located at a distance to the right of the partition wall 132. The front ends of each partition wall 131, 132, 133 are connected to the rear surface 101A of the front wall 101. The upper ends of each partition wall 131, 132, 133 are connected to the lower surface of the upper wall 104. The lower ends of each partition wall 131, 132, 133 are connected to the upper surface 105A of the lower wall 105.

[0057] The partition wall 134 is located behind the three partition walls 131, 132, 133. The partition wall 134 is in the shape of a flat plate that extends in the vertical direction and the left-right direction. The rear ends of the three partition walls 131, 132, 133 are connected to the front surface of the partition wall 134. The partition wall 134 is connected from the rear end of the partition wall 133 to the right surface of the left wall 103.

[0058] The ink chamber 111A is defined by the rear surface 101A of the front wall 101, the right surface 103R of the left wall 103, the lower surface of the upper wall 104, the upper surface 105A of the lower wall 105, the left surface 131L of the partition wall 131, and the front surface of the partition wall 134. The partition wall 131 is an example of a right wall. The left surface 131L is an example of a left surface.

[0059] The ink chamber 111A has an offset chamber 141A. The offset chamber 141A is located forward of the center in the front-rear direction of the ink chamber 111A. The center A1 in the left-right direction of the offset chamber 141A is shifted to the right of the center A2 in the left-right direction of the ink chamber 111A due to the front portions of the left wall 103 and the partition wall 131 being bent concavely to the right.

[0060] The right surface 103R of the left wall 103 has a flat surface 135 extending in the front-rear and up-down directions and a left step portion 136 protruding rightward from the flat surface 135. The left step portion 136 is adjacent to the front of the offset chamber 141A. The front end of the left step portion 136 has a front step surface 136A that is inclined with respect to the left-right direction so as to go rearward as it goes rightward. The front step surface 136A coincides with the concave surface 232 in the left-right direction. In other words, the front step surface 136A does not coincide with the visual recognition surface 233 in the left-right direction. The left step portion 136 is an example of a step portion. The front step surface 136A is an example of a step surface.

[0061] The left surface 131L of the partition wall 131 has a flat surface 351 extending in the front-rear and up-down directions and a right step portion 352 protruding leftward from the flat surface 351. The right step portion 352 is adjacent to the front of the offset chamber 141A. The right step portion 352 faces the left step portion 136 in the left-right direction. The front end of the right step portion 352 has a front step surface 352A that is inclined with respect to the left-right direction so as to go rearward as it goes leftward.

[0062] The ink chamber 111B is defined by the rear surface 101A of the front wall 101, the lower surface of the upper wall 104, the upper surface of the lower wall 105, the right surface 131R of the partition wall 131, the left surface 132L of the partition wall 132, and the front surface of the partition wall 134. The partition wall 131 is an example of a left wall. The right surface 131R is an example of a right surface. The partition wall 132 is an example of a right wall. The left surface 132L is an example of a left surface.

[0063] The ink chamber 111B has an offset chamber 141B. The offset chamber 141B is located forward of the center in the front-rear direction of the ink chamber 111B. The center A3 in the left-right direction of the offset chamber 141B is shifted to the right of the center A4 in the left-right direction of the ink chamber 111B due to the front portions of the partition wall 131 and the front portion of the partition wall 132 being bent concavely to the right.

[0064] The left surface 132L of the partition wall 132 has a flat surface 451 that extends in the front-rear and up-down directions, and a right step portion 452 that protrudes leftward from the flat surface 451. The right step portion 452 is adjacent to the front of the offset chamber 141B. The front end of the right step portion 452 has a front step surface 452A that is inclined with respect to the left-right direction so as to go rearward as it goes leftward. The front step surface 452A coincides with the concave surface 232 in the left-right direction. In other words, the front step surface 452A does not coincide with the visual surface 233 in the left-right direction. The front step surface 452A is an example of a step surface.

[0065] The ink chamber 111C is defined by the rear surface 101A of the front wall 101, the lower surface of the upper wall 104, the upper surface of the lower wall 105, the right surface 132R of the partition wall 132, the left surface 133L of the partition wall 133, and the front surface of the partition wall 134. The partition wall 132 is an example of a left wall. The right surface 132R is an example of a right surface. The partition wall 133 is an example of a right wall. The left surface 133L is an example of a left surface.

[0066] The ink chamber 111C has an offset chamber 141C. The offset chamber 141C is located forward of the center in the front-rear direction of the ink chamber 111C. The center A5 in the left-right direction of the offset chamber 141C is shifted to the right of the center A6 in the left-right direction of the ink chamber 111C due to the front portions of the partition wall 132 and the front portion of the partition wall 133 being bent concavely to the right.

[0067] The left surface 133L of the partition wall 133 has a flat surface 551 that extends in the front-rear direction and the up-down direction, and a right step portion 552 that protrudes leftward from the flat surface 551. The right step portion 552 is adjacent to the front of the offset chamber 141C. The front end of the right step portion 552 has a front step surface 552A that is inclined with respect to the left-right direction so as to face rearward as it faces leftward. The front step surface 552A coincides with the concave surface 232 in the left-right direction. In other words, the front step surface 552A does not coincide with the visual surface 233 in the left-right direction. The front step surface 552A is an example of a step surface.

[0068] The ink chamber 111D is partitioned by the rear surface 101A of the front wall 101, the left surface 102L of the right wall 102, the lower surface of the upper wall 104, the upper surface 105A of the lower wall 105, the front surface of the rear wall 106, the right surface 133R of the partition wall 133, and the rear surface of the partition wall 134. The ink chamber 111D is L-shaped, extending rearward from the rear surface 101A of the front wall 101 and bending leftward. The rear side of the ink chamber 111D is located rearward of the three ink chambers 111A, 111B, and 111C. The volume of the ink chamber 111D is larger than the volumes of the respective ink chambers 111A, 111B, and 111C. The partition wall 133 is an example of a left wall. The right surface 133R is an example of a right surface. Note that the front wall 101, the right wall 102, the rear wall 106, the partition wall 131, the partition wall 132, the partition wall 133, and the partition wall 134 do not have to be completely parallel to the up-down direction.

[0069] The ink chamber 111D has an offset chamber 141D. The offset chamber 141D is located forward of the center of the ink chamber 111D in the front-rear direction. The center A7 of the offset chamber 141D in the left-right direction is shifted to the right of the center A8 of the ink chamber 111D in the left-right direction due to the front portion of the partition wall 133 being bent concavely to the right.

[0070] The left surface 102L of the right wall 102 has a plane 651 that extends in the front-rear direction and the up-down direction, and a right stepped portion 652 that protrudes leftward from the plane 651. The right stepped portion 652 is adjacent to the front of the offset chamber 141D. The front end of the right stepped portion 652 has a front stepped surface 652A that is inclined with respect to the left-right direction so as to face rearward as it faces leftward. The front stepped surface 652A coincides with the concave surface 232 in the left-right direction. In other words, the front stepped surface 652A does not coincide with the visual surface 233 in the left-right direction. The front stepped surface 652A is an example of a stepped surface.

[0071] The upper surface 105A of the lower wall 105 in each of the ink chambers 111A, 111B, 111C, 111D includes a plane 221 that extends in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, and a convex surface 222 that protrudes downward from the plane 221. Each convex surface 222 demarcates a substantially rectangular parallelepiped-shaped convex space 222A that is long in the front-rear direction. Each convex space 222A extends rearward from the approximate center in the front-rear direction of each of the offset chambers 141A, 141B, 141C, 141D to the approximate center in the front-rear direction of each of the ink chambers 111A, 111B, 111C, 111D. Each convex space 222A is located at the centers A1, A3, A5, A7 in the left-right direction of each of the offset chambers 141A, 141B, 141C, 141D.

[0072] The plane 221 has an inclined surface 221A that is located from the approximate center in the front-rear direction of the four convex spaces 222A to the front surface of the rear wall 106. The inclined surface 221A is located from the right surface of the left wall 103 to the left surface of the right wall 102. The inclined surface 221A is inclined with respect to the front-rear direction so as to face downward as it faces forward. Thereby, the ink stored in each of the ink chambers 111A, 111B, 111C, 111D easily gathers in each convex space 222A.

[0073] As shown in FIG. 5, each visual recognition surface 233 on the front surface 101B of the front wall 101 has an upper mark 181 and a lower mark 182. Each upper mark 181 is located above the middle part in the vertical direction on each visual recognition surface 233. Each upper mark 181 is located at the upper part on each visual recognition surface 233. Each upper mark 181 is located below the upper end of each visual recognition surface 233. Each upper mark 181 has an upper line 181A extending along the left-right direction and an upper arrow 181B located below the upper line 181A. The apex of the upper arrow 181B is located at the center in the left-right direction of the upper line 181A. The left-right position of each upper mark 181 coincides with each ink chamber 111A, 111B, 111C, 111D. When there is a liquid level at the position of the upper line 181A, each upper mark 181 indicates that the ink in each ink chamber 111A, 111B, 111C, 111D is full. Each upper mark 181 is an example of a first mark. The position of the upper line 181A is an example of a first position. Note that the upper mark 181 may be a mark consisting of only one of the upper line 181A and the upper arrow 181B.

[0074] Each lower mark 182 is located below the middle part in the vertical direction on each visual recognition surface 233. Each lower mark 182 is located at the lower part on each visual recognition surface 233. Each lower mark 182 is located above the lower end of each visual recognition surface 233. Each lower mark 182 has a lower line 182A extending along the left-right direction and a lower arrow 182B located below the lower line 182A. The apex of the lower arrow 182B is located at the center in the left-right direction of the lower line 182A. The left-right position of each lower mark 182 coincides with each ink chamber 111A, 111B, 111C, 111D. When there is a liquid level at the position of the lower line 182A, each lower mark 182 indicates that ink replenishment for each ink chamber 111A, 111B, 111C, 111D is about to be needed. Each lower mark 182 is an example of a second mark. The position of the lower line 182A is an example of a second position. Note that the lower mark 182 may be a mark consisting of only one of the lower line 182A and the lower arrow 182B. The four upper marks 181 and the four lower marks 182 may be integrally formed together with the front surface 101B, or may be attached to the front surface 101B as a sticker.

[0075] The upper wall 104 has an inclined wall 157 that is inclined with respect to the vertical direction so as to face downward as it goes forward. The inclined wall 157 is located at the front end portion of the upper wall 104. The inclined wall 157 has an outer inclined surface 104A that is the outer surface of the ink tank 100. The outer inclined surface 104A is inclined with respect to the front-rear direction so as to extend downward as it goes forward. The outer inclined surface 104A is located from the left end to the right end of the ink tank 100. The inclined wall 157 has an inner inclined surface 104B that is the inner surface of the ink tank 100. The inner inclined surface 104B is inclined with respect to the front-rear direction so as to extend downward as it goes forward. The inner inclined surface 104B is located from the left end to the right end of the ink tank 100.

[0076] The upper wall 104 has an air communication port 112 that communicates each of the ink chambers 111A, 111B, 111C, and 111D with the outside. The four air communication ports 112 are located behind the four communication ports 119 described later. Each air communication port 112 penetrates the upper wall 104 in the vertical direction. The upper wall 104 has four openings 113 that communicate each of the ink chambers 111A, 111B, 111C, and 111D with the outside. The four openings 113 are located in front of the air communication ports 112. The four openings 113 are spaced apart along the left-right direction.

[0077] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, an outflow pipe 124 is connected to each opening 113. Each outflow pipe 124 is a tubular body that extends downward in a circular tube shape along the vertical direction from each opening 113 to each offset chamber 141A, 141B, 141C, 141D. The lower end of each outflow pipe 124 has an outlet 114 that opens downward. Each outflow pipe 124 defines an outflow path 150 that extends along the vertical direction from the outlet 114 to the opening 113. Each outlet 114 is located in each convex space 222A. As a result, each outlet 114 is located to the right of the centers A2, A4, A6, A8 in the left-right direction of each ink chamber 111A, 111B, 111C, 111D. Each outlet 114 is located in front of the center in the front-rear direction in each convex space 222A. Each outlet 114 is separated from each convex surface 222. Each outlet 114 is located below the center in the vertical direction in each convex space 222A. Each outlet 114 is located slightly above the lower end of each convex space 222A.

[0078] Each outflow pipe 124 has a small-diameter portion 124A located in each convex space 222A and a large-diameter portion 124B located above the small-diameter portion 124A. The small-diameter portion 124A has a cylindrical shape. The inner diameter of the large-diameter portion 124B is larger than the inner diameter of the small-diameter portion 124A. The large-diameter portion 124B has a conical tube shape with a diameter that increases upward. The cross-sectional area S1 obtained by cutting the outflow path 150 in a horizontal plane in the small-diameter portion 124A is smaller than the cross-sectional area S2 obtained by cutting the outflow path 150 in a horizontal plane in the large-diameter portion 124B.

[0079] A rubber seal member 160 is press-fitted into each outflow pipe 124 through each opening 113. The seal member 160 has a through-hole 160A that extends along the vertical direction.

[0080] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, each outflow pipe 124 is connected to a connection portion 170 disposed on the upper surface of the upper wall 104. The connection portion 170 includes a flat plate-shaped substrate 170A detachably fixed to the upper wall 104, and four cylindrical tubular portions 170B extending downward along the vertical direction from the substrate 170A. Four grooves through which ink can flow are located on the upper surface of the substrate 170A. The substrate 170A has four first ink flow paths 191 partitioned by a film laminated on the upper surface of the substrate 170A and the four grooves. In FIGS. 4 and 6, the film is omitted. Each first ink flow path 191 is connected to an ink tube 32 connected to the recording head 39. Each tubular portion 170B has a second ink flow path 192 through which ink can flow. The four second ink flow paths 192 communicate with any one of the four first ink flow paths 191. Each tubular portion 170B is liquid-tightly inserted into the through-hole 160A of each seal member 160. Thereby, each second ink flow path 192 communicates with the outflow path 150 of each outflow pipe 124. The ink stored in each ink chamber 111A, 111B, 111C, 111D flows to the recording head 39 through each outflow pipe 124, each second ink flow path 192, each first ink flow path 191, and the ink tube 32. When the ink in each ink chamber 111A, 111B, 111C, 111D is consumed by the ejection of ink from the recording head 39, air flows into each ink chamber 111A, 111B, 111C, 111D through each air communication port 112.

[0081] On the outer inclined surface 104A of the upper wall 104, four cylindrical annular walls 122 that cover the periphery of the tank tube body 115 and the communication port 119 are located. The four annular walls 122 are located at equal intervals along the left-right direction. Each annular wall 122 extends obliquely upward in the front direction along an extending direction that intersects the vertical direction and the horizontal direction from the upper wall 104.

[0082] Inside each annular wall 122, a tank tube 115 is located. Each tank tube 115 is a circular tube that extends obliquely upward forward from the upper wall 104 along the extending direction in parallel with each annular wall 122. Each tank tube 115 protrudes upward from the tip of each annular wall 122. The upper end 115B of each tank tube 115 opens outside each ink chamber 111A, 111B, 111C, 111D. The lower end 115C of each tank tube 115 opens into each ink chamber 111A, 111B, 111C, 111D. The lower end 115C of each tank tube 115 opens obliquely downward backward along the extending direction. Each tank tube 115 defines an air flow path 115A that connects the outside and the inside of each ink chamber 111A, 111B, 111C, 111D. The air flow path 115A allows air to flow through.

[0083] Each tank tube 115 is located behind the center of each annular wall 122. In other words, the axis passing through the center of each tank tube 115 is located behind the axis passing through the center of each annular wall 122 when viewed from the extending direction in which each tank tube 115 extends. The tip of each tank tube 115 is bifurcated in the left-right direction. Due to the tip of each tank tube 115 being bifurcated in the left-right direction, voids are located above and below the tip of each tank tube 115. Each tank tube 115 is an example of a nozzle.

[0084] Inside each annular wall 122 on the outer inclined surface 104A, there is a communication port 119 that penetrates the inclined wall 157 in the extending direction. Each communication port 119 connects the outside and inside of each ink chamber 111A, 111B, 111C, 111D. Each communication port 119 is located in front of each tank tube 115. Each communication port 119 is located below each tank tube 115. In other words, a straight line extending in the extending direction through the center of each communication port 119 as viewed from the extending direction in which each tank tube 115 extends is located in front of the axis passing through the center of each tank tube 115 as viewed from the extending direction in which each tank tube 115 extends. Each communication port 119 is located in front of the center of each annular wall 122. In other words, a straight line extending in the extending direction through the center of each communication port 119 as viewed from the extending direction in which each annular wall 122 extends is located in front of the axis passing through the center of each annular wall 122 as viewed from the extending direction in which each annular wall 122 extends. The front end 119A side of each communication port 119 is circular, and the rear end 119B side is square. In other words, each communication port 119 has a shape in which one side on the front side of the square bulges in an arc shape. Each communication port 119 is an example of an injection port.

[0085] As shown in FIGS. 6, 10, and 12, four ribs 305A, 305B, 305C, and 305D extending downward from the lower surface of the upper wall 104 are provided. Each rib 305A, 305B, 305C, 305D is located in each ink chamber 111A, 111B, 111C, 111D. The upper ends 217 of each rib 305A, 305B, 305C, 305D are connected to the rear end 119B side of each communication port 119. Each rib 305A, 305B, 305C, 305D is located on the front end 301 side at the lower end 115C of each tank tube 115. Each rib 305A, 305B, 305C, 305D is in a flat plate shape that expands in the vertical and horizontal directions. The lower ends 218 of each rib 305A, 305B, 305C, 305D are located below the position of the upper line 181A. In FIG. 6, only the rib 305D is shown. The lower ends 218 of each rib 305A, 305B, 305C, 305D are located above the position of the lower line 182A. Thereby, each rib 305A, 305B, 305C, 305D partitions the air flow path 115A between each communication port 119 and each tank tube 115 in the front-rear direction.

[0086] As shown in FIGS. 10 to 13, the left end of the rib 305A is connected to the front step surface 136A of the left step portion 136. The right end of the rib 305A is separated leftward from the left surface 131L of the partition wall 131. The lower end 218 of the rib 305A is inclined with respect to the left - right direction so as to extend downward as it goes leftward toward the front step surface 136A.

[0087] The right end of the rib 305B is connected to the front step surface 452A of the right step portion 452. The left end of the rib 305B is separated rightward from the right surface 131R of the partition wall 131. The lower end 218 of the rib 305B is inclined with respect to the left - right direction so as to extend downward as it goes rightward toward the front step surface 452A.

[0088] The right end of the rib 305C is connected to the front step surface 552A of the right step portion 552. The left end of the rib 305C is separated rightward from the right surface 132R of the partition wall 132. The lower end 218 of the rib 305C is inclined with respect to the left - right direction so as to extend downward as it goes rightward toward the front step surface 552A.

[0089] The right end of the rib 305D is connected to the front step surface 652A of the right step portion 652. The left end of the rib 305D is separated rightward from the right surface 133R of the partition wall 133. The lower end 218 of the rib 305D is inclined with respect to the left - right direction so as to extend downward as it goes rightward toward the front step surface 652A.

[0090] As shown in FIG. 6, the front surfaces of the ribs 305A, 305B, 305C, and 305D intersect a virtual line 188 that passes through the center of each communication port 119 and is orthogonal to the inner inclined surface 104B. In other words, the direction of the virtual line 188 is the direction in which ink jets out from the tip of a bottle tube 96 (described later) connected to the communication port 119. In other words, the direction of the virtual line 188 is orthogonal to the front end surface of the bottle tube 96 connected to the communication port 119. The center of each communication port 119 is a point where the midpoint of a line segment defining the left-right length of each communication port 119 and the midpoint of a line segment defining the front-rear length of each communication port 119 coincide when viewed from the extending direction of each communication port 119. The upper ends 217 of the ribs 305A, 305B, 305C, and 305D are located behind the virtual line 188. The lower ends 218 of the ribs 305A, 305B, 305C, and 305D are located in front of the virtual line 188. Specifically, the upper ends 217 of the ribs 305A, 305B, 305C, and 305D are located behind the intersection point B1 of the horizontal plane including the upper end 217 and the virtual line 188. The lower ends 218 of the ribs 305A, 305B, 305C, and 305D are located in front of the intersection point B2 of the horizontal plane including the lower end 218 and the virtual line 188. Note that in FIG. 6, only the rib 305D is shown.

[0091] As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, a convex portion 255 that protrudes downward from the lower end 115C of each tank tube 115 is provided. Each convex portion 255 is located at the front end of the lower end 115C of each tank tube 115. Each convex portion 255 is in contact with the upper end portion on the rear surface of each of the ribs 305A, 305B, 305C, and 305D. The lower end 115C is an example of an open end on the storage chamber side.

[0092] As shown in FIG. 4, the tank cover 110 holds the ink tank 100 in a state of covering the front side of the ink tank 100 from the front. The tank cover 110 has a front wall 201, an upper wall 202, a right wall 203, a left wall 204, a lower wall 205, and an inclined wall 206. The front wall 201 covers the front of the ink tank 100. The front wall 201 has an opening 207. Through the opening 207, a part of the front wall 101 of the ink tank 100 is exposed to the front of the tank cover 110. Note that the fact that a part of the front wall 101 of the ink tank 100 is exposed to the front of the tank cover 110 through the opening 207 means that at least a part of the front wall 101 of the ink tank 100 can be visually recognized by the user from the front of the tank cover 110 through the opening 207, and does not mean that a part of the front wall 101 of the ink tank 100 protrudes to the front of the tank cover 110 through the opening 207.

[0093] The tank cover 110 may have a light-transmissive cover that covers the opening 207 in a state where the front wall 101 of the ink tank 100 is visible from the front of the tank cover 110. The light-transmissive cover may have four upper marks 181 and four lower marks 182. That is, the tank cover 110 may have four upper marks 181 and four lower marks 182, and the ink tank 100 may not have four upper marks 181 and four lower marks 182.

[0094] The upper wall 202 covers a part of the front side of the upper wall 104 of the ink tank 100. The right wall 203 covers a part of the right wall 102 of the ink tank 100. The left wall 204 covers a part of the left wall 103 of the ink tank 100. The lower wall 205 covers the lower wall 105 of the ink tank 100.

[0095] The inclined wall 206 is connected to the upper end of the front wall 201 and is connected to the front end of the upper wall 202. The inclined wall 206 is located above the annular wall 122 of the ink tank 100. The inclined wall 206 is located in front of the annular wall 122 of the ink tank 100. That is, the inclined wall 206 is positioned with respect to the annular wall 122 in a direction in which the annular wall 122 extends along the extending direction from the front end portion of the upper wall 104. The outer surface of the inclined wall 206 intersects the direction of gravity and the horizontal direction. The outer surface of the inclined wall 206 is inclined with respect to the front-rear direction so as to extend downward as it goes forward. The inclined wall 206 covers a part of the inclined surface 104A of the upper wall 104 of the ink tank 100.

[0096] The inclined wall 206 has four through holes 72 arranged at intervals in the left-right direction. Each through hole 72 penetrates the inclined wall 206 in the vertical direction. The inner peripheral surface of each through hole 72 is cylindrical and extends in a direction orthogonal to the outer surface of the inclined wall 206, that is, obliquely upward in the front direction. That is, each through hole 72 is cylindrical. Here, the cylindrical shape refers to a shape in which the inner peripheral surface forms a closed space by making one round, and the shape of the opening formed by the inner peripheral surface is not necessarily circular. Also, regardless of the length of the inner peripheral surface extending in the direction of the opening formed by the inner peripheral surface, in other words, regardless of the thickness of the through hole 72, it is regarded as cylindrical. The inner peripheral surface of each through hole 72 surrounds the annular wall 122 when viewed obliquely upward from the front. The four through holes 72 are positioned so as to correspond to any one of the four ink chambers 111A, 111B, 111C, and 111D. That is, each of the four through holes 72 overlaps with each of the four ink chambers 111A, 111B, 111C, and 111D when viewed obliquely upward from the front. The annular wall 122 and the communication port 119 are exposed outside the tank cover 110 through each through hole 72. As shown in FIG. 6, the tank tube 115 protrudes outside the tank cover 110 through each through hole 72. Each tank tube 115 and each communication port 119 are visible through each through hole 72. Each through hole 72 has a shape into which the bottle cap 82 of the ink bottle 80 described later can be inserted.

[0097] As shown in FIG. 6, the tank cap 127 is detachable from the annular wall 122. The tank cap 127 is a cylindrical member with one end closed. When the tank cap 127 is removed from the annular wall 122, it is not connected to the ink tank 100 and the tank cover 110 and is completely separated. That is, the ink tank set 51 does not have a holding member composed of an arm or the like that holds the tank cap 127 removed from the annular wall 122 in a state of being connected to the ink tank 100 or the tank cover 110.

[0098] [Ink bottle 80] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the ink bottle 80 is connected to the ink tank set 51. The ink bottle 80 has a bottle body 81, a bottle cap 82, and a valve 161. The bottle body 81 has a cylindrical shape with an open upper end. The bottle body 81 has an ink storage chamber 147 for storing ink. The bottle cap 82 is detachably attached to the upper end of the bottle body 81 and has a cylindrical shape. The internal space of the bottle cap 82 communicates with the ink storage chamber 147.

[0099] The bottle cap 82 has a protrusion 94, an opening 95, and a bottle tube 96. As shown in FIG. 7, the protrusion 94 is a cylindrical wall extending upward. The protrusion 94 can be inserted into the through-hole 72 of the tank cover 110. The outer peripheral surface of the protrusion 94 has a shape that fits the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole 72. The opening 95 and the bottle tube 96 are located at the upper end of the protrusion 94. The opening 95 communicates the inside and the outside of the ink bottle 80. As shown in FIG. 7, the bottle tube 96 is located in front of the opening 95. The bottle tube 96 extends upward from the upper end of the bottle cap 82. The bottle tube 96 communicates the inside and the outside of the ink bottle 80. As shown in FIG. 8, a valve 161 is disposed in the internal space of the bottle cap 82. The valve 161 closes the openings of the opening 95 and the bottle tube 96 on the ink storage chamber 147 side. The valve 161 is movable along the vertical direction shown in FIG. 7 between a closed position where the openings of the opening 95 and the bottle tube 96 on the ink storage chamber 147 side are closed and an open position where the openings of the opening 95 and the bottle tube 96 on the ink storage chamber 147 side are opened.

[0100] [Connection between Ink Bottle 80 and Ink Tank 100] Hereinafter, as shown in FIG. 8, an example in which the ink bottle 80 is connected to the ink chamber 111A is shown. The user inserts the protrusion 94 of the ink bottle 80 into the through-hole 72 of the tank cover 110. The bottle tube 96 of the ink bottle 80 is connected to the communication port 119 of the ink tank 100, and the tank tube 115 of the ink tank 100 is inserted into the opening 95 of the ink bottle 80. At this time, the valve 161 is moved from the closed position to the open position by the tank tube 115 inserted into the opening 95. Thereby, the connection between the ink bottle 80 and the ink tank 100 is completed.

[0101] When the ink bottle 80 is connected to the ink tank 100, the ink in the ink storage chamber 147 flows into the ink chamber 111A of the ink tank 100 through the bottle tube 96. At the same time, the air in the ink tank 100 flows into the ink storage chamber 147 through the tank tube 115. In this way, so-called gas-liquid replacement occurs, and the ink in the ink bottle 80 is supplied into the ink tank 100.

[0102] [Operational Effects of the Embodiment] Each of the ribs 305A, 305B, 305C, and 305D is a virtual line 188 that passes through the center of each communication port 119 and extends toward each ink chamber 111A, 111B, 111C, and 111D. Since it intersects the virtual line 188 that extends in a direction perpendicular to the inner inclined surface 104B of the inclined wall 157, the ink injected into each ink chamber 111A, 111B, 111C, and 111D through each communication port 119 contacts the front surface of each rib 305A, 305B, 305C, and 305D and flows down. Therefore, the ink injected into each ink chamber 111A, 111B, 111C, and 111D through each communication port 119 is suppressed from vigorously falling into the ink in each ink chamber 111A, 111B, 111C, and 111D, so that the ink in each ink chamber 111A, 111B, 111C, and 111D is suppressed from foaming. The upper ends 217 of each of the ribs 305A, 305B, 305C, and 305D are located behind the virtual line 188, and the lower ends 218 of each of the ribs 305A, 305B, 305C, and 305D are located in front of the virtual line 188. Therefore, the ink injected into each ink chamber 111A, 111B, 111C, and 111D through each communication port 119 is less likely to bounce back toward the lower surface of the upper wall 104 behind each communication port 119. For this reason, it is suppressed that the ink injected into each ink chamber 111A, 111B, 111C, and 111D through each communication port 119 adheres to the lower surface of the upper wall 104 behind each communication port 119.

[0103] The rib 305A is connected to the right surface 103R of the left wall 103. The rib 305B is connected to the left surface 132L of the partition wall 132. The rib 305C is connected to the left surface 133L of the partition wall 133. The rib 305D is connected to the left surface 102L of the right wall 102. Therefore, the ink injected into each ink chamber 111A, 111B, 111C, 111D through each communication port 119 contacts each rib 305A, 305B, 305C, 305D and flows down, and then flows down along the wall surfaces defining each ink chamber 111A, 111B, 111C, 111D. Thus, the ink falling vigorously into the ink in each ink chamber 111A, 111B, 111C, 111D is suppressed.

[0104] Each front step surface 136A, 452A, 552A, 652A to which each rib 305A, 305B, 305C, 305D is connected is located at a position that coincides with each concave surface 232 in the left - right direction. Therefore, it is difficult to visually recognize through each visual recognition surface 233 from the front that the ink injected into each ink chamber 111A, 111B, 111C, 111D through each communication port 119 flows down along each front step surface 136A, 452A, 552A, 652A.

[0105] The lower ends 218 of each rib 305A, 305B, 305C, 305D are inclined with respect to the left - right direction so as to extend downward as they go toward the direction connected to each front step surface 136A, 452A, 552A, 652A. Therefore, the ink that has flowed down to the lower ends 218 of each rib 305A, 305B, 305C, 305D easily flows toward each front step surface 136A, 452A, 552A, 652A.

[0106] Each rib 305A, 305B, 305C, 305D is connected to each front step surface 136A, 452A, 552A, 652A that is inclined with respect to the left - right direction so as to go backward as it goes toward one direction in the left - right direction. Therefore, the ink that flows down while contacting the front surfaces of each 305A, 305B, 305C, 305D easily moves to each front step surface 136A, 452A, 552A, 652A, and thus easily flows down along each front step surface 136A, 452A, 552A, 652A.

[0107] Since the lower ends 218 of the ribs 305A, 305B, 305C, and 305D are located above the position of the lower line 182A, it is difficult for the ink injected into the ink chambers 111A, 111B, 111C, and 111D through the communication ports 119 to move backward in the ink chambers 111A, 111B, 111C, and 111D, being inhibited by the ribs 305A, 305B, 305C, and 305D.

[0108] Since the lower ends 218 of the ribs 305A, 305B, 305C, and 305D are located below the position of the upper line 181A, the ink injected into the ink chambers 111A, 111B, 111C, and 111D through the communication ports 119 is likely to contact the front surfaces of the ribs 305A, 305B, 305C, and 305D.

[0109] The ribs 305A, 305B, 305C, and 305D are connected at positions close to the rear ends of the communication ports 119 on the lower surface of the upper wall 104. Therefore, the lower end of the air flow path 115A of each tank tube 115 and the communication port 119 are partitioned in the front-rear direction by the ribs 305A, 305B, 305C, and 305D. For this reason, it is suppressed that the ink injected into the ink chambers 111A, 111B, 111C, and 111D through the communication ports 119 enters the air flow paths 115A.

[0110] In a state where each ink bottle 80 is connected to each communication port 119, the air flow path 115A of each tank tube 115 is located above the liquid flow path through which ink is injected from each ink bottle 80 through each communication port 119. For this reason, since the air in the ink chambers 111A, 111B, 111C, and 111D is lighter than the ink, it is easy to flow through the air flow paths 115A. The ink in each ink bottle 80 is heavier than the air, so it is easy to flow through each liquid flow path. Therefore, since the flow path through which the ink flows and the flow path through which the air flows are easily separated, gas-liquid replacement is smooth between each ink bottle 80 and each ink chamber 111A, 111B, 111C, and 111D. As a result, the injection of the ink is performed smoothly.

[0111] Since each of the ribs 305A, 305B, 305C, and 305D extends in the vertical and horizontal directions, the ink injected into each of the ink chambers 111A, 111B, 111C, and 111D through each communication port 119 is likely to come into contact with the front surfaces of the ribs 305A, 305B, 305C, and 305D. The ink that comes into contact with the front surfaces of the ribs 305A, 305B, 305C, and 305D is likely to flow down along the front surfaces of the ribs 305A, 305B, 305C, and 305D.

[0112] The lower end 115C of each tank tube 115 opens obliquely downward to the rear along the extending direction. Therefore, compared with the case where the lower end 115C of each tank tube 115 opens downward, it is difficult for an ink meniscus to form at the opening of the lower end 115C of each tank tube 115, so the air in each of the ink chambers 111A, 111B, 111C, and 111D easily flows through each air flow path 115A.

[0113] A convex portion 255 protruding downward is provided at the lower end 115C of each tank tube 115. Therefore, since the lower end 115C of each tank tube 115 is uneven due to the convex portion 255, it is difficult for an ink meniscus to form at the opening of the lower end 115C of each tank tube 115.

[0114] Since the ink injected into each of the ink chambers 111A, 111B, 111C, and 111D through each communication port 119 is less likely to bounce back toward the lower surface of the upper wall 104 behind each communication port 119, it is suppressed that the ink injected into each of the ink chambers 111A, 111B, 111C, and 111D through each communication port 119 blocks each atmospheric communication port 112 located behind each communication port 119.

[0115] [Modification Example] The rib 305A was connected to the front step surface 136A of the left step portion 136, but it may be connected to the front step surface 352A of the right step portion 352. Also, the rib 305A may be connected to both the front step surface 136A and the front step surface 352A.

[0116] Each of the ribs 305A, 305B, 305C, and 305D was connected to each of the front step surfaces 136A, 452A, 552A, and 652A. However, as long as each communication port 119 and each air flow path 115A can be partitioned in the front-rear direction, the positions where the ribs 305A, 305B, 305C, and 305D are connected are not particularly limited. For example, each of the ribs 305A, 305B, 305C, and 305D may be connected to each of the planes 135, 351, 451, 551, and 651.

[0117] The left end of the rib 305A was connected to the front step surface 136A, but it may be separated from the front step surface 136A. The right end of the rib 305B was connected to the front step surface 452A, but it may be separated from the front step surface 452A. The right end of the rib 305C was connected to the front step surface 552A, but it may be separated from the front step surface 552A. The right end of the rib 305D was connected to the front step surface 652A, but it may be separated from the front step surface 652A. By doing so, the ink injected into each of the ink chambers 111A, 111B, 111C, and 111D through each communication port 119 easily flows in the front-rear direction on both sides in the left-right direction of each of the ribs 305A, 305B, 305C, and 305D. Therefore, the heights of the ink liquid surfaces in each of the ink chambers 111A, 111B, 111C, and 111D are likely to be even.

[0118] Each of the front step surfaces 136A, 452A, 552A, and 652A coincided with each of the concave surfaces 232 in the left-right direction, but it may coincide with each of the visual recognition surfaces 233 in the left-right direction.

[0119] The lower ends 218 of each of the ribs 305A, 305B, 305C, and 305D were inclined with respect to the left-right direction so as to extend downward as they went toward each of the front step surfaces 136A, 452A, 552A, and 652A. However, for example, they may be parallel to the horizontal plane, or may be inclined with respect to the left-right direction so as to extend upward as they go toward each of the front step surfaces 136A, 452A, 552A, and 652A.

[0120] Each ink chamber 111A, 111B, 111C, 111D has each offset chamber 141A, 141B, 141C, 141D, but each offset chamber 141A, 141B, 141C, 141D may be omitted.

[0121] The lower ends 218 of the ribs 305A, 305B, 305C, 305D are located above the position of the lower line 182A, but may be located below the position of the lower line 182A.

[0122] The lower ends 218 of the ribs 305A, 305B, 305C, 305D are located below the position of the upper line 181A, but may be located above the position of the upper line 181A.

[0123] The upper ends 217 of the ribs 305A, 305B, 305C, 305D are connected to the rear end 119B side of each communication port 119, but if located behind the virtual line 188, they may be separated from the lower surface of the upper wall 104.

[0124] Each tank tube 115 extends obliquely upward in the front along the extending direction, but if it can be inserted into the opening 95 of the ink bottle 80, the extending direction of each tank tube 115 is not particularly limited. For example, each tank tube 115 may extend upward. Also, in this case, the inclined wall 157 may be omitted. Each communication port 119 opens upward.

[0125] The ribs 305A, 305B, 305C, 305D extend in the vertical and horizontal directions, but if the upper ends 217 of the ribs 305A, 305B, 305C, 305D are located above the virtual line 188 and the lower ends 218 of the ribs 305A, 305B, 305C, 305D are located below the virtual line 188, they may be inclined with respect to the vertical direction so as to extend in one direction in the front-rear direction as going downward.

[0126] The lower end 115C of each tank tube 115 opens obliquely downward to the rear along the extending direction. However, as long as air in each ink chamber 111A, 111B, 111C, 111D can flow in, the opening direction is not particularly limited. For example, the lower end 115C of each tank tube 115 may open downward.

[0127] A convex portion 255 is provided at the lower end 115C of each tank tube 115. However, the convex portion 255 may be omitted.

[0128] The virtual line 188 passes through the center of the communication port 119 and is perpendicular to the inner inclined surface 104B. However, as long as it passes through the communication port 119 and is perpendicular to the inner inclined surface 104B, it does not necessarily have to pass through the center of the communication port 119.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0129] 100 ··· Ink tank (tank) 101 ··· Front wall 101A ··· Rear surface 101B ··· Front surface 102 ··· Right wall 102L ··· Left surface 103 ··· Left wall 103R ··· Right surface 104 ··· Upper wall 105 ··· Lower wall 111A ··· Ink chamber (storage chamber) 119 ··· Communication port (injection port) 119B ··· Rear end 181 ··· Upper mark (first mark) 182 ··· Lower mark (second mark) 217 ··· Upper end 218 ··· Lower end 135 ··· Plane 136 ··· Left step portion (step portion) 136A ··· Front step surface (step surface) 188 ··· Virtual line 233 ··· Visible surface 255 ··· Convex portion 305A ··· Rib

Claims

1. A lower wall extending in a direction intersecting the vertical direction; an upper wall located above the lower wall and extending in a direction intersecting the up-down direction; a reservoir defined by the lower wall and the upper wall, in which a liquid is stored; an inlet located in the top wall through which liquid is injected into the reservoir; A rib that intersects with a virtual line that passes through the inlet and extends toward the storage chamber and that extends in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the upper wall on which the inlet is disposed, An upper end of the rib is located rearward of the imaginary line, A tank in which the lower end of the rib is located forward of the imaginary line.

2. a left wall having a right surface defining a left end of the reservoir; a right wall having a left surface defining a right end of the reservoir; 2. The tank of claim 1, wherein the rib is connected to one of the right side and the left side.

3. a left wall having a right surface defining a left end of the reservoir; a right wall having a left surface defining a right end of the reservoir; 2. The tank of claim 1, wherein the rib is spaced from the right and left sides.

4. a front wall having a rear surface defining a front end of the reservoir; The front surface of the front wall has a visibility surface that allows the storage chamber to be viewed from the front, The tank according to claim 2, wherein a portion where the rib is connected to one of the right surface and the left surface is located outside the viewing surface in the left-right direction.

5. 3. The tank according to claim 2, wherein a lower end of the rib is inclined in the left-right direction so as to extend downward toward one of the right and left faces to which the rib is connected.

6. At least one of the right surface and the left surface is A plane extending in the vertical and front-to-rear directions; a step portion protruding from the plane, a front end of the step portion has a step surface that is inclined with respect to the left-right direction so as to move rearward toward one side in the left-right direction, The tank according to claim 2 , wherein the rib is connected to the step surface located on one of the right surface and the left surface.

7. The storage chamber has an offset chamber shifted to one side in the left-right direction with respect to the center in the left-right direction between the right surface and the left surface, 5. The tank according to claim 4, wherein the rib is connected to one of the right and left surfaces, the offset chamber being shifted to the one side with respect to the center.

8. The above visibility surface is a first mark indicating that the liquid level in the reservoir is at a first position; a second mark indicating that the liquid level in the storage chamber is at a second position that is lower than the first position; The tank according to claim 4, wherein a lower end of the rib is located above the second mark.

9. The tank according to claim 8, wherein a lower end of the rib is located below the first mark.

10. A nozzle is provided behind the inlet, communicating the storage chamber with the outside of the storage chamber and defining an air flow path through which air can flow; The tank according to claim 9, wherein the rib is connected to a rear end side of the filler port.

11. The upper wall has an inclined wall that is inclined with respect to the up-down direction so as to be downward toward the front, the inlet and the nozzle are located in the inclined wall; The tank of claim 10, wherein the nozzle extends obliquely upward and forward.

12. 12. The tank of claim 11, wherein the ribs extend vertically.

13. The tank according to claim 12, wherein the end of the nozzle on the side of the storage chamber opens obliquely downward and rearward.

14. The tank according to claim 13, further comprising a protrusion protruding from an open end of the nozzle on the side of the storage chamber toward the storage chamber.

15. 2. The tank according to claim 1, wherein the upper wall is located rearward of the inlet and has an atmosphere vent that connects the storage chamber to the outside of the storage chamber.

Images