Liquid stirring apparatus

Abstract

To provide a liquid stirring apparatus having structural features.SOLUTION: A liquid stirring apparatus includes: a first storing unit that stores first liquid, a first stirring unit that stirs the first liquid in the first storing unit by causing the first storing unit to perform a first movement; a second storing unit that stores second liquid different from the first liquid; and a second stirring unit that stirs the second liquid in the second storing unit by causing the second storing unit to perform a second movement.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 44

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid agitation technique. [Background technology]

[0002] Liquids containing sedimentary substances may need to be stirred before use to disperse precipitates. For example, in a recording device that ejects liquid ink onto a recording medium to perform recording, stirring may be required to disperse precipitates when using ink such as pigment ink or metallic ink. Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose devices that stir ink by rotating an ink container. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-338195 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6567186 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, there is room for improvement in the structure of conventional liquid agitating devices.

[0005] The present invention provides a liquid agitating device having a structural feature. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The liquid stirring device of the present invention is characterized by comprising a first container means for containing a first liquid, a first stirring means for causing the first container means to perform a first movement to stir the first liquid in the first container means, a second container means for containing a second liquid different from the first liquid, and a second stirring means for causing the second container means to perform a second movement to stir the second liquid in the second container means. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The present invention can provide a liquid agitating device having a structural feature. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of the system of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the internal structure of the liquid ejection device. [Figure 4] Front view of the storage section. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a liquid container and a container support unit. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the container support unit is attached to the storage section. [Figure 7] FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. [Figure 10] Front view of the storage space. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which the container support unit is accommodated. [Figure 12] FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a stirring operation. [Figure 15] FIG. [Figure 16] FIG. [Figure 17] FIG. [Figure 18] FIG. [Figure 19] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a flow path forming member and a valve unit. [Figure 20] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing examples of changes in the posture of a flow path forming member when rotated. [Figure 21]FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the arrangement of the movable and fixed tube fixing members. [Figure 22] FIG. [Figure 23] 10A to 10C are diagrams showing examples of changes in the shape of a tube or the like when rotated. [Figure 24] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the control circuitry of the system of FIG. 1. [Figure 25] FIG. [Figure 26] FIG. [Figure 27] FIG. [Figure 28] FIG. [Figure 29] FIG. [Figure 30] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 31] FIG. 31 is a front view of the system of FIG. 30. [Figure 32] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the arrangement of containers in a liquid storage device. [Figure 33] FIG. [Figure 34] FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of a liquid containment device. [Figure 35] FIG. [Figure 36] 10A and 10B are explanatory diagrams of the operation of the handle and locking mechanism. [Figure 37] FIG. [Figure 38] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing the mounting position and insertion / removal manner of the support unit relative to the storage section. [Figure 39] FIG. [Figure 40] FIG. [Figure 41] (A) and (B) are explanatory diagrams of the cam. [Figure 42] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the case with a stirring function and the support unit in a separated state. [Figure 43] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the case with stirring function and the support unit in an attached state. [Figure 44] (A) to (C) are explanatory diagrams of the stirring operation. [Figure 45] FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention claimed. Although multiple features are described in the embodiments, not all of these multiple features are necessarily essential to the invention, and multiple features may be combined arbitrarily. Furthermore, in the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same or similar components, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0010] First Embodiment Fig. 1 is a perspective view of system A according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a front view of system A. In each figure, arrows X, Y, and Z indicate directions that intersect with each other, and in this embodiment, are perpendicular to each other. When system A is installed on a horizontal surface, the left-right direction is the X direction, the front-back direction is the Y direction, and the up-down direction is the Z direction. The X and Y directions can also be called lateral directions.

[0011] System A of this embodiment is a recording system that includes a liquid ejection device 1 and liquid storage devices 20A and 20B, and records an image by ejecting ink onto a recording medium such as paper. In this embodiment, two liquid storage devices 20A and 20B are provided. The liquid ejection device 1 and the two liquid storage devices 20A and 20B are arranged side by side in the X direction. The liquid that the liquid storage devices 20A and 20B supply to the liquid ejection device 1 is mainly ink, and the liquid ejection device 1 is a recording device that ejects ink onto a recording medium. However, the present invention is not limited to recording systems, and can be applied to various liquid ejection systems whose purpose is to eject liquid onto a medium.

[0012] "Recording" not only includes the formation of meaningful information such as characters and figures, but also includes the formation of images, patterns, designs, etc. on a recording medium, whether meaningful or insignificant, or the processing of the medium, regardless of whether it is manifested in a way that can be perceived visually by humans. In addition, although sheet-like paper is assumed as the "recording medium" in this embodiment, it may also be cloth, plastic film, etc.

[0013] <Liquid discharge device> The liquid ejection device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 3 in addition to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the internal structure of the liquid ejection device 1. The liquid ejection device 1 includes a pair of left and right stands 2 and a main body 3 supported on the pair of stands 2. Each stand 2 is provided with casters 2a, allowing the liquid ejection device 1 to be moved relatively easily on the floor (installation surface). Below the main body 3, a feeding unit 4, a drying unit 14, and a winding unit 5 are arranged. In this embodiment, the recording medium M is roll paper, and the feeding unit 4 has a shaft around which the recording medium M is wound. The winding unit 5 has a shaft around which the recording medium M is wound. In this embodiment, roll paper is exemplified as the recording medium M, but cut paper may also be used.

[0014] The main body 3 is provided with a transport unit 6. The transport unit 6 has a drive roller and a driven roller, and the recording medium M fed from the feeding unit 4 is sandwiched in the nip between these rollers. The recording medium M is transported onto a platen 7 by rotation of the drive roller. An ejection head 8 is disposed opposite the platen 7. The ejection head 8 is a recording head that ejects ink to form an image. An image is recorded on the recording medium M by ejecting ink from the ejection head 8 onto the recording medium M transported onto the platen 7.

[0015] The ejection head 8 has an ejection energy generating element, such as an electrothermal conversion element (heater) or a piezoelectric element, and ejects ink from the ejection orifices. When an electrothermal conversion element is used, the heat generated by the element causes the ink to bubble, and the resulting bubble-forming energy is used to eject the ink from the ejection orifices. The printing method of the ejection head 8 may be a serial scan method or a full line method. In the serial scan method, the ejection head 8 is mounted on a carriage and moves back and forth in the X direction. The ejection of ink while moving the ejection head 8 in the X direction is called a printing scan. An image is printed on the printing medium M by alternately repeating the conveyance operation of the printing medium M and the printing scan of the ejection head 8. In the present embodiment, the serial scan method is assumed. In the full line method, a long ejection head 8 extending in the X direction is used, and an image is printed while continuously conveying the printing medium M.

[0016] The recording medium M on which the image has been recorded passes through the drying unit 14 and is then taken up by the take-up unit 5. The drying unit 14 reduces the liquid components contained in the ink applied onto the recording medium M by the ejection head 8, thereby improving the fixation of the ink to the recording medium M. The drying unit 14 has a heat source such as a heater and an air blowing mechanism such as a fan, and dries the recording medium M by applying hot air to the recording medium M passing through, at least from the ink application side. Note that the drying method may be a combination of a method of applying hot air, a method of irradiating the surface of the recording medium M with electromagnetic waves (ultraviolet rays, infrared rays, etc.), or a conductive heat transfer method through contact with a heating element. The drying unit 14 may also be a unit that only blows air without having a heat source. The recording medium M on which the image has been recorded is cut by the user with scissors or automatically cut by a cutter (not shown).

[0017] A recovery unit 9 is disposed in the main body 3. The recovery unit 9 is disposed outside the recording area (outside the ejection area) of the ejection head 8, and performs processes related to the recovery and maintenance of the ejection performance of the ejection head 8. Examples of such processes include preliminary ejection, which ejects a predetermined amount of ink before and after a recording operation, and a process of suctioning residual ink from the ejection openings of the ejection head 8. As shown in FIG. 2, the ejection head 8 is moved onto the recovery unit 9 when a recovery process is required.

[0018] An operation panel 10 is provided on the front of the main body 3. The operation panel 10 is, for example, a touch panel, and is capable of accepting input of various settings related to recording, displaying the status of a recording job, etc. The liquid ejection device 1 is also provided with a waste liquid cartridge 11. The waste liquid cartridge 11 is disposed at the lower end of the main body 3, on the opposite side in the X direction from the liquid storage devices 20A and 20B.

[0019] Waste liquid (waste ink, etc.) sucked by the recovery unit 9 flows into the waste liquid cartridge 11 and is collected. The waste liquid cartridge 11 may be placed near the recovery unit 9. However, in this embodiment, the waste liquid cartridge 11 is placed in the empty space below the end of the main body 3, thereby reducing the installation area of ​​the liquid ejection device 1.

[0020] <Liquid Containment Device> Please refer to Figures 1 and 2. Liquid storage devices 20A and 20B are devices that store liquid such as ink to be ejected from ejection head 8 and supply the liquid such as ink to liquid ejection device 1. Liquid storage devices 20A and 20B each have a box-shaped main body 22 that forms a plurality of storage sections 23A and one storage section 23B. Casters 22a are provided on the bottom surface of main body 22, allowing liquid storage devices 20A and 20B to be moved relatively easily on the floor (installation surface).

[0021] The liquid storage devices 20A and 20B include a plurality of storage sections 23A arranged in the Z direction. Each storage section 23A has the form of a slot that opens in the front wall section 22b of the main body 22. A container support unit 24 is inserted into each storage section 23A so as to be detachable in the Y direction. The container support unit 24 replaceably supports a liquid container 200 (also simply referred to as container 200), which will be described later.

[0022] Liquid storage device 20A has storage section 23B. Storage section 23B has a larger space than storage section 23A, which opens to front wall section 22b of main body 22, and is opened and closed by opening / closing member 25 provided on front wall section 22b. Figure 4 is a front view of storage section 23B, with state ST41 showing a state in which opening / closing member 25 is closed, and state ST42 showing a state in which opening / closing member 25 is open.

[0023] The opening / closing member 25 is a door whose one end in the X direction is supported by the front wall portion 22b via a plurality of hinges 25a, and whose other end in the X direction is provided with a handle 25b that can be gripped by a user. When the user pulls the handle 25b toward themselves from state ST41, the opening / closing member 25 rotates around the hinge 25a as the rotation center, as shown in state ST42, and the inside of the storage portion 23B is exposed. Note that although the opening / closing member 25 is of a rotating type in this embodiment, it may also be of a sliding type.

[0024] The main body 22 is provided with a sensor 26 that detects the open / closed state of the opening / closing member 25. The sensor 26 detects a detection piece 27 provided on the opening / closing member 25. The sensor 26 is, for example, an optical sensor, and is arranged so as to detect the detection piece 27 when the opening / closing member 25 is in the closed state, and not to detect the detection piece 27 when the opening / closing member 25 is in the open state.

[0025] The storage section 23B has a built-in liquid agitating device 100. A plurality of container support units 24 are inserted into the liquid agitating device 100 so that they can be detached in the Y direction. In this embodiment, two container support units 24 can be attached to the liquid agitating device 100. The liquid agitating device 100 has the function of agitating the liquid in the container 200 supported by the container support units 24. Details of the liquid agitating device 100 will be described later. In this embodiment, a common container support unit 24 is used for both the storage section 23A and the storage section 23B, but different container support units may also be used.

[0026] Each of the storage sections 23A and 23B is provided with a tube that connects the container 200 to the liquid ejection device 1. Each tube is connected to the liquid ejection device 1 through a single hose 21 that accommodates all the tubes. The ink in the container 200 is supplied to the ejection head 8 through the tube.

[0027] In this embodiment, system A is equipped with two liquid storage devices 20A and 20B, allowing for the use of more inks. Providing multiple liquid storage devices 20A and 20B is advantageous when increasing the number of ink colors to improve image quality or increasing the number of ink colors of the same color to improve productivity.

[0028] <Liquid container and container support unit> FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the container 200 and the container support unit 24. The container 200 has a bag 202 made of a flexible material. Gusset portions 202a are provided on both sides of the bag 202, folded inward to increase the liquid capacity. The bag 202 is formed into a bag shape by welding together the sheets constituting the top and bottom surfaces and the sheet forming the gusset portion 202a, forming a flexible tank for containing liquid. When the amount of liquid remaining inside is large, the gusset portion 202a expands, and when the amount of liquid remaining is small, the gusset portion 202a folds in, thereby changing the shape of the bag 202 depending on the amount of liquid contained. The bag 202 is made of a material with a multi-layer structure, such as PET. If the liquid inside has the property of reacting with air to solidify, or if there is a concern that the concentration or remaining amount will change due to evaporation, a layered material containing an aluminum layer is advantageous as the material for the bag 202.

[0029] Container 200 has one longitudinal end 200a and the other longitudinal end 200b. When attached to liquid storage devices 20A and 20B, end 200a is located at the rear of liquid storage devices 20A and 20B, and end 200b is located at the front. End 200a is provided with outlet member 201. Outlet member 201 is formed with supply port 201a that communicates with water intake 203 inside bag 202. Liquid stored in bag 202 flows out to the outside through water intake 203 and supply port 201a. A spring-loaded supply port opening / closing valve that opens and closes supply port 201a is provided inside outlet member 201. Supply port 201a is normally kept closed by the supply port opening / closing valve.

[0030] The container 200 has a side on which the outlet member 201 is provided that is, for example, about 180 mm long, and a side (side surface) perpendicular to this that is, for example, about 400 mm long. The container 200 holds, for example, about 1.5 L of liquid. The side on which the outlet member 201 is provided may be the long side instead of the short side. Furthermore, the bag 202 may be square instead of rectangular in plan view.

[0031] The container support unit 24 has a support portion 240 that supports the container 200, and has the overall form of a tray on which the container 200 is placed in a lying position. The support portion 240 has a placement surface 241 on which the container 200 is placed, and the four sides of the placement surface 241 are defined by left and right side plates 244, a front end portion 242, and a rear end portion 243. A notch portion 244a is formed in the side plate 244. A recess 243a in which the outlet member 201 is disposed is formed in the rear end portion 243. The side plate 244 is provided with a rib 244b extending in the Y direction.

[0032] Please refer to Figure 6. Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the manner in which the container support unit 24 is attached to the storage section 23A. Note that although the manner in which the container support unit 24 is attached to the storage section 23A will be described here, the manner in which the container support unit 24 is attached to the liquid stirring device 100 in the storage section 23B is essentially the same.

[0033] The storage section 23A is provided with a case 230 that receives the container support unit 24. The container support unit 24 is displaceable in the Y direction between a storage position where the container 200 is stored in the main body 22 and a removal position where the container 200 is exposed to the outside of the main body 22. Figure 6 shows the container support unit 24 in the removal position. In the removal position, the container 200 can be replaced. In the storage position, the container 200 is attached to the case 230.

[0034] In this embodiment, the container support unit 24 is separated from the storage section 23A at the removal position. However, the removal position may be a position where an end of the container support unit 24 is held within the storage section 23A, as long as the container support unit 24 is at a position where the container 200 can be replaced.

[0035] A needle member 231 to be inserted into the supply port 201a is provided at the rear side in the Y direction of the case 230. A needle member 231 is provided for each storage section 23A. When the container support unit 24 is located in the storage position, the needle member 231 is inserted into the supply port 201a and becomes connected. As a result, the supply port opening / closing valve inside the outlet member 201 becomes open due to the insertion of the needle member 231. The needle member 231 is connected to a tube 233. The needle member 231 and the tube 233 form a flow path that allows the liquid contained in the bag 202 to flow out to the liquid discharge device 1, which is the supply destination. An electric flow path valve 232 is provided midway along the tube 233. The tube 233 can be closed and opened by opening and closing the flow path valve 232.

[0036] A mechanism for holding the container support unit 24 in the storage position will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of a handle provided on the container support unit 24. State ST71 in Fig. 7 shows the holding state, and state ST72 shows the holding release state.

[0037] A handle 245 that can rotate freely around an axis 245a extending in the X direction is provided at the front end 242 of the container support unit 24, and a user can operate the handle 245. The handle 245 also serves as an operating handle for an engaging portion 248. The handle 245 is provided with the engaging portion 248, and an engaging portion 234 that engages with the engaging portion 248 is formed at the bottom of the case 30.

[0038] In this embodiment, the engaging portion 248 is a convex portion, and the engaging portion 234 is a concave portion or a hole portion into which the engaging portion 248 is inserted. The engagement between the engaging portion 248 and the engaging portion 234 can prevent the container support unit 24 from falling off from the storage portion 23A even if vibrations are applied due to, for example, movement of the liquid storage device 20A.

[0039] The handle 245 is constantly biased by an elastic member 246 toward an engagement position (the position of state ST71 in FIG. 7 ) where the engagement portion 248 and the engagement portion 234 are engaged. The elastic member 246 is, for example, a coil spring. When the user grips the handle 245 and rotates the handle 245, the engagement portion 248 and the engagement portion 234 are disengaged as shown in state ST72, and the container support unit 24 inserted in the storage portion 23A can be removed from the storage portion 23A.

[0040] <Liquid stirring device> The container 200 can accommodate various types of liquid and be used for image recording, maintenance of the ejection head 8, and other purposes. Depending on the type of ink, coloring materials (e.g., pigment components) within the ink may settle over time. For example, pigment components in pigment-based inks, which are highly water-resistant and light-resistant, and titanium oxide components used for white inks, are insoluble in water and will settle, accumulate, and aggregate at the bottom of the container due to gravity if left undisturbed for a long period of time. Therefore, to achieve the desired color, it is necessary to evenly disperse the coloring components within the liquid while maintaining a predetermined particle size. In this embodiment, the liquid agitation device 100 is provided, which allows the liquid to be agitated to disperse the particles and improve their uniformity. In particular, automating the agitation of the liquid reduces the burden on the user.

[0041] <Device Overview> 8 and 9 are perspective views of the liquid agitating device 100, with FIG. 8 being a perspective view of the liquid agitating device 100 seen from the front side, and FIG. 9 being a perspective view of the liquid agitating device 100 seen from the rear side.

[0042] Liquid agitation device 100 comprises a storage unit 110 that stores liquid, a support unit 120 that rotatably supports storage unit 110, and a drive unit 130 that rotates storage unit 110 supported by support unit 120. These components are supported on main body 22 of liquid storage device 20A by a frame that includes frames 101-103.

[0043] In this embodiment, the liquid contained in the containing unit 110 is agitated by rotating the containing unit 110 around a rotation center line CL, which is shown as an imaginary line. By rotating the containing unit 110, the liquid can be agitated more effectively. The rotation center line CL is a line that passes through the containing unit 110, and its direction is the Y direction in this embodiment.

[0044] In this embodiment, the two container support units 24 are configured to be freely insertable into and removable from the front side of the storage unit 110. This allows the liquids in the two containers 200 to be stirred simultaneously. The two container support units 24 are attached to the storage unit 110 so that they are stacked one on top of the other. The number of attachable container support units 24 may be three or more, or may be one.

[0045] The drive unit 130 is disposed at the rear side of the storage unit 110, leaving a relatively large space in front of the storage unit 110. This improves the ease with which a user can insert and remove the container support unit 24 into and from the storage unit 110. Furthermore, by configuring the liquid agitating device 100 so that it extends in the Y direction as a whole, the size of the liquid agitating device 100 in the X direction can be reduced.

[0046] <Containment Unit> Please refer to Figures 8 and 9. The containing unit 110 includes a containing member 111 and a shaft fixing member 118 connected in the direction of the rotation center line CL.

[0047] The accommodating member 111 is a hollow member that accommodates the container 200. The accommodating member 111 has a front end 111a, which is one end in the direction of the rotation center line CL (Y direction), and a rear end 111b, which is the other end. Between the front end 111a and the rear end 111b, an outer wall portion 111c of the accommodating member 111 is formed by a cylindrical portion 112 and a rectangular cylindrical portion 113. The cylindrical portion 112 is formed closer to the front end 111a than the rear end 111b, and the rectangular cylindrical portion 113 is formed from the cylindrical portion 112 on the front end 111a side and the rear end 111b side, respectively. The cylindrical portion 112 forms a cylindrical outer peripheral surface. The rectangular cylindrical portion 113 has a substantially rectangular cylindrical shape. A fan-shaped cover member 111d is attached to the front end portion 111a, covering the components from the front end portion 111a to the rear when the liquid agitating device 100 is viewed from the front.

[0048] In addition to Figures 8 and 9, please refer to Figures 10 and 11. Figure 10 is a front view of the upper and lower storage spaces 114 formed by the storage member 111, showing the state in which the container support unit 24 has been removed from the storage space 114. Figure 11 also shows a front view of the upper and lower storage spaces 114, particularly showing the state (cross-sectional shape) in which the container support unit 24 is stored in the storage space 114. The storage space 114 is formed over the entire area of ​​the cylindrical portion 112 and the square tube portion 113. Unless otherwise specified, matters regarding directions in the following explanation will be assumed to be when the storage unit 110 is in the initial position.

[0049] The internal space of the accommodating member 111 is divided into two sections, upper and lower, by a partition wall 114b extending in the X and Y directions, and accommodating spaces 114 are formed on the upper and lower sides of the partition wall 114b along the rotation center line CL. An opening 114a, which serves as an entrance and exit for the accommodating space 114, is formed in the front end portion 111a of the accommodating member 111.

[0050] The container support unit 24 is displaceable in the Y direction between a storage position where the container 200 is stored in the storage space 114 and a removal position where the container 200 is exposed to the outside of the storage unit 110. The container 200 can be replaced at the removal position. Because the container 200 can be replaced, liquid refilling can be performed quickly and the container support unit 24 can be used repeatedly. Furthermore, in this embodiment, there are almost no structures near the opening 114a that would interfere with the replacement work, so the container 200 can be replaced easily.

[0051] In this embodiment, the container support unit 24 is separated from the storage space 114 at the removal position. However, the removal position may be a position where the end of the container support unit 24 is held within the storage space 114, as long as the container support unit 24 is at a position where the container 200 can be replaced.

[0052] The inner side of the storage space 114 (the side of the end 111b of the storage member 111) is closed, and a needle member 110a protrudes in the Y direction from the wall. When the container support unit 24 is inserted into the storage space 114, the needle member 110a is inserted into the supply port 201a of the container support unit 24. When the needle member 110a is inserted into the supply port 201a, a flow path is formed that allows the liquid stored in the bag 202 supported by the container support unit 24 to flow out to the liquid discharge device 1, which is the supply destination.

[0053] The storage space 114 in this embodiment is a flat rectangular parallelepiped space whose height in the Z direction is shorter than its width in the X direction and which extends in the Y direction. Note that the storage space 114 may also be a flat rectangular parallelepiped space whose height in the Z direction is longer than its width in the X direction and which extends in the Y direction.

[0054] The upper storage space 114 is defined by a top wall 114c, left and right side walls 114d, and a partition wall 114b that serves as the bottom wall, while the upper storage space 114 is defined by a bottom wall 114e, left and right side walls 114f, and a partition wall 114b that serves as the top wall. The partition wall 114b that serves as the bottom wall of the upper storage space 114 and the bottom wall 114e of the lower storage space 114 can be provided with an engagement portion equivalent to the engagement portion 234 that holds the container support unit 24 in the storage position, as described with reference to Figure 7.

[0055] Guide portions 114g are formed on the left and right side walls 114d of the upper storage space 114. The guide portions 114g have a stepped or inclined shoulder-shaped cross section and extend in the Y direction. When the container support unit 24 is inserted into or removed from the storage space 114, the guide portions 114g function as rails that slide against the ribs 244b of the container support unit 24, guiding displacement of the container support unit 24 in the insertion / removal direction. Furthermore, the guide portions 114g abut against the ribs 244b in a direction intersecting the direction of the rotation center line CL (the Z direction in the initial position), restricting displacement of the container support unit 24 in this intersecting direction. This prevents the container support unit 24 from rattling within the storage space 114 when the storage unit 110 rotates.

[0056] Similarly, guide portions 114h are formed on the left and right side walls 114f of the lower storage space 114. The guide portions 114h have a convex shape that protrudes downward from the partition wall 114b and extend in the Y direction. When the container support unit 24 is inserted into or removed from the storage space 114, the guide portions 114h function as rails that slide against the ribs 244b of the container support unit 24, guiding displacement of the container support unit 24 in the insertion / removal direction. Furthermore, the guide portions 114h abut against the ribs 244b in a direction intersecting the direction of the rotation center line CL (the Z direction in the initial position), thereby restricting displacement of the container support unit 24 in this intersecting direction. When the storage unit 110 rotates, rattling of the container support unit 24 within the storage space 114 can be prevented.

[0057] The rotation center PC of the storage unit 110 is located on the partition wall 114b. The rotation center PC is an arbitrary point on the rotation center line CL. According to the configuration of this embodiment, the rotation center line CL passes between the two storage spaces 114, so the storage unit 110 can more evenly agitate the liquid in the two storage containers 200.

[0058] <Rotational support structure> The structure for rotatably supporting the accommodating unit 110 will be described with reference to Figures 8, 9, 12, and 13. Figure 12 is a front view of the liquid agitating device 100, mainly showing the rotatable support structure of the accommodating unit 110. Figure 13 is a perspective view showing the rear part of the accommodating unit 110 with the drive unit 130 removed.

[0059] The following describes the issues with a structure that rotatably supports the storage unit 110. If shafts are provided on the storage unit 110 at both ends of the rotation center line CL, the presence of the shafts and bearings may reduce design freedom and reduce user convenience. For example, in a structure in which the container support unit 24 is inserted and removed from the storage unit 110, as in this embodiment, there may be restrictions on the insertion and removal location and insertion and removal direction. Furthermore, in a structure that stores and agitates a large volume of liquid, it is necessary to increase the rigidity of the shafts and bearings, taking into account the weight of the liquid.

[0060] In this embodiment, this problem is solved by combining a support unit 120, which is a shaftless support structure, with a support structure with a shaft (a shaft member 117 and a bearing member 103a, which will be described later).

[0061] The support unit 120 is a mechanism that abuts against the outer wall portion 111c of the accommodating unit 110 and rotatably supports the accommodating unit 110. In this embodiment, the support unit 120 supports the accommodating unit 110 rotatably around the rotation center line CL by having a plurality of abutment portions 121 abut against the cylindrical portion 112 of the accommodating member 111. In this embodiment, the support unit 120 has two abutment portions 121, and these two abutment portions 121 abut against the cylindrical portion 112 at abutment positions 112a that are spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion 112.

[0062] Each contact portion 121 in this embodiment is a roller supported by a bearing 122 around an axis in a direction parallel to the rotation center line CL (Y direction). The bearing 122 is supported by the frame 101. The peripheral surface of the contact portion (roller) 121 abuts against the cylindrical portion 112, and the containing unit 110 is placed between the two contact portions (rollers) 121 and can roll freely in place in the direction of arrow DR in Figure 12. Because the containing unit 110 is supported from below by the two abutment portions 121, structural stability can be obtained without requiring significant reinforcement of rigidity, even when the containing unit 110 contains a large volume of liquid and is heavy.

[0063] The cylindrical portion 112 is formed closer to the front end 111a than the rear end 111b of the accommodating member 111, and the support unit 120 rotatably supports the accommodating unit 110 at a position closer to the front end 111a than the rear end 111b. The accommodating unit 110 is supported by the shaftless support unit 120 near the opening 114a, which serves as an entrance and exit for inserting and removing the container support unit 24 into and from the accommodating space 114. Since there are no shafts or bearings in the front of the liquid agitating device 100, the convenience of the user when inserting and removing the container support unit 24 is improved. Furthermore, when inserting and removing the container support unit 24, a load in the direction of gravity may easily act near the opening 114a. However, because two abutment portions 121 support the accommodating unit 110 from below near the opening 114a, such load can be stably received.

[0064] Furthermore, by configuring the housing member 111 to have a cylindrical portion 112 and a rectangular tube portion 113, it is possible to reduce the weight and the moment of inertia of rotation compared to when the entire housing member 111 is formed from the cylindrical portion 112. The rectangular tube portion 113 has a long side portion 113a and a short side portion 113b that form its rectangular outline. In this embodiment, the relationship between the width WL of the long side portion 113a, the width WS of the short side portion 113b, and the radius R of the cylindrical portion 112 is WL > WS and WS < 2 × R. By making the width WS of the rectangular tube portion 113 smaller than the diameter (2 × R) of the cylindrical portion 112, it is possible to reduce the weight and the moment of inertia of rotation.

[0065] On the other hand, the relationship WL>2×R holds, and the cylindrical portion 112 and the abutment position 112a are located inside an imaginary circle VC that passes through the outermost part of the accommodating unit 110 and has the rotation center PC as its center. This makes it possible to reduce the size of the liquid agitating device 100. The side wall 22c of the storage section 23B can be brought closer to the accommodating unit 110, and the size of the liquid agitating device 100 in the X direction can be reduced.

[0066] A shaft member 117 is provided at the rear (toward the rear end 111b) of the accommodation unit 110. The shaft member 117 is fixed to the end of a shaft fixing member 118 and extends along the rotation center line CL. The shaft fixing member 118 is a hollow body having a flange portion 118a fixed to the rear end 111b of the accommodation unit 111 and a body portion 118b extending rearward from the flange portion 118a, and the shaft member 117 is fixed to the end of the body portion 118b. The frame 103 includes a plate-shaped bearing member 103a, and the shaft member 117 is supported by being inserted through a shaft hole 103b. By rotatably supporting the accommodation unit 110 not only by the support unit 120 but also by the shaft member 117 and the bearing member 103a, it is possible to prevent the rotation center PC of the accommodation unit 110 from wobbling, thereby achieving more stable rotation. The shaft member 117 and the bearing member 103a are located on the opposite side of the accommodating unit 110 with respect to the opening 114a, and therefore the convenience of the user when inserting and removing the container support unit 24 is not impaired.

[0067] The liquid agitator 100 also includes a regulating unit 150 that regulates displacement of the accommodating member 111 in a direction intersecting the rotation center line CL. The regulating unit 150 of this embodiment regulates the accommodating member 111 from displacing upward in the Z direction. When inserting or removing the container support unit 24, if an upward force acts on the front side of the accommodating unit 110 and the position of the accommodating unit 110 becomes tilted, a bending load acts on the shaft member 117. By providing the regulating unit 150, such a change in position can be prevented.

[0068] The restriction unit 150 of this embodiment has a plurality of abutment portions 151 that face the cylindrical portion 112 in the Z direction at a position above the rotation center line CL. When the accommodating member 111 attempts to displace upward, the plurality of abutment portions 151 abut against the cylindrical portion 112, physically preventing this displacement. The plurality of abutment portions 151 may be in constant abutment with the cylindrical portion 112, or may normally be located slightly spaced apart in the Z direction.

[0069] In this embodiment, the restriction unit 150 has two contact portions 151, which are spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion 112. In this embodiment, each contact portion 151 is a roller supported by a bearing 152 around an axis parallel to the rotation center line CL (Y direction). The bearing 152 is supported by the frame 102.

[0070] The two contact portions 151 are positioned in the same X and Y directions as the two contact portions 121 of the support unit 120. The same parts can be used for the set of the two contact portions 151 and the bearing 152 and the set of the two contact portions 121 and the bearing 122 of the support unit 120. Sharing parts reduces the number of types of parts.

[0071] <Drive unit> The structure of the drive unit 130 will be described with reference to Figures 8 and 9. The drive unit 130 is disposed outside (rearward of) the rear end portion 111b of the accommodating member 111 in the direction of the rotation center line CL. By disposing the drive unit 130 on the opposite side of the opening 114a from the accommodating unit 110, it is possible to reduce the number of mechanisms present around the opening 114a, improving the convenience of the user when inserting and removing the container support unit 24.

[0072] The drive unit 130 includes a motor 131 as a drive source. The motor 131 is fixed to a frame (not shown). A gear 132 is attached to the output shaft of the motor 131. In this embodiment, the motor 131 is a step motor. The amount of rotation of the containing unit 110 can be controlled by the amount of rotation of the motor 131. The motor 131 may be a DC motor, and in this case, a rotation amount sensor such as a rotary encoder may be provided to control the amount of rotation.

[0073] The drive unit 130 includes gears 133, 134, and 135. The gears 133 and 134 are rotatably supported by a frame (not shown). The gears 133 and 134 are each a double gear, with the large gear of gear 133 meshing with the gear 132, and the small gear of gear 133 meshing with the large gear of gear 134. Furthermore, the small gear of gear 134 meshes with gear 135. A torque limiter 133a is provided between the small gear and large gear of gear 133, which can cut off the drive transmission between them. The torque limiter 133a prevents an overload from being applied to the motor 131. Furthermore, if a user accidentally touches the accommodation unit 110 while it is rotating, the torque limiter 133a cuts off the transmission of the drive force, preventing a high load from being applied to the user's hand.

[0074] The gear 135 is fixed to the shaft member 117. When the motor 131 is driven, the driving force is transmitted to the shaft member 117, causing the containing unit 110 to rotate. The bearing member 103a is located between the gear 135 and the shaft fixing member 118, and these determine the position of the containing unit 110 in the direction of the rotation center line CL. Note that, although a gear mechanism is used as a mechanism for transmitting the driving force from the motor 131 to the shaft member 117, other types of transmission mechanisms such as a belt transmission mechanism may also be used.

[0075] <Example of stirring operation> 14 shows an example of the stirring operation (rotation operation of the storage unit 110) driven by the drive unit 130. State ST141 shows the state in which the storage unit 110 is in the initial position. In the initial position, the storage member 111 is in a horizontal position with the long side portion 113a horizontal. The support portion 240 of the container support unit 24 and the storage container 200 in the storage space 114 are also in a horizontal position, and the gusset portions 202a on both sides of the storage container 200 are positioned at the same height.

[0076] State ST142 shows an inclined state in which the storage unit 110 has rotated counterclockwise by an angle θ1 from the initial position. The position of the storage unit 110 in this state is called the left inclined position. The gusset portions 202a on both sides of the storage container 200 are positioned higher on the right side than on the left side in the figure. Liquid in the storage container 200 flows from the right gusset portion 202a to the left gusset portion 202a.

[0077] State ST143 shows an inclined state in which the storage unit 110 has rotated clockwise by an angle θ2 from the initial position. The position of the storage unit 110 in this state is called the right-tilt position. The gusset portions 202a on both sides of the storage container 200 are higher on the left side than on the right side in the figure. Liquid in the storage container 200 flows from the right gusset portion 202a side to the left gusset portion 202a side.

[0078] The liquid in the container 200 can be agitated by repeatedly changing the posture of the containing unit 110, for example, from state ST141 to state ST142 to state ST141 to state ST143 to state ST141 to . . .

[0079] When changing the attitude of the containing unit 110 from state ST142 to state ST143, the rotation may be temporarily stopped at intermediate state ST141. Conversely, the rotation may not be stopped at intermediate state ST141, and the attitude of the containing unit 110 may be continuously changed from state ST141 to state ST143. The same applies when changing the attitude of the containing unit 110 from state ST143 to state ST142.

[0080] Alternatively, between state ST142 and state ST143, the orientation of the containing unit 110 may be changed continuously multiple times without stopping the rotation in state ST141, and then the rotation may be stopped for a predetermined time in state ST141. This operation may then be repeated. By stopping the rotation for a predetermined time in state ST141, the power consumption of the motor 131 can be reduced, and by resuming the rotation before the settling of particles in the liquid progresses, the uniformity of the liquid can be maintained.

[0081] The angles θ1 and θ2 may be the same or different. The angles θ1 and θ2 may be the same when performing a stirring operation under one condition, and may be different when performing a stirring operation under another condition. When the angles θ1 and θ2 are different angles, the magnitude relationship between them may be switched alternately between θ1 > θ2 and θ1 < θ2.

[0082] If angles θ1 and θ2 are too small, the stirring effect will decrease, and if they are too large, container 200 may be twisted. Therefore, angles θ1 and θ2 may be, for example, angles selected from the range of 20 degrees or more and less than 90 degrees, or may be angles selected from the range of 60 degrees or more and 80 degrees or less. A specific angle may be, for example, 70 degrees.

[0083] The angles θ1 and θ2 may be different depending on the conditions for starting the stirring operation. For example, the angles θ1 and θ2 may be larger under conditions in which it is estimated that sedimentation is progressing, and smaller under conditions in which it is estimated that sedimentation is not progressing.

[0084] The rotation of the containing unit 110 is controlled by accelerating from a stationary state, rotating at a constant speed, and then decelerating and stopping. If the constant rotation speed (the rotation speed of the motor 131) is too fast, excessive load may be placed on the containing unit 200, while if it is too slow, stirring will take a long time. Therefore, the constant rotation speed may be selected, for example, from a range of 20 deg / sec to 160 deg / sec, or from a range of 30 deg / sec to 140 deg / sec. The constant rotation speed may be related to the angles θ1 and θ2. For example, when the angles θ1 and θ2 are θα, the rotation speed may be V1. When the angles θ1 and θ2 are θβ, which is larger than θα, the rotation speed may be V2, which is slower than V1. This allows for both reduced load on the containing unit 200 and good fluidity of the liquid.

[0085] <Rotation range restriction structure> If the accommodating unit 110 rotates excessively, there are problems such as malfunction of the drive system or twisting of the tube that discharges the liquid, which impedes the flow of the liquid. Excessive rotation can occur, for example, when a user inserts or removes the container support unit 24 from the accommodating unit 110, accidentally rotating the accommodating unit 110 by hand. The liquid agitating device 100 of this embodiment is provided with a structure that physically restricts the rotation range of the accommodating unit 110.

[0086] Please refer to Figures 8, 9, 12, and 15 to 17. Figure 15 is an explanatory diagram of the rotation restriction unit 140, and Figures 16 and 17 are diagrams showing how the rotation restriction unit 140 restricts rotation.

[0087] The liquid agitator 100 is provided with a rotation restriction unit 140 that restricts the rotation range of the accommodating unit 110. The rotation restriction unit 140 is provided with stoppers 141 and 142 that come into contact with the accommodating unit 110 to physically restrict its rotation. By coming into contact with the accommodating unit 110 and directly restricting the rotation of the accommodating unit 110, excessive rotation of the accommodating unit 110 can be reliably prevented.

[0088] The stoppers 141 and 142 are block-shaped members fixed to the frame 101 and have inclined abutment surfaces 141a and 142a. The stopper 141 abuts against an abutment portion 115 formed on the outer wall portion 111c of the accommodating unit 110, thereby defining the upper limit of the range of rotation of the accommodating unit 110 in one direction (rotation from state ST141 to state ST142 in FIG. 14). The stopper 142 abuts against an abutment portion 116 formed on the outer wall portion 111c of the accommodating unit 110, thereby defining the upper limit of the range of rotation of the accommodating unit 110 in the other direction (rotation from state ST141 to state ST143 in FIG. 14). In this embodiment, the angles of the upper limits of the rotation range defined by the stoppers 141 and 142 are the same.

[0089] Abutment portions 115 and 116 are formed on square tube-shaped portion 113, and in particular, are formed on long side portion 113a rather than short side portion 113b. If the abutment portions protrude from short side portion 113b, their presence tends to increase the diameter of imaginary circle VC shown in FIG. 12. This may result in the liquid agitator 100 becoming larger in the X and Z directions. By forming abutment portions 115 and 116 on part of long side portion 113a, the liquid agitator 100 can be made smaller.

[0090] 12, the contact surfaces 141a and 142a of the stoppers 141 and 142 are located inside the imaginary circle VC. In other words, the contact positions of the stoppers 141 and 142 and the contact portions 115 and 116 in the radial direction of the rotation of the containing unit 110 (radial direction of the imaginary circle VC) are located inside the imaginary circle VC. The positions of the stoppers 141 and 142 in the X and Z directions can be kept within a narrow range, and the liquid agitating device 100 can be made smaller in size in the X and Z directions.

[0091] 15, when viewed in the direction of the rotation center line CL, abutment portions 115 and 116 are spaced apart in the X direction by a distance W1 with respect to the abutment position, and stoppers 141 and 142 are spaced apart in the X direction by a distance W2. The relationship is W1>W2. The arrangement range of stoppers 141 and 142 in the X direction is within the width of accommodating member 111, so that liquid agitating device 100 can be made smaller in size in the X direction.

[0092] Furthermore, the abutment portions 115 and 116 are formed at the end of the long side portion 113a in the X direction (at the boundary with the short side portion 113b). Because they are located relatively far from the rotation center PC, even if the rigidity of the stoppers 141 and 142 is relatively low, the rotation of the containing unit 110 can be more reliably restricted.

[0093] The stoppers 141 and 142 are arranged spaced apart in the direction of the rotation center line CL (Y direction). Corresponding to such an arrangement of the stoppers 141 and 142, the abutment portions 115 and 116 are also arranged spaced apart in the direction of the rotation center line CL (Y direction). By arranging the stoppers 141 and 142 so as to be offset in the direction of the rotation center line CL, it is possible to shorten the distance between the stoppers 141 and 142 in the X direction even if the allowable range of rotation of the containing unit 110 is large. This allows the liquid agitating device 100 to be made smaller in size in the X direction.

[0094] 16 is a perspective view showing, from two directions, a state in which rotation of the accommodating unit 110 is restricted by the stopper 141 abutting against the abutment portion 115. Further rotation of the accommodating unit 110 is physically restricted by the abutment portion 115 abutting against the abutment surface 141 a of the stopper 141. An interference avoidance portion 115′ is formed in the accommodating member 111 adjacent to the abutment portion 115. In this embodiment, the interference avoidance portion 115′ is a recess, and interference between the abutment portion 116 and the accommodating member 111 is avoided.

[0095] 17 is a perspective view showing, from two directions, a state in which rotation of the accommodating unit 110 is restricted by the stopper 142 abutting against the abutment portion 116. The abutment portion 116 abuts against the abutment surface 142a of the stopper 142, physically restricting further rotation of the accommodating unit 110. An interference avoidance portion 116' is formed in the accommodating member 111 adjacent to the abutment portion 116. In this embodiment, the interference avoidance portion 116' is a recess, which prevents interference between the abutment portion 116 and the accommodating member 111.

[0096] In this embodiment, the rotation range of the containing unit 110 is restricted by the contact between the stoppers 141 and 142 and the containing member 111, but the rotation range may be restricted by using other parts. For example, the rotation range of the containing unit 110 may be restricted by contacting a stopper with the gear 133, the gear 134, or the gear 135 of the drive unit 130 to restrict its rotation.

[0097] <Rotation position detection> The containing unit 110 can be touched by the user, and the position of the containing unit 110 may shift when the liquid agitating device 100 is powered off. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a torque limiter 133a is provided in the drive transmission path of the drive unit 130, which can cause an error between the amount of rotation of the motor 131 and the rotation position of the containing unit 110. If there is a large error in the recognition of the rotation position of the containing unit 110, the rotation of the containing unit 110 may not be accurately controlled during the agitation operation. In this embodiment, a sensor that detects the position of the containing unit 110 is provided, thereby improving the recognition accuracy of the rotation position of the containing unit 110.

[0098] Please refer to Figures 9, 16, 17 and 18. Figure 18 is an explanatory diagram of the position detection operation of the accommodation unit 110.

[0099] The containing unit 110 is provided with a detection piece 181 that rotates around the rotation center line CL together with the containing unit 110. In this embodiment, the detection piece 181 is formed integrally with the gear 135 and is fixed to the shaft member 117 by using the gear 135. A sensor 180 that detects the detection piece 181 is fixed to the frame 103. The sensor 180 is, for example, an optical sensor, and detects whether the detection piece 181 is present at the detection position of the sensor 180. When the containing unit 110 is viewed from the rear, the detection position is the 3 o'clock position if compared to the face of a clock centered on the rotation center PC (see FIG. 18).

[0100] The detection piece 181 includes a portion extending around the rotation center line CL, and when the rotation position of the containing unit 110 is within a certain rotation range, the sensor 180 detects the detection piece 181. In this embodiment, the detection piece 181 has an arc shape (or a fan shape) centered on the rotation center CL, and particularly in this embodiment, it has an arc shape that is a semicircle.

[0101] In this embodiment, the position where the edge of the detection piece 181 crosses the sensor 180 (the position where the detection result changes, for example, from non-detection to detection) is taken as the reference position. In this embodiment, the reference position corresponds to the initial position of the containing unit 110 (state ST141 in FIG. 14). State ST182 in FIG. 18 shows the positional relationship between the detection piece 181 and the sensor 180 when the containing unit 110 is in the initial position.

[0102] The detection piece 181 is provided so that the detection piece 181 can be detected by the sensor 180 while the accommodation unit 110 moves from the initial position to the left tilt position shown in state ST142 in Figure 14. State ST183 in Figure 18 shows a position in the middle of the accommodation unit 110 rotating from the initial position to the left tilt position (state ST142) in Figure 14.

[0103] The detection piece 181 is provided so that it is not detected by the sensor 180 while the accommodation unit 110 moves from the initial position to the right tilt position shown in state ST143 in Fig. 14. State ST181 in Fig. 18 shows a position in the middle of the accommodation unit 110 rotating from the initial position to the right tilt position (state ST143) in Fig. 14.

[0104] An example of processing that uses the detection results of sensor 180 will be described. This processing can be executed by control unit 32, which will be described later. First, an example of initialization processing that rotates containing unit 110 to the initial position will be described with reference to FIG. 18. The initialization processing can be performed, for example, when power is turned on to liquid agitation device 100. The initialization processing can also be performed periodically, for example, after power is turned on to liquid agitation device 100.

[0105] In the initialization process, first, the detection result of the sensor 180 is obtained, and it is determined whether or not the detection piece 181 has been detected. If the detection piece 181 is not detected, as exemplified in state ST181 in FIG. 18, it can be determined that the accommodating unit 110 is in a position rotated toward the right-inclined position (toward state ST143 in FIG. 14) from the initial position. Therefore, the drive unit 130 rotates the accommodating unit 110 in the direction of arrow RL, and the rotation of the accommodating unit 110 is stopped at the position where the detection result of the sensor 180 changes from non-detection to detection. The accommodating unit 110 is now located in its initial position.

[0106] When the detection piece 181 is detected as shown in state ST183 in Figure 18, it can be determined that the accommodating unit 110 is in a position rotated toward the left tilt position (toward state ST142 in Figure 14) from the initial position. Therefore, the drive unit 130 rotates the accommodating unit 110 in the direction of arrow RR. After passing the position where the detection result of the sensor 180 changes from detection to non-detection, the rotation direction of the accommodating unit 110 is reversed, and the accommodating unit 110 is stopped at the position where the detection result of the sensor 180 changes from non-detection to detection. The accommodating unit 110 is now located in its initial position.

[0107] In this manner, in this embodiment, by making the shape of the detection piece 181 correspond to the rotational position of the containing unit 110, it is possible to determine in which rotational direction the containing unit 110 has been rotated relative to the initial position based on the detection result of the sensor 180. As a result, the initialization process can be completed quickly.

[0108] Next, an example of rotation error processing of the containing unit 110 during the stirring operation will be described. In the stirring operation illustrated in Fig. 14, the detection result of the sensor 180 switches from non-detection to detection, or from detection to non-detection, every time the containing unit 110 passes the initial position (state ST141). If the detection result of the sensor 180 does not switch even when the amount of rotation of the motor 131 reaches a predetermined amount, it can be determined that a foreign object has interfered with the drive unit 130 or the containing unit 110, making it unable to rotate.

[0109] If it is determined that rotation is impossible, error processing can be performed, such as stopping the driving of the motor 131 and notifying the user. For example, a message may be displayed via the operation panel 10 or the host computer 300, instructing the liquid ejection device 1 or the liquid stirring device 100 to be initialized by turning off the power, or the message may be notified by voice or the like. Alternatively, an error code may be displayed via the operation panel 10 or the host computer 300, or the error code may be notified by voice or the like, so that the user can be guided to a service call.

[0110] In this embodiment, the detection piece 181 is formed integrally with the gear 135, but the location of the detection piece 181 is not limited to the gear 135. For example, the detection piece 181 may be provided on the housing member 111, or may be provided on the cylindrical portion 112, for example.

[0111] <Liquid discharge structure> The structure for discharging liquid from the container 200 via the needle member 110a will now be described. A flow path forming member 119 is provided at the rear end 111b of the container 111 between the rear end 111b and the shaft fixing member 118. Figure 19 is a diagram showing the flow path forming member 119 at the rear end 11b of the container 111 and the valve unit 170, with the shaft fixing member 118 removed from the rear end 111b. Figure 20 shows an example of a flow path formed by the flow path forming member 119 and a change in the position of the flow path forming member 119 as the container unit 110 rotates.

[0112] First, refer to Figure 20. The flow path forming member 119 forms a liquid flow path 119b and two liquid flow paths 119a branching off from the flow path 119b. An outlet hole 1903 is formed at the end of the flow path 119b. A communication hole 1901 is formed at the end of each flow path 119a, communicating with each of the needle members 110a in the upper and lower two storage spaces 114. A check valve 1902 is formed midway along the flow path 119a. The liquid in the container 200 flows out of the storage unit 110 through the needle member 110a, the communication hole 1901, the flow path 119a, the flow path 119b, and the outlet hole 1903, in this order.

[0113] State ST201 shows the posture of the flow path forming member 119 when the accommodating unit 110 is in the initial position. State ST202 shows the posture of the flow path forming member 119 when the accommodating unit 110 is in the left tilt position (state ST142 in FIG. 14). State ST203 shows the posture of the flow path forming member 119 when the accommodating unit 110 is in the right tilt position (state ST143 in FIG. 14).

[0114] If the liquid agitation device 100 is not operated for a long period of time with the containing unit 110 in the initial position, particles contained in the liquid may settle around each branch point between the flow path 119b and the two flow paths 119a. However, in this embodiment, when the containing unit 110 rotates due to the agitation operation, the flow path forming member 119 also rotates and its position changes. Because the inclination of the flow paths 119a and 119b changes, particles that had settled around each branch point become more likely to flow along with the liquid, and clogging of the flow paths 119a and 119b with particles can be prevented.

[0115] 19 is an electrically operated valve that switches between closing and opening flow path 119a at position 171' near each branch point between flow path 119b and the two flow paths 119a. Valve unit 170 includes two valve elements 171 corresponding to the two positions 171', a motor 172 that is a drive source, and a position sensor 173 that detects the positions of the two valve elements 171. A cam mechanism (not shown) built into valve unit 170 is driven by motor 172 to drive valve element 171, thereby switching between closing and opening flow path 119a.

[0116] The valve unit 170 makes it possible to selectively close both of the two flow paths 119a or open one of them. For example, if containers 200 containing the same type of liquid are stored in each of the two storage spaces 114 on the two levels, liquid is supplied from one container 200 and the supply of liquid from the other container 200 is stopped. When the remaining amount of liquid in one container 200 runs out, liquid is supplied from the other container 200 and the supply of liquid from the one container 200 is stopped. The one container 200 with no remaining liquid can then be replaced with a new container 200.

[0117] <Tube wiring structure> A flexible tube is connected to the outlet hole 1903, and the liquid is supplied to the liquid discharger 1 via the tube. As shown in FIG. 20 , as the containing unit 110 rotates, the flow path forming member 190 also rotates, changing the position of the outlet hole 1903. It is necessary to prevent the tube from twisting due to this position change or from making unintended movements that could cause contact with and damage to surrounding structures. In this embodiment, such a problem is solved by employing a structure that controls the behavior of the tube as the containing unit 110 rotates.

[0118] Please refer to Figures 9, 13, 16, 17, and 21 to 23. Figure 21 is a rear view showing the rear part of the accommodation unit 110, and shows the state in which the drive unit 130 has been removed, except for the gear 135. Figure 22 is an explanatory diagram of the holding member 165. Figure 23 is a diagram showing an example of how the shape of the tube 160, etc. changes when the accommodation unit 110 is rotated.

[0119] The tube 160 has an end 160a connected to the outlet hole 2903 and extends from the accommodating unit 110. The tube 160 forms a discharge flow path for the liquid discharged from the accommodating unit 110 (i.e., the liquid in the container 200). A fixing member 161 is provided around the body 118b of the shaft fixing member 118. The fixing member 161 is a clip-type member that clamps an intermediate portion of the tube 160 and fixes the intermediate portion of the tube 160 to the accommodating unit 110. The fixing member 161 rotates together with the accommodating unit 110 around the rotation center line CL.

[0120] A fixing member 162 is provided on the frame 103. The fixing member 162 is a clip-type member that fixes an intermediate portion of the tube 160 downstream of the fixing member 161 in the outflow direction of the liquid. Because the fixing member 162 is fixed to the frame 103, it is an immovable member that does not rotate together with the containing unit 110. As shown in FIG. 9 , the fixing members 161 and 162 are arranged on an imaginary plane VF that is perpendicular to the rotation center line CL. In this embodiment, the fixing members 161 and 162 are arranged on a common imaginary plane, but the imaginary plane VF on which the fixing member 161 is arranged and the imaginary plane VF on which the fixing member 162 is arranged may be offset in the direction of the rotation center line CL. In that case, the tube 160 may be arranged in a spiral shape extending in the direction of the rotation center CL.

[0121] When the accommodation unit 110 is in the initial position, as shown in FIG. 21 , if we compare it to a clock face centered on the rotation center PC, the fixing member 161 is at the 2 o'clock position and the fixing member 162 is at the 10 o'clock position. The tube 160 passes clockwise from the end 160a, passes above the body 118b, reaches the fixing member 161, and then passes further clockwise below the body 118b, reaches the fixing member 162. The tube 160 then extends further from the fixing member 162 ( FIG. 13 ). Only the section of the tube 160 from the end 160a to the fixing member 162 is shown in FIGS. 21 and 22 . The fixing members 161 and 162 are positioned at least inside the cylindrical portion 112 when viewed from the Y direction. This allows the movement area in the X direction of the tube 160, which rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the accommodation unit 110, to be reduced.

[0122] The fixing member 161 fixes a middle portion of the tube 160 so that it is oriented more in the tangential direction L1 than in the radial direction L2 of a virtual circle on the XZ plane centered on the rotation center PC. In this embodiment, this middle portion is oriented in the tangential direction L1. Similarly, the fixing member 162 fixes a middle portion of the tube 160 so that it is oriented more in the tangential direction L3 than in the radial direction L4 of a virtual circle on the XZ plane centered on the rotation center PC. In this embodiment, this middle portion is oriented in the tangential direction L13. Therefore, in the tube section from the end 160a of the tube 160 to the fixing member 161 and the tube section from the fixing member 161 to the fixing member 162, the tube 160 is routed in an arc or spiral shape around the rotation center line CL. The fixing members 161 and 162 are configured to fix the tube 160 approximately parallel to the tangential directions L1 and L3, respectively. This allows the expansion direction of the tube 160, which rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the accommodation unit 110, to be guided in the direction of gravity, reducing the load on the tube 160 and suppressing damage to the tube 160. This also reduces the expansion of the tube 160 in the X direction, making it possible to reduce the size of the space in the X direction in which the tube 160 runs.

[0123] In this embodiment, the tube 160 is routed along the tube section from the fixing member 161 to the fixing member 162 together with an electric cable (for example, a flexible flat cable) 163 and a flexible band member 164 .

[0124] The electric cable 163 includes wiring for electrical components provided in the accommodating unit 110, such as the electric wiring for the motor 172 and the sensor 173. Similar to the tube 160, the electric cable 163 is fixed at an intermediate portion thereof by a fixing member 161, and at an intermediate portion downstream thereof by a fixing member 162. In the cable section from the fixing member 161 to the fixing member 162, the electric cable 163 is routed in an arc or spiral shape around the rotation center line CL. The tube 160, the electric cable 163, the fixing member 161, and the fixing member 162 are arranged closer to the rear end 111b of the accommodating member 111 than the front end 111a, particularly behind the rear end 111b in this embodiment. These configurations do not interfere with the user's insertion and removal of the container support unit 24 near the front end 111a, improving user convenience.

[0125] The belt member 164 is made of, for example, a polyester film. The belt member 164 supports the tube 160 and the electric cable 163 and further stabilizes the behavior of the tube 160 and the electric cable 163 when the accommodation unit 110 rotates. The belt member 164 extends from the fixed member 161 to the fixed member 162.

[0126] In order to route the tube 160 and the electric cable 163 together with the belt member 164 as a single unit, a plurality of holding members 165 are used to hold them. The plurality of holding members 165 are arranged in the section from the fixing member 161 to the fixing member 162, and are bundling members that integrally bundle the tube 160, the electric cable 163, and the belt member 164. Figure 23 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of the holding members 165, which are configured to hold the respective intermediate portions of the tube 160, the electric cable 163, and the belt member 164 with gaps 165a. The holding members 165 can prevent the tube 160, the electric cable 163, and the belt member 164 from coming apart.

[0127] 23, the behavior of the tube 160, the electric cable 163, and the belt member 164 (hereinafter referred to as the tube 160, etc.) when the accommodation unit 110 rotates will be described. State ST221 shows a state in which the accommodation unit 110 is in the initial position. The tube 160, etc. have a moderate amount of play or slack in the space from the fixing member 161 to the fixing member 162.

[0128] State ST222 shows the state of the tube 160, etc. when the accommodation unit 110 is in the left tilt position (state ST142 in FIG. 14 ). Compared to state ST221, in state ST222, the length of the section between fixing members 161 and 162 in the clockwise direction in the figure is shorter, and the two are closer together. The amount of play or slack in the tube 160, etc., increases in the section from fixing member 161 to fixing member 162, and the radius of the arc described by this section increases.

[0129] State ST223 shows the state of the tubes 160, etc. when the accommodation unit 110 is in the right-tilted position (state ST143 in FIG. 14 ). Compared to state ST221, in state ST223, the length of the section between fixing members 161 and 162 in the clockwise direction in the figure is longer, and the two are spaced apart. The amount of play or slack in the tubes 160, etc. is reduced in the section from fixing member 161 to fixing member 162, and the radius of the arc described by this section is smaller. The tubes 160, etc. are close to the circumferential surface of body portion 118b but do not come into contact with it, and the tubes 160, etc. do not come into contact with the valve unit 170.

[0130] In this manner, in this embodiment, by adopting an arrangement in which the radius of the arc described by the tube 160 or the like changes depending on the direction of rotation of the accommodation unit 110, it is possible to control the behavior of the tube accompanying the rotation of the accommodation unit 110. As a result, it is possible to prevent twisting of the tube 160 or the like or the occurrence of unintended behavior.

[0131] <Control circuit> The configuration of the control circuit of system A will be described with reference to Figure 24. Figure 24 is a block diagram of the control circuit of system A. Main control unit 30 controls the entire system A in response to instructions from host computer 300 and operation panel 10. Control unit 31 controls the liquid ejection device 1 based on instructions from main control unit 30, and control unit 32 controls liquid storage devices 20A and 20B based on instructions from main control unit 30. Main control unit 30 and control units 31 and 32 each include, for example, at least one processor, at least one storage device, and at least one input / output interface. The storage device is, for example, a semiconductor memory such as RAM or ROM. The input / output interface inputs and outputs signals between the processor and external devices (sensors, motors, etc.).

[0132] The ejection control unit 35 controls the ejection head 8, particularly the ejection of liquid. The actuator group 34 includes a transport motor that is the drive source for the transport unit 6, a carriage motor that is the drive source for the movement mechanism of the carriage (not shown), a take-up motor that is the drive source for the take-up unit 5, and a recovery motor that is the drive source for the recovery unit 9. The actuator group 34 also includes a cutter motor that is the drive source for a cutter (not shown) that cuts the recording medium M after image recording. The sensor group 33 includes various sensors that the liquid ejection device 1 is equipped with.

[0133] The clock unit 38 is a counter that outputs the count result of the elapsed time to the control unit 32. When the stirring period of the liquid is managed by time, the count result of the clock unit 38 can be used. The stirring timing can also be determined by using the count result of the clock unit 38.

[0134] The actuator group 37 includes motors 131 and 172, a flow path valve 232, and the like provided in the liquid agitating device 100. The sensor group 36 includes sensors 26 and 180, and the like provided in the liquid agitating device 100.

[0135] <Example of control circuit processing> An example of processing executed by the control unit 32 for the stirring operation will be described. Here, the stirring operation using the rotation restriction unit 140 will be described. As described above, the rotation restriction unit 140 is a structure that physically restricts the rotation range of the containing unit 110. On the other hand, by intentionally causing the abutment portions 115 and 116 to collide with the stoppers 141 and 142, it is possible to apply an impact to the containing unit 110 and improve the stirring effect of the liquid. However, when the abutment portions 115 and 116 abut against the stoppers 141 and 142, a hitting sound may be generated. Therefore, operating conditions are determined in advance, and one of the following rotation operations, which have different rotation ranges for the containing unit 110, is performed depending on whether the operating conditions are met.

[0136] FIG. 25 shows an example of the rotational movement of the storage unit 110 when a normal stirring action is to occur. State ST251 shows a state in which the storage unit 110 is in the initial position. State ST252 shows a state in which the storage unit 110 has been rotated to a left tilt position. At this time, the rotation direction of the storage unit 110 is reversed before the abutment portion 115 abuts against the stopper 141. As an example, the amount of rotation of the motor 131 is controlled so that the rotation of the storage unit 110 stops before the abutment portion 115 abuts against the stopper 141, and then the motor 131 is rotated in the reverse direction. Because the abutment portion 115 does not abut against the stopper 141, the generation of a hitting sound can be prevented.

[0137] State ST253 shows a state in which the accommodation unit 110 has been rotated to the right tilt position. Similarly, the rotation direction of the accommodation unit 110 is reversed before the abutment portion 116 abuts against the stopper 142. As an example, the rotation amount of the motor 131 is controlled so that the rotation of the accommodation unit 110 stops before the abutment portion 116 abuts against the stopper 142, and then the motor 131 is rotated in the reverse direction. Because the abutment portion 116 does not abut against the stopper 142, it is possible to prevent the generation of a hitting sound.

[0138] 26 shows an example of the rotational operation of the containing unit 110 when a high stirring effect is to be generated. This rotational operation is performed, for example, when the system A is powered on, when the liquid stirring device 100 is powered on, when the container 200 is replaced, when a container 200 that has been stored stationary for a long period of time is used, etc.

[0139] State ST261 shows a state in which the accommodating unit 110 is in its initial position. State ST262 shows a state in which the accommodating unit 110 has been rotated to a left tilt position. At this time, the rotation direction of the accommodating unit 110 is reversed after the abutment portion 115 abuts against the stopper 141. As an example, the amount of rotation of the motor 131 is controlled so that the accommodating unit 110 continues to rotate until the abutment portion 115 abuts against the stopper 141, and then the motor 131 is stopped and rotates in the reverse direction. As the abutment portion 115 abuts against the stopper 141, an impact is applied to the accommodating unit 110, improving the agitation performance of the liquid in the container 200. Even if an impact is applied to the accommodating unit 110, the torque limiter 133a prevents the impact from being transmitted to the motor 131, thereby minimizing the impact on the drive system.

[0140] State ST263 shows a state in which the accommodating unit 110 has been rotated to the right-tilted position. Similarly, after the abutting portion 116 abuts against the stopper 142, the rotation direction of the accommodating unit 110 is reversed. As an example, the rotation amount of the motor 131 is controlled so that the accommodating unit 110 continues to rotate until the abutting portion 116 abuts against the stopper 142, and then the motor 131 is stopped and rotates in the reverse direction. As the abutting portion 116 abuts against the stopper 142, an impact is applied to the accommodating unit 110, improving the agitation performance of the liquid in the container 200.

[0141] 26, the rotational movement may be controlled so that the impact is applied only to one tilt position. Specifically, at the left tilt position, the rotational direction of the accommodating unit 110 is reversed after the abutment portion 115 abuts against the stopper 141. However, at the right tilt position, the rotational direction of the accommodating unit 110 is reversed before the abutment portion 116 abuts against the stopper 142, so that the abutment portion 116 does not abut against the stopper 142.

[0142] As an opposite pattern, in the right tilt position, the rotation direction of the accommodating unit 110 is reversed after the abutment portion 116 abuts against the stopper 142. However, in the left tilt position, the rotation direction of the accommodating unit 110 is reversed before the abutment portion 115 abuts against the stopper 141, so that the abutment portion 115 does not abut against the stopper 141.

[0143] In this way, when controlling so that an impact acts only on one tilt position, the combination of the contact portion and stopper to be collided may be changed under predetermined conditions. For example, after a predetermined number of rotational movements causing contact portion 115 to collide with stopper 141 have been performed, the combination of the contact portion and stopper to be collided is changed to contact portion 116 and stopper 142. Then, after a predetermined number of rotational movements causing contact portion 116 to collide with stopper 142 have been performed, the combination of the contact portion and stopper to be collided is changed again to contact portion 115 and stopper 141. The condition for changing the combination may be the time or period of the rotational movements in addition to the number of rotational movements.

[0144] Second Embodiment Another configuration example of the liquid agitation device 100 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0145] The outer wall portion 111c of the accommodation member 111 of the first embodiment includes a cylindrical portion 112 and a square tube portion 113, but the entire outer wall portion of the accommodation member 111 may be cylindrical, as in configuration example EX1 of FIG.

[0146] Next, in the first embodiment, an example was shown in which the accommodating unit 110 is a pivotable support structure that combines the support unit 120, which is a shaftless support structure, with a shafted support structure (shaft member 117, bearing member 103a). However, the accommodating unit 110 may be rotatably supported by only the shaftless support structure. Configuration example EX2 in FIG. 27 shows one such example, in which two pairs of cylindrical portions 112 and support units 120 are provided spaced apart in the direction of the rotation center line CL to support the accommodating unit 110. This makes it possible to eliminate the need for the shaft member 117 and bearing member 103a.

[0147] In the case of a configuration in which the containing unit 110 is rotatably supported only by a shaftless support structure as in this example, the drive unit 130 may be configured to rotate the contact portion 121 (roller) to rotate the containing unit 110, as in configuration example EX3 of Fig. 27. Alternatively, as in configuration example EX4 of Fig. 27, the drive unit 130 may be configured to include a gear 136 fixed to the periphery of the containing member 111, and to transmit driving force to the gear 136 to rotate the containing unit 110.

[0148] Next, in the first embodiment, the cylindrical portion 112 is provided around the entire circumferential direction of the accommodating member 111, and the cylindrical portion 112 is supported by the support unit 120, but the portion with which the support unit 120 abuts may be within the range of rotation of the accommodating unit 100. For example, as in configuration example EX5 in Fig. 27 , a configuration may be adopted in which an arc-shaped portion 112' is provided in place of the cylindrical portion 112, and the abutment portion 121 of the support unit 120 abuts against the circumferential surface of the arc-shaped portion 112'.

[0149] Next, in the first embodiment, the contact portion 121 of the support unit 120 is configured as a roller, but instead of a member that rolls like a roller, it may be a member that slides against the storage member 111. Configuration example EX6 in Figure 27 shows one such example. The contact portion 121A that replaces the contact portion 121 is a member that has a curved surface with which the cylindrical portion 112 slides, and does not roll.

[0150] Next, in the first embodiment, the opening 114a of the storage space 114 is configured to open at the front end 111a in the direction of the rotation center line CL of the storage member 111, but the opening may open in a direction intersecting the rotation center line CL. For example, configuration example EX7 in Fig. 28 is configured such that a storage space 114', instead of the storage space 114, opens upward. The container 200 (or the container 200 and the container support unit 24) is inserted into and removed from the storage space 114' in the vertical direction.

[0151] Next, in the first embodiment, the container 200 is configured to be replaceable with respect to the containing unit 110, but the containing unit 110 may be a liquid tank equivalent to the container 200. Configuration example EX8 in FIG. 28 shows one example, in which the containing unit 110A itself constitutes a liquid tank. In configuration example EX8, similar to configuration example EX3 in FIG. 27, the supporting unit 120 is configured to rotatably support the containing unit 110A using only the shaftless supporting unit 120. Therefore, when the remaining amount of liquid runs out, the containing unit 110A is replaced as a whole.

[0152] Next, in the first embodiment, an example was given in which the accommodating unit 110 has a pivotal support structure that combines the support unit 120, which is a shaftless support structure, with a shafted support structure (shaft member 117, bearing member 103a). However, the accommodating unit 110 may be pivotally supported solely by a shafted support structure. Configuration example EX9 in FIG. 29 shows one such example. The accommodating unit 110 has not only a shaft 117 at its rear end but also a shaft 117' at its front end, each of which is supported by a bearing 104. The bearing 104 is configured to support the shafts 117, 117' with a horizontally extending beam portion. When the accommodating unit 110 is in its initial position, the beam portion and the shaft 117' are located between the two storage spaces 114, and are configured not to significantly interfere with the insertion and removal of the container support unit 24 into and from the storage space 114.

[0153] Third Embodiment A third embodiment of the present invention will now be described, which differs from the first embodiment in the configuration of the liquid storage device.

[0154] The configuration and operation of the liquid ejection device 1 in this embodiment are the same as those of the liquid ejection device 1 in the first embodiment, but the configuration of the liquid storage device is different from that in the first embodiment, so the following description will mainly focus on the liquid storage device and will omit a description of the liquid ejection device 1. Furthermore, with regard to the liquid storage device, parts that perform the same functions as those in the first embodiment will be given the same reference numerals and some descriptions will be omitted.

[0155] Fig. 30 is a perspective view of system B according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 31 is a front view of system B. In each figure, arrows X, Y, and Z indicate directions that intersect with each other, and in this embodiment, they are perpendicular to each other. When system A is installed on a horizontal surface, the left-right direction is the X direction, the front-back direction is the Y direction, and the up-down direction is the Z direction. The X and Y directions can also be called lateral directions.

[0156] System B of this embodiment is a recording system that includes a liquid ejection device 1 and liquid storage devices 40A and 40B, and records an image by ejecting ink onto a recording medium such as paper. In this embodiment, two liquid storage devices 40A and 40B are provided. The liquid ejection device 1 and the two liquid storage devices 40A and 40B are arranged side by side in the X direction. The liquid supplied to the liquid ejection device 1 by the liquid storage devices 40A and 40B is mainly ink, and the liquid ejection device 1 is a recording device that ejects ink onto a recording medium. However, the present invention is not limited to recording systems, and can be applied to various liquid ejection systems used for ejecting liquid onto a medium.

[0157] Here, the characteristics of the liquid contained in liquid storage devices 40A and 40B and the stirring performance required according to the characteristics will be described.

[0158] As explained in the first embodiment, pigment components of pigment-based inks, which have high water resistance and light resistance, and titanium oxide components used for white inks, are insoluble in water and therefore settle, accumulate, and aggregate at the bottom of the container 200 due to gravity when left standing for a long period of time. Therefore, to achieve the required color, a stirring operation is required to evenly disperse the color components in the liquid while maintaining the specified particle diameter. Therefore, it is desirable to stir the liquid and the color components by generating a movement in the liquid that exceeds the particle settling velocity or a movement that breaks up particle clusters.

[0159] Incidentally, it is known that color-producing components (ink compositions) have various specific gravities and therefore differ in sedimentation speed. In other words, the faster the sedimentation speed, the greater the movement required for stirring. As a result, if the movement is too small, the stirring will be insufficient, and if the movement is too large, it will cause the device to become larger. Furthermore, as devices become more multicolored and larger in capacity, it is also essential to have multiple ink containers.

[0160] Therefore, in this third embodiment, ink with a slow settling speed undergoes a first agitation, which is a small agitation operation due to pressure, and ink with a fast settling speed undergoes a second agitation, which is a large agitation operation due to rotation.

[0161] More specifically, only ink with a fast settling rate, such as white ink, is agitated using the liquid agitator 100 built into the storage unit 23B described in the first embodiment, by changing the attitude of the container 200 and stirring the ink in the container 200 (the ink in the storage means) with a large movement that swaps the ink up and down, thereby preventing it from settling to the bottom of the container 200. On the other hand, ink with a slower settling rate, such as normal colors, is prevented from settling with a movement that does not require a large operating space that would deform the container 200. The mechanism for agitating the ink by pressing the container 200 will be described in detail later.

[0162] In this third embodiment, by arranging a plurality of stirring mechanisms in this manner, it is possible to achieve optimal stirring performance according to the ink characteristics, and also to arrange ink containers in multiple layers within a limited space.

[0163] The pigment components contained in commonly used inks such as cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (hereinafter referred to as C, M, Y, and Bk) have particle sizes of several tens of nanometers and low specific gravity, so they can be stirred without applying significant movement to the container 200. For this reason, the first stirring, which involves small movement, is performed. On the other hand, titanium oxide, which is used in white ink, has large particle sizes and specific gravity, so it easily settles without applying significant movement. For this reason, the second stirring, which involves large movement, is performed using the liquid stirring device 100 built into the storage unit 23B described in the first embodiment. Note that the liquid to be subjected to the second stirring by the liquid stirring device 100 may be a liquid containing metal powder and a metallic color such as gold or silver.

[0164] Considering the number of ink packs (receptacles 200) arranged in multiple tiers in the liquid storage devices 40A and 40B, a conservative estimate would require an eight-tier ink supply system, even if it were to combine four regular colors, three special colors, and one white color, which tends to settle. Other printing methods use a reactive liquid that promotes ink solidification through a chemical reaction on the paper surface to improve image fixation and water resistance. Furthermore, cleaning liquid may be prepared and supplied along with the ink colors to keep the recovery unit, which maintains the printhead's ejection status, clean at all times. Furthermore, two packs of the same ink may be provided for unattended, overnight automatic operation, which consumes large amounts of ink, or for stopless printing, which prevents ink from running out during printing.

[0165] In this embodiment, a total of 19 bag packs (containers 200) are provided, including two packs for each of six regular and spot colors, two packs for white ink placed in the liquid agitation device 100, and five packs for various liquids, such as reaction liquids that react with ink colors and cleaning liquids for cleaning the recovery unit. When these are arranged in two rows in the liquid storage devices 40A and 40B, the six regular and spot colors are divided into sets of six packs for three colors and placed in each tower (each liquid storage device 40A and 40B). This allows for a better balance of the number of packs in each tower compared to arranging 12 packs for six colors in a single row. Furthermore, since inks with slow settling, such as regular and spot colors, use the first agitation control, dividing the number of packs into the same number for each tower allows for the use of common mechanical components for the first agitation.

[0166] Furthermore, since the five-pack of various liquids, such as reaction liquid and cleaning liquid, do not contain pigment components or coloring components, agitation control is not required. Therefore, by installing five packs, which do not require drive transmission for agitation, as one set, the drive mechanisms for the containers 200 that require agitation can be consolidated, improving transmission efficiency. These five packs are installed in the liquid storage device 40B. Furthermore, since white liquids tend to settle easily, the second agitation control is used, and the liquid agitation device 100 is installed inside the storage section 23B of the liquid storage device 40A, as in the first embodiment.

[0167] The arrangement of the containers 200 described above is shown in Figure 32, where the normal and special colors are represented by A to F, white by W, two packs of each by suffixes 1 and 2, and the reaction liquid and cleaning liquid are represented by a1 to a5. Each tower (liquid storage devices 40A and 40B) is designed to be placed on the floor and is provided with casters 22a so that it can be moved when the device is brought in or when the location is changed. Note that each liquid storage device 40A and 40B is connected and configured to be movable as a unit, but they may also be configured separately.

[0168] In such a configuration, as shown in Figure 32, by arranging the rotational trajectory of the liquid stirring device 100 at the same height H as five packs of the aforementioned containers 200 (five packs of various liquids such as reaction liquids and cleaning liquids), the heights of the liquid storage devices 40A and 40B will be the same, which is desirable from the standpoints of space efficiency and design.

[0169] FIG. 33 shows each liquid storage device 40A and 40B as viewed from the back, and shows a liquid supply unit 480 that supplies ink from the container 200. Containers 200 containing the same type of liquid share a single liquid supply unit, and a switching valve (not shown) switches which container 200 supplies ink. Since each container 200 is placed below the ejection head 8, a head difference occurs up to the ejection head 8, and therefore the liquid supply unit 480 has a pressurized supply function. A tube 21a is connected to each liquid supply unit 480, and the tubes are bundled and piped inside a hose 21 that can be freely bent on the back side. Each color ink and reaction liquid are supplied to the ejection head 8 via the tubes inside the hose 21, and cleaning liquid is supplied to the recovery unit.

[0170] 31, the height of the liquid storage devices 40A and 40B of this embodiment is set lower than the lower surface of the main body 3 that protrudes on the +X side of the liquid discharger 1. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 31, the liquid storage devices 40A and 40B can be stored under the main body 3. The liquid storage devices 40A and 40B can be moved to a position in the X direction where they come into contact with the stand 2.

[0171] 30 to 33, a further description will be given of the case where liquid storage devices 40A and 40B are placed in the space below main body 3. In Fig. 33, hose 21 bundling tubes 21a connected to liquid storage devices 40A and 40B is connected to liquid discharger 1 on the rear side. Furthermore, casters 22a are provided on liquid storage devices 40A and 40B, so that they can be freely moved and installed close to liquid discharger 1.

[0172] 31, liquid storage devices 40A and 40B are installed so as to occupy the space below main body 3. In addition, an operation panel is installed on main body 3 directly above, so that replacement of container 200 can be performed while viewing the information on the panel, providing excellent operability.

[0173] The white ink container 200, which performs the second stirring, is equipped with an open / close member 25 to prevent operation during rotation for stirring. Unlike the containers 200 for other colors, the white ink container 200 requires the open / close member 25 to be opened, and is therefore located on the upper level for ease of use. Furthermore, the longer the vertical flow path of ink, the more likely sediment will accumulate in the lower part of the tube due to gravity. Therefore, for white ink, which is prone to settling, it is desirable to place it on the upper level, where the vertical flow path from the container 200 to the main body 3 is the shortest. Furthermore, white ink is generally known to have a high viscosity. Therefore, in consideration of flow path resistance, it is desirable to place the white ink container 200 on the upper level, where the height difference (head difference) between the container 200 and the ejection head 8 is small. Furthermore, when white ink is not being used, for example, the device can be completed simply by removing the white ink container on the upper level, making it highly versatile.

[0174] Furthermore, the liquid storage devices 40A and 40B are connected to the liquid discharge device 1 by a connecting member. This is to prevent the liquid storage devices 40A and 40B from being accidentally moved and damaging the tube 21a in the hose 21.

[0175] In this embodiment, the two-tower liquid storage devices 40A and 40B have been described, but a single-tower liquid storage device including a first agitation mechanism and a second agitation mechanism may also be used. Also, only the second agitation mechanism may be placed below the recovery unit 9, and the first agitation mechanism, which does not require a large vertical thickness, may be placed below the roll paper. Furthermore, the positions of the waste liquid cartridge 11 and the liquid storage devices 40A and 40B may be interchanged.

[0176] Next, a description will be given of the mechanism for the first agitation in the liquid storage devices 40A and 40B. The mechanism for the second agitation is the same as that of the liquid agitation device 100 described in the first embodiment.

[0177] <First stirring mechanism> (Liquid container and support unit) Please refer to Figures 34 to 37. Figure 34 is a partially exploded perspective view of liquid storage devices 40A and 40B, showing a state in which one container support unit 24 has been removed from the corresponding storage section 23A. Figure 34 also shows a state in which some side walls of the outer walls of liquid storage devices 40A and 40B have been removed, exposing the internal mechanism. Figure 35 is a perspective view of the container 200 and the container support unit 24. Figures 36(A) and 36(B) are explanatory diagrams of the operation of the handle 45 and locking mechanism 46. Figures 37(A) to 37(C) are explanatory diagrams of the operation of the locking mechanism 46, and correspond to cross-sectional views taken along line AA in Figure 36(A).

[0178] The container 200 has a bag 202 made of a flexible material. Both sides of the bag 202 are provided with gusset portions 202a that are folded inward to increase the liquid capacity. The bag 202 is formed into a bag shape by welding together the sheets that make up the top and bottom surfaces and the sheet that forms the gusset portion 202a, forming a flexible tank for containing liquid. When the amount of liquid remaining inside is large, the gusset portion 202a expands, and when the amount of liquid remaining is small, the gusset portion 202a folds in, causing the shape of the bag 202 to change depending on the amount of liquid contained. The material of the bag 202 is, for example, a material with a multi-layer structure such as PET. If the liquid inside has the property of reacting with air and solidifying, or if there is a concern that the concentration or remaining amount will change due to evaporation, a layered material containing an aluminum layer is advantageous as the material for the bag 202.

[0179] Container 200 has one longitudinal end 200a and the other longitudinal end 200b. When attached to liquid storage devices 40A and 40B, end 200a is located at the rear of liquid storage devices 40A and 40B, and end 200b is located at the front. End 200a is provided with outlet member 201. Outlet member 201 is formed with supply port 201a that communicates with water intake 203 inside bag 202. Liquid stored in bag 202 flows out to the outside through water intake 203 and supply port 201a. A spring-loaded supply port opening / closing valve that opens and closes supply port 201a is provided inside outlet member 201. Supply port 201a is normally kept closed by the supply port opening / closing valve.

[0180] The container 200 has a side on which the outlet member 201 is provided that is, for example, about 180 mm long, and a side (side surface) perpendicular to this that is, for example, about 400 mm long. The container 200 holds, for example, about 1.5 L of liquid. The side on which the outlet member 201 is provided may be the long side instead of the short side. Furthermore, the bag 202 may be square instead of rectangular in plan view.

[0181] The main body 53 of the liquid storage devices 40A and 40B is provided with a needle-type flow path forming member 56 at the back of the storage section 23A, which is inserted into the supply port 201a. A flow path forming member 56 is provided for each storage section 23A. When the flow path forming member 56 is inserted into the supply port 201a and connected, the supply port opening / closing valve is opened by the insertion of the flow path forming member 56. The flow path forming member 56 is supported by a block-shaped support member 50 and is connected to a tube 51. The flow path forming member 56 forms a flow path through which the liquid contained in the bag 202 flows to the liquid discharger 1, which is the supply destination, and the liquid that flows into the flow path forming member 56 is supplied to the liquid discharger 1 via the tube 51. An electric flow path valve 52 is provided midway along the tube 51. The tube 51 can be closed or opened by opening and closing the flow path valve 52.

[0182] The container support unit 24 has a support portion 40 that supports the container 200, and is generally in the form of a tray on which the container 200 is placed in a lying position. The container support unit 24 is movable in approximately the Y direction between a storage position where the container 200 is stored in the main body 53 and an extraction position where the container 200 is exposed to the outside of the main body 53. In FIG. 34 , one container support unit 24 is positioned in the extraction position, and the other container support units 24 are all positioned in the storage positions. In the extraction position, the container 200 can be replaced, and in the storage position, the liquid stored in the container 200 can be supplied to the liquid discharger 1. In this embodiment, the container support unit 24 is separated from the storage portion 23A in the extraction position. However, the extraction position may be a position where an end of the container support unit 24 is held within the storage portion 23A, as long as the container 200 can be replaced relative to the container support unit 24.

[0183] The support part 40 has a mounting surface 41 on which the container 200 is placed, and the four sides of the mounting surface 41 are defined by left and right side plates 44, a front end part 42, and a rear end part 43. A notch part 44a is formed in the side plate 44. A recess part 43a in which the outlet member 201 is disposed is formed in the rear end part 43.

[0184] A handle 45 rotatable around an axis 45a extending in the X direction is provided at the front end 42, and a user can rotate the handle 45 in the d1 direction. The handle 45 also serves as an operating handle for the engagement portion 48. The handle 45 is provided with the engagement portion 48, and an engagement portion 231 that engages with the engagement portion 48 is formed on the bottom of the case 230 that forms the storage portion 23A. In this embodiment, the engagement portion 48 is a convex portion, and the engagement portion 231 is a concave portion into which the engagement portion 48 is inserted. The engagement between the engagement portion 48 and the engagement portion 231 prevents the container support unit 24, which is attached to the storage portion 23A and positioned in the storage position, from falling off the storage portion 23A even if vibrations occur due to, for example, movement of the liquid storage devices 40A and 40B. The handle 45 is constantly biased by an elastic member 421 toward the engagement position (the position shown in FIG. 36(A)) where the engagement portion 48 and the engagement portion 231 engage. The elastic member 421 is, for example, a coil spring. When the user grips the handle 45 and rotates the handle 45 in the direction shown by the arrow in Figure 36(B), the engagement between the engaging portion 45 and the engaging portion 231 is released, and the container support unit 24 inserted in the storage section 23A can be removed from the storage section 23A.

[0185] To prevent the container support unit 24 attached to the storage section 23A from being inadvertently removed, a locking mechanism 46 that locks the container support unit 24 in the storage position is provided for each storage section 23A (see FIG. 34). The locking mechanism 46 has a slide member 461 built into the front end section 42. A part of the slide member 461, an operating section 461a, is exposed from the front end section 42 so that it can be operated by the user. The slide member 461 is provided so as to be movable in the direction of arrow d2 (X direction) between a locked position that restricts rotation of the handle 45 in the direction d1 and an unlocked position that allows rotation of the handle 45.

[0186] 36(A) and 37(A) show a state in which the slide member 461 is in the locked position. That is, the locking mechanism 46 is in a locked state. The slide member 461 has an abutment portion 461b, which abuts against an abutment portion 451 provided in the shape of a rib on the handle 45. In the state shown in FIGS. 36(A) and 37(A), the slide member 461 gets in the way and the handle 45 cannot be rotated in the disengagement direction. Therefore, the container support unit 24 cannot be removed from the storage section 23A.

[0187] Figure 37(B) shows a state in which the slide member 461 is located at the unlocked position. In other words, the locking mechanism 46 is in the unlocked state. The notch of the abutment portion 461b and the abutment portion 451 are positioned facing each other. At this time, as shown in Figure 37(C), the abutment portion 451 can escape into the notch of the abutment portion 461b, making it possible to rotate the handle 45 in the disengagement direction as shown in Figure 36(B). In this way, the user can slide the slide member 461 to the unlocked position and then operate the handle 45 to pull out the container support unit 24 from the storage section 23A.

[0188] The storage section 23A is provided with a sensor 58 that detects the position of the slide member 461 (see FIGS. 34 and 35). The sensor 58 is, for example, an optical sensor (e.g., a photointerrupter) that can detect the detection piece 461c of the slide member 461. When the slide member 461 is in the locked position, the detection piece 461c is located at the detection position of the sensor 58 as shown in FIG. 35 and is detected by the sensor 58. When the slide member 461 is in the unlocked position, the detection piece 461c is not located at the detection position of the sensor 58 and is not detected by the sensor 58. In this way, it is possible to determine whether the slide member 461 is in the locked position or the unlocked position, i.e., whether the locking mechanism 46 is in the locked state or the unlocked state, based on the detection result of the sensor 58.

[0189] The opening and closing of the flow path valve 52 can be linked to the detection result of the sensor 58. For example, if the sensor 58 detects that the slide member 461 is in the unlocked position while the flow path valve 52 is in the unlocked state, the flow path valve 52 is immediately closed in response to the detection. This prevents the container support unit 24 from being pulled out of the storage section 23A while the flow path valve 52 is in the unlocked state. If the container support unit 24 is pulled out of the storage section 23A while the flow path valve 52 is in the unlocked state, air may enter the tube 51 through the flow path forming member 56. This can cause problems such as solidification of the liquid in the tube 51 and poor ejection from the ejection head 8. If the sensor 58 detects that the slide member 461 is in the unlocked position, the flow path valve 52 is immediately closed by automatic control in response to the detection, thereby preventing air from entering the tube 51.

[0190] (Slot inclination) FIG. 38 is a view showing the portion below the storage section 23B of the liquid storage devices 40A and 40B, showing the mounting position and insertion / removal mode of the container support unit 24 relative to the storage section 23A.

[0191] As shown in Figure 38, the storage sections 23A of each stage provided in the liquid storage devices 40A and 40B are inclined, descending downward (+Z) toward the rear side (rear side, -Y side). Therefore, the container support unit 24 is held in an inclined position when attached. The effect of this will be described later, but the angle of inclination is, for example, less than 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane, particularly 10 degrees or less. In the example of Figure 38, the angle of inclination is assumed to be 3 degrees.

[0192] (liquid stirring mechanism) The container 200 can contain various types of liquid and be used for image recording, maintenance of the ejection head 8, and other purposes. For example, the container 200 can contain solvent-based inks such as water-based inks, latex inks, and eco-solvent inks. Depending on the type of ink, the colorant (pigment components, etc.) in the ink may settle over time. The particle size of the colorant and the type and amount of additives may vary depending on the ink color, and the settling rate may also vary depending on the ink color. The container 200 may also contain a reaction liquid that is ejected from the ejection head 8 and reacts with the ink to fix the ink to the surface of the recording medium M. For containers 200 that contain liquids whose components tend to separate, appropriate stirring of the liquid can improve uniformity. This contributes to preventing a decrease in the quality of the printed image, for example.

[0193] In this embodiment, the bag 202 of the container 200 is deformed by being physically pressed from the outside. This causes the stored liquid to flow and agitate within the bag 202. Some types of liquid may not require agitation depending on the type of liquid stored in the container 200. Therefore, in this embodiment, storage sections 23A with an agitation function and storage sections 23A without an agitation function are provided. Specifically, the upper storage section 23A (which holds five packs of various liquids such as reaction liquid and cleaning liquid) is not provided with an agitation function, while the middle to lower storage sections 23A are provided with an agitation function. Of course, all storage sections 23A may be provided with an agitation function.

[0194] The configuration of a pressing unit 600 that achieves the stirring function will be described with reference to Figures 34, 39, and 40. Figures 39 and 40 are explanatory diagrams of the operation of the pressing unit 600, showing the main body 53 from the side. The pressing unit 600 includes multiple pressing members 60 and a movement mechanism 63 shared by the multiple pressing members 60. The pressing members 60 are provided for each storage section 23A and are stirring units that stir the liquid in the corresponding containers 200. The movement mechanism 63 is a drive unit that drives the pressing members 60. In this embodiment, a pressing member 60 is provided for each storage section 23A. The movement mechanism 63 rotates the pressing members 60 synchronously around the rotation shafts 62, causing the pressing units 61 provided on the pressing members 60 to press the containers 200 from above and also relieve the pressure. FIG. 39 shows the pressing portion 61 (and the pressing member 60) in the pressure-relaxing position, and FIG. 40 shows the pressing portion 61 (and the pressing member 60) in the pressing position.

[0195] The configuration of the moving mechanism 63 will be described. The output of a motor 635, which is the drive source of the moving mechanism 63, is transmitted to a cam 633 via multiple gears 634. The rotation axis of each of these components is in the X direction. The configuration of the cam 633 will now be described with reference to Figures 41(A) and 41(B). Figures 41(A) and 41(B) are explanatory diagrams of the cam 633, and Figure 41(B) shows a state in which the cam 633 has rotated 180 degrees from the state in Figure 41(A).

[0196] The cam 633 is a disk-shaped member that can rotate freely around an axis 633b in the X direction, and gear teeth 633a are formed on its outer peripheral surface. The gear teeth 633a mesh with a gear 634, and the rotation of the gear 634 causes the cam 633 to rotate. A groove 633c is formed on the side of the cam 633, and the outer and inner side surfaces of the groove 633c form an outer cam surface 633d and an inner cam surface 633e. A cam follower 637 connected to the drive transmission lever 632 is disposed in the groove 633c. The inner cam surface 633e is located inside the cam follower 637 in the radial direction of the cam 633, and when the cam 633 rotates, it comes into contact with the cam follower 637 and functions to lift the cam follower 637. Furthermore, the outer cam surface 633d is located outside the cam follower 637 in the radial direction of the cam 633, and when the cam 633 rotates, it comes into contact with the cam follower 637 and acts to pull the cam follower 637 down.

[0197] 34, 39, and 40 again. When the cam follower 637 moves up and down due to the rotation of the cam 633, the drive transmission lever 632 rotates around the rotation shaft 632a. The drive transmission lever 632 is rotatably connected to a shaft 638 provided on the lifting member 631, and therefore the movement of the drive transmission lever 632 is converted into the lifting and lowering movement of the lifting member 631. When the cam 633 rotates once, the cam follower 637 makes one reciprocating movement in the Z direction, and the lifting member 631 similarly makes one reciprocating lifting and lowering movement via the drive transmission lever 632.

[0198] The plate-shaped lifting member 631 is attached to a side plate 68 of the main body 53 so as to be able to move up and down in the Z direction. Two pillars 47 with a U-shaped cross section, one at the front and one at the back, are fixed to the side plate 68 and extend in the Z direction. These pillars 47 are also attached to the side plate on the -X side, and the main body 53 has a total of four pillars 47 to ensure its structural strength. This allows it to support the weight of a large number of containers 200.

[0199] Although the pillar 47 is strong, it is also thick, so if the movement mechanism 63 is provided further outward in the X direction from the pillar 47 attached to the side plate 68, the dimension in the X direction will become larger. For this reason, in this embodiment, the drive mechanism such as the lifting member 631 and the cam 633 is distributed in the Y direction to the front and rear of one of the pillars 47. The drive transmission lever 632 is passed through a through hole 47a provided in that one of the pillars 47.

[0200] This allows the movement mechanism 63 of the pressing unit 600 to be disposed while ensuring strength and minimizing the increase in size of the main body 53 in the X direction. Furthermore, the drive transmission lever 632 is attached to a plate-shaped support member 639 that supports the movement mechanism 63. By removing fixing elements such as fastening screws, most of the components of the movement mechanism 63 can be removed together with the support member 639 as an integrated unit to the rear side of the main body 53. This allows for easy part replacement by a service technician. Note that if fixing elements such as fastening screws are fastened from the rear side of the main body 53, they can be easily fastened and released.

[0201] Each pressing member 60 is subjected to a biasing force from two springs 64 and 65. One end of the spring 64 is attached to the pressing member 60, and the other end is attached to the storage section 23A (case 230). Furthermore, one end of the spring 65 is attached to the pressing member 60, and the other end is attached to the lifting member 631. The pressing member 60 is a movable member (particularly a rotating member) attached to the storage section 23A (case 230) so as to be rotatable about a rotation shaft 62 as the rotation center. The rotation shaft 62 is an axis in a direction intersecting the movement direction (Z direction) of the pressing section 61. Both of the two springs 64 and 65 bias the pressing member 60 in a direction that rotates it clockwise when viewed in Figures 39 and 40.

[0202] When the pressing member 60 is in the pressure release position (FIG. 39), the lifting member 631 is in contact with the pressing member 60 and lifts it up, so the biasing force of the spring 65 acts between the lifting member 631 and the pressing member 60. Therefore, the biasing force of the spring 65 acts only between the lifting member 631 and the pressing member 60 and does not become a load on the motor 635. In other words, the load on the moving mechanism 63 in the pressure release position is only the biasing force of the spring 64 and the weight of each part.

[0203] Furthermore, when the pressing member 60 is in the pressing position ( FIG. 40 ), the cam 633 is in the opposite phase from the pressure-relaxing position, and the pressing portion 61 of the pressing member 60 contacts the container 200 and presses it downward. The pressing distance of the pressing portion 61, i.e., the amount of rotation of the pressing member 60, varies depending on the remaining amount of container 200. In FIG. 40 , the pressing members 60 in the top three tiers are shown pressing full containers 200, while the pressing members 60 in the bottom three tiers are shown pressing deflated containers 200 with almost no remaining amount. The biasing forces of both the springs 64 and 65, as well as the weight of each part, act on the container 200. Because the springs 64 and 65 are respectively provided in each storage section 23A, optimal pressing force can be applied to each container 200 even if the remaining amount of container 200 in each storage section 23A varies.

[0204] At this time, the biasing force of spring 64 acts on container 200, but not on lifting member 631. The biasing force of spring 65 acts between container 200 and lifting member 631, which are in contact via pressing member 60. Cam 633 acts to pull lifting member 631 downward from container 200. In this way, by using two springs 64 and 65 attached at different positions and cam 633 which can both lift and lower, the load on moving mechanism 63 during operation is reduced.

[0205] In addition, in the pressing position, when the container 200 is deflated with a small remaining amount, the extension of springs 64 and 65 is small, and therefore the pressing force acting on container 200 is also small. When the container 200 has a large remaining amount, the container 200 is more likely to receive a reaction force when pressed, and a larger pressing force is required to press it deeper. Conversely, when the container 200 has a small remaining amount, the reaction force from container 200 is small, so even a small pressing force is enough to deform container 200 and move the liquid inside. For this reason, springs 64 and 65 are positioned so that the pressing force becomes smaller as container 200 deflates. This eliminates the need to increase the spring force more than necessary. In this embodiment, the load applied to pressing portion 61 is adjusted to, for example, approximately 500 gf when container 200 is full and approximately 300 gf when there is almost no remaining amount.

[0206] The configuration of the pressing member 60 will be described with reference to Figures 42 and 43. Figure 42 is a perspective view of the case with agitation function and the support unit in a separated state, and Figure 43 is a perspective view of the case with agitation function and the support unit in an attached state.

[0207] The pressing member 60 has a pair of side plates 60a located on either side of the case 230 in the X direction, and a top plate 60b connected between the pair of side plates 60a so as to straddle the case 230 in the X direction. The pressing member 60 is rotatably supported on the case 230 via rotation shafts 62 at each side plate 60a, and a pressing portion 61 is formed at the tip of the top plate 60b.

[0208] Each side plate 60a is formed with a locking portion 60c to which an end of a spring 64 is locked, and a contact portion 60d to which an end of a spring 65 is locked and which contacts the lifting member 631 when the lifting member 631 is raised, causing the pressing member 60 to rotate. Both the locking portion 60c and the contact portion 60d are formed in the form of a protruding piece that protrudes in the X direction.

[0209] A remaining amount detection sensor 230A is provided on the side of the case 230. The remaining amount detection sensor 230A is, for example, an optical sensor. The remaining amount detection sensor 230A is a position detection sensor that detects the side plate 60a to detect the position of the pressing portion 61 and detects the remaining amount of the container 200 based on the position detection result. Specifically, the detection position of the remaining amount detection sensor 230A is located at a position where it detects the side plate 60a when pressing a container 200 that has deflated due to a decrease in remaining amount. This utilizes the fact that the amount of pressure applied when pressing changes depending on the degree of deflation of the container 200. In this embodiment, because the pressing portion 61 is in contact with the container 200, the position of the side plate 60a reflects the remaining amount of the container 200, resulting in high accuracy in remaining amount detection. The detection position of the remaining amount detection sensor 230A is designed so that the side plate 60a is detected when pressing a container 200 with a remaining amount of approximately 100 ml.

[0210] The pressing member 60 can be made from, for example, a metal plate (such as a steel plate). Compared to materials such as resin, it is thin yet strong, allowing the height of the storage unit 23A to be reduced. The rotation axis 62 of the pressing member 60 is disposed outside the container 200 in the X direction, and is located at a position where the rotation axis 62 and the container 200 overlap in the X direction when the container 200 is full. By using these measures to reduce the size in the Z direction, it is possible to fit multiple containers 200 in the limited space below the housing of system B, even if a pressing member 60 is installed in each storage unit 23A to provide a stirring function.

[0211] Furthermore, the width of the pressing member 60 in the X direction is shorter at the pressing portion 61 than in the vicinity of the rotation axis 62. This prevents portions other than the pressing portion 61 from coming into contact with the container 200 when the pressing portion 61 presses the tank, thereby preventing the container 200 from being damaged.

[0212] Making the width of the pressing member 60 in the X direction shorter at the pressing portion 61 than near the rotation axis 62 also has the following advantages. As described above, the container 200 has a gusset portion 202a on its side. This gusset portion 202a includes a welded portion where flexible members are joined together, and is therefore more rigid than other portions. A suitable pressing force is required to collapse the gusset portion 202a inward as the remaining amount of container 200 decreases. When the remaining amount of container 200 is high, the gusset portion 202a is expanded in the vertical direction, and in some cases the gusset portion 202a may bulge outward rather than inward. A suitable pressing force is required to collapse the gusset portion 202a.

[0213] By positioning the pressing portion 61 more inward in the X direction than the gusset portion 202a, the container 200 can be efficiently pressed and deformed for stirring. That is, the pressing portion 61 is positioned so as to press closer to the center of the container 200 than the gusset portion 202a, and the container 200 is pressed at its most bulging portion. The height of the gusset portion 202a on both sides is, for example, approximately 20 mm. By positioning the pressing portion 61 more inward than the gusset portion 202a on both sides, the container 200 can be efficiently pressed without being subjected to the reaction force of the gusset portion 202a. Designing the width of the pressing portion 61 in the X direction so that it is located, for example, 10 mm or more inward from the gusset portion 202a provides better pressing efficiency. This is because the pressing portion 61 is positioned further away from the gusset portion 202a in the X direction, thereby reducing the effect of the reaction force of the gusset portion 202a.

[0214] To minimize the width of the pressing portion 61 in the X direction, for example, the pressing portion 61 may be shaped to make point contact with the container 200. However, in the case where the container 200 is long in the Y direction as in this embodiment, if the pressing portion 61 is shaped to make point contact with the container 200, the fluidity of the liquid inside the container 200 may decrease. Specifically, if the width of the pressing portion 61 in the X direction is too small, the flow of the liquid that is pushed down by pressing the container 200 is dispersed outward in the X direction, and the amount of liquid that flows in the Y direction decreases accordingly.

[0215] Therefore, for example, if the width of pressing portion 61 in the X direction is set to be one-third or more of the width of bag 202 of container 200 in the X direction, the fluidity of the liquid in bag 202 in the Y direction when pressed can be improved. For example, if bag 202 has a width of 180 mm in the X direction, the width of pressing portion 61 in the X direction can be set to be 60 mm or more, thereby improving the fluidity of the liquid in bag 202 in the Y direction when pressed.

[0216] To summarize the above, if the bag 202 has a width of 180 mm in the X direction and a gusset portion 202a with a height of 20 mm, the width of the pressing portion 61 in the X direction is suitably between 60 mm and 120 mm, and may in particular be 90 mm.

[0217] (stirring operation) With reference to Figures 44(A) to 44(C), the agitation operation of the liquid in the container 200 due to the pressing of the pressing part 61 against the container 200 will be described. Figures 44(A) to 44(C) are explanatory views of the agitation operation. As shown in Figure 38, in this embodiment, the mounting posture of the container support unit 24 is tilted. In Figures 44(A) to 44(C), the direction parallel to the tilt angle direction of this mounting posture is referred to as the Y' direction. In the following description, the outlet member 201 side of the container 200 may be referred to as the -Y' direction, and the opposite side as the +Y' direction. Note that the arrows in Figures 44(A) to 44(C) indicate the flow direction of the liquid occurring inside the bag 202 of the container 200.

[0218] In this embodiment, the stirring operation consists of a pressing operation and a pressure-releasing operation. The pressing portion 61 is disposed so as to face the mounting surface 41 of the container support unit 24. The pressing portion 61 is moved back and forth between a pressure-releasing position and a pressing position. This causes deformation of the bag 202, causing the liquid inside to flow and stir.

[0219] 44(A) shows the state in which the pressing portion 61 (and pressing member 60) is in the pressure-relaxing position. In the present embodiment, in the pressure-relaxing position, the pressing portion 61 is spaced apart from the placement surface 41 and is positioned at a height that does not contact the bag 202, and is not pressing the bag 202. Therefore, the pressure-relaxing position can also be called the pressure-release position.

[0220] From the state shown in Fig. 44(A), moving mechanism 63 is driven to perform the pressing operation as shown in Fig. 44(B). In the pressing operation, pressing member 60 rotates to move pressing portion 61 to a position closer to mounting surface 41 than the pressure relaxation position, pressing bag 202 toward mounting surface 41. This causes bag 202 to deform, and the liquid inside flows and is stirred.

[0221] In this embodiment, the container 200 is attached to the storage section 23A in an inclined position with the outlet member 201 facing downward in the Z direction. Therefore, at the stage of Figure 44(A), the liquid in the container 200 tends to be distributed unevenly toward the outlet member 201 due to its own weight, and the bag 202 bulges more on the outlet member 201 side than in the center in the Y' direction. The pressing section 61 is designed to press the end 43 side where the outlet member 201 is provided, out of the ends 42, 43 of the container 200. Since the pressing section 61 presses the bulging part of the bag 202 or a part close to it, the flow of the liquid in the bag 202 can be promoted.

[0222] The pressing unit 61 presses the side of the bag 202 facing the outlet member 201, causing the liquid to flow to the opposite side, resulting in effective stirring. The rotation axis 62 of the pressing member 60 is located on the opposite side of the outlet member 201 as viewed from the pressing unit 61 in the Y' direction of the container 200. In the pressing operation, the rotation direction of the pressing member 60 is clockwise in Figure 44(B). By setting the rotation direction in this way, a vector pointing in the +Y' direction is generated, making it easier for the liquid to flow in the +Y' direction. In other words, the liquid is more likely to flow to the side of the bag 202 opposite the side of the outlet member 201.

[0223] As described above, in this embodiment, the pressing unit 61 is designed to press the end 43 side of the container 200, where the outlet member 201 is provided, out of the end 42 and end 43. The area of ​​the bag 202 near the water intake 203 of the container 200 is pressed, which particularly promotes agitation of the fluid in this area. During recording, the liquid in the container 200 flows out into the tube 51 from the area close to the water intake 203. By pressing and agitating the area near the water intake 203, it is possible to send liquid with a more uniform concentration into the tube 51.

[0224] From the state shown in Figure 44(B), the moving mechanism 63 is driven to perform the pressure relief operation as shown in Figure 44(C). In the pressure relief operation, the pressing member 60 rotates to return the pressing part 61 from the pressing position to the pressure relief position. As the pressure is relieved, the liquid in the bag 202 flows, and the bag 202 tries to return to its original shape. After that, the pressing operation can be performed again.

[0225] By repeatedly performing the pressing operation and the pressure-releasing operation, the liquid in the bag 202 is agitated. That is, when the pressing portion 61 is in the pressing position as shown in FIG. 44(B), the vicinity of the pressing portion 61 of the container 200 is depressed, the liquid flows in the +Y' direction, and the side of the container 200 opposite the outlet member 201 bulges. Thereafter, when the pressure is released as shown in FIG. 44(C), the ink that flowed due to the pressure flows in the -Y' direction due to its own weight. By repeatedly performing the pressing operation and the pressure-releasing operation, the liquid in the bag 202 moves back and forth in the Y' direction and is agitated. The flow of the liquid caused by the pressure-releasing operation utilizes its own weight. By utilizing its own weight, the mechanism required to agitate the liquid can be configured simply.

[0226] When the stirring operation is repeated, the stirring performance of the liquid can be adjusted by adjusting the cycle. During the pressure release operation, the liquid in the bag 202 flows slightly after the rotation of the pressing member 60. The higher the fluidity of the liquid during the pressure release operation, the greater the stirring effect. Furthermore, if the pressing operation is performed after the liquid has sufficiently flowed, the liquid capacity of the bag 202 increases near the pressing portion 61, causing the bag 202 to expand. Pressing this area further improves the stirring performance. The cycle of the stirring operation is, for example, slower than several Hz, and particularly slower than 1 Hz. If the cycle of the stirring operation is too slow, the total stirring time may increase, and the amount of power consumed by the motor 635 may increase. Therefore, the cycle of the stirring operation may be, for example, in the range of 0.5 to 0.7 Hz, particularly 0.6 Hz.

[0227] Furthermore, as the remaining amount decreases and the container 200 deflates, the ink on the upper side (+Y' side) of the tilted container 200 flows toward the -Y' side due to its own weight, reducing the amount of ink contained in this portion. Conversely, liquid accumulates on the lower side (-Y' side). In this state, the distance the liquid flows in the +Y' direction during a pressing operation becomes shorter, and the time it takes for the liquid to return during a pressing pressure release operation becomes faster. Therefore, the cycle of the stirring operation may be shortened as the remaining amount of ink in the container 200 decreases.

[0228] In the stirring operation, the pressing operation and the pressure relief operation may be repeated with a time interval between each pressing operation. After the pressure relief operation, the time for the liquid to flow in the bag 202 until the next pressing operation is started can be extended, further promoting the flow of the liquid due to its own weight.

[0229] There are several methods for adjusting the period of the stirring operation. The first method is to use the dwell angle, which is the range in which the cam follower 637 in contact with the inner cam surface 633e or the outer cam surface 633d does not displace even when the cam 633 rotates. For example, the dwell angle at the position where the cam follower 637 is at its highest point is set to 40 degrees, and the dwell angle at the lowest point is also set to 40 degrees. In particular, by ensuring a dwell angle of 40 degrees at the highest point, it is possible to maintain the pressure relaxation position.

[0230] Furthermore, the allocated angle, which is the angle range for raising or lowering the cam follower 637, may be set to a large value of 140 degrees. This reduces the load on the cam 633 when it rotates, and also has the effect of slowly transitioning the connected pressing member 60 from the pressing state to the pressure-relaxed position, ensuring time for the ink to move to the vicinity of the pressing portion 61. This ensures sufficient ink movement when pressure is released, improving the stirring effect.

[0231] Another method is to temporarily stop the motor 635 at the pressure relief position. If the motor is stopped for the time equivalent to the dwell angle of 40 degrees, the dwell angle can be made smaller, and the allocated angle can be made larger, thereby further reducing the load when the cam rotates.

[0232] The agitation operation may be performed at any time, such as during the supply of liquid to the liquid ejection device 1, during the recovery operation of the ejection head 8 in the liquid ejection device 1, or during standby for a recording operation. The timing of the agitation operation is not generally affected by the operation of the liquid storage devices 40A and 40B or the liquid ejection device 1.

[0233] The stirring period for which the stirring operation is repeated may be based on time or the number of operations. For example, the stirring operation may be repeated once a day, with one cycle lasting several tens of minutes. Alternatively, the stirring operation may be repeated once a day, with one cycle consisting of several tens of times. The required stirring period and execution timing may be set taking into account the settling speed of the coloring material in the liquid.

[0234] As described above with reference to Figure 38, the container 200 and the container support unit 24 are inclined with respect to the horizontal plane while attached to the storage section 23A. From the viewpoint of the liquid agitation effect, it is advantageous for the inclination angle to be less than 45 degrees, and even more advantageous for it to be 10 degrees or less. In the example of Figure 38, the inclination angle is assumed to be 3 degrees.

[0235] Although stirring by pressure is possible even when the tilt angle is close to 90 degrees, the weight of the ink acts in a direction that resists the flow of the liquid due to the pressure. Therefore, a stronger pressing force is required to make the liquid flow sufficiently. If the tilt angle is less than 45 degrees, the weight of the liquid makes the vector of the liquid flowing in the -Y direction relatively small. Regarding the amount of expansion of the -Y side portion of the bag 202 during the pressing operation, a tilt angle of 10 degrees or less allows a larger amount of expansion to be obtained with less pressing force. The larger the amount of expansion of the bag 202 when pressed, the larger the amount of flow of the liquid inside. In other words, this means that the pressing is efficient.

[0236] In this embodiment, the pressing member 61 is positioned at a height where it does not come into contact with the bag 202 in the pressure relief position, but it may be in contact with the bag 202 and may be in a position where the pressing member 61 presses the bag 202 with a smaller amount of pressure than in the pressing position. In this way, if the pressing member 60 is in a small pressed state in the pressure relief position, the upper limit position of the pressing member 60 in the Z direction can be kept low, and the dimensions of the liquid storage devices 40A and 40B in the Z direction can be reduced.

[0237] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the pressing member 60 is provided in the case 230 of the storage section 23A, but the pressing member 60 may also be provided in the container support unit 24. In this case, a configuration may be added that enables drive transmission between the moving mechanism 63 and the pressing member 60 when the container support unit 24 is attached to the storage section 23A.

[0238] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the configuration has been described in which the container 200 is pressed by the pressing portion 61, but for example, the container 200 may be deformed by repeatedly pressing and stopping compressed air. Furthermore, the container 200 may be deformed by increasing and decreasing the pressure in the space around the container 200.

[0239] In addition, in this embodiment, it has been explained that in the first agitation for ink in which the sedimentation rate of the coloring material is not very fast, the ink is agitated by a movement that deforms the container 200, and in the second agitation for ink in which the sedimentation rate of the coloring material is fast, the ink is agitated by a large movement that changes the attitude of the container 200 and swaps the ink up and down.

[0240] However, the present invention is not limited to these methods. For example, in both the first agitation and the second agitation, as shown in Figure 45, two containers 200 may be connected by a tube and the ink may be moved back and forth between them by a pump P to perform agitation.

[0241] The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program that realizes one or more of the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and having one or more processors in the computer of the system or device read and execute the program.The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that realizes one or more of the functions.

[0242] <Summary of the embodiment> The above embodiment discloses the following liquid agitating device.

[0243] Item 1. a first containing means for containing a first liquid; a first stirring means for causing the first containing means to perform a first movement to stir the first liquid in the first containing means; a second container for containing a second liquid different from the first liquid; a second stirring means for causing the second containing means to perform a second movement to stir the second liquid in the second containing means; A liquid agitating device comprising:

[0244] Item 2. The liquid stirring device described in item 1, characterized in that the first liquid is a liquid containing particles made of a coloring material, and the second liquid is a liquid containing particles having a particle size or specific gravity larger than that of the first liquid.

[0245] Item 3. 3. The liquid stirring device according to item 1 or 2, wherein the first and second liquids are inks containing pigments.

[0246] Item 4. 4. The liquid stirring device according to any one of items 1 to 3, wherein the second liquid is white ink.

[0247] Item 5. 5. The liquid stirring device according to item 4, wherein the white ink contains titanium oxide.

[0248] Item 6. 4. The liquid stirring device according to any one of items 1 to 3, wherein the second liquid is a liquid containing metal powder.

[0249] Item 7. 7. The liquid agitator according to any one of items 1 to 6, wherein the second movement is larger in magnitude than the first movement.

[0250] Item 8. A liquid stirring device described in any one of items 1 to 7, characterized in that the first stirring means causes the first storage means to perform the first movement by deforming the first storage means without moving it.

[0251] Item 9. A liquid stirring device described in any one of items 1 to 8, characterized in that the second stirring means causes the second storage means to perform the second movement by changing the posture of the second storage means or moving the second storage means.

[0252] Item 10. 10. The liquid stirring device according to item 9, wherein the second stirring means causes the second container means to rotate as the second movement.

[0253] Item 11. 7. A liquid stirring device according to any one of items 1 to 6, characterized in that the first stirring means or the second stirring means stirs the liquid by moving the liquid between a plurality of containers that contain the liquid.

[0254] Item 12. A liquid stirring device described in any one of items 1 to 11, characterized in that the first liquid and the second liquid are supplied to a liquid ejection device comprising an ejection head that ejects liquid and a recovery unit that recovers the ejection of the ejection head, and the first storage means or the second storage means is arranged below the recovery unit or below the area scanned by the ejection head.

[0255] Item 13. 13. The liquid agitator according to any one of items 1 to 12, wherein the first container means is arranged in a state where it is stacked in a plurality of stages.

[0256] Item 14. 14. The liquid agitator according to any one of items 1 to 13, wherein the second container is disposed above the first container.

[0257] The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are appended to apprise the public of the scope of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0258] 100 liquid agitator, 110 storage unit, 130 drive unit, 600 pressing unit

Claims

1. a first containing means for containing a first liquid; a first stirring means for causing the first containing means to perform a first movement to stir the first liquid in the first containing means; a second container for containing a second liquid different from the first liquid; a second stirring means for causing the second containing means to perform a second movement to stir the second liquid in the second containing means; A liquid agitating device comprising:

2. The liquid stirring device described in claim 1, characterized in that the first liquid is a liquid containing particles made of a coloring material, and the second liquid is a liquid containing particles having a larger particle size or specific gravity than the first liquid.

3. 2. The liquid mixing device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second liquids are inks containing pigments.

4. 2. The liquid stirring device according to claim 1, wherein the second liquid is white ink.

5. 5. The liquid agitating device according to claim 4, wherein the white ink contains titanium oxide.

6. 2. The liquid agitating device according to claim 1, wherein the second liquid is a liquid containing metal powder.

7. 2. The liquid agitating device according to claim 1, wherein the second movement is larger in magnitude than the first movement.

8. The liquid stirring device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first stirring means causes the first storage means to perform the first movement by deforming the first storage means without moving it.

9. The liquid stirring device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second stirring means causes the second container means to perform the second movement by changing the posture or moving the second container means.

10. 10. The liquid agitating device according to claim 9, wherein the second agitating means causes the second container means to rotate as the second movement.

11. The liquid stirring device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first stirring means or the second stirring means stirs the liquid by moving the liquid between a plurality of containers that contain the liquid.

12. The liquid stirring device described in claim 1, characterized in that the first liquid and the second liquid are supplied to a liquid ejection device comprising an ejection head that ejects the liquid and a recovery unit that recovers the ejection of the ejection head, and the first storage means or the second storage means is arranged below the recovery unit or below the area scanned by the ejection head.

13. 2. The liquid agitating device according to claim 1, wherein the first container means is arranged in a state where a plurality of containers are stacked in layers.

14. 2. The liquid agitating device according to claim 1, wherein the second container is disposed above the first container.

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