Printing apparatus and

Abstract

To provide a printer capable of stabilizing a posture of a housing side engagement part.SOLUTION: The liquid ejecting apparatus includes the head 15 configured to eject the liquid, the casing 12 having the openable and closable cover 26 and configured to accommodate the head 15, the supply tube 18 configured to supply the liquid to the head 15, the connection portion 20 configured to detachably connect the supply tube 18 to the head 15, the connection portion-side engagement portion 22 provided in the connection portion 20, and the casing-side engagement portion 23 provided inside the cover 26. The housing-side engaging portion 23 located at the storage position P2 can move to an engaging position where the housing-side engaging portion 23 can engage with the connecting-portion-side engaging portion 22 by rotating about the rotation shaft 35, and the center of gravity of the housing-side engaging portion 23 is located on the side opposite to the side where the housing-side engaging portion 23 engages with the connecting-portion-side engaging portion 22 across the rotation shaft 35.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing device such as a printer. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is an inkjet recording device that is an example of a printing device that prints by ejecting ink, which is an example of a liquid, from an inkjet head, which is an example of a head. The inkjet recording device includes an ink tube, which is an example of a supply tube, a cover member, which is an example of a cover, and a septum unit, which is an example of a connection part.

[0003] The ink tubes are supported by a cover member. The cover member is rotatable. When the cover member is closed, the septum unit fits into the inkjet head and the ink tubes are connected to the inkjet head. When the cover member is opened, the ink tubes are detached from the inkjet head, allowing the inkjet head to be replaced. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-105883 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The cover member in Patent Document 1 is supported so as to rotate relative to the carriage on the opposite side of the guide rail from the side that closes the inkjet head, and is opened by rotating the cover member around the support. When this occurs, the cover member rotates in a manner that deforms the ink tubes. Therefore, the open cover member may move due to the force of the ink tubes trying to return to their original shape.

[0006] For example, if a housing-side engaging portion that can engage with the connection portion is provided so that the cover member can remain open, the connection portion can be held even when the supply tube is deformed. However, printing is performed with the connection portion separated from the housing-side engaging portion connected to the head. When the housing-side engaging portion is separated from the connection portion, it needs to be held so as not to interfere with printing. However, if the position of the housing-side engaging portion changes due to vibrations during printing, which could interfere with the operation of the head, printing may be affected. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A printing device that solves the above problem comprises a head capable of ejecting liquid, a housing having an openable and closable cover and accommodating the head, a supply tube that supplies the liquid to the head, a connection part that detachably connects the supply tube to the head, a connection part side engaging part provided on the connection part, and a housing side engaging part provided on the inside of the cover, wherein the connection part side engaging part is engageable with the housing side engaging part when the cover is open, and the housing side engaging part, which is located in a storage position, can be moved to an engaging position where it can engage with the connection part side engaging part by rotating around a rotation axis, and the center of gravity of the housing side engaging part is located on the opposite side of the rotation axis from the side that engages with the connection part side engaging part. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a printing device. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the printing device in which the housing-side engaging portion is located in the storage position. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the printing device in which the housing-side engaging portion is located at the engaging position. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a printing device in which the housing-side engaging portion and the connection-side engaging portion are engaged. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. [Figure 6]FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a housing-side engaging portion attached to a bearing portion. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the housing-side engaging portion attached to the bearing portion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] [Embodiment] An embodiment of a printing device will be described below with reference to the drawings. The printing device is an inkjet printer that prints by ejecting ink, which is an example of a liquid, onto a medium such as paper, fabric, vinyl sheet, plastic part, or metal part.

[0010] In the drawings, the printing device 11 is assumed to be placed on a horizontal plane, with the direction of gravity indicated by the Z axis, and directions along the horizontal plane indicated by the X and Y axes. The X, Y, and Z axes are perpendicular to one another. In the following description, the direction parallel to the X axis is also referred to as the width direction X, the direction parallel to the Y axis is also referred to as the depth direction Y, and the direction parallel to the Z axis is also referred to as the vertical direction Z.

[0011] <Printing device> 1 , the printing device 11 includes a housing 12. The printing device 11 may also include a guide shaft 13, a carriage 14, a head 15, a cap 16, and a light 17. The printing device 11 may also include a supply tube 18, a protective section 19, and a connection section 20. The printing device 11 may also include a connection section side engaging section 22, a housing side engaging section 23, and a bearing section 24.

[0012] <Case> The housing 12 houses various components of the printing device 11. The housing 12 houses the head 15. The housing 12 houses the connection portion 20. The housing 12 may have a cover 26 and a limiting portion 27.

[0013] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cover 26 is configured to be openable and closable. The cover 26 may be opened and closed by rotating in the depth direction Y around an axis (not shown) provided between the connection portion 20 and the guide shaft 13. Rotation refers to rotation around the axis, and the rotatable angle is less than 360 degrees. For example, the cover 26 is configured to take a closed position shown in FIG. 1 and an open position shown in FIG. 2. The cover 26 in the closed position covers the connection portion 20. The cover 26 in the open position exposes the connection portion 20.

[0014] The cover 26 may have a stopper 29. The stopper 29 may be provided on an inner surface 30 of the cover 26. 1, the inner surface 30 is the surface of the cover 26 that faces the inside of the housing 12 when the cover 26 is in the closed position. The inner surface 30 is the lower surface of the cover 26 when the cover 26 is in the closed position.

[0015] 2, the inner surface 30 is the top surface of the cover 26 in the open position. The open position of the cover 26 is a position in which the inner surface 30 faces outward. 3, the stopper 29 limits the movement of the housing side engaging portion 23 located at the engaging position P1. The stopper 29 may be flush with the inner surface 30. The stopper 29 limits the rotation of the housing side engaging portion 23 in the clockwise direction in FIG.

[0016] 1 and 2, the restricting portion 27 restricts the rotation of the housing-side engaging portion 23 located in the storage position P2. The restricting portion 27 may be provided on the cover 26. When part or all of the housing-side engaging portion 23 is made of a magnetic material, the restricting portion 27 may be a magnet. Alternatively, part of the housing-side engaging portion 23 may be made of a magnet, and the restricting portion 27 may be made of a magnetic material.

[0017] <Internal structure> 1, the guide shaft 13 extends in the width direction X. The guide shaft 13 guides the movement of the carriage 14.

[0018] The carriage 14 may reciprocate along the guide shaft 13 . The head 15 and the connection unit 20 are mounted on the carriage 14. The head 15 is capable of ejecting liquid. The head 15 ejects the liquid from a plurality of nozzles (not shown). The head 15 performs printing by ejecting the liquid onto a medium.

[0019] The cap 16 can be moved between a capping position shown in FIG. 1 and an open position shown in FIG. 2. When the cap 16 is positioned at the capping position, it comes into contact with the head 15 to cover the nozzles, thereby capping the head 15 and sealing the space facing the nozzles. When the cap 16 is positioned at the open position, it moves away from the head 15 to open the nozzles. The cap 16 may move between the capping position and the open position in conjunction with the movement of the carriage 14. The printing device 11 may be provided with a movement mechanism (not shown) that moves the cap 16.

[0020] The light 17 may illuminate the inside of the housing 12. The light 17 may illuminate the moving carriage 14. The light 17 may illuminate the medium to be printed on. The light 17 may be provided at a position different from the cover 26 in the width direction X. The light 17 may extend in the width direction X.

[0021] The printing device 11 may include a plurality of protective portions 19 and a plurality of supply tubes 18. The plurality of protective portions 19 and the plurality of supply tubes 18 may each extend in the depth direction Y. The plurality of protective portions 19 and the plurality of supply tubes 18 may be arranged parallel to one another. The plurality of protective portions 19 and the plurality of supply tubes 18 may be arranged in a line in the width direction X. The plurality of protective portions 19 may be arranged on both sides of the plurality of supply tubes 18 in the width direction X. The plurality of supply tubes 18 may be arranged between the plurality of protective portions 19.

[0022] The protective part 19 may be cylindrical. The protective part 19 is, for example, a hollow tube. The protective part 19 may have elasticity. The protective part 19 is made of, for example, polyurethane.

[0023] The multiple protective parts 19 are respectively fixed to the connecting parts 20 and the carriage 14. One end of each protective part 19 is fixed to the connecting parts 20. The other end of each protective part 19 is fixed to the carriage 14. The protective parts 19 may be fixed by first screws 31.

[0024] The supply tubes 18 may be held by the connection portion 20 and the carriage 14. The positions where the plurality of supply tubes 18 are held and the positions where the protection portions 19 are fixed may be aligned in a line in the width direction X, for example.

[0025] The supply tube 18 may be elastic. The supply tube 18 may be made of fluororesin. The upstream ends of the multiple supply tubes 18 are connected to, for example, multiple liquid storage units (not shown), and the downstream ends are connected to the connection unit 20. The multiple supply tubes 18 may each supply a different type of liquid. The different types of liquid are, for example, inks of different colors. The multiple supply tubes 18 supply liquid to the head 15. The supply tubes 18 can supply the liquid stored in the liquid storage unit to the head 15 via the connection unit 20.

[0026] <Connection> The connection unit 20 detachably connects the plurality of supply tubes 18 to the head 15. The connection unit 20 is connected to the head 15. The connection unit 20 is detachably fixed to the carriage 14 in a state in which the connection unit 20 can supply liquid to the head 15. The connection unit 20 may have a liquid flow adjustment unit 33.

[0027] The liquid flow adjustment unit 33 adjusts the flow of the liquid supplied by the supply tube 18. The liquid flow adjustment unit 33 is, for example, a differential pressure valve or a pressure reducing valve. When the liquid is consumed in the head 15, the liquid pressure between the liquid flow adjustment unit 33 and the head 15 decreases. When the liquid pressure between the liquid flow adjustment unit 33 and the head 15 falls below a predetermined pressure that is lower than atmospheric pressure, the liquid flow adjustment unit 33 opens. When the liquid flow adjustment unit 33 opens, it allows the liquid to flow from the connection unit 20 toward the head 15.

[0028] When liquid flows from the connection part 20 toward the head 15, the liquid pressure between the liquid flow adjustment part 33 and the head 15 increases. When the liquid pressure between the liquid flow adjustment part 33 and the head 15 returns to the above-mentioned predetermined pressure, the liquid flow adjustment part 33 closes. The closed liquid flow adjustment part 33 stops the flow of liquid from the connection part 20 toward the head 15. The liquid flow adjustment part 33 does not open even if the liquid pressure between the liquid flow adjustment part 33 and the head 15 increases. Therefore, the liquid flow adjustment part 33 functions as a one-way valve, a so-called check valve, that allows the flow of liquid from the connection part 20 to the head 15 and suppresses the flow of liquid from the head 15 to the connection part 20.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 4, the connection part 20, which is released from its fixation to the carriage 14, becomes movable relative to the head 15 and carriage 14. When the connection part 20 moves away from the carriage 14, the connection between the head 15 and the connection part 20 is released. The connection part 20 is movable while the protective part 19 and the supply tube 18 remain connected. The connection part 20 moves together with some of the multiple supply tubes 18 and the multiple protective parts 19. The connection part 20 is movable between the printing position shown in FIG. 1 and the retracted position shown in FIG. 4.

[0030] The printing position is the position where the connection unit 20 is located during printing. When the connection unit 20 is located at the printing position, the carriage 14 can move along the guide shaft 13. The retracted position is the position where the connection unit 20 retracts from the printing position. The retracted position may be a position above the printing position. The posture of the connection unit 20 may change between the printing position and the retracted position. The retracted posture of the connection unit 20 at the retracted position may be reversed from the printing posture it takes at the printing position.

[0031] <Connecting part side engagement part> 1 and 4, the connection portion-side engaging portion 22 is provided on the connection portion 20. The connection portion-side engaging portion 22 moves to the printing position and the retracted position together with the connection portion 20. The connection portion-side engaging portion 22 takes the printing posture and the retracted posture together with the connection portion 20. If the direction in which the protection portion 19 and the supply tube 18 extend from the connection portion 20 is defined as the rear, the connection portion-side engaging portion 22 may be provided on the front surface of the connection portion 20 in the printing posture.

[0032] 4, the connection portion-side engaging portion 22 can engage with the housing-side engaging portion 23 when the cover 26 is open. When the connection portion 20 is removed from the carriage 14, the head 15 is detached from the connection portion 20 and remains on the carriage 14. Therefore, the connection portion-side engaging portion 22 can engage with the housing-side engaging portion 23 when the connection portion 20 is detached from the head 15.

[0033] <Housing side engagement part> The housing-side engaging portion 23 is provided on the housing 12. In this embodiment, the housing-side engaging portion 23 is provided inside the cover 26. The housing-side engaging portion 23 may also be provided on the inner surface 30. The housing-side engaging portion 23 may be inflexible. Here, being inflexible means that even when the housing-side engaging portion 23 is subjected to a force such as the elastic force of the protective portion 19, the housing-side engaging portion 23 itself does not bend and can maintain its shape. The housing-side engaging portion 23 is provided rotatably around a rotation axis 35.

[0034] The housing side engaging portion 23 may have a hook 37 , an arm portion 38 , a tail portion 39 , and a weight 40 . The hook 37 may be provided at the tip of the arm portion 38. The hook 37 and the arm portion 38 are located on the same side with respect to the rotation shaft 35. The hook 37 is engageable with the connection portion side engaging portion 22.

[0035] The tail portion 39 is located on the opposite side of the hook 37 across the rotation shaft 35. When the housing-side engaging portion 23 is located at the engaging position P1, the tail portion 39 abuts against the stopper 29. In other words, the stopper 29 is located on the opposite side of the rotation shaft 35 from the hook 37.

[0036] The weight 40 is provided on the tail portion 39. That is, the weight 40 is provided on the opposite side of the rotation shaft 35 from the hook 37 side. The weight 40 adjusts the position of the center of gravity of the housing side engaging portion 23. The center of gravity of the housing side engaging portion 23 is located at the tail portion 39.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 5 , the housing-side engaging portion 23 may have one or more plate-shaped weights 40. The multiple weights 40 may be stacked in the width direction X. The weight 40 may be provided at the center of the tail portion 39 in the width direction X. The tail portion 39 may have one or more spacers 41. The multiple spacers 41 may support the weight 40 so as to sandwich it from both sides in the width direction X. The weight 40 may be fixed by one or more second screws 42. The second screws 42 may fix the weight 40 to the spacers 41. If a hole 44 larger than the head of the second screw 42 is provided in a side wall 43 of the tail portion 39, the weight 40 can be easily fixed.

[0038] 2, when the housing-side engaging part 23 is positioned at the storage position P2, the arm part 38 is aligned with the inner surface 30. When the housing-side engaging part 23 is positioned at the storage position P2, it rotates about the rotation shaft 35 so that the hook 37 moves away from the inner surface 30, thereby moving to the engaging position P1 shown in FIG.

[0039] 4, the engagement position P1 is a position where the hook 37 can engage with the connection portion-side engagement portion 22. The engagement position P1 is a position where the hook 37 is separated from the inner surface 30. The engagement position P1 is a position where the tail portion 39 abuts the stopper 29. In a direction perpendicular to the inner surface 30, the distance between the hook 37 located at the engagement position P1 and the inner surface 30 is greater than the distance between the hook 37 located at the storage position P2 and the inner surface 30.

[0040] 6, the rotation shaft 35 has a shaft portion 46 and a thin portion 47. The thin portion 47 has a width narrower than the diameter of the shaft portion 46. The bearing portion 24 receives the rotating shaft 35. The bearing portion 24 may have a support portion 49 and a guide portion 50. The support portion 49 has a sliding surface along which the shaft portion 46 slides, and rotatably supports the rotating shaft 35. Specifically, the support portion 49 can support the shaft portion 46. The guide portion 50 guides the rotating shaft 35 attached to the support portion 49. In the mounting posture shown in FIG. 6 , the width of the thin-walled portion 47 of the housing-side engaging portion 23 is smaller than the width of the guide portion 50. The mounting posture is the posture relative to the bearing portion 24. In the mounting posture, the rotating shaft 35 passes through the guide portion 50 of the housing-side engaging portion 23. The guide portion 50 guides the rotating shaft 35 to the support portion 49. The housing-side engaging portion 23 is attached to the bearing portion 24 by moving relative to the bearing portion 24 in the mounting posture.

[0041] 7, the housing-side engaging part 23 attached to the bearing part 24 in the attachment posture shown by the solid line in Fig. 7 becomes rotatable so that the shaft part 46 follows the sliding surface of the support part 49. As shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 7, the housing-side engaging part 23 does not come off the bearing part 24 by rotating relative to the bearing part 24.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 3 , the bearing 24 to which the housing-side engaging portion 23 is attached is fixed to the cover 26. When the bearing 24 is fixed to the cover 26, the posture of the housing-side engaging portion 23 is restricted. That is, the rotation range of the housing-side engaging portion 23 is restricted to between the storage position P2 and the engagement position P1. The housing-side engaging portion 23, which rotates between the storage position P2 and the engagement position P1, does not take the attached posture. The rotation range of the housing-side engaging portion 23, which is provided on the cover 26 together with the bearing 24, is a range in which the thin-walled portion 47 of the rotation shaft 35 reaches the guide portion 50 of the bearing 24 and the rotation shaft 35 does not come off the bearing 24.

[0043] <Operation of this embodiment> The operation of this embodiment will be described. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, when replacing the head 15, the user moves the cover 26, which is in the closed position, to the open position. At this time, the movement of the housing-side engaging part 23 relative to the cover 26 is restricted by the restricting part 27. Therefore, the housing-side engaging part 23 moves integrally with the cover 26 while maintaining the storage position P2 relative to the cover 26. When the cover 26 is opened, the user can access the connection part 20 and the housing-side engaging part 23.

[0044] The cap 16 may move to the open position, for example, in conjunction with the movement of the cover 26 to the open position. The cap 16 may also move to the open position based on a user instruction. The head 15 may be replaced with the cap uncapping in place. When the capping is removed, the force pressing the cap 16 against the head 15 is released, allowing for easy replacement of the head 15.

[0045] 2 and 3, the user moves the housing-side engagement part 23, which is located at the storage position P2, to the engagement position P1. For example, the user may lift up the hook 37 to release the restriction on movement imposed by the restriction part 27.

[0046] The center of gravity of the housing-side engaging part 23 is located on the opposite side of the hook 37 side across the rotation shaft 35. Therefore, when the restriction by the restricting part 27 is released, the housing-side engaging part 23 rotates under its own weight so that the tail part 39 descends.

[0047] 3, when the housing-side engaging part 23 moves to the engaging position P1, the tail part 39 hits the stopper 29, restricting the rotation of the housing-side engaging part 23. That is, the stopper 29 restricts the rotation of the housing-side engaging part 23 at the engaging position P1 in the direction away from the storage position P2.

[0048] Next, the user releases the connection part 20 from the carriage 14. This allows the connection part 20 to move towards the retracted position. As shown in Figure 4, the user moves the connection part 20, which is located in the printing position, to the retracted position. The protective part 19 and the supply tube 18 bend as the connection part 20 moves to the retracted position. The user engages the connection part side engaging part 22, which has been moved to the retracted position, with the housing side engaging part 23, which has moved to the engaging position P1. Specifically, the user hooks the connection part side engaging part 22 onto the hook 37 from below.

[0049] A force acts on the connection part 20, which is in the retracted position, to return the protective part 19 and the supply tube 18 to a straight state. The housing-side engaging part 23 receives a force that the protective part 19 and the supply tube 18 apply to the connection part 20 from below. As a result, the connection part 20 maintains its position where it is caught on the hook 37. At the engaging position P1, the direction of the force that the housing-side engaging part 23 receives from the connection part 20 is approximately the same as the direction in which the housing-side engaging part 23 moves away from the storage position P2. Because the housing-side engaging part 23 is restricted from moving in the direction away from the storage position P2 by the stopper 29, it holds the connection part 20 in a state where it remains at the engaging position P1.

[0050] The user may replace the head 15 while the connection part 20 is in the retracted position. Once the replacement is complete, the user releases the connection part side engagement part 22 from the hook 37. The user then moves the connection part 20, which is in the retracted position, to the printing position, thereby connecting the connection part 20 and the head 15.

[0051] 1, when the user moves the cover 26 to the closed position, the housing-side engaging part 23 rotates under its own weight so that the tail part 39 lowers. In other words, the upside-down relationship with respect to the open position is reversed, and the housing-side engaging part 23 moves to the storage position P2. After the housing-side engaging part 23 moves to the storage position P2, the arm part 38 comes into contact with the restricting part 27, so that the movement of the housing-side engaging part 23 is restricted.

[0052] <Effects of this embodiment> The effects of this embodiment will be described. (1-1) The housing-side engaging portion 23 is engageable with the connection-side engaging portion 22. The center of gravity of the housing-side engaging portion 23 is located on the side opposite to the side that engages with the connection-side engaging portion 22. Therefore, when the housing-side engaging portion 23 is disengaged from the connection-side engaging portion 22, the housing-side engaging portion 23 assumes a posture in which the side opposite to the side that engages with the connection-side engaging portion 22 is lowered. Therefore, the posture of the housing-side engaging portion 23 can be stabilized.

[0053] (1-2) The housing-side engaging portion 23 has a weight 40. For example, by changing the position where the weight 40 is attached, the weight of the weight 40, etc., the position of the center of gravity of the housing-side engaging portion 23 can be easily adjusted.

[0054] (1-3) The housing-side engaging portion 23 has a hook 37. The housing-side engaging portion 23 can be engaged with the connection-side engaging portion 22 by hooking the hook 37 onto the connection-side engaging portion 22, so that the housing-side engaging portion 23 and the connection-side engaging portion 22 can be easily attached and detached.

[0055] (1-4) When the housing-side engaging portion 23 moves from the engaging position P1, there is a risk that the engagement between the housing-side engaging portion 23 and the connection-side engaging portion 22 will be released. In this regard, the cover 26 has a stopper 29. The stopper 29 is located on the opposite side of the rotation shaft 35 from the hook 37. Therefore, the rotation of the housing-side engaging portion 23 is limited by hitting the stopper 29. Therefore, the movement of the housing-side engaging portion 23 from the engaging position P1 is limited, and the risk of the engagement between the housing-side engaging portion 23 and the connection-side engaging portion 22 being released can be reduced.

[0056] (1-5) The housing 12 has a restricting portion 27. The restricting portion 27 restricts the rotation of the housing-side engaging portion 23 in the storage position P2, and prevents the housing-side engaging portion 23 from moving from the storage position P2. Therefore, the housing-side engaging portion 23 can be moved stably together with the cover 26.

[0057] (1-6) In the mounting posture, the width of the thin-walled portion 47 of the housing-side engaging portion 23 is smaller than the width of the guide portion 50. Therefore, the guide portion 50 can guide the housing-side engaging portion 23 in the mounting posture by passing through the thin-walled portion 47. Therefore, the rotation shaft 35 can be easily attached to the bearing portion 24.

[0058] (1-7) The housing-side engaging portion 23 does not take the mounting posture when rotating between the storage position P2 and the engaging position P1. Therefore, when the housing-side engaging portion 23 rotates between the storage position P2 and the engaging position P1, the risk of the rotation shaft 35 coming off the bearing portion 24 can be reduced.

[0059] [Example of change] This embodiment can be modified as follows: This embodiment and the following modifications can be combined and implemented within the scope of technical compatibility.

[0060] The housing-side engaging portion 23 may be in the attached position while attached to the cover 26. The rotation shaft 35 may be cylindrical. The restricting portion 27 may be provided on the housing side engaging portion 23 .

[0061] The limiting portion 27 may be a clip that clamps the housing-side engaging portion 23. The limiting portion 27 may be a groove into which the housing-side engaging portion 23 fits. The limiting portion 27 may be a stretchable band. The limiting portion 27 may be an adhesive sheet to which the housing-side engaging portion 23 is attached.

[0062] The stopper 29 may be provided separately from the inner surface 30. The stopper 29 may limit the rotation of the housing side engaging portion 23 by coming into contact with the arm portion 38. The housing-side engaging portion 23 may be configured without the hook 37. For example, the housing-side engaging portion 23 may be engaged by tying a string, chain, wire, or the like to the connection-side engaging portion 22. The housing-side engaging portion 23 and the connection-side engaging portion 22 may be attached to each other by magnetic force, etc.

[0063] The housing-side engaging portion 23 may be configured without the weight 40. For example, the center of gravity of the housing-side engaging portion 23 may be positioned at the tail portion 39 by enlarging the tail portion 39 or shortening the arm portion 38.

[0064] The printing device 11 may be a liquid ejection device that performs recording by ejecting or discharging a liquid other than ink. The state of the liquid ejected from the liquid ejection device as minute droplets includes granular, teardrop-like, and string-like tails. The liquid referred to here may be any material that can be ejected from the liquid ejection device. For example, the liquid may be in any state in which the substance is in a liquid phase, including fluids such as high or low viscosity liquids, sols, gel water, other inorganic solvents, organic solvents, solutions, liquid resins, liquid metals, and metal melts. The liquid includes not only liquids as a single state of matter, but also particles of functional materials, such as solid pigments and metal particles, dissolved, dispersed, or mixed in a solvent. Representative examples of liquids include inks and liquid crystals, as described in the above embodiments. Here, ink encompasses various liquid compositions, such as general water-based inks and oil-based inks, as well as gel inks and hot-melt inks. Specific examples of liquid ejection devices include devices that eject liquids containing dispersed or dissolved materials such as electrode materials and color materials used in the manufacture of liquid crystal displays, electroluminescent displays, surface-emitting displays, and color filters. The liquid ejection device may be a device that ejects bioorganic materials used in biochip manufacture, a device used as a precision pipette to eject sample liquids, a textile printing device, a microdispenser, or the like. The liquid ejection device may be a device that injects lubricating oil with pinpoint accuracy onto precision machinery such as watches and cameras, or a device that ejects transparent resin liquids such as ultraviolet-curing resins onto substrates to form micro-hemispherical lenses, optical lenses, etc. used in optical communication elements, etc. The liquid ejection device may also be a device that ejects etching liquids such as acids or alkalis to etch substrates, etc.

[0065] [Definition] The phrase "at least one" as used herein means "one or more" of the desired options. As an example, the phrase "at least one" as used herein means "only one option" or "both of two options" when the number of options is two. As another example, the phrase "at least one" as used herein means "only one option," "any combination of two options," or "any combination of three or more options" when the number of options is three or more.

[0066] [Note] The technical concepts and effects that can be understood from the above-described embodiment and modified examples will be described below.

[0067] (A) A printing device has a head capable of ejecting liquid, a cover that can be opened and closed, and is equipped with a housing that houses the head, a supply tube that supplies the liquid to the head, a connection part that detachably connects the supply tube to the head, a connection part side engaging part provided on the connection part, and a housing side engaging part provided on the inside of the cover, wherein the connection part side engaging part can engage with the housing side engaging part when the cover is open, and the housing side engaging part, which is located in a storage position, can move to an engaging position where it can engage with the connection part side engaging part by rotating around a rotation axis, and the center of gravity of the housing side engaging part is located on the opposite side of the rotation axis from the side that engages with the connection part side engaging part.

[0068] According to this configuration, the housing-side engaging portion can engage with the connection-side engaging portion. The center of gravity of the housing-side engaging portion is located on the side opposite to the side that engages with the connection-side engaging portion. Therefore, when the housing-side engaging portion is disengaged from the connection-side engaging portion, the side opposite to the side that engages with the connection-side engaging portion is lowered. This allows the posture of the housing-side engaging portion to be stabilized.

[0069] (B) In the printing device described in (A), the housing side engaging portion may have a weight, and the weight may be provided on the opposite side of the pivot shaft from the side that engages with the connection side engaging portion. According to this configuration, the housing-side engaging portion has a weight. For example, by changing the position at which the weight is attached or the weight of the weight, the position of the center of gravity of the housing-side engaging portion can be easily adjusted.

[0070] (C) In the printing device described in (A) or (B), the housing-side engaging portion may have a hook that can engage with the connection-side engaging portion. According to this configuration, the housing-side engaging portion has a hook. The housing-side engaging portion can be engaged with the connection-side engaging portion by catching the hook, so that the housing-side engaging portion and the connection-side engaging portion can be easily attached and detached.

[0071] In the printing device described in (D) and (C), the cover may have a stopper provided on its inner surface, the stopper being located on the opposite side of the pivot axis from the hook, and may limit the rotation of the housing-side engagement part in the direction away from the storage position when in the engagement position.

[0072] When the housing-side engaging portion moves from the engaged position, there is a risk that the housing-side engaging portion and the connection-side engaging portion will become disengaged. In this regard, with this configuration, the cover has a stopper. The stopper is located on the opposite side of the rotation axis from the hook. Therefore, the housing-side engaging portion hits the stopper, limiting its rotation. This reduces the risk of the housing-side engaging portion and the connection-side engaging portion becoming disengaged.

[0073] (E) In the printing device described in (A) to (D), the housing may have a limiting portion that limits rotation of the housing-side engaging portion when the housing is in the storage position. According to this configuration, the housing has a limiting portion that limits the rotation of the housing-side engaging portion when the cover is in the retracted position, thereby allowing the housing-side engaging portion to move stably together with the cover.

[0074] (F) The printing device described in (A) to (E) further includes a bearing portion that receives the rotating shaft, the bearing portion having a support portion that rotatably supports the rotating shaft and a guide portion that guides the rotating shaft attached to the support portion, the rotating shaft having a shaft portion supported by the support portion and a thin portion that is narrower than the diameter of the shaft portion, and the housing side engaging portion in the attached posture may have a width of the thin portion that is smaller than the width of the guide portion.

[0075] With this configuration, the width of the thin-walled portion of the housing-side engaging portion in the mounting position is smaller than the width of the guide portion. Therefore, the guide portion can guide the housing-side engaging portion in the mounting position by passing it through the thin-walled portion. Therefore, the pivot shaft can be easily attached to the bearing portion.

[0076] In the printing device described in (G) and (F), the housing side engaging portion that rotates between the storage position and the engaging position may not take the mounting position. With this configuration, the housing-side engaging portion does not take the mounting position when rotating between the storage position and the engaging position, which reduces the risk of the rotation shaft coming off the bearing portion when the housing-side engaging portion rotates between the storage position and the engaging position. [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] 11...printing device, 12...casing, 13...guide shaft, 14...carriage, 15...head, 16...cap, 17...lighting, 18...supply tube, 19...protective part, 20...connection part, 22...connection part side engaging part, 23...casing side engaging part, 24...bearing part, 26...cover, 27...limiting part, 29...stopper, 30...inner surface, 31...first screw, 33...liquid flow adjusting part, 35...rotating shaft, 37...hook, 38...arm part, 39...tail part, 40...weight, 41...spacer, 42...second screw, 43...side wall, 44...hole, 46...shaft part, 47...thin part, 49...support part, 50...guide part, P1...engagement position, P2...storage position, X...width direction, Y...depth direction, Z...vertical direction.

Claims

1. a head capable of ejecting liquid; a housing having an openable cover and accommodating the head; a supply tube for supplying the liquid to the head; a connection portion that detachably connects the supply tube to the head; a connection portion side engaging portion provided on the connection portion; a housing-side engaging portion provided on the inside of the cover; Equipped with the connection portion-side engaging portion is engageable with the housing-side engaging portion in a state where the cover is open, the housing-side engaging portion, which is located at the storage position, can move to an engaging position where it can engage with the connection-side engaging portion by rotating about a rotation axis; A printing device characterized in that the center of gravity of the housing-side engaging portion is located on the opposite side of the pivot shaft from the side that engages with the connection-side engaging portion.

2. the housing-side engaging portion has a weight, 2. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the weight is provided on the opposite side of the rotation shaft from the side that engages with the connection-side engaging portion.

3. 2. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the housing-side engaging portion has a hook that can be engaged with the connection-side engaging portion.

4. The cover has a stopper provided on an inner surface thereof, The printing device according to claim 3, wherein the stopper is located on the opposite side of the rotation shaft from the hook, and limits rotation of the housing-side engagement portion in the direction away from the storage position when in the engagement position.

5. The printing device according to claim 1 , wherein the housing has a limiting portion that limits rotation of the housing-side engaging portion when the housing is in the storage position.

6. Further provided is a bearing portion for receiving the rotation shaft, the bearing portion has a support portion that rotatably supports the rotation shaft, and a guide portion that guides the rotation shaft attached to the support portion, the rotating shaft has a shaft portion supported by the support portion and a thin-walled portion having a width narrower than a diameter of the shaft portion, 2. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the housing-side engaging portion in the attached position has a width of the thin portion smaller than a width of the guide portion.

7. 7. The printing device according to claim 6, wherein the housing-side engaging portion, which rotates between the storage position and the engaging position, does not take the attached posture.

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