LIQUID SUPPLY APPARATUS, LIQUID EJECTION APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING LIQUID EJECTION APPARATUS

Abstract

To provide a liquid supply device, a liquid discharge device and a method for controlling a liquid discharge device which can prevent a liquid storage body during usage from being erroneously removed.SOLUTION: A liquid discharge device 11 includes a liquid supply device 30. The liquid supply device 30 includes a supply flow channel 35 communicating with a liquid discharge head 20 capable of discharging liquid, a first supply flow channel 36 allowing a first liquid storage body 41 storing the liquid and the supply flow passage 35 to communicate with each other, and a second supply flow channel 37 for allowing a second liquid storage body 42 storing the same kind of the liquid as the liquid stored in the first liquid storage body 41 and the supply flow channel 35 to communicate with each other. The liquid discharge device 11 includes a switching part 38 for switching a flow channel communicating with the supply flow channel 35 out of the first supply flow channel 36 and the second supply flow channel 37, and a movement regulation part 39 which can selectively regulate movement of the first liquid storage body 41 and the second storage body 42 interlocking with switching of the switching part 38.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid supplying device, a liquid ejecting device, and a method for controlling a liquid ejecting device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an inkjet recording type image forming apparatus as an example of a liquid ejection apparatus that switches between a plurality of liquid containers (e.g., ink tanks) that supply liquid to a liquid ejection head 20 capable of ejecting liquid. This image forming apparatus includes two liquid containers for each color, a common pipe through which ink flows from the liquid containers and is guided to the recording head, and a switching valve that selectively switches one of the two liquid containers that supplies ink to the recording head. When a sensor detects that one of the two liquid containers in use has run out of ink, the switching valve is controlled in response to the detection result to switch from one liquid container that supplies ink to the recording head to the other. This allows image formation to be performed continuously without interruption.

[0003] When the image forming device switches from one liquid container that has run out of ink to the other liquid container, the liquid container currently in use is displayed on the operation panel. This allows the user of the image forming device to know which liquid container is currently in use, and to replace the liquid container that has run out of ink with a new one as necessary. Thus, the image forming device described in Patent Document 1 has a so-called hot swap function, which allows the liquid container that has run out of ink to be removed during printing and replaced with a new one. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2010-194915 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in a liquid ejection device capable of hot swapping, there is a possibility that a liquid container in use may be mistaken for a liquid container to be replaced and removed during printing. In this case, there is a problem that a malfunction may occur in the liquid ejection device due to the removal of the liquid container in use. It should be noted that a malfunction may similarly occur not only during printing but also when the liquid container in use is removed during a liquid consumption operation in which the liquid ejection head consumes liquid. An example of a liquid consumption operation other than printing is a maintenance operation in which liquid is discharged from the nozzles of the liquid ejection head for the purpose of maintenance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A liquid supply device that solves the above problem includes a supply flow path that communicates with a liquid ejection head capable of ejecting liquid, a first supply flow path that communicates a first liquid container that contains a liquid with the supply flow path, a second supply flow path that communicates the supply flow path with a second liquid container that contains the same type of liquid as the liquid contained in the first liquid container, a switching unit that can switch which of the first supply flow path and the second supply flow path communicates with the supply flow path, and a movement regulating unit that can selectively regulate the movement of the first liquid container and the second liquid container in conjunction with the switching of the switching unit.

[0007] A liquid ejection apparatus that solves the above problem includes a liquid ejection head capable of ejecting liquid, the above liquid supply apparatus, and a control unit that controls the switching unit and the movement regulating unit. A control method for a liquid ejection device that solves the above problem includes a liquid ejection head that performs recording by ejecting liquid onto a medium, a supply flow path that communicates with the liquid ejection head, a first supply flow path that communicates the supply flow path with a first liquid container that contains a liquid, a second supply flow path that communicates the supply flow path with a second liquid container that contains the same type of liquid as the liquid contained in the first liquid container, a switching unit that is capable of switching which of the first supply flow path and the second supply flow path is in communication with the supply flow path, and a movement restriction unit that is capable of selectively restricting movement of the first liquid container and the second liquid container in conjunction with switching of the switching unit. a control method for a liquid ejection device that can consume liquid, the control method including, when a command for an operation to consume liquid is received, causing the switching unit to connect either the first supply flow path or the second supply flow path to the supply flow path, and causing the movement regulating unit to regulate movement of a liquid container on a side that communicates with the supply flow path; performing the operation to consume the liquid; and, after performing the operation, causing the switching unit to put both the first supply flow path and the second supply flow path in a state that is not connected to the supply flow path, and causing the movement regulating unit to release the regulation on movement of both the first liquid container and the second liquid container.

[0008] A control method for a liquid ejection device that solves the above problem includes a liquid ejection head that performs recording by ejecting liquid onto a medium, a supply flow path that communicates with the liquid ejection head, a first supply flow path that communicates a first liquid container that contains a liquid with the supply flow path, a second supply flow path that communicates a second liquid container that contains the same type of liquid as the liquid contained in the first liquid container with the supply flow path, a switching unit that is capable of switching which of the first supply flow path and the second supply flow path is in communication with the supply flow path, and a control unit that selects movement of the first liquid container and the second liquid container in conjunction with switching of the switching unit. A control method for a liquid ejection device having a liquid ejection device and a movement regulating unit capable of selectively regulating movement of the liquid container connected to the supply flow path, the control method including: when power is turned on, causing the switching unit to connect either the first supply flow path or the second supply flow path to the supply flow path, and causing the movement regulating unit to regulate the movement of the liquid container on the side that communicates with the supply flow path; and when a command is given to turn off the power, causing the switching unit to disconnect both the first supply flow path and the second supply flow path from the supply flow path, and causing the movement regulating unit to release the regulation of the movement of the first liquid container and the second liquid container. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a liquid ejection device according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the liquid supply device as viewed from the front side. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the liquid supply device as viewed from the rear side. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a liquid ejection device. [Diagram 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of a second drive mechanism. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is a state transition diagram showing the state transition of a supply mechanism. [Figure 10] 5 is an operational transition diagram showing the transition of operations of the on-off valve and the lock mechanism in the first slot and the second slot. FIG. [Figure 11] 4 is a cam transition diagram showing the transition of the rotational positions of each cam that operates the opening / closing valve and the lock mechanism in the first slot and the second slot. FIG. [Figure 12] 13 is a flowchart showing a liquid supply control process. [Figure 13] 10 is a flowchart showing a liquid supply control process in the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A liquid supply device and a liquid ejection device according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. The liquid ejection device is, for example, an inkjet printer that ejects liquid such as ink onto a medium such as paper to perform printing.

[0011] In the drawings, the liquid discharger 11 is placed on a horizontal plane, the direction of gravity is indicated by the Z axis, and the directions along the horizontal plane are indicated by the X and Y axes. The X, Y, and Z axes are perpendicular to each other. In the following description, the direction along the X axis is also referred to as the width direction X, the direction along the Y axis is also referred to as the depth direction Y, and the direction along the Z axis is also referred to as the vertical direction Z.

[0012] <Configuration of Liquid Ejection Apparatus> 1, the liquid ejection device 11 includes a liquid ejection head 20 capable of ejecting liquid, a liquid supply device 30 that supplies liquid to the liquid ejection head 20, and a control unit 25. The liquid supply device 30 includes a supply flow path 35 that communicates with the liquid ejection head 20.

[0013] The liquid supplying device 30 includes an attachment section 31 into which a plurality of liquid containers 40 can be detachably inserted. The attachment section 31 includes a storage case 32 capable of storing a plurality of liquid containers 40. The storage case 32 has slots 32A which are a plurality of storage spaces into which the plurality of liquid containers 40 can be individually inserted. The attachment section 31 includes engagement sections 33 which engage with the liquid containers 40 inserted into the slots 32A. The engagement sections 33 are attached to the storage case 32 for each of the slots 32A. The engagement sections 33 have a function of locking the liquid containers 40 so that the user cannot remove them during printing.

[0014] The liquid container 40 contains liquid to be supplied to the liquid ejection head 20. In other words, the liquid container 40 is a liquid supply source that supplies liquid to the liquid ejection head 20. The liquid ejection head 20 in this example ejects ink or the like as an example of a liquid. Therefore, the liquid container 40 contains ink as an example of a liquid. The liquid container 40 is, for example, a liquid cartridge such as an ink cartridge. Note that the liquid container 40 may be a liquid tank such as an ink tank that can be refilled with liquid by the user, so long as it is configured to be detachable from the mounting portion 31.

[0015] The liquid ejection head 20 of this embodiment ejects a plurality of types of liquid. The mounting portion 31 is capable of inserting a plurality of liquid containers 40 each containing the same type of liquid among a plurality of types of liquid that the liquid ejection head 20 can eject. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the mounting portion 31 is capable of inserting N sets (e.g., three sets) of liquid containers 40 containing the same type of liquid. The N sets of liquid containers 40 containing the same type of liquid may be one set or multiple sets. Furthermore, when an example of the liquid is ink, the type of liquid is, for example, the type of ink. The type of ink is, for example, the type of ink color.

[0016] 1, the liquid ejection device 11 includes a housing 13 that houses a liquid ejection head 20. The housing 13 may be configured to be supported by a pair of legs 12. The liquid supply device 30 may be provided separately from the housing 13 as shown in FIG. 1, or may be provided integrally with the housing 13.

[0017] In the liquid ejection device 11 of this embodiment, the liquid ejection head 20 ejects liquid toward the medium 14. When the liquid is ink, the liquid ejection device 11 prints on the medium 14 by ejecting the ink from the liquid ejection head 20. For this reason, the liquid ejection device 11 may include a transport unit 23 that transports the medium 14. Here, the medium 14 may be long or may be cut to a predetermined length. When the medium 14 is paper, the medium 14 may be roll paper or cut paper.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, the transport unit 23 may be a roll transport type that transports the long medium 14 from a roll body (not shown) wound in a roll shape. The transport unit 23 may include a payout unit 15 that unwinds and pays out the medium 14 wound in a roll shape, a guide unit 16 that guides the medium 14 discharged from the housing 13 after printing, and a collection unit 17 that winds up and collects the medium 14. The transport unit 23 may also include a tension applying mechanism 18 that applies tension to the medium 14 collected in the collection unit 17. The transport unit 23 also has a transport roller (not shown) that transports the medium 14 toward a recording position that can face the liquid ejection head 20. The liquid ejection head 20 prints on the medium 14 by ejecting liquid such as ink toward the medium 14 transported by the transport unit 23.

[0019] The recording method of the liquid ejection head 20 may be the serial recording method shown in Fig. 1 or a line recording method. A liquid ejection device 11 using a serial recording method includes a carriage 21 that moves the liquid ejection head 20. The liquid ejection device 11 prints on the medium 14 by alternately performing a recording operation in which liquid is ejected from the liquid ejection head 20 while the carriage 21 is moving in a width direction X that intersects with the transport direction of the medium 14, and a transport operation in which a transport unit 23 transports the medium 14 to the next recording position.

[0020] In the case of the line recording method, the liquid ejection head 20 is configured as a line head or a multi-head having multiple nozzles capable of simultaneously recording across the entire width of the medium 14. The liquid ejection device 11 prints on the medium 14 by ejecting liquid from the nozzles of the liquid ejection head 20 onto the medium 14, which is transported at a predetermined transport speed. Here, a line head refers to a single long head. Also, a multi-head refers to a configuration in which multiple unit heads are arranged across the entire width of the medium 14.

[0021] The liquid ejection device 11 may also include a maintenance unit 22 that performs maintenance on the liquid ejection head 20. The maintenance unit 22 performs a maintenance operation that forcibly discharges liquid from the nozzles of the liquid ejection head 20. When an image is formed by the printing operation of the liquid ejection head 20, the nozzles include working nozzles that discharge liquid and unused nozzles that do not discharge liquid, and the liquid in the unused nozzles gradually thickens. Also, air bubbles may be mixed into the liquid in the nozzles. Air that has passed through the tubes that form the supply flow path 35 and dissolved in the liquid may gradually grow over a long period of time to become air bubbles, and these air bubbles may reach the nozzles. This type of thickened liquid or air bubbles in the nozzles may cause liquid ejection failure. The maintenance unit 22 performs a maintenance operation that discharges the thickened liquid, air bubbles, etc. in the nozzles of the liquid ejection head 20 together with the liquid, thereby preventing or eliminating liquid ejection failure. In this way, the liquid ejection head 20 consumes liquid supplied from the liquid supply device 30 not only in the printing operation but also in the maintenance operation. For this reason, in this embodiment, the operations of the liquid ejection head 20, including the printing operation and the maintenance operation, are also referred to as liquid consuming operations, which are operations that consume liquid.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid ejection device 11 may also include an operation panel 24 operated by a user. In this example, the side of the liquid ejection device 11 that faces the user who operates the operation panel 24 is the front side. The control unit 25 receives input information that the user inputs by operating the operation panel 24. One type of input information is print command information that commands the liquid ejection device 11 to perform a liquid ejection operation (e.g., a printing operation). The operation panel 24 has a power operation unit that is operated to turn the power of the liquid ejection device 11 on and off. The operation panel 24 may also include a display unit that displays a menu and operation information of the liquid ejection device 11. In this case, the display unit may be configured as a touch panel having an operation function.

[0023] The liquid ejection device 11 may be communicably connected to a host device 80 (see FIG. 4). For example, a user operates an input unit of the host device 80 to command the liquid ejection device 11 to perform a liquid ejection operation (e.g., a printing operation). That is, the liquid ejection device 11 performs a printing operation to print an image on the medium 14 based on a printing command from the operation panel 24 or the host device 80. The control unit 25 controls the liquid supply device 30, the liquid ejection head 20, and the transport unit 23. Upon receiving a printing command, the control unit 25 controls the liquid ejection head 20 and the transport unit 23 to perform a printing operation to print on the medium 14. The control unit 25 also controls the liquid supply device 30 while the power of the liquid ejection device 11 is ON.

[0024] <Liquid supply device> Next, a detailed configuration of the liquid supplying device 30 will be described with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. The liquid supplying device 30 shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 is in a state where the exterior case of the container case 32 has been removed. In the liquid supplying device 30, a direction parallel to an insertion direction ID in which the liquid container 40 is inserted into the mounting portion 31 is defined as a depth direction Y1. In the liquid supplying device 30, when the mounting portion 31 is viewed from the front (insertion opening side), a longitudinal direction of the inserted liquid container 40 is defined as a width direction X1, and a direction in which the multiple liquid containers 40 are arranged is defined as an arrangement direction Z1. In this example, the width direction X1 is parallel to the width direction X of the liquid ejecting device 11, and the depth direction Y1 is parallel to the depth direction Y of the liquid ejecting device 11. The arrangement direction Z1 is parallel to the vertical direction Z. The container case 32 is composed of a pair of side surfaces, a top surface, a bottom surface, and a back surface.

[0025] The width direction X1, depth direction Y1 and arrangement direction Z1 of the liquid supplying device 30 can be changed as appropriate. The arrangement direction Z1 in which the multiple liquid containers 40 inserted into the mounting portion 31 are arranged may be a direction different from the vertical direction Z. In the example shown in Figures 2 and 3, the liquid supplying device 30 is arranged in a vertical arrangement direction in which the arrangement direction Z1 is parallel to the vertical direction Z, but the liquid supplying device 30 may also be arranged in a horizontal arrangement direction in which the arrangement direction Z1 is parallel to the width direction X of the liquid ejecting device 11.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 2, the storage case 32 constituting the mounting portion 31 is partitioned into a plurality of slots 32A capable of storing a plurality of liquid containers 40. The storage case 32 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The storage case 32 can store a plurality of liquid containers 40 arranged in a plurality of stages in the arrangement direction Z1. One surface of the storage case 32 has an insertion opening into which the plurality of liquid containers 40 can be inserted. The plurality of liquid containers 40 are inserted into each slot 32A from the insertion opening of the storage case 32. The liquid containers 40 have a flattened rectangular parallelepiped shape capable of being inserted in a plurality of stages in the arrangement direction Z1 of the storage case 32.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 2, the liquid container 40 has a handle portion 40A at a portion exposed from the slot 32A in the inserted state. A user can attach or detach the liquid container 40 by hooking a finger on the handle portion 40A. The liquid container 40 includes a container having the handle portion 40A, and a liquid pack contained in the container. The liquid container 40 may be configured so that the user can repeatedly use the container by replacing the liquid pack with a new one, or the liquid container 40 may be configured so that the entire container is replaced. In the former case, the container may be a tray. The liquid container 40 may be configured as a tank in which liquid is stored in a container having the handle portion 40A.

[0028] 2, the engagement portion 33 has an operation portion 34 that is operated by a user. The engagement portion 33 is movable between an engaged state in which it engages with the liquid container 40 inserted in the slot 32A, and a disengaged state in which it does not engage. When replacing the liquid container 40, the user operates the operation portion 34 to move the engagement portion 33 from the engaged state to the disengaged state, and after replacing the old and new liquid containers 40, operates the operation portion 34 to move the engagement portion 33 from the disengaged state to the engaged state. The engagement portion 33 may be biased in the direction of engaging with the liquid container 40 by a biasing member (not shown) such as a spring.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 2, two liquid containers 40 that contain the same type of liquid are inserted into the mounting portion 31. A first liquid container 41 that contains a liquid and a second liquid container 42 that contains the same type of liquid as the liquid contained in the first liquid container 41 are inserted into the mounting portion 31. In this way, there are two types of liquid containers 40, the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42, each containing the same type of liquid. For this reason, the multiple slots 32A include a first slot SL1 into which the first liquid container 41 is inserted for each type of liquid, and a second slot SL2 into which the second liquid container 42 is inserted. The liquid ejection device 11 switches between the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42 as a liquid supply source that supplies liquid to the liquid ejection head 20. The mounting portion 31 shown in FIG. 2 includes a switching unit 38 that performs this switching.

[0030] 2, if the maximum number of liquid containers 40 that can be inserted into the mounting portion 31 is N, N includes M pairs of first liquid containers 41 and second liquid containers 42 that contain the same type of liquid. In the example shown in Fig. 2, there are M types of liquid that can be supplied to the liquid ejection head 20, and there is a first liquid container 41 and a second liquid container 42 for each of the M types.

[0031] In the example shown in FIG. 2, the N liquid containers 40 include a first liquid container group 43 that contains a first liquid, a second liquid container group 44 that contains a second liquid, and a third liquid container group 45 that contains a third liquid. The first liquid container group 43 includes a first liquid container 41 and a second liquid container 42 that contain a first liquid. The second liquid container group 44 includes a first liquid container 41 and a second liquid container 42 that contain a second liquid. The third liquid container group 45 includes a first liquid container 41 and a second liquid container 42 that contain a third liquid. When the liquid is ink, the type of liquid is, for example, a type of ink color. The first liquid, the second liquid, and the third liquid are inks of different colors. The first liquid, the second liquid, and the third liquid are, for example, cyan, magenta, and yellow inks. The type of ink color can be changed as appropriate. Furthermore, all of the N number of liquids are not limited to being composed of a plurality of sets each containing the same type of liquid, and it is sufficient that the number of sets includes at least one set containing the same type of liquid.

[0032] 2 switches between the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42 as the liquid supply source that communicates with the liquid ejection head 20. The switching unit 38 is controlled by the control unit 25. When one of the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42 that is being used as the liquid supply source runs out of liquid (for example, out of ink), the switching unit 38 switches to the other liquid container 40 as the liquid supply source.

[0033] 2, the liquid supply device 30 includes a movement restriction unit 39 that can selectively restrict movement of the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42 in conjunction with switching of the switching unit 38. The movement restriction unit 39 selectively switches the engagement unit 33, which is in an engaged state in which it engages with the liquid container 40, between a restricted state in which movement from the engaged state to the disengaged state is restricted, and a non-restricted state in which movement from the engaged state to the disengaged state is permitted. In the restricted state, the movement restriction unit 39 locks the engagement unit 33 in the engaged state. The movement restriction unit 39 is controlled by the control unit 25.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the engagement part 33 has a first engagement part 33A that can be engaged with the first liquid container 41 and a second engagement part 33B that can be engaged with the second liquid container 42. The first engagement part 33A has a first operation part 34A that allows the user to release the engagement with the first liquid container 41. The second engagement part 33B has a second operation part 34B that allows the user to release the engagement with the second liquid container 42. In this way, the operation part 34 has a first operation part 34A that the first engagement part 33A has and a second operation part 34B that the second engagement part 33B has. Note that the operation parts 34A and 34B are not limited to being integrally formed with the engagement parts 33A and 33B as one member, and may be formed as a member separate from the engagement parts 33A and 33B. In short, it is sufficient that the operating portions 34A, 34B are operable to move the engaging portions 33A, 33B between the engaged state and the disengaged state.

[0035] The movement restricting portion 39 has a first locking mechanism 391 that locks the first engaging portion 33A in an engaged state, and a second locking mechanism 392 that locks the second engaging portion 33B in an engaged state. The first locking mechanism 391 is selectively switched between a restricting state (locked state) that restricts the movement of the first engaging portion 33A from the engaged state to the disengaged state, and a non-restricting state (unlocked state) that allows the first engaging portion 33A to move from the engaged state to the disengaged state. The second locking mechanism 392 is selectively switched between a restricting state (locked state) that restricts the movement of the second engaging portion 33B from the engaged state to the disengaged state, and a non-restricting state (unlocked state) that allows the second engaging portion 33B to move from the engaged state to the disengaged state.

[0036] When the first locking mechanism 391 is in the restricted state, the user cannot operate the first operating part 34A from the engaged state to the disengaged state. Therefore, the user cannot remove the first liquid container 41 from the first slot SL1. When the first locking mechanism 391 is in the unrestricted state, the user can operate the first operating part 34A from the engaged state to the disengaged state. Therefore, the user can remove the first liquid container 41 from the first slot SL1 and replace it with a new first liquid container 41.

[0037] Furthermore, when the second locking mechanism 392 is in the restricted state, the user cannot operate the second operating part 34B from the engaged state to the disengaged state. As a result, the user cannot remove the second liquid container 42 from the second slot SL2. When the second locking mechanism 392 is in the unrestricted state, the user can operate the second operating part 34B from the engaged state to the disengaged state. As a result, the user can remove the second liquid container 42 from the second slot SL2 and replace it with a new second liquid container 42.

[0038] In this embodiment, a hot swap method is adopted in which, of two liquid containers 41, 42 containing the same type of liquid, one that is being used as a liquid supply source during a liquid consumption operation is restricted from moving and cannot be replaced, while the other that is not being used is not restricted from moving and can be replaced. Since the hot swap method is adopted, the other of the two liquid containers 41, 42 that is not being used during a liquid consumption operation is replaceable. Therefore, even if one of the two liquid containers 41, 42 that is being used runs out of liquid, it is possible to switch the liquid supply source to the other and continue printing operations without interrupting for the replacement of the liquid container 40.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 3, the mounting unit 31 includes a supply mechanism 50 to realize the hot swap method. The supply mechanism 50 includes the switching unit 38 and the movement restriction unit 39. When one of the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42, which contain the same type of liquid, runs out of liquid, the switching unit 38 switches the other to the new liquid container being used. In other words, the switching unit 38 selectively switches between allowing liquid supply and prohibiting liquid supply for the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42. In addition, the movement restriction unit 39 locks one of the first engagement unit 33A and the second engagement unit 33B, which corresponds to the liquid container 40 in use, in an engaged state, and unlocks the other, which corresponds to the liquid container 40 not in use.

[0040] 2 and 3, the supply mechanism 50 includes a first drive mechanism 51 constituting the switching unit 38, a second drive mechanism 52 constituting the movement restricting unit 39, and a drive source 53 that outputs power to the first drive mechanism 51 and the second drive mechanism 52. The second drive mechanism 52 has a rod 39A that transmits power to the engagement parts 33A and 33B for performing a locking operation for locking the engagement parts 33A and 33B in an engaged state and an unlocking operation for releasing the lock. The rod 39A extends in the depth direction Y1 along the side surface of the accommodation case 32 for each of the slots SL1 and SL2.

[0041] <General configuration of liquid ejection device> Next, a schematic configuration of a liquid ejection device 11 including a liquid supply device 30 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Note that Fig. 4 illustrates only one pair containing the same type of liquid among a plurality of pairs of liquid containers 41, 42. In this example, there are two pairs containing the same type of liquid.

[0042] The first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42 shown in FIG. 4 contain the same type of liquid. Although only one set is shown in FIG. 4, the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42 are provided with a plurality of sets of the same type of liquid contained therein. For example, when the liquid is ink, the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42 are provided for each of the colors cyan, magenta, and yellow. That is, as the liquid containers, the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42 that contain cyan liquid, the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42 that contain magenta liquid, and the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42 that contain yellow liquid are provided (see FIG. 2 and FIG. 3). The number of sets of the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42 as one set is not limited to three sets, and may be two sets, or may be four sets or more. Also, a set of a first liquid container 41 and a second liquid container 42 containing black liquid may be included.

[0043] The first liquid container 41 is inserted in the first slot SL1, and the second liquid container 42 is inserted in the second slot SL2. The liquid supply device 30 includes a first sensor SE1 that detects that the first liquid container 41 is inserted in the first slot SL1, and a second sensor SE2 that detects that the second liquid container 42 is inserted in the second slot SL2. The control unit 25 determines whether or not the first liquid container 41 is inserted in the first slot SL1 based on a detection signal input from the first sensor SE1. The control unit 25 also determines whether or not the second liquid container 42 is inserted in the second slot SL2 based on a detection signal input from the second sensor SE2. The control unit 25 also includes a sensor that detects that the first engagement portion 33A is in an engaged state, and a sensor that detects that the second engagement portion 33B is in an engaged state (both not shown). The control unit 25 determines whether or not the first engagement portion 33A and the second engagement portion 33B are in an engaged state individually based on the detection results from these sensors.

[0044] 4, the liquid supply device 30 includes a supply flow path 35 that communicates with the liquid ejection head 20, a first supply flow path 36 that communicates the first liquid container 41 with the supply flow path 35, and a second supply flow path 37 that communicates the second liquid container 42 with the supply flow path 35. The liquid supply device 30 also includes the aforementioned switching unit 38 that is capable of switching which of the first supply flow path 36 and the second supply flow path 37 communicates with the supply flow path 35. The liquid supply device 30 also includes the aforementioned movement restriction unit 39 that is capable of selectively restricting the movement of the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42 in conjunction with the switching of the switching unit 38.

[0045] The mounting portion 31 has a first connection portion 31A connected to the first liquid container 41 inserted in the first slot SL1, and a second connection portion 31B connected to the second liquid container 42 inserted in the second slot SL2. The connection portions 31A and 31B protrude in a needle-like shape from the innermost surfaces of the slots SL1 and SL2. When the first liquid container 41 is inserted to the insertion position of the first slot SL1, the needle-like first connection portion 31A is inserted into a liquid supply port (not shown) on the tip end surface of the first liquid container 41 in the insertion direction ID. This allows the first liquid container 41 to communicate with the first supply flow path 36. When the second liquid container 42 is inserted to the insertion position of the second slot SL2, the needle-like second connection portion 31B is inserted into a liquid supply port (not shown) on the tip end surface of the second liquid container 42 in the insertion direction ID. As a result, the second liquid container 42 communicates with the second supply flow path 37.

[0046] When the switching unit 38 communicates the first supply flow path 36 with the supply flow path 35, the movement restriction unit 39 restricts the movement of the first liquid container 41. When the switching unit 38 communicates the second supply flow path 37 with the supply flow path 35, the movement restriction unit 39 restricts the movement of the second liquid container 42.

[0047] The switching unit 38 has a first on-off valve 54 that opens and closes the first supply flow path 36, a second on-off valve 55 that opens and closes the second supply flow path 37, and a first drive mechanism 51 for switching between opening and closing the first on-off valve 54 and the second on-off valve 55. The switching unit 38 switches between the first supply flow path 36 and the second supply flow path 37, whichever is in communication with the supply flow path 35. The control unit 25 stores usage information that identifies one of the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42 to be used in a memory (storage unit) (not shown). The control unit 25 opens one of the first on-off valve 54 and the second on-off valve 55 that is identified as the one to be used from the usage information, and closes the other. When one of the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42 that is to be used (in use) runs out of liquid, if the other is new and contains the required amount of liquid, the other is made the target for use, thereby switching the liquid container 40 in use to the other. The liquid containers 41, 42 each include a memory element (not shown) that stores liquid information including information on the type of liquid contained and the remaining amount. The control unit 25 obtains information on the type (e.g., ink color) and remaining amount of liquid contained in each liquid container 41, 42 by reading the liquid information from each memory element of the liquid containers 41, 42 inserted in the slots SL1, SL2.

[0048] When the switching unit 38 communicates the first supply flow path 36 with the supply flow path 35, the first liquid container 41 and the liquid ejection head 20 communicate with each other through the supply flow paths 35, 36. As a result, liquid is supplied from the first liquid container 41 to the liquid ejection head 20. When the switching unit 38 communicates the second supply flow path 37 with the supply flow path 35, the second liquid container 42 and the liquid ejection head 20 communicate with each other through the supply flow paths 35, 37. As a result, liquid is supplied from the second liquid container 42 to the liquid ejection head 20.

[0049] The control unit 25 controls the carriage 21 and the liquid ejection head 20. The control unit 25 drives and controls a carriage motor (not shown) to move the carriage 21 back and forth in the width direction X. The liquid ejection head 20 has a plurality of nozzles 20N capable of ejecting liquid supplied from either the first liquid container 41 or the second liquid container 42, whichever is in use. During a printing operation, the control unit 25 ejects liquid from the nozzles 20N of the liquid ejection head 20 toward the medium 14 (see FIG. 1) while the carriage 21 is moving.

[0050] The control unit 25 also controls the maintenance unit 22. The maintenance unit 22 includes a cap 22A. The maintenance unit 22 performs cleaning, which is a part of the maintenance, to forcibly discharge liquid from the nozzles 20N of the liquid ejection head 20. The cleaning may be performed by either a pressurized system or a negative pressure system. In the negative pressure system, the cap 22A is brought into contact with the nozzle surface 20A of the liquid ejection head 20, where the nozzles 20N of the liquid ejection head 20 are opened, and a closed space formed between the nozzle surface 20A and the cap 22A is made negative pressure by driving a suction pump (not shown). The liquid is forcibly discharged from the nozzles 20N by this negative pressure. In the pressurized system, the liquid contained in one of the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42 that is in use is pressurized by the pressure of a pressure pump, thereby forcibly discharging the liquid from the nozzles 20N of the liquid ejection head 20. The liquid (waste liquid) discharged from the nozzles 20N during cleaning is collected in a waste liquid tank (not shown) via the cap 22A.

[0051] 4, the movement restricting portion 39 has a first engagement portion 33A engageable with the first liquid container 41, a second engagement portion 33B engageable with the second liquid container 42, and a second drive mechanism 52 for selectively switching the first engagement portion 33A and the second engagement portion 33B between a restricted state and a non-restricted state. The movement restricting portion 39 restricts movement of the first liquid container 41 in the removal direction from the inserted state by locking the first engagement portion 33A at a position where it is engaged with the first liquid container 41. The movement restricting portion 39 also restricts movement of the second liquid container 42 in the removal direction from the inserted state by locking the second engagement portion 33B at a position where it is engaged with the second liquid container 42.

[0052] In detail, the second drive mechanism 52 includes the above-mentioned first lock mechanism 391 and second lock mechanism 392 (see FIG. 3). The first lock mechanism 391 restricts removal of the first liquid container 41 from the first slot SL1 by locking the first engagement portion 33A in an engaged state in which it engages with the first liquid container 41. The second lock mechanism 392 restricts removal of the second liquid container 42 from the second slot SL2 by locking the second engagement portion 33B in an engaged state in which it engages with the second liquid container 42.

[0053] When the amount of liquid in one of the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42, whose movement is restricted by the movement restricting portion 39, falls below a predetermined threshold, the control portion 25 switches the flow path that communicates with the supply flow path 35. At the same time, the control portion 25 releases the restriction on the movement of one of the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42, whose movement is restricted by the movement restricting portion 39, and restricts the movement of the other.

[0054] That is, when the amount of liquid in the first liquid container 41, whose movement is restricted by the movement restriction portion 39, falls below a predetermined threshold, the control portion 25 switches the flow path that communicates with the supply flow path 35. At the same time, the control portion 25 releases the restriction on the movement of the first liquid container 41 and restricts the movement of the second liquid container 42. On the other hand, when the amount of liquid in the second liquid container 42, whose movement is restricted by the movement restriction portion 39, falls below a predetermined threshold, the control portion 25 switches the flow path that communicates with the supply flow path 35. At the same time, the control portion 25 releases the restriction on the movement of the second liquid container 42 and restricts the movement of the first liquid container 41.

[0055] Furthermore, when one of the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42, the movement of which is not restricted by the movement restricting portion 39, is replaced with a new liquid container 40, the control unit 25 switches the flow path that communicates with the supply flow path 35. At the same time, the control unit 25 releases the restriction on the movement of the other liquid container 40 and restricts the movement of the new liquid container 40.

[0056] That is, when the first liquid container 41, the movement of which is not restricted by the movement restricting portion 39, is replaced with a new first liquid container 41, the control portion 25 switches the flow path communicating with the supply flow path 35 from the second supply flow path 37 to the first supply flow path 36. At the same time, the control portion 25 releases the restriction on the movement of the second liquid container 42 to restrict the movement of the new first liquid container 41. Note that, when the remaining amount of the second liquid container 42 falls below a threshold after replacement with the new first liquid container 41, the control portion 25 may switch the flow path communicating with the supply flow path 35 from the second supply flow path 37 to the first supply flow path 36 and restrict the movement of the new first liquid container 41.

[0057] Furthermore, when the second liquid container 42, the movement of which is not restricted by the movement restricting portion 39, is replaced with a new liquid container 42, the control portion 25 switches the flow path communicating with the supply flow path 35 from the first supply flow path 36 to the second supply flow path 37. At the same time, the control portion 25 releases the restriction on the movement of the first liquid container 41 and restricts the movement of the new second liquid container 42. Note that, when the remaining amount of the first liquid container 41 falls below a threshold after replacement with the new second liquid container 42, the control portion 25 may switch the flow path communicating with the supply flow path 35 from the first supply flow path 36 to the second supply flow path 37 and restrict the movement of the new second liquid container 42.

[0058] 4, the liquid supplying device 30 has a driving source 53 that drives the first driving mechanism 51 and the second driving mechanism 52. The control unit 25 drives the driving source 53 to control the driving of the two on-off valves 54, 55 that constitute the switching unit 38 and the two lock mechanisms 391, 392 that constitute the movement restricting unit 39. The driving source 53 is, for example, an electric motor. Note that the driving source 53 is not limited to an electric motor and may be, for example, an electric cylinder or a solenoid.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 25 is electrically connected to the operation panel 24. The liquid ejection device 11 also includes a communication unit 26 for communicatively connecting to a host device 80. The control unit 25 is communicatively connected to the host device 80 via the communication unit 26. The user can give commands to the liquid ejection device 11 by operating the operation panel 24. The user can also give commands to the liquid ejection device 11 by operating an input unit of the host device 80. These commands include commands to instruct a liquid consumption operation, which is an operation that consumes liquid.

[0060] The liquid consumption operation command includes a print command and a maintenance command. The print command commands the liquid ejection head 20 to perform a print operation to print on the medium 14 by ejecting liquid such as ink toward the medium 14. The maintenance command commands cleaning to forcibly discharge liquid from the nozzle 20N. The maintenance command is a command to clean the nozzle 20N by discharging thickened liquid and air bubbles in the liquid from the nozzle 20N together with the liquid.

[0061] When the control unit 25 receives a print command from the operation panel 24 or the host device 80, it controls the liquid ejection head 20 and the transport unit 23 to perform a printing operation to print an image or characters on the medium 14.

[0062] The control unit 25 also manages the timing of maintenance execution. The control unit 25 manages the time that has elapsed since the previous maintenance was performed and the number of sheets printed since the previous maintenance was performed. When the elapsed time exceeds a time threshold, the control unit 25 causes the maintenance unit 22 to perform a maintenance operation. When the number of sheets printed exceeds a sheet count threshold, the control unit 25 also causes the maintenance unit 22 to perform a maintenance operation. When the control unit 25 receives a maintenance command from the operation panel 24 or the host device 80, the control unit 25 causes the maintenance unit 22 to perform a maintenance operation. The maintenance operation may be something other than a cleaning operation. For example, the maintenance operation may be a flushing operation in which liquid is discharged from the nozzle 20N of the liquid discharge head 20.

[0063] The control unit 25 that controls the operation of the liquid ejection device 11 includes, for example, a CPU, a memory, etc. The control unit 25 controls the components of the liquid ejection device 11, such as the liquid ejection head 20, the liquid supply device 30, the maintenance unit 22, and the transport unit 23, by the CPU executing a program stored in the memory. The control unit 25 in this example stores, for example, a program shown in the flowchart of Fig. 12 in the memory.

[0064] <Configuration of the supply mechanism 50> Next, the configuration of the supply mechanism 50 will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 5, the supply mechanism 50 includes a drive source 53, a first drive mechanism 51, and a second drive mechanism 52 each driven by power output from the drive source 53. In detail, the supply mechanism 50 includes the drive source 53, a gear train 58 that transmits the rotational force output from the drive source 53, and a plurality of cams 61-64 that rotate based on the rotational force transmitted by the gear train 58. The plurality of cams 61-64 are fixed to a common shaft portion 65 that is rotatably supported. The plurality of cams 61-64 are fixed to the shaft portion 65 with a predetermined phase difference, and rotate integrally with the shaft portion 65. The gear train 58 includes an input gear 56 fixed to the output shaft of the drive source 53, and an output gear 57 located at the downstream end of the power transmission path.

[0065] The first drive mechanism 51 has a first cam 61 attached to an axis portion 65 that rotates in conjunction with the drive of the drive source 53 and can switch the opening and closing of the first opening / closing valve 54, and a second cam 62 attached to the axis portion 65 and can switch the opening and closing of the second opening / closing valve 55.

[0066] The second drive mechanism 52 has a third cam 63 attached to the shaft portion 65 and capable of switching the state of the first engagement portion 33A (see Figures 3 and 8), and a fourth cam 64 attached to the shaft portion 65 and capable of switching the state of the second engagement portion 33B (see Figures 3 and 8).

[0067] 5 meshes with a gear portion 66 provided between the third cam 63 and the fourth cam 64 so as to be rotatable integrally with them. Thus, when the shaft portion 65 rotates via the gear train 58 by the power of the driving source 53, the first cam 61, the second cam 62, the third cam 63 and the fourth cam 64 fixed to the shaft portion 65 rotate integrally.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 6, the first cam 61 and the second cam 62 have cam surfaces 61A and 62A formed on their outer circumferences, respectively. Each cam surface 61A and 62A engages with a sliding surface 71A of each first lever 71 corresponding to the first cam 61 and the second cam 62, respectively. The first lever 71 has, for example, a substantially L-shape in side view, and is rotatable within a predetermined angle range around a support shaft 72. The first cam 61 engages with the sliding surface 71A of the first lever 71, thereby switching the opening and closing of the first opening / closing valve 54 through the rotation of the first cam 61. The second cam 62 engages with a first lever 71 different from the first lever 71 with which the first cam 61 engages, thereby switching the opening and closing of the second opening / closing valve 55 through the rotation of the second cam 62.

[0069] A drive shaft 73 for switching the opening and closing of the first on-off valve 54 and the second on-off valve 55 is connected to the other end of each first lever 71 opposite to the one end where the sliding surface 71A is located. The opening and closing of each on-off valve 54, 55 is individually switched by driving the drive shaft 73 in the axial direction. The relationship between the rotational positions of the first cam 61 and the second cam 62 and the open / closed states of the on-off valves 54, 55 will be described later.

[0070] As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the third cam 63 and the fourth cam 64 have cam surfaces 63A and 64A formed on their outer circumferences, respectively. Each cam surface 63A and 64A engages with a sliding surface 75A (see Fig. 6) of each second lever 75 corresponding to the third cam 63 and the fourth cam 64, respectively. As shown in Fig. 6, the second lever 75 has, for example, a substantially L-shape in side view and is rotatable within a predetermined angle range around a support shaft 76. The third cam 63 displaces the rod 39A in the axial direction through the rotation of the third cam 63 by engaging with the sliding surface 75A of the second lever 75. The fourth cam 64 displaces the rod 39A in the axial direction through the rotation of the fourth cam 64 by engaging with a second lever 75 different from the second lever 75 with which the third cam 63 engages.

[0071] A base end of a rod 39A is connected to one end of each second lever 75 opposite to the end where the sliding surface 75A is located. When the rod 39A is displaced in the axial direction, the engagement portions 33A, 33B (see FIG. 8) are switched between a restricting state (locked state) in which the movement of the liquid container 40 is restricted and a non-restricting state (unlocked state) in which the movement of the liquid container 40 is not restricted. The relationship between the rotational positions of the third cam 63 and the fourth cam 64 and the states of the engagement portions 33A, 33B will be described later.

[0072] 7, the supply mechanism 50 includes a first supply flow path 36 communicating with a first on-off valve 54, a second supply flow path 37 communicating with a second on-off valve 55, and a supply flow path 35 to which the first supply flow path 36 and the second supply flow path 37 are commonly communicated. Although omitted in FIG. 7, the first supply flow path 36 communicating with the first on-off valve 54, the second supply flow path 37 communicating with the second on-off valve 55, and the supply flow path 35 are also provided in a portion for supplying other types of liquid. The multiple supply flow paths 35 each supply different types of liquid to the liquid ejection head 20 through a conduit such as a tube (not shown) (see FIG. 1). As shown in Figure 7, the movement regulating portion 39 is composed of a first locking mechanism 391 that regulates the movement of the first liquid container 41 inserted into the first slot SL1, and a second locking mechanism 392 that regulates the movement of the second liquid container 42 inserted into the second slot SL2.

[0073] As shown in Fig. 8, a biasing member 39S such as a spring that biases the rod 39A is provided at the tip of the rod 39A. Here, in Fig. 8, the upper first locking mechanism 391 is in a restricted state, and the lower second locking mechanism 392 is in a non-restricted state (released state).

[0074] The rod 39A is placed in the restricted position as shown in the first lock mechanism 391 shown in the upper part of FIG. 8 by the biasing force of the biasing member 39S. When in this restricted position, the tip portion 39B of the rod 39A engages with a restricting portion 33C extending from the engagement portion 33. The rod 39A restricts the movement of the restricting portion 33C, thereby restricting the operation of moving the engagement portion 33 from the engaged state to the disengaged state. In other words, the user is restricted from moving the operation portion 34 from the engaged state in which the liquid container 40 cannot be removed to the disengaged state in which the liquid container 40 can be removed. For this reason, the user cannot remove the liquid container 40.

[0075] When the second cam 62 or the fourth cam 64 presses the second lever 75, the rod 39A is disposed in the restriction release position as shown in the second lock mechanism 392 shown in the lower part of FIG. 8 against the biasing force of the biasing member 39S. When the rod 39A is in this restriction release position, the tip portion 39B of the rod 39A retreats to a position where it does not engage with the restricting portion 33C extending from the engaging portion 33. Since the rod 39A does not restrict the movement of the restricting portion 33C, the user can move (operate) the engaging portion 33 from the engaged state to the disengaged state. That is, the user can remove the liquid container 40 by moving the operating portion 34 from the engaged state where the liquid container 40 cannot be removed to the disengaged state position where the liquid container 40 can be removed.

[0076] <Status of the opening / closing valve and lock mechanism> With reference to FIG. 9, three possible states based on the combination of switching between the on-off valves 54, 55 and the lock mechanisms 391, 392 will be described.

[0077] 9, the first on-off valve 54 switches between opening and closing the first supply flow path 36 communicating with the first liquid container 41 in the first slot SL1. The second on-off valve 55 switches between opening and closing the second supply flow path 37 communicating with the second liquid container 42 in the second slot SL2. The first locking mechanism 391 switches between a locked state in which movement of the first liquid container 41 in the first slot SL1 is restricted, and an unlocked state in which the movement is not restricted. The second locking mechanism 392 switches between a locked state in which movement of the second liquid container 42 in the second slot SL2 is restricted, and an unlocked state in which the movement is not restricted.

[0078] 9, the three states, "State 1," "State 2," and "State 3," can be selected by combining the switching of the on-off valves 54, 55 and the locking mechanisms 391, 392. In "State 1," the first on-off valve 54 is open, the second on-off valve is closed, the first locking mechanism 391 is in a locked state, and the second locking mechanism 392 is in an unlocked state. In "State 2," the first on-off valve 54 is closed, the second on-off valve is closed, the first locking mechanism 391 is in an unlocked state, and the second locking mechanism 392 is in an unlocked state. In "State 3," the first on-off valve 54 is closed, the second on-off valve is open, the first locking mechanism 391 is in an unlocked state, and the second locking mechanism 392 is in a locked state.

[0079] Fig. 10 shows state transitions between the on-off valves 54, 55 and the locking mechanisms 391, 392 associated with the first slot SL1 and the second slot SL2. The on-off valves 54, 55 and the locking mechanisms 391, 392 transition to one of a first state, a second state, and a third state through switching control of the on-off valves 54, 55 and switching control of the locking mechanisms 391, 392. In Fig. 10, the horizontal axis indicates the rotation angle of the shaft portion 65 to which the cams 61 to 64 are fixed. The shaft portion 65 reciprocates within a range of 180 degrees from -90 degrees to 90 degrees as the control unit 25 drives and controls the drive source 53.

[0080] "State 1" is assumed when the rotation angle of shaft portion 65 is in a first angle range including -90 degrees. "State 2" is assumed when the rotation angle of shaft portion 65 is in a second angle range including 0 degrees. Furthermore, "State 3" is assumed when the rotation angle of shaft portion 65 is in a third angle range including 90 degrees.

[0081] In "State 1," the first opening / closing valve 54 of the first slot SL1 is in an open state, the first locking mechanism 391 of the first slot SL1 is in a locked state, the second opening / closing valve 55 of the second slot SL2 is in a closed state, and the second locking mechanism 392 of the second slot SL2 is in an unlocked state.

[0082] In "State 2," the first opening / closing valve 54 of the first slot SL1 is in a closed state, the first locking mechanism 391 of the first slot SL1 is in an unlocked state, the second opening / closing valve 55 of the second slot SL2 is in a closed state, and the second locking mechanism 392 of the second slot SL2 is in an unlocked state.

[0083] In "State 3," the first opening / closing valve 54 of the first slot SL1 is in a closed state, the first locking mechanism 391 of the first slot SL1 is in an unlocked state, the second opening / closing valve 55 of the second slot SL2 is in an open state, and the second locking mechanism 392 of the second slot SL2 is in a locked state.

[0084] In this embodiment, the state switching shown in Fig. 10 is performed by the control unit 25 controlling the drive source 53. In detail, the control unit 25 controls the rotation angles of the first cam 61, the second cam 62, the third cam 63 and the fourth cam 64 described above to switch the state.

[0085] Next, the relationship between the rotation angles of the four cams 61-64 and the three states will be described with reference to Fig. 11. Fig. 11 is a graph showing the relationship between the rotation angles of the four cams 61-64 and the transition states of the on-off valves 54, 55 and the lock mechanisms 391, 392 in the two slots SL1, SL2.

[0086] As shown in FIG. 11, the first cam 61 is an eccentric cam having a cam surface 61A on its outer periphery. The second cam 62 is an eccentric cam having a cam surface 62A on its outer periphery. For example, the first cam 61 and the second cam 62 have the same size and shape. The first cam 61 and the second cam 62 are out of phase with each other by about 180 degrees. The third cam 63 is an eccentric cam having a cam surface 63A on its outer periphery. The fourth cam 64 is an eccentric cam having a cam surface 64A on its outer periphery. For example, the third cam 63 and the fourth cam 64 have the same size and shape. The third cam 63 and the fourth cam 64 are out of phase with each other by about 90 degrees.

[0087] For this reason, in "State 1", the first cam 61 presses the first lever 71 to open the first on-off valve 54, and the second cam 62 does not press the first lever 71 to close the second on-off valve 55. Furthermore, in "State 1", the third cam 63 does not press the second lever 75 to lock the first lock mechanism 391, and the fourth cam 64 presses the second lever 75 to unlock the second lock mechanism 392.

[0088] In "State 2", the first cam 61 does not press the first lever 71, thereby closing the first on-off valve 54, and the second cam 62 does not press the first lever 71, thereby closing the second on-off valve 55. Furthermore, in "State 2", the third cam 63 presses the second lever 75, thereby releasing the lock of the first lock mechanism 391, and the fourth cam 64 presses the second lever 75, thereby releasing the lock of the second lock mechanism 392.

[0089] In "State 3", the first cam 61 does not press the first lever 71, thereby closing the first on-off valve 54, and the second cam 62 presses the first lever 71, thereby opening the second on-off valve 55. Furthermore, in "State 3", the third cam 63 presses the second lever 75, thereby releasing the lock of the first lock mechanism 391, and the fourth cam 64 does not press the second lever 75, thereby locking the second lock mechanism 392.

[0090] <Operation of the embodiment> Next, the operation of the liquid ejection device 11 and the liquid supply device 30 will be described. An example of a liquid supply control process executed by the control unit 25 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 12. The control unit 25 of this embodiment executes a liquid supply control process for controlling the liquid supply device 30. This liquid supply control process includes control of a printing operation for printing an image or characters on the medium 14 and a maintenance operation for forcibly discharging liquid from the liquid ejection head 20. A user issues a command for a printing operation by operating the operation panel 24 or the input unit of the host device 80. A user also issues a command for a maintenance operation for the liquid ejection head 20 by operating the operation panel 24 or the input unit of the host device 80. The maintenance operation includes a cleaning operation. The control unit 25 also has a management unit that manages the elapsed time or the number of printed sheets since the previous maintenance was performed, and receives a command for a maintenance operation from the management unit when either the elapsed time or the number of printed sheets exceeds the respective threshold value.

[0091] Hereinafter, the liquid supply control process performed by the control unit 25 will be described with reference to FIG. In step S11, the control unit 25 determines whether or not there has been a command for a liquid consuming operation. Here, a liquid consuming operation is an operation in which the liquid ejection head 20 consumes liquid (e.g., ink). In this example, the liquid consuming operation includes a printing operation and a maintenance operation. Here, the control unit 25 determines whether or not there has been a command for a printing operation or a maintenance operation. If there has been a command for a liquid consuming operation, the process proceeds to step S12; if there has not been a command for a liquid consuming operation, the process waits until the command is received.

[0092] In step S12, the control unit 25 opens only one of the on-off valves corresponding to the liquid container to be used. The control unit 25 acquires the remaining amount and usage information for all the liquid containers 40. The usage information is information for recognizing whether the liquid container 40 is in use (to be used). When one of the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42 that is in use runs out of liquid (for example, ink end), the other new one starts to be used, and usage information is created to the effect that the other new one that has started to be used is in use. The timing for switching one of the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42 that is in use to the other new one can be set appropriately. The timing for this switching is not limited to when the liquid runs out (for example, ink end), but may be when the liquid is near the end when it is empty, or may be at another timing when a predetermined remaining amount is reached.

[0093] In step S12, for example, when the first liquid container 41 is to be used, the control unit 25 opens only the first on-off valve 54 corresponding to the first liquid container 41. At this time, the second on-off valve 55 remains closed. On the other hand, for example, when the second liquid container 42 is to be used, the control unit 25 opens only the second on-off valve 55 corresponding to the second liquid container 42. At this time, the first on-off valve 54 remains closed.

[0094] In step S13, the control unit 25 restricts the movement of the liquid container to be used. The control unit 25 restricts the movement of one of the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42 determined as the container to be used by controlling the movement restriction unit 39. That is, when the container to be used is the first liquid container 41, the control unit 25 restricts the movement of only the first liquid container 41 by locking the first locking mechanism 391 and unlocking the second locking mechanism 392. On the other hand, when the container to be used is the second liquid container 42, the control unit 25 restricts the movement of only the second liquid container 42 by unlocking the first locking mechanism 391 and locking the second locking mechanism 392. In this way, the movement restriction unit 39 restricts the movement of the liquid container 40 on the side communicating with the supply flow path 35. The process of step S13 corresponds to "regulating the movement of the liquid container 40 on the side communicating with the supply flow path 35 by the movement regulation portion 39".

[0095] In this embodiment, the control unit 25 controls the drive source 53 to set the four cams 61 to 64 to "State 1" or "State 3" (see Figs. 10 and 11 for both), thereby executing the processes of steps S12 and S13. In more detail, when the first liquid container 41 is in use, the four cams 61 to 64 are set to "State 1". In "State 1", the first opening / closing valve 54 is open, and the second opening / closing valve 55 is closed. In addition, in "State 1", the first locking mechanism 391 is in a locked state, and the second locking mechanism 392 is in an unlocked state. Therefore, while the liquid consumption operation is being performed, the user cannot operate the first operating unit 34A from an engaged state to a disengaged state. Therefore, the first liquid container 41 in use cannot be removed during the liquid consumption operation. On the other hand, the second liquid container 42 not in use can be removed during the liquid consumption operation.

[0096] On the other hand, when the second liquid container 42 is in use, the four cams 61 to 64 are set to "State 3". In "State 3", the first on-off valve 54 is closed and the second on-off valve 55 is open. Also, in "State 3", the first locking mechanism 391 is in the unlocked state and the second locking mechanism 392 is in the locked state. Therefore, while the liquid consumption operation is being performed, the user cannot operate the second operating part 34B from the engaged state to the disengaged state. Therefore, the second liquid container 42 that is in use cannot be removed during the liquid consumption operation. On the other hand, the first liquid container 41 that is not in use can be removed during the liquid consumption operation.

[0097] In step S14, the control unit 25 executes a liquid consuming operation. Liquid consuming operations include a printing operation and a maintenance operation. If the command for the liquid consuming operation is a printing command, the control unit 25 executes a printing operation. On the other hand, if the command for the liquid consuming operation is a maintenance command, the control unit 25 executes a maintenance operation. Once the liquid consuming operation is completed, the control unit 25 proceeds to step S15. The processing of step S14 corresponds to "executing an operation that consumes liquid".

[0098] If the first liquid container 41 is in use while this liquid consuming operation is being performed, the user cannot disengage the first operation unit 34A corresponding to the first liquid container 41. On the other hand, if the second liquid container 42 is in use while the liquid consuming operation is being performed, the user cannot disengage the second operation unit 34B corresponding to the second liquid container 42. As a result, it is possible to prevent printing or maintenance failures caused by removing the liquid container 40 in use during a printing operation or maintenance operation.

[0099] In step S15, the control unit 25 closes the first on-off valve 54 and the second on-off valve 55. That is, the control unit 25 controls the switching unit 38 to put both the first supply flow path 36 and the second supply flow path 37 in a state in which they are not in communication with the supply flow path 35. In detail, the control unit 25 controls the drive source 53 to put the first cam 61 and the second cam 62 in "State 2" (see Figs. 10 and 11), thereby closing both the first on-off valve 54 and the second on-off valve 55. Therefore, when the liquid consumption operation is not being performed, the first supply flow path 36 in communication with the first liquid container 41 is closed, and the second supply flow path 37 in communication with the second liquid container 42 is closed. In this way, both the first supply flow path 36 and the second supply flow path 37 are in a state in which they are not in communication with the supply flow path 35. The process of step S15 corresponds to "after the liquid consuming operation is performed, switching unit 38 sets first supply flow path 36 and second supply flow path 37 in a state not communicating with supply flow path 35".

[0100] In step S16, the control unit 25 releases the restriction on the two liquid containers 41 and 42. That is, the control unit 25 controls the movement restriction unit 39 to release the restriction on the movement of both the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42. In detail, the control unit 25 controls the drive source 53 to set the third cam 63 and the fourth cam 64 to "State 2" (see Figs. 10 and 11), thereby setting both the first lock mechanism 391 and the second lock mechanism 392 to an unlocked state in which the engagement units 33A and 33B are not locked in an engaged state. Therefore, when a liquid consumption operation is not being performed, the user can remove both the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42 by operating the operation unit 34. In this way, when a liquid consumption operation is not being performed and no printing failure or maintenance failure occurs, the user can remove both the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42. The process of step S16 corresponds to "releasing the restriction on the movement of both the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42 by the movement restriction unit 39 after the operation has been performed."

[0101] In this embodiment, the control unit 25 controls the drive source 53 to set the four cams 61-64 to "State 2" (see FIGS. 10 and 11), thereby executing the processes of steps S15 and S16. In "State 2", the first on-off valve 54 and the second on-off valve 55 are both closed, and the first lock mechanism 391 and the second lock mechanism 392 are both in an unlocked state. Therefore, when a liquid consumption operation is not being performed, the user can remove both the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42 by operating the operation unit 34.

[0102] In the first embodiment, the control unit 25 executes the liquid supply control process, thereby performing a control method including the following first to third steps. (First Step) When a command for an operation to consume liquid (a command for a liquid consumption operation) is received, the following is executed. The switching unit 38 connects either the first supply flow path 36 or the second supply flow path 37 to the supply flow path 35. At the same time, the movement restriction unit 39 restricts the movement of the liquid container 40 on the side that communicates with the supply flow path 35. This first step corresponds to the processes of steps S12 and S13 in FIG. 12.

[0103] (Second step) An operation of consuming liquid is executed. That is, a liquid consuming operation is executed in which the liquid ejection head 20 consumes liquid. This second step corresponds to the process of step S14 in FIG.

[0104] (Third Step) After the liquid consumption operation is performed, the switching unit 38 puts both the first supply flow path 36 and the second supply flow path 37 in a state of being disconnected from the supply flow path 35, and the movement restriction unit 39 releases the restriction on the movement of both the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42. This third step corresponds to the processes of steps S15 and S16 in FIG.

[0105] This prevents printing from being interrupted when the user operates the operation unit 34 during a printing operation to remove the liquid container 40 in use. This prevents the medium 14 from being wasted due to failure caused by the interruption of printing, and prevents liquid such as ink from being wasted due to reprinting.

[0106] It is also possible to prevent interruption of maintenance caused by the user operating the operation unit 34 during a maintenance operation to remove the liquid container 40 in use. This makes it possible to prevent liquid such as ink from being wasted by having to start over after an interruption in maintenance.

[0107] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the removal of the liquid container 40 in use during printing and maintenance operations is mechanically locked. For example, it is possible to configure the firmware to deal with errors when a removal error occurs in which the liquid container 40 in use is removed during printing or maintenance operations. However, in this case, it is necessary to configure the firmware so that it can deal with all possible errors, so that the firmware becomes complex and there is a possibility that an error will not be dealt with. If the configuration of the present embodiment is such that the liquid container 40 in use is mechanically locked so that it cannot be removed, it is possible to avoid the firmware becoming complex and the error being dealt with. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the firmware from becoming complex, and it is also possible to prevent the occurrence of an error in removing the liquid container 40 in use.

[0108] As described above in detail, according to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. (1-1) Liquid supply device 30 includes a supply flow path 35 that communicates with liquid ejection head 20 capable of ejecting liquid, a first supply flow path 36 that communicates a first liquid container 41 that contains a liquid with the supply flow path 35, and a second supply flow path 37 that communicates a second liquid container 42 that contains the same type of liquid as the liquid contained in the first liquid container 41 with the supply flow path 35. Liquid supply device 30 includes a switching unit 38 that is capable of switching which of the first supply flow path 36 and the second supply flow path 37 communicates with the supply flow path 35, and a movement restriction unit 39 that is capable of selectively restricting movement of the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42 in conjunction with the switching of the switching unit 38. According to this configuration, the movement of the liquid container 40 that is connected to the liquid ejection head 20 can be restricted, while the movement of the liquid container 40 that is not connected to the liquid ejection head 20 can be unrestricted, thereby preventing the liquid container 40 in use from being accidentally removed.

[0109] (1-2) When the switching unit 38 communicates the first supply flow path 36 with the supply flow path 35, the movement restricting unit 39 restricts the movement of the first liquid container 41, and when the switching unit 38 communicates the second supply flow path 37 with the supply flow path 35, the movement restricting unit 39 restricts the movement of the second liquid container 42. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the liquid container 40 from being accidentally removed while in use.

[0110] (1-3) The switching unit 38 has a first on-off valve 54 that opens and closes the first supply flow path 36, a second on-off valve 55 that opens and closes the second supply flow path 37, and a first drive mechanism 51 for switching between opening and closing of the first on-off valve 54 and the second on-off valve 55. The movement restriction unit 39 has a first engagement portion 33A that can engage with the first liquid container 41, a second engagement portion 33B that can engage with the second liquid container 42, and a second drive mechanism 52 that can selectively switch between a restricted state in which movement is restricted and a non-restricted state in which movement is not restricted, for each of the first engagement portion 33A and the second engagement portion 33B.

[0111] Liquid supply device 30 has a drive source 53 that drives first drive mechanism 51 and second drive mechanism 52. With this configuration, the opening and closing of on-off valves 54, 55 and switching between the restricted state and the unrestricted state of engagement portions 33A, 33B can be performed by a single drive source 53. This makes it possible to simplify the configuration of liquid supply device 30.

[0112] (1-4) The first engagement portion 33A has a first operation portion 34A that allows the user to release the engagement state with the first liquid container 41. The second engagement portion 33B has a second operation portion 34B that allows the user to release the engagement state with the second liquid container 42. The second drive mechanism 52 is selectively switchable between a restricting state that restricts release of the engagement state and a non-restricting state that does not restrict release of the engagement state for each of the first operation portion 34A and the second operation portion 34B.

[0113] According to this configuration, when the first liquid container 41 is in use, the first operating unit 34A is restricted, and when the second liquid container 42 is in use, the second operating unit 34B is restricted. When the restriction of the operating unit 34 is released, the user can operate the operating unit 34 to release the engagement of the liquid container 40 when he or she wishes to remove the liquid container 40.

[0114] (1-5) The switching unit 38 has a first on-off valve 54 that opens and closes the first supply flow path 36, a second on-off valve 55 that opens and closes the second supply flow path 37, and a first drive mechanism 51 for switching between opening and closing of the first on-off valve 54 and the second on-off valve 55. In addition, the movement restriction unit 39 has a first engagement portion 33A that can engage with the first liquid container 41, a second engagement portion 33B that can engage with the second liquid container 42, and a second drive mechanism 52 that can selectively switch between an engaged state and a non-engaged state with respect to each of the first engagement portion 33A and the second engagement portion 33B. The liquid supply device 30 has a drive source 53 that drives the first drive mechanism 51 and the second drive mechanism 52. According to this configuration, it is possible to switch between opening and closing the first on-off valve 54 and the second on-off valve 55, and to switch between an engaged state and a disengaged state of the first engagement portion 33A and the second engagement portion 33B with the liquid container 40, using a single drive source 53. This makes it possible to simplify the configuration of the liquid supply device 30.

[0115] (1-6) The first drive mechanism 51 has a first cam 61 attached to a shaft portion 65 that rotates in conjunction with the drive of the drive source 53 and capable of switching the opening and closing of the first on-off valve 54, and a second cam 62 attached to the shaft portion 65 and capable of switching the opening and closing of the second on-off valve 55. The second drive mechanism 52 has a third cam 63 attached to the shaft portion 65 and capable of switching the state of the first engagement portion 33A, and a fourth cam 64 attached to the shaft portion 65 and capable of switching the state of the second engagement portion 33B. With this configuration, all of the switching of the first on-off valve 54, the second on-off valve 55, the first engagement portion 33A, and the second engagement portion 33B can be realized simply by rotating the shaft portion 65 to which the first cam 61, the second cam 62, the third cam 63, and the fourth cam 64 are commonly attached. Therefore, the configuration of the liquid supply device 30 can be simplified.

[0116] (1-7) The liquid ejection device 11 includes a liquid ejection head 20 capable of ejecting liquid, a liquid supply device 30, and a control unit 25 that controls a switching unit 38 and a movement regulating unit 39. With this configuration, the liquid ejection device 11 can obtain the same effects as the liquid supply device.

[0117] (1-8) When the amount of liquid in one of the liquid containers 40, the movement of which is restricted by the movement restriction unit 39, falls below a predetermined threshold, the control unit 25 switches the flow path that communicates with the supply flow path 35, and releases the restriction on the movement of one of the liquid containers 40 to restrict the movement of the other liquid container 40. According to this configuration, when the amount of liquid in the liquid container 40 in use falls below a predetermined threshold, the liquid container 40 in communication with the liquid ejection head 20 is automatically switched from the one liquid container 40 that has been in use to the other liquid container 40. This makes it possible to suppress the use of liquid containers 40 with a small amount of liquid, and also makes it possible to continue the liquid consumption operation without interruption even if the amount of liquid in the liquid container 40 in use becomes low.

[0118] (1-9) When one of the liquid containers 40, the movement of which is not restricted by the movement restriction unit 39, is replaced with a new liquid container 40, the control unit 25 switches the flow path that communicates with the supply flow path 35. At the same time, the restriction on the movement of the other liquid container 40 is released, and the movement of the new liquid container 40 is restricted. With this configuration, the liquid in the new liquid container 40 can always be used first. This allows the liquid consumption operation to continue without interruption.

[0119] (1-10) A method for controlling a liquid ejection device 11 including a liquid ejection head 20, a supply flow path 35, a first supply flow path 36, a second supply flow path 37, a switching unit 38, and a movement restriction unit 39. This control method includes the following first step, second step, and third step. In the first step, when a command for an operation that consumes liquid is received, the switching unit 38 causes either the first supply flow path 36 or the second supply flow path 37 to communicate with the supply flow path 35, and the movement restriction unit 39 restricts the movement of the liquid container 40 on the side that communicates with the supply flow path 35 (steps S12, S13). In the second step, the operation that consumes liquid is executed (step S14). In the third step, after the operation is performed, the switching unit 38 puts both the first supply flow path 36 and the second supply flow path 37 in a state of being disconnected from the supply flow path 35, and the movement restriction unit 39 releases the restriction on the movement of both the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42 (steps S15, S16). This control method makes it possible to prevent the liquid container 40 from being erroneously removed during an operation that consumes liquid.

[0120] Second embodiment In the first embodiment, the restriction on movement of one of the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42 in use was performed during the liquid consumption operation, but in this second embodiment, the restriction is performed while the liquid ejection device 11 is turned on.

[0121] A user turns on the power supply of the liquid ejection device 11 by operating a power supply operation unit (not shown) of the operation panel 24. When the power supply of the liquid ejection device 11 is turned on, the control unit 25 starts up. When started up, the control unit 25 executes a program shown in the flowchart of FIG.

[0122] Hereinafter, the liquid supply control process executed by the control unit 25 will be described with reference to FIG. First, in step S21, the control unit 25 determines whether or not the power is turned on. If the power is turned on, the process proceeds to step S22.

[0123] In steps S22 and S23, the control unit 25 executes the same processes as those in steps S12 and S13 of the first embodiment. In step S22, the control unit 25 opens only one of the on-off valves corresponding to the liquid container to be used. The control unit 25 acquires the remaining amount and usage information for all the liquid containers 40, thereby identifying the liquid container 40 to be used (in use). The control unit 25 then opens only one of the on-off valves corresponding to the one of the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42 identified as the liquid container to be used. For example, when the first liquid container 41 is to be used, the control unit 25 opens only the first on-off valve 54. At this time, the second on-off valve 55 remains closed. On the other hand, when the second liquid container 42 is to be used, the control unit 25 opens only the second on-off valve 55. At this time, the first on-off valve 54 remains closed.

[0124] In step S23, the control unit 25 restricts the movement of the liquid container to be used. The control unit 25 restricts the movement of one of the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42 determined to be the container to be used by controlling the movement restriction unit 39. In other words, when the container to be used is the first liquid container 41, the control unit 25 restricts the movement of only the first liquid container 41 by locking the first locking mechanism 391 and unlocking the second locking mechanism 392. On the other hand, when the container to be used is the second liquid container 42, the control unit 25 restricts the movement of only the second liquid container 42 by unlocking the first locking mechanism 391 and locking the second locking mechanism 392.

[0125] In this embodiment, the control unit 25 controls the driving source 53 to set the four cams 61-64 to "State 1" or "State 3" (see Figs. 10 and 11 for both), thereby executing the processes of steps S22 and S23. Note that the processes of steps S22 and S23 correspond to "when the power is turned on, the switching unit 38 causes either the first supply flow path 36 or the second supply flow path 37 to communicate with the supply flow path 35, and the movement restriction unit 39 restricts the movement of the liquid container on the side that communicates with the supply flow path 35."

[0126] In the next step S24, the control unit 25 determines whether or not a power-off command has been issued. If a power-off command has been issued, the process proceeds to step S25. In steps S25 and S26, the control unit 25 executes the same processes as those in steps S15 and S16 of the first embodiment.

[0127] In step S25, the control unit 25 closes the first on-off valve 54 and the second on-off valve 55. That is, the control unit 25 controls the switching unit 38 to put both the first supply flow path 36 and the second supply flow path 37 in a state in which they are not in communication with the supply flow path 35. In detail, the control unit 25 controls the drive source 53 to put the first cam 61 and the second cam 62 in "State 2" (see FIGS. 10 and 11), thereby closing both the first on-off valve 54 and the second on-off valve 55. Therefore, in a state in which the power supply is cut off, the first supply flow path 36 communicating with the first liquid container 41 is closed, and the second supply flow path 37 communicating with the second liquid container 42 is closed. In this way, both the first supply flow path 36 and the second supply flow path 37 are not in communication with the supply flow path 35.

[0128] In step S26, the control unit 25 releases the restriction on the two liquid containers 41 and 42. That is, the control unit 25 controls the movement restriction unit 39 to release the restriction on the movement of both the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42. In detail, the control unit 25 controls the drive source 53 to set the third cam 63 and the fourth cam 64 to "State 2" (see Figs. 10 and 11), thereby setting both the first lock mechanism 391 and the second lock mechanism 392 to an unlocked state in which the engagement units 33A and 33B are not locked in an engaged state. Thus, in a power-off state in which no printing failure or maintenance failure occurs, the user can remove both the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42 by operating the operation unit 34. In this way, in a power-off state in which no printing failure or maintenance failure occurs, the user can remove both the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42.

[0129] The processing of steps S25 and S26 corresponds to "when a command to turn off the power is received, the switching unit 38 causes both the first supply flow path 36 and the second supply flow path 37 to be disconnected from the supply flow path 35, and the movement restriction unit 39 releases the restriction on the movement of the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42."

[0130] In the second embodiment, the control unit 25 executes the liquid supply control process, thereby performing a control method including the following fourth and fifth steps. (Fourth step) When the power is turned on, the switching unit 38 connects either the first supply flow path 36 or the second supply flow path 37 to the supply flow path 35, and the movement restriction unit 39 restricts the movement of the liquid container 40 on the side that communicates with the supply flow path 35. This fourth step corresponds to the processes of steps S22 and S23 in FIG.

[0131] (5th step) When a command to turn off the power is received, the switching unit 38 causes both the first supply flow path 36 and the second supply flow path 37 to be in a state of not communicating with the supply flow path 35. At the same time, the movement restriction unit 39 releases the restriction on the movement of the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42. This fifth step corresponds to the processing of steps S25 and S26 in FIG.

[0132] According to the second embodiment, in addition to the effects (1-1) to (1-9) of the first embodiment, the following effects are obtained. (2-1) A method for controlling a liquid ejection device 11 including a liquid ejection head 20, a supply flow path 35, a first supply flow path 36, a second supply flow path 37, a switching unit 38, and a movement restriction unit 39. This control method includes the following fourth and fifth steps. In the fourth step, when the power is turned on, the switching unit 38 causes either the first supply flow path 36 or the second supply flow path 37 to communicate with the supply flow path 35, and the movement restriction unit 39 restricts the movement of the liquid container on the side communicating with the supply flow path 35 (steps S22 and S23). In the fifth step, when a command to turn off the power is given, the switching unit 38 causes both the first supply flow path 36 and the second supply flow path 37 to be in a state not communicating with the supply flow path 35, and the movement restriction unit 39 releases the restriction on the movement of the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42 (steps S25 and S26). According to this control method, it is possible to prevent the liquid container 40 being in use from being erroneously removed when the power is on. Also, when the power is cut off, the liquid container 40 can be removed and replaced.

[0133] Third embodiment In the first embodiment, the movement restricting unit 39 restricts the movement of the liquid container 40 in use by restricting the user's operation of disengaging the operation unit 34 by locking / unlocking the engagement unit 33 having the operation unit 34. In contrast, the engagement unit 33 in the third embodiment does not have the operation unit 34. In other words, the engagement unit 33 is not configured to be operated by the user. In the movement restricting unit 39 in this embodiment, for example, the drive source 53 drives the engagement unit 33 to an engaged state in which the engagement unit 33 engages with the liquid container 40 and a disengaged state in which the engagement unit 33 does not engage with the liquid container 40. The drive source 53 moves the engagement unit 33 to a position of the engaged state (engaged position), thereby restricting (locking) the movement of the liquid container 40 in use. Also, the drive source 53 moves the engagement unit 33 to a position of the disengaged state (disengaged position), thereby releasing the restriction (lock) on the movement of the liquid container 40 that is not in use. In this way, the movement of one of the first liquid container 41 inserted into the first slot SL1 of the mounting portion 31 and the second liquid container 42 inserted into the second slot SL2, which is the object to be used, is restricted, while the movement of the other, which is not the object to be used, is not restricted.

[0134] In the third embodiment, the operating unit 34 is eliminated from Fig. 4, and other basic configurations are the same as those of the first and second embodiments, so the differences will be mainly described below with reference to Fig. 4 etc. Another difference from the first and second embodiments is that the engaging unit 33 can be moved between an engaged state and a disengaged state via the rod 39A by the drive source 53.

[0135] As shown in FIG. 4, the switching unit 38 has a first on-off valve 54 that opens and closes the first supply flow path 36, a second on-off valve 55 that opens and closes the second supply flow path 37, and a first drive mechanism 51 for switching between opening and closing the first on-off valve 54 and the second on-off valve 55.

[0136] The movement restricting portion 39 has a first engagement portion 33A that can engage with the first liquid container 41, and a second engagement portion 33B that can engage with the second liquid container 42. Furthermore, the movement restricting portion 39 includes a second drive mechanism 52 for selectively switching the first engagement portion 33A and the second engagement portion 33B between an engaged state and a disengaged state. The liquid supply device 30 has a drive source 53 that drives the first drive mechanism 51 and the second drive mechanism 52.

[0137] For example, the engagement portion 33 is biased in a direction from the engaged state to the disengaged state (restriction release direction). More specifically, the engagement portion 33 is biased in the restriction release direction by a biasing member such as a spring. The engagement portion 33 is disposed in an engaged state from a disengaged state against the biasing force of the biasing member by the power of the drive source 53 via the second drive mechanism 52, thereby engaging with the liquid container 40. The engagement portion 33 is disposed in the engaged state, thereby restricting the movement of the liquid container 40. In other words, the liquid container 40 is locked so as not to be removed from the mounting portion 31.

[0138] In the third embodiment, similarly to the first and second embodiments, the movement restriction portion 39 selectively restricts the movement of the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42 in response to switching of the switching portion 38. When the switching portion 38 connects the first supply flow path 36 and the supply flow path 35, the movement restriction portion 39 restricts the movement of the first liquid container 41. When the switching portion 38 connects the second supply flow path 37 and the supply flow path 35, the movement restriction portion 39 restricts the movement of the second liquid container 42.

[0139] More specifically, when the switching unit 38 communicates the first supply flow path 36 with the supply flow path 35, the third cam 63 and the fourth cam 64 are driven by the drive source 53 to be in "State 1" (see FIG. 11). In this "State 1", the rod 39A pushes the first engagement portion 33A into the engagement position, causing the first engagement portion 33A to engage with the first liquid container 41. As a result, the movement of the first liquid container 41 inserted in the first slot SL1 is restricted. For this reason, the user cannot remove the first liquid container 41.

[0140] Furthermore, when the switching unit 38 communicates the second supply flow path 37 with the supply flow path 35, the third cam 63 and the fourth cam 64 are driven by the drive source 53 to be in "State 3" (see FIG. 11). In this "State 3", the rod 39A pulls the engagement portion 33 back to the non-engagement position, so that the second engagement portion 33B does not engage with the second liquid container 42. As a result, the movement of the second liquid container 42 inserted in the second slot SL2 is restricted. For this reason, the user cannot remove the second liquid container 42.

[0141] In order to realize such an operation of the engagement parts 33A, 33B, the configuration is different from that of FIG. 8 in the first and second embodiments. That is, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 8, the restriction part 33C has a slope (not shown) with which the tip part 39B of the rod 39A can come into contact when the rod 39A is projected by the biasing force of the biasing member 39S. When the rod 39A is projected by the biasing force of the biasing member 39S, the tip part 39B of the rod 39A pushes the engagement part 33 from the non-engagement position to the engagement position via the slope, so that the engagement part 33 is in an engaged state in which it engages with the liquid container 40. On the other hand, when the rod 39A is retreated against the biasing force of the biasing member 39S, the force of the tip part 39B of the rod 39A pushing the engagement part 33 via the slope disappears, so that the engagement part 33 is pulled back from the engagement position to the non-engagement position by the biasing force of a biasing member such as a spring (not shown). As a result, the engagement portion 33 is in a disengaged state where it is not engaged with the liquid container 40 .

[0142] According to the third embodiment, the advantages (1-1) to (1-10) of the first embodiment can be obtained, and the advantage (2-1) of the second embodiment can be obtained. The above embodiment can be modified to the following modified examples. Further modified examples can be appropriately combined with the above embodiment and the following modified examples, or further modified examples can be appropriately combined with each other.

[0143] The four cams 61-64 may be fixed to different shaft portions 65 that rotate by the power of the driving source 53. In this case, two of each of the four cams 61-64 may be fixed to a common shaft portion 65, or one of each of the four cams 61-64 may be fixed to a different shaft portion 65.

[0144] The liquid supplying device 30 may include a plurality of driving sources 53 for driving the four cams 61 to 64. In this case, two of the four cams 61 to 64 may be driven by a common driving source 53, or each of the four cams 61 to 64 may be driven individually by a different driving source.

[0145] The four cams 61 to 64 are not limited to eccentric cams, which are rotary planar cams. The four cams 61 to 64 may be planar cams or three-dimensional cams. When the cams 61 to 64 are planar cams, they may be other rotary types or linear types. The four cams 61 to 64 may be different types of cams. The four cams 61 to 64 may be a mixture of planar cams and three-dimensional cams. Examples of other rotary types include plate cams, grooved tail cams, and plate rib cams. Examples of linear types include linear cams, linear groove cams, and linear rib cams. Examples of three-dimensional cams include cylindrical, conical, barrel, and hourglass shapes.

[0146] The number of cams is not limited to four. There may be two cams for switching between the two on-off valves 54, 55 and the two locking mechanisms 391, 392. For example, the first levers 71 for switching between the two on-off valves 54, 55 may be driven via one common cam. Also, for example, the second levers 75 for switching between the two locking mechanisms 391, 392 may be driven via one common cam.

[0147] While movement of one of two liquid containers 40 containing the same type of liquid is restricted during use, movement of one of three liquid containers 40 containing the same type of liquid may also be restricted during use. In short, it is sufficient to restrict movement of one of a plurality of liquid containers 40 including a first liquid container 41 and a second liquid container 42 containing the same type of liquid.

[0148] The mounting portion 31 may be provided with a cover for covering the liquid container 40 inserted in the slot for each slot. The cover covering one of the two liquid containers 41, 42 that contain the same type of liquid may be locked by the movement restricting portion 39 to restrict movement of the liquid container 40 in use. For example, when the driving source 53 is driven, one of the engagement portions 33 corresponding to the liquid container 40 in use goes into an engaged state in which it engages with the cover covering the liquid container 40 in use. At the same time, the other engagement portion 33 corresponding to the liquid container 40 not in use goes into a disengaged state in which it does not engage with the cover covering the liquid container 40 not in use.

[0149] The engagement portion 33 may be a snap fit that can engage with the liquid container 40. More specifically, the first engagement portion 33A may be a first snap fit that can engage with the first liquid container 41, and the second engagement portion 33B may be a second snap fit that can engage with the second liquid container 42. When the first liquid container 41 is inserted into the first slot SL1, the first snap fit engages with the first liquid container 41, thereby restricting the movement of the first liquid container 41. When the second liquid container 42 is inserted into the second slot SL2, the second snap fit engages with the second liquid container 42, thereby restricting the movement of the second liquid container 42. During a liquid consumption operation, the movement of one of the first liquid container 41 and the second liquid container 42 that is in use is restricted by engagement with the snap fit. The other one that is not in use is disengaged from the snap fit. The release of the engagement with the snap fit is performed by moving the locking claw of the snap fit in a direction to release the engagement with the liquid container 40 using the power generated when the control unit 25 drives the drive source 53 .

[0150] The switching unit 38 and the movement restricting unit 39 may be configured to switch between state 1 and state 3, and not to take state 2. When the transport unit 23 is a transport system for transporting the medium 14 such as cut paper, the transport unit 23 may be configured to include a medium storage unit such as a cassette in which the medium 14 is stored, a feeding unit that feeds the medium 14 from the medium storage unit, and transport rollers that transport the fed medium 14. The transport unit 23 may also be configured to include a tray on which the medium 14 is placed, a feeding unit that feeds the medium 14 placed on the tray, and transport rollers that transport the fed medium 14 toward the recording position.

[0151] The liquid is not limited to ink, but may be a cleaning liquid, a pre-treatment liquid, a post-treatment liquid, etc. The medium 14 is not limited to paper such as rolled paper or cut sheets, but may be a sheet or film made of plastic, metal, laminate, or ceramic.

[0152] The technical ideas and effects obtained from the above-described embodiment and modified examples will be described below. (A) A supply flow path communicating with a liquid ejection head capable of ejecting liquid, a first supply flow path communicating a first liquid container that contains a liquid with the supply flow path, a second supply flow path communicating the supply flow path with a second liquid container that contains the same type of liquid as the liquid contained in the first liquid container, a switching unit that can switch which of the first supply flow path and the second supply flow path communicates with the supply flow path, and a movement regulating unit that can selectively regulate the movement of the first liquid container and the second liquid container in response to switching of the switching unit.

[0153] According to this configuration, the movement of a liquid container connected to the liquid ejection head can be restricted, while the movement of a liquid container that is not connected to the liquid ejection head can be unrestricted, thereby preventing the liquid container in use from being accidentally removed.

[0154] (B) In the above liquid supply device, when the switching unit connects the first supply flow path to the supply flow path, the movement regulating unit may regulate the movement of the first liquid container, and when the switching unit connects the second supply flow path to the supply flow path, the movement regulating unit may regulate the movement of the second liquid container.

[0155] According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent the liquid container from being accidentally removed while in use. (C) In the above liquid supply device, the switching unit may have a first on-off valve that opens and closes the first supply flow path, a second on-off valve that opens and closes the second supply flow path, and a first drive mechanism for switching between opening and closing of the first on-off valve and the second on-off valve, and the movement regulating unit may have a first engagement unit that can engage with the first liquid container, a second engagement unit that can engage with the second liquid container, and a second drive mechanism that can selectively switch between a regulating state that regulates movement and a non-regulating state that does not regulate the movement, for each of the first engagement unit and the second engagement unit, and may have a drive source that drives the first drive mechanism and the second drive mechanism.

[0156] According to this configuration, it is possible to open and close the on-off valve and switch the engagement portion between the restricted state and the unrestricted state with a single drive mechanism, thereby making it possible to simplify the configuration of the liquid supply device.

[0157] (D) In ​​the above liquid supply device, the first engagement portion may have a first operating portion that allows a user to release the engagement state with the first liquid container, the second engagement portion may have a second operating portion that allows a user to release the engagement state with the second liquid container, and the second drive mechanism may be selectively switchable between a restricting state that restricts the release of the engagement state and a non-restricting state that does not restrict the release, for each of the first operating portion and the second operating portion.

[0158] According to this configuration, when the first liquid container is in use, the first operating unit is restricted, and when the second liquid container is in use, the second operating unit is restricted. When the restriction of the operating unit is released, the user can operate the operating unit to release the engagement of the liquid container when he or she wishes to remove the liquid container.

[0159] (E) In the above liquid supply device, the switching unit may have a first on-off valve that opens and closes the first supply flow path, a second on-off valve that opens and closes the second supply flow path, and a first drive mechanism for switching between opening and closing of the first on-off valve and the second on-off valve, and the movement regulating unit may have a first engagement unit that can engage with the first liquid container, a second engagement unit that can engage with the second liquid container, and a second drive mechanism that can selectively switch between an engaged state and a disengaged state with respect to each of the first engagement unit and the second engagement unit, and may have a drive source that drives the first drive mechanism and the second drive mechanism.

[0160] According to this configuration, it is possible to switch between opening and closing the first and second on-off valves and between an engaged state and a disengaged state of the first and second engagement parts with the liquid container, using a single drive source, thereby simplifying the configuration of the liquid supply device.

[0161] (F) In the above liquid supply device, the first drive mechanism may have a first cam attached to an axis portion that rotates in conjunction with the drive of the drive source and capable of switching the opening and closing of the first on-off valve, and a second cam attached to the axis portion and capable of switching the opening and closing of the second on-off valve, and the second drive mechanism may have a third cam attached to the axis portion and capable of switching the state of the first engagement portion, and a fourth cam attached to the axis portion and capable of switching the state of the second engagement portion.

[0162] According to this configuration, the first on-off valve, the second on-off valve, the first engagement portion, and the second engagement portion can all be switched simply by rotating the shaft portion to which the first cam, the second cam, the third cam, and the fourth cam are commonly attached, thereby simplifying the configuration of the liquid supplying device.

[0163] (G) The liquid supplying device includes a liquid ejection head capable of ejecting liquid, the liquid supplying device, and a control unit that controls the switching unit and the movement regulating unit. According to this configuration, the liquid ejection device can obtain the same effects as the liquid supply device.

[0164] (H) In the above liquid ejection device, when the amount of liquid in one of the liquid containers whose movement is restricted by the movement restriction unit falls below a predetermined threshold, the control unit may switch the flow path communicating with the supply flow path, and release the restriction on the movement of the one of the liquid containers to restrict the movement of the other liquid container.

[0165] According to this configuration, when the amount of liquid in the liquid container in use falls below a predetermined threshold, the liquid container in communication with the liquid ejection head is automatically switched from the one liquid container in use to the other liquid container, which makes it possible to suppress the use of a liquid container with a small amount of liquid, and also makes it possible to continue the liquid consumption operation without interruption even if the amount of liquid in the liquid container in use becomes low.

[0166] (I) In the above-mentioned liquid ejection device, when one of the liquid containers whose movement is not restricted by the movement restriction section is replaced with a new liquid container, the control section may switch the flow path communicating with the supply flow path and release the restriction on the movement of the other liquid container to restrict the movement of the new liquid container.

[0167] According to this configuration, the liquid in the new liquid container can always be used first, so that the liquid consumption operation can be continued without interruption. (J) A method for controlling a liquid ejection device includes a liquid ejection head that performs recording by ejecting liquid onto a medium, a supply flow path communicating with the liquid ejection head, a first supply flow path that communicates the supply flow path with a first liquid container that contains a liquid, a second supply flow path that communicates the supply flow path with a second liquid container that contains the same type of liquid as the liquid contained in the first liquid container, a switching unit that is capable of switching which of the first supply flow path and the second supply flow path is in communication with the supply flow path, and a movement restriction unit that is capable of selectively restricting movement of the first liquid container and the second liquid container in response to switching of the switching unit. A control method for a liquid ejection device, comprising: when a command is received for an operation to consume liquid, the switching unit causes either the first supply flow path or the second supply flow path to communicate with the supply flow path, and the movement regulating unit regulates movement of a liquid container on a side that communicates with the supply flow path; performing the operation to consume the liquid; and after performing the operation, the switching unit causes both the first supply flow path and the second supply flow path to be disconnected from the supply flow path, and the movement regulating unit releases the regulation on movement of both the first liquid container and the second liquid container.

[0168] This method can prevent the liquid container from being accidentally removed during an operation to consume liquid. (K) A method of controlling a liquid ejection device includes a liquid ejection head that performs recording by ejecting liquid onto a medium, a supply flow path communicating with the liquid ejection head, a first supply flow path that communicates a first liquid container that contains a liquid with the supply flow path, a second supply flow path that communicates a second liquid container that contains the same type of liquid as the liquid contained in the first liquid container with the supply flow path, a switching unit that is capable of switching which of the first supply flow path and the second supply flow path is in communication with the supply flow path, and a movement control unit that is capable of selectively restricting movement of the first liquid container and the second liquid container in conjunction with switching of the switching unit. and a movement regulating unit, the method including: when power is turned on, causing the switching unit to connect either the first supply flow path or the second supply flow path to the supply flow path, and regulating the movement of a liquid container that communicates with the supply flow path, and when a command to turn off the power is received, causing the switching unit to disconnect both the first supply flow path and the second supply flow path from the supply flow path, and releasing the restriction on the movement of the first liquid container and the second liquid container by the movement regulating unit.

[0169] According to this method, it is possible to prevent the liquid container being erroneously removed when the power is on, and it is also possible to remove and replace the liquid container while the power is off. [Explanation of symbols]

[0170] 11...liquid ejection device, 12...leg, 13...housing, 14...medium, 15...feeding section, 16...guiding section, 17...recovery section, 18...tensioning mechanism, 20...liquid ejection head, 20A...nozzle surface, 20N...nozzle, 21...carriage, 22...maintenance unit, 22A...cap, 23...transport section, 24...operation panel, 25...control section, 26...communication section, 30...liquid supply device 3, 31...mounting portion, 31A...first connection portion, 31B...second connection portion, 32...accommodating case, 32A...slot, 33...engagement portion, 33A...first engagement portion, 33B...second engagement portion, 33C...regulation portion, 34...operation portion, 34A...first operation portion, 34B...second operation portion, 35...supply flow path, 36...first supply flow path, 37...second supply flow path, 38...switching portion, 39...movement regulation portion, 39A...lo head, 39B...tip portion, 39S...urging member, 391...first lock mechanism, 392...second lock mechanism, 40...liquid container, 40A...handle portion, 41...first liquid container, 42...second liquid container, 50...supply mechanism, 51...first drive mechanism, 52...second drive mechanism, 53...drive source, 54...first opening / closing valve, 55...second opening / closing valve, 56...input gear, 57...output gear, 58...gear train , 61...first cam, 62...second cam, 63...third cam, 64...fourth cam, 65...shaft portion, 66...gear portion, 71...first lever, 75...second lever, 80...host device, SL1...first slot, SL2...second slot, SE1...first sensor, SE2...second sensor, X...width direction, Y...depth direction, Z...vertical direction, X1...width direction, Y1...depth direction, Z1...arrangement direction.

Claims

1. a supply flow path communicating with a liquid ejection head capable of ejecting liquid; a first supply flow path that communicates a first liquid container that contains liquid with the supply flow path; a second liquid container that contains the same type of liquid as the liquid contained in the first liquid container; a second supply flow path communicating with the supply flow path; A flow path that communicates with the supply flow path among the first supply flow path and the second supply flow path is switched. A switching unit capable of switching between the In conjunction with the switching of the switching unit, the first liquid container and the second liquid container and a movement restriction portion capable of selectively restricting the movement of the The switching unit and the movement restricting unit are driven by a single common drive source. A liquid supply device comprising:

2. When the switching portion communicates the first supply flow path with the supply flow path, the movement regulation a control portion that controls the movement of the first liquid container, and a switching portion that switches between the second supply flow path and the supply When the second liquid container is in communication with the supply flow path, the movement restriction portion restricts the movement of the second liquid container.

2. The liquid supply device according to claim 1,

3. The switching unit includes a first on-off valve for opening and closing the first supply flow path, and a second on-off valve for opening and closing the second supply flow path. a second on-off valve for switching between opening and closing the first on-off valve and the second on-off valve; and a drive mechanism, The movement restriction portion includes a first engagement portion engageable with the first liquid container and a second engagement portion engageable with the second liquid container. a second engaging portion engageable with the container; and a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion corresponding to each of the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion. The movable member can be selectively switched between a restricted state in which the movable member is restricted and a non-restricted state in which the movable member is not restricted. and a second drive mechanism capable of rotating the actuator, The driving source drives the first driving mechanism and the second driving mechanism. The liquid supply device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The first engagement portion has a first operation mechanism that allows a user to release the engagement state between the first engagement portion and the first liquid container. With a production department, The second engagement portion has a second operation mechanism that allows a user to release the engagement state between the second engagement portion and the second liquid container. With a production department, The second drive mechanism is in an engaged state with respect to each of the first operation portion and the second operation portion. The device can be selectively switched between a restricted state in which the release of the control state is restricted and a non-restricted state in which the release is not restricted.

4. The liquid supply device according to claim 3, wherein the liquid supply device is capable of supplying a liquid to a liquid source.

5. The switching unit includes a first on-off valve for opening and closing the first supply flow path, and a second on-off valve for opening and closing the second supply flow path. a second on-off valve for switching between opening and closing the first on-off valve and the second on-off valve; and a drive mechanism, The movement restriction portion includes a first engagement portion engageable with the first liquid container and a second engagement portion engageable with the second liquid container. a second engaging portion engageable with the container; and a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion corresponding to each of the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion. a second drive mechanism that is selectively switchable between an engaged state and a disengaged state, The driving source drives the first driving mechanism and the second driving mechanism. The liquid supply device according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The first drive mechanism includes: The drive source is attached to a shaft portion that rotates in conjunction with the drive of the drive source, and the first on-off valve is opened and closed. A replaceable first cam; a second cam attached to the shaft portion and capable of switching between opening and closing of the second on-off valve; 、 The second drive mechanism is a third cam attached to the shaft portion and capable of switching the state of the first engagement portion; a fourth cam attached to the shaft portion and capable of switching the state of the second engagement portion; 6. The liquid supply device according to claim 3, further comprising: 。

7. The movement restriction portion is a first liquid container that is operated by a user when the first liquid container is moved. an operation unit and a second operation unit operated by a user when moving the second liquid container; The first operation unit and the second operation unit are each provided with a restricted state in which the movement of the first operation unit and the second operation unit is restricted. a second drive mechanism that can be selectively switched to a non-restricted state in which the movement is not restricted, 2. The liquid supply device according to claim 1,

8. A liquid ejection head capable of ejecting liquid; A liquid supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 7; A control unit that controls the switching unit and the movement regulating unit; A liquid ejection device comprising:

9. When the amount of liquid in one of the liquid containers, the movement of which is restricted by the movement restriction portion, reaches a predetermined threshold value, When the value falls below the threshold, the control unit switches the flow path that communicates with the supply flow path and and releasing the restriction on the movement of one of the liquid containers and restricting the movement of the other liquid container.

9. The liquid ejection device according to claim 8,

10. The liquid container whose movement is not restricted by the movement restricting portion is replaced with a new liquid container. When the replacement is performed, the control unit switches the flow path that communicates with the supply flow path, and releasing the restriction on the movement of the other liquid container and restricting the movement of the new liquid container. The liquid ejection device according to claim 9 .

11. A liquid ejection head that ejects liquid onto a medium to perform recording; a first liquid container for containing liquid and a first supply passage communicating with the supply passage; a supply passage and a second liquid container that contains the same type of liquid as the liquid contained in the first liquid container; a second supply flow path that communicates between the body container and the supply flow path; a switching unit capable of switching a flow path that communicates with the supply flow path among the second supply flow paths; In conjunction with the switching of the liquid container, the movement of the first liquid container and the second liquid container is selected. and a movement restricting portion that can selectively restrict the movement of the moving portion. A method for controlling a liquid ejection device driven by a single driving source, comprising the steps of: When a command for an operation to consume liquid is received, the switching unit switches the first supply flow path and a second supply passage communicating with the supply passage, the movement restriction portion restricts movement of the liquid container on a side communicating with the supply flow path; performing an operation to consume said liquid; After performing the above operation, the first supply flow path and the second supply flow path are switched by the switching unit. The flow path is not in communication with the supply flow path, and the movement restriction portion releasing the restriction on the movement of both the first liquid container and the second liquid container; A method for controlling a liquid ejection device, comprising:

12. A liquid ejection head that ejects liquid onto a medium to perform recording; a first liquid container for containing liquid and a first supply passage communicating with the supply passage; a supply passage and a second liquid container that contains the same type of liquid as the liquid contained in the first liquid container; a second supply flow path that communicates between the body container and the supply flow path; a switching unit capable of switching a flow path that communicates with the supply flow path among the second supply flow paths; In conjunction with the switching of the liquid container, the movement of the first liquid container and the second liquid container is selected. and a movement restricting portion that can selectively restrict the movement of the moving portion. A method for controlling a liquid ejection device driven by a single driving source, comprising the steps of: When the power is turned on, the switching unit switches the first supply flow path and the second supply flow path. The supply flow passage is connected to any one of the supply flow passages, and the movement restriction portion and restricting movement of the liquid container on the side communicating with the supply flow path. When a command to turn off the power supply is received, the switching unit turns off the first supply flow path and the and the second supply flow path is not in communication with the supply flow path, and The restriction on the movement of the first liquid container and the second liquid container is released by a restriction portion. And, A method for controlling a liquid ejection device, comprising:

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