Liquid supply device and liquid supply system

Abstract

To provide means which enables improvement of user's convenience when a container is attached to or detached from a tank.SOLUTION: A multifunction machine 10 includes: a tank body 71 including a tank storage chamber 75 which stores an ink and a recessed part 77 having an injection port 78 leading to the tank storage chamber 75; a slider 72 which has a nozzle 83 extending in an outer direction (an upper direction) of the recessed part 77 and slides in a vertical direction 7 at the recessed part 77 by rotation; projections 89 which are provided at the slider 72 and fit in a bottle 100; and a sealing member 73 which seals a space between the slider 72 and the recessed part 77 in a fluid-tight manner so that the ink may circulate between the injection port 78 and an opening of the nozzle 83.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid supply device having a tank in which a liquid is stored, and a liquid supply system having a liquid container and a tank. [Background technology]

[0002] In a conventional printing device, a configuration is known in which ink is supplied to a tank from a container connected to the tank every time ink stored in the tank is consumed. The container has a supply port for supplying ink. In order to prevent ink from leaking from the supply port, for example, a supply valve provided in an ink cartridge described in Patent Document 1 may be used. In order to allow ink to smoothly flow out of the supply port of the container, it is preferable that the container has an atmosphere communication passage. In order to open and close this atmosphere communication passage, an atmosphere release valve described in Patent Document 1 may be used. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-49167 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The supply valve and the atmosphere communication valve described in Patent Document 1 are biased by a spring to close the supply port and the atmosphere communication passage, respectively. If a valve having such a structure is provided on a container, when connecting the container to a tank, the user must push the container toward the tank against the biasing force of the spring and maintain the pushed-in state. In addition, when removing the container from the tank, the biasing force of the spring may cause the container to come off the tank with force.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its object is to provide a means for improving user convenience when attaching and detaching a container to a tank. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] (1) The present invention relates to a liquid supplying device having a tank in which a liquid container is fitted. The liquid supplying device comprises: a tank body having a tank storage chamber for storing liquid and a recess having an opening communicating with the tank storage chamber, a slider having a nozzle extending outward from the recess and sliding in the extension direction of the nozzle by rotation in the recess, a fitting portion provided on the slider for fitting with a liquid container, and a sealant for liquid-tightly sealing between the slider and the recess and allowing liquid to flow between the opening of the recess and the opening of the nozzle.

[0007] When the liquid container is fitted into the fitting portion of the slider and rotated, the slider rotates and slides together with the nozzle. When the nozzle of the slider enters the supply port of the liquid container, liquid in the liquid container flows out through the nozzle into the tank storage chamber.

[0008] (2) Preferably, the slider has a slider body screwed into the recess, and when the slider body is in a first position, the sealant seals the opening of the nozzle, and when the slider body is in a second position facing outward from the first position, the sealant opens the opening of the nozzle.

[0009] The slider is screwed into the recess so that the slider rotates and slides relative to the recess in the extending direction. The sealant opens and closes the nozzle opening depending on the position of the slider body.

[0010] (3) The present invention relates to a liquid supply system including a liquid container and a tank. The liquid container includes a housing, a container storage chamber for storing liquid in the housing, a supply port that connects the container storage chamber to the outside, and a fitted part provided in the housing. The tank includes a tank body including a tank storage chamber for storing liquid and a recess having an opening that communicates with the tank storage chamber, a slider having a nozzle extending outward from the recess and sliding in an extension direction in which the nozzle extends by rotation in the recess, a first fitting part provided on the slider and fitting with the fitted part, and a sealant that liquid-tightly seals between the slider and the recess so that liquid can flow between the opening of the recess and the opening of the nozzle.

[0011] When the fitted portion of the liquid container is fitted into the first fitting portion of the slider and rotated, the slider rotates and slides together with the nozzle. When the nozzle of the slider enters the supply port of the liquid container, the liquid in the container storage chamber flows out into the tank storage chamber through the nozzle.

[0012] (4) Preferably, the slider has a slider body screwed into the recess, and when the slider body is in a first position, the sealant seals the opening of the nozzle, and when the slider body is in a second position facing outward from the first position, the sealant opens the opening of the nozzle.

[0013] The slider is screwed into the recess so that the slider rotates and slides relative to the recess in the extending direction. The sealant opens and closes the nozzle opening depending on the position of the slider body.

[0014] (5) Preferably, the engaging portion has a first portion opening at the lower end of the housing and extending along the extension direction, and a second portion extending from the first portion in a rotational direction along the rotation, and a second engaging portion engaging with the engaging portion is provided in the recess, and the first engaging portion prevents the liquid container from rotating relative to the slider by engaging with the first portion, and the second engaging portion guides the liquid container to move along the extension direction by engaging with the first portion, and the second engaging portion allows the liquid container to rotate and prevents movement in the extension direction by engaging with the second portion.

[0015] By fitting the second fitting portion with the liquid container, the liquid container does not move in the extension direction when rotated. This allows the nozzle of the slider to reliably enter the supply port of the liquid container. Also, when the nozzle enters the supply port of the liquid container, the user does not need to hold the liquid container so that the liquid container does not move in the extension direction.

[0016] (6) Preferably, the liquid container further includes a valve for opening and closing the supply port, and an elastic member for urging the valve toward the supply port.

[0017] When the nozzle enters the supply port of the liquid container, the user does not need to hold the liquid container against the biasing force of the elastic member to prevent the liquid container from moving in the extension direction. Also, when the liquid container is removed from the tank, the biasing force of the elastic member reduces the risk of the liquid container coming off forcefully.

[0018] (7) Preferably, the nozzle has a first flow path and a second flow path.

[0019] When the nozzle enters the supply port of the liquid container, liquid flows out from the container storage chamber to the tank storage chamber through one of the first flow path and the second flow path, and air flows from the tank storage chamber to the container storage chamber through the other of the first flow path and the second flow path.

[0020] (8) Preferably, the housing has an atmosphere communication passageway connecting the container storage chamber with the outside. Effect of the Invention

[0021] According to the present invention, the convenience for the user when the container is attached to or detached from the tank is improved. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the appearance of a multifunction device 10. As shown in FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a schematic internal structure of the printer unit 11. As shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the tank 70. As shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section along the up-down direction 7 including the axis 77A of the tank 70. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the appearance of the bottle 100. As shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section along the vertical direction 7 including the axis 101A of the bottle 100. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the bottle 100 and the tank 70 before they are inserted into the recess 77 of the tank 70. As shown in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section along the up-down direction 7 including the axis 77A of the bottle 100 and the tank 70 before they are inserted into the recess 77 of the tank 70. As shown in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section along the up-down direction 7 including the axis 77A of the bottle 100 and the tank 70 in a state where the bottle 100 is inserted into the recess 77 of the tank 70. As shown in FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section along the up-down direction 7 including the axis 77A of the bottle 100 and the tank 70 in a state where the bottle 100 is inserted into the recess 77 of the tank 70 and rotated counterclockwise. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section along the up-down direction 7 including the axis 77A of the bottle 100 before it is inserted into the tank 70 according to the modified example. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section along the up-down direction 7 including the axis 77A of the bottle 100 inserted into the tank 70 according to the modified example. [Figure 13] 13(A) is a cross-sectional view showing liquid container 200, and FIG. 13(B) is a cross-sectional view showing liquid container 300. As shown in FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 14(A) is a partial cross-sectional view of tank 70 having a recess 77 protruding upward from upper wall 76, and FIG. 14(B) is a partial cross-sectional view of tank 70 in which tank body 71 and recess 77 are separate parts. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that the embodiment described below is merely one example of the present invention, and it goes without saying that the embodiment of the present invention can be appropriately modified within the scope of the present invention. In addition, in the following description, the progress from the starting point of the arrow to the end point is expressed as the direction, and the movement on the line connecting the starting point and the end point of the arrow is expressed as the direction. In other words, the direction is one component of the direction. Furthermore, the up-down direction 7 is defined based on the posture in which the multifunction device 10 is installed on a horizontal surface so that it can be used (the posture in FIG. 1, which may be referred to as the "use posture"), the front-rear direction 8 is defined with the surface in which the opening 13 of the multifunction device 10 is provided as the front, and the left-right direction 9 is defined when the multifunction device 10 is viewed from the front. In this embodiment, in the use posture, the up-down direction 7 corresponds to the vertical direction, the front-rear direction 8 and the left-right direction 9 correspond to the horizontal direction, and the front-rear direction 8 and the left-right direction 9 are orthogonal to each other.

[0024] [Overall structure of multifunction device 10] As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction device 10 (an example of a liquid supplying device) has a housing 14 having a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape. A printer unit 11 is provided at the bottom of the housing 14. The multifunction device 10 has various functions such as a facsimile function and a print function. The multifunction device 10 has a function of recording an image on one side of a sheet of paper 12 by an inkjet method as a print function. The multifunction device 10 may record an image on both sides of the sheet of paper 12. An operation unit 17 is provided at the top of the housing 14. The operation unit 17 is composed of buttons that are operated to instruct image recording and for various settings, a liquid crystal display that displays various information, and the like. In this embodiment, the operation unit 17 is composed of a touch panel having both the functions of a button and a liquid crystal display.

[0025] 2, the printer unit 11 includes a feed tray 20, a feed unit 16, an outer guide member 18, an inner guide member 19, a transport roller pair 59, a discharge roller pair 44, a platen 42, and a recording unit 24. These are located inside the housing 14. Also located inside the housing 14 are various status sensors that detect the status of the multifunction device 10 and output signals according to the detection results. Note that the configuration of the printer unit 11 is an example, and the configuration of the printer unit 11 may be replaced with other known configurations.

[0026] [Feed Tray 20] As shown in Fig. 1, an opening 13 is formed in a front surface 23 of the printer unit 11. The feed tray 20 can be inserted into and removed from the housing 14 through the opening 13 by moving the feed tray 20 in the front-rear direction 8. The feed tray 20 can be moved between a feed position (position shown in Figs. 1 and 2) where it is attached to the housing 14, and a non-feed position where it is removed from the housing 14. The feed tray 20 moves to the feed position by being inserted backward into the housing 14, and moves to the non-feed position by being pulled forward into the housing 14.

[0027] The feed tray 20 is a box-shaped member that is open at the top and stores the papers 12. As shown in Fig. 2, the papers 12 are supported in a stacked state on a bottom plate 22 of the feed tray 20. The discharge tray 21 is located above the front part of the feed tray 20. The papers 12 that have had images recorded on them by the recording unit 24 and are discharged are supported on the upper surface of the discharge tray 21.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 2, when the feed tray 20 is in the feed position, the paper 12 supported by the feed tray 20 can be fed to the transport path 65 .

[0029] [Feeding section 16] 2, the feeding unit 16 is located below the recording unit 24 and above the bottom plate 22 of the feeding tray 20. The feeding unit 16 includes a feeding roller 25, a feeding arm 26, a drive transmission mechanism 27, and a shaft 28. The feeding roller 25 is rotatably supported at the tip of the feeding arm 26. The feeding arm 26 rotates in the direction of the arrow 29 about the shaft 28 provided at the base end. This allows the feeding roller 25 to come into contact with and separate from the feeding tray 20 or the paper 12 supported by the feeding tray 20.

[0030] The feed roller 25 rotates by the driving force of the motor transmitted by the drive transmission mechanism 27, which is made up of multiple meshed gears. As a result, the uppermost sheet 12 in contact with the feed roller 25 among the sheets 12 supported by the bottom plate 22 of the feed tray 20 at the feed position is fed to the conveying path 65.

[0031] [Transport Path 65] 2, a transport path 65 extends from the rear end of the feed tray 20. The transport path 65 includes a curved portion 33 and a straight portion 34. The curved portion 33 extends upward, making a U-turn from the rear to the front. The straight portion 34 extends generally along the front-rear direction 8.

[0032] The curved portion 33 is formed by an outer guide member 18 and an inner guide member 19 which face each other at a predetermined interval. The outer guide member 18 and the inner guide member 19 are provided to extend in the left-right direction 9. The straight portion 34, in the range where the recording unit 24 is located, is formed by the recording unit 24 and a platen 42 which face each other at a predetermined interval in the up-down direction 7.

[0033] The paper 12 supported on the feed tray 20 is transported along the curved portion 33 by the feed roller 25 and reaches the pair of transport rollers 59. The paper 12 held between the pair of transport rollers 59 is transported forward along the straight portion 34 toward the recording unit 24. An image is recorded on the paper 12 that has reached directly below the recording unit 24 by ink ejected from the recording unit 24 adhering to the paper 12. The paper 12 with the image recorded is transported forward along the straight portion 34 and discharged to the discharge tray 21. As described above, the paper 12 is transported along the transport direction 15 indicated by the dashed-dotted arrow in FIG. 2.

[0034] [Transport roller pair 59 and discharge roller pair 44] 2, the conveying roller pair 59 is located in the straight portion 34. The discharge roller pair 44 is located downstream of the conveying roller pair 59 in the straight portion 34 in the conveying direction 15.

[0035] The conveying roller pair 59 includes a conveying roller 60 and a pinch roller 61 located below the conveying roller 60. The pinch roller 61 is pressed against the conveying roller 60 by an elastic member (not shown) such as a coil spring. The conveying roller pair 59 is capable of pinching the paper 12.

[0036] The discharge roller pair 44 includes a discharge roller 62 and a spur 63 located above the discharge roller 62. The spur 63 is pressed toward the discharge roller 62 by an elastic member (not shown) such as a coil spring. The discharge roller pair 44 is capable of clamping the paper 12.

[0037] The conveying roller 60 and the discharge roller 62 are rotated by a driving force applied from a motor. When the conveying roller 60 rotates with the paper 12 sandwiched between the conveying roller pair 59, the paper 12 is conveyed in the conveying direction 15 by the conveying roller pair 59 and conveyed onto the platen 42. When the discharge roller 62 rotates with the paper 12 sandwiched between the discharge roller pair 44, the paper 12 is conveyed in the conveying direction 15 by the discharge roller pair 44 and discharged onto the discharge tray 21.

[0038] [Platen 42] 2, the platen 42 is located in the straight portion 34 of the transport path 65. The platen 42 faces the recording unit 24 in the up-down direction 7. The platen 42 supports the paper 12 transported on the transport path 65 from below.

[0039] [Record 24] 2, the recording unit 24 is located above a platen 42. The recording unit 24 includes a carriage 40, a head 38, and a tank 70.

[0040] The carriage 40 is supported by two guide rails 56, 57 spaced apart in the front-rear direction 8 to be movable along a left-right direction 9 perpendicular to the conveying direction 15. The guide rail 56 is located upstream of the head 38 in the conveying direction 15. The guide rail 57 is located downstream of the head 38 in the conveying direction 15. The guide rails 56, 57 are supported by a pair of side frames (not shown) located outside the straight portion 34 of the conveying path 65 in the left-right direction 9. The carriage 40 moves when a driving force is applied from a motor.

[0041] The head 38 is supported by the carriage 40. A lower surface 68 of the head 38 is exposed downward and faces the platen 42. The head 38 includes a plurality of nozzles 39, an ink flow path 37, and a piezoelectric element (not shown).

[0042] The multiple nozzles 39 open on a bottom surface 68 of the head 38. The ink flow path 37 connects the tank 70 and the multiple nozzles 39. The piezoelectric element deforms when power is supplied, and the deformation in the ink flow path 37 causes ink droplets to be ejected downward from the nozzles 39.

[0043] [Tank 70] 2, the tank 70 is mounted on the carriage 40. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the tank 70 has a tank body 71, a slider 72, a sealing member 73 (an example of a sealing member), and a cover 74.

[0044] 2, the tanks 70 are located above the heads 38. In this embodiment, all of the tanks 70 are located above the heads 38, but the positional relationship between the tanks 70 and the heads 38 may be changed as appropriate. In this embodiment, the recording unit 24 includes one tank 70. This one tank 70 stores black ink. The color of the ink stored in the tank 70 is not limited to black.

[0045] As shown in Fig. 4, the tank body 71 has a tank storage chamber 75. Ink is stored in the tank storage chamber 75. As shown in Fig. 2, the tank storage chamber 75 of the tank body 71 communicates with a plurality of nozzles 39 via ink flow paths 37. In this way, ink is supplied from the tank storage chamber 75 to the nozzles 39. Note that the bottom of the tank body 71 is omitted in Fig. 4.

[0046] As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, a recess 77 recessed toward the tank storage chamber 75 is formed in the upper wall 76 of the tank body 71. The recess 77 is cylindrical and protrudes downward from the upper wall 76, and is open at the bottom end. A bottle 100 (see Fig. 5) can be inserted into the internal space of the recess 77. A cover 74 is fitted onto the outside of the recess 77. An injection port 78 (an example of an opening) for injecting ink into the tank storage chamber 75 is formed in the bottom wall of the cover 74. A sealing member 73 is sandwiched between the cover 74 and the bottom end of the recess 77.

[0047] Three protrusions 79 (examples of second fitted portions) are located at the upper end of the recess 77. The three protrusions 79 are located at positions that are 120 degrees apart about the axis 77A of the recess 77. Each of the protrusions 79 protrudes from the upper end of the recess 77 toward the axis 77A.

[0048] 4, a female thread 80 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the recess 77. The female thread 80 screws into a male thread 81 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the slider 72. When the slider 72 rotates clockwise relative to the recess 77 with the female thread 80 and the male thread 81 screwed into each other, the slider 72 moves downward in the internal space of the recess 77. When the slider 72 rotates counterclockwise relative to the recess 77, the slider 72 moves upward in the internal space of the recess 77.

[0049] 4, the slider 72 has a slider body 82 and nozzles 83, 84. The slider body 82 has a cylindrical shape that can be accommodated in the recess 77, and its lower end is sealed by a bottom wall 85. A male thread 81 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the slider body 82. The dimension of the slider body 82 in the up-down direction 7 is smaller than the dimension of the internal space of the recess 77 in the up-down direction 7. Therefore, the slider body 82 is movable along the up-down direction 7 while being accommodated in the internal space of the recess 77.

[0050] A nozzle 83 extends upward from a lower wall 85 of the slider body 82, and a nozzle 84 extends downward. The tip (upper end) of the nozzle 83 is pointed in a triangular shape. The tip (lower end) of the nozzle 84 is a flat surface along the front-rear direction 8 and the left-right direction 9. The internal spaces of the nozzles 83 and 84 are separated by a partition wall 86, and two flow paths 87 and 88 (examples of a first flow path and a second flow path) extending along the up-down direction 7 are formed. The horizontal cross section of the flow path 87 has a constant size along the up-down direction 7. The horizontal cross section of the flow path 88 in the internal space of the nozzle 84 is larger than the horizontal cross section in the internal space of the nozzle 83. That is, the horizontal cross section of the flow path 88 expands in a step below the lower wall 85.

[0051] Three protrusions 89 (an example of a fitting portion, a first fitting portion) are located on the inner peripheral surface of the slider body 82. The three protrusions 89 are located at positions that are 120 degrees apart about the axis 77A of the recess 77. Each protrusion 89 protrudes from the inner peripheral surface of the slider body 82 toward the axis 77A. Each protrusion 89 extends in the up-down direction 7 from the upper end of the slider body 82 to the lower wall 85.

[0052] As shown in Fig. 4, the sealing member 73 is an elastically deformable member made of elastomer or rubber, and has a generally horizontally flat cylindrical peripheral wall 93, an upper wall 90 at the upper end of the peripheral wall 93, and an abutment plate 91 and a flange 92 at the lower end. The upper wall 90 is disk-shaped with an opening in the center, and the nozzle 84 is inserted into the central opening. The inner circumferential surface defining the opening of the upper wall 90 and the outer circumferential surface of the nozzle 84 abut liquid-tightly. The abutment plate 91 has an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the peripheral wall 93, is connected to the peripheral wall 93 at multiple points, and is located at the center of the peripheral wall 93. Ink can flow between the abutment plate 91 and the peripheral wall 93.

[0053] The outer diameter of the abutment plate 91 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the nozzle 84. The tip of the nozzle 84 is sealed by the abutment plate 91 abutting against the tip (lower end) of the nozzle 84. The flange 92 protrudes outward from the lower end of the peripheral wall 93. The flange 92 is sandwiched between the cover 74 and the recess 77 and fixed in the vertical direction. This provides a liquid-tight seal between the internal space of the recess 77 and the tank storage chamber 75. The abutment plate 91 is supported from below by the cover 74. When the tip of the nozzle 84 and the abutment plate 91 are separated in the vertical direction 7 (see FIG. 10), ink and air can flow between the tip of the nozzle 84 and the injection port 78 of the cover 74.

[0054] 2, a lid 94 is fitted into the recess 77. When the lid 94 is removed, the internal space of the recess 77 is exposed to the outside. In this state, when the bottle 100 is inserted into the recess 77 and rotated, ink is injected from the bottle 100 into the tank storage chamber 75 via the injection port 78.

[0055] Although not shown in the drawings, the tank 70 may be provided with an air opening port. The air opening port may be capable of being opened and closed by an electromagnetic valve or the like.

[0056] [Bottle 100] The bottle 100 will be described below with appropriate reference to Figures 5 and 6. The bottle 100 (an example of a liquid container) stores ink (an example of a liquid). The bottle 100 supplies ink to the tank 70 through an inlet 78. The multifunction device 10 and the bottle 100 are an example of a liquid supply system. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the bottle 100 has a housing 101, a sealing member 102, and a valve 103.

[0057] As shown in Fig. 5, the outer shape of the housing 101 is a generally cylindrical shape that is elongated in the vertical direction 7. In Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, the bottle 100 is shown in a position in which the supply port 105 faces downward, but the bottle 100 may be in a position in which the supply port 105 faces upward during transportation or storage.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 6, the lower end of the housing 101 is open. The opening at the upper end of the housing 101 is sealed by a sealing member 111. The internal space of the housing 101 is a storage chamber 104 (an example of a container storage chamber) that stores ink. A cylindrical spring seat 112 whose main surface extends along the front-rear direction 8 and the left-right direction 9 is located in the storage chamber 104. The spring seat 112 has a flange that protrudes outward at the upper end, and a coil spring 114 (an example of an elastic member) abuts against the lower end surface of the flange, and the lower part of the cylindrical spring seat 112 is inserted into the coil spring 114. The maximum diameter of the spring seat 112 is smaller than the inner diameter of the storage chamber 104, and the spring seat 112 is connected to the inner peripheral surface of the housing 101 by a plurality of connecting ribs 113. Ink can flow between the spring seat 112 and the inner peripheral surface of the housing 101.

[0059] 6, the sealing member 102 is located inside the lower end of the housing 101. The sealing member 102 is an elastically deformable cylindrical member made of rubber or elastomer. The sealing member 102 and the inner peripheral surface of the housing 101 are in liquid-tight contact with each other. The upper and lower ends of the sealing member 102 are open, and the internal space of the sealing member 102 is a supply port 105 through which ink flows from the storage chamber 104 to the outside.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 6, the valve 103 is located in the storage chamber 104. The valve 103 has a generally cylindrical outer shape, with a flange protruding outward from the lower end. The outer diameter of this flange is smaller than the inner diameter of the storage chamber 104. Therefore, ink can flow around the valve 103. The valve 103 is located closer to the sealing member 102 than the spring seat 112. A coil spring 114 is located between the spring seat 112 and the valve 103. The coil spring 114 is in a compressed state with its upper end abutting the flange of the spring seat 112 and its lower end abutting the flange of the valve 103. By being biased by the coil spring 114, the lower end surface of the valve 103 abuts against the sealing member 102 to liquid-tightly seal the supply port 105. When the nozzle 83 abuts against the lower end surface of the valve 103 and the valve 103 is moved away from the sealing member 102 against the biasing force of the coil spring 114, ink flows out of the storage chamber 104 to the outside through the flow path 87 of the nozzle 83 inserted into the supply port 105.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 5, three grooves 115 (an example of a fitted portion) are formed on the outer circumferential surface of the housing 101. The three grooves 115 are located at positions that are 120 degrees apart from each other around the axis 100A of the bottle 100. The grooves 115 include a first groove 115A (an example of a first portion) that opens on the lower end surface of the housing 101 and extends along the up-down direction 7 (an example of an extending direction), and a second groove 115B (an example of a second portion) that extends from the upper end of the first groove 115A along the circumferential direction (an example of a rotating direction) to the left in the figure. The first groove 115A and the second groove 115B define a continuous space. The groove 115 allows the protruding piece 79 of the tank 70 to enter.

[0062] [Supply of ink to tank 70 via bottle 100] Hereinafter, a method of supplying ink to the tank 70 from the bottle 100 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0063] When the ink in the tank 70 is consumed by discharging ink from the nozzles 39 of the head 38, for example, in response to a notification indicating that the remaining amount of ink in the tank 70 is low, the user refills the tank 70 with ink. When refilling the tank 70 with ink, the user exposes the upper wall 76 of the tank 70 to the outside by, for example, rotating the top cover of the multifunction device 10. Then, the user removes the lid 94 to expose the recess 77 to the outside.

[0064] A user prepares a bottle 100 in which ink is stored, and inserts the bottom end of the bottle 100 into the recess 77 of the tank 70 with the supply port 105 facing downward. At this time, the bottle 100 is in a state in which the valve 103 closes the supply port 105. In addition, in the tank 70, the slider 72 is in the bottom end position (an example of the first position), and the bottom end of the nozzle 84, i.e., the lower openings of the flow paths 87 and 88, are sealed by the abutment plate 91 of the sealing member 73.

[0065] 7 and 8, when inserting the bottom end of bottle 100 into recess 77, the user aligns first groove 115A of housing 101 with protruding piece 79 of recess 77. When first groove 115A and protruding piece 79 are aligned, protruding piece 79 can enter first groove 115A, and bottle 100 can be inserted into recess 77 using protruding piece 79 as a guide.

[0066] 9, when the protruding piece 79 reaches the upper end of the first groove 115A, the nozzle 83 of the tank 70 enters the supply port 105 of the bottle 100. The sealing member 102 abuts liquid-tightly against the outer circumferential surface of the nozzle 83. In this state, the valve 103 seals the supply port 105.

[0067] 9, the protrusion 89 of the slider 72 enters the first groove 115A. In this state, the housing 101 can be rotated counterclockwise about the axis 100A with respect to the tank 70 using the protrusion 79 as a guide. When the user rotates the housing 101 counterclockwise, the protrusion 79 enters the second groove 115B.

[0068] When the housing 101 is rotated counterclockwise, the first groove 115A also rotates the ridge 89 counterclockwise. That is, the slider 72 rotates counterclockwise in the recess 77 without idling with respect to the housing 101. Since the male thread 81 of the slider 72 is screwed with the female thread 80 of the recess 77, the slider 72 moves upward while rotating counterclockwise in the recess 77, and reaches the upper end position (an example of the second position) as shown in FIG. 10. As the slider 72 moves upward, the ridge 89 also moves upward in the first groove 115A. When the housing 101 is rotated counterclockwise, the protruding piece 79 is in the second groove 115B, so the housing 101 does not move upward with respect to the recess 77 even if the slider 72 moves upward. In addition, the housing 101 cannot be pulled out of the recess 77.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 10, when the slider 72 reaches the upper end position in the recess 77, the nozzle 83 moves upward together with the slider 72, and pushes the valve 103 upward against the biasing force of the coil spring 114. This causes the valve 103 to move away from the sealing member 102. This allows the ink in the storage chamber 104 of the bottle 100 to flow into the flow path 87 of the nozzle 83. In addition, the lower end of the nozzle 84 moves away from the abutment plate 91 of the sealing member 73. This allows the ink and gas to flow through the flow paths 87, 88 of the nozzle 84. In addition, the flow paths 87, 88 of the nozzle 84 communicate with the inlet 78 of the cover 74 through the periphery of the abutment plate 91 of the sealing member 73.

[0070] Since the horizontal cross section of the flow path 88 widens in a step below the bottom wall 85, a head difference occurs between the upper end opening of the flow path 87 and the upper end opening of the flow path 88. As a result, the ink stored in the storage chamber 104 flows into the flow path 87 and into the tank storage chamber 75 of the tank 70 via the inlet 78 of the cover 74.

[0071] Furthermore, when the ink flows, the air in the tank storage chamber 75 flows into the storage chamber 104 through the flow path 88. Here, the volume of the ink flowing from the storage chamber 104 to the tank storage chamber 75 is approximately the same as the volume of the air flowing from the tank storage chamber 75 to the storage chamber 104. In this manner, so-called gas-liquid substitution is performed. When all the ink in the storage chamber 104 of the bottle 100 flows out into the tank storage chamber 75 of the tank 70, the gas-liquid substitution ends.

[0072] When the supply of ink from the bottle 100 to the tank 70 is completed, the user rotates the housing 101 clockwise relative to the tank 70 from the state shown in FIG. 10 to the state shown in FIG. 9. This allows the protruding piece 79 of the tank 70 to enter the first groove 115A of the housing 101, and the bottle 100 to move upward relative to the tank 70. In the bottle 100 in the state shown in FIG. 9, the valve 103 closes the supply port 105, so that even if ink remains in the storage chamber 104 of the bottle 100, the ink does not flow down from the supply port 105 of the bottle 100 removed from the tank 70. In addition, the slider 72 rotates clockwise together with the housing 101, so that the recess 77 moves downward, and the lower end surface of the nozzle 84 abuts against the abutment plate 91 of the sealing member 73, and the flow paths 87 and 88 are sealed.

[0073] [Effects of the embodiment] When the protrusion 89 of the slider 72 and the first groove 115A of the bottle 100 are engaged and rotated counterclockwise, the slider 72 rotates and slides together with the nozzles 83, 84. When the nozzle 83 of the slider 72 enters the supply port 105 of the bottle 100 and the valve 103 is opened, the ink in the bottle 100 flows out into the tank storage chamber 75 through the nozzles 83, 84.

[0074] Furthermore, as the slider 72 and the recess 77 are screwed together, the slider 72 rotates counterclockwise while sliding upward relative to the recess 77. The sealing member 73 opens and closes the opening at the lower end of the nozzle 84 depending on the position of the slider body 82.

[0075] Furthermore, by fitting the protruding piece 79 of the tank 70 into the second groove 115B of the bottle 100, the bottle 100 does not move in the vertical direction 7 when it is rotated. This ensures that the nozzle 83 of the slider 72 enters the supply port 105 of the bottle 100. Furthermore, when the nozzle 83 enters the supply port 105 of the bottle 100, the user does not need to hold the bottle 100 against the biasing force of the coil spring 114 so that the bottle 100 does not move in the vertical direction 7. Furthermore, when the bottle 100 is removed from the tank 70, the biasing force of the coil spring 114 reduces the force with which the bottle 100 comes off.

[0076] [Variations] In the embodiment described above, the nozzle 84 of the slider 72 and the sealing member 73 are in liquid-tight contact with each other to seal the gap between the slider 72 and the recess 77, but the configuration for liquid-tightly sealing the gap between the slider 72 and the recess 77 is not limited to this. For example, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, the slider 72 does not need to have the nozzle 84. In this case, instead of the sealing member 73, a sealing member 95 is provided in the recess 77.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, the sealing member 95 is an elastically deformable member made of elastomer or rubber, and has a generally flat conical peripheral wall 96. The upper end of the peripheral wall 96 is open, and the peripheral wall 96 abuts against the lower wall 85 around the opening of the lower end of the nozzle 83 of the slider 72 while elastically deforming. The sealing member 95 has an abutment portion 97 in an internal space surrounded by the peripheral wall 93. The abutment portion 97 is generally cylindrical with a tapered tip, and seals the opening of the lower end of the nozzle 83 when the slider 72 is at the lower end position (see FIG. 11). The abutment portion 97 has an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the lower end of the peripheral wall 96, is connected to the peripheral wall 96 at multiple points, and is located in the center of the peripheral wall 96. Ink can flow between the abutment portion 97 and the peripheral wall 96. A flange 98 protruding outward is formed at the lower end of the peripheral wall 96. The flange 98 is fixed in the vertical direction by being sandwiched between the cover 74 and the recess 77. This provides a liquid-tight seal between the internal space of the recess 77 and the tank storage chamber 75.

[0078] 12, when the slider 72 is at the upper end position, the opening at the lower end of the nozzle 83 is separated from the abutment portion 97. The upper end of the peripheral wall 96 elastically restores and abuts against the lower wall 85 of the slider 72. This allows ink to flow between the opening at the lower end of the nozzle 83 and the injection port 78 of the cover 74.

[0079] As shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, the nozzle 83 of the slider 72 may be one flow path instead of being divided into two flow paths as in the embodiment described above. In this case, an atmosphere communication passage 106 is formed in the sealing member 111 of the housing 101 of the bottle 100. The atmosphere communication passage 106 may be sealed with a semipermeable membrane, may have a labyrinth structure, or may be opened and closed by a valve so that the ink does not flow out. As shown in the same figure, in the storage chamber 104 of the bottle 100, the coil spring 114 may be provided between the valve 103 and the sealing member 111. In this case, the shape of the valve 103 is appropriately changed.

[0080] [Other variations] In the above-described embodiment, the housing 101 of the bottle 100 is cylindrical, but is not limited thereto. For example, the housing 101 may be in another shape, such as a bottle shape. As shown in FIG. 13(A), the liquid container 200 may have a blow-molded narrow-mouthed container 201 and a supply part 202 screwed to the narrow mouth of the container 201. The supply part 202 has a sealing member 203, a valve 204, and a coil spring 205 similar to the sealing member 102, the valve 103, and the coil spring 114. The liquid container 200 supplies liquid to a tank 70 equipped with a nozzle 83 having two flow paths 87, 88. Also, as shown in FIG. 13(B), the liquid container 300 may have a bag 301 to which two resin sheets are welded, and a supply part 302 connected to the bag 301 by welding. Supply portion 302 has a sealing member 303, a valve 304, and a coil spring 305 similar to sealing member 102, valve 103, and coil spring 114. Liquid container 300 supplies liquid to tank 70 with nozzle 83 having one flow passage without partition 86.

[0081] Furthermore, in the tank 70, the recess 77 may be formed in a portion other than the upper wall 76. For example, the recess 77 may be formed in an inclined wall that is on the outer surface of the tank 70 and is inclined with respect to the up-down direction 7. Furthermore, the recess 77 does not have to be formed so as to be recessed into the upper wall 76, and may be formed as a cylindrical portion that protrudes upward from the upper wall 76 as shown in Fig. 14(A). Furthermore, the tank 70 does not necessarily have to be mounted on the carriage 40, and may be connected to the head 38 and the tank 70 by a tube or the like so that ink can flow therebetween without being mounted on the carriage 40.

[0082] In addition, the tank body 71, the slider 72, the cover 74, etc. do not necessarily have to be one member, and may be a combination of multiple members. For example, as shown in Fig. 14(B), the tank body 71 and the member constituting the recess 77 may be separate members. Similarly, the housing 101, the valve 103, etc. do not necessarily have to be one member, and may be a combination of multiple members.

[0083] In the above-described embodiment, ink is described as an example of the printing liquid, but the printing liquid is not limited to ink. For example, the printing liquid may be a pretreatment liquid that is ejected onto the recording paper prior to the ink during printing, or water that is sprayed onto the nozzles 39 of the head 38 to prevent them from drying out. [Explanation of symbols]

[0084] 10...Multifunction device (liquid supply device) 70. Tank 71 Tank body 72 Slider 73,95 Sealing material (sealing material) 75 Tank storage room 77 Recess 78...Inlet (opening) 79... Projection piece (second fitting portion) 82 Slider body 83, 84 Nozzle 87, 88... Flow path (first flow path, second flow path) 89.... Convex strip (fitting part, first fitting part) 100··· bottle (liquid container) 101... Enclosure 103 Valve 104... Storage chamber (container storage chamber) 105 Supply port 106... Atmospheric communication passage 114... Coil spring 115...Groove (mated part) 115A...1st groove (1st part) 115B...Second groove (second part)

Claims

1. A liquid supply device having a tank into which a liquid container is fitted, A tank body including a tank storage chamber for storing liquid and a recess having an opening communicating with the tank storage chamber; a slider having a nozzle extending outward from the recess and adapted to slide in the recess in a direction in which the nozzle extends by rotation; a fitting portion provided on the slider and adapted to fit with a liquid container; a sealant that liquid-tightly seals the gap between the slider and the recess so that liquid can flow between the opening of the recess and the opening of the nozzle.

2. The slider has a slider body that is screwed into the recess, When the slider body is in a first position, the sealant seals the opening of the nozzle; 2. The liquid supply device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing material opens the opening of the nozzle when the slider body is in the second position outwardly from the first position.

3. A liquid supply system comprising a liquid container and a tank, The liquid container is A housing and a reservoir chamber configured to store a liquid within the housing; A supply port that communicates the container storage chamber with the outside; A fitting portion is provided on the housing, The above tank is A tank body including a tank storage chamber for storing liquid and a recess having an opening communicating with the tank storage chamber; a slider having a nozzle extending outward from the recess and adapted to slide in the recess in a direction in which the nozzle extends by rotation; a first fitting portion provided on the slider and adapted to fit with the fitted portion; a sealant that liquid-tightly seals the gap between the slider and the recess so that liquid can flow between the opening of the recess and the opening of the nozzle.

4. The slider has a slider body that is screwed into the recess, When the slider body is in a first position, the sealant seals the opening of the nozzle; 4. The liquid supply system according to claim 3, wherein the sealing material opens the opening of the nozzle when the slider body is in the second position outwardly from the first position.

5. the fitted portion has a first portion that opens at a lower end of the housing and extends along the extension direction, and a second portion that extends from the first portion in a rotational direction along the rotation, a second fitting portion that fits with the fitted portion is provided in the recess, the first fitting portion prevents the liquid container from rotating relative to the slider by fitting with the first portion; the second fitting portion guides the liquid container movably along the extending direction by fitting with the first portion; 5. The liquid supply system according to claim 3, wherein the second fitting portion, when fitted with the second portion, allows rotation of the liquid container and prevents movement in the extending direction.

6. The liquid container is a valve for opening and closing the supply port; 6. The liquid supply system according to claim 3, further comprising an elastic member that biases the valve towards the supply port.

7. A liquid supply system according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the nozzle has a first flow path and a second flow path.

8. 7. The liquid supply system according to claim 3, wherein the housing has an atmosphere communication passage that connects the container storage chamber with the outside.

Images