Device for discharging liquid, liquid storage container, refill container, cleaning liquid container

Abstract

To provide a device which enables improvement of workability of refilling work.SOLUTION: A liquid discharge device includes: a head 11 which discharges a liquid; and a liquid tank 21 which is installed at a device body and stores an ink 200 to be supplied to the head 11. The liquid tank 21 has a first lid member 212 which covers an injection port 211 and may open or close. The first lid member 212 has a first fitting part 213. A second fitting part 313 of a second lid member 312, which is removably included in a refillable bottle 30 and may open or close the first lid member 212, may fit in the first fitting part 213 of the first lid member 212.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for discharging a liquid, a liquid storage container, a refill container, and a cleaning liquid container.

Background Art

[0002] For example, in a printing apparatus as an apparatus for discharging a liquid, in order to enable continuous printing for a long time, there is one in which a liquid can be replenished from a replenishment container to a liquid storage container installed in the apparatus main body.

[0003] For example, the liquid storage container has a liquid inlet for injecting a liquid and a first fitting portion provided around the liquid inlet, and the liquid replenishment container has a liquid outlet for discharging the liquid and a second fitting portion provided around the liquid outlet. It is known that the liquid can be replenished from the liquid outlet to the inlet by fitting the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion (Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1, in order to perform liquid replenishment (refilling), the second fitting portion must be fitted to the first fitting portion of the liquid container while lifting the liquid replenishment container in a state where the liquid is stored, and there is a problem that the workability of the refilling operation is poor.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to improve the workability of the refilling operation.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the liquid discharging device according to claim 1 of the present invention is different types of for each discharging a plurality of a head, said a plurality of head each of for supplying the a liquid storage section for storing a plurality of the liquid, a plurality of refill containers for replenishing the liquid to each of the plurality of liquid storage parts, and is provided with wherein the plurality of liquid storage sections each have an openable and closable first lid member for covering the injection port, and the first lid member different in each of the liquid storage parts has a first fitting portion, the plurality of refill containers removably include a first key member capable of opening and closing the first lid member of the liquid storage part, only the first key member of the refill container that stores the same type of liquid as the liquid storage part can be fitted to the first fitting part of the liquid storage part, the first lid members of the plurality of liquid storage parts have a fitting part common among the plurality of liquid storage parts separately from the first fitting part configured as

Advantages of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, the workability of the refilling operation is improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The apparatus for discharging liquid according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the main part of the apparatus.

[0011] A printing apparatus 1 as an apparatus for discharging liquid includes a liquid discharging unit 10 that discharges liquid, and a liquid supply system 20 that supplies liquid to the liquid discharging unit 10.

[0012] The liquid discharging unit 10 includes a head 11 as a liquid discharging means having a nozzle for discharging liquid, a sub-tank 12 for supplying liquid to the head 11, and a carriage 13 on which the head 11 and the sub-tank 12 are mounted. The carriage 13 is movable back and forth in a direction parallel to the paper surface.

[0013] The liquid supply system 20 for supplying liquid to the head 11 includes a liquid tank 21 as a liquid storage unit. The liquid tank 21 is a liquid storage container for storing liquid installed in the apparatus main body. Liquid is supplied from the liquid tank 21 to the head 11 via a liquid supply path 22. A filter 23 and a liquid feeding pump 24 as a liquid feeding means are arranged in the liquid supply path 22.

[0014] The liquid tank 21 is housed inside the housing 25. The housing 25 is provided with an openable and closable cover 26. The liquid tank 21 is replenished with ink 200 as a liquid from a refill bottle 30 which is a refill container.

[0015] Note that the liquid storage section may not be a replaceable storage container with respect to the apparatus main body like the liquid tank 21, but may be, for example, integrated with the housing 25.

[0016] Next, the liquid tank which is a liquid storage container and the refill bottle which is a refill container will be described with reference to FIG. 2 as well. FIG. 2 is a perspective explanatory view of the main part of the liquid tank and the refill bottle.

[0017] The liquid tank 21 includes a tank main body (container main body) 210 for storing a liquid, an injection port 211 (see FIG. 1) for injecting the liquid, and an openable and closable first lid member 212 for covering the injection port 211.

[0018] On the top surface 212a of the first lid member 212 of the liquid tank 21, as shown in FIG. 2(a), a first fitting portion 213 is provided. The first fitting portion 213 has a recessed portion 213a recessed from the top surface 212a of the first lid member 212, and three recessed portions 213b, 213c, 213d recessed radially from the wall surface of the recessed portion 213a.

[0019] Also, the liquid tank 21 is provided with an enclosing portion 220 that rises from the tank main body 210 and surrounds the periphery of the first lid member 212. As a result, the first lid member 212 is in a state of being embedded inside the enclosing portion 220, and the user cannot directly grip and operate the first lid member 212.

[0020] The refill bottle 30 is also a replenishment container, and includes a bottle main body (container main body) 310 for storing ink 200 as a liquid, a pouring port 311 (see FIG. 1) for pouring the ink 200, and an openable and closable second lid member 312 for covering the pouring port 311.

[0021] The second lid member 312 of the refill bottle 30 is a first key member removably provided on the refill bottle 30. As shown in Fig. 2(b), a second fitting portion 313 is provided on the top surface 312a of the second lid member 312 of the refill bottle 30. The second fitting portion 313 has a convex portion 313a protruding from the top surface 312a of the second lid member 312 and three convex portions 313b, 313c, and 313d protruding radially from the wall surface of the convex portion 313a.

[0022] Here, the convex portion 313a of the second fitting portion 313 of the second lid member 312 of the refill bottle 30 can be fitted into the concave portion 213a of the first fitting portion 213 of the first lid member 212 of the liquid tank 21. Similarly, the convex portions 313b to 313d of the second fitting portion 313 of the second lid member 312 of the refill bottle 30 can be respectively fitted into the concave portions 213b to 213d of the first fitting portion 213 of the first lid member 212 of the liquid tank 21.

[0023] Thereby, the second lid member 312 of the refill bottle 30 functions as a first key member capable of opening and closing the first lid member 212 of the liquid tank 21, and since it is a lid member, it can be removed from the refill bottle 30.

[0024] Next, the liquid replenishment (refill) operation for the liquid tank will be described with reference to Fig. 3 as well. Fig. 3 is a perspective explanatory diagram for this explanation.

[0025] When replenishing the ink 200 in the refill bottle 30 to the liquid tank 21, the second lid member 312 of the refill bottle 30 is removed from the bottle body 310.

[0026] Then, as shown in Fig. 3, the second fitting portion 313 of the removed second lid member 312 is fitted into the first fitting portion 213 of the first lid member 212 of the liquid tank 21. In this state, by turning the second lid member 312, for example, in the direction of arrow A in Fig. 3, the first lid member 212 can be removed from the injection port 211 of the liquid tank 21, and the injection port 211 can be opened.

[0027] After that, as shown in FIG. 1, ink 200 is poured from the pouring port 311 of the refill bottle 30 into the inlet 211 of the liquid tank 21 to replenish the ink 200 in the liquid tank 21.

[0028] In this way, the second lid member 312 of the refill bottle 30 is removed, and the second lid member 312 is fitted to the first lid member 212 of the liquid tank 21 as the first key member, so that the first lid member 212 can be opened.

[0029] Thereby, the first lid member 212 of the liquid tank 21 can be easily opened without performing an operation of lifting the refill bottle 30 and fitting it to the liquid tank 21, and the workability of the refilling operation (replenishment operation) is improved. In particular, the present invention has a high effect in the case of a large printing apparatus. This is because, in the case of a large printing apparatus, the capacity of the liquid storage portion for storing ink is large, and accordingly, the capacity of the refill container is also large, and the refill container becomes heavy.

[0030] When closing the first lid member 212 of the liquid tank 21, the second lid member 312 removed from the refill bottle 30 is fitted to the first lid member 212 again, and by turning it in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 3, the inlet 211 of the liquid tank 21 is closed with the first lid member 212.

[0031] Next, the fitting portion shape of the plurality of liquid storage containers and the refill container in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for this explanation.

[0032] In the printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, a liquid tank 21 is provided as a plurality of liquid storage containers, and different types (colors) of liquids are stored in each liquid tank 21.

[0033] For example, as shown in FIG. 4, as the plurality of liquid tanks 21, eight liquid tanks 21 for storing inks of colors of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), light black (LB), red (R), orange (O), and green (G) are provided.

[0034] Here, the recesses 213b and 213c of each first fitting portion 213 of the plurality of liquid tanks 21 are arranged at the same circumferential position in any of the liquid tanks 21. That is, the first fitting portions 213 of the plurality of liquid tanks 21 all include the recesses 213b and 213c that are common fitting portions among the plurality of liquid tanks 21.

[0035] On the other hand, the recess 213d of each first fitting portion 213 of the plurality of liquid tanks 21 is arranged at a different circumferential position for each liquid tank 21 of each color.

[0036] Each refill bottle 30 of each color has a second fitting portion 313 including convex portions 313b to 313d that fit with the recesses 213b to 213d of the first fitting portion 213 of the liquid tank 21 of the same color.

[0037] With such a configuration, when the color of the liquid tank 21 for replenishing the ink 200 is different from the color of the refill bottle 30, the second fitting portion 313 of the second lid member 312 of the refill bottle 30 cannot be fitted to the first fitting portion 213 of the liquid tank 21.

[0038] As a result, the first lid member 212 of the liquid tank 21 of a color other than the liquid tank 21 of the color for the purpose of refilling cannot be opened, and color mixing can be reliably prevented.

[0039] Here, Comparative Example 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the occurrence of color mixing during the refilling operation in the same Comparative Example 1.

[0040] In Comparative Example 1, the inlet 211 of the liquid tank 21 is opened and closed by a first lid member 212 which is a normal cap having no first fitting portion 213 as in the present invention.

[0041] Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, it is possible to inject from the refill bottle 30 into a predetermined liquid tank 21 while leaving the inlets 211 of the plurality of liquid tanks 21 open. When performing such a refilling operation, ink splashing or spilling may cause the ink to mix into other liquid tanks 21 of different colors, resulting in color mixing.

[0042] Specifically, for example, a liquid tank 21B of a color different from the color of the ink 200 in the refill bottle 30 also has its inlet 211 opened. Here, although one notices a selection mistake by looking at the color of the ink 200 in the liquid tank 21B, without closing the inlet 211 of the liquid tank 21B, the inlet 211 of the liquid tank 21A is opened for replenishment. At this time, splashing ink or the like may mix into the adjacent liquid tank 21B, causing color mixing of the ink.

[0043] Also, after replenishing the ink in the liquid tank 21A, without closing the inlet 211 of the liquid tank 21A by mistake, in order to replenish the liquid tank 21B adjacent to the liquid tank 21A, the inlet 211 of the liquid tank 21B is opened for replenishment. At this time, splashing ink or the like may mix into the nearby liquid tank 21A, causing color mixing of the ink.

[0044] Furthermore, if the wrong color is replenished, for example, when replenishing magenta ink, the inlets 211 of liquid tanks 21 of similar colors such as light magenta or red are opened, and replenishment is performed without noticing. In this case, color mixing of the ink is directly caused.

[0045] On the other hand, as in this embodiment, when the liquid tank 21 and the refill bottle 30 are not of the same color, the first lid member 212 of the liquid tank 21 cannot be opened, so the occurrence of color mixing as in Comparative Example 1 can be suppressed.

[0046] Next, the case of refilling the liquid in the liquid storage container with a cleaning liquid will be described with reference to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the refilling operation with the cleaning liquid.

[0047] In a printing apparatus 1 that uses a liquid, when changing the ink color arrangement, during long-term storage without printing, during transportation, etc., it is known that an operation of replacing the ink 200 in a path such as the supply path 22 with a cleaning liquid (or storage liquid) 400 is required.

[0048] Therefore, in the present embodiment, the inside of the liquid tank 21 is emptied, and the cleaning liquid 400 is replenished and refilled from the cleaning liquid bottle 40 as a cleaning liquid container into the liquid tank 21.

[0049] Next, the cleaning liquid container will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9. FIG. 7 is a perspective explanatory view of the main part of the cleaning liquid container, FIG. 8 is an explanatory view for explaining the shapes of the first fitting portion of the liquid tank and the third fitting portion of the cleaning liquid container, and FIG. 9 is an explanatory view for explaining the fitting state as well.

[0050] The cleaning liquid bottle 40 includes a bottle body (container body) 410 that stores the cleaning liquid 400, a pouring port 411 (see FIG. 6) for pouring the cleaning liquid 400, and an openable and closable third lid member 412 that covers the pouring port 411.

[0051] The third lid member 412 of the cleaning liquid bottle 40 is a second key member detachably provided on the refill bottle 40. On the top surface 412a of the third lid member 412 of the cleaning liquid bottle 40, a third fitting portion 413 is provided. The third fitting portion 413 has a convex portion 413a protruding from the top surface and two convex portions 413b, 413c discharging in the radial direction from the circumferential surface of the convex portion 413a.

[0052] Here, as shown in FIG. 9(b), the convex portion 413a of the third fitting portion 413 of the third lid member 412 of the cleaning liquid bottle 40 can be fitted into the concave portion 213a of the first fitting portion 213 of the first lid member 212 of the liquid tank 21. Similarly, the convex portions 413b, 413c of the third fitting portion 413 of the third lid member 412 of the cleaning liquid bottle 40 can be respectively fitted into the concave portions 213b, 213c that are common fitting portions of the first fitting portion 213 of the first lid member 212 of the liquid tank 21 for all colors. Note that FIG. 9(a) shows the fitting state of the first fitting portion 213 and the second fitting portion 313.

[0053] As a result, the third lid member 412 of the cleaning liquid bottle 40 functions as a second key member capable of opening and closing the first lid member 212 of the liquid tanks 21 of all colors, and since it is a lid member, it can be removed from the cleaning liquid bottle 40.

[0054] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is a perspective explanatory view of a main part for explaining a liquid storage container and a cleaning liquid container in this embodiment.

[0055] In this embodiment, the first lid member 212 of the liquid tank 21 is provided with a common fitting portion 214 formed by a plurality of convex portions 214a provided around the first lid member 212, in addition to the first fitting portion 213. The convex portions 214a of the common fitting portion 214 are provided at the same circumferential position in the liquid tanks 21 of all colors.

[0056] The third lid member 412 of the cleaning liquid bottle 40 is provided with a third fitting portion 413 formed by four concave portions 414b formed between four convex portions 414a protruding from the top surface 412a. The concave portions 414b of the third fitting portion 413 are fitted to the convex portions 214a of the common fitting portion 214 of the liquid tank 21.

[0057] As a result, similar to the first embodiment, the first lid member 212 of the liquid tanks 21 of all colors can be opened using the third lid member 412 of the cleaning liquid bottle 40.

[0058] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 11. FIG. 11 is a perspective explanatory view of a main part for explaining a refill container in this embodiment.

[0059] The second lid member 312 serving as the first key member of the refill container 30 connects (couples) a locking portion 321a attached to the pouring port 311 of the container body 310 and a locking portion 321b provided on the second lid member 312 with a connecting member 322.

[0060] This makes it possible to remove the second lid member 312 from the container body 310 of the refill container 30, open and close the first lid member 212 of the liquid tank 21, and then prevent the lid member 312 of the refill container 30 from being lost. Since the second lid member 312 can be removed from the pouring port 311 and fitted to the first fitting portion 213 of the first lid member 212 of the liquid tank 21, the workability is not impaired.

[0061] In addition, in each of the above embodiments, an example has been described in which the lid member of the refill container and the lid member of the cleaning liquid container are also used as the key member. However, it is also possible to adopt a configuration including a key member that can be removed from the container body separately from the lid member.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0062] 1 Device for discharging liquid (printing device) 10 Liquid discharge section 11 Head 20 Liquid supply system 21 Liquid tank (liquid storage container) 22 Supply path 30 Refill bottle (refill container) 40 Cleaning liquid bottle (cleaning liquid container) 200 Ink 210 Tank body 211 Pouring port 212 First lid member 213 First fitting portion 310 Bottle body 311 Pouring port 312 Second lid member (first key member) 313 Second fitting portion 400 Cleaning liquid 410 Bottle body 411 Pouring port 412 Third lid member (second key member) 413 Third fitting portion

Claims

1. A plurality of heads that respectively discharge different types of liquids, A plurality of liquid storage parts that store the liquids supplied to each of the plurality of heads, A plurality of refill containers that respectively replenish the liquids to the plurality of liquid storage parts, and The plurality of liquid storage parts each have an openable and closable first lid member that covers the injection port, The first lid member has a different first fitting part in each of the liquid storage parts, The plurality of refill containers removably include a first key member that can open and close the first lid member of the liquid storage part, Only the first key member of the refill container that stores the same type of liquid as the liquid storage part can be fitted to the first fitting part of the liquid storage part, The first lid members of the plurality of liquid storage parts have a fitting part common among the plurality of liquid storage parts separately from the first fitting part. A device for discharging a liquid, characterized in that.

2. The first fitting part of the first lid member has a convex part or a concave part. A device for discharging a liquid according to claim 1, characterized in that.

3. The first fitting part of the first lid member is provided on the top surface of the first lid member. A device for discharging a liquid according to claim 2, characterized in that.

4. A wall part that surrounds the outer periphery of the first lid member is provided in the liquid storage part. A device for discharging a liquid according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that.

5. A plurality of heads that respectively discharge different types of liquids, A plurality of liquid storage parts that store the liquids supplied to each of the plurality of heads, A plurality of refill containers that respectively replenish the liquids to the plurality of liquid storage parts, A cleaning liquid container for replenishing cleaning liquid to each of the plurality of liquid storage parts, Each of the plurality of liquid storage parts has an openable and closable first lid member that covers an injection port, Each of the first lid members includes a first fitting part that is different for each of the liquid storage parts, and a fitting part that is common among the plurality of liquid storage parts separately from the first fitting part. The plurality of refill containers removably include a first key member that can open and close the first lid member of the liquid storage part that stores the same type of liquid. The cleaning liquid container removably includes a second key member that can open and close the first lid member by fitting into the common fitting part of the liquid storage part. An apparatus for discharging a liquid, characterized by the above.

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