Liquid container

Abstract

The present invention provides a liquid bottle in which: before an operation of connecting to a tank, liquid is hard to be leaked from a liquid supply port; and, when the operation of connecting to the tank is performed, connection to the tank is hard to be released.　A liquid container 80 comprises: a body that defines a storage chamber 147; a valve 161 that can move to a closed position and an open position; a liquid supply port 96A that connects the storage chamber 147 to the outside of the storage chamber 147 along the moving direction of the valve 161, the liquid supply port 96A being closed when the valve 161 is at the closed position, and opened when the valve 161 is at the open position; an elastic member 165 that biases the valve 161 to the closed position; and a switching mechanism 145 capable of switching a biasing force for biasing the valve 161 by means of the elastic member 165 between a first biasing force and a second biasing force weaker than the first biasing force.

Description

liquid container

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a liquid container for storing a liquid.

[0002] There is a liquid bottle that stores ink. The liquid bottle described in Patent Document 1 includes a cylindrical body with a supply port at its tip, an annular seal located at the supply port, a valve located in the interior space of the body, and a coil spring that biases the valve toward the seal. When the cylindrical portion of an ink tank is inserted into the supply port of the liquid bottle through the seal, the valve moves against the biasing force of the coil spring from a closed position that closes the supply port to an open position that opens the supply port. This causes ink in the body to flow into the ink tank through the supply port and the interior space of the cylindrical portion. At the same time, air in the ink tank flows into the body through the interior space of the cylindrical portion and the supply port. In this way, gas-liquid replacement occurs between the liquid bottle and the ink tank, thereby supplying ink.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-032681

[0004] For example, if the valve moves against the biasing force of the coil spring due to an impact during transportation of the liquid bottle, ink inside the liquid bottle may leak from the supply port. One possible solution to this problem would be to increase the biasing force of the coil spring. However, in this case, the liquid bottle connected to the ink tank may be pushed out by the biasing force of the coil spring. This makes it difficult to supply ink from the liquid bottle to the ink tank.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the circumstances described above, and its purpose is to provide a liquid container that is less likely to leak liquid from the liquid supply port except when connecting to a tank, and is less likely to be disconnected from the tank when connecting to the tank.

[0006] The present disclosure relates to a liquid container comprising: a main body defining a storage chamber for storing liquid; a valve located within the main body and movable between a closed position and an open position; a liquid supply port connecting the storage chamber to an outside of the storage chamber along a movement direction of the valve, the liquid supply port being closed when the valve is in the closed position and being open when the valve is in the open position; an elastic member biasing the valve to the closed position; and a switching mechanism capable of switching the biasing force with which the elastic member biases the valve between a first biasing force and a second biasing force weaker than the first biasing force.

[0007] For example, when connecting the liquid container to the tank, the biasing force of the elastic member can be switched from the first biasing force to the second biasing force, making it difficult for the liquid container connected to the tank to be pushed out by the biasing force of the elastic member. In this way, it is possible to make it difficult for liquid to leak from the liquid supply port except when connecting the liquid container to the tank.

[0008] The switching mechanism may switch the biasing force from the first biasing force to the second biasing force in conjunction with movement of the valve from the closed position to the open position.

[0009] The biasing force of the elastic member is the first biasing force before the liquid container and the tank are connected, so that liquid is less likely to leak from the liquid supply port before the connection operation with the tank.

[0010] The elastic member may be a first spring that is expandable and contractible in the movement direction. The switching mechanism may include a first spring seat that supports the first spring and that moves, in conjunction with movement of the valve from the closed position to the open position, from a first support position where the first spring is supported by the first biasing force to a second support position where the first spring is applied with the second biasing force.

[0011] When the first spring seat moves from the first support position to the second support position, the biasing force of the first spring is switched from the first biasing force to the second biasing force.

[0012] The switching mechanism may include a support member that supports the first spring seat movably from the first support position to the second support position along the movement direction.

[0013] The first spring seat can move from the first support position to the second support position while maintaining a stable posture.

[0014] The support member may support the first spring seat movably from the second support position to the first support position along the movement direction.

[0015] The first spring seat can move from the second support position to the first support position while maintaining a stable posture.

[0016] The first spring seat may include a support member that supports the first spring and a first guide piece that protrudes from the support member in a direction perpendicular to the movement direction. The support member may include a support portion that supports the first spring seat so as to be movable in the movement direction and rotatable about a central axis along the movement direction, a first holding portion against which the first guide piece abuts to hold the first spring seat at the first support position, a second holding portion against which the support member abuts to hold the first spring seat at the second support position, and a first guide slit that extends along the movement direction from a position adjacent to one side of the first holding portion about the central axis toward the second holding portion, and through which the first guide piece is movable along the movement direction. The first guide piece may rotate in one direction about the central axis and move into the first guide slit in conjunction with movement of the valve from the closed position to the open position.

[0017] The first guide piece rotates in one direction about the central axis and moves into the guide slit in conjunction with the movement of the valve from the closed position to the open position. When the first guide piece reaches the guide slit, it moves along the first guide slit toward the second holding portion in the movement direction due to the biasing force of the first spring. The first spring seat, which moves toward the second holding portion, is stopped by the support body abutting against the second holding portion. As a result, the first spring seat is held in the second support position. Because the support body abuts against the second holding portion, damage to the first guide piece due to the impact when the first spring seat moves from the first holding portion to the second holding portion and stops due to the biasing force of the first spring is suppressed.

[0018] The elastic member may be a second spring that is expandable and contractible in the movement direction. The switching mechanism may include a second spring seat that supports the second spring, the second spring seat being located at a first support position where the second spring is supported by the first biasing force, a third holding portion that holds the second spring seat at the first support position, and a third spring seat that can support the second spring, the third spring seat being located at a second support position where the second spring is supported by the second biasing force. The second spring seat may be disengaged from the third holding portion in conjunction with movement of the valve from the closed position to the open position.

[0019] When the second spring seat disengages from the third retaining portion in conjunction with the movement of the valve from the closed position to the open position, the second spring expands in the direction of movement and is supported by the third spring seat, thereby switching the biasing force of the second spring from the first biasing force to the second biasing force.

[0020] The elastic member may include a first rubber and a second rubber. The switching mechanism may include a first support portion and a second support portion spaced apart in a direction intersecting the movement direction. The first rubber may be press-fitted between the first support portion and the second support portion so as to bias the valve toward the closed position with a biasing force whose total biasing force together with the second biasing force is a first biasing force. The second rubber may be supported by at least one of the first support portion and the second support portion so as to bias the valve toward the closed position with the second biasing force. The first rubber may be disengaged from between the first support portion and the second support portion in conjunction with movement of the valve from the closed position to the open position.

[0021] The first rubber comes out from between the two retaining members in conjunction with the movement of the valve from the closed position to the open position, so there are fewer parts that fall off, making the liquid container easier to reuse.

[0022] The elastic member may include a third spring and a fourth spring that are expandable and contractible in the movement direction. The switching mechanism may include: a fourth spring seat that supports the third spring, the fourth spring seat being located at a first support position that supports the third spring so that the total biasing force together with the second biasing force becomes the first biasing force; a fourth retaining portion that retains the fourth spring seat at the first support position; and a fifth spring seat that supports the fourth spring, the fifth spring seat being located at a second support position that supports the fourth spring with the second biasing force. The fourth spring seat may disengage from the fourth retaining portion in conjunction with movement of the valve from the closed position to the open position.

[0023] When the fourth spring seat disengages from the fourth retaining portion in conjunction with the movement of the valve from the closed position to the open position, the biasing force of the third spring supported by the fourth spring seat becomes zero, and the valve is biased to the closed position by only the fourth spring. As a result, the biasing force biasing the valve is switched from the first biasing force to the second biasing force.

[0024] The first spring seat may protrude from the support in a direction perpendicular to the movement direction and may have a second guide piece at a position point-symmetrical to the first guide piece with respect to a central axis of the first spring seat along the movement direction. The support member may have a fifth retaining portion against which the second guide piece abuts to retain the first spring seat at the first support position, and a second guide slit extending along the movement direction from a position adjacent to one side of the fifth retaining portion around the central axis toward the second retaining portion, and through which the second guide piece is movable along the movement direction. The second guide piece may rotate in one direction about the central axis and move into the second guide slit in conjunction with movement of the valve from the closed position to the open position.

[0025] The second guide piece is positioned point-symmetrically to the first guide piece with respect to the central axis of the support, so the first spring seat is held in a balanced manner at the first support position by the first and third holding portions with which the first and second guide pieces abut, allowing the first spring seat to rotate smoothly in one direction about the central axis in conjunction with movement of the valve from the closed position to the open position.

[0026] The liquid container may further include a cylindrical support member positioned between the valve and an inner surface of the body, the support member may guide movement of the valve between the closed position and the open position.

[0027] When the valve moves from the closed position to the open position, the valve moves straight along the movement direction, and therefore the first guide piece and the second guide piece rotate smoothly in one direction about the central axis in conjunction with the movement of the valve from the closed position to the open position.

[0028] The main body may have an air inlet that communicates the reservoir with the outside of the reservoir along the movement direction. The valve may close the air inlet and the liquid supply port.

[0029] Even if the valve is configured to close two openings, the air inlet and the liquid supply port, it is possible to make it difficult for liquid to leak from the liquid supply port except when the liquid container and the tank are being connected, and it is possible to make it difficult for the connection between the liquid container and the tank to be released when the liquid container and the tank are being connected.

[0030] The tank may include a nozzle that protrudes from the liquid supply port along the movement direction.

[0031] The main body may include a bottle body having an opening that defines an open end of the storage chamber, and a bottle cap in which the liquid supply port is located and which is detachable from the opening. The valve, the elastic member, and the switching mechanism may be attached to the bottle cap.

[0032] The user can remove the valve, elastic member, and switching mechanism from the bottle body simply by removing the bottle cap from the bottle body. Therefore, for example, in order to prevent liquid from leaking from the liquid container during transportation, if an operator at a collection site for used liquid containers operates the switching mechanism to switch the biasing force with which the elastic member biases the valve from the second biasing force to the first biasing force before reusing the liquid container, this simplifies the process and makes it easier to reuse the liquid container.

[0033] The bottle cap may have an air inlet and a liquid supply port that communicate between the storage chamber and the outside of the storage chamber along the movement direction, and may have a protrusion that can be inserted into a connection port that is arranged opposite a liquid inlet provided in a tank to which the liquid container is connected. The protrusion may have a rib that protrudes from an outer peripheral surface of the protrusion and contacts an inner surface of the connection port.

[0034] When liquid is poured from a liquid container through the tank's inlet, even if the spring force that urges the valve to the closed position acts on the liquid bottle in a direction that pushes the protrusion out of the connection port, the frictional force generated between the rib and the inner surface of the connection port prevents the protrusion from being pushed out of the connection port.

[0035] According to the present disclosure, liquid is less likely to leak from the liquid supply port except when the liquid container and the tank are being connected, and when the liquid container and the tank are being connected, the connection between the liquid container and the tank is less likely to be released.

[0036] FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the multifunction device 10. FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the printer unit 11. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the carriage 23 and the ink tank 100. FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the ink tank set 51. FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the ink tank 100. FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the ink tank set 51 cut along a plane including the ink chamber 111. FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the ink bottle 80. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the outline of the protrusion 94. FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the rubber 83. FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the rubber 83. FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the support member 84. FIG. 12 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the support member 84. FIG. 13 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the valve 161. FIG. 14 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the ink bottle 80 with the valve 161 in the closed position. FIG. 15 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the ink bottle 80 with the valve 161 in the open position. FIG. 16 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the ink bottle 80 connected to the ink tank set 51. FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the valve 161 and support member 84 in the open position, taken along a horizontal plane at a portion where the rear inner curved surface 121E of the support member 84 is located. FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the valve 161. FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the spring seat 125. FIG. 20 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the switching mechanism 145, showing a state in which the front guide piece 412 abuts against the front abutment surface 246. FIG. 21 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the switching mechanism 145, showing a state in which the front guide piece 412 faces the front guide slit 248 in the vertical direction. FIG. 22 is a side view of the cap unit 82 in which the valve 161, coil spring 165, and switching mechanism 145 are attached to the bottle cap 82. FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 22. FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram showing a modified switching mechanism 145. FIG. 25 is another schematic diagram showing a modified switching mechanism 145. FIG. 26 is another schematic diagram showing a modified switching mechanism 145. FIG. 27 is another schematic diagram showing a modified switching mechanism 145.

[0037] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described. Note that the embodiments described below are merely examples, and it goes without saying that the embodiments can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In the following description, the direction from the starting point to the end point of a single arrow is expressed as a direction, and the direction of a double arrow is expressed as both directions. In other words, a direction is one component of a direction. An upward direction and a downward direction are each one component of the vertical direction and are opposite to each other. A leftward direction and a rightward direction are each one component of the horizontal direction and are opposite to each other. A forward direction and a backward direction are each one component of the front-to-back direction and are opposite to each other. In this embodiment, the vertical direction corresponds to the direction of gravity, and the front-to-back direction and the left-to-right direction correspond to the horizontal direction.

[0038] Furthermore, the up-down direction is defined based on the state or posture of the multifunction device 10 installed in a usable state, the front-rear direction is defined with the side of the multifunction device 10 where the opening 13 is provided as the front side, and the left-right direction is defined when looking at the multifunction device 10 from the front side. The state in Figure 1 is sometimes referred to as the "usage state." The posture in Figure 1 is sometimes referred to as the "usage posture." The front side of the multifunction device 10 where the opening 13 is provided is the front side.

[0039] [Overall Configuration of Multifunction Device 10] As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction device 10 has a generally rectangular parallelepiped casing 8. The multifunction device 10 has a scanner unit 9 and a printer unit 11 in the internal space of the casing 8. The scanner unit 9 is located at the top of the internal space of the casing 8. The scanner unit 9 has a scanning function. The printer unit 11 is located below the scanner unit 9 in the internal space of the casing 8. The printer unit 11 has a printing function. The printer unit 11 records images on paper 12 shown in FIG. 2 using an inkjet recording method. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printer unit 11 includes a feed unit 15, a feed tray 20, a discharge tray 21, a transport path 65, a transport roller unit 54, a recording unit 24, a discharge roller unit 55, a platen 42, and an ink tank set 51.

[0040] [Feed Tray 20, Discharge Tray 21] As shown in Fig. 1, an opening 13 is located on the front surface of the multifunction device 10, in the center in the left-right direction. The feed tray 20 moves in the front-rear direction through the opening 13 by user operation. As shown in Fig. 2, the feed tray 20 supports a plurality of stacked sheets of paper 12. The discharge tray 21 is located above the feed tray 20. The discharge tray 21 moves in the front-rear direction together with the feed tray 20. The discharge tray 21 supports the sheets of paper 12 to be discharged by the discharge roller unit 55.

[0041] [Feed Unit 15] The feed unit 15 feeds the paper 12 supported on the feed tray 20 to the transport path 65. As shown in FIG. 2 , the feed unit 15 includes a feed roller 25, a feed arm 26, and a shaft 27. The feed roller 25 is rotatably supported at the tip of the feed arm 26. The feed roller 25 receives drive from a transport motor (not shown) and rotates in a direction that transports the paper 12 in the transport direction 16. Hereinafter, the rotation of the feed roller 25, transport roller 60, and discharge roller 62 in a direction that transports the paper 12 in the transport direction 16 will be referred to as "forward rotation." The feed arm 26 is rotatably supported on the shaft 27, which is supported on the frame of the printer unit 11. The feed arm 26 is biased to rotate toward the feed tray 20 by its own weight or the elastic force of a spring or the like.

[0042] [Transport Path 65] As shown in FIG. 2 , the transport path 65 refers to a space defined by, for example, an outer guide member 18 and an inner guide member 19 that face each other at a predetermined distance. The transport path 65 extends from the rear end of the feed tray 20 to the rear of the printer unit 11. The transport path 65 extends from below to above behind the printer unit 11, makes a U-turn, and reaches the discharge tray 21 through the space between the recording unit 24 and the platen 42. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the transport path 65 between the transport roller unit 54 and the discharge roller unit 55 is located approximately in the center of the multifunction device 10 in the left-right direction and extends in the front-to-rear direction. The transport direction 16 of the paper 12 in the transport path 65 is indicated by a dashed arrow in FIG. 2 .

[0043] [Transport roller unit 54] As shown in Figure 2, the transport roller unit 54 is located upstream of the recording unit 24 in the transport direction 16. The transport roller unit 54 has a transport roller 60 and a pinch roller 61. The transport roller 60 and the pinch roller 61 face each other in the vertical direction. The transport roller 60 rotates when the drive of the transport motor is transmitted to it. The pinch roller 61 rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the transport roller 60. When the transport roller 60 rotates forward due to the forward rotation of the transport motor, the paper 12 is sandwiched between the transport roller 60 and the pinch roller 61 and transported in the transport direction 16.

[0044] [Discharge Roller Unit 55] As shown in Figure 2, the discharge roller unit 55 is located downstream of the recording unit 24 in the conveying direction 16. The discharge roller unit 55 has a discharge roller 62 and a spur 63. The discharge roller 62 and the spur 63 face each other in the vertical direction. The discharge roller 62 is rotated by the drive force transmitted from the conveying motor. The spur 63 rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the discharge roller 62. When the discharge roller 62 rotates forward due to the forward rotation of the conveying motor, the paper 12 is sandwiched between the discharge roller 62 and the spur 63 and conveyed in the conveying direction 16.

[0045] 2, the recording unit 24 is located between the transport roller unit 54 and the discharge roller unit 55 in the transport direction 16. The recording unit 24 faces the platen 42 in the vertical direction, with the transport path 65 in between. The recording unit 24 is located above the transport path 65 in the vertical direction. The recording unit 24 includes a carriage 23 and a recording head 39.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 3 , the carriage 23 is supported by guide rails 43 and 44. The guide rails 43 and 44 are supported by the frame of the printer unit 11. The guide rails 43 and 44 are spaced apart in the front-rear direction and extend in the left-right direction. The guide rails 43 and 44 extend outward in the left-right direction beyond the transport path 65. The carriage 23 is connected to a known belt mechanism provided on the guide rail 44. The belt mechanism rotates by receiving drive from a carriage motor (not shown). When the belt mechanism rotates, the carriage 23 moves left-right. The range of movement of the carriage 23 is indicated by a dashed line in FIG. 3 . The carriage 23 moves left and right beyond the transport path 65.

[0047] The ink tank 100 and the recording head 39 are connected by an ink tube 32. A control board on which a control unit (not shown) is mounted and the recording head 39 are electrically connected by a flexible flat cable 33. The ink tube 32 and the flexible flat cable 33 each extend from the carriage 23. The ink tube 32 supplies ink stored in the ink tank 100 to the recording head 39. The flexible flat cable 33 transmits a control signal output from the control unit to the recording head 39.

[0048] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the carriage 23 carries a recording head 39. The recording head 39 can move left and right between a standby position P1 and a maintenance position P2 by moving the carriage 23. The standby position P1 is located to the left of the transport path 65. The left side is an example of the opposite side. The maintenance position P2 is located to the right of the transport path 65. A plurality of nozzles 40 are located on the underside of the recording head 39. The recording head 39 ejects ink from the nozzles 40 as tiny ink droplets. As the carriage 23 moves, the recording head 39 ejects ink droplets toward the paper 12 supported by the platen 42. This records an image on the paper 12.

[0049] 2 and 3, the platen 42 is located between the transport roller unit 54 and the discharge roller unit 55 in the transport direction 16. The platen 42 faces the recording unit 24 in the up-down direction. The platen 42 supports the paper 12 transported by the transport roller unit 54 from below.

[0050] [Ink Tank Set 51] As shown in Figures 4 and 6, the ink tank set 51 includes an ink tank 100, a tank cover 110, and a tank cap 127. The ink tank 100 is an example of a tank. Note that the tank cap 127 is omitted from Figure 4. As shown in Figure 1, the ink tank set 51 is located inside the multifunction device 10. The ink tank set 51 is fixed to the multifunction device 10 so that the user cannot easily remove it from the multifunction device 10. An opening is located on the front surface of the casing 8 of the multifunction device 10, at the right end in the left-right direction. The ink tank set 51 is located behind the opening in the casing 8. In other words, the ink tank set 51 is located to the right of the center in the left-right direction in the internal space of the casing 8.

[0051] A cover 70 is provided on the casing 8 so as to be positioned in front of the opening of the casing 8. The cover 70 is rotatable around a rotation axis extending in the left-right direction at the bottom end in the up-down direction. The cover 70 is rotatable from a covering position shown in FIG. 1 in which it covers the opening of the casing 8, to an exposing position in which it exposes the opening of the casing 8 to the outside of the multifunction device 10. In other words, the cover 70 is rotatable from the covering position shown in FIG. 1 in which it covers the ink tank set 51, to an exposing position in which it exposes the ink tank set 51 to the outside of the multifunction device 10. The cover 70 has an opening. Even when the cover 70 is positioned in the covering position, a portion of the ink tank set 51 is exposed to the outside of the multifunction device 10 through the opening in the cover 70. Incidentally, when we say that a portion of the ink tank set 51 is exposed to the outside of the multifunction device 10 through the opening in the cover 70, we mean that a user can at least see a portion of the ink tank set 51 from outside the multifunction device 10 through the opening in the cover 70, and we do not mean that a portion of the ink tank set 51 is in a state where it protrudes outside the multifunction device 10 through the opening in the cover 70.

[0052] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the ink tank 100 has four ink chambers 111 inside. The four ink chambers 111 are lined up in the left-right direction from left to right. The four ink chambers 111 store one of the different colors of ink: yellow, cyan, magenta, or black. The ink tank 100 has a front wall 101, a right wall 102, a left wall 103, a top wall 104, a bottom wall 105, and a rear wall 106. The internal space of the ink tank 100 is divided into four ink chambers 111 by three partition walls spaced apart in the left-right direction.

[0053] The top wall 104 has air vent ports 112 that connect each ink chamber 111 to the outside. Each air vent port 112 penetrates the top wall 104 in the vertical direction. The top surface of the top wall 104 has an inclined surface 104A. The inclined surface 104A is located at the front end of the top surface of the top wall 104. The inclined surface 104A is inclined with respect to the front-to-rear direction so that it extends downward as it extends forward. The inclined surface 104A is located across from the left end to the right end of the ink tank 100.

[0054] The upper wall 104 has four openings 113 that connect each ink chamber 111 to the outside. The four openings 113 are located in front of the atmosphere communication port 112. The four openings 113 are located at intervals in the left-right direction.

[0055] 6, an outflow pipe 124 is connected to each opening 113. Each outflow pipe 124 is a tubular body that extends downward in the vertical direction from the corresponding opening 113 in a circular tubular shape. The lower end of each outflow pipe 124 has an outflow port 114 that opens downward.

[0056] A rubber seal member 160 is press-fitted into each outlet pipe 124 through each opening 113. The seal member 160 has a through-hole 160A extending in the up-down direction.

[0057] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 , each outflow tube 124 is connected to a connection portion 170 disposed on the upper surface of the upper wall 104. The connection portion 170 includes a flat substrate 170A detachably fixed to the upper wall 104 and four cylindrical portions 170B extending downward in the vertical direction from the substrate 170A. Four grooves through which ink can flow are located on the upper surface of the substrate 170A. The substrate 170A has four first ink flow paths 191 defined by a film attached to the upper surface of the substrate 170A and the four grooves. Note that the film is omitted from FIGS. 4 and 6 . Each first ink flow path 191 is connected to an ink tube 32 connected to the recording head 39. Each cylindrical portion 170B has a second ink flow path 192 through which ink can flow. The four second ink flow paths 192 are connected to one of the four first ink flow paths 191. Each cylindrical portion 170B is liquid-tightly inserted into the through hole 160A of each sealing member 160. As a result, each second ink flow path 192 is in communication with the outflow channel 150 of each outflow pipe 124. Ink stored in each ink chamber 111 flows to the recording head 39 through each outflow pipe 124, each second ink flow path 192, each first ink flow path 191, and the ink tube 32. When ink is consumed in each ink chamber 111 by ejecting ink from the recording head 39, air flows into each ink chamber 111 through each atmosphere communication port 112.

[0058] A cylindrical annular wall 122 that covers the tank pipe 115 and the communication port 119 is located at the front end of the upper wall 104. The annular wall 122 extends obliquely upward and forward from the front end of the upper wall 104 in an extension direction that intersects the direction of gravity and the horizontal direction and is parallel to the tank pipe 115. The tank pipe 115 protrudes upward beyond the tip of the annular wall 122.

[0059] The tank pipe 115 is located inside the annular wall 122. The tank pipe 115 is a circular pipe that extends obliquely upward and forward from the upper wall 104 along an extension direction that intersects the direction of gravity and the horizontal. The upper end of the tank pipe 115 opens to the outside of each ink chamber 111. The lower end of the tank pipe 115 opens to the inside of each ink chamber 111. The internal space of the tank pipe 115 connects the outside and inside of each ink chamber 111. The tank pipe 115 is located rearward of the center of the annular wall 122. In other words, the axis passing through the center of the tank pipe 115 is located rearward of the axis passing through the center of the annular wall 122 when viewed from the extension direction of the tank pipe 115. The tip of the tank pipe 115 is bifurcated in the left and right directions. The tip of the tank pipe 115 is bifurcated in the left and right directions, so that gaps are located above and below the tip of the tank pipe 115 .

[0060] A communication port 119 is located inside the annular wall 122 on the inclined surface 104A. The communication port 119 penetrates the upper wall 104 in the up-down direction. The communication port 119 has a circular shape at the front and a rectangular shape at the rear. In other words, the communication port 119 has a rectangular shape with one front side bulging in an arc shape. The communication port 119 connects the outside and inside of each ink chamber 111. The communication port 119 is located in front of the tank pipe 115. The communication port 119 is located below the tank pipe 115. In other words, a straight line extending in the extension direction through the center of the communication port 119 when viewed from the extension direction of the tank pipe 115 is located forward of an axis passing through the center of the tank pipe 115 when viewed from the extension direction of the tank pipe 115. The communication port 119 is located forward of the center of the annular wall 122. In other words, a line that passes through the center of the communication port 119 and extends in the extension direction when viewed from the extension direction of the annular wall 122 is located forward of an axis that passes through the center of the annular wall 122 when viewed from the extension direction of the annular wall 122. The communication port 119 is an example of a liquid inlet.

[0061] As shown in Figure 4, the tank cover 110 holds the ink tank 100 while covering the front side of the ink tank 100 from the front. The tank cover 110 has an opening 207. A portion of the front wall 101 of the ink tank 100 is exposed to the front of the tank cover 110 through the opening 207. Note that "a portion of the front wall 101 of the ink tank 100 is exposed to the front of the tank cover 110 through the opening 207" means that a user can at least see a portion of the front wall 101 of the ink tank 100 from the front of the tank cover 110 through the opening 207, and does not mean that a portion of the front wall 101 of the ink tank 100 protrudes to the front of the tank cover 110 through the opening 207.

[0062] The tank cover 110 has four through holes 72 spaced apart in the left-right direction. Each through hole 72 faces a corresponding communication port 119 in the extension direction. The tank pipe 115 and the communication port 119 are visible through each through hole 72. The inner circumferential surface of each through hole 72 surrounds the annular wall 122 when viewed from the extension direction. The four through holes 72 are positioned to correspond to one of the four ink chambers 111A, 111B, 111C, and 111D. That is, each of the four through holes 72 overlaps with a corresponding one of the four ink chambers 111A, 111B, 111C, and 111D when viewed from the extension direction. As shown in FIG. 6 , the tank pipe 115 protrudes to the outside of the tank cover 110 through each through hole 72. Each through hole 72 is shaped to allow insertion of a bottle cap 82 of an ink bottle 80 (described below). The through-hole 72 is an example of a connection port.

[0063] 6 , the tank cap 127 is detachably attached to the annular wall 122. The tank cap 127 is a cylindrical member with one end closed. When the tank cap 127 is removed from the annular wall 122, it is not connected to the ink tank 100 or the tank cover 110 and is completely separated from them. In other words, the ink tank set 51 does not have a holding member such as an arm that holds the tank cap 127, which has been removed from the annular wall 122, in a state where it is connected to the ink tank 100 or the tank cover 110.

[0064] [Ink Bottle 80] As shown in Figures 7 and 16, the ink bottle 80 is connected to the ink tank set 51. The ink bottle 80 is an example of a liquid container. As shown in Figures 7, 14, and 16, the ink bottle 80 includes a bottle body 81, a bottle cap 82, a support member 84, a valve 161, a coil spring 165, and a switching mechanism 145. The bottle body 81 has a cylindrical shape with an open top. Specifically, the bottle body 81 includes a main container 81A and an opening 87. The main container 81A defines an ink storage chamber 147 that stores ink. The opening 87 is connected to the top of the main container 81A. The internal space of the opening 87 is in communication with the ink storage chamber 147. The top of the opening 87 opens upward. The diameter of the opening 87 is smaller than the diameter of the main container 81A. The bottle body 81 and the bottle cap 82 are an example of a main body. The ink storage chamber 147 is an example of a storage chamber. Ink is an example of a liquid. Note that, examples of types of ink include pigment ink containing a pigment and dye ink containing a dye. Furthermore, the ink bottle 80 may store a cleaning liquid containing water instead of ink. The cleaning liquid is an example of a liquid.

[0065] The bottle cap 82 is detachably attached to the opening 87 by press-fitting the opening 87 into the internal space of the bottle cap 82. Alternatively, the bottle cap 82 may be detachably attached to the opening 87 by threading the inner peripheral surface of the bottle cap 82 and the outer peripheral surface of the opening 87. The bottle cap 82 has a side wall 93, a bottom wall 92, a protrusion 94, a rubber 83, a key member 99, and an annular rib 91. The side wall 93 is a cylindrical wall extending in the up-down direction. The side wall 93 is threadedly coupled to the opening 87. The bottom wall 92 is an annular wall extending radially inward from the upper end of the side wall 93.

[0066] The protrusion 94 is a cylindrical wall extending upward from the bottom wall 92. The protrusion 94 can be inserted into the through-hole 72 of the tank cover 110. The outer peripheral surface of the protrusion 94 has a shape that fits the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole 72 of the tank cover 110. In other words, the shape and size of the outer peripheral surface of the protrusion 94 are approximately the same as the shape and size of the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole 72. The outer peripheral surface of the protrusion 94 has a curved circular shape on the front side and a rectangular shape on the rear side with straight sides connected. In other words, the outer peripheral surface of the protrusion 94 has a rectangular shape with one front side bulging forward in an arc shape.

[0067] Specifically, the outer peripheral surface of the protrusion 94 has an outer curved surface 94A that bulges forward, a left outer plane 94B that connects to the left end of the outer curved surface 94A, a right outer plane 94C that connects to the right end of the outer curved surface 94A, and a rear outer plane 94D that connects the rear end of the left outer plane 94B and the rear end of the right outer plane 94C.

[0068] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 14 , the rear outer flat surface 94D has an upper flat surface 151, a middle inclined surface 152, and a lower arcuate surface 153. The upper flat surface 151 is located from the upper end of the protrusion 94 to approximately the center in the up-down direction. The middle inclined surface 152 is continuous with the lower end of the upper flat surface 151. The middle inclined surface 152 is inclined with respect to the up-down direction so as to extend rearward as it extends downward. As a result, the internal space of the protrusion 94 expands rearward as it extends downward. The lower arcuate surface 153 is located from the lower end of the middle inclined surface 152 to the upper surface of the bottom wall 92. The lower arcuate surface 153 is an arcuate surface that bulges rearward when viewed from above. The rear outer flat surface 94D fits on the rear side of the inner circumferential surface of the through-hole 72 when the protrusion 94 is inserted into the through-hole 72.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 8 , the outer circumferential surface of the protrusion 94 is not rotationally symmetrical about the center C1 of the protrusion 94. Rotational symmetry refers to overlapping two or more times when an object is rotated 360 degrees around the center C1. For example, if the outer circumferential surface of the protrusion 94 is an equilateral triangle, the protrusion 94 overlaps three times when the protrusion 94 is rotated 360 degrees around the center C1, so the outer circumferential surface of the protrusion 94 is rotationally symmetrical about the center C1 of the protrusion 94. In this embodiment, the protrusion 94 overlaps only once when the protrusion 94 is rotated 360 degrees around the center C1, so the outer circumferential surface of the protrusion 94 is not rotationally symmetrical about the center C1. Therefore, the orientation in which the protrusion 94 can be inserted into the through-hole 72 is determined to be unique. The center C1 is the point where the midpoint of the line segment defining the left-right length of the protrusion 94 coincides with the midpoint of the line segment defining the front-rear length of the protrusion 94 when viewed from above. In this embodiment, the center C1 is the point where, when viewing the protrusion 94 from above, the midpoint of the line segment L1 connecting the left outer plane 94B and the right outer plane 94C coincides with the midpoint of the line segment L2 connecting the front end of the outer curved surface 94A and the rear outer plane 94D.

[0070] Ribs 89 protrude from the left outer flat surface 94B and the right outer flat surface 94C of the protrusion 94. One of the ribs 89 is located rearward of the center of the left outer flat surface 94B in the front-to-rear direction. One of the ribs 89 extends in the up-and-down direction from the upper end to the lower end of the left outer flat surface 94B. One of the ribs 89 contacts the right side of the inner circumferential surface of the through hole 72 when the protrusion 94 is inserted into the through hole 72. The other rib 89 is located rearward of the center of the right outer flat surface 94C in the front-to-rear direction. The other rib 89 is located from the upper end to the lower end of the right outer flat surface 94C. The other rib 89 contacts the left side of the inner circumferential surface of the through hole 72 when the protrusion 94 is inserted into the through hole 72. Each of the ribs 89 is an example of a rib.

[0071] 14 , a central axis B1 passing through a center C1 of the protrusion 94 is eccentric to the front with respect to a central axis B2 passing through the center of the opening 87. In other words, the center C1 of the protrusion 94 is shifted to the front with respect to the center of the opening 87. The inner surface of the protrusion 94 and the opening 87 define a valve accommodating space 148 in which the valve 161 is accommodated.

[0072] As shown in Figure 7, the protrusion 94 has an upper wall 97 located at its upper end. The upper wall 97 is located slightly below the upper end of the protrusion 94. The upper wall 97 has an upper surface that is perpendicular to the up-down direction. The upper wall 97 is flat and extends in the front-to-back and left-to-right directions. A recess 98 is defined by the upper surface of the upper wall 97 and the inner peripheral surface of the protrusion 94. The inner peripheral surface of the recess 98 is parallel to the outer peripheral surface of the protrusion 94.

[0073] An oval opening 97A that is elongated in the front-to-rear direction is located on the upper surface of the upper wall 97 of the projection 94. The opening 97A penetrates the upper wall 97 in the up-down direction. The opening 97A is defined by the upper wall 97. A portion of the rubber 83 is exposed to the outside through the opening 97A.

[0074] A protrusion 88 is provided that protrudes downward from the upper wall 97. The protrusion 88 extends in an oval shape along the opening 97A.

[0075] The key member 99 extends rearward from a rear outer flat surface 94D on the outer peripheral surface of the protrusion 94. The cross-sectional shape of the key member 99 cut along a plane perpendicular to the up-down direction is not rotationally symmetrical about the center C1 of the protrusion 94. The position and shape of the key member 99 match the position and shape of the key groove 74 of the through-hole 72 to which the ink bottle 80 is to be connected. In other words, the position and shape of the key member 99 relative to the rear outer flat surface 94D differ for each of the four ink bottles 80 that store black, yellow, cyan, or magenta ink. Figure 7 shows the key member 99 of an ink bottle 80 that matches the leftmost through-hole 72 in the tank cover 110.

[0076] The annular rib 91 is located on the outer periphery of the upper surface of the bottom wall 92. The annular rib 91 is located outwardly from the protrusion 94 at a distance. The annular rib 91 protrudes upward from the upper surface of the bottom wall 92. The annular rib 91 extends in an annular shape along the outer periphery of the upper surface of the bottom wall 92. The annular rib 91 surrounds the outer periphery of the protrusion 94. As a result, an annular ink holding space 129 is formed, which is defined by the inner periphery of the annular rib 91, the outer periphery of the protrusion 94, and the upper surface of the bottom wall 92.

[0077] As shown in Figures 7 and 14, the rubber 83 is located in an opening 97A in the upper wall 97 of the protrusion 94. The rubber 83 is made of rubber. As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the rubber 83 has a base portion 86, an opening 95, and a bottle tube body 96. The base portion 86 has an oval shape with both front-to-rear ends arc-shaped and both left-to-right ends extending linearly along the front-to-rear direction. A groove 86A is located on the upper surface of the base portion 86. The groove 86A extends in an oval shape along the periphery of the base portion 86 and is recessed downward from the upper surface.

[0078] Specifically, the groove 86A has a right straight groove 171, a left straight groove 172, and a rear curved groove 173. The right straight groove 171 is located at the right end of the periphery of the base portion 86. The right straight groove 171 extends in the front-rear direction. The left straight groove 172 is located at the left end of the periphery of the base portion 86. The left straight groove 172 also extends in the front-rear direction. The left straight groove 172 and the right straight groove 171 face each other in the left-right direction, sandwiching the opening 95 and the bottle tube body 96 therebetween. The rear curved groove 173 is located at the rear end of the periphery of the base portion 86. The rear curved groove 173 is connected to the rear ends of the right straight groove 171 and the left straight groove 172. A protrusion 88 is fitted into the groove 86A. The right straight groove 171 and the left straight groove 172 receive outward force in the left-right direction from the protrusion 88. As a result, the base portion 86 is held in a state in which it is pulled outward in the left-right direction.

[0079] The groove 86A has an upwardly projecting protrusion 86B on the inside thereof. The protrusion 86B has an oval shape with both front-to-rear ends arc-shaped and both left-to-right ends linearly extending in the front-to-rear direction. The protrusion 86B is received in the opening 97A of the bottle cap 82.

[0080] The opening 95 is circular and passes through the protrusion 86B in the vertical direction, and connects the valve accommodating space 148 of the ink bottle 80 to the outside.

[0081] The bottle tube 96 has an opening 96A. The bottle tube 96 is located adjacent to and in front of the opening 95. The bottle tube 96 extends upward from the protrusion 86B. The bottle tube 96 is a cylinder that opens upward and downward, and its internal space connects the interior space of the ink bottle 80 to the outside.

[0082] The outer shape of the bottle tube 96 is a polygon that matches the shape of the communication port 119 of the ink tank 100. That is, the outer shape of the bottle tube 96 is circular at the front and rectangular at the rear. In other words, the outer shape of the bottle tube 96 is a rectangle with one front side bulging out in an arc. The cross section of the internal space of the bottle tube 96 is circular. Because the rear portion of the outer shape of the bottle tube 96 is rectangular, the thickness of the bottle tube 96 at the corners of the rectangle is thicker than the front portion of the bottle tube 96. This makes it difficult for the bottle tube 96 to deform backward. The bottle tube 96 is an example of a nozzle.

[0083] As shown in FIG. 8 , the opening 95 is located rearward of the center C1 of the protrusion 94. The outer peripheral surface of the protrusion 94 is not rotationally symmetrical about the center C2 of the opening 95. The opening 96A of the bottle pipe 96 is located forward of the center C1 of the protrusion 94. The opening 96A is adjacent to the front of the opening 95. The bottle pipe 96 extends upward from the opening 96A. The distance between the openings 96A and 95 in the front-to-rear direction is less than half the inner diameter of the opening 96A. The outer peripheral surface of the protrusion 94 is not rotationally symmetrical about the center C3 of the opening 96A. The opening 95 is an example of an air inlet. The opening 96A is an example of a liquid supply port.

[0084] As shown in FIG. 10 , lips 108 and 109 are located on the underside of the base portion 86. The lips 108 and 109 are elastically deformable protrusions that constitute a hermetic seal. The lip 108 extends downward in the up-down direction from the underside of the base portion 86. The lip 108 is annular, with a first length in the front-to-rear direction longer than a second length in the left-to-right direction. Specifically, the lip 108 has an oval shape with both ends in the front-to-rear direction being arc-shaped and both ends in the left-to-right direction being linearly extended in the front-to-rear direction. The openings 95 and 96A are located inside the lip 108. In other words, the lip 108 is located around the openings 95 and 96A. The lip 108 elastically deforms by contacting the valve 161 along its entire circumference, forming a liquid-tight seal with the valve 161.

[0085] The lip 109 extends downward in the vertical direction from the lower surface of the protrusion 86B at the periphery of the opening 96A. The lip 109 is located inside the lip 108. The lip 109 is circular. The lower end of the lip 109 is located higher than the lower end of the lip 108. The lip 109 elastically deforms when it comes into contact with the valve 161, forming a liquid-tight seal with the valve 161.

[0086] 11, 12, and 14, the support member 84 is located in the valve accommodating space 148. The support member 84 has an upper portion 121, a flange 126, and a lower portion 123. Note that a support member 245, which will be described later, is omitted from FIG.

[0087] The upper portion 121 is an oval-shaped cylinder. The upper portion 121 is press-fitted onto the inner circumferential surface of the protrusion 94 of the bottle cap 82. This fixes the support member 84 to the inner surface of the bottle cap 82. The upper end surface 121A of the upper portion 121 abuts against the lower surface of the rubber 83 outside the lip 108. The shape of the upper end surface 121A is generally the same as the outer shape of the base portion 86 of the rubber 83. The shape of the upper end surface 121A is also generally the same as the oval shape of the lip 108. The rubber 83 is sandwiched vertically between the upper wall 97 of the protrusion 94 of the bottle cap 82 and the upper portion 121 of the support member 84. The lip 108 of the rubber 83 is located inside the upper portion 121 and abuts against the upper portion 121. In other words, the upper portion 121 abuts against the outer side of the lip 108.

[0088] The inner peripheral surface of the upper portion 121 has a front inner curved surface 121B that bulges forward, a left inner flat surface 121C that connects to the left end of the front inner curved surface 121B, a right inner flat surface 121D that connects to the right end of the front inner curved surface 121B, and a rear inner curved surface 121E that bulges rearward. The rear inner curved surface 121E connects the rear end of the left inner flat surface 121C with the rear end of the right inner flat surface 121D. The rear inner curved surface 121E is inclined with respect to the up-down direction so that it extends rearward as it extends downward. As a result, the internal space of the upper portion 121 expands rearward as it extends downward.

[0089] The upper portion 121 has four left protrusions 45A, 45B, 45C, and 45D and four right protrusions 46A, 46B, 46C, and 46D. The four left protrusions 45A, 45B, 45C, and 45D are located on the left inner plane 121C. The four left protrusions 45A, 45B, 45C, and 45D are spaced apart in the front-to-rear direction. Each of the left protrusions 45A, 45B, 45C, and 45D extends vertically from the upper end to the lower end of the upper portion 121. Each of the left protrusions 45A, 45B, 45C, and 45D has a rectangular prism shape. Each of the left protrusions 45A, 45B, 45C, and 45D has a front surface 451 facing forward, a rear surface 452 facing rearward, and a right surface 453 facing rightward.

[0090] The four right protrusions 46A, 46B, 46C, and 46D are located on the right inner plane 121D. The four right protrusions 46A, 46B, 46C, and 46D are spaced apart in the front-to-rear direction. Each of the right protrusions 46A, 46B, 46C, and 46D extends vertically from the upper end to the lower end of the upper portion 121. Each of the right protrusions 46A, 46B, 46C, and 46D has a rectangular prism shape. Each of the right protrusions 46A, 46B, 46C, and 46D has a front surface 461 facing forward, a rear surface 462 facing rearward, and a left surface 463 facing leftward.

[0091] The flange 126 is a circular plate extending outward from the lower end of the outer circumferential surface of the upper portion 121. The flange 126 does not protrude into the internal space of the upper portion 121. The outer diameter of the flange 126 is larger than the opening 87 of the bottle body 81 and smaller than the inner diameter of the side wall 93 of the bottle cap 82. The flange 126 abuts against the upper surface of the opening 87 of the bottle body 81 and is sandwiched vertically between the opening 87 and the bottom wall 92 of the bottle cap 82. The upper portion 121 of the support member 84 is press-fitted into the inner circumferential surface of the protrusion 94 of the bottle cap 82, and the flange 126 of the support member 84 is sandwiched between the upper surface of the opening 87 of the bottle body 81 and the bottom wall 92 of the bottle cap 82, so that the support member 84 is fixed to the bottle body 81 and the bottle cap 82.

[0092] The lower portion 123 has a cylindrical shape and extends downward from the flange 126. The outer diameter of the lower portion 123 is smaller than the inner diameter of the side wall 93 of the bottle cap 82. The outer diameter of the lower portion 123 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the opening 87 of the bottle body 81.

[0093] 13, 14, and 18, the valve 161 is located in the valve accommodating space 148. The valve 161 has a flat portion 162, a front support wall 168, a rear support wall 169, four guide portions 167A, 167B, 167C, and 167D, a protrusion 163, and a spring seat 164.

[0094] The flat portion 162 can be located inside the upper portion 121 of the support member 84. With the flat portion 162 located inside the upper portion 121 of the support member 84, the valve 161 can be moved in the up and down direction while being guided by the support member 84. The up and down direction is an example of a movement direction.

[0095] The planar portion 162 has a flat plate shape that extends in the front-to-rear and left-to-right directions. The outer peripheral surface of the planar portion 162 is oval-shaped. Specifically, the outer peripheral surface of the planar portion 162 has a front outer curved surface 162B that bulges forward, a left outer flat surface 162C that faces left, a right outer flat surface 162D that faces right, and a rear outer curved surface 162E that bulges rearward. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 17 , the left outer flat surface 162C of the planar portion 162 abuts against the right surfaces 453 of the four left protruding portions 45A, 45B, 45C, and 45D. The right outer flat surface 162D of the planar portion 162 abuts against the left surfaces 463 of the four right protruding portions 46A, 46B, 46C, and 46D. The upper surface 162A of the planar portion 162 is flat. The central axis B3 passing through the center of the flat portion 162 is offset forward with respect to the central axis B2 of the opening 87. The central axis B3 passing through the center of the flat portion 162 is offset forward with respect to the central axis B1 of the protrusion 94.

[0096] The front support wall 168 extends downward from the front end of the planar portion 162. The front support wall 168 is generally flat and expands in the vertical and horizontal directions. The front surface of the front support wall 168 is a curved surface that bulges forward along the front inner curved surface 121B of the support member 84. The front surface of the front support wall 168 is flush with the front outer curved surface 162B of the planar portion 162. The front support wall 168 has a front recess 168A that recesses upward from the lower end of the front support wall 168. The front recess 168A has a front guide surface 175 that is inclined relative to the vertical direction so as to extend leftward as it extends upward from the right end of the lower end of the front support wall 168. The left end of the front guide surface 175 is located to the left of the center of the front support wall 168 in the horizontal direction. The left end of the front guide surface 175 is located approximately in the center of the front support wall 168 in the vertical direction.

[0097] The rear support wall 169 extends downward from the rear end of the flat portion 162. The rear support wall 169 has a generally flat plate shape that expands in the up-down and left-right directions. The rear surface of the rear support wall 169 is a curved surface that bulges rearward along the rear inner curved surface 121E of the support member 84. The rear surface of the rear support wall 169 is flush with the rear outer curved surface 162E of the flat portion 162. The rear support wall 169 has a rear recess 169A that recesses upward from the lower end of the rear support wall 169. The rear recess 169A has a rear guide surface 176 that is inclined relative to the up-down direction so as to extend rightward from the left end of the lower end of the rear support wall 169. The right end of the rear guide surface 176 is located to the right of the center of the rear support wall 169 in the left-right direction. The right end of the rear guide surface 176 is located approximately in the center of the rear support wall 169 in the up-down direction.

[0098] As shown in Figures 13, 17, and 18, four guide portions 167A, 167B, 167C, and 167D protrude from the outer peripheral surface of the flat portion 162. The guide portion 167A extends downward in the vertical direction from the front end of the left outer flat surface 162C on the outer peripheral surface of the flat portion 162 to the lower end of the front support wall 168. The guide portion 167A abuts against the front surface 451 of the left protruding portion 45A. The guide portion 167B extends downward in the vertical direction from the rear end of the left outer flat surface 162C on the outer peripheral surface of the flat portion 162 to the lower end of the rear support wall 169. The guide portion 167B abuts against the rear surface 452 of the left protruding portion 45D. The guide portion 167C extends downward in the vertical direction from the front end of the right outer flat surface 162D on the outer peripheral surface of the flat portion 162 to the lower end of the front support wall 168. The guide portion 167C abuts against the front surface 461 of the right protruding portion 46A. The guide portion 167D extends downward in the up-down direction from the rear end of the right outer flat surface 162D on the outer circumferential surface of the flat portion 162 to the lower end of the rear support wall 169. The guide portion 167D abuts against the rear surface 462 of the right protruding portion 46D.

[0099] Protrusion 163 is located inward from the outer peripheral surface of flat portion 162. Top surface 162A is located around protrusion 163. Protrusion 163 protrudes upward from top surface 162A toward openings 95 and 96A, and has an upwardly tapered shape such that the area of ​​its cross section in the front-to-rear and left-to-right directions gradually decreases. Protrusion 163 has top surface 163A, side surfaces 163B, and a curved surface 163C.

[0100] The upper surface 163A of the protrusion 163 is smaller than the upper surface 162A of the flat portion 162. The upper surface 163A has an oval shape similar to the outer shape of the lip 108 of the rubber 83. The outer shape of the upper surface 163A is smaller than the outer shape of the inner surface of the lip 108. The upper surface 163A can abut against the lip 109 of the rubber 83. The side surface 163B extends downward from the outer edge of the upper surface 163A. The curved surface 163C connects the lower end of the side surface 163B to the upper surface 162A of the flat portion 162. The curved surface 163C faces diagonally upward and is concave downward. The protrusion 163 can be located inside the lip 108 of the rubber 83. The curved surface 163C can abut against the lip 108 of the rubber 83. With the curved surface 163C in contact with the lip 108, the upper surface 163A can come into contact with the lip 109 of the rubber 83.

[0101] The spring seat 164 is located on the lower surface of the flat portion 162. A coil spring 165 that is expandable and contractible in the vertical direction is disposed on the spring seat 164. The upper end of the coil spring 165 abuts against the lower surface of the flat portion 162. The coil spring 165 biases the valve 161 upward. The coil spring 165 is an example of a first spring. The coil spring 165 is an example of an elastic member.

[0102] The valve 161 is movable in the vertical direction between a closed position and an open position. The movement of the valve 161 between the closed position and the open position is guided by the support member 84. As shown in FIG. 14 , when the valve 161 is in the closed position, the lip 108 abuts against the curved surface 163C of the protrusion 163. This prevents ink from entering the inside of the lip 108 of the rubber 83. Furthermore, in the closed position, the protrusion 163 is located inside the lip 108, preventing the lip 108 from collapsing inward. Note that the upper portion 121 of the support member 84 is located outside the lip 108, preventing the lip 108 from collapsing outward.

[0103] 15, the open position is the position where the valve 161 has moved downward against the biasing force of the coil spring 165. When the valve 161 is in the open position, the protrusion 163 of the valve 161 is positioned below the lower end of the lip 108 of the rubber 83. Therefore, the upper surface 163A of the protrusion 163 is separated from the lip 109, and the curved surface 163C of the protrusion 163 is separated from the lip 108.

[0104] 17 , when the valve 161 and the support member 84 are in the open position, they define an air flow path 233 and an ink flow path 415. The air flow path 233 is defined by the rear inner curved surface 121E, left inner flat surface 121C, and right inner flat surface 121D of the support member 84, the rear outer curved surface 162E of the flat portion 162, and the rear surface of the rear support wall 169. The air flow path 233 communicates with the ink storage chamber 147 and the opening 95. Because the protrusion 163 is located on the upper end surface 121A of the flat portion 162, the air flow path 233 is wider in the front-to-rear direction at the position of the protrusion 163 than at the positions of the flat portion 162 and the rear support wall 169.

[0105] The ink flow path 415 has a left ink flow path 415A and a right ink flow path 415B. The left ink flow path 415A is defined by the left outer flat surface 162C of the flat portion 162 and the four left protrusions 45A, 45B, 45C, and 45D. In other words, three left ink flow paths 415A are provided to the left of the valve 161 and spaced apart in the front-to-rear direction. The right ink flow paths 415B are defined by the right outer flat surface 162D of the flat portion 162 and the four right protrusions 46A, 46B, 46C, and 46D. In other words, three right ink flow paths 415B are provided to the right of the valve 161 and spaced apart in the front-to-rear direction. The left ink flow path 415A and the right ink flow path 415B communicate between the ink storage chamber 147 and the opening 96A. The left ink flow path 415A and the right ink flow path 415B are wider in the left-right direction at the position of the protrusion 163 than at the position of the flat portion 162 because the protrusion 163 is located on the upper end surface 121A of the flat portion 162.

[0106] The air flow path 233 is larger than the ink flow paths 415. Specifically, the area S3 of the air flow path 233 is larger than the area S4 obtained by summing the areas of the left ink flow path 415A and the right ink flow path 415B. The area S3 is the area of ​​the air flow path 233 when the air flow path 233 is cut along a horizontal plane including the flat portion 162 in the open position. The area S4 is the sum of the areas of the left ink flow path 415A and the right ink flow path 415B when the left ink flow path 415A and the right ink flow path 415B are cut along a horizontal plane including the flat portion 162 in the open position.

[0107] 11 , 14 , and 19 , the switching mechanism 145 is located below the support member 84 in the valve accommodating space 148. The switching mechanism 145 switches the biasing force of the coil spring 165 biasing the valve 161 between a first biasing force and a second biasing force. The second biasing force is weaker than the first biasing force. Specifically, the switching mechanism 145 has a support member 245 and a spring seat 125 supported by the support member 245.

[0108] The support member 245 is a generally cylindrical tubular body that extends in the vertical direction from the internal space of the lower portion 123 of the support member 84 to a position below the lower portion 123. The upper end of the support member 245 is connected to the lower end of the upper portion 121 of the support member 84. Because the support member 84 is fixed to the bottle body 81 and the bottle cap 82, the support member 245 connected to the support member 84 is also fixed to the bottle body 81 and the bottle cap 82. The support member 245 has a front abutment surface 246, a rear abutment surface 247, a front guide slit 248, a rear guide slit 249, and a lower abutment surface 250.

[0109] The front abutment surface 246 is located at the front end of the support member 245. The front abutment surface 246 is located above the center of the support member 245 in the up-down direction. The front abutment surface 246 is an upward-facing surface formed by penetrating the front end of the support member 245 in the front-to-rear direction. The front abutment surface 246 is inclined in the left-to-right direction so as to extend upward as it goes to the left. The front abutment surface 246 is an example of a first retaining portion.

[0110] The rear abutment surface 247 is located at the rear end of the support member 245. The rear abutment surface 247 coincides with the front abutment surface 246 in the up-down direction. It is an upward-facing surface formed by penetrating the rear end of the support member 245 in the front-to-rear direction. The rear abutment surface 247 is inclined in the left-to-right direction so as to extend upward toward the right. The rear abutment surface 247 is an example of a fifth retaining portion.

[0111] The front guide slit 248 extends downward from a position on the front abutment surface 246 adjacent to the left of the central axis B4 of the support member 245. The central axis B4 of the support member 245 coincides with the central axis B3 of the valve 161. The front guide slit 248 is a gap formed by penetrating the front end of the support member 245 in the front-to-rear direction. A lower end 248A of the front guide slit 248 is located below the center of the support member 245 in the up-down direction. The front guide slit 248 is an example of a first guide slit.

[0112] The rear guide slit 249 extends downward from a position adjacent to the left of the rear contact surface 247 around the central axis B4. The rear guide slit 249 is a gap formed by penetrating the rear end of the support member 245 in the front-to-rear direction. The lower end of the rear guide slit 249 is located below the center of the support member 245 in the up-down direction. The rear guide slit 249 is an example of a second guide slit.

[0113] The lower abutment surface 250 is located below a lower end 248A of the front guide slit 248 and a lower end 249A of the rear guide slit 249. The lower abutment surface 250 is an upward surface that protrudes inward in an annular shape from the inner circumferential surface 245A of the support member 245. The lower abutment surface 250 is an example of a second retaining portion.

[0114] The spring seat 125 is located in the internal space of the support member 245. The spring seat 125 is supported by an inner peripheral surface 245A of the support member 245 so as to be movable in the vertical direction and rotatable about a central axis B4. The spring seat 125 has a support body 411, a front guide piece 412, a rear guide piece 413, a columnar portion 414, and four protruding pieces 417. The spring seat 125 is an example of a first spring seat.

[0115] The support 411 is annular. The outer peripheral surface of the support 411 fits into the inner peripheral surface 245A of the support member 245. The outer diameter of the support 411 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the support member 245. This allows the support 411 to move vertically within the internal space of the support member 245 and to rotate around the central axis B4. Four protruding pieces 417 are located on the inner peripheral surface of the support 411. The four protruding pieces 417 are positioned at equal intervals around the circumference of the support 411. Each protruding piece 417 protrudes upward from the upper surface 411A of the support 411. With each protruding piece 417 abutting the inside of the coil spring 165, the lower end of the coil spring 165 abuts against the upper surface 411A of the support 411. This allows the support 411 to support the lower end of the coil spring 165. The spring seat 125 is prevented from slipping out of the internal space of the support member 245 by the lower surface 411B of the support body 411 abutting against the lower abutment surface 250. When the lower surface 411B of the support body 411 abuts against the lower abutment surface 250, the coil spring 165 biases the valve 161 to the closed position with a second biasing force. The position where the lower surface 411B of the support body 411 abuts against the lower abutment surface 250 is an example of a second support position.

[0116] As shown in Figures 20 and 21 , the front guide piece 412 protrudes forward from the front end of the outer circumferential surface of the support body 411. The front guide piece 412 is flat and extends in the front-rear and left-right directions. The front guide piece 412 is rotatable about the central axis B4 between a position where it abuts against the front contact surface 246 and a position where it faces the front guide slit 248 in the vertical direction. When the front guide piece 412 abuts against the front contact surface 246, it faces the right end of the front guide surface 175 of the valve 161 in the vertical direction. When the front guide piece 412 abuts against the front contact surface 246, the coil spring 165 is compressed in the vertical direction more than when the lower surface 411B of the support body 411 abuts against the lower contact surface 250, thereby biasing the valve 161 to the closed position with a first biasing force that is stronger than the second biasing force. The position where the front guide piece 412 abuts against the front abutment surface 246 is an example of a first support position.

[0117] The front guide piece 412 is movable up and down in the front guide slit 248. The front guide piece 412 is movable downward from the upper end of the front guide slit 248 to a position where the lower surface 411B of the support body 411 abuts against the lower abutment surface 250. The lower surface of the front guide piece 412 is located slightly above the lower end 248A of the front guide slit 248 when the lower surface 411B of the support body 411 abuts against the lower abutment surface 250. The front guide piece 412 is an example of a first guide piece.

[0118] The rear guide piece 413 is positioned point-symmetrically to the front guide piece 412 with respect to the central axis B4. The rear guide piece 413 protrudes rearward from the rear end of the outer peripheral surface of the support body 411. The rear guide piece 413 is flat and extends in the front-rear and left-right directions. The rear guide piece 413 is rotatable around the central axis B4 between a position where it abuts against the rear contact surface 247 and a position where it faces the rear guide slit 249 in the vertical direction. When the rear guide piece 413 abuts against the rear contact surface 247, it faces the left end of the rear guide surface 176 of the valve 161 in the vertical direction. When the rear guide piece 413 abuts against the rear contact surface 247, the coil spring 165 is compressed vertically more than when the lower surface 411B of the support body 411 abuts against the lower contact surface 250, thereby biasing the valve 161 to the closed position with a first biasing force that is stronger than the second biasing force. The position where the rear guide piece 413 abuts against the rear abutment surface 247 is an example of a first support position.

[0119] The rear guide piece 413 is movable up and down in the rear guide slit 249. The rear guide piece 413 is movable downward from the upper end of the rear guide slit 249 to a position where the lower surface 411B of the support body 411 abuts against the lower abutment surface 250. The lower surface of the rear guide piece 413 is located slightly above the lower end of the rear guide slit 249 when the lower surface 411B of the support body 411 abuts against the lower abutment surface 250. The rear guide piece 413 is an example of a second guide piece.

[0120] The columnar portion 414 has a columnar shape that extends downward in the up-down direction from the lower surface 411B of the support body 411. As shown in FIG. 23 , the columnar portion 414 is movable in the up-down direction inside the lower abutment surface 250. As shown in FIGS. 15 and 22 , the columnar portion 414 protrudes significantly downward from the lower end of the support member 245 when the support body 411 abuts against the lower abutment surface 250. As shown in FIG. 14 , the lower end of the columnar portion 414 is aligned in the up-down direction with the lower end of the support member 245 when the front guide piece 412 abuts against the front abutment surface 246.

[0121] [Connection between ink bottle 80 and ink tank 100] In the initial state of the ink bottle 80, the front guide piece 412 abuts against the front abutment surface 246. The rear guide piece 413 abuts against the rear abutment surface 247. The coil spring 165 biases the valve 161 toward the closed position with a first biasing force.

[0122] The user first determines the color of ink in the ink bottle 80 by visually inspecting the ink in the ink bottle 80 directly from outside the main container 81A or by checking the color or color name indicated on a label or the like on the ink bottle 80. The user determines which color should be supplied to which ink chamber by checking the color or color name indicated on a label or the like on the front wall 101 of the ink tank 100 and the tank cover 110 at positions corresponding to each ink chamber 111. In this manner, the user determines which of the four through-holes 72 in the tank cover 110 the ink bottle 80 should be inserted into. Next, the user determines the orientation in which the protrusion 94 of the ink bottle 80 can be inserted into the through-hole 72 in the tank cover 110. At this time, the outer curved surface 94A and the rear outer flat surface 94D of the protrusion 94 are positioned to sandwich the opening 95 and the bottle tube body 96 in the front-rear direction, so the user can easily determine the orientation in which the protrusion 94 can be inserted into the through-hole 72.

[0123] For example, the user inserts the protrusion 94 into the through-hole 72 located farthest from the left. At this time, the key member 99 is inserted into the key groove 74 in the through-hole 72. Note that if the user mistakenly attempts to insert the protrusion 94 into the second through-hole 72 from the left, for example, the key member 99 will not enter the key groove 74, preventing the ink bottle 80 from being connected in the wrong position.

[0124] At the same time that the key member 99 is inserted into the key groove 74, the bottle pipe 96 is inserted into the communication port 119 of the ink tank 100, and the tank pipe 115 is inserted into the opening 95 of the ink bottle 80. At this time, the valve 161 is pressed diagonally upward and forward by the tank pipe 115, moving from the closed position to the open position against the biasing force of the coil spring 165. This connects the ink bottle 80 to the ink tank 100. At this time, the biasing force of the coil spring 165 acts on the ink bottle 80 with a force in a direction that pushes the protrusion 94 out of the through-hole 72. However, the frictional force generated between the rib 89 and the inner surface of the through-hole 72 prevents the protrusion 94 from being pushed out of the through-hole 72.

[0125] As the valve 161 moves from the closed position to the open position, the front guide surface 175 of the front recess 168A of the valve 161 abuts against the front guide piece 412 from above. At the same time, the rear guide surface 176 of the rear recess 169A of the valve 161 abuts against the rear guide piece 413. As the front recess 168A moves downward, it uses the inclination of the front guide surface 175 to press the front guide piece 412 leftward. As the rear recess 169A moves downward, it uses the inclination of the rear guide surface 176 to press the rear guide piece 413 rightward. This causes the spring seat 125 to rotate leftward about the central axis B4. As a result, the front guide piece 412 moves from a position held by the front abutment surface 246 to a position vertically facing the front guide slit 248. At the same time, the rear guide piece 413 moves from a position held by the rear contact surface 247 to a position vertically facing the rear guide slit 249. Then, the front guide piece 412 and the rear guide piece 413 move downward through the front guide slit 248 and the rear guide slit 249 due to gravity and the biasing force of the coil spring 165. That is, the spring seat 125 moves downward relative to the support member 245. The spring seat 125 stops when the lower surface 411B of the support body 411 contacts the lower contact surface 250. At this time, the front guide piece 412 does not contact the lower end 248A of the front guide slit 248, and therefore is prevented from being damaged by the impact when the support body 411 contacts the lower contact surface 250. At the same time, the rear guide piece 413 does not contact the lower end of the rear guide slit 249, and therefore is prevented from being damaged by the impact when the support body 411 contacts the lower contact surface 250. As described above, the spring seat 125 supporting the coil spring 165 moves downward relative to the support member 245, which is fixed to the bottle body 81 and the bottle cap 82, causing the coil spring 165 to expand. In other words, the biasing force with which the coil spring 165 biases the valve 161 to the closed position is switched from the first biasing force to the second biasing force. Note that, for example, at a collection site for used ink bottles 80 after the supply of ink to the ink tanks 100 has finished, an operator removes the bottle cap 82 from the bottle body 81, moves the spring seat 125 upward relative to the support member 245, and then rotates it clockwise about the central axis B4, thereby compressing the coil spring 165.That is, the biasing force of the coil spring 165 that biases the valve 161 to the closed position can be switched from the second biasing force to the first biasing force. Therefore, when a worker refills a collected used ink bottle 80 with ink and reuses the ink bottle 80, the worker can prevent ink from leaking from the ink bottle 80 during transportation of the ink bottle 80 to the user, for example.

[0126] As shown in FIG. 16 , when the ink bottle 80 is connected to the ink tank 100, the bottle pipe 96 is positioned below the tank pipe 115. The tip of the bottle pipe 96 is aligned with the upper line 181A in the vertical direction. The bifurcated base end 115A of the tank pipe 115 is aligned with the tip 108A of the lip 108 in the extension direction of the tank pipe 115. The air flow path 233 is positioned above the left ink flow path 415A and the right ink flow path 415B. The outer curved surface 94A on the outer peripheral surface of the protrusion 94 is supported by the curved surface at the front end of the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole 72. The direction connecting the upper and lower gaps at the tip of the tank pipe 115 is parallel to the extension direction of the right linear groove 171 and the left linear groove 172.

[0127] When the ink bottle 80 is connected to the ink tank 100, the ink stored in the ink bottle 80 flows into the ink chamber 111 through the internal space of the bottle pipe 96. As the ink flows, air enters the ink chamber 111 from the atmosphere communication port 112 and flows into the ink bottle 80 through the tank pipe 115. In this way, so-called gas-liquid substitution occurs, and ink from the ink bottle 80 is supplied to the ink chamber 111. When the ink level in the ink chamber 111 rises to the position of the upper line 181A, the ink supply automatically stops.

[0128] [Effects of the embodiment] In the ink bottle 80, a user can weaken the biasing force of the coil spring 165 by switching the biasing force with which the coil spring 165 biases the valve 161 from the first biasing force to the second biasing force. On the other hand, a user can strengthen the biasing force of the coil spring 165 by switching the biasing force with which the valve 161 biases the coil spring 165 from the second biasing force to the first biasing force. Therefore, for example, when transporting the multifunction device 10, a user can make it less likely for ink to leak from the opening 95 and the bottle tube 96 by switching the biasing force of the coil spring 165 from the second biasing force. On the other hand, when supplying ink, a user can make it easier to connect the ink bottle 80 to the ink tank 100, or make it less likely for the ink bottle 80 connected to the ink tank 100 to be pushed out by the biasing force of the coil spring 165 by switching the biasing force of the coil spring 165 from the first biasing force to the second biasing force. In this way, by switching the force that biases the valve 161 between the first force and the second force, the user can make it less likely for ink to leak from the opening 95 and the bottle tube body 96 before connecting to the ink tank 100, and can make it less likely for the connection to the ink tank 100 to be released when connecting to the ink tank 100.

[0129] In the ink bottle 80, the spring force of the coil spring 165 is switched from the first spring force to the second spring force in conjunction with the movement of the valve 161 from the closed position to the open position, so that the user can quickly supply ink from the ink bottle 80 to the ink tank 100.

[0130] In the ink bottle 80, the spring seat 125 moves from a position where the front guide piece 412 abuts against the front abutment surface 246 to a position where the support body 411 abuts against the lower abutment surface 250, thereby switching the biasing force of the coil spring 165 from the first biasing force to the second biasing force. Therefore, the biasing force of the coil spring 165 can be smoothly switched from the first biasing force to the second biasing force.

[0131] In the ink bottle 80, the support 411 of the spring seat 125 is supported by the inner peripheral surface 245A of the support member 245 so as to be movable up and down and rotatable about the central axis B4. Therefore, the spring seat 125 can move between a position where the front guide piece 412 abuts against the front abutment surface 246 and a position where the lower surface 411B of the support 411 abuts against the lower abutment surface 250 while maintaining a stable posture.

[0132] In the ink bottle 80, when the front guide piece 412 moves downward in the front guide slit 248 due to the biasing force of the coil spring 165, it stops when the support body 411 abuts against the lower abutment surface 250. This prevents the front guide piece 412 from being damaged by the impact when the support body 411 abuts against the lower abutment surface 250.

[0133] In ink bottle 80, rear guide piece 413 is located in a position point-symmetrical to front guide piece 412 with respect to central axis B4 of support body 411, so that spring seat 125 is held in a well-balanced manner by front guide piece 412 and rear guide piece 413 abutting against front abutment surface 246 and rear abutment surface 247. Therefore, front guide piece 412 and rear guide piece 413 rotate smoothly leftward about central axis B4 in conjunction with movement of valve 161 from the closed position to the open position.

[0134] In ink bottle 80, when valve 161 moves from the closed position to the open position, it is supported in the left-right and front-rear directions by the four left protrusions 45A, 45B, 45C, and 45D and the four right protrusions 46A, 46B, 46C, and 46D of support member 84. Therefore, when valve 161 moves from the closed position to the open position, it moves straight along central axis B3. As a result, spring seat 125 rotates smoothly leftward about central axis B4 in conjunction with the movement of valve 161.

[0135] In the ink bottle 80, the valve 161 closes two openings, opening 95 and opening 96A, in the closed position. Even with the configuration in which two openings are closed, it is possible to make it difficult for ink to leak from openings 95 and 96A except when the ink bottle 80 and ink tank 100 are being connected, and it is possible to make it difficult for the connection between the ink bottle 80 and ink tank 100 to be released when the ink bottle 80 and ink tank 100 are being connected.

[0136] In the ink bottle 80, when the tank tube 115 is inserted into the opening 95A, the tank tube 115 presses the valve 161 at a position shifted rearward from the central axis B3. However, since the valve 161 is supported by the support member 84, it moves straight along the central axis B3 when moving from the closed position to the open position.

[0137] In the ink bottle 80, the valve 161, coil spring 165, and switching mechanism 145 are attached to a bottle cap 82 that is detachable from the bottle body 81. Therefore, the cap unit in which the valve 161, coil spring 165, and switching mechanism 145 are attached to the bottle cap 82 can be removed from the bottle body 81 and reused.

[0138] When ink is poured from the ink bottle 80 through the communication port 119 of the ink tank 100, the biasing force of the coil spring 165 that biases the valve 161 to the closed position acts on the ink bottle 80 in a direction that pushes the protrusion 94 out of the through-hole 72 of the tank cover 110. However, the frictional force generated between the rib 89 and the inner surface of the through-hole 72 prevents the protrusion 94 from being pushed out of the through-hole 72.

[0139] [Variant Example] In the ink bottle 80, the spring seat 125 moves from a position where the front guide piece 412 abuts against the front abutment surface 246 and the rear guide piece 413 abuts against the rear abutment surface 247 to a position where the support body 411 abuts against the lower abutment surface 250, thereby switching the spring force of the coil spring 165 from the first spring force to the second spring force. However, as long as the spring force of the coil spring 165 can be switched from the first spring force to the second spring force, the switching mechanism 145 is not limited to a mechanism in which the spring seat 125 moves.

[0140] For example, as shown in FIG. 24 , the switching mechanism 145 may have an upper spring seat 611 and a lower spring seat 612 that support the coil spring 165. The upper spring seat 611 is located above the lower spring seat 612. The upper spring seat 611 is located at a first support position where the coil spring 165 biases the valve 161 to the closed position with a first biasing force. The upper spring seat 611 is detachably fixed to an upper holding part 613 that is fixed to the bottle body 81 or the bottle cap 82 in the valve accommodating space 148. The lower spring seat 612 is located at a second support position where the coil spring 165 biases the valve 161 to the closed position with a second biasing force. The lower spring seat 612 is fixed to a lower holding part 614 that is fixed to the bottle body 81 or the bottle cap 82 in the valve accommodating space 148.

[0141] In the modified example shown in Figure 24, when the valve 161 moves from the closed position to the open position, it presses the upper spring seat 611, causing the upper spring seat 611 to disengage from the upper retaining portion 613. This causes the coil spring 165 to expand and be supported by the lower spring seat 612. As a result, the biasing force of the coil spring 165 is switched from the first biasing force to the second biasing force. The upper spring seat 611 is an example of a second spring seat. The lower spring seat 612 is an example of a third spring seat 612. The upper retaining portion 613 is an example of a third retaining portion.

[0142] 25 , the switching mechanism 145 may include coil springs 165A and 165B, an upper spring seat 711, and a lower spring seat 712. The lower spring seat 712 is located below the upper spring seat 711. The lower spring seat 712 is located at a second support position where the coil spring 165B biases the valve 161 to the closed position with a second biasing force. The lower spring seat 712 is fixed to a lower holding portion 714 that is fixed in the valve accommodating space 148. The upper spring seat 711 is located at a first support position where the coil spring 165A is biased so that the total biasing force of the upper spring seat 711 and the second biasing force becomes a first biasing force. The upper spring seat 711 is detachably fixed to an upper holding portion 713 that is fixed in the valve accommodating space 148.

[0143] In the modified example shown in FIG. 25 , when the valve 161 moves from the closed position to the open position, it presses the upper spring seat 711, causing the upper spring seat 711 to disengage from the upper retaining portion 713. When the upper spring seat 711 disengages from the upper retaining portion 713, the coil spring 165A also disengages from the upper spring seat 711, and the valve 161 is biased to the closed position only by the coil spring 165B. As a result, the biasing force of the coil spring 165B is switched from the first biasing force to the second biasing force. Alternatively, a pressing member may be provided extending downward from the center of the left-right direction on the underside of the valve 161. When the valve 161 moves from the closed position to the open position, the pressing member presses the lower spring seat 712, causing the lower spring seat 712 to disengage from the lower retaining portion 714. As a result, the valve 161 is biased to the closed position only by the coil spring 165A.

[0144] As shown in FIG. 26 , the switching mechanism 145 may have a support portion 711, a first rubber portion 712, and two second rubber portions 713. The support portion 711 is fixed to the bottle body 81 or the bottle cap 82 in the valve accommodating space 148. The support portion 711 has a generally cylindrical shape extending in the vertical direction. The support portion 711 has two recesses recessed downward from the upper end of the support portion 711. The first rubber portion 712 is located in the internal space of the support portion 711. The first rubber portion 712 has a columnar portion 712A extending in the vertical direction and a press-fit portion 712B located at the lower end of the columnar portion 712A. The upper end of the columnar portion 712A abuts against the lower end of the valve 161. The thickness of the press-fit portion 712B in the left-right direction is greater than the thickness of the columnar portion 712A in the left-right direction. The press-fit portion 712B is press-fitted into the inner circumferential surface of the support portion 711. The left side of the support portion 711 is an example of a first support portion. The right side of the support portion 711 is an example of a second support portion. The first rubber 712 and the second rubber 713 are examples of elastic members. Note that the support portion 711 may be divided into left and right halves as long as the press-fit portion 712B can be press-fitted. The first rubber 712 biases the valve 161 toward the closed position with a biasing force whose sum, when combined with the second biasing force, becomes the first biasing force. The two second rubbers 713 are columnar and extend vertically. The two second rubbers 713 are supported at the lower ends of the two recesses so as to bias the valve 161 toward the closed position with the second biasing force. Note that only one second rubber 713 may be used as long as the second biasing force can bias the valve 161 toward the closed position. In this case, only one recess may be provided.

[0145] In the modified example shown in FIG. 26 , the valve 161, moving from the closed position to the open position, presses the first rubber 712 and the second rubber 713, compressing the first rubber 712 and the second rubber 713. Furthermore, as the valve 161 moves from the closed position to the open position, it presses the first rubber 712 and the second rubber 713, causing the first rubber 712 to be disengaged from the internal space of the support portion 711. Once the first rubber 712 is disengaged from the internal space of the support portion 711, the valve 161 is biased to the closed position only by the two second rubbers 713. As a result, the biasing force of the coil spring 165 is switched from the first biasing force to the second biasing force. When the ink bottle 80 and the ink tank 100 are subsequently disconnected, the valve 161 is moved to the closed position by the biasing forces of the two second rubbers 713. In this way, the only part that comes off from the internal space of support portion 711 is first rubber 712, so fewer parts fall off compared to the modification shown in Figure 25, in which only two parts, upper spring seat 711 and coil spring 165A, come off. For this reason, ink bottle 80 of the modification shown in Figure 26 is easier to reuse.

[0146] As shown in FIG. 27 , the switching mechanism 145 may have a large spring seat 811, a small spring seat 812, and a third coil spring 813. The large spring seat 811 is fixed to the bottle body 81 or the bottle cap 82 in the valve accommodating space 148. The large spring seat 811 is annular with a through hole extending vertically. The small spring seat 812 is press-fitted to the inner circumferential surface of the large spring seat 811. The third coil spring 813 is supported by the small spring seat 812 so as to bias the valve 161 to the closed position with a first biasing force. The third coil spring 813 has a large diameter spring 813A and a small diameter spring 813B. The large diameter spring 813A abuts against the lower end of the valve 161. The diameter of the large diameter spring 813A in the left-right direction is larger than the diameter of the small diameter spring 813B in the left-right direction. The length of the large diameter spring 813A in the left-right direction is greater than the length of the through hole of the large spring seat 811 in the left-right direction. The small diameter spring 813B is supported by the small spring seat 812.

[0147] In the modified example shown in FIG. 27 , the third coil spring 813 includes a large-diameter spring 813A and a small-diameter spring 813B. When the valve 161 is in the closed position, the lower end of the small-diameter spring 813B is supported by the small spring seat 812. The small-diameter spring 813B supported by the small spring seat 812 biases the valve 161 toward the closed position with a first biasing force. When the valve 161 moves from the closed position to the open position, it presses the third coil spring 813, compressing the small-diameter spring 813B. Furthermore, when the valve 161 moves from the closed position to the open position, it presses the third coil spring 813, causing the small spring seat 812 to disengage from the large spring seat 811. When the small spring seat 812 disengages from the large spring seat 811, the lower end of the large-diameter spring 813A is supported by the large spring seat 811. As a result, third coil spring 813 biases valve 161 toward the closed position with the second biasing force. In this way, only small spring seat 812 comes off large spring seat 811, so fewer parts fall off compared to the modified example shown in Figure 25, in which two parts, upper spring seat 711 and coil spring 165A, come off. For this reason, ink bottle 80 of the modified example shown in Figure 27 is easier to reuse.

[0148] In the ink bottle 80, the biasing force of the coil spring 165 is switched from the first biasing force to the second biasing force in conjunction with the movement of the valve 161 from the closed position to the open position, but the biasing force of the coil spring 165 may be switched from the first biasing force to the second biasing force by a user operation. For example, in the modified example shown in Figure 24, the user may switch the biasing force of the coil spring 165 from the first biasing force to the second biasing force by removing the bottle cap 82 from the bottle body 81 and then removing the upper spring seat 611 from the upper holding portion 613.

[0149] In the ink bottle 80, the spring seat 125 is supported on the inner surface 245A of the support member 245 so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction and around the central axis B4, but it does not have to be supported on the inner surface 245A as long as it can move from the position where the front guide piece 412 abuts against the front abutment surface 246 to the position where the support body 411 abuts against the lower abutment surface 250.

[0150] In the ink bottle 80, the rear guide piece 413 is provided at a position that is point-symmetrical to the front guide piece 412 with respect to the central axis B4 of the spring seat 125, but the position of the rear guide piece 413 does not have to be point-symmetrical to the front guide piece 412, and the rear guide piece 413 may also be omitted.

[0151] In the ink bottle 80, the support member 84 may be omitted if the valve 161 in the closed position can close the openings 95 and 96A and the valve 161 in the open position can define the air flow path 233.

[0152] In the ink bottle 80, the valve 161, the coil spring 165, and the switching mechanism 145 are attached to the bottle cap 82, but they may also be attached to the bottle body 81, for example.

[0153] In the ink bottle 80, the ribs 89 are provided on the left outer flat surface 94B and the right outer flat surface 94C of the protrusion 94, but the ribs 89 may be omitted.

[0154] The bottle pipe 96 may be omitted from the ink bottle 80. In this case, the ink tank 100 has an ink nozzle that defines an ink flow path through which ink flows. The ink nozzle is inserted into the opening 96A.

[0155] In the ink bottle 80 , the four through holes 72 are provided in the tank cover 110 , but they may also be provided in the ink tank 100 .

[0156] In the ink bottle 80, the coil spring 165 is used as the elastic member that biases the valve 161 to the closed position, but the elastic member does not have to be the coil spring 165 as long as it can bias the valve 161 to the closed position.

[0157] Although the bottle cap 82 is detachably attached to the opening 87, it may be configured to be non-detachable from the opening 87. Although the bottle cap 82 has a protrusion 94 that is eccentric with respect to the central axis B2 of the opening 87, the bottle cap 82 may not have a portion that is eccentric with respect to the central axis B2 of the opening 87. Furthermore, the bottle cap 82 may be integrally molded with the opening 87 of the main container 81A. In this case, there is no distinction between the bottle cap 82 and the opening 87. Even in such a configuration in which there is no distinction between the bottle cap 82 and the opening 87, the bottle cap 82 may or may not have a protrusion 94.

[0158] The number of openings opened and closed by valve 161 may be one. For example, opening 96A, bottle pipe 96, and communication port 119 may be omitted. In this case, tank pipe 115 inserted into opening 95 preferably defines two flow paths, an air flow path and an ink flow path. In this case, opening 95 is an example of a liquid supply port.

[0159] The bottle pipe 115 is connected to the communication port 119 at an angle along the extension direction, but for example, the communication port 119 may be provided on the upper wall 104 extending along the horizontal direction, and the ink bottle 80 may be connected to the communication port 119 downward along the vertical direction. In this case, the tank pipe 115 may extend upward.

[0160] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 72...Through hole (connection port) 80...Ink bottle (liquid container) 81...Bottle main body (main body) 82...Bottle cap (main body) 84...Support member (regulating portion) 87...Opening 89...Rib 94...Protrusion 95...Opening (air inlet) 96...Bottle tube body (nozzle) 96A...Opening (liquid supply port) 100...Ink tank (tank) 125...Spring seat (first spring seat) 145...Switching mechanism 147...Ink storage chamber (storage chamber) 161...Valve 165...Coil spring (first spring) 245...Support member 246...Front abutment surface (first holding portion) 247...Rear abutment surface (fifth holding portion) 248...Front guide slit (first guide slit) 249...Rear guide slit (second guide slit) 250...Lower abutment surface (second holding portion) 411...Support body 412: Front guide piece (first guide piece) 413: Rear guide piece (second guide piece) 711: Support portion (first support portion and second support portion) 712: First rubber 713: Second rubber

Claims

1. A liquid container comprising: a main body defining a storage chamber in which liquid is stored; a valve located within the main body and movable between a closed position and an open position; a liquid supply port communicating the storage chamber with the outside of the storage chamber in the direction of movement of the valve, the liquid supply port being closed when the valve is in the closed position and being open when the valve is in the open position; an elastic member that urges the valve to the closed position; and a switching mechanism that can switch the force with which the elastic member urges the valve between a first force and a second force that is weaker than the first force.

2. A liquid container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said switching mechanism switches said biasing force from said first biasing force to said second biasing force in conjunction with movement of said valve from said closed position to said open position.

3. A liquid container as described in claim 2, wherein the elastic member is a first spring that is expandable and contractible in the direction of movement, and the switching mechanism is a first spring seat that supports the first spring, and which moves from a first support position in which the first spring is supported by the first biasing force to a second support position in which the first spring exerts the second biasing force in conjunction with movement of the valve from the closed position to the open position.

4. A liquid container as set forth in claim 3, wherein said switching mechanism has a support member for supporting said first spring seat so as to be movable along said movement direction from said first support position to said second support position.

5. A liquid container as set forth in claim 4, wherein said support member supports said first spring seat so as to be movable along said movement direction from said second support position to said first support position.

6. A liquid container as described in claim 5, wherein the first spring seat has: a support body supporting the first spring; and a first guide piece protruding from the support body in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement, and the support member has: a support section supporting the first spring seat so as to be movable in the direction of movement and rotatable about a central axis along the direction of movement, a first holding section against which the first guide piece abuts and holds the first spring seat at the first support position, a second holding section against which the support body abuts and holds the first spring seat at the second support position, and a first guide slit extending along the direction of movement from a position adjacent to one side of the first holding section about the central axis toward the second holding section, and through which the first guide piece is movable along the direction of movement, and the first guide piece rotates in one direction about the central axis in conjunction with movement of the valve from the closed position to the open position and moves to the first guide slit.

7. A liquid container as described in claim 2, wherein the elastic member is a second spring that can expand and contract in the direction of movement, and the switching mechanism has: a second spring seat that supports the second spring, the second spring seat being located at a first support position where the second spring is supported by the first spring force; a third holding portion that holds the second spring seat at the first support position; and a third spring seat that is capable of supporting the second spring, the third spring seat being located at a second support position where the second spring is supported by the second spring force, and the second spring seat comes off the third holding portion in conjunction with movement of the valve from the closed position to the open position.

8. A liquid container as described in claim 2, wherein the elastic member has a first rubber and a second rubber, the switching mechanism has a first support portion and a second support portion positioned at a distance in a direction intersecting the movement direction, the first rubber is pressed between the first support portion and the second support portion so as to urge the valve toward the closed position with a force whose total force together with the second force is a first force, the second rubber is supported by at least one of the first support portion and the second support portion so as to urge the valve toward the closed position with the second force, and the first rubber comes out from between the first support portion and the second support portion in conjunction with movement of the valve from the closed position to the open position.

9. A liquid container as described in claim 2, wherein the elastic member has a third spring and a fourth spring which are expandable and contractible in the direction of movement, and the switching mechanism has: a fourth spring seat supporting the third spring, the fourth spring seat being located at a first support position which supports the third spring so that the sum of the biasing force and the second biasing force becomes the first biasing force; a fourth holding portion which holds the fourth spring seat at the first support position; and a fifth spring seat supporting the fourth spring, the fifth spring seat being located at the second support position which supports the fourth spring with the second biasing force, and the fourth spring seat comes off the fourth holding portion in conjunction with movement of the valve from the closed position to the open position.

10. A liquid container as described in claim 6, wherein the first spring seat protrudes from the support in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement and has a second guide piece at a position that is point-symmetrical to the first guide piece with respect to a central axis along the direction of movement of the first spring seat, the support member has a fifth retaining portion against which the second guide piece abuts to retain the first spring seat at the first support position, and a second guide slit extending along the direction of movement from a position adjacent to one side of the fifth retaining portion around the central axis toward the second retaining portion, and through which the second guide piece can move along the direction of movement, the second guide piece rotates in one direction about the central axis in conjunction with movement of the valve from the closed position to the open position, and moves to the second guide slit.

11. A liquid container as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a cylindrical support member positioned between said valve and an inner surface of said body, said support member guiding movement of said valve between said closed position and said open position.

12. A liquid container as described in claim 1, wherein the main body has an air inlet that connects the storage chamber with the outside of the storage chamber along the movement direction, and the valve closes the air inlet and the liquid supply port.

13. The liquid container according to claim 12, further comprising a nozzle protruding from said liquid supply port along said movement direction.

14. A liquid container as described in claim 1, wherein the main body comprises: a bottle body having an opening which defines the open end of the storage chamber; and a bottle cap in which the liquid supply port is located and which is detachable from the opening, and the valve, the elastic member and the switching mechanism are attached to the bottle cap.

15. A liquid container as described in claim 14, wherein the bottle cap has an air inlet and a liquid supply port that connect the storage chamber with the outside of the storage chamber along the direction of movement, and has a protrusion that can be inserted into a connection port arranged opposite a liquid inlet provided in a tank to which the liquid container is connected, and the protrusion has a rib that protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the protrusion and contacts the inner surface of the connection port.