Liquid container and system

Abstract

Provided are a liquid container and a system in which gas-liquid substitution occurs smoothly.　An ink bottle 80 comprises: an ink chamber 89 for storing ink; a first flow path 107 extending from the ink chamber 89 to the outside; and an opening 95 for communicating the ink chamber 89 with the outside. A lower end 107L of the first flow path 107 is opened to the ink chamber 89. An upper end 107U of the first flow path 107 is opened to the outside. A lower end 95L of the opening 95 is opened to the ink chamber 89. An upper end 95U of the opening 95 is opened to the outside. In a first outflow direction in which the ink flows in the first flow path 107 from the lower end 107L toward the upper end 107U, the upper end 107U is located downstream of the upper end 95U of the opening 95.

Description

Liquid containers and systems

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a liquid container for storing a liquid, and a system including the liquid container and a liquid tank for storing the liquid from the liquid container.

[0002] An ink container and an ink tank are disclosed. When the ink container is connected to the ink tank, ink flows from the ink container to the ink tank through the ink flow path, and air flows from the ink tank to the ink container through the gas flow path.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-189445

[0004] If the opening of the ink flow path and the opening of the gas flow path are close to each other in the ink container or the ink tank, there is a risk that ink flowing out of the ink flow path may enter the gas flow path, or that gas flowing out of the gas flow path may enter the ink flow path, which may result in a decrease in the speed at which ink flows from the ink container to the ink tank, and may require a long time to replenish the ink.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide an ink container and a system in which gas-liquid substitution occurs smoothly.

[0006] A liquid container according to the present disclosure includes a liquid chamber that stores a recording liquid, a first flow path that extends in a first direction from the liquid chamber toward the outside, and a first communication portion that communicates the liquid chamber with the outside and is aligned with the first flow path in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. A first end of the first flow path in the first direction opens into the liquid chamber. A second end of the first flow path in the first direction opens to the outside. A third end of the first communication portion in the first direction opens into the liquid chamber. A fourth end of the first communication portion in the first direction opens to the outside. In a first outflow direction in which fluid flows through the first flow path from the first end to the second end, the second end is located downstream of the fourth end.

[0007] Liquid in the liquid chamber flows into the first flow path from the first end and flows out to the outside from the second end. Outside air flows into the first communication portion from the fourth end and into the liquid chamber from the third end. This causes gas-liquid exchange between the liquid chamber and the outside. Because the second end is located downstream of the fourth end, liquid that flows out to the outside from the second end of the first flow path is less likely to enter the first communication portion from the fourth end.

[0008] The liquid container may further include a valve located in the liquid chamber and movable between a closed position that closes the first flow path and the first communication portion and an open position that opens the first flow path and the first communication portion.

[0009] The valve can prevent the recording liquid from leaking from the liquid container.

[0010] The liquid container may further include a resilient member that biases the valve toward the closed position.

[0011] The valve is prevented from moving unexpectedly from a closed position to an open position.

[0012] The diameter of the first flow path may be smaller than the diameter of the first communication portion.

[0013] The present disclosure relates to a system including a liquid container and a liquid tank that stores recording liquid supplied from the liquid container. The liquid container includes a first nozzle having the first flow path. The liquid tank includes a second nozzle having a second flow path extending in a third direction, and a second communication portion that connects the interior space of the liquid tank with the outside and is aligned with the second flow path in a fourth direction perpendicular to the third direction. When the liquid container and the liquid tank are connected, the second nozzle is inserted into the first communication portion, and the valve moves from the closed position to the open position as the second nozzle abuts against it. The diameter of the first flow path is smaller than the diameter of the second communication portion.

[0014] In the connected state, liquid in the liquid chamber flows into the first flow path from the first end and flows out to the liquid tank from the second end, and air in the liquid tank flows into the liquid chamber through the second flow path, resulting in gas-liquid exchange between the liquid chamber and the liquid tank.

[0015] The diameter of the second communication portion may be larger than the outer diameter of the first nozzle.

[0016] The first nozzle is insertable into the second communication portion.

[0017] A fifth end of the second flow path in the third direction opens into the internal space of the liquid tank, and a sixth end of the second flow path in the third direction opens to the outside, and in the connected state, the second nozzle is inserted into the first communicating portion, and in a second outflow direction in which fluid flows through the second flow path toward the outside, the sixth end of the second flow path may be located downstream of the first end.

[0018] Since the sixth end is located downstream of the first end, air that flows out from the sixth end of the second flow path into the liquid chamber is less likely to enter the first flow path from the first end.

[0019] In the connected state, the second end may be at a different position from the fifth end in the first direction.

[0020] The liquid that flows out from the second end of the first flow path into the internal space of the liquid tank is unlikely to enter the second flow path from the fifth end.

[0021] The first nozzle may be a molded product made of synthetic resin.

[0022] The valve is easier to move because it is stronger than the rubber first nozzle. Also, the outer shape of the first nozzle and the inner shape of the second communicating portion can be precisely matched.

[0023] The third direction may intersect with the direction of gravity, and the tip of the second nozzle may have a bifurcated shape with a recessed groove extending in a fourth direction.

[0024] When the second nozzle is inserted into the first communicating part, the recessed groove is located in a region of the inner circumferential surface of the first communicating part near the first nozzle, so that the outer circumferential surface of the second nozzle does not come into contact with this region, thereby preventing the outer circumferential surface of the second nozzle from sliding along the inner circumferential surface of the first communicating part and causing the components constituting the first communicating part to become misaligned.

[0025] The liquid container may include a base portion having the first communication portion and a sealing member having the first nozzle, and the base portion may have an oval shape that is long in the second direction.

[0026] The sealing member has a lip extending from the base portion in a direction opposite to the first direction, and the lip is oval-shaped so as to surround the first end and the third end, and may abut liquid-tightly against the valve around its entire circumference.

[0027] This more reliably prevents the liquid in the liquid chamber from leaking to the outside through the first end and the third end.

[0028] The liquid container comprises a main body having a wall that defines the liquid chamber and an opening that connects the liquid chamber to the outside, and a cylindrical support member located on the opposite side of the base portion from the first nozzle and fixed to the liquid chamber, and one end of the support member may sandwich the base portion between itself and the wall.

[0029] This further prevents the seal member from shifting in the direction in which the second nozzle is inserted into the first communicating portion.

[0030] The third direction may be a direction intersecting the direction of gravity and the horizontal direction.

[0031] The liquid container may have a hole portion surrounding the second nozzle and the second communicating portion, and the liquid container may have a key portion that fits into the hole portion in the connected state, and the second direction in the connected state may have a vertical component.

[0032] The key portion determines the orientation of the liquid container in the connected state. In the connected state, the first flow path and the second flow path are aligned in the direction of gravity, so that gas-liquid exchange occurs smoothly.

[0033] In the connected state, the first flow path may be located below the second flow path.

[0034] The liquid container may have a mouth portion that connects the liquid chamber to the outside, and in the connected state, the center of the first flow path may be located below the center of the mouth portion.

[0035] The amount of liquid remaining in the liquid chamber without flowing out through the first flow path is reduced.

[0036] The outer shape of the first nozzle and the shape of the second communication portion may be similar to each other.

[0037] This makes it easy for the user to recognize the orientation of the liquid container that can be connected to the liquid tank.

[0038] The inner surface of the first nozzle may be circular.

[0039] Compared to when the inner surface of the first nozzle is polygonal, the liquid in the liquid chamber is less likely to leak to the outside through the first nozzle. When the outer shape of the first nozzle is polygonal, the thickness of the corners is increased, thereby improving the strength of the first nozzle.

[0040] The first communication portion may have a flow path extending in the first direction.

[0041] The first flow path and the flow path of the first communication portion may be separated by a partition wall.

[0042] The liquid container may be provided with a first nozzle having the first flow path, the first communicating portion having a nozzle shape extending in the first direction, and the first nozzle and the first communicating portion may be spaced apart in the second direction.

[0043] According to the present disclosure, a liquid container and system are realized in which gas-liquid exchange occurs smoothly.

[0044] 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 ink tanks 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. FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the ink bottle 80. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the outer shape 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(A) is a schematic diagram showing an ink bottle 300 and an ink tank 310 according to Modification 1, and Fig. 17(B) is a schematic diagram showing the ink bottle 300 and the ink tank 310 in a connected state. Fig. 18(A) is a schematic diagram showing an ink bottle 300 and an ink tank 310 according to Modification 2, and Fig. 18(B) is a schematic diagram showing the ink bottle 300 and the ink tank 310 in a connected state. Fig. 19(A) is a schematic diagram showing an ink bottle 80 and an ink tank 100 according to Modification 3, and Fig. 19(B) is a schematic diagram showing the ink bottle 80 and the ink tank 100 in a connected state. Fig. 20(A) is a schematic diagram showing an ink bottle 320 and an ink tank 100 according to Modification 4, and Fig. 20(B) is a schematic diagram showing the ink bottle 320 and the ink tank 100 in a connected state.

[0045] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described. Note that the embodiments described below are merely examples of the present disclosure, and it goes without saying that the embodiments of the present disclosure can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. In the following description, the direction of a single arrow is expressed as the direction from the starting point to the end point, and the direction of a double arrow is expressed as the direction. 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.

[0046] 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.

[0047] [Overall Configuration of Multifunction Device 10] As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction device 10 has a roughly 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 FIG. 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.

[0048] [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.

[0049] [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.

[0050] [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 .

[0051] [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.

[0052] [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.

[0053] 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.

[0054] 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-to-rear direction and extend in the left-to-right direction. The carriage 23 is connected to a known belt mechanism provided on the guide rail 44. The belt mechanism rotates when drive is transmitted from a carriage motor (not shown). When the belt mechanism rotates, the carriage 23 moves left-to-right. The range of movement of the carriage 23 is indicated by a dashed line in FIG. 3 . The carriage 23 moves to the right and left of the transport path 65 in the left-to-right direction.

[0055] 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.

[0056] As shown in Fig. 2, the carriage 23 carries a recording head 39. A plurality of nozzles 40 are located on the underside of the recording head 39. The recording head 39 ejects ink as tiny ink droplets from the nozzles 40. As the carriage 23 moves, the recording head 39 ejects ink droplets toward the paper 12 supported by a platen 42. In this way, an image is recorded on the paper 12. Ink is an example of a recording liquid.

[0057] 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.

[0058] [Ink Tank Set 51] As shown in FIG. 4, the ink tank set 51 includes ink tanks 100, a tank cover 110, and a tank cap 127. Note that the tank cap 127 is omitted from FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 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. A cover 70 is provided on the casing 8 so as to be located in front of the opening in 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 that covers the opening in the casing 8 shown in FIG. 1 to an exposing position that exposes the opening in the casing 8 to the outside of the multifunction device 10. The tank cover 110 may be omitted. When the tank cover 110 is omitted, the ink tank 100 may have a through hole 72 and a key groove 74, which will be described later.

[0059] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the ink tank 100 has four ink chambers 111 inside. Each ink chamber 111 stores one of the different color inks: black, yellow, cyan, or magenta. Note that Figure 6 shows one ink chamber 111. The ink tank 100 is an example of a liquid tank. The ink chambers 111 are an example of a liquid chamber.

[0060] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the ink tank 100 has a generally rectangular parallelepiped outer shape. The ink tank 100 has a front wall 101, a right wall 102, a left wall 103, an upper wall 104, a lower wall 105, a rear wall 106, a tank pipe body 115, a communication port 119, an annular wall 122, and an outflow pipe 124. The front wall 101, the right wall 102, the left wall 103, the upper wall 104, the lower wall 105, and the rear wall 106 define an ink chamber 111 in which ink is stored. The ink tank 100 is integrally molded, for example, by injection molding a resin material. Of the outer walls of the ink tank 100, for example, the lower wall 105 may be a separate molded part. The front wall 101, right wall 102, left wall 103, top wall 104, bottom wall 105, and rear wall 106 are translucent to such an extent that the ink level inside the ink tank 100 can be seen from the outside.

[0061] The upper surface of the top wall 104 is composed of multiple surfaces extending in the front-to-rear and left-to-right directions. The top wall 104 has an air vent port 112 that connects the ink chamber 111 to the outside. The air vent port 112 penetrates the top wall 104 in the up-down 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 in the front-to-rear direction so as to extend 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.

[0062] An outflow pipe 124 is located on the upper wall 104. The outflow pipe 124 is a circular pipe that extends downward from the upper wall 104 toward the ink chamber 111. The lower end of the outflow pipe 124 is located near the lower wall 105. The opening at the upper end of the outflow pipe 124 is located on the upper wall 104. The ink tube 32 is connected to the upper end of the outflow pipe 124. Ink in the ink chamber 111 flows to the recording head 39 through the outflow pipe 124 and the ink tube 32. When ink is consumed in the ink chamber 111 by ejecting ink from the recording head 39, air flows into the ink chamber 111 through the atmosphere communication port 112.

[0063] The ink tank 100 has a tank pipe 115 and a communication port 119. A cylindrical annular wall 122 is located at the front end of the top wall 104, covering the tank pipe 115 and the communication port 119. The annular wall 122 extends diagonally upward and forward from the front end of the top wall 104 in a direction that intersects the direction of gravity and the horizontal direction, parallel to the tank pipe 115. The tank pipe 115 protrudes upward beyond the tip of the annular wall 122. The tank pipe 115 is an example of a second nozzle. The communication port 119 is an example of a second communication portion.

[0064] 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 surface of the upper wall 104 along an extension direction that intersects the direction of gravity and the horizontal direction. The tip of the tank pipe 115 opens to the outside of the ink chamber 111. A groove 116 is located at the tip of the tank pipe 115. The groove 116 extends in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the tank pipe 115. In this embodiment, the extension direction of the groove 116 has a front-to-rear component. The groove 116 gives the tip of the tank pipe 115 a bifurcated shape. The extension direction of the tank pipe 115 is an example of a third direction. The direction perpendicular to the third direction is a fourth direction, and in this embodiment, the fourth direction has a front-to-rear component and an up-to-down component.

[0065] 6 , the lower end of the tank pipe 115 opens into the ink chamber 111. The internal space of the tank pipe 115 connects the outside and inside of the ink chamber 111. The tank pipe 115 is located rearward of the center of the annular wall 122. In other words, an axis M1 passing through the center of the tank pipe 115 is located rearward of an axis M2 passing through the center of the annular wall 122 when viewed from the extension direction of the tank pipe 115.

[0066] The internal space of the tank pipe body 115 is the second flow path 117. An upper end 117U of the second flow path 117 opens to the outside of the ink tank 100. A lower end 117L of the second flow path 117 opens to the ink chamber 111. The upper end 117U is an example of a sixth end. The lower end 117L is an example of a fifth end.

[0067] As shown in FIG. 5, 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 vertical 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. As shown in FIG. 6, the communication port 119 connects the outside and inside of the ink chamber 111. The communication port 119 is located in front of the tank pipe body 115. The communication port 119 is aligned with the second flow path 117 in the direction in which the recessed groove 116 extends. In other words, a straight line M3 extending in the extension direction and passing 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 M1 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 below the tank pipe 115. The communication port 119 is located forward of the center of the annular wall 122. In other words, a straight line M3 extending in the extension direction and passing through the center of the communication port 119 when viewed from the extension direction of the annular wall 122 is located forward of an axis M2 passing through the center of the annular wall 122 when viewed from the extension direction of the annular wall 122. The diameter of the communication port 119 is larger than the outer diameter of the bottle pipe 96. In this embodiment, since the outer shapes of the communication port 119 and the bottle tube body 96 are not circular, the diameter of the communication port 119 and the outer shape of the bottle tube body 96 refer to the maximum inner dimension of the communication port 119 and the maximum outer dimension of the bottle tube body 96, respectively.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 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 a front wall 201, an upper wall 202, a right wall 203, a left wall 204, a lower wall 205, and an inclined wall 206. The front wall 201 covers the front of the ink tank 100. The front wall 201 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, but 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. The tank cover 110 may be integral with the ink tank 100 .

[0069] The top wall 202 covers a portion of the front side of the top wall 104 of the ink tank 100. The right wall 203 covers a portion of the right wall 102 of the ink tank 100. The left wall 204 covers a portion of the left wall 103 of the ink tank 100. The bottom wall 205 covers the bottom wall 105 of the ink tank 100.

[0070] The inclined wall 206 is connected to the upper end of the front wall 201 and to the front end of the top wall 202. The inclined wall 206 is located above the annular wall 122 of the ink tank 100. The inclined wall 206 is located in front of the annular wall 122 of the ink tank 100. In other words, the inclined wall 206 is located relative to the annular wall 122 so as to extend in the same direction as the annular wall 122 extends from the front end of the top wall 104. The outer surface of the inclined wall 206 intersects with the direction of gravity and the horizontal direction. The outer surface of the inclined wall 206 is inclined in the front-to-rear direction so as to extend downward as it extends forward. The inclined wall 206 covers a portion of the inclined surface 104A of the top wall 104 of the ink tank 100.

[0071] The inclined wall 206 has four through holes 72 spaced apart in the left-right direction. Each through hole 72 penetrates the inclined wall 206 in the up-down direction. The inner circumferential surface of each through hole 72 is cylindrical and extends in a direction perpendicular to the outer surface of the inclined wall 206, i.e., diagonally upward toward the front. That is, each through hole 72 is cylindrical. Note that the term "cylindrical" here refers to a shape in which the inner circumferential surface forms a closed space around the entire circumference; the shape of the opening formed by the inner circumferential surface is not necessarily circular. Furthermore, the cylindrical shape is defined regardless of the length of the inner circumferential surface extending in the direction of the opening formed by the inner circumferential surface, in other words, regardless of the thickness of the through hole 72. The inner circumferential surface of each through hole 72 surrounds the annular wall 122 when viewed from diagonally above the front. The inner circumferential surface of each through hole 72 surrounds the tank pipe body 115 and the communication port 119 when viewed from diagonally above the front. The four through holes 72 are positioned to correspond to one of the four ink chambers 111. That is, when viewed from diagonally above the front, each of the four through holes 72 overlaps with a corresponding one of the four ink chambers 111. The annular wall 122 of the ink tank 100 is exposed to the outside of the tank cover 110 through the through holes 72. As shown in FIG. 16 , the tank pipe body 115 protrudes to the outside of the tank cover 110 through the through holes 72. The through holes 72 are an example of a hole portion.

[0072] The through-hole 72 has a circular shape at the front and a rectangular shape at the rear. In other words, the through-hole 72 has a rectangular shape with one front side bulging out in an arc shape. A slit 73 extends rearward from the through-hole 72, connecting the through-hole 72 to the space. The slit 73 is located in the center of the through-hole 72 in the left-right direction, connecting the through-hole 72 to the space.

[0073] As shown in Figure 4, keyways 74 are selectively located on the left and right of the slit 73 in the through holes 72. The four through holes 72 differ in the presence, position, and shape of the keyways 74. Specifically, in the leftmost through hole 72 in Figure 4, one keyway 74 is located to the right of the slit 73, and one keyway 74 is located to the left of the slit 73. The left-right length between the right keyway 74 and the slit 73 is the same as the left-right length between the left keyway 74 and the slit 73.

[0074] 4, one key groove 74 is located to the right of the slit 73, and another key groove 74 is located to the left of the slit 73. The length in the left-right direction between the right key groove 74 and the slit 73 is longer than the length in the left-right direction between the left key groove 74 and the slit 73.

[0075] 4, one key groove 74 is located to the right of the slit 73, and no key groove 74 is located to the left of the slit 73. The length of the right key groove 74 in the left-right direction is longer than the length of the key groove 74 in the second through hole 72 from the left.

[0076] In the through hole 72 located at the rightmost position in Fig. 4, one key groove 74 is located to the right of the slit 73, and another key groove 74 is located to the left of the slit 73. The length in the left-right direction between the right key groove 74 and the slit 73 is shorter than the length in the left-right direction between the left key groove 74 and the slit 73. The key groove 74 is an example of a hole portion. The key groove 74 may be omitted.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 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. A portion of the tank cap 127 fits into the slit 73 of the tank cover 110, and the outer shape of the tank cap 127 determines the attached position. 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, when removed from the annular wall 122, in a state where it is connected to the ink tank 100 or the tank cover 110.

[0078] [Ink Bottle 80] The ink bottle 80 shown in FIG. 7 is connected to the ink tank set 51. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 14, the ink bottle 80 has a bottle body 81, rubber 83, a support member 84, a valve 161, and a coil spring 165. The bottle body 81 has a cylindrical portion at the top with a mouth portion 87 that is smaller in diameter than the bottom portion, and a bottle cap 82. The bottle cap 82 is attached to the mouth portion 87 to form a container that stores ink in its internal space. The ink bottle 80 is an example of a liquid container. The ink bottle 80, together with the ink tank 100, constitutes a system. The bottle body 81 is an example of a main body. The internal space defined by the bottle body 81 is an ink chamber 89.

[0079] The bottle cap 82 has a side wall 93, a bottom wall 92, a protrusion 94, an opening 95, a bottle tube 96, a key member 99, and an annular rib 91. The side wall 93 is a cylindrical wall extending in the vertical direction. The side wall 93 is threadedly coupled to the mouth 87. The bottom wall 92 is an annular wall extending radially inward from the upper end of the side wall 93.

[0080] The protrusion 94 is a cylindrical wall extending upward from the bottom wall 92. The protrusion 94 can be fitted 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. That is, 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.

[0081] Specifically, the outer peripheral surface of the protrusion 94 has an outer curved surface 94A that bulges forward, a left outer flat surface 94B that connects to the left end of the outer curved surface 94A, a right outer flat surface 94C that connects to the right end of the outer curved surface 94A, and a rear outer flat surface 94D that connects the rear end of the left outer flat surface 94B to the rear end of the right outer flat surface 94C. When the protrusion 94 is inserted into the through-hole 72, the outer curved surface 94A fits into the inner curved surface 72A of the through-hole 72. When the protrusion 94 is inserted into the through-hole 72, the left outer flat surface 94B fits into the right inner flat surface 72C of the through-hole 72. When the protrusion 94 is inserted into the through-hole 72, the right outer flat surface 94C fits into the left inner flat surface 72B of the through-hole 72. The rear outer flat surface 94D is located between the outer curved surface 94A and the opening 95 and bottle tube body 96 (described later) in the front-rear direction. The posterior outer plane 94D fits to the posterior inner plane 72D of the through-hole 72 when the protrusion 94 is inserted into the through-hole 72.

[0082] As shown in FIG. 8 , the outer peripheral surface of the protrusion 94 is not rotationally symmetrical with respect to 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 peripheral 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, and therefore the outer peripheral surface of the protrusion 94 is rotationally symmetrical with respect to 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, and therefore the outer peripheral surface of the protrusion 94 is not rotationally symmetrical with respect to the center C1. This determines the orientation in which the protrusion 94 can be fitted into the through-hole 72. When viewing the protrusion 94 from above, the center C1 is the point where the midpoint of a line segment L1 connecting the left outer flat surface 94B and the right outer flat surface 94C coincides with the midpoint of a line segment L2 connecting the front end of the outer curved surface 94A and the rear outer flat surface 94D. The protrusion 94 is an example of a key portion.

[0083] 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. The upper wall 97 is an example of a wall.

[0084] The key member 99 extends rearward from the rear outer flat surface 94D on the outer peripheral surface 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 containing black, yellow, cyan, or magenta ink. Each key member 99 of the four ink bottles 80 containing different inks fits into one of the key grooves 74 of the four through-holes 72. Figure 7 shows the key member 99 of the ink bottle 80 that matches the leftmost through-hole 72 of the tank cover 110. The key member 99 is an example of a key portion. The direction in which the key member 99 extends is an example of the second direction. In this embodiment, in the connected state shown in Figure 16, the direction in which the key member 99 extends has a vertical component. Specifically, the direction in which the key member 99 extends in the connected state has an upward component and a backward component. The key member 99 may be omitted.

[0085] An opening 97A that is elongated in the front-rear direction is located on the upper surface of the upper wall 97 of the protrusion 94. The opening 97A has an oval shape with both ends in an arc shape in the front-rear direction and both ends in the left-right direction that extend linearly along the front-rear direction. A portion of the rubber 83 is exposed to the outside through the opening 97A. The opening 97A is an example of an opening.

[0086] 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 and spaced apart from the protrusion 94. 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. This forms an annular ink holding space 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.

[0087] As shown in FIG. 14 , the rubber 83 is positioned inside the protrusion 94 of the bottle cap 82. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 , the rubber 83 has a base portion 86, an opening 95, and a bottle tube 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. A protrusion 88 located on the underside of the upper wall 97 of the bottle cap 82 fits into the groove 86A. The rubber 83 is an example of a sealing member. The bottle tube 96 is an example of a first nozzle. The upward extension of the bottle tube 96 is an example of a first direction.

[0088] 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 extending linearly in the front-to-rear direction. The protrusion 86B is received in the opening 97A of the bottle cap 82.

[0089] The opening 95 is circular and penetrates the protrusion 86B in the vertical direction. The opening 95 connects the ink chamber 89 of the ink bottle 80 to the outside. An upper end 95U of the opening 95 opens to the outside. A lower end 95L of the opening 95 opens to the ink chamber 89. The opening 95 is an example of a first communicating portion. The upper end 95U is an example of a fourth end. The lower end 95L is an example of a third end.

[0090] The bottle tube 96 is located forward 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. The internal space of the bottle tube 96, defined by the inner surface with a circular cross section, is the first flow path 107, which connects the ink chamber 89 of the ink bottle 80 to the outside. The first flow path 107 extends from the ink chamber 89 toward the outside. An upper end 107U of the first flow path 107 opens to the outside of the ink bottle 80. A lower end 107L of the first flow path 107 opens to the ink chamber 89. As shown in FIG. 14 , the lower end 107L is located below the lower end 95L of the opening 95. The lower end 107L is an opening independent of the opening 95. In other words, the lower end 107L and the opening 95 are not continuous in the front-to-rear direction. The diameter of the first flow path 107 is smaller than the diameter of the opening 95. The diameter of the first flow path 107 is smaller than the diameter of the communication port 119 of the ink tank 100. The upper end 107U is an example of the second end. The lower end 107L is an example of the first end. In this embodiment, the communication port 119 is not circular, so the diameter of the communication port 119 refers to the maximum internal dimension of the communication port 119.

[0091] The outer shape of the bottle tube 96 is a polygon similar to 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 wall 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 less likely for the bottle tube 96 to deform backward.

[0092] As shown in Figure 8, the opening 95 is located rearward of the center C1 of the protrusion 94. The opening 96A of the bottle pipe 96 is located forward of the center C1 of the protrusion 94. The opening 95 is aligned with the first flow path 107 in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the bottle pipe 96. The outer peripheral surface of the protrusion 94 is not rotationally symmetrical with respect to the center C2 of the circle of the opening 95. The outer peripheral surface of the protrusion 94 is not rotationally symmetrical with respect to the center C3 of the circle of the opening 96A. The direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the bottle pipe 96 is an example of the second direction.

[0093] 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, both ends of the lip 108 in the front-to-rear direction are arc-shaped, and both ends in the left-to-right direction are oval-shaped and extend linearly in the front-to-rear direction. The openings 95 and 96A are located inside the lip 108. In other words, the lip 108 surrounds 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.

[0094] 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 lower end of the lip 109 is the lower end 107L of the first flow path 107. The lip 109 elastically deforms when it comes into contact with the valve 161, forming a liquid-tight seal with the valve 161.

[0095] 11, 12, and 14, the support member 84 is located in the internal space of the bottle body 81 and inside the protrusion 94 of the bottle cap 82. In other words, the support member 84 is located on the opposite side of the bottle tube body 96 with respect to the base portion 86 of the rubber 83. The support member 84 has an upper portion 121, a flange 126, and a lower portion 123.

[0096] The upper portion 121 is an oval-shaped cylinder. The upper portion 121 is located inside the protrusion 94 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 in the vertical direction 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 outside of the lip 108.

[0097] The flange 126 is a circular plate that extends 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 mouth portion 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 mouth portion 87 of the bottle body 81 and is sandwiched vertically between the mouth portion 87 and the bottom wall 92 of the bottle cap 82.

[0098] 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 smaller than the mouth portion 87 of the bottle body 81.

[0099] As shown in Figures 13 and 14, the valve 161 is located in the internal space of the protrusion 94. The valve 161 has a flat portion 162, a protrusion 163, and a spring seat 164. The flat portion 162 is a flat plate with an oval outer shape. An upper surface 162A of the flat portion 162 is flat. 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 guided by the support member 84 and move in the vertical direction. The spring seat 164 is located on the lower surface of the flat portion 162.

[0100] A protrusion 163 is located on an upper surface 162A of the flat portion 162. The upper surface 162A is located around the protrusion 163. The protrusion 163 protrudes upward from the upper surface 162A and has an upwardly tapering shape such that the area of ​​its cross section in the front-to-rear and left-to-right directions gradually decreases, and the protrusion 163 has an upper surface 163A, a side surface 163B, and a curved surface 163C.

[0101] 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.

[0102] 14, inside the bottle body 81, a spring seat 125 is located below the support member 84. The spring seat 125 is fixed to, for example, the bottle body 81 or the support member 84. A coil spring 165 is located between the valve 161 and the spring seat 125. The coil spring 165 biases the valve 161 toward the rubber 83. The coil spring 165 is an example of an elastic member.

[0103] The valve 161 is movable vertically between a closed position and an open position. As shown in FIG. 14 , when the valve 161 is in the closed position, the upper surface 163A of the protrusion 163 abuts against the lip 109. This closes the first flow path 107 of the bottle tube body 96, preventing ink from entering the first flow path 107. The lip 108 also abuts against the curved surface 163C of the protrusion 163. This closes the inside of the lip 108 of the rubber 83, making it difficult for ink to enter the inside of the lip 108 of the rubber 83. Furthermore, because the protrusion 163 is located inside the lip 108 in the closed position, the lip 108 is prevented from collapsing inward. Furthermore, because the upper portion 121 of the support member 84 is located outside the lip 108, the lip 108 is also prevented from collapsing outward.

[0104] 15, the valve 161 is in the open position when it 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 located 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. This opens the first flow path 107 and the opening 95 of the bottle tube 96. The space between the valve 161 and the rubber 83 serves as a gas flow path and an ink flow path.

[0105] [Connection between ink bottle 80 and ink tank 100] The user first determines the orientation in which the protrusion 94 of the ink bottle 80 can be fitted into the through-hole 72 located at the leftmost position 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-to-rear direction, so the user can easily determine the orientation in which the protrusion 94 can be fitted into the through-hole 72.

[0106] Next, the user inserts the protrusion 94 into the leftmost through-hole 72. At this time, the key member 99 is inserted into the key groove 74 of the through-hole 72. As a result, the protrusion 94 and the key member 99 fit into the through-hole 72 and the key groove 74. Note that if the user were to mistakenly insert the protrusion 94 into the second through-hole 72 from the left, for example, the key member 99 would not fit into the key groove 74, preventing the ink bottle 80 from being connected in the wrong position.

[0107] The protrusion 94 and key member 99 fit into the through-hole 72 and key groove 74, the bottle pipe 96 is connected to 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 as the tank pipe 115 abuts against it, and moves 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. In the connected state in which the ink bottle 80 is connected to the ink tank 100, the outer curved surface 94A on the outer periphery of the protrusion 94 is supported by the inner curved surface 72A on the inner periphery of the through-hole 72.

[0108] In the connected state, ink stored in the ink bottle 80 flows into the ink chamber 111 through the first flow path 107 of the bottle pipe body 96. Furthermore, 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 second flow path 117 of the tank pipe body 115. In this way, so-called gas-liquid substitution occurs, and ink in the ink bottle 80 is supplied to the ink chamber 111. Ink and air are examples of fluids.

[0109] 16 , in the connected state, the bottle pipe 96 is located below the tank pipe 115. The first flow path 107 of the bottle pipe 96 is located below the second flow path 117 of the tank pipe 115. In the connected state, the center M4 of the cross section of the first flow path 107 in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the first flow path 107 is located below the center M5 of the cross section of the mouth portion 87 of the ink bottle 80 in the direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the first flow path 107.

[0110] In a first outflow direction in which ink flows from the lower end 107L to the upper end 107U in the first flow path 107 of the ink bottle 80, the upper end 107U is located downstream of the upper end 95U of the opening 95. In a second outflow direction in which air flows through the second flow path 117 of the ink tank 100 toward the outside, the upper end 117U of the second flow path 117 is located downstream of the lower end 107L of the first flow path 107 of the ink bottle 80. The upper end 107U of the first flow path 107 of the ink bottle 80 is located at a different position from the lower end 117L of the second flow path 117 of the ink tank 100 in the direction in which the bottle pipe 96 extends.

[0111] [Effects of the embodiment] When the ink bottle 80 is connected to the ink tank 100, the upper end 107U of the first flow path 107 is located downstream in the first outflow direction from the upper end 95U of the opening 95, so that ink flowing out from the upper end 107U of the first flow path 107 is less likely to enter the opening 95 from the upper end 95U.

[0112] Furthermore, when the valve 161 is in the closed position, it closes the lower end 107L of the first flow path 107 and the lower end 95L of the opening 95, and when the valve 161 is in the open position, it opens the lower end 107L of the first flow path 107 and the lower end 95L of the opening 95, so that the first flow path 107 and the opening 95 can be opened and closed with a single valve. This makes it possible to prevent ink from leaking from the ink bottle 80. Note that in this embodiment, the lower end 107L of the first flow path 107 and the lower end 95L of the opening 95 are closed with a single valve 161, but the lower end 107L of the first flow path 107 and the lower end 95L of the opening 95 may be closed with two valves, respectively.

[0113] Furthermore, since the coil spring 165 biases the valve 161 toward the closed position, the valve 161 is prevented from unexpectedly moving from the closed position to the open position.

[0114] Furthermore, in the connected state, the upper end 117U of the second flow path 117 is located downstream in the second outflow direction from the lower end 107L of the first flow path 107 of the ink bottle 80, so that air that flows out from the upper end 117U of the second flow path 117 to the ink chamber 89 is less likely to enter the first flow path 107 from the lower end 107L of the first flow path 107.

[0115] Furthermore, in the connected state, the upper end 107U of the first flow path 107 of the ink bottle 80 is located at a different position from the lower end 117L of the second flow path 117 of the ink tank 100 in the direction in which the bottle tube body 96 extends, so that ink that flows out from the upper end 107U of the first flow path 107 into the ink chamber 111 of the ink tank 100 is less likely to enter the second flow path 117 from the lower end 117L of the second flow path 117.

[0116] Since the lower end 107L of the first flow path 107 is located lower than the lower end 95L of the opening 95, when ink is replenished from the ink bottle 80 to the ink tank 100, air that enters the ink chamber 89 from the lower end 95L of the opening 95 is prevented from being caught up in the ink flowing out from the lower end 107 of the first flow path 107 and flowing back into the ink chamber 89.

[0117] Furthermore, the tip of the tank pipe 115 has a recessed groove 116 that extends in a direction having a front-to-rear component, and because the recessed groove 116 gives the tip of the tank pipe 115 a bifurcated shape, when the tank pipe 115 is inserted into the opening 95 of the ink bottle 80, the outer surface of the tank pipe 115 does not come into contact with the area of ​​the inner surface of the opening 95 near the bottle pipe 96. This prevents the outer surface of the tank pipe 115 from sliding over the inner surface of the opening 95, thereby preventing the rubber 83 that forms the opening 95 from shifting position.

[0118] Furthermore, the lip 108 of the rubber 83 is oval in shape and surrounds the openings 95 and 96A, and the valve 161 in the closed position abuts against the lip 108, thereby reliably preventing ink in the ink chamber 89 from leaking to the outside from the lower end 107L of the first flow path 107 and the lower end 95L of the opening 95.

[0119] In addition, the upper part 121 of the support member 84 sandwiches the base part 86 of the rubber 83 in the vertical direction between itself and the upper wall 97 of the protrusion 94 of the bottle cap 82, thereby further preventing the rubber 83 from shifting in the direction in which the tank pipe body 115 is inserted into the opening 95.

[0120] Furthermore, the ink bottle 80 has a key member 99 that fits into the key groove 74 of the tank cover 110 in the connected state, and the orientation of the ink bottle 80 in the connected state is determined by the fit between the key groove 74 and the key member 99. Furthermore, the direction in which the key member 99 extends in the connected state has a vertical component, so the first flow path 107 and the second flow path 117 are aligned in the direction of gravity, and gas-liquid replacement occurs smoothly.

[0121] In addition, in the connected state, the center of the first flow path 107 is located lower than the center of the mouth portion 87 of the ink bottle 80, so the amount of ink remaining in the ink chamber 89 without flowing out through the first flow path 107 is reduced.

[0122] Furthermore, since the external shape of the bottle tube 96 is similar to the shape of the communication port 119 of the ink tank 100, the user can easily recognize the orientation of the ink bottle 80 that can be connected to the ink tank 100.

[0123] Furthermore, because the inner surface of the bottle tube 96 is circular, ink in the ink chamber 89 is less likely to leak to the outside through the bottle tube 96 than if the inner surface of the bottle tube 96 were polygonal. Also, because the outer shape of the bottle tube 96 is polygonal, the thickness of the corners is increased, improving the strength of the bottle tube 96.

[0124] In the above embodiment, the bottle tube 96 is made of rubber, but the bottle tube 96 may also be a molded product made of synthetic resin, such as polypropylene or polyethylene. Compared to the rubber bottle tube 96, the strength is higher, making it easier to move the valve 161. Furthermore, the outer shape of the bottle tube 96 can be precisely matched with the inner shape of the communication port 119 of the ink tank 100.

[0125] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the tank pipe 115 extends obliquely upward and forward from the upper surface of the top wall 104 along an extension direction that intersects the direction of gravity and the horizontal direction. This makes it easy to access the tank pipe 115 from the front of the multifunction device 10. For example, the tank pipe 115 can be accessed without having to rotate the scanner unit 9 of the multifunction device 10 upward. Alternatively, the tank pipe 115 may extend upward from the upper surface of the top wall 104.

[0126] Furthermore, in the ink bottle 80, the valve 161 and the coil spring 165 may be omitted.

[0127] [Modification 1] In the above embodiment, the ink bottle 80 is provided with the bottle pipe 96 as one nozzle, but instead, the liquid bottle may be provided with a nozzle having two flow paths.

[0128] As shown in Fig. 17A, the ink bottle 300 has a bottle body 301, a first bottle pipe 302, and a second bottle pipe 303. The ink bottle 300 is an example of a liquid container. The first bottle pipe 302 is an example of a first nozzle. Note that Fig. 17A shows the ink bottle 300 upside down and in a position where it is connected to an ink tank 310.

[0129] The internal space of the bottle body 301 is an ink chamber 304 that stores ink. The first bottle pipe 302 extends upward from the top wall of the bottle body 301. The direction in which the first bottle pipe 302 extends is an example of a first direction. The internal space of the first bottle pipe 302 is a first flow path 305. The first flow path 305 extends from the ink chamber 304 toward the outside. A lower end 305L of the first flow path 305 opens to the ink chamber 304. An upper end 305U of the first flow path 305 opens to the outside of the ink bottle 300. The lower end 305L is an example of a first end. The upper end 305U is an example of a second end.

[0130] The second bottle pipe 303 extends upward from the upper wall of the bottle main body 301. The second bottle pipe 303 is aligned with the first flow path 305 in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the first bottle pipe 302. The second bottle pipe 303 and the first bottle pipe 302 are adjacent to each other with no gap between them. The second bottle pipe 303 is an example of a first communication portion. The direction in which the first flow path 305 and the second bottle pipe 303 are aligned is an example of a second direction. The portions of the outer walls of the first bottle pipe 302 and the second bottle pipe 303 that separate the first flow path 305 and the second flow path 306 are an example of a partition wall.

[0131] The internal space of the second bottle pipe 303 is the second flow path 306. The second flow path 306 extends from the ink chamber 304 toward the outside in parallel with the first flow path 305. A lower end 306L of the second flow path 306 opens to the ink chamber 304. An upper end 306U of the second flow path 306 opens to the outside of the ink bottle 300. The lower end 306L is an example of a third end. The upper end 306U is an example of a fourth end.

[0132] The ink tank 310 has an ink chamber 311 and a communication port 312. The internal space of the ink tank 310 is the ink chamber 311 that stores liquid. The communication port 312 is located on the top wall of the ink tank 310. The communication port 312 connects the ink chamber 311 to the outside. The first bottle pipe 302 and the second bottle pipe 303 can be inserted into the communication port 312.

[0133] As shown in Figure 17 (B), the first bottle pipe body 302 and the second bottle pipe body 303 of the ink bottle 300 are inserted downward into the communication port 312 of the ink tank 310, thereby connecting the ink bottle 300 to the ink tank 310.

[0134] In the connected state, ink stored in the ink chamber 304 of the ink bottle 300 flows through the first flow path 305 to the ink chamber 311 of the ink tank 310. Air in the ink chamber 311 of the ink tank 310 flows through the second flow path 306 to the ink chamber 304 of the ink bottle 300. This causes gas-liquid exchange between the ink bottle 300 and the ink tank 310.

[0135] In a first outflow direction in which ink flows through first flow path 305 from lower end 305L to upper end 305U, upper end 305U of first flow path 305 is located downstream of upper end 306U of second flow path 306. This makes it difficult for ink flowing out from upper end 305U of first flow path 305 to enter second flow path 306 from upper end 306U.

[0136] [Variation 2] In Variation 1, the second bottle pipe 303 and the first bottle pipe 302 are adjacent to each other with no gap between them, but as shown in Fig. 18A, the second bottle pipe 303 and the first bottle pipe 302 may be arranged side by side with a gap between them. Note that Fig. 18A shows the ink bottle 300 connected upside down to the ink tank 310.

[0137] In Modification 2, the first bottle pipe 302 is inserted into the communication port 312 of the ink tank 310, but the second bottle pipe 303 is not. Therefore, the size of the communication port 312 only needs to correspond to the outer shape of the first bottle pipe 302. In other words, in Modification 2, the size of the communication port 312 can be made smaller than in Modification 1.

[0138] In the second modification, the ink tank 310 further includes a tank pipe 313 extending upward from the top wall. The internal space of the tank pipe 313 forms part of the flow path through which air flows. A lower end 313L of the internal space of the tank pipe 313 opens to the ink chamber 311. An upper end 313U of the internal space of the tank pipe 313 opens to the outside of the ink tank 310. The size of the internal space of the tank pipe 313 is larger than the outer shape of the second bottle pipe 303 of the ink bottle 300. Therefore, the second bottle pipe 303 can be inserted into the tank pipe 313. The vertical length of the internal space of the tank pipe 313 is longer than the vertical length of the second flow path 306.

[0139] As shown in Figure 18 (B), the first bottle pipe 302 of the ink bottle 300 is inserted downward into the communication port 312 of the ink tank 310, and the second bottle pipe 303 of the ink bottle 300 is inserted into the tank pipe 313 of the ink tank 310, thereby establishing a connection state in which the ink bottle 300 is connected to the ink tank 310.

[0140] In the connected state, ink stored in the ink chamber 304 of the ink bottle 300 flows through the first flow path 305 to the ink chamber 311 of the ink tank 310. Air in the ink chamber 311 of the ink tank 310 flows through the internal space of the tank pipe body 313 and the second flow path 306 to the ink chamber 304 of the ink bottle 300. This causes gas-liquid exchange between the ink bottle 300 and the ink tank 310.

[0141] The upper end 306U of the second flow path 306 is located above the lower end 313L of the tank pipe 313. In other words, the second bottle pipe 303 is located in the internal space of the tank pipe 313 without reaching the ink chamber 311. In a first outflow direction in which ink flows through the first flow path 305 from the lower end 305L to the upper end 305U, the upper end 305U of the first flow path 305 is located downstream of the lower end 313L of the tank pipe 313. This makes it difficult for ink flowing out from the upper end 305U of the first flow path 305 to enter the internal space of the tank pipe 313 and the second flow path 306 from the lower end 313L.

[0142] [Variation 3] In the above embodiment, the ink tank 100 has the communication port 119 as the second communication portion, but instead it may have a nozzle-shaped second communication portion 315. Note that in Variation 3, the tank pipe 115 extends upward from the ink tank 100. Also, Figure 19(A) shows the ink bottle 80 connected upside down to the ink tank 100.

[0143] 19(A), the second communication portion 315 extends upward from the upper wall of the bottle body 301. The second communication portion 315 is aligned with the tank pipe 115 in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the tank pipe 115. The second communication portion 315 and the tank pipe 115 are aligned with a gap therebetween.

[0144] The internal space of the second communication portion 315 forms part of the flow path through which ink flows. A lower end 315L of the internal space of the second communication portion 315 opens to the ink chamber 111. An upper end 315U of the internal space of the second communication portion 315 opens to the outside of the ink tank 100. The external size of the second communication portion 315 is smaller than the inner diameter of the first flow path 107 of the ink bottle 300. Therefore, the second communication portion 315 can be inserted into the first flow path 107. The vertical length of the internal space of the second communication portion 315 is shorter than the vertical length of the first flow path 107.

[0145] 19(B), the second communicating portion 315 of the ink tank 100 is inserted upward into the first flow path 107 of the ink bottle 80, and the tank pipe 115 of the ink tank 100 is inserted into the opening 95 of the ink bottle 80, thereby establishing a connected state in which the ink bottle 80 is connected to the ink tank 100. The valve 161 moves when the tank pipe 115 comes into contact with it, opening the first flow path 107.

[0146] In the connected state, ink stored in the ink chamber 89 of the ink bottle 80 flows to the ink chamber 111 of the ink tank 100 through the first flow path 107 and the internal space of the second communication part 315. Air in the ink chamber 111 of the ink tank 100 flows to the ink chamber 89 of the ink bottle 80 through the second flow path 117. This causes gas-liquid exchange between the ink bottle 80 and the ink tank 100.

[0147] In the connected state, the upper end 117U of the second flow path 117 is located downstream in the second outflow direction from the lower end 107L of the first flow path 107 of the ink bottle 80, so that air that flows out from the upper end 117U of the second flow path 117 to the ink chamber 89 is less likely to enter the first flow path 107 from the lower end 107L of the first flow path 107.

[0148] [Variation 4] Furthermore, in the above-described variation 3, the second communicating portion 315 of the ink tank 100 is inserted into the first flow path 107 of the ink bottle 80, but instead, the ink bottle 320 may not have an opening 95, and the tank pipe 115 and second communicating portion 315 of the ink tank 100 may be inserted into the first flow path 107 of the ink bottle 300. Note that in variation 4, the tank pipe 115 extends upward from the ink tank 100. Also, Figure 20(A) shows the ink bottle 300 in a position where it is connected to the ink tank 100 upside down.

[0149] As shown in FIG. 20A , the second communication portion 315 extends upward from the top wall of the ink tank 100. The second communication portion 315 is aligned with the tank pipe 115 in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the tank pipe 115. The second communication portion 315 and the tank pipe 115 are adjacent to each other with no gap between them. The inner diameter of the first flow path 107 of the ink bottle 300 is larger than the outer dimensions of the second communication portion 315 and the tank pipe 115. Therefore, the second communication portion 315 and the tank pipe 115 can be inserted into the first flow path 107. The vertical length of the tank pipe 115 is longer than the vertical length of the first flow path 107. The vertical length of the internal space of the second communication portion 315 is shorter than the vertical length of the first flow path 107.

[0150] 20B, the second communicating portion 315 and tank pipe 115 of the ink tank 100 are inserted upward into the first flow path 107 of the ink bottle 80, thereby establishing a connected state in which the ink bottle 80 is connected to the ink tank 100. The valve 161 moves when the tank pipe 115 comes into contact with it, opening the first flow path 107.

[0151] In the connected state, ink stored in the ink chamber 89 of the ink bottle 80 flows to the ink chamber 111 of the ink tank 100 through the first flow path 107 and the internal space of the second communication part 315. Air in the ink chamber 111 of the ink tank 100 flows to the ink chamber 89 of the ink bottle 80 through the second flow path 117. This causes gas-liquid exchange between the ink bottle 80 and the ink tank 100.

[0152] In the connected state, the upper end 117U of the second flow path 117 is located downstream in the second outflow direction from the lower end 107L of the first flow path 107 of the ink bottle 80, so that air that flows out from the upper end 117U of the second flow path 117 to the ink chamber 89 is less likely to enter the first flow path 107 from the lower end 107L of the first flow path 107.

[0153] In Modifications 1 to 4, the ink bottle 300 is inserted vertically downward relative to the ink tanks 310 and 100, but the ink bottle 300 may also be inserted obliquely relative to the ink tanks 310 and 100, intersecting the vertical direction.

[0154] Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the mouth portion 87 and the bottle cap 82 are configured as separate bodies, but they may also be configured as an integrated body. In this case, the side wall 93 of the bottle cap 82 may be omitted. The bottle body 81 in which the mouth portion 87 and the bottle cap 82 are configured as an integrated body is an example of a body. The side of the bottle body 81 in which the mouth portion 87 and the bottle cap 82 are configured as an integrated body, where the opening 95 and the first flow path 107 communicate, is an example of a mouth portion.

[0155] In the above-described embodiment, ink is described as an example of the recording liquid, but the present invention is not limited to this. In other words, instead of ink, examples of the recording liquid may include a pretreatment liquid that is ejected onto the paper prior to the ink during printing, or water that is sprayed near the nozzles 40 of the recording head 39 to prevent the nozzles 40 of the recording head 39 from drying out.

[0156] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 51: Ink tank set 72: Through hole (hole portion) 74: Key groove (hole portion) 80, 300, 320: Ink bottle (liquid container) 81, 301: Bottle main body (main body) 82: Bottle cap 83: Rubber (sealing member) 84: Support member 86: Base portion 87: Mouth portion 89, 304: Ink chamber (liquid chamber) 94: Protrusion (key portion) 95: Opening (first communication portion) 95L: Lower end (third end) 95U: Upper end (fourth end) 96: Bottle tube body (first nozzle) 99: Key member (key portion) 100: Ink tank (liquid tank) 107, 305: First flow path 107L, 305L: Lower end (first end) 107U, 305U: Upper end (second end) 108: Lip 115, 313... Tank pipe body (second nozzle) 116... Groove 117, 306... Second flow path 117L, 306L... Lower end (fifth end) 117U, 306U... Upper end (sixth end) 119, 312... Communication port (second communication portion) 161... Valve 302... First bottle pipe body (first nozzle) 315... Second communication portion

Claims

1. A liquid container comprising: a liquid chamber for storing a recording liquid; a first flow path extending in a first direction from the liquid chamber toward the outside; and a first communication part that communicates the liquid chamber with the outside and is aligned with the first flow path in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, wherein a first end of the first flow path in the first direction opens into the liquid chamber; a second end of the first flow path in the first direction opens to the outside; a third end of the first communication part in the first direction opens into the liquid chamber; and a fourth end of the first communication part in the first direction opens to the outside, and in a first outflow direction in which a fluid flows through the first flow path from the first end to the second end, the second end is located downstream of the fourth end.

2. A liquid container as described in claim 1, further comprising a valve located in the liquid chamber and movable between a closed position that closes the first flow path and the first communication portion and an open position that opens the first flow path and the first communication portion.

3. A liquid container according to claim 2, further comprising a resilient member for biasing said valve towards said closed position.

4. A liquid container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the diameter of said first flow path is smaller than the diameter of said first communication portion.

5. A system comprising the liquid container according to claim 2 and a liquid tank for storing recording liquid supplied from said liquid container, wherein said liquid container is provided with a first nozzle having said first flow path, and said liquid tank is provided with: a second nozzle having a second flow path extending in a third direction, and a second communication part which connects the internal space of said liquid tank with the outside and is aligned with said second flow path in a fourth direction perpendicular to said third direction, wherein, in a connected state in which said liquid container and said liquid tank are connected, said second nozzle is inserted into said first communication part, and said valve moves from said closed position to said open position as said second nozzle abuts, and the diameter of said first flow path is smaller than the diameter of said second communication part.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the diameter of said second communicating portion is larger than the outer diameter of said first nozzle.

7. The system described in claim 5, wherein a fifth end of the second flow path in the third direction opens into the internal space of the liquid tank, a sixth end of the second flow path in the third direction opens to the outside, and in the connected state, the second nozzle is inserted into the first communicating part, and in a second outflow direction in which fluid flows through the second flow path toward the outside, the sixth end of the second flow path is located downstream of the first end.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein in said connected state, said second end is at a different position from said fifth end in said first direction.

9. The system according to claim 5, wherein the first nozzle is a molded product of synthetic resin.

10. The system according to claim 5, wherein the third direction intersects with the direction of gravity, and the tip of the second nozzle has a bifurcated shape with a recessed groove extending in the fourth direction.

11. The system according to claim 5, wherein the liquid container comprises a base portion having the first communicating portion and a sealing member having the first nozzle, and the base portion has an oval shape that is long in the second direction.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the sealing member has a lip extending from the base portion in a direction opposite to the first direction, the lip being oval-shaped and surrounding the first end and the third end, and abutting the valve in a liquid-tight manner all around.

13. The system described in claim 11, wherein the liquid container comprises a main body having a wall that defines the liquid chamber and an opening that connects the liquid chamber to the outside, and a cylindrical support member that is located on the opposite side of the base portion from the first nozzle and is fixed to the liquid chamber, one end of the support member sandwiching the base portion between itself and the wall.

14. The system of claim 5, wherein the third direction is a direction intersecting the direction of gravity and the horizontal direction.

15. The system described in claim 14, further comprising a hole portion surrounding the second nozzle and the second communication portion, the liquid container having a key portion that fits into the hole portion in the connected state, and the second direction in the connected state having a vertical component.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein in the connected state, the first flow path is positioned below the second flow path.

17. The system described in claim 16, wherein the liquid container has a mouth that connects the liquid chamber to the outside, and in the connected state, the center of the first flow path is located below the center of the mouth.

18. The system according to claim 15, wherein the outer shape of the first nozzle and the shape of the second communicating portion are similar.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the inner surface of the first nozzle is circular.

20. A liquid container according to claim 1, wherein the first communication portion has a flow path extending in the first direction.

21. A liquid container according to claim 20, wherein the first flow path and the flow path of the first communication portion are separated by a partition wall.

22. A liquid container as described in claim 20, further comprising a first nozzle having the first flow path, the first communicating portion having a nozzle shape extending in the first direction, and the first nozzle and the first communicating portion being spaced apart in the second direction.

Images