阅读说明：本技术 打印机以及墨水供给单元 (Printer and ink supply unit ) 是由 深泽洸贵 知野徹 五味知佑 于 2020-03-27 设计创作，主要内容包括：本申请提供打印机以及墨水供给单元,能够降低向第二墨水贮存部供给的墨水从第二墨水贮存部泄露的可能性。打印机具备：第一墨水贮存部(14),贮存墨水；第二墨水贮存部(15),贮存从第一墨水贮存部供给的墨水；喷头(19),喷出墨水；滑架(20),使喷头(19)以及第二墨水贮存部(15)移动；以及管部(16),连接第一墨水贮存部与第二墨水贮存部(15),第二墨水贮存部(15)具有：墨水供给口(47),与管部(16)连接；连通孔(49),连通第二墨水贮存部的内外；作为透明面或者半透明面的透光面(50),在第二墨水贮存部搭载于滑架(20)的状态下,透光面(50)的一部分和连通孔(49)位于比滑架(20)的前表面(52)更靠铅直上方的位置。(The application provides a printer and an ink supply unit, which can reduce the possibility that the ink supplied to a second ink storage part leaks from the second ink storage part. The printer includes: a first ink storage unit (14) that stores ink; a second ink storage unit (15) that stores the ink supplied from the first ink storage unit; a head (19) for ejecting ink; a carriage (20) that moves the head (19) and the second ink storage unit (15); and a tube section (16) that connects the first ink storage section and the second ink storage section (15), the second ink storage section (15) having: an ink supply port (47) connected to the tube (16); a communication hole (49) for communicating the inside and outside of the second ink storage unit; a light transmitting surface (50) which is a transparent surface or a translucent surface is positioned vertically above the front surface (52) of the carriage (20) with a part of the light transmitting surface (50) and the communication hole (49) in a state where the second ink storage unit is mounted on the carriage (20).)

1. A printer is characterized by comprising:

a first ink storage unit for storing ink;

a second ink storage unit that stores the ink supplied from the first ink storage unit;

a head that ejects the ink;

a carriage that moves the head and the second ink storage unit; and

a tube portion connecting the first ink storage portion and the second ink storage portion,

the second ink storage unit includes:

an ink supply port connected to the tube portion;

a communication hole for communicating the inside and outside of the second ink storage unit; and

a light-transmitting surface which is a transparent surface or a translucent surface,

the ink stored in the second ink storage portion can be visually confirmed from the outside of the second ink storage portion through the light-transmitting surface,

in a state where the second ink storage unit is mounted on the carriage, a part of the light transmitting surface and the communication hole are positioned vertically above a side surface of the carriage.

2. Printer according to claim 1,

the printer includes an exterior member provided with a discharge port for discharging a printed medium,

the side surface is located between the light-transmitting surface and the exterior member in a normal direction orthogonal to the side surface of the carriage.

3. Printer according to claim 1,

the printer further includes a display unit for displaying information,

the light-transmitting surface is a side surface in front of the second ink storage portion,

the information displayed on the display unit can be visually confirmed from a position forward of the display unit.

4. Printer according to claim 1,

the ink supply port is located closer to the light transmitting surface side than the communication hole.

5. Printer according to claim 1,

the communication hole is located closer to the light transmitting surface side than the ink supply port.

6. Printer according to claim 1,

the carriage has a cover member movable to a first position and a second position,

the cover member covers a vertically upper portion of the communication hole when the cover member is located at the first position,

when the cover member is located at the second position, the communication hole is exposed.

7. Printer according to claim 1,

the printer is provided with a frame body,

the frame body has:

an opening part located vertically above the carriage, the carriage being at a predetermined position; and

a printer cover movable to a cover position covering the opening portion and an open position different from the cover position,

the carriage has a cover member movable to a first position and a second position,

when the printer cover is located at the open position, the communication hole is exposed regardless of the position of the cover member.

8. Printer according to claim 1,

the carriage has a cover member movable to a first position and a second position,

when the cover member is located at the first position, the cover member covers a vertically upper portion of the ink supply port.

9. Printer according to claim 6,

when the cover member is located at the first position, the cover member covers a vertically upper portion of the ink supply port.

10. An ink supply unit, comprising:

a first ink storage unit for storing ink;

a second ink storage unit that stores the ink supplied from the first ink storage unit; and

a tube portion connecting the first ink storage portion and the second ink storage portion,

the second ink storage unit includes:

an ink supply port connected to the tube portion;

a communication hole for communicating the inside and outside of the second ink storage unit; and

a light-transmitting surface which is a transparent surface or a translucent surface,

the ink stored in the second ink storage portion can be visually confirmed from the outside of the second ink storage portion through the light-transmitting surface,

in a state where the second ink reservoir is mounted on a carriage that moves a head that ejects the ink, a part of the light transmitting surface and the communication hole are positioned vertically above a side surface of the carriage.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an ink supply unit and a printer including the ink supply unit.

Background

For example, as shown in patent document 1, a printer performs printing by ejecting ink from a recording head as an example of a head. The printer includes: a main tank as an example of the first ink storage unit; and a sub tank as an example of a second ink storage section that moves together with the carriage. The printer pressurizes the ink stored in the main tank by driving the pump to supply the ink to the sub tank.

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2006-247936

Disclosure of Invention

The pump can also be operated manually. However, if ink is manually supplied to the second ink storage unit, an excessive amount of ink may flow into the second ink storage unit, and the ink may overflow from the second ink storage unit.

The printer for solving the above-described problems includes: a first ink storage unit for storing ink; a second ink storage unit that stores the ink supplied from the first ink storage unit; a head that ejects the ink; a carriage that moves the head and the second ink storage unit; and a tube portion connecting the first ink storage portion and the second ink storage portion, the second ink storage portion including: an ink supply port connected to the tube portion; a communication hole for communicating the inside and outside of the second ink storage unit; and a light transmitting surface which is a transparent surface or a translucent surface, the ink stored in the second ink storing unit being visually recognizable through the light transmitting surface from outside the second ink storing unit, wherein a part of the light transmitting surface and the communication hole are positioned vertically above a side surface of the carriage in a state where the second ink storing unit is mounted on the carriage.

An ink supply unit for solving the above-described problems includes: a first ink storage unit for storing ink; a second ink storage unit that stores the ink supplied from the first ink storage unit; and a tube portion connecting the first ink storage portion and the second ink storage portion, the second ink storage portion including: an ink supply port connected to the tube portion; a communication hole for communicating the inside and outside of the second ink storage unit; and a light-transmitting surface which is a transparent surface or a translucent surface and through which the ink stored in the second ink reservoir can be visually confirmed from outside the second ink reservoir, wherein a part of the light-transmitting surface and the communication hole are positioned vertically above a side surface of the carriage in a state where the second ink reservoir is mounted on the carriage that moves the head that ejects the ink.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a printer.

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an internal configuration of the printer.

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of the printer with the printer cover in an open position.

Fig. 4 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of a second ink storage section and a carriage.

Fig. 5 is a schematic view of a modification of the second ink storage unit and the carriage.

Fig. 6 is a schematic view of a modification of the second ink storage unit and the carriage.

Fig. 7 is a schematic view of a modification of the second ink storage unit and the carriage.

Fig. 8 is a schematic view of a modification of the second ink storage unit and the carriage.

Fig. 9 is a schematic view of a modification of the second ink storage unit and the carriage.

Fig. 10 is a schematic view of a modification of the second ink storage unit and the carriage.

Fig. 11 is a schematic view of a modification of the second ink storage unit and the carriage.

Description of the reference numerals

11 … printer; 12 … a frame body; 12a … a first exterior member as an example of the exterior member; 12b … second exterior member; 12c … third exterior member; 12d … fourth exterior member; 13 … ink supply unit; 14 … a first ink reservoir; 15 … second ink reservoir; 16 … a tube portion; 16a … downstream end; 18 … media; 19 … spray head; 20 … a carriage; 22 … opening part; 24 … discharge ports; 26 … printer cover; 27 … rear cover; 28 … display part; 31 … mounting part; 32 … a cover member; 34 … guide member; 35 … conveying part; 36 … support table; 37 … conveying roller pair; 38 … discharge roller pair; 41 … guide shaft; a 42 … nozzle; 43 … nozzle face; 45 … control section; 47 … ink supply port; 48 … storage chamber; 49 … communication holes; 50 … light-transmitting surface; 52 … front surface as an example of a side; 54 … incision; 56 … syringe; 58 … high; 59 … low; CP … cover position; HP … start position; OP … open position; p1 … first position; p2 … second position; PP … print position; r … roller body; x … scan direction.

Detailed Description

First embodiment

Next, a first embodiment of an ink supply unit and a printer including the ink supply unit will be described with reference to the drawings. The printer is an ink jet printer that prints characters and images by ejecting ink onto a medium such as paper.

In the drawings, it is assumed that the printer 11 is placed on a horizontal plane, and the direction of gravity is represented by the Z axis, and the directions along the horizontal plane are represented by the X axis and the Y axis. The X, Y and Z axes are mutually orthogonal. In the following description, a direction along the X axis is referred to as a scanning direction X, a direction on an arrow side along the Y axis is referred to as a front, a direction opposite to the front is referred to as a rear, a direction toward the arrow side of the Z axis is referred to as a vertically lower direction, and a direction opposite to the vertically lower direction is referred to as a vertically upper direction.

As shown in fig. 1, the printer 11 includes a rectangular parallelepiped housing 12 and an ink supply unit 13. The ink supply unit 13 includes: a first ink storage unit 14 that stores ink; a second ink storage unit 15 that stores the ink supplied from the first ink storage unit 14; and a tube portion 16 connecting the first ink storage portion 14 and the second ink storage portion 15. The printer 11 of the present embodiment is a color printer that includes a plurality of sets of the first ink storage unit 14, the second ink storage unit 15, and the tube unit 16 and performs printing using inks of a plurality of colors. The printer 11 may be a monochrome printer including a pair of the first ink storage unit 14, the second ink storage unit 15, and the tube unit 16.

The first ink storage unit 14 may be disposed inside the housing 12 or outside the housing 12. The first ink storage unit 14 may be of a replaceable cartridge type (カートリッジタイプ) or a tank type (タンクタイプ) that can be replenished with ink. If a part or all of the first ink storage portion 14, the second ink storage portion 15, and the tube portion 16 are formed of a transparent or translucent member, the amount and color of the ink inside can be visually confirmed from the outside by the user.

The printer 11 includes: a head 19 that ejects ink toward the medium 18; and a carriage 20 that moves the head 19 and the second ink storage unit 15 in the scanning direction X and in the direction opposite to the scanning direction X. The second ink storage 15, the head 19, and the carriage 20 are provided in the housing 12. The carriage 20 moves to a home position HP, a fold-back position, and a printing position PP between the home position HP and the fold-back position in the scanning direction X. In the scanning direction X, the folding position, the printing position PP, and the home position HP are arranged in this order. The printing position PP is a position where the head 19 moving together with the carriage 20 prints on the medium 18. In the present embodiment, the position of the head 19 facing the medium 18 and the position of the medium 18 that can face the head 19 are also referred to as a printing position PP.

The housing 12 may have an opening 22 located directly vertically above the carriage 20 at a home position HP, which is an example of a predetermined position. The frame 12 may have a plurality of openings 22. The opening 22 may be located vertically above the carriage 20 at the printing position PP, which is an example of the predetermined position.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the housing 12 includes a first exterior member 12a, which is an example of an exterior member, positioned forward of the carriage 20. The first exterior member 12a covers the front of the printer 11. The frame 12 includes a second exterior member 12b covering the vertically upper and lateral sides of the printer 11, a third exterior member 12c covering the rear, and a fourth exterior member 12d covering the vertically lower side.

As shown in fig. 1, the first exterior member 12a is provided with a discharge port 24 through which the printed medium 18 is discharged. The shape of the discharge port 24 is such that the medium 18 can be discharged and foreign matter is hard to enter the housing 12 from the outside, and the discharge port 24 in the present embodiment is in the form of a slit with a reduced gap in the vertical direction.

The second exterior member 12b may be provided with a printer cover 26, a rear cover 27, and a display unit 28 for displaying information. The printer cover 26, the rear cover 27, and the display unit 28 each have an axis parallel to the X axis, and are rotatable about the axis.

The printer cover 26 is movable to a cover position CP shown by solid lines in fig. 2 and an open position OP shown in fig. 1 different from the cover position CP. In a state where the printer cover 26 is located at the covering position CP, the axis of the printer cover 26 is located at the rear end portion of the printer cover 26. The printer cover 26 located at the covering position CP covers the opening portion 22. The printer cover 26 located at the open position OP exposes the opening 22. When the printer cover 26 is located at the open position OP, the user can perform maintenance of the medium 18 and the like located at the second ink storage portion 15 or the printing position PP through the opening 22.

The rear cover 27 rotates between a closed position shown in fig. 1 and an open position not shown. In a state where the rear cover 27 is in the closed position, the axis of the rear cover 27 is positioned at the rear end of the rear cover 27. The drum R shown in fig. 2, which is formed by winding the medium 18 in a cylindrical shape, can be loaded into the space opened when the rear cover 27 is in the open position.

As shown in fig. 1, the display unit 28 rotates about an axis between a standing position shown in fig. 1 and a tilted position tilted backward from the standing position. The axis of the display unit 28 is located at the front end. The display unit 28 located at the standing position faces forward. Therefore, the information displayed on the display unit 28 can be visually confirmed by the user positioned further forward than the display unit 28.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the carriage 20 may include a mounting portion 31 to which the second ink storage portion 15 is mounted, and a cover member 32. When the carriage 20 is located at the home position HP, the cover member 32 is movable to a first position P1 indicated by a solid line in fig. 2 and a second position P2 indicated by a two-dot chain line in fig. 2. The cover member 32 may be rotatable about a shaft. In the state where the lid member 32 is located at the first position P1, the axis of the lid member 32 of the present embodiment is located at the front end of the lid member 32 and is parallel to the X axis. The lid member 32 located at the first position P1 is located vertically above the second ink storage portion 15, and restricts attachment and detachment of the second ink storage portion 15 to and from the mounting portion 31. As shown in fig. 1, the cover member 32 located at the second position P2 interferes with the opening 22 to restrict the movement of the carriage 20.

As shown in fig. 2, the printer 11 includes: a guide member 34 for guiding the medium 18 wound out of the drum body R; a conveyance unit 35 that conveys the medium 18; and a support table 36 that supports the medium 18 conveyed by the conveying unit 35. The transport unit 35 transports the medium 18 wound up from the drum R toward the downstream side in the transport direction. In the present embodiment, the conveyance direction refers to a direction along which the medium 18 is conveyed along the components of the printer 11, such as the guide member 34 and the support base 36. The conveyance unit 35 includes: a conveying roller pair 37 provided between the guide member 34 and the support table 36 in the conveying direction; and a discharge roller pair 38 provided between the support table 36 and the discharge port 24 in the conveying direction. The conveying roller pair 37 and the discharge roller pair 38 convey the medium 18 by rotating in a state where the medium 18 is sandwiched.

The transport unit 35 transports the medium 18 wound around the drum R toward the downstream side in the transport direction, and discharges the medium 18 from the discharge port 24 in the discharge direction. The discharge port 24 is located at a position forward of the printing position PP where the head 19 moving together with the carriage 20 prints on the medium 18. The transport unit 35 transports the medium 18 positioned at the printing position PP forward, and discharges the medium forward from the discharge port 24. That is, the conveyance direction and the discharge direction at the printing position PP coincide with the front.

The printer 11 includes a guide shaft 41 that supports the carriage 20. The head 19 is mounted on the carriage 20 in a posture in which a nozzle surface 43 formed by the nozzles 42 faces the support table 36 or the medium 18 supported by the support table 36. The carriage 20 can reciprocate along the guide shaft 41.

The printer 11 includes a control unit 45 that controls the entire drive of each mechanism in the printer 11. The control unit 45 is configured by a processing circuit including a computer and a memory, for example. The control unit 45 controls various operations performed by the printer 11 in accordance with a program stored in the memory.

As shown in fig. 2, the second ink storage portion 15 includes: an ink supply port 47 connected to the downstream end 16a of the tube portion 16; and a storage chamber 48 for storing the supplied ink. The second ink storage portion 15 includes: a communication hole 49 for communicating the inside and outside of the second ink storage portion 15; and a light-transmitting surface 50 which is a transparent surface or a translucent surface. The communication hole 49 communicates the inside of the storage chamber 48 with the outside of the storage chamber 48. The light-transmitting surface 50 of the present embodiment is a side surface in front of the second ink storage portion 15. The ink stored in the second ink reservoir 15 can be visually confirmed from the outside of the second ink reservoir 15 through the light-transmitting surface 50. In other words, the user can visually confirm the ink stored in the second ink storage portion 15 through the light-transmitting surface 50.

In a state where the second ink storage portion 15 is mounted on the carriage 20, a part of the light transmitting surface 50 of the second ink storage portion 15 and the communication hole 49 are positioned vertically above the front surface 52, which is an example of a side surface of the carriage 20, and are exposed from the carriage 20.

The front surface 52 of the carriage 20 is an XZ plane along the X-axis as well as the Z-axis. Therefore, the Y-axis direction is a normal direction orthogonal to the front surface 52. The front surface 52 is located between the light-transmitting surface 50 and the first exterior member 12a in the Y-axis direction. The ink supply port 47 is located closer to the light transmission surface 50 than the communication hole 49. In other words, the printer 11 includes the first exterior member 12a, the front surface 52 of the carriage 20, the light-transmitting surface 50, the ink supply port 47, and the communication hole 49 arranged in this order from the front to the rear. That is, the ink supply port 47 is located between the communication hole 49 and the light transmission surface 50 in the Y-axis direction. The light-transmitting surface 50 is located between the ink supply port 47 and a front surface 52 of the carriage 20 in the Y-axis direction.

The cover member 32 has a cutout 54. The lid member 32 located at the first position P1 covers a portion located rearward of the communication hole 49 from vertically above the second ink storage portion 15. At this time, the downstream end 16a of the tube portion 16 connected to the ink supply port 47 and the communication hole 49 are positioned vertically below the notch 54 and exposed from the cover member 3. When the lid member 32 is located at the second position P2, the lid member 32 is located further forward than the second ink storage portion 15, and the entire upper surface of the second ink storage portion 15 is exposed. Therefore, when the printer cover 26 is located at the open position OP, the second ink storage portion 15 exposes the communication hole 49 and the downstream end 16a of the tube portion 16 regardless of the position of the lid member 32.

The operation of the present embodiment will be described.

In a standby state where printing is not performed, the carriage 20 is located at the home position HP. When the printer cover 26 is located at the open position OP, the carriage 20 and the second ink storage portion 15 located at the home position HP are exposed through the opening 22.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 3, when the printer cover 26 is located at the open position OP, the light-transmitting surface 50 of the second ink storage portion 15, the communication hole 49, and the downstream end 16a of the tube portion 16 connected to the ink supply port 47 are exposed. Therefore, in a state where the cap member 32 is positioned at the first position P1, the user can insert the syringe (syring) 56 into the communication hole 49. When the pressure in the storage chamber 48 is reduced by the syringe 56, the ink is drawn from the first ink storage portion 14 to the second ink storage portion 15 through the tube portion 16.

The first ink storage portion 14 may be disposed vertically above the second ink storage portion 15. After the tube portion 16 is filled with ink, the ink may be supplied from the first ink storage portion 14 to the second ink storage portion 15 by the siphon principle.

The effects of the present embodiment will be described.

(1) In a state where the second ink storage portion 15 is mounted on the carriage 20, a part of the light transmitting surface 50 of the second ink storage portion 15 and the communication hole 49 are exposed. Therefore, for example, when the pressure in the second ink storage 15 is reduced through the communication hole 49 and the ink is introduced from the first ink storage 14 to the second ink storage 15, the ink in the second ink storage 15 can be visually checked from the light-transmitting surface 50. Therefore, the possibility that the ink supplied to the second ink storage portion 15 leaks from the second ink storage portion 15 can be reduced.

(2) A front surface 52 of the carriage 20 covering a part of the light transmission surface 50 is positioned between the exterior member formed with the discharge port 24 and the light transmission surface 50. Therefore, the light-transmitting surface 50 can be easily visually recognized from the direction in which the medium 18 discharged from the discharge port 24 is collected.

(3) The light-transmitting surface 50 is a side surface in front of the second ink storage portion 15. The information displayed on the display unit 28 can be visually confirmed from a position forward of the display unit 28. Therefore, the light-transmitting surface 50 can be easily visually recognized from the direction in which the information displayed on the display unit 28 is visually recognized.

(4) For example, when the pressure in the second ink storage portion 15 is reduced through the communication hole 49 to introduce ink from the first ink storage portion 14 to the second ink storage portion 15, if the tube portion 16 can be filled with ink, the ink can be supplied from the first ink storage portion 14 to the second ink storage portion 15 by the siphon principle. From this point of view, the ink supply port 47 is located closer to the light transmission surface 50 than the communication hole 49. Therefore, the syringe 56 for depressurizing the inside of the second ink storage portion 15 through the communication hole 49, and the possibility that the hand of the operator handling the syringe 56 blocks the ink supply port 47 and the tube portion 16 connected to the ink supply port 47 can be reduced, and operability can be ensured.

(5) The housing 12 has a printer cover 26 covering the opening 22 located vertically above the carriage 20. Therefore, even if the communication hole 49 is exposed regardless of the position of the cover member 32, since the communication hole 49 is covered by the printer cover 26 located at the covering position CP, the possibility that foreign matter adheres to the communication hole 49 and the foreign matter passes through the communication hole 49 and enters the second ink storage portion 15 can be reduced.

Second embodiment

Next, a second embodiment of the ink supply unit and the printer including the ink supply unit will be described with reference to the drawings. The second ink storage portion and the lid member of the second embodiment are different in shape from those of the first embodiment. Since the other points are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description thereof is omitted.

As shown in fig. 4, the second ink reservoir 15 includes a high portion 58 and a low portion 59 having an upper end portion positioned vertically below the high portion 58. Lower portion 59 is a portion located further forward than higher portion 58, and is located between higher portion 58 and light-transmitting surface 50. The communication hole 49 and the ink supply port 47 may be provided in the lower portion 59. The communication hole 49 may be located closer to the light transmission surface 50 than the ink supply port 47.

The cover member 32 located at the first position P1 shown by the solid line in fig. 4 may cover the entire upper surface of the second ink storage portion 15. That is, when the cap member 32 is located at the first position P1, the cap member 32 may cover the vertically upper portion of the ink supply port 47 and the communication hole 49. When the cap member 32 is located at the second position P2 shown by the two-dot chain line in fig. 4, the downstream end 16a of the tube portion 16 connected to the communication hole 49 and the ink supply port 47 is exposed.

The operation of the present embodiment will be described.

When the printer cover 26 is located at the open position OP, the light-transmitting surface 50 of the second ink storage portion 15 and the lid member 32 located at the first position P1 are exposed through the opening 22, and the lid member 32 can be moved to the second position P2.

When the cap 32 is at the second position P2, the communication hole 49 and the downstream end 16a of the tube portion 16 connected to the ink supply port 47 are exposed, and the syringe 56 can be inserted into the communication hole 49. That is, the ink is introduced into the second ink storage portion 15 in a state where the printer cover 26 is located at the open position OP and the lid member 32 is located at the second position P2.

The effects of the present embodiment will be described.

(6) The communication hole 49 is located closer to the light transmission surface 50 than the ink supply port 47. The communication hole 49 is easily visually recognized from the light transmission surface 50 side. Therefore, for example, the user can easily visually confirm that the ink is likely to adhere to the syringe 56 inserted into the communication hole 49, and the possibility of the ink adhering to the syringe 56 can be reduced. Even when ink adheres to the syringe 56 inserted into the communication hole 49, the user can easily visually confirm that ink adheres to the syringe 56, and the possibility of ink scattering when the syringe 56 is pulled out from the communication hole 49 can be reduced.

(7) The carriage 20 has a cover member 32 vertically above the communication hole 49. Therefore, the possibility that foreign matter adheres to the communication hole 49 or that foreign matter enters the second ink storage portion 15 through the communication hole 49 can be reduced.

(8) The cover member 32 located at the first position P1 covers vertically above the ink supply port 47. Therefore, for example, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the tube portion 16 is detached from the ink supply port 47 by applying an external force to the connection portion between the ink supply port 47 and the tube portion 16.

This embodiment can be modified and implemented as follows. The present embodiment and the following modifications can be combined and implemented within a range where technical contradictions do not exist.

As shown in fig. 5, the second ink reservoir 15 may have a structure in which the communication hole 49 is provided in the high portion 58 and the ink supply port 47 is provided in the low portion 59.

As shown in fig. 6, the cover member 32 may have a notch 54 located vertically above the ink supply port 47 when it is located at the first position P1. The cap 32 may expose the downstream end 16a of the tube portion 16 connected to the ink supply port 47 regardless of the position of the cap 32. In other words, the downstream end 16a of the pipe portion 16 may be exposed regardless of the position of the cap 32. Further, the communication hole 49 may be covered vertically above when the lid member 32 is located at the first position P1, and the communication hole 49 may be exposed when the lid member 32 is located at the second position P2.

As shown in fig. 7, the length of the cap member 32 may be shorter than the length of the second ink storage portion 15 in the Y-axis direction. That is, the cap member 32 at the first position P1 may have a size such that it covers only the ink supply port 47 and exposes the communication hole 49.

As shown in fig. 8, the high portion 58 may be located between the low portion 59 and the light transmission surface 50. The communication hole 49 may be provided in the high portion 58 and located forward of the ink supply port 47 and rearward of the light transmission surface 50.

As shown in fig. 9, the lid member 32 at the first position P1 may cover the downstream end 16a of the tube portion 16 connected to the ink supply port 47, and the communication hole 49 may be exposed through the notch 54.

As shown in fig. 10, the second ink reservoir 15 may have a plurality of high portions 58. The ink supply port 47 may be provided in a lower portion 59 located between the plurality of high portions 58. The communication hole 49 may be provided at the high portion 58 located rearward or at the high portion 58 located forward.

As shown in fig. 11, the cover member 32 may have a notch 54 provided at the rear, and the communication hole 49 may be exposed from the notch 54.

The ink supply port 47 may be formed so as to open forward or backward on a side wall between the high portion 58 and the low portion 59.

The second ink storage portion 15 may be configured such that the ink supply port 47 and the communication hole 49 are provided in the high portion 58.

The second ink reservoir 15 may have the ink supply port 47 provided in the high portion 58 and the communication hole 49 provided in the low portion 59.

The cover member 32 is also detachable from the mounting portion 31. The cover member 32 may also be located at a first position P1 where it is fitted to the mounting part 31 and a second position P2 where it is removed from the mounting part 31. The cover member 32 is also slidable relative to the mounting portion 31.

The cover member 32 may be rotated about a shaft located at the rear end portion of the cover member 32 in the state of being located at the first position P1, or may be rotated about a shaft parallel to the Y axis.

The printer cover 26 may be detachably provided to the housing 12. The printer cover 26 may be located at a covering position CP attached to the housing 12 to cover the opening 22 and an opening position OP detached from the housing 12. The printer cover 26 is also slidable relative to the mounting portion 31.

The direction in which the display unit 28 faces and the direction in which the light-transmitting surface 50 faces may be different. The light-transmitting surface 50 may face in a direction different from the front direction. The second ink storage portion 15 may have at least one of the front side, the rear side, the scanning direction X side, and the side surface opposite to the scanning direction X side of the second ink storage portion 15 as the light-transmitting surface 50. The second ink reservoir 15 may have a corner chamfered to form the light-transmitting surface 50. For example, the second ink storage portion 15 may have a surface inclined with respect to the X axis and the Y axis between the XZ plane on the front side and the YZ plane on the X side in the scanning direction, and this surface may be the light transmission surface 50. The light-transmitting surface 50 is not limited to a plane but may be a curved surface. In the second ink reservoir 15, for example, when the side surface on the scanning direction X side is the light-transmitting surface 50, the side surface of the carriage 20 positioned between the second ink reservoir 15 and the second external member 12b covers a part of the light-transmitting surface 50.

The ink supply unit 13 may include a pump for pressurizing the ink stored in the first ink storage unit 14, and may supply the ink from the first ink storage unit 14 to the second ink storage unit 15 under pressure. The ink supply unit 13 may supply the ink stored in the first ink storage unit 14 to the second ink storage unit 15 by a water head.

The carriage 20 may be provided with a discharge flow path for discharging the ink leaked from the second ink storage unit 15 to the outside of the carriage 20. The discharge flow path may be connected to an end cap for maintenance of the head 19 or a waste liquid tank for storing liquid discharged from the head 19 for maintenance.

Next, the technical idea grasped from the above-described embodiment and modification and the operational effects thereof will be described.

The printer includes: a first ink storage unit for storing ink; a second ink storage unit that stores the ink supplied from the first ink storage unit; a head that ejects the ink; a carriage that moves the head and the second ink storage unit; and a tube portion connecting the first ink storage portion and the second ink storage portion, the second ink storage portion including: an ink supply port connected to the tube portion; a communication hole for communicating the inside and outside of the second ink storage unit; and a light transmitting surface which is a transparent surface or a translucent surface, the ink stored in the second ink storing unit being visually recognizable through the light transmitting surface from outside the second ink storing unit, wherein a part of the light transmitting surface and the communication hole are positioned vertically above a side surface of the carriage in a state where the second ink storing unit is mounted on the carriage.

According to this configuration, in a state where the second ink storage portion is mounted on the carriage, a part of the light transmitting surface and the communication hole of the second ink storage portion are exposed. Therefore, for example, when the pressure in the second ink storage portion is reduced through the communication hole and the ink is introduced from the first ink storage portion to the second ink storage portion, the ink in the second ink storage portion can be visually checked from the light-transmitting surface. Therefore, the possibility that the ink supplied to the second ink storage portion leaks from the second ink storage portion can be reduced.

The printer may further include an exterior member provided with an outlet through which a medium to be printed is discharged, and the side surface of the carriage may be positioned between the light-transmitting surface and the exterior member in a normal direction perpendicular to the side surface.

According to this configuration, the side surface of the carriage covering a part of the light transmission surface is positioned between the exterior member forming the outlet and the light transmission surface. Therefore, the light-transmitting surface can be easily visually recognized from the direction in which the medium discharged from the discharge port is collected.

The printer may further include a display unit that displays information, wherein the light-transmitting surface is a side surface in front of the second ink storage unit, and the information displayed on the display unit can be visually confirmed from a position forward of the display unit.

According to this configuration, the light-transmitting surface is a side surface in front of the second ink storage portion. The information displayed on the display unit can be visually confirmed from a position forward of the display unit. Therefore, the light-transmitting surface can be easily visually recognized from the direction in which the information displayed on the display portion is visually recognized.

In the printer, the ink supply port may be located closer to the light transmitting surface side than the communication hole.

For example, in the case where the pressure in the second ink storage portion is reduced through the communication hole to introduce the ink from the first ink storage portion to the second ink storage portion, if the inside of the tube portion can be filled with the ink, the ink can be supplied from the first ink storage portion to the second ink storage portion by the siphon principle. In this regard, according to this structure, the ink supply port is located on the light transmitting surface side of the communication hole. Therefore, the possibility that the tool for depressurizing the inside of the second ink storage portion through the communication hole and the hand of the operator who operates the tool block the ink supply port and the tube portion connected to the ink supply port can be reduced, and operability can be ensured.

In the printer, the communication hole may be located closer to the light-transmitting surface side than the ink supply port.

With this configuration, the communication hole is located closer to the light-transmitting surface side than the ink supply port. The communication hole is easily visually recognized from the light transmitting surface side. Therefore, for example, the user can easily visually confirm that the ink is highly likely to adhere to the tool inserted into the communication hole, and the possibility of ink adhering to the tool can be reduced. In addition, even when ink adheres to the tool inserted into the communication hole, since the user can easily visually confirm that ink adheres to the tool, the possibility of ink scattering when the tool is pulled out from the communication hole can be reduced.

In the printer, the carriage may include a cover member movable to a first position and a second position, the cover member may cover a vertically upper portion of the communication hole when the cover member is located at the first position, and the communication hole may be exposed when the cover member is located at the second position.

According to this configuration, the carriage includes a cover member that covers a vertically upper portion of the communication hole. Therefore, the possibility that foreign matter adheres to the communication hole or that foreign matter enters the second ink storage portion through the communication hole can be reduced.

The printer may further include a housing having: an opening located vertically above the carriage at a predetermined position; and a printer cover movable to a cover position covering the opening portion and an open position different from the cover position, wherein the carriage includes a cover member movable to a first position and a second position, and the communication hole is exposed regardless of a position of the cover member when the printer cover is located at the open position.

According to this configuration, the housing has a printer cover that covers the opening portion located vertically above the carriage. Therefore, even if the communication hole is exposed regardless of the position of the cover member, since the communication hole is covered by the printer cover located at the covering position, it is possible to reduce the possibility that foreign matter adheres to the communication hole or that foreign matter enters the second ink storage portion through the communication hole.

In the printer, the carriage may include a cap member movable to a first position and a second position, and the cap member may cover a portion vertically above the ink supply port when the cap member is located at the first position.

According to this configuration, the cap member located at the first position covers a portion vertically above the ink supply port. Therefore, for example, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the tube portion can be detached from the ink supply port by applying an external force to the connection portion between the ink supply port and the tube portion.

In the printer, the cover member may cover a vertically upper portion of the ink supply port when the cover member is located at the first position.

According to this configuration, the cap member located at the first position covers a portion vertically above the ink supply port. Therefore, for example, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the tube portion is detached from the ink supply port by applying an external force to the connection portion between the ink supply port and the tube portion.

The ink supply unit includes: a first ink storage unit for storing ink; a second ink storage unit that stores the ink supplied from the first ink storage unit; and a tube portion connecting the first ink storage portion and the second ink storage portion, the second ink storage portion including: an ink supply port connected to the tube portion; a communication hole for communicating the inside and outside of the second ink storage unit; and a light-transmitting surface which is a transparent surface or a translucent surface and through which the ink stored in the second ink reservoir can be visually confirmed from outside the second ink reservoir, wherein a part of the light-transmitting surface and the communication hole are exposed so as to be positioned vertically above a side surface of the carriage in a state where the second ink reservoir is mounted on the carriage in which the head for ejecting the ink is moved in a scanning direction and a direction opposite to the scanning direction.

With this configuration, the same effects as those of the printer can be obtained.