JP2018034322A - Recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a printing apparatus which can obtain a good printing result without variation while suppressing the width of the apparatus. A recording apparatus includes a recording head that ejects a liquid toward a medium, a carriage that is movable in a direction that intersects a direction in which the medium is conveyed, and a casing that forms an outside of an apparatus body including the carriage. A body 50, a liquid storage unit 30 disposed outside the housing and storing the liquid, a plurality of relay units 38 provided on the carriage and relaying the liquid sent from the liquid storage unit to the recording head; It comprises a tube 32 for supplying the liquid from the storage section to the relay section, and an opening / closing body 16 for opening and closing the upper part of the housing. The plurality of relay sections are arranged side by side in a direction intersecting the moving direction of the carriage in the carriage. The tube is provided and extends from the carriage to the outside of the housing through the space between the housing and the opening / closing body. [Selection diagram] FIG.

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus that performs recording on a medium.

  In an ink jet printer which is an example of a recording apparatus, a carriage mounted with a recording head reciprocates in the main scanning direction so that recording is performed by discharging liquid (an example of ink) from the recording head onto a medium. There is a so-called serial type constructed.

  In general, serial ink jet printers in which an ink cartridge is mounted on a carriage include a plurality of ink cartridges arranged in the carriage along the moving direction of the carriage (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2010-240999 A US Pat. No. 6,286,932

However, when the ink color is increased for the purpose of higher image quality, the number of ink cartridges provided in the carriage also increases, thereby increasing the size of the carriage in the moving direction (horizontal width direction), and consequently increasing the horizontal width of the apparatus. It will be. The width dimension of the apparatus has less room for reduction than the depth dimension of the apparatus, and an increase in the width dimension of the carriage becomes a major bottleneck in restraining the width direction of the apparatus.
Such a technical problem can be solved by arranging a plurality of ink cartridges along a direction (the apparatus depth direction) intersecting the carriage moving direction, as shown in Patent Document 2.

  However, since the ink consumption varies depending on the color, the balance of the remaining amount of ink between the ink cartridges is greatly destroyed as the usage time elapses. If the balance of the remaining amount of ink between the ink cartridges is lost in a type in which a plurality of ink cartridges are provided along the apparatus depth direction, the position of the center of gravity of the carriage varies in the apparatus depth direction. As a result, variations in the behavior of the carriage accompanying the movement operation of the carriage may occur, leading to variations in recording quality.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus capable of obtaining good recording results without variations while suppressing the lateral width of the apparatus.

  A recording apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention for solving the above-described problem has a recording head that discharges liquid toward a medium, and a carriage that is movable in a direction that intersects the medium conveyance direction; A housing that forms the outside of the apparatus main body including the carriage, a liquid storage portion that is disposed outside the housing and stores the liquid, and is provided in the carriage, from the liquid storage portion toward the recording head A plurality of relay sections that relay the liquid to be sent, a tube that supplies the liquid from the liquid storage section to the relay section, and an opening / closing body that opens and closes an upper portion of the housing. The sections are arranged side by side in the carriage in a direction crossing the carriage movement direction, and the tube passes from the carriage between the housing and the opening / closing body in front. And wherein the that is outside of the housing.

  According to this aspect, the liquid storage unit that stores the liquid is provided outside the casing that forms the outside of the apparatus main body, and the liquid is supplied from the liquid storage unit to the relay unit provided in the carriage. Since it is a structure, collapse of the balance of the residual amount of the liquid between the some relay part provided in the carriage can be suppressed. In the carriage, the plurality of relay portions are arranged side by side in a direction crossing the carriage movement direction, so that the size of the carriage movement direction (hereinafter referred to as the “lateral width direction”) can be suppressed. The width direction dimension of can be suppressed. As described above, it is possible to provide a recording apparatus capable of obtaining a good recording result without variation while suppressing the lateral width of the apparatus.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the power supply unit supplies power when driving a driving target including the carriage, and the power supply unit intersects the moving direction of the carriage. In a certain apparatus depth direction, it is located on the front side of the apparatus with respect to the carriage movement area, and in the vertical direction, is located on the upper side with respect to the medium transport path, and the tube is fixed to the upper part of the power supply unit. It is characterized by.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, a power supply unit that supplies power when driving a driving target including the carriage is provided, and the power supply unit is in a direction that intersects a moving direction of the carriage. In a certain apparatus depth direction, it is located on the front side of the apparatus with respect to the carriage movement region, and in the vertical direction, is located on the upper side with respect to the medium transport path, and the upper part of the power supply unit is covered with a cover member, The tube is fixed to the upper surface of the cover member.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second or third aspect, the tube includes an inlet for connecting a power plug on the apparatus rear side in the apparatus depth direction that is a direction intersecting the moving direction of the carriage, and the tube However, it passes over the cable which connects the said inlet and the said power supply part, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  The phrase “passes over the cable” means not only directly above the cable but also includes a form in which the tube passes over the cable with one or more components separated in the height direction.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, a notch is formed in the housing, and the tube passes from the inside of the housing through the notch. It is characterized by going out.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect, when the opening / closing body is closed, at least a part of the opening / closing body enters the inside of the housing, and the opening / closing body passes through the notch. And a part of the side surface of the opening / closing body is exposed.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to sixth aspects, the operation unit of the recording apparatus is configured on the front side of the apparatus in the apparatus depth direction that is a direction intersecting the moving direction of the carriage. The tube unit is fixed on the back side of the panel unit.

  Note that “fixed on the back side of the panel unit” means not only a mode in which the tube is directly fixed to the back side of the panel unit but also a mode in which the tube is simply fixed on the back side of the panel unit. is there.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to seventh aspects, the eighth aspect includes a waste liquid storage section that stores the liquid discharged as waste liquid from the recording head, and the tube includes the waste liquid storage section. It is characterized by passing over.

  In addition, “passing over the waste liquid storage part” means not only directly above the waste liquid storage part but also in a height direction, with one or two or more components separated and the tube passing over the waste liquid storage part. It also includes the meaning.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to eighth aspects, the first position retracted into the housing and the second position protruding from the housing are movable, In the second position, a medium receiving tray that receives the discharged medium and a tray driving motor that is a driving source of the medium receiving tray are provided, and the tube passes over the tray driving motor. .

  Note that “passing over the tray drive motor” means not only directly above the tray drive motor but also in the form of a tube passing over the tray drive motor in the height direction with one or more components separated. It also includes the meaning.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to ninth aspects, a circuit board constituting a control unit that controls the apparatus is provided, and the tube passes over the circuit board. And

  The phrase “passes over the circuit board” includes not only directly above the circuit board but also includes a form in which the tube passes over the circuit board in the height direction with one or more components separated. It is.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to tenth aspects, the plurality of tubes are integrally configured.

  According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to tenth aspects, the plurality of tubes are bound together by a binding member at an upper portion of the relay portion, and extend outward from the carriage in a collective state. It is characterized by.

  According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to twelfth aspects, the liquid storage portion has an injection port through which the liquid can be injected.

1 is an external perspective view of a printer according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the printer with a medium receiving tray protruding toward the front side of the apparatus. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the printer according to the embodiment when viewed from the back side. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of a medium conveyance path in the printer according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the printer with the scanner open. The perspective view of a carriage and a relay part. FIG. 3 is a side view of the apparatus main body showing a positional relationship among a carriage, a waste ink storage unit, and a power supply unit. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus main body illustrating the handling of the ink tube from the relay unit to the ink tank. The perspective view of the apparatus main body which shows the position of the circuit board in an apparatus main body. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the printer when the scanner is opened in a state where a cover member that covers a power supply unit is attached. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a carriage showing an embodiment in which a bundling member for collecting ink tubes is provided on an upper portion of a relay portion of the carriage. The perspective view of the carriage which shows the other Example of a relay part.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, about the same structure in each Example, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and it demonstrates only in the first Example, The description of the structure is abbreviate | omitted in a subsequent Example.

  1 is an external perspective view of the printer according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the printer with the medium receiving tray protruding toward the front side of the apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a rear view of the printer according to the present embodiment. 4 is a side sectional view of a medium conveyance path in the printer according to the present embodiment, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the printer with the scanner opened, and FIG. It is a perspective view of a relay part.

  7 is a side view of the apparatus main body showing the positional relationship between the carriage, the waste ink storage section, and the power supply section, and FIG. 8 is a plan view of the apparatus main body showing the handling of the ink tube from the relay section to the ink tank. 9 is a perspective view of the apparatus main body showing the position of the circuit board in the apparatus main body, and FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the printer when the scanner is opened with the cover member covering the power supply unit attached. 11 is a perspective view of a carriage showing an embodiment in which a bundling member for collecting ink tubes is provided on the upper part of the relay portion of the carriage. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a carriage showing another embodiment of the relay portion.

  In the XYZ coordinate system shown in each figure, the X direction is the main scanning direction (movement direction) of the carriage, that is, the width direction of the recording apparatus, the Y direction is the depth direction of the recording apparatus, and the Z direction is the apparatus height direction. Is shown. In each figure, the + X direction side is the device left side, the -X direction side is the device right side, the -Y direction is the device front side, the + Y direction side is the device back side, and the + Z axis direction side is the device upper side. -Let the Z-axis direction side be a device lower side.

■■■ Example ■■■■
<<< Printer overview >>>
1 to 3, the printer 10 includes a housing 12, a device main body 14 (see FIGS. 4 and 8) that forms the inside of the housing 12, and an upper portion of the device main body 14. And a scanner 16 as an “opening and closing body”. In the present embodiment, the casing 12 constitutes the appearance of the apparatus main body 14. Further, a handle 16 a is provided on the side surface of the scanner 16 so that the user can place a finger when the scanner 16 is opened and closed with respect to the housing 12.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a panel unit 18 constituting an operation unit of the printer 10 is provided on the front side of the housing 12 so as to be rotatable with respect to the housing 12. The panel unit 18 is provided with display means 20 such as a display panel.

  A cover 22 is rotatably attached to the casing 12 below the panel unit 18 on the front side of the casing 12. The apparatus main body 14 is provided with a medium receiving tray 24 (see FIG. 4). The medium receiving tray 24 is in a first position in a state of being accommodated in the apparatus main body 14 (see FIG. 1) and in a second state in which the apparatus main body 14 is projected to the apparatus front side of the apparatus main body 14, that is, the housing 12 (see FIG. 2). The position can be switched.

  A cover 26 is rotatably attached to the upper part on the back side of the housing 12. The cover 26 is configured to be switchable between a closed state with respect to the housing 12 shown in FIG. 1 and an open state with respect to the housing 12 shown in FIG. 2. When the cover 26 is open with respect to the housing 12, the medium can be inserted into the apparatus main body 14 in the housing 12 in the direction of arrow A. The inserted medium is an inclined medium shown in FIG. Guided by the guide path 28 and sent downstream in the transport direction.

  Further, as an example, a plurality of ink tanks 30 as “liquid storage portions” are mounted on the right side surface of the housing 12 in the apparatus width direction. In FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, six ink tanks 30 are mounted on the right side surface of the housing 12. The ink tank 30 is not limited to the configuration that is mounted on the housing 12, and may be configured to be separated from the housing 12.

  Each ink tank 30 contains ink as “liquid”. As an example, the ink tank 30 contains black, magenta, light magenta, cyan, light cyan, and yellow inks. In addition, an inlet 30 a through which ink can be injected into the ink tank 30 is provided at the top of the ink tank 30. The ink tank 30 is configured to be able to replenish ink into the ink tank 30 by injecting ink from the injection port 30a.

  Although not shown, an ink tube connecting portion is provided at the lower portion of the ink tank 30. An ink tube 32 as a “tube” is connected to an ink tube connecting portion (not shown). The ink tube 32 connected to the ink tube connection portion of the ink tank 30 is drawn from the outside to the inside of the housing 12 through the notch portion 34 formed in the housing 12, and the relay portion 38 of the carriage 36 described later. (See FIG. 5).

  In addition, referring to FIG. 3, an inlet 42 for connecting a power plug 40 (see FIGS. 1 and 7) for supplying power from an external power source to the printer 10 is provided on the rear side of the housing 12. As an example, the inlet 42 is provided at the right end (left side when viewed from the rear of the apparatus) of the housing 12 in the apparatus width direction.

  Next, the configuration of the apparatus main body 14 will be described with reference to FIG. A medium accommodating portion 44 that accommodates a medium is provided at a lower portion of the apparatus main body 14. In the present embodiment, the medium accommodating portion 44 is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body 14 from the front side of the apparatus by opening the cover 22 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) with respect to the housing 12.

  A carriage 36 is provided above the medium accommodating portion 44 in the apparatus height direction. The carriage 36 is configured to reciprocate in the apparatus width direction. A recording head 46 (see FIGS. 4 and 6) is provided below the carriage 36. In this embodiment, the recording head 46 is configured to eject ink as “liquid” toward the lower side in the apparatus height direction.

  Here, the conveyance path of the medium stored in the medium storage unit 44 will be described. In FIG. 4, a thick line with a symbol P indicates a guide path for a medium conveyed from the medium storage unit 44 to the medium receiving tray 24.

  The medium accommodated in the medium accommodating part 44 is fed from the medium accommodating part 44 toward the feeding roller 47 located on the downstream side in the transport direction by the pickup roller 45, and is curved and reversed by the feeding roller 47. It is transported from the back side in the apparatus depth direction, which is the medium transport direction, toward the front side. Then, the medium is transported to an area of the carriage 36 that faces the recording head 46, and after recording is performed on the recording surface of the medium by the recording head 46, the medium is unfolded on the apparatus main body 14, that is, on the front side of the housing 12. It is discharged to the medium receiving tray 24. Further, the medium inserted from above the printer 10 with the cover 26 opened is guided to the medium guide path 28 and conveyed to an area facing the recording head 46, and recording is performed at the recording head 46. Then, after recording is performed, it is discharged to the medium receiving tray 24.

<<< Configuration of Carriage and Relay Section >>>
Next, the carriage 36 and the relay unit 38 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. A guide shaft 48 extending in the apparatus width direction is inserted into an end of the carriage 36 on the apparatus depth direction side. The carriage 36 is guided by a guide shaft 48 and is configured to reciprocate in the apparatus width direction by a carriage drive means (not shown). As an example, as shown in FIG. 5, a state where the carriage 36 is positioned at the right end of the apparatus main body 14 in the apparatus width direction is a home position of the carriage 36.

  Referring to FIG. 6, the carriage 36 includes a box-shaped housing 50 that opens upward in the apparatus height direction. A recording head 46 is attached to the lower part of the housing 50. A plurality of relay portions 38 are detachably attached to the box-shaped housing 50 from the upper side in the apparatus height direction with respect to the housing 50. The plurality of relay portions 38 are arranged side by side in a direction that intersects the apparatus width direction that is the movement direction of the carriage 36, that is, in the apparatus depth direction. As an example, the relay unit 38 is provided corresponding to the number of ink tanks 30. In this embodiment, six relay portions 38 are attached to the housing 50 corresponding to the six ink tanks 30.

  Further, the relay unit 38 is configured to be able to supply ink to the recording head 46 in a state where the relay unit 38 is mounted on the housing 50 of the carriage 36. An ink tube connection portion 38 a is provided on the upper surface of each relay portion 38. As an example, the ink tube connecting portion 38a is arranged on the right side in the apparatus width direction with respect to the center position of the relay section 38 in the apparatus width direction. An ink tube 32 extending from the ink tank 30 is connected to each ink tube connection portion 38a. That is, the ink tube 32 can supply ink from the ink tank 30 to the relay portion 38 of the carriage 36, and thus to the recording head 46.

<<< Ink tube handling >>>
With reference to FIGS. 5 and 7 to 9, each element constituting the apparatus main body 14 and the handling of the ink tube 32 in the apparatus main body 14 will be described. First, each element which comprises the apparatus main body 14 is demonstrated. With reference to FIGS. 5 and 8, a power supply unit 52 is disposed on the front side of the carriage 36 in the apparatus depth direction in the apparatus main body 14. The power supply unit 52 is provided above the medium receiving tray 24, that is, the medium conveyance path, in the apparatus height direction.

  Referring to FIG. 7, a cable 54 extending from the inlet 42 provided on the back side to the power supply unit 52 is wired at the right end of the apparatus main body 14 in the apparatus width direction. The cable 54 extends from the inlet 42 on the rear side to the front side in the apparatus depth direction at the right end of the apparatus body 14 in the apparatus width direction, and extends from the lower side in the apparatus height direction to the upper side at a position corresponding to the power supply unit 52 in the apparatus depth direction. And is connected to the power supply unit 52.

  Referring to FIG. 8, a tray drive motor 56 is disposed on the left side of the power supply unit 52 in the apparatus width direction. The tray drive motor 56 drives the medium receiving tray 24 along the apparatus depth direction, and switches between the first position and the second position in the medium receiving tray 24. The tray drive motor 56 is supplied with power from the power supply unit 52. The power supply unit 52 is configured to supply power to the driving target including the carriage 36 in the printer 10 when the driving target is driven.

  In addition, referring to FIG. 7, at the right end of the apparatus main body 14 in the apparatus width direction, a cap part 58, a pump 60, and a waste ink storage part 62 as a “waste liquid storage part” (see the broken line part in FIG. 7). And are provided. More specifically, the pump 60, the cap part 58, and the waste ink storage part 62 are arranged in this order from the back side in the apparatus depth direction to the front side. The cap portion 58 is provided at a position facing the recording head 46 when the carriage 36 is located at the home position. Further, the waste ink storage unit 62 is detachable from the apparatus main body 14 as an example, and is configured to be replaceable.

  The cap unit 58 is configured to be able to switch between a cap state in which the recording head 46 is capped and a non-cap state in which the recording head 46 is separated from the recording head 46 with the carriage 36 positioned at the home position.

  The cap part 58 is connected to the pump 60 by a waste ink tube (not shown). When the pump 60 is driven in a cap state where the cap unit 58 caps the recording head 46, a negative pressure is generated in the cap unit 58 via a waste ink tube connecting the cap unit 58 and the pump 60. By this negative pressure, ink is sucked from the nozzles of the recording head 46, and clogging of the nozzles and mixing of bubbles can be eliminated.

  Then, the waste ink as “waste liquid” generated in the cap unit 58 is sucked by the pump 60 through the waste ink tube. The sucked waste ink passes through a waste ink tube 64 extending from the pump 60, is supplied to the waste ink storage unit 62, and is stored in the waste ink storage unit 62.

  Next, referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, a circuit board 66 is provided as a control means for controlling the printer 10 on the lower side in the apparatus height direction at the left end of the apparatus body 14 in the apparatus width direction. The circuit board 66 includes a plurality of electronic components. The printer 10 is electrically connected to a plurality of driving objects, and is configured to control driving of these driving objects. In FIG. 8, a region surrounded by a broken line indicates a region where the circuit board 66 is provided in the apparatus main body 14. The circuit board 66 is connected to the power supply unit 52 by a cable 68.

  Next, handling of the ink tube 32 will be described. The ink tube 32 extends to the left in the apparatus width direction from the ink tube connection portion 38 a of the relay portion 38 of the carriage 36. The ink tube 32 extending to the left in the apparatus width direction changes its direction from the left in the apparatus width direction to the right while curving toward the front in the apparatus depth direction.

  Here, an ink tube fixing member 70 is attached to an upper portion of the power supply unit 52 located on the back side of the panel unit 18 in the apparatus depth direction. As an example, the ink tube fixing member 70 is provided with a plurality of through holes arranged side by side in the apparatus depth direction. The ink tubes 32 whose directions are changed to the right in the apparatus width direction are inserted into the plurality of through holes, respectively. As an example, the ink tube fixing member 70 is provided with the same six through holes as the number of the ink tanks 30 and the relay portions 38.

  The ink tube 32 inserted into the through hole of the ink tube fixing member 70 extends rightward in the apparatus width direction from the through hole, passes through the notch 34 provided at the right end of the housing 12, and passes through the notch 34. 14 extends from the inside to the outside and is connected to the ink tank 30.

  More specifically, the ink tube fixing member 70 comes into contact with the bottom of the scanner 16 when the scanner 16 is closed with respect to the housing 12, so that the scanner 16 is completely in contact with the housing 12. Avoid being closed. Since the scanner 16 is not completely closed with respect to the housing 12, a space 76 (which connects the outside and the inside of the housing 12 between the notch portion 34 of the housing 12 and the scanner 16 ( 1) is formed. The ink tube 32 extends from the inside of the housing 12 to the outside using this space 76. In the state where the scanner 16 is not completely closed with respect to the housing 12, at least a part of the scanner 16 enters the inside of the housing 12 and a part of the side surface of the scanner 16 through the notch 34. That is, the handle 16a is exposed (see FIGS. 1 to 3).

  The path length of the ink tube 32 from the ink tube connection portion 38a of the relay portion 38 of the carriage 36 to the ink tube fixing member 70 is set to a length corresponding to the movement amount of the carriage 36 in the apparatus width direction. Yes. When the carriage 36 moves leftward in the apparatus width direction, the ink tube 32 also moves leftward in the apparatus width direction. At this time, the ink tube 32 extending from the ink tube connecting portion 38a of the relay portion 38 of the carriage 36 crosses over the circuit board 66 and the tray drive motor 56 (see FIG. 8) in the apparatus height direction and is fixed to the ink tube. It extends to the member 70.

  Further, in the ink tube 32, the path from the ink tube fixing member 70 to the ink tank 30 is such that the ink tube 32 passes above the cable 54 extending from the inlet 42 to the power supply unit 52 and the waste ink storage unit 62 in the apparatus height direction. Has been circulated. As shown in FIG. 7, the region around the ink tube 32 in the housing 12 in the apparatus height direction is located above the cap portion 58 and the pump 60.

<<< Example of change of embodiment >>>
(1) In this embodiment, the ink tube fixing member 70 is directly fixed to the power supply unit 52. Instead of this configuration, as shown in FIG. 10, a cover member that covers the power supply unit 52 and the tray drive motor 56 is provided. 72 may be provided in the housing 12, and the ink tube fixing member 70 may be attached to the upper surface of the cover member 72 to fix the ink tube 32.
(2) In this embodiment, the ink tube fixing member 70 is directly fixed to the power supply unit 52 and the ink tube 32 is fixed to the power supply unit 52. Instead of this configuration, the ink tube fixing member 70 is provided. Alternatively, the ink tube 32 may not be fixed to the housing 12.
(3) In this embodiment, the ink tube 32 is configured to connect the ink tank 30 and the relay unit 38 with a separate ink tube, but instead of this configuration, the ink tank 30 and the relay unit 38 are connected to each other. You may comprise with the multiple tube which formed the ink tube 32 which connects between them integrally.

(4) Further, as shown in FIG. 11, a bundling member 78 is provided on the upper surface of the relay portion 38 provided on the carriage 36 so that the ink tubes 32 extended from the ink tube connection portion 38a are integrated. May be. The plurality of ink tubes 32 extending from the binding member 78 toward the ink tube fixing member 70 may be combined. Further, in the ink tube 32, a plurality of ink tubes 32 are bound by a binding band or the like at an appropriate interval in the path from the binding member 78 to the ink tube fixing member 70, and the integration of the ink tubes 32 is maintained. May be.
(5) In this embodiment, the relay unit 38 is configured such that the ink tube connection unit 38a is provided on the upper surface of the relay unit 38 and the ink tube 32 extends from the ink tube connection unit 38a. Instead, as shown in FIG. 12, the ink tube 32 may be extended from the left end of the relay unit 74 in the apparatus width direction.
(6) In the present embodiment, the ink tube 32 extended from the relay unit 38 is configured to bend toward the front side of the apparatus depth direction and pass above the power supply unit 52. However, instead of this configuration, the relay unit The ink tube 32 extended from 38 may be curved to the back side in the apparatus depth direction and may extend from the notch 34 to the outside of the housing 12 through the back side of the carriage 36.

(7) In the present embodiment, the ink tube 32 is extended from the notch 34 in a state where the scanner 16 is not completely closed with respect to the housing 12, but the notch 34 in the apparatus height direction is used. The ink tube 32 may be extended from the notch 34 even when the scanner 16 is completely closed with respect to the housing 12.
On the other hand, a gap is formed between the scanner 16 and the housing 12 so that the ink tube 32 is not crushed without forming the notch 34 and the scanner 16 is not completely closed with respect to the housing 12. It may be formed.
(8) In the present embodiment, the ink tube fixing member 70 is provided with a plurality of through holes, and the ink tubes 32 are fixed by passing the ink tubes 32 through the respective through holes. It may be configured to be directly fixed to the ink tube fixing member 70 or the power supply unit 52 by an adhesive member such as a double-sided tape.

  In summary, the printer 10 includes a recording head 46 that ejects ink toward a medium, a carriage 36 that can move in a direction that intersects the conveyance direction of the medium, that is, the apparatus width direction, and the carriage 36. A housing 12 that forms the outside of the apparatus main body 14, an ink tank 30 that is disposed outside the housing 12 and stores ink, and a carriage 36, and is sent from the ink tank 30 toward the recording head 46. A plurality of relay units 38 and 74, an ink tube 32 that supplies ink from the ink tank 30 to the relay units 38 and 74, and a scanner 16 that opens and closes the upper portion of the housing 12. 38 and 74 are arranged side by side in the apparatus depth direction, which is the direction intersecting the moving direction of the carriage 36 in the carriage 36. Vignetting, ink tube 32, from the carriage 36, are on the outside of the casing 12 passes between the housing 12 and the scanner 16.

  According to the above configuration, the ink tank 30 that stores ink is provided outside the casing 12 that forms the outside of the apparatus main body 14, and the relay unit 38 provided on the carriage 36 is provided from the ink tank 30. Since the ink is supplied to 74, it is possible to suppress the balance of the remaining amount of liquid between the plurality of relay portions 38 and 74 provided on the carriage 36. In the carriage 36, the plurality of relay portions 38 and 74 are arranged side by side in the apparatus depth direction that intersects the moving direction of the carriage 36, so that the dimension of the carriage 36 in the moving direction can be suppressed. That is, the size in the lateral width direction of the device, that is, the size in the device width direction can be suppressed. As described above, it is possible to provide a recording apparatus capable of obtaining a good recording result without variation while suppressing the lateral width of the apparatus.

  A power supply unit 52 that supplies electric power for driving a drive target including the carriage 36 is provided, and the power supply unit 52 is a device for a moving region of the carriage 36 in a device depth direction that intersects the moving direction of the carriage 36. The ink tube 32 is fixed to the upper part of the power supply unit 52 while being positioned on the near side and above the medium conveyance path in the vertical direction.

  A power supply unit 52 that supplies electric power for driving a drive target including the carriage 36 is provided, and the power supply unit 52 is a device for a moving region of the carriage 36 in a device depth direction that intersects the moving direction of the carriage 36. Located on the near side and above the medium conveyance path in the vertical direction, the upper portion of the power supply unit 52 is covered by the cover member 72, and the ink tube 32 is fixed to the upper surface of the cover member 72. .

  An inlet 42 for connecting the power plug 40 is provided on the back side of the apparatus in the apparatus depth direction, which is a direction intersecting the moving direction of the carriage 36, and the ink tube 32 is provided above the cable 54 for connecting the inlet 42 and the power supply unit 52. Pass through.

  A notch 34 is formed in the housing 12, and the ink tube 32 protrudes from the inside to the outside of the housing 12 through the notch 34.

  In a state where the scanner 16 is closed, at least a part of the scanner 16 enters the inside of the housing 12, and a handle 16 a which is a part of the side surface of the scanner 16 is exposed through the notch 34.

  In the apparatus depth direction, which is a direction intersecting the moving direction of the carriage 36, the panel unit 18 constituting the operation unit of the printer 10 is provided on the front side of the apparatus, and the ink tube 32 is fixed on the back side of the panel unit 18. .

  A waste ink storage unit 62 that stores ink discharged as waste ink from the recording head 46 is provided, and the ink tube 32 passes over the waste ink storage unit 62.

  A first position drawn into the housing 12 and a second position protruding from the housing 12 are movable. At the second position, a medium receiving tray 24 for receiving the discharged medium, and a medium receiving tray 24, and a tray drive motor 56. The ink tube 32 passes over the tray drive motor 56.

  A circuit board 66 constituting control means for controlling the apparatus is provided, and the ink tube 32 passes over the circuit board 66.

  The ink tubes 32 may be integrated so as to be integrated at an appropriate position by a binding member such as a binding band. In the present embodiment, the ink tubes 32 are individually provided for each ink color. However, for example, a plurality of ink flow paths are provided in a flexible belt-like member, and a plurality of colors of ink are provided by one belt-like member. You may comprise so that it may distribute | circulate.

  In addition, the plurality of ink tubes 32 may be configured to be bound by the binding member 78 at the upper portion of the relay portion 38 and extend outward from the carriage 36 in a bundled state.

  The ink tank 30 has an injection port 30a through which ink can be injected.

In this embodiment, the ink tank 30, the ink tube 32, and the relay portions 38 and 74 according to the present invention are applied to an ink jet printer as an example of a recording apparatus. However, the present invention can also be applied to other liquid ejecting apparatuses in general.
Here, the liquid ejecting apparatus uses an ink jet recording head, and is not limited to a recording apparatus such as a printer, a copier, and a facsimile machine that discharges ink from the recording head to perform recording on a recording medium. And a device for ejecting a liquid corresponding to the application from a liquid ejecting head corresponding to the ink jet recording head to an ejected medium corresponding to the recording medium, and attaching the liquid to the ejected medium.

  In addition to the recording head, as a liquid ejecting head, a color material ejecting head used for manufacturing a color filter such as a liquid crystal display, and an electrode material (conductive paste) used for forming an electrode such as an organic EL display or a surface emitting display (FED) Examples thereof include an ejection head, a bioorganic matter ejection head used for biochip production, and a sample ejection head as a precision pipette.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and these are also included in the scope of the present invention. Needless to say.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Printer, 12, 50 ... Housing | casing, 14 ... Apparatus main body, 16 ... Scanner, 16a ... Handle, 18 ... Panel unit, 20 ... Display means, 22, 26 ... Cover, 24 ... Medium receiving tray, 28 ... Medium guidance 30 ... Ink tank, 30a ... Injection port, 32 ... Ink tube, 34 ... Notch, 36 ... Carriage, 38, 74 ... Relay part, 38a ... Ink tube connection part, 40 ... Power plug, 42 ... Inlet, 44: Medium storage unit, 45 ... Pickup roller, 46 ... Recording head, 47 ... Feeding roller, 48 ... Guide shaft, 52 ... Power supply unit, 54, 68 ... Cable, 56 ... Tray drive motor, 58 ... Cap unit, 60 ... Pump, 62 ... Waste ink reservoir, 64 ... Waste ink tube, 66 ... Circuit board, 70 ... Ink tube fixing member, 72 ... Cover member 76 ... space, 78 ... binding member, A ... arrows

Claims (13)

A carriage having a recording head for ejecting liquid toward the medium and movable in a direction intersecting the medium conveyance direction;
A housing that forms the outside of the apparatus body including the carriage;
A liquid storage part that is disposed outside the housing and stores the liquid;
A plurality of relay portions that are provided on the carriage and relay the liquid sent from the liquid storage portion toward the recording head;
A tube for supplying the liquid from the liquid storage unit to the relay unit;
An opening and closing body for opening and closing the upper portion of the housing,
The plurality of relay portions are provided side by side in a direction crossing the moving direction of the carriage in the carriage,
The tube protrudes from the carriage to the outside of the casing through the casing and the opening / closing body.
A recording apparatus. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a power supply unit that supplies power when driving a driving target including the carriage.
The power supply unit is positioned on the front side of the apparatus with respect to the carriage movement region in the apparatus depth direction, which is a direction intersecting the movement direction of the carriage, and is positioned on the upper side with respect to the medium conveyance path in the vertical direction. ,
The tube is fixed to the upper part of the power supply unit.
A recording apparatus. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a power supply unit that supplies power when driving a driving target including the carriage.
The power supply unit is positioned on the front side of the apparatus with respect to the carriage movement region in the apparatus depth direction, which is a direction intersecting the movement direction of the carriage, and is positioned on the upper side with respect to the medium conveyance path in the vertical direction. ,
The upper part of the power supply unit is covered with a cover member,
The tube is fixed to the upper surface of the cover member.
A recording apparatus. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an inlet for connecting a power plug on the rear side of the apparatus in the apparatus depth direction that is a direction intersecting the moving direction of the carriage.
The tube passes over a cable connecting the inlet and the power supply;
A recording apparatus. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the casing is formed with a notch,
The tube has gone out from the inside of the housing through the notch,
A recording apparatus. 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein when the opening / closing body is closed, at least a part of the opening / closing body enters the inside of the casing, and the opening / closing body is inserted through the notch. Part of the side is exposed,
A recording apparatus. 7. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a panel constituting an operation unit of the recording apparatus is disposed on a front side of the apparatus in an apparatus depth direction that is a direction intersecting a moving direction of the carriage. With units,
The tube is fixed on the back side of the panel unit.
A recording apparatus. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a waste liquid storage unit that stores the liquid discharged as waste liquid from the recording head.
The tube passes over the waste liquid reservoir;
A recording apparatus. 9. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording apparatus is movable between a first position drawn into the casing and a second position protruding from the casing. A media receiving tray for receiving the ejected media at a position;
A tray drive motor that is a drive source of the medium receiving tray,
The tube passes over the tray drive motor;
A recording apparatus. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a circuit board constituting a control means for controlling the apparatus,
The tube passes over the circuit board;
A recording apparatus. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the plurality of tubes are integrally formed.
A recording apparatus. 11. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of tubes are bound by a binding member at an upper portion of the relay portion and extend outward from the carriage in a collective state. ,
A recording apparatus. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the liquid storage unit has an injection port through which the liquid can be injected.
A recording apparatus.

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