JPH0760980A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] Easily remove the ink tank that needs to be replaced from the multiple ink tanks installed side by side. [Structure] Ink tanks 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d for supplying recording inks of different colors to a recording head are mounted in parallel in a fixed guide 4 and mounted on a recording device, and are attached to and detached from each ink tank. The handles 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d at the time are formed on the front surface, and the adjacent handles are at different positions.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus, such as an ink jet system, which is detachably provided with a plurality of ink tanks for storing ink to be supplied to a recording head and ejects ink from the recording head onto a recording medium for recording. It is about.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Printers, fax machines, copying machines, etc.
In various devices, an inkjet recording device is being widely used as a means for recording on a recording medium.

The ink jet recording apparatus is constructed so that ink is ejected from a recording head facing a recording medium by utilizing heat energy, and the ink jet recording apparatus is housed in a separate device case as a single unit. Examples include various electronic devices for creating and inputting recorded information, such as word processors, personal computers, and the like, which are incorporated in a device case and integrated with the electronic device.

An ink jet recording apparatus for color recording has a plurality of replaceable ink tanks, and an ink supply pipe connected to the recording head is inserted into the ink tank to supply ink to the recording head.

When the ink in the ink tank is exhausted by the recording operation, the ink supply pipe is removed, the ink tank is replaced, and the ink supply pipe is inserted again to continue the recording operation.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a main part of a conventional recording apparatus showing a state in which a plurality of ink tanks are mounted.

Reference numerals 11a, 11b, 11c and 11d denote ink tanks for storing recording inks of different colors, and grips 12a, 12b, 12c and 12d at the time of attachment / detachment are formed so as to be lined up in front. Any ink tank can be separately attached to and detached from the head unit 5 to replenish the recording ink.

[0008]

However, recent recording devices tend to be miniaturized, and each component is made as small as possible. However, operability is being sacrificed by miniaturization. For example, of the ink tanks shown in FIG. 4, when, for example, 11b becomes empty, a finger is put on the handle 12b and the ink tank 11b is lifted and removed. However, the current state of the ink tank is often smaller than the width of the finger, and the finger catches on the handle 12a of the ink tank 11a on the right side of the ink tank 11b or the handle 12c of the ink tank 11c on the left side of the ink tank 11b. Ink tank 11a or 11 that may be omitted
If you do not remove c, it may come off even if you do not remove it, connection failure of the head unit 3 and the joint part of the ink tank will occur, the stable supply of ink will be hindered, and the print quality will be poor and the worst. In this case, problems such as non-ejection of ink may occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording apparatus in which even when a plurality of small-sized ink tanks are arranged close to each other, each ink tank can be easily attached and detached so as not to affect other ink tanks. It is what

[0010]

For this reason, the recording apparatus according to the present invention is provided with a plurality of ink tanks storing ink to be supplied to the recording head, which are arranged side by side and can be attached and detached, and handle means for individually removing the ink tanks. It is intended to achieve the above-mentioned object by a configuration characterized in that the ink tanks are provided so as not to be adjacent to each other and to be at different positions in a mounted state.

[0011]

With the above construction, when a required ink tank is to be exchanged among a plurality of ink tanks mounted side by side, the grip means of the ink tank can be detached by putting a finger on the handle and the replacement can be attached. When the removal is started, the handle means of the adjacent ink tank is located at a position different from the handle means on which the finger is placed, the finger is not caught, and the mounting state of the plurality of ink tanks is not abnormal.

[0012]

EXAMPLES A recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described by way of examples.

In the embodiment, a plurality of replaceable ink tanks are detachably provided, an ink supply pipe connected to the recording head is inserted into the ink tank, and ink is supplied to the recording head.
The recording medium is configured to record with ink supplied from an ink tank. The present embodiment is characterized by the structure relating to the ink tank. Since other configurations can be variously configured in accordance with the configuration of the conventional recording apparatus, description thereof will be omitted, and the ink tank portion will be described below.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a plurality of ink tanks according to the first embodiment are mounted.

Reference numerals 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d are ink tanks for storing recording inks of different colors, and grips 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d for attachment and detachment are formed on the front surface.
They are mounted in parallel in the fixed guide 4 and connected to the recording head of the recording apparatus.

The handle 2 of the ink tank 1a, 1c
Similarly, a and 2c are formed at the intermediate height position on the front surface, but the handles 2b and 2d of the ink tanks 1b and 1d are formed on the upper end portion of the front surface, and in the mounted state, as shown in the figure,
Adjacent handles 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d are at different positions from each other, and any of the ink tanks can be independently attached and detached.

For example, when replacing the ink tank 1b from the plurality of ink tanks 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d mounted side by side, the handle 2b of the ink tank 1b is removed by hooking it with a finger. At this time, the handles 2a and 2c of the adjacent ink tanks 1a and 1c are below the handles 2b on which the fingers are hung, and the fingers are not caught. Further, when replacing the ink tank 1c, the handle 2c of the ink tank 1c is put on a finger to remove and replace it. At this time, the handle 2 of the adjacent ink tanks 1b and 1d is attached.
b and 2d are above the handle 2c on which the finger is placed, and the finger is not caught. When the ink tank 1c is lifted up, it suffices to hold the body of the ink tank 1c. Will never occur.

The arrangement of the grips 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d is not limited to the example shown in the figure, and the grips 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d are arranged in a step-like manner. By configuring the handle so that it is not located at the same position as the adjacent handle at the final stage, the same effect as described above can be exhibited.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a plurality of ink tanks according to the second embodiment are mounted.

Ink tanks 1e, 1 provided for the second embodiment
No handles for attachment / detachment are formed on f, 1g and 1h. Instead, L-shaped handle levers 3e, 3 for detachment are provided.
f, 3g, and 3h are independently rotatably supported on the shaft 4 on the apparatus side, and the handle levers 3e, 3f, 3g, and 3h are bent from the lower surface of each ink tank along the front surface to the end portions. A handle part is formed on the finger to remove it.

The handle levers 3e and 3g for removal
Of the ink tanks 3e, 3g is provided at a substantially central position on the front surface of the ink tanks 3e, 3g, and the handle portions of the removing handle levers 3f, 3h are provided at a position lower than the center of the front surface of the ink tanks 3f, 3h. When the tanks 1e, 1f, 1g, and 1h are mounted, the handle portions of the adjacent handle levers are at different positions.

With the above structure, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be exhibited.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a plurality of ink tanks according to the third embodiment are mounted.

On the upper surfaces of the ink tanks 1j, 1k, 1m, 1n, grips 4j, 4k, 4m, 4n for attachment and detachment are provided, and adjacent grips are provided at different positions.

With the above structure, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be exhibited.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When exchanging a necessary ink tank from a plurality of ink tanks mounted side by side, the gripping means of the ink tank can be detached by putting a finger on the grip means and the exchanging attachment can be made. When the removal is started, the handle means of the adjacent ink tank is located at a position different from the handle means with the finger, and the fingers are not caught, and the mounting state of the plurality of ink tanks does not become abnormal. The replacement operation is easy, and it is possible to prevent ink splattering, imperfect joining of joints, and the like.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a plurality of ink tanks according to a first embodiment are mounted.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a plurality of ink tanks according to a second embodiment are mounted.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a plurality of ink tanks according to a third embodiment are mounted.

FIG. 4 is a main part perspective view showing a state in which an ink tank of a conventional recording apparatus is mounted.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d Ink tanks 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d Handle for attaching / detaching 4 Fixed guide

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Toshimitsu Hirakue 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Hiroaki Noaki 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Kya Non-Incorporated (72) Inventor Yasuyuki Ishii 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Kenji Kurita 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. Within

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of ink tanks storing ink to be supplied to a recording head are arranged side by side so as to be attachable and detachable, and gripping means for individually removing the ink tanks are not adjacent to each other in an ink tank mounted state, but at different positions. A recording device characterized by being provided.