U.S. patent number RE48,556 [Application Number 16/235,207] was granted by the patent office on 2021-05-18 for ink jet recording apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Seiko Epson Corporation. The grantee listed for this patent is SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Taku Ishizawa, Yoshiaki Shimizu.
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United States Patent |
RE48,556 |
Ishizawa , et al. |
May 18, 2021 |
Ink jet recording apparatus
Abstract
.[.A tube support member that puts a tube connected to an ink
jet head and an ink tank in a bent state is provided. Accordingly,
when a pulling force acts between the bent support member and the
tube, a component force acting as contact force occurs at the
surface that makes contact with the tube, and a high degree of
friction is generated in response to this component force. The tube
is thus strongly supported in a state in which the tube does not
shift with the dimensions of the tube changing. Meanwhile, when the
pulling force is released, the component force is also eliminated,
and the tube is freed; the dimensions of the tube return to normal,
and the tension is eliminated..]. .Iadd.An ink jet recording
apparatus that prints using an ink jet head that is housed in a
carriage is provided. The apparatus includes an ink tank that is
provided outside of the carriage and is capable of being refilled.
The apparatus includes an ink tube that is connected to the ink jet
head and the ink tank and that has various flow paths that are
arranged in a horizontal direction on a downstream side in a medium
conveying direction. The ink tube has curved portion that forms a
turn shape upward from the ink tank toward the ink head when the
carriage reciprocates..Iaddend.
Inventors: |
Ishizawa; Taku (Shiojiri,
JP), Shimizu; Yoshiaki (Matsumoto, JP) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION |
Tokyo |
N/A |
JP |
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Assignee: |
Seiko Epson Corporation (Tokyo,
JP)
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Family
ID: |
1000005355860 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/235,207 |
Filed: |
December 28, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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15040467 |
Feb 10, 2016 |
RE47185 |
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Reissue of: |
13080600 |
Apr 5, 2011 |
8646885 |
Feb 11, 2014 |
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Reissue of: |
13080600 |
Apr 5, 2011 |
8646885 |
Feb 11, 2014 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Aug 31, 2010 [JP] |
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2010-193526 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B41J
2/175 (20130101); B41J 29/02 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B41J
2/175 (20060101); B41J 29/02 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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2005219483 |
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Aug 2005 |
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JP |
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2006231837 |
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Sep 2006 |
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JP |
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2006231837 |
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Sep 2006 |
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JP |
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2006305942 |
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Nov 2006 |
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JP |
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2007144905 |
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Jun 2007 |
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JP |
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2007144905 |
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Jun 2007 |
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JP |
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Other References
Notice of Allowance issued in U.S. Appl. No. 13/080,600 dated Oct.
2, 2013. cited by applicant .
Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 13/080,600 dated Jul. 1,
2013. cited by applicant .
Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 13/080,600 dated Oct. 15,
2012. cited by applicant .
Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 13/080,600 dated Feb. 27,
2013. cited by applicant .
Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 15/040,467 dated May 29,
2018. cited by applicant .
Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 15/040,467 dated Feb. 5,
2018. cited by applicant .
Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 15/040,467 dated Oct. 12,
2017. cited by applicant.
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Primary Examiner: McKane; Elizabeth L
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Workman Nydegger
Parent Case Text
.Iadd.This application is a Reissue application of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 13/080,600, filed Apr. 5, 2011, now U.S. Pat.
No. 8,646,885, which issued on Feb. 11, 2014 and claims priority to
Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-0050416. This application is
also a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/040,467,
filed Feb. 10, 2016, which is a Reissue application of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 13/080,600..Iaddend.
Claims
What is claimed is:
.[.1. An ink jet recording apparatus that prints using an ink jet
head, the apparatus comprising: a main recording apparatus body
that includes the ink jet head and an apparatus case that houses
the ink jet head; an ink tank unit, including an ink tank, that
includes a case that is separate from the apparatus case, the ink
tank being located within the case of the ink tank unit, such that
the ink tank unit and the ink tank are provided separate from the
main recording apparatus body; an ink tube, connected to the ink
jet head and the ink tank, that supplies ink from the ink tank to
the ink jet head; and a tube support member, having a bent-shape
surface that makes contact with the ink tube, that, when the ink
tube is pulled, causes friction to arise between the bent-shape
surfaces and the ink tube, the friction working against the pulling
force in order to suppress the ink tube from moving in an extension
direction of the ink tube, the ink tube being regulated by a first
regulation portion located on the ink tank unit and a second
regulation portion located on a portion of the tube support member,
the first and second regulation portions regulating the extension
direction of the ink tube within a predetermined angular range, the
bent-shape surface that make contact with the ink tube being formed
so as to correspond to the predetermined angular range..].
.[.2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the ink tank unit is connected to the apparatus case in a removable
state..].
.[.3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the ink tube includes a bridging tube portion that spans from the
tank unit to the main recording apparatus body; and the tube
support member causes friction to arise, on the side of the main
recording apparatus body, that works against a pulling force acting
on the bridging tube portion..].
.[.4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the ink tube includes a bridging tube portion that spans from the
tank unit to the main recording apparatus body; and the tube
support member causes friction to arise, on the side of the ink
tank unit, that works against a pulling force acting on the
bridging tube portion..].
.[.5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the ink tank unit is connected to the apparatus case in a removable
state; the apparatus case further houses a carriage unit in which
the ink jet head is installed and that moves back and forth, and a
tube guide that receives the ink tube that extends in the direction
of the movement of the carriage unit; and the tube support member
is disposed between a side wall of the apparatus case on the side
that is connected to the ink tank unit, and the tube guide..].
.[.6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the ink can be refilled into the ink tank..].
.[.7. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
the ink can be refilled into the ink tank..].
.[.8. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein
the ink can be refilled into the ink tank..].
.[.9. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein
the ink can be refilled into the ink tank..].
.[.10. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5,
wherein the ink can be refilled into the ink tank..].
.Iadd.11. An ink jet recording apparatus that prints using an ink
jet head, the apparatus comprising: a main recording apparatus body
that includes the ink jet head and a carriage that houses the head
unit; an ink tank which is provided outside the carriage and which
supplies the ink to the ink jet head and is capable of refill into
the ink tank; an ink tube connected from the ink tank to the inkjet
head and having a plurality of flow paths arranged in a horizontal
direction on a downstream side in a medium conveying direction,
wherein the ink tube has a curved portion that forms a turn shape
upward from the ink tank side toward the inkjet head, the ink tube
being controlled by a first portion located on the ink tank unit
and a second portion located on a portion of a tube support member,
the first and second portions controlling the extension direction
of the ink tube within a predetermined angular range, a bent-shape
surface of the second portion making contact with the ink tube
being formed so as to correspond to the predetermined angular
range, wherein a tube guide that guides the ink tube is positioned
on a front side of the carriage on a downstream side in the medium
conveying direction, and extends in the horizontal direction,
wherein a guide member is provided on the carriage and bends and
holds the ink tube along a guide portion, the ink tube extending in
a moving direction of the carriage, wherein the tube guide and the
guide member are overlapping viewed from the vertical
direction..Iaddend.
.Iadd.12. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 11,
wherein a discharge frame for supporting a roller is provided on a
downstream side of the carriage in the transport direction of the
medium, and wherein the curved portion is positioned above the
discharge frame..Iaddend.
.Iadd.13. The inkjet recording according to claim 12, wherein a
tube guide that guides the tube is positioned on the front side of
the carriage and above the discharge frame..Iaddend.
.Iadd.14. The recording apparatus according to claim 13, wherein
the tube guide has a bottom plate, and a standing portion that
stands from the bottom plate..Iaddend.
.Iadd.15. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 13,
wherein a guide member is provided in the carriage and bends and
holds the ink tube along a guide portion, the ink tube extending in
a moving direction of the carriage, and wherein the guide member
extends in a horizontal direction on a discharge frame side of the
carriage..Iaddend.
.Iadd.16. The recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein
the ink tank is positioned on a side opposite to the curved
portion..Iaddend.
.Iadd.17. The recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a
protective plate for protecting the ink tube is formed on the ink
tube..Iaddend.
.Iadd.18. An ink jet recording apparatus that prints using an ink
jet head, the apparatus comprising: a main recording apparatus body
that includes the ink jet head and a carriage that houses the head
unit; an ink tank which is provided outside the carriage and which
supplies the ink to the ink jet head and is capable of refill into
the ink tank; and an ink tube which connects from the ink tank to
the head unit, wherein the ink tank is provided with a connecting
portion to which one end side of the ink tube is connected and a
shift prevention member for preventing disengagement of the ink
tube from the connecting portion, wherein the shift prevention
member is composed of two parts, with one of the two parts having a
curve-shaped surface formed so as to correspond to a predetermined
angular range within which the shift prevention member controls
movement of the ink tube, and wherein the ink tube is supported by
the two parts..Iaddend.
Description
The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No.
2010-193526, filed Aug. 31, 2010 is expressly incorporated by
reference herein.
BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus
that, when a pulling force has acted in the extension direction of
a tube whose extension direction from a support location is
regulated within a predetermined angular range, supports the tube
so as to prevent the tube from shifting in the extension
direction.
2. Related Art
Thus far, a tube support member that includes a tube receiving
opening into which a tube is inserted and that supports the tube by
the inner circumferential surface of the tube receiving opening
making contact with the outer circumferential surface of the tube
is known as a tube support member used in an ink jet recording
apparatus (for example, see JP-A-2006-231837).
Incidentally, with such a configuration, when a pulling force acts
on the tube, friction and the like between the outer
circumferential surface of the tube and the inner surface of the
tube receiving opening causes antagonism with the resulting tension
while causing the dimensions of the tube to deform; in this state,
even if the pulling force is released, the dimensional deformation
will not be completely ameliorated due to the friction acting on
the tube, and the dimensional change will to an extent remain. In
other words, with the stated configuration, there is a problem in
that the residual tension continues to act even after the pulling
force has been released, and thus not only does the cross-sectional
surface area of the tube change, but the tube deteriorates more
easily, is more susceptible to failures, and so on.
SUMMARY
An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide an ink
jet recording apparatus capable of effectively preventing a tube
from moving in response to a pulling force and capable of restoring
a tube to its original state upon the release of the pulling
force.
An ink jet recording apparatus according to an aspect of the
invention is an ink jet recording apparatus that prints using an
ink jet head, and includes: a main recording apparatus body that
includes the ink jet head and an apparatus case that houses the ink
jet head; an ink tank unit, including an ink tank, that is provided
separate from the main recording apparatus body; an ink tube,
connected to the ink jet head and the ink tank, that supplies ink
from the ink tank to the ink jet head; and a tube support member,
having a bent-shape surface that makes contact with the ink tube,
that, when the ink tube has been pulled, causes friction to arise
between the bent-shape surface and the ink tube, the friction
working against the pulling force in order to suppress the ink tube
from moving in the extension direction of the ink tube.
In this case, it is preferable for the tube to be configured of
silicone rubber.
According to this configuration, when a pulling force acts between
the bent-shape surface and the ink tube, a component force acting
as contact force occurs at the friction contact surface, which is
the surface that makes contact with the ink tube, and a high degree
of friction is generated in response to this component force.
Through this, the tube is strongly supported in a state in which
the tube does not shift with the dimensions of the tube changing.
Meanwhile, when the pulling force is released, the component force
is also eliminated, and the tube is freed; the dimensions of the
tube return to normal, and the tension is eliminated. In this
manner, the position of the tube can be effectively prevented from
shifting in response to a pulling force, and the tube can be
restored to its original state when the pulling force is released.
Accordingly, deterioration, failures, and so on in the tube can be
prevented.
In addition, the ink tank unit is connected to the apparatus case
in a removable state.
In addition, the ink tube includes a bridging tube portion that
spans from the tank unit to the main recording apparatus body, and
the tube support member causes friction to arise, on the side of
the main recording apparatus body, that works against a pulling
force acting on the bridging tube portion.
In addition, the ink tube includes a bridging tube portion that
spans from the tank unit to the main recording apparatus body, and
the tube support member causes friction to arise, on the side of
the ink tank unit, that works against a pulling force acting on the
bridging tube portion.
An ink jet recording apparatus according to another aspect of the
invention includes: a main recording apparatus body that includes
an ink jet head; a tank unit, including an ink tank, that is
connected to the main recording apparatus body in a removable
state; an ink tube, connected to the ink tank and the ink jet head,
that includes a bridging tube portion spanning from the tank unit
to the main recording apparatus body; a first shift prevention
portion, provided in the main recording apparatus body, that
includes the stated tube support member supporting a base area of
the bridging tube portion on the side of the main recording
apparatus body; and a second shift prevention member, provided in
the tank unit, that includes the stated tube support member
supporting the base area of the bridging tube portion on the side
of the tank unit.
According to this configuration, a highly-stable ink jet recording
apparatus can be provided by using the tube support member, which
is capable of suppressing degradation, failures, and so on in the
tube, to support the ink tube that connects the main recording
apparatus body to the tank unit that is removable from the main
recording apparatus body. In particular, it is possible to
effectively prevent the ink tube from pulling out of a flow channel
coupling on the side of the main recording apparatus body or a flow
channel coupling on the side of the tank unit due to an unforeseen
pulling force.
In the stated ink jet recording apparatus, it is preferable for the
first shift prevention portion to be provided in a lower portion of
the main recording apparatus body, for the second shift prevention
member to be provided in a lower portion of the tank unit, and for
the bridging tube portion to be provided in an inverse U-shape in
the upward direction.
According to this configuration, because the bridging tube portion
is provided so as to form an inverted U-shape (that is, a mountain
shape) in the upward direction, the bridging tube portion can be
given slack between the tank unit and the main recording apparatus
body while effectively using that space. Accordingly, tension
against the ink tube is canceled out by the slackened area, making
it possible to prevent the occurrence of a pulling force. In
addition, the movement range of the tank unit when the tank unit is
separated can be increased, increasing the convenience of the
apparatus.
In this case, it is preferable for the second shift prevention
member to further include a receiving member, disposed opposing the
tube support member, that regulates the position of the ink tube
relative to the tube support member.
According to this configuration, the receiving member that
regulates the position of the ink tube along with the tube support
member is provided opposing the tube support member (friction
contact surface), and thus the ink tube can be regulated in a
predetermined position even when the pulling force has been
eliminated.
In this case, it is preferable for multiple ink tubes to be
disposed in parallel, and for the friction contact surface to
extend in the direction that is parallel to the multiple bridging
tube portions in the multiple ink tubes and make contact with the
multiple bridging tube portions at the same time.
According to this configuration, the multiple bridging tube
portions can be supported at the same time by a single tube support
member (friction contact surface), and thus the configuration of
the ink jet recording apparatus can be simplified.
In this case, it is preferable for multiple second shift prevention
members to be provided in the tank unit, adjacent in the extension
direction of the bridging tube portion, and for each friction
contact surface of the multiple second shift prevention members to
make contact with the bridging tube portions from different shear
directions.
According to this configuration, multiple second shift prevention
members are disposed in the extension direction of the bridging
tube portions, making contact therewith from different shear
directions, which makes it possible to accommodate a pulling force
from a wider angular range.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an ink jet recording
apparatus according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the ink jet recording
apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the vicinity of an ink
supply portion.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a tank unit.
FIG. 5 is a bottom view illustrating the tank unit.
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the periphery
of a valve unit.
FIGS. 7A through 7C are descriptive diagrams illustrating the
effects of a pulling force acting on an ink tube that is in contact
with a friction contact surface.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating an intermediate
coupling.
FIGS. 9A and 9B are perspective views illustrating the periphery of
a guide unit.
FIG. 10A is a perspective view illustrating a tube holding member,
whereas FIGS. 10B and 10C are cross-sectional views illustrating
the tube holding member.
FIGS. 11A through 11C are descriptive diagrams illustrating a
process for installing ink tubes in a tube holding member.
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
Hereinafter, an ink jet recording apparatus according to an
embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the
appended drawings. This ink jet recording apparatus is an ink jet
printer that employs what is known as a CISS (Continuous Ink Supply
System); this printer prints image data onto print paper by an ink
jet head (carriage) making main scans in the horizontal direction
while the print paper makes sub scans in the vertical
direction.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an ink jet recording
apparatus 1. Here, descriptions will be provided assuming that the
depth direction in FIG. 1 is taken as the X-axis direction and the
horizontal direction that is orthogonal to the X-axis direction in
FIG. 1 is taken as the Y-axis direction.
As shown in FIG. 1, the ink jet recording apparatus 1 is configured
of a main recording apparatus body 2 and a tank unit 3 connected to
the main recording apparatus body 2 in a removable state; the
various constituent elements of the ink jet recording apparatus 1
are mounted in the main recording apparatus body 2 and the tank
unit 3. Specifically, the ink jet recording apparatus 1 includes a
transport unit 11 that transports the print paper (as single
sheets) in the X-axis direction (a transport direction), a printing
unit 12 that faces the upper side of the transported print paper
and that performs a printing process on the print paper,
off-carriage type ink tanks 51 for each of Y, M, C, and K colors,
and an ink supply portion 13 that supplies the Y, M, C, and K color
inks to the printing unit 12. The transport unit 11 and the
printing unit 12, as well as part of the ink supply portion 13, are
mounted in the main recording apparatus body 2, and the part of the
ink supply portion 13 that includes the ink tanks 51 for the Y, M,
C, and K colors is mounted in the tank unit 3.
The Y, M, C, and K color inks held in the tank unit 3 are sent to
an ink jet head 43 in the printing unit 12 via ink tubes 52
(mentioned later), and a printed image is formed on the print paper
by making main scans in which the ink jet head 43 ejects ink while
the print paper makes sub scans (that is, is transported
intermittently).
The outer contour of the main recording apparatus body 2 is formed
of a box-shaped apparatus case 15 (in FIG. 1, the upper part of the
case is not shown), and a pair (front and rear) of lock receiving
portions (not shown) for mounting the tank unit 3 is formed in the
left wall of the upper case. Meanwhile, the outer contour of the
tank unit 3 is formed of a box-shaped unit case 17, and a pair
(front and rear) of locking portions 17a, which interlock with
respective lock receiving portions, is formed in the right wall of
the unit case 17. In other words, by interlocking the locking
portions 17a with the lock receiving portions from above, the tank
unit 3 can be mounted in the main recording apparatus body 2 in a
removable state. Through this, the tank unit 3 can be connected to
the main recording apparatus body 2 in a removable state while the
ink tubes 52 are connected to the tank unit 3. Note that the tank
unit 3 is normally mounted in the main recording apparatus body 2
in a vertically upright orientation (an ink supply orientation),
and when the ink tanks 51 are refilled with ink, the ink tanks 51
are removed from the main recording apparatus body 2 and positioned
in a sideways orientation (an ink refill orientation).
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the transport unit 11 includes: a
paper tray 21 in which the print paper is set so as to be aligned
to the right; a separation roller 22 that feeds out the print paper
from the paper tray 21 one sheet at a time; paper feed rollers 23
and 23 (nip rollers), located downstream from the separation roller
22, that feed the print paper to the printing unit 12 along a
transport path R; a platen 24, located downstream from the paper
feed rollers 23 and 23, and opposes the printing unit 12 (head unit
42); a guide roller 25, located downstream from the platen 24, that
guides the print paper from above; paper discharge rollers 26 and
26 (nip rollers), located downstream from the guide roller 25, that
discharge the print paper from a paper discharge port (not shown);
and a paper discharge frame 27 that supports the guide roller 25
and the upper paper discharge roller 26.
In this case, the paper feed rollers 23 and 23 function as main
rollers that control the transport of the print paper (that is, the
sub scans), whereas the paper discharge rollers 26 and 26 function
as tension rollers (slip rollers) that apply tension to the print
paper that faces the upper side of the platen 24. The guide roller
25, meanwhile, pushes on the leading edge of the transported print
paper in order to prevent jamming. The print paper that is
introduced from the paper tray 21 by the separation roller 22 is
transported in the X-axis direction along the transport path R by
the paper feed rollers 23 and 23, the guide roller 25, and the
paper discharge rollers 26 and 26, and is discharged from the paper
discharge port after the printing is complete. In this case, the
feeding of the print paper during printing is intermittent
transport, or in other words, line-by-line feeding carried out as
sub scans.
The printing unit 12 includes: a guide frame 31 that is supported
by an apparatus frame 16 and extends across the entire width of the
Y-axis direction; a carriage unit 32 that is supported so as to be
capable of back-and-forth movement along the guide frame 31; and a
carriage movement mechanism (not shown) that moves the carriage
unit 32 along the guide frame 31. The ink jet head 43 is mounted in
the carriage unit 32.
The guide frame 31 is formed in a "C" shape when viewed along the
cross-section thereof, and an interlocking slider portion 41a of
the carriage unit 32 (carriage 41) is fitted into the guide frame
31 and supported on one side so as to be capable of moving back and
forth in the extension direction (the Y-axis direction), or in
other words, so as to be capable of sliding. The carriage movement
mechanism includes: a timing belt that extends along the guide
frame 31; a driving pulley and a slave pulley upon which the timing
belt is stretched; a connection anchoring portion that connects the
timing belt to the carriage unit 32 (the carriage 41); and a
carriage motor that drives the driving pulley (none of these are
shown). When the carriage motor rotates forward or backward, the
carriage unit 32 moves back and forth in the Y-axis direction (the
horizontal direction) via the timing belt. The main scans are
carried out by driving the ink jet head 43 in the carriage unit 32
to perform ejecting operations during the back-and-forth
movement.
The carriage unit 32 includes: the box-shaped carriage 41, which is
supported through the interlocking slider portion 41a so as to be
capable of moving back and forth by the guide frame 31; and the
head unit 42, which is integrated in the carriage 41. The head unit
42 includes: the ink jet head 43, which has four-nozzle rows that
respectively eject ink droplets of the Y, M, C, and K colors; and
connection adapters 44, for each of the Y, M, C, and K colors, that
are connected directly to the ink jet head 43 and are connected to
the downstream ends of the ink tubes 52. The ink jet head 43 has
four-nozzle rows (not shown), for the Y, M, C, and K colors, that
are parallel to each other and extend in the X-axis direction; the
nozzle rows are provided facing downward toward the transported
print paper with a predetermined paper gap therebetween. Each of
the connection adapters 44 includes an ink buffer, an ink filter,
and so on, and inflow couplings 44a for connecting to respective
ink tubes 52 are provided in the upper portions of the connection
adapters 44. Note that the connection adapters 44 have
approximately the same external shape as the ink cartridges, and
the carriage unit 32 (main recording apparatus body 2) is
configured so that both on-carriage and off-carriage ink holding
units can be employed.
In the printing process, the image data is printed onto the print
paper by intermittently transporting the print paper (sub scanning
operations, or line-by-line feeding) using the transport unit 11
and causing the printing region of the print paper to face the ink
jet head 43 from therebelow, and moving the carriage unit 32
forward and/or backward (main scanning operations) using the
carriage movement mechanism while driving the ink jet head 43. Note
that in the paper supply operations occurring up until the start of
printing and the paper discharge operations occurring after the end
of printing, the print paper is fed continuously.
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the ink supply portion 13 includes:
the ink tanks 51 for each of the Y, M, C, and K colors; the four
ink tubes (tubes) 52 that connect respective ink tanks 51 to the
head unit 42 (that is, to the inflow couplings 44a of the
respective connection adapters 44) based on the Y, M, C, and K
colors; and a guide mechanism 53 that guides the paths of the four
ink tubes 52. Furthermore, the ink supply portion 13 includes: a
manual valve unit 54, installed in a lower portion of the tank unit
3, that opens/closes the flow channels on the upstream end of the
four ink tubes 52; a tank-side pullout prevention member 55, also
provided in a lower portion of the tank unit 3, that prevents
couplings on the side of the ink tanks 51 (outflow couplings 51b,
mentioned later) from pulling out; a main body-side pullout
prevention member (shift prevention member, first shift prevention
portion) 56, installed in a lower portion within the main recording
apparatus body 2, that prevents a coupling on the side of the main
recording apparatus body 2 (an intermediate coupling 57, mentioned
later) from pulling out; and the intermediate coupling 57, provided
in the four ink tubes, serving as a connection coupling on the side
of the main recording apparatus body 2.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the tank unit 3, and
FIG. 5 is a bottom view illustrating the tank unit 3. As shown in
FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, each of the ink tanks 51 holds a corresponding
color of ink, and the ink tanks 51 are disposed parallel to the
X-axis direction. Each of the ink tanks 51 includes a main tank
body 51a and the outflow coupling 51b, formed in a lower portion of
the main tank body 51a and protruding in the Y-axis direction. The
upstream ends of the ink tubes 52 are inserted and fitted into
respective outflow couplings 51b.
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the four ink tubes 52 are configured
of silicone rubber, and are disposed parallel to the horizontal
direction. In addition, the four ink tubes 52 are guided by the
guide mechanism 53 so as to run from the ink tanks 51 to the head
unit 42. Furthermore, linking members 60 that link the four ink
tubes 52 in parallel are provided in multiple locations in the
extension direction of the four ink tubes 52, and the ink tubes 52
are thus arranged in parallel in a row.
The ink tubes 52, whose upstream ends are connected to respective
ink tanks 51 via the outflow couplings 51b, are significantly bent
in the upward direction from the tank unit 3 and cross over to the
main recording apparatus body 2, and are disposed so as to traverse
the main recording apparatus body 2 from the intermediate coupling
57; at the right side of the main recording apparatus body 2, the
ink tubes 52 make a U-turn in the upward direction, turn further in
toward the back end of the apparatus, and the downstream ends of
the ink tubes 52 are then connected to the respective connection
adapters 44 through the inflow couplings 44a.
Tank-side tubes 52a of the ink tubes 52, which span from the
outflow couplings 51b to the intermediate coupling 57, include
bridging tube portions 61 that span between the tank unit 3 and the
main recording apparatus body 2 with the base ends of the tank-side
tubes 52a being supported by the stated tank-side pullout
prevention member 55 and the main body-side pullout prevention
member 56, respectively. On the other hand, head-side tubes 52b of
the ink tubes 52, which span from the intermediate coupling 57 to
the inflow couplings 44a, include: U-shaped tube portions 62 that
form a horizontal U-shape and are disposed so as to traverse the
interior of the main recording apparatus body 2; and bent tube
portions 63, linked to the downstream sides of the U-shaped tube
portions 62, that are bent toward the carriage unit 32 in an L
shape within the horizontal plane.
The bridging tube portions 61 have their upstream sides supported
by the tank-side pullout prevention member 55 and their downstream
sides supported by the main body-side pullout prevention member 56,
and are provided in an inverse U shape (a mountain shape) spanning
from the tank unit 3 to the main recording apparatus body 2. The
stated valve unit 54 faces the tank-side tubes 52a, which are
located on the upstream side of the bridging tube portions 61. The
tank-side tubes 52a located on the downstream side of the bridging
tube portions 61 are connected to the intermediate coupling 57 on
the downstream side of the immediate vicinity of the main body-side
pullout prevention member 56.
Meanwhile, the U-shaped tube portions 62 are disposed in a
horizontal U-shape in an area located before the region in which
the carriage unit 32 moves back and forth, or in other words, in an
area directly above the stated paper discharge frame 27. In this
case, the sides of the U-shaped tube portions 62 that are on the
intermediate coupling 57 side (that is, the ink tanks 51 side) are
fixed sides, and the sides that are on the carriage 41 side are
mobile sides, and the U-shaped tube portions 62 deform so as to
follow the back-and-forth movement of the carriage 41 while
maintaining the horizontal U-shape running from the bottom to the
top. In other words, the U-shaped tube portions 62 are provided
parallel to the path of the back-and-forth movement of the carriage
unit 32, and deform so as to maintain the horizontal U-shape
central to the mobile sides that move along with the back-and-forth
movement of the carriage unit 32.
The bent tube portions 63 extend from the U-shaped tube portions
62, and the downstream ends thereof are connected to the respective
connection adapters 44 through the inflow couplings 44a after being
bent in the vertical direction within the horizontal plane. A tube
holding member 122 (described in detail later) that anchors the
head-side tubes 52b to the carriage 41 is provided in the border
area between the U-shaped tube portions 62 and the bent tube
portions 63.
Note that the circumferential surfaces of the ink tubes 52 (the
tank-side tubes 52a and the head-side tubes 52b) are provided with
line-shaped marks (not shown), in a single location in the
circumferential direction, that extend continuously in the
extension direction. These marks are used to visually identify the
presence/absence of twists in the ink tubes 52 when the tube
portions 61, 62, and 63 are installed; for example, the bridging
tube portions 61 are disposed so that the marks are on the inside
of the inverse U-shape, and the U-shaped tube portions 62 and bent
tube portions 63 are disposed so that the marks are on the inside
of the U-shape. Through this, distortion in the ink tubes 52 can be
suppressed when running the ink tubes 52.
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the periphery
of the valve unit 54. As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, the valve unit
54 is installed in the base of the tank unit 3, and faces the
upstream end areas of the four ink tubes 52 (bridging tube portions
61) from above. The valve unit 54 includes: a position regulation
portion 66 that regulates the positions of the four ink tubes 52 so
as to be aligned side by side; a main valve body 67 that faces the
four position-regulated ink tubes 52 and pinches the flow channels
in the four ink tubes 52 at the same time to close the all flow
paths; an operation lever 68 having a cam for flow channel
opening/closing operations performed by the main valve body 67
(that is, for advancing/retracting the main valve body 67); and an
approximately rectangular-shaped valve frame 69 that supports the
stated elements. When there is a risk of problems such as leaks or
the like in the ink supply portion 13, such as when ink is being
refilled or the apparatus is being transported, the valve unit 54
forcefully closes the flow channels as the result of user
operation.
The tank-side pullout prevention member 55 is attached to a side
wall of the valve frame 69, and at the base portions of the
bridging tube portions 61 on the side of the tank unit 3, the four
ink tubes 52 are supported having been bent into an S-shape while
being run upward along the side wall of the valve frame 69.
Specifically, the tank-side pullout prevention member 55 includes:
a lower tube support member (tube support member) 71 that supports
the upstream-side bent portions of the S-shapes in the ink tubes 52
(that is, the convexly-bent portions when viewed from the valve
frame 69) in a bent state; an upper tube support member (tube
support member) 72 that covers the four ink tubes 52 and supports
the downstream-side bent portions of the S-shapes in the ink tubes
52 (that is, the concavely-bent portions when viewed from the valve
frame 69) in a bent state, from the opposite side to the lower tube
support member 71; and a receiving member 73, formed integrally
with the upper tube support member 72, that opposes the lower tube
support member 71. In other words, the support location of the
lower tube support member 71 (that is, the point of contact with
the ink tubes 52) and the support location of the upper tube
support member 72 (that is, the point of contact with the ink tubes
52) are provided so that their locations are skewed in the
extension direction of the ink tubes 52 (that is, the vertical
direction). Note that part of the stated unit case 17 also
functions as a receiving member that opposes the upper tube support
member 72.
The lower tube support member 71 leads the path of the ink tubes 52
that protrude horizontally from the valve unit 54 in the upward
direction, and supports the ink tubes 52 so as not to shift in the
extension direction when a pulling force from the extension
direction acts upon the ink tubes 52. Specifically, the lower tube
support member 71 is formed of the following elements, in an
integrated manner a friction contact portion 81, having a friction
contact surface 81a that makes contact with the four ink tubes 52
that are in a bent state and generates friction against the pulling
force acting between the four ink tubes and the friction contact
surface; multiple partition plates 82, protruding from the friction
contact surface 81a, that serve as spacers between the friction
contact surface 81a and the receiving member 73 and that align the
four ink tubes 52; and an anchor portion 83 for anchoring the
friction contact portion 81 to a side wall of the valve frame
69.
Meanwhile, the receiving member 73 includes: a position regulation
plate portion 84 that opposes the lower tube support member 71 and
regulates the positions of the four ink tubes 52 between the
position regulation plate portion 84 and the lower tube support
member 71; and a pair (front and back) of interlocking portions 85
that interlock with lock receiving portions 69a formed in the side
walls of the valve frame 69. Note that the partition plates 82 of
the lower tube support member 71 regulate the widths of the four
ink tubes 52, and make contact with the receiving member 73.
Accordingly, the four ink tubes 52 are not collapsed by the
attached receiving member 73.
Like the lower tube support member 71, the upper tube support
member 72 supports the ink tubes 52 so as not to shift in the
extension direction when a pulling force from the extension
direction acts upon the ink tubes 52. Specifically, the upper tube
support member 72 includes: a friction contact portion 91, having a
friction contact surface 91a that makes contact with the four ink
tubes 52 that are in a bent state and generates friction against
the pulling force acting between the four ink tubes and the
friction contact surface; a pair (front and back) of contact pins
(not shown), protruding from the friction contact surface 91a, that
make contact with a side wall of the unit case 17 without touching
the ink tubes 52; and a pair (front and back) of support member
anchoring screws 93 and 93 for anchoring the friction contact
portion 91 to the unit case 17. In other words, the side wall of
the unit case 17 regulates the position of the four ink tubes 52
between the unit case 17 and the upper tube support member 72.
Furthermore, the four ink tubes 52 are not collapsed by the pair of
contact pins in the upper tube support member 72. Note that one
"receiving member" mentioned in the aspects of the invention is
configured by a side wall of the unit case 17.
The lower tube support member 71 and the upper tube support member
72 (and the receiving member 73) configured in this manner are
anchored to the tank unit 3 along with the ink tubes 52 by the
lower tube support member 71 being positioned using multiple
positioning projections protruding from a side wall of the valve
frame 69, the interlocking portions 85 of the upper tube support
member 72 being fitted into the lock receiving portions 69a of the
valve frame 69, and the upper tube support member 72 furthermore
being screwed down onto the unit case 17 at a top area by the
support member anchoring screws 93.
The friction contact surfaces 81a and 91a of the lower tube support
member 71 and the upper tube support member 72, respectively,
extend parallel to the four ink tubes 52, and make contact with all
four ink tubes 52 at the same time. Furthermore, the friction
contact surfaces 81a and 91a have bent shapes that result in
component force acting as contact force when a pulling force acts
in the extension direction of the ink tubes 52. For example, as
shown in FIG. 7A, when the ink tubes 52 make contact with the
friction contact surfaces 81a and 91a in a bent state and a pulling
force arises from the downstream side, a component force acting as
contact force arises on the side of the friction contact surface
81a as a result of the pulling force. This contact force causes a
strong degree of friction, which strongly regulates the position of
the ink tubes in the extension direction. Because the ink tubes 52
are regulated within a predetermined angular range A on the
upstream and downstream directions from the respective support
locations, the ink tubes 52 are formed in a bent shape that causes
the stated friction to arise against a given pulling force from the
angular range A (see FIGS. 7B and 7C). Specifically, from the
support location of the lower tube support member 71, the positions
of the ink tubes 52 on the upstream side are regulated by the
position regulation portion 66 of the valve unit 54, whereas the
positions on the downstream side are regulated by the upper tube
support member 72 and the side wall of the unit case 17. From the
support location of the upper tube support member 72, the positions
of the ink tubes 52 on the upstream side are regulated by the lower
tube support member 71 and the receiving member 73, whereas the ink
tubes 52 on the downstream side are run in an inverse U-shape on
the side of the main recording apparatus body 2 and thus the
positions thereof are regulated toward the top of the main
recording apparatus body. The friction contact surfaces 81a and 91a
are formed so as to correspond to the angular range A in the
extension direction formed by these positional regulations.
In this manner, shift in the extension direction is prevented (that
is, positional regulation is carried out) by the two pairs of
elements, or the lower tube support member 71 and the receiving
member 73, and the upper tube support member 72 and the side wall
of the unit case 17; as a result, these elements function so as to
prevent the outflow couplings 51b of the tank-side tubes 52a from
pulling out. Note that one "shift prevention member" and a "second
shift prevention member" mentioned in the aspects of the invention
are configured by the lower tube support member 71 and the
receiving member 73, whereas one "shift prevention member" and a
"second shift prevention member" are configured by the upper tube
support member 72 and the side wall of the unit case 17.
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the main body-side pullout
prevention member 56 includes a tube support member 106 disposed
between a side wall on the side of the tank unit 3 of the apparatus
frame 16 and a tube guide 111, mentioned later. The tube support
member 106 supports the base portion of the bridging tube portions
61 on the side of the main recording apparatus body 2 so as not to
shift in the extension direction when a pulling force has acted on
the bridging tube portions 61 from the extension direction.
Specifically, the tube support member 106 includes a plate-shaped
friction contact portion 107, having a friction contact surface
107a that makes contact with the four ink tubes 52 that are in a
bent state from below and generates friction against the pulling
force acting between the four ink tubes 52 and the friction contact
surface 107a; and a pair (left and right) of plate-shaped width
regulation plate portions 108 and 108 that face the four ink tubes
52 from the left and right sides, respectively, regulate the widths
of the four ink tubes 52, and also function as side plates of the
friction contact portion 107. The friction contact portion 107 and
the pair of width regulation plate portions 108 and 108 are formed
as a single integrated element.
The friction contact surface 107a of the tube support member 106
extends parallel to the four ink tubes 52, and makes contact with
all four ink tubes 52 at the same time. Meanwhile, like the lower
tube support member 71 and the upper tube support member 72, the
friction contact surface 107a is formed in a bent shape that
generates a component force acting as contact force in response to
a given pulling force, from the predetermined angular range A, that
acts in the extension direction of the ink tubes 52. Specifically,
because the ink tubes 52 are run in an inverse U-shape from the
support location of the tube support member 106 toward the tank
unit 3, the upstream sides thereof have their positions regulated
on the upper side of the tank unit 3, whereas the downstream sides
thereof have their positions regulated to the intermediate coupling
57 (respective inflow-side ports 101). The friction contact surface
107a is formed so as to correspond to the angular range A in the
extension direction formed by these positional regulations. To
rephrase, between the side wall of the apparatus frame 16 on the
tank unit 3 side and the intermediate coupling 57, the ink tubes 52
are arranged in a bent state using the friction contact portion 107
of the tube support member 106, rather than being arranged in a
straight line in which the lengths of the ink tubes 52 are minimum.
Accordingly, when the ink tubes 52 are pulled from the outside
through the side wall on the tank unit 3 side, the friction contact
surface 107a of the friction contact portion 107 generates a
contact force against the pulling force acting on the ink tubes 52;
as a result, the pulling force is not transmitted to the
intermediate coupling 57, which makes it possible to prevent the
ink tubes 52 from disconnecting from the intermediate coupling 57.
In particular, with the ink jet recording apparatus 1 provided with
the main recording apparatus body 2 and the tank unit 3 as in this
embodiment, the ink tubes 52 extending from the main recording
apparatus body 2 are often pulled from the intermediate coupling 57
unintentionally when replacing the ink, when touched by a user, and
so on. However, according to the configuration disclosed by the
invention, it is possible to prevent the ink tubes 52 from pulling
out from the intermediate coupling 57.
As shown in FIG. 8, the intermediate coupling 57 is provided
between the bridging tube portions 61 and the U-shaped tube
portions 62 on the fixed side of the U-shaped tube portions 62. The
intermediate coupling 57 includes: the four inflow-side ports 101
corresponding to the four ink tubes; four outflow-side ports 102
corresponding to the inflow-side ports 101; a plate-shaped linking
portion 103 that links the four inflow-side ports 101 and the four
outflow-side ports 102; an interlocking groove 104 that interlocks
with a projection in the tube guide 111, which will be mentioned
later; and locking projections 105 provided on both sides of the
linking portion 103.
The intermediate coupling 57 is snapped into the tube guide 111 at
the locking projections 105, and thus does not fall out from the
tube guide 111. Furthermore, the interlocking groove 104 prevents
the intermediate coupling 57 from being mounted upside-down in the
tube guide 111. The downstream ends of the tank-side tubes 52a
(bridging tube portions 61) are inserted and fitted into respective
inflow-side ports 101, whereas the upstream sides of the head-side
tubes 52b (U-shaped tube portions 62) are inserted and fitted into
respective outflow-side ports 102. The tank-side tubes 52a and the
head-side tubes 52b can be replaced independently using the
intermediate coupling 57 configured in this manner.
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the guide mechanism 53 includes: the
tube guide 111 that extends parallel to the back-and-forth movement
path of the carriage 41 (that is, in the Y-axis direction) and
receives the U-shaped tube portions 62 from below; an anchoring
member 112 that anchors the U-shaped tube portions 62 to the tube
guide 111 on the fixed side; a flexible protective plate 113
affixed to the U-shaped tube portions 62; and a guide unit 114 that
holds the mobile ends of the U-shaped tube portions 62 upon the
carriage unit 32 and guides the bent shape of the bent tube
portions 63.
The tube guide 111 is formed of a single metal plate, and is
structured so as to extend in the Y-axis direction (that is, the
back-and-forth movement direction of the carriage unit 32) and
receive the four ink tubes 52 from below. Specifically, the tube
guide 111 includes a base plate portion 116 that extends in the
Y-axis direction and receives the four ink tubes 52, and a pair
(left and right) of rib plate portions 117 and 117 that project
upward from both sides of the base plate portion 116. Meanwhile,
the tube guide 111 (base plate portion 116) is disposed above the
transport unit 11 (the upper paper discharge roller 26, the paper
discharge frame 27, and soon) with a predetermined gap provided
therebetween.
Furthermore, the intermediate coupling 57 is attached to the tube
guide 111 on the end thereof that is on the side of the tank unit
3. Accordingly, in this area (that is, the rib plate portions 117)
of the tube guide 111, a pair of C-shaped guides 120 and 120 for
snapping in the intermediate coupling 57 from above are provided.
In addition, a projection that interlocks with the interlocking
groove 104 of the intermediate coupling 57 is provided in the base
plate portion 116 of the tube guide 111.
The anchoring member 112 includes a pressure anchoring portion 118
that presses the four ink tubes 52 down into the tube guide 111 so
as to anchor the ink tubes 52, and a fastening screw 119 that
screws the pressure anchoring portion 118 down onto the tube guide
111. The anchoring member 112 anchors the four ink tubes 52 onto
the tube guide 111 on the fixed side of the U-shaped tube portions
62. Specifically, the four ink tubes 52 are anchored at the
upstream ends of the non-mobile regions of the U-shaped tube
portions 62. Through this, the deformation of the ink tubes 52 can
be stabilized, and the U-shaped tube portions 62 can be prevented
from pulling out from the intermediate coupling 57 (the
outflow-side ports 102).
The protective plate 113 has one end anchored to the tube guide 111
and the other end held upon the carriage 41, and deforms along with
the four ink tubes 52 (the U-shaped tube portions 62) along with
the back-and-forth movement of the carriage unit 32. Meanwhile, the
protective plate 113 is provided so as to extend along the outer
side of the U-shaped tube portions 62 along the R area thereof,
thus preventing the U-shaped tube portions 62 from making contact
with the other constituent elements on the right side, the upper
side, and so on in FIG. 1 (for example, the side wall and top wall
of the apparatus case 15). In other words, the protective plate 113
functions as a tube support (Cableveyor.RTM.). In addition,
although not shown, the protective plate 113 is provided with a
string that ties the U-shaped tube portions 62 in an appropriate
location.
As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the guide unit 114 includes: a guide
member 121 that bends the bent tube portions 63 at a right angle
within the same horizontal plane and leads the bent tube portions
63 to the head unit 42; and a tube holding member 122, provided in
the vicinity of the upstream side of the guide member 121, that
holds the mobile ends of the U-shaped tube portions 62 in the
stated same horizontal plane. The guide member 121 and the tube
holding member 122 are anchored to the carriage 41.
The guide member 121 includes: a main guide body 128, provided in
the carriage 41, that has a guide groove 127 configured from two
individual guide grooves 126 and 126 that guide two ink tubes 52
each; two pairs of pressure pieces 129 and 129, one each formed in
the two individual guide grooves 126 and 126, that press down the
ink tubes 52 into the main guide body 128; and a plate-shaped
full-region pressure plate 130 that covers the entire open surface
of the two individual guide grooves 126 and 126 and presses the ink
tubes 52 down into the main guide body 128. Note that the main
guide body 128 may be formed so as to be an integrated part of the
carriage 41.
The guide groove 127 bends the four ink tubes 52 that are aligned
side by side in the same horizontal plane, and includes a single
individual guide groove 126 for two adjacent ink tubes 52 (that is,
has the two individual guide grooves 126 and 126). Each individual
guide groove 126 is formed in a square concave cross-sectional
shape and that extends along the guided bent shape, and is formed
so as to be slightly narrower than the width of the two
side-by-side ink tubes 52. In other words, each individual guide
groove 126 supports and guides two ink tubes 52 with the two ink
tubes 52 inserted therein side by side.
Each pair of pressure pieces 129 and 129 is formed in the
downstream end (the leading end, in the extension direction) of
respective individual guide grooves 126, and is formed so as to
extend inward from the upper end of the respective side walls of
each of the individual guide grooves 126. In other words, the two
pressure pieces 129 and 129 that extend inward from the upper end
of the respective side walls make contact with the upper surface of
the respective ink tubes 52, thus pushing the ink tubes 52
downward. The pair of pressure pieces 129 and 129 are provided so
as to be shifted from each other in the extension direction of the
individual guide grooves 126. Note that the reference numeral 128a
in the drawings refers to a vent hole of the metal mold used when
forming the pair of pressure pieces 129 and 129.
The full-region pressure plate 130 covers the entire open surface
of the two individual guide grooves 126 and 126, and in particular,
is formed in a planar shape that covers the entire upper surface of
the main guide body 128. In other words, the full-region pressure
plate 130 that covers the entire open surface makes contact with
the upper surfaces of the ink tubes 52 and presses the ink tubes 52
downward. The full-region pressure plate 130 is formed integrally
with the mobile end of the protective plate 113 (to rephrase, as an
extended portion of the protective plate 113), and is affixed to
the upper surface of the main guide body 128 by the tube holding
member 122 and an affixing piece 128b formed on the main guide body
128. Note that the full-region pressure plate 130 also functions as
a protective cover that protects the main guide body 128 and the
bent tube portions 63.
As shown in FIGS. 9A to 9B and FIGS. 10A to 10C, the tube holding
member 122 includes: a support base 131 anchored to the carriage
41; a tube holder 132, anchored to the support base 131, that holds
the four ink tubes 52 side-by-side and holds the mobile end of the
protective plate 113; and an anchor screw 140 that anchors the tube
holder 132 to the support base 131. In other words, the support
base 131 supports the four ink tubes 52 and the protective plate
113 through the tube holder 132.
The tube holder 132 includes: a tube receiving member 137, having a
tube receiving surface 136 that receives the four ink tubes 52; and
a tube pressing member 138 that is snapped into the tube receiving
member 137 and presses the four side-by-side ink tubes 52 against
the tube receiving surface 136. Note that when the tube holder 132
is anchored to the support base 131, the tube holder 132 is
vertically inverted and anchored. In other words, the support base
131 is anchored with the tube receiving member 137 on the top and
the tube pressing member 138 on the bottom.
The tube receiving member 137 includes: the tube receiving surface
136 that receives the four side-by-side ink tubes 52 and the
protective plate 113; a pair (left and right) of alignment wall
portions 139 and 139, positioned at both side ends of the tube
receiving surface 136, that align the four side-by-side ink tubes
52 by regulating the widths thereof; and a pair (left and right) of
locking portions 152 and 152, positioned outside of the pair of
alignment wall portions 139, that respectively interlock with lock
receiving portions 151 and 151 of the tube pressing member 138.
Specifically, the four ink tubes 52 are disposed upon the tube
receiving surface 136, with the protective plate 113 at the bottom
and the ink tubes 52 on the top. Meanwhile, the pair of alignment
wall portions 139 and 139 make contact with the side surfaces of
the four side-by-side ink tubes 52 (that is, with the right side
surface of the ink tube 52 on the right side and the left side
surface of the ink tube 52 on the left side), thus regulating the
width of the four ink tubes 52.
The tube pressing member 138 includes: a tube pressing surface 153
that presses the four side-by-side ink tubes into the tube
receiving surface 136; and the pair (left and right) of lock
receiving portions 151 and 151, positioned at both side ends of the
tube pressing surface 153, that snap-fit into the pair of locking
portions 152 and 152 in the tube receiving member 137.
The anchor screw 140 tightens the tube holder 132 down onto the
support base 131, and tightens the tube pressing member 138,
mounted on the tube receiving member 137, in an immobile state. In
other words, the anchor screw 140 tightens down both the tube
pressing member 138 and the tube holder 132, and is screwed into
the support base 131.
Here, operations for installing the ink tubes 52 in the tube
holding member 122 will be described with reference to FIGS. 11A to
11C. As shown in FIGS. 11A to 11C, first, the protective plate 113,
which has been run horizontally, is inserted into the tube
receiving member 137, and the four ink tubes 52, which run
horizontally thereupon, are disposed so as to be aligned
side-by-side (FIG. 11A). Once the four ink tubes 52 have been
disposed in this manner, the four ink tubes 52 are positioned.
Specifically, each of the ink tubes 52 is positioned in the
extension direction and in the width direction, and twists in the
ink tubes 52 are corrected based on the stated line-shaped marks.
After this, the tube pressing member 138 is snapped into the tube
receiving member 137 and temporarily anchored (FIG. 11B). When the
four ink tubes 52 have been temporarily anchored, the protective
plate 113, whose mobile end is held by the tube holder 132, and the
four ink tubes 52 are run in a U-shape through the tube holder 132,
and the tube holder 132 is then vertically inverted and mounted on
the support base 131. After this, the tube holder 132 is fastened
onto the support base 131 using the anchor screw 140 (FIG. 11C).
Through this, the mobile ends of the ink tubes 52 (the U-shaped
tube portions 62) are held in the carriage 41 through the tube
holding member 122.
According to the configuration described thus far, when a pulling
force is acting in the lower tube support member 71, the upper tube
support member 72, and the friction contact portion 107, a
component force acting as contact force occurs at the friction
contact surfaces 81a, 91a, and 107a, and a high degree of friction
is generated in response to this component force. Through this, the
ink tubes 52 are strongly supported in a state in which the tubes
do not shift with the dimensions of the ink tubes 52 changing.
Meanwhile, when the pulling force is released, the component force
is also eliminated, and the ink tubes 52 are freed; the dimensions
of the ink tubes 52 return to normal, and the tension is
eliminated. In this manner, the positions of the ink tubes 52 can
be effectively prevented from shifting in response to a pulling
force, and the ink tubes 52 can be restored to their original state
when the pulling force is released. Accordingly, deterioration,
failures, and so on in the ink tubes 52 can be prevented.
Furthermore, because the bridging tube portions 61 are provided so
as to form an inverted U-shape (that is, a mountain shape) in the
upward direction, the bridging tube portions 61 can be given slack
between the tank unit 3 and the main recording apparatus body 2
while effectively using that space. Accordingly, tension against
the ink tubes 52 is canceled out by the slackened area, making it
possible to prevent the occurrence of a pulling force. In addition,
the movement range of the tank unit 3 when the tank unit 3 is
separated can be increased, increasing the convenience of the
apparatus.
Furthermore, by providing receiving members (the receiving member
73 and the side wall of the unit case 17) that are opposite to the
lower tube support member 71 and the upper tube support member 72
(the friction contact surfaces 81a and 91a) and that regulate the
positions of the ink tubes 52 along with the tube support members
71 and 72, the ink tubes 52 can be regulated into a predetermined
position even when the pulling force is eliminated.
Further still, because the friction contact surfaces 81a, 91a, and
107a extend parallel to the four bridging tube portions 61 and make
contact with the four bridging tube portions 61 at the same time,
the four bridging tube portions 61 can be supported at the same
time by the individual tube support members 71, 72, and 106 (the
friction contact surfaces 81a, 91a, and 107a), thus making it
possible to simplify the configuration of the ink jet recording
apparatus 1.
In addition, by disposing the second shift prevention members (the
combination of the lower tube support member 71 and the receiving
member 73, and the combination of the upper tube support member 72
and the side wall of the unit case 17) in multiple (that is, two)
in the extension direction of the bridging tube portions 61 so as
to make contact in different shear directions, the apparatus can
handle a pulling force from a wider angular range A.
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