JP5429425B2 - Tank unit, liquid ejection system with tank unit - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a tank unit including two or more liquid storage containers, and a liquid ejecting system including the tank unit.

  A printer that is an example of a liquid ejecting apparatus performs printing by ejecting ink from a recording head onto a recording object (for example, printing paper). As a technique for supplying ink to a recording head, a technique is known in which ink is supplied to a recording head via a tube from a tank unit arranged outside the liquid ejecting apparatus (for example, Patent Document 1). The tank unit includes two or more ink tanks (liquid storage containers) that store ink.

JP-A-2005-219383

  The ink tank constituting the tank unit needs to form a space for accommodating ink inside. Here, an ink tank having a space inside may be manufactured using two hard members formed of a synthetic resin such as polypropylene (hereinafter also referred to as “PP”). Specifically, an ink tank having an internal space for containing ink may be manufactured by joining an opening member whose one side surface is open and a lid member that closes the opening by vibration welding.

  However, when a tank unit is manufactured by combining a plurality of ink tanks manufactured using vibration welding, various problems may occur. For example, shaving residue (impurities) generated by vibration welding may remain inside the ink tank, and the shaving residue may be mixed into the ink. In this case, the ink mixed with shavings is supplied from the tank unit to the printer, which causes a malfunction of the printer. Further, when an ink tank is manufactured by vibration welding, it is necessary to use an apparatus for vibration welding, which may increase the manufacturing cost of the ink tank or complicate the manufacturing process of the ink tank. Such a problem is not limited to a tank unit including an ink tank, but is a tank unit including a liquid container, and is common to tank units for supplying liquid to the liquid ejecting apparatus from the outside of the liquid ejecting apparatus. Met.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for reducing the occurrence of problems in a tank unit.

SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms or application examples.
[Form 1]
A tank unit for supplying liquid to the liquid ejecting apparatus from the outside of the liquid ejecting apparatus,
Two or more liquid storage containers arranged in a row;
A first side case,
Each of the liquid containers is
A liquid storage chamber for storing the liquid formed by a concave container body having one side opened and a film closing the opening;
The container body is
An opposing wall surface portion facing the film across the liquid storage chamber, and having an opposing wall surface portion having a wall surface larger than the opening;
The two or more liquid storage containers are arranged so that the film of the one liquid storage container is covered by the opposing wall surface portion of the other adjacent liquid storage container;
An exposed liquid storage container that is the liquid storage container in which the film is not covered by the opposing wall surface portion of the other liquid storage container is disposed at one end of the one row,
The first side case is a tank unit arranged to cover the film of the exposed liquid storage container.
[Form 2]
The tank unit according to aspect 1,
Each of the liquid storage containers further includes
A fitting unit for attaching and detaching between the adjacent liquid storage containers,
The fitting unit is
A protrusion,
A tank unit including the hole into which the protrusion of the adjacent liquid container is fitted.
[Form 3]
The tank unit according to the first or second aspect,
Each of the liquid storage containers further includes
A liquid inlet for injecting liquid into the liquid storage chamber;
A plug member for closing the liquid inlet, the plug member attached to the liquid inlet detachably,
The tank unit, wherein the plug member of one of the liquid storage containers and the plug member of another adjacent liquid storage container are connected by a connection member.
[Form 4]
The tank unit according to any one of Form 1 to Form 3,
A top case,
A bottom case,
A second side case disposed on the opposite side of the first side case across the two or more liquid storage containers, and
The tank unit, wherein the two or more liquid storage containers are arranged in an internal space formed by the top case, the first side case, the second side case, and the bottom case.
[Form 5]
A liquid ejection system,
The tank unit according to any one of Form 1 to Form 4,
A liquid ejecting apparatus having a head for ejecting the liquid onto an object;
A liquid ejecting system comprising: a circulation pipe that connects the tank unit and the liquid ejecting apparatus and causes the liquid ejecting apparatus to circulate the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber.
[Form 6]
The liquid ejection system according to aspect 5,
The liquid ejecting apparatus is a printer;
The liquid ejecting system, wherein the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber is ink.

Application Example 1 A tank unit for supplying liquid to the liquid ejecting apparatus from the outside of the liquid ejecting apparatus,
Comprising two or more liquid containers arranged in a row;
Each of the liquid containers is
A liquid storage chamber for storing the liquid formed by a concave container body having one side opened and a film closing the opening;
The container body is
An opposing wall surface portion facing the film across the liquid storage chamber, and having an opposing wall surface portion having a wall surface larger than the opening;
The tank unit in which the two or more liquid storage containers are arranged so that the film of the one liquid storage container is covered with the opposing wall surface portion of another adjacent liquid storage container.
According to the tank unit described in Application Example 1, the liquid container can be easily manufactured by attaching the film to the container body. Moreover, since a liquid storage container is manufactured by sticking a film to a container main body, possibility that an impurity will mix in the inside of a liquid storage container can be reduced. Furthermore, since a film is covered with the opposing wall surface part of an adjacent container main body, possibility that a liquid will leak from the inside by damage of a film can be reduced.

[Application Example 2] The tank unit according to Application Example 1,
The opposing wall surface portion has a concave shape when viewed from the opposite side of the liquid storage chamber across the opposing wall surface portion,
The two or more liquid storage containers are arranged so that the one side surface to which the film of the one liquid storage container is attached enters the recess of the opposing wall surface portion of the other adjacent liquid storage container. The tank unit.
According to the tank unit described in Application Example 2, since the film has entered the concave portion of the concave wall surface portion, the possibility of the film being damaged can be further reduced. Further, by inserting one side surface of one liquid storage container into the concave portion of the opposing wall surface portion of another adjacent liquid storage container, the adjacent liquid storage containers can be easily fitted and integrated.

[Application Example 3] The tank unit according to Application Example 1 or Application Example 2,
Each of the liquid storage containers further includes
A fitting unit for attaching and detaching between the adjacent liquid storage containers,
The fitting unit is
A protrusion,
A tank unit including the hole into which the protrusion of the adjacent liquid container is fitted.
According to the tank unit described in Application Example 3, two or more liquid storage containers can be easily assembled and integrated, and the possibility that the integrated liquid storage containers are separated can be reduced.
[Application Example 4] The tank unit according to any one of Application Examples 1 to 3,
An exposed liquid storage container that is the liquid storage container in which the film is not covered by the opposing wall surface portion of the other liquid storage container is disposed at one end of the one row,
The tank unit includes a lid member that covers the film of the exposed liquid storage container.
According to the tank unit described in Application Example 4, the possibility that the film of the exposed liquid storage container is damaged can be reduced.

[Application Example 5] The tank unit according to any one of Application Examples 1 to 4,
Each of the liquid storage containers further includes
A liquid inlet for injecting liquid into the liquid storage chamber;
A plug member for closing the liquid inlet, the plug member attached to the liquid inlet detachably,
The tank unit, wherein the plug member of one of the liquid storage containers and the plug member of another adjacent liquid storage container are connected by a connection member.
According to the tank unit described in Application Example 5, even when the plug member (also referred to as “target plug member”) is removed from the liquid inlet when the liquid in one liquid storage container is injected, the target plug member is , Connected to a plug member (also referred to as “adjacent plug member”) of another adjacent liquid container. Here, since the adjacent plug member is attached to the liquid supply port, even if the target plug member is removed, the target plug member is positioned in the vicinity of the adjacent plug member. Therefore, possibility that a user will lose the removed plug member can be reduced.

Application Example 6 A liquid ejecting system,
The tank unit according to any one of Application Examples 1 to 5, and
A liquid ejecting apparatus having a head for ejecting the liquid onto an object;
A liquid ejecting system comprising: a circulation pipe that connects the tank unit and the liquid ejecting apparatus and causes the liquid ejecting apparatus to circulate the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber.
According to the liquid ejection system described in the application example 6, the liquid ejection that ejects the liquid to the object by receiving the supply of the liquid from the tank unit that reduces the possibility that impurities are mixed into the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber. Can provide a system.

[Application Example 7] The liquid ejection system according to Application Example 6,
The liquid ejecting apparatus is a printer;
The liquid ejecting system, wherein the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber is ink.
According to the liquid ejecting system described in the application example 7, the liquid ejecting that ejects ink to the object by receiving ink supply from the tank unit that reduces the possibility of impurities being mixed into the ink accommodated in the liquid accommodating chamber. Can provide a system.

  The present invention can be realized in various forms. In addition to the above-described tank unit, the liquid ejecting system including the liquid ejecting apparatus and the tank unit, the above-described tank unit manufacturing method, and the above-described liquid ejecting. It can be realized in a mode such as a liquid ejection method using the system.

It is a figure for demonstrating the liquid injection system 1 of an Example. It is a figure for demonstrating ink supply. 2 is a first external perspective view of an ink tank 30. FIG. 3 is a second external perspective view of the ink tank 30. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a tank unit 50. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a tank unit 50. FIG.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order.
A. Example:
B. Variations:

A. Example:
A-1. Liquid injection system configuration:
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a liquid ejecting system 1 according to an embodiment. FIG. 1A is a first external perspective view of the liquid ejecting system 1. FIG. 1B is a second external perspective view of the liquid ejecting system 1, and is a view showing a liquid container 30 according to the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, XYZ axes orthogonal to each other are shown in order to specify the direction. It should be noted that the XYZ axes orthogonal to each other are also shown in the subsequent drawings as necessary.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the liquid ejecting system 1 includes an ink jet printer 12 (also simply referred to as “printer 12”) as a liquid ejecting apparatus, and a tank unit 50. The printer 12 includes a paper feed unit 13, a paper discharge unit 14, a carriage 16, and four sub tanks 20. The four sub tanks 20 store inks having different colors. Specifically, the four sub tanks 20 are a sub tank 20Bk that stores black ink, a sub tank 20Cn that stores cyan ink, a sub tank 20Ma that stores magenta ink, and a sub tank 20Yw that stores yellow ink. The four sub tanks 20 are mounted on the carriage 16.

  The printing paper set in the paper feeding unit 13 is conveyed into the printer 12, and the printed printing paper is discharged from the paper discharge unit 14.

  The carriage 16 is movable in the main scanning direction (paper width direction, X-axis direction). This movement is performed via a timing belt (not shown) by driving a stepping motor (not shown). A recording head (not shown) is provided on the lower surface of the carriage 16. Printing is performed by ejecting ink from a plurality of nozzles of the recording head onto the printing paper. Various components constituting the printer 12 such as the timing belt and the carriage 16 are protected by being accommodated in the case 10.

  The tank unit 50 includes a top case 54, a first side case 56, a second side case 58, and a bottom case (not shown). The cases 54, 56, 58 and the bottom case can be formed of a synthetic resin such as polypropylene (PP) or polystyrene (PS). In the present embodiment, the cases 54, 56, 58 and the bottom case are molded using polystyrene. Further, as shown in FIG. 1 (B), the tank unit 50 includes an ink tank as four liquid storage containers in an internal space formed by cases (lid members) 54, 56, 58 and a bottom case (lid member). 30. The tank unit 50 is more stably installed in a predetermined place (for example, a desk or a shelf) by the cases 54, 56, 58 and the bottom case. The four ink tanks 30 store ink corresponding to the colors stored in the four sub tanks 20. That is, the four ink tanks 30 respectively store black ink, cyan ink, magenta ink, and yellow ink. The ink tank 30 can store a larger amount of ink than the sub tank 20.

  The ink tank 30 that stores ink of each color is connected by a hose (tube) 24 to a sub tank 20 that stores ink of the corresponding color. The hose 24 is formed of a flexible member such as synthetic rubber. When ink is ejected from the recording head and the ink in the sub tank 20 is consumed, the ink in the ink tank 30 is supplied to the sub tank 20 via the hose 24. Thereby, the liquid ejecting system 1 can continue printing for a long time without interruption. Ink may be supplied directly from the ink tank 30 to the recording head via the hose 24 without providing the sub tank 20.

  Before explaining the detailed configuration of the tank unit 50, the principle of supplying ink from the ink tank 30 to the sub tank 20 will be described with reference to FIG. 2 for easy understanding. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining ink supply from the ink tank 30 to the sub tank 20. FIG. 2 schematically shows the configuration of the ink tank 30, the hose 24, and the printer 12.

  The liquid ejection system 1 is installed on a predetermined horizontal plane sf. In the usage posture of the liquid ejecting system 1, the Z-axis negative direction is the vertically downward direction. The ink tank 30 includes a liquid outlet 306, a liquid storage chamber 340, an air storage chamber 330, a liquid injection port 304, a plug member 302, an air introduction port 317, and an air release port 318.

  The liquid storage chamber 340 stores ink. The liquid outlet 306 of the ink tank 30 and the liquid receiver 202 of the sub tank 20 are connected by a hose 24. As a result, the ink in the liquid storage chamber 340 flows from the liquid outlet 306 to the sub tank 20 via the hose 24. The liquid inlet 304 is in communication with the liquid storage chamber 340. A plug member 302 is detachably attached to the liquid inlet 304 to prevent ink from leaking out of the liquid inlet 304.

  The air introduction port 317 and the air release port 318 are both ends of a meandering flow channel for introducing the air into the ink tank 30 from the outside. The air opening 318 is in communication with the air accommodating chamber 330. The air storage chamber 330 communicates with the liquid storage chamber 340 through a communication portion 350 that is a narrow channel. The communication part 350 is a flow path having a small flow path cross-sectional area to the extent that a meniscus (liquid level cross-linking) can be formed. When the ink tank 30 is in use, a meniscus is formed in the communication portion 350.

  The air storage chamber 330 has a predetermined capacity, and stores the ink when the air in the liquid storage chamber 340 expands due to a temperature change or the like and the ink flows backward through the communication portion 350. That is, the ink tank 30 includes the air storage chamber 330, so that the possibility of ink leaking out from the air introduction port 317 can be reduced even when the ink flows backward.

  In addition, in the pouring posture when pouring ink into the ink tank 30, the ink tank 30 is installed on a predetermined horizontal plane sf so that the negative direction of the X axis is vertically downward. That is, the injection posture is a posture in which the liquid injection port 304 is directed vertically upward. Note that when ink is injected into one ink tank 30 of a tank unit 50 in which two or more ink tanks 30 are arranged (stacked), since the posture of the tank unit 50 is changed integrally, all the ink tanks 30 have the injection posture. Become. When ink is injected from the liquid injection port 304 into the liquid storage chamber 340 in the injection posture and then the liquid injection port 304 is sealed with the plug member 302 and put into a use posture, the air in the liquid storage chamber 340 expands and the liquid storage chamber 340 is maintained at a negative pressure. Further, the air accommodating chamber 330 is maintained at atmospheric pressure by communicating with the atmosphere opening port 318.

  The sub tank 20 is formed of a synthetic resin such as polystyrene or polyethylene. The sub tank 20 includes an ink storage chamber 204, an ink flow path 208, and a filter 206. An ink supply needle 16 a of the carriage 16 is inserted into the ink flow path 208. The filter 206 prevents inflow of impurities into the recording head 17 by capturing impurities when impurities such as foreign matters are mixed in the ink. The ink in the ink storage chamber 204 is supplied to the recording head 17 through the ink flow path 208 and the ink supply needle 16 a by suction from the recording head 17. The ink supplied to the recording head 17 is ejected toward the outside (printing paper) through the nozzle.

  In the use posture, the communication portion 350 that forms the meniscus is disposed at a position lower than the recording head 17. Thereby, the water head difference d1 occurs. In the use posture, the water head difference d1 in a state where the meniscus is formed in the communication portion 350 is also referred to as “steady-state water head difference d1”.

  As the ink in the ink storage chamber 204 is sucked by the recording head 17, the ink storage chamber 204 becomes a predetermined negative pressure or higher. When the ink storage chamber 204 becomes a predetermined negative pressure or higher, the ink in the liquid storage chamber 340 is supplied to the ink storage chamber 204 via the hose 24. That is, the ink storage chamber 204 is automatically replenished with the amount of ink that has flowed out of the recording head 17 from the liquid storage chamber 340. In other words, the water head difference d1 generated by the difference in the vertical height between the ink liquid surface in contact with the air accommodating chamber 330 in the ink tank 30 and the recording head (specifically, the nozzle) is more from the printer 12 side. As the suction force (negative pressure) increases to some extent, ink is supplied from the liquid storage chamber 340 to the ink storage chamber 204.

  When the ink in the liquid storage chamber 340 is consumed, the air G (also referred to as “bubble G”) in the air storage chamber 330 is introduced into the liquid storage chamber 340 through the communication unit 350. Thereby, the liquid level of the liquid storage chamber 340 is lowered.

A-2. Ink tank configuration:
Next, the configuration of the ink tank 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a first external perspective view of the ink tank 30. FIG. 4 is a second external perspective view of the ink tank 30. 3 and 4, illustration of the plug member 302 (FIG. 2) is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the ink tank 30 includes a tank body 32, a first film 34, and a second film 322. The tank body 32 is formed of a synthetic resin such as polypropylene. The tank body 32 is translucent, and the amount of ink inside can be confirmed from the outside. The shape of the tank body 32 is a concave shape with one side opened. Various shapes of ribs 362 are formed in the recess of the tank body 32. Here, the opened one side surface (one side surface including the outer frame of the tank body 32 forming the opening) is also referred to as an open side surface 370. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the tank main body 32 includes an opposing wall surface portion 372 that is a side surface at a position facing the opening side surface 370 across the internal space (for example, the liquid storage chamber 340).

  As shown in FIG. 3, the 1st film 34 is shape | molded by synthetic resins, such as a polypropylene, and is transparent. The first film 34 is attached to the tank body 32 so as to cover the opening OP by heat welding. Specifically, the first film 34 is affixed densely so that there is no gap between the end face of the rib 362 and the end face of the outer frame of the tank body 32. Thereby, a plurality of small rooms are formed. Specifically, the air storage chamber 330, the liquid storage chamber 340, and the communication part 350 are mainly formed. That is, the tank body 32 and the first film 34 form an air storage chamber 330, a liquid storage chamber 340, and a communication portion 350. Since the first film 34 is in the form of a thin film, it is more easily damaged than the hard tank body 32. Note that the attachment of the first film 34 to the tank body 32 is not limited to thermal welding, and may be attached using, for example, an adhesive.

The second film 322 is affixed to the tank body 32 so as to cover a part of the meandering flow path including the atmosphere opening 318 and the atmosphere opening 318 and the atmosphere introduction port 317.

  A plurality of protrusions 324 are formed on the tank body 32 in the vicinity of the opening side surface 370 so as to surround the outer periphery of the opening side surface 370. The protruding portion 324 has a protruding shape that extends outward from the tank body 32. In this embodiment, seven protrusions 324 (only three are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4) are formed.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the opposing wall surface portion 372 includes a wall surface 326 that is larger than the size of the opening OP, and an outer peripheral wall portion 325 that surrounds the outer periphery of the wall surface 326 and is erected from the outer periphery of the wall surface 326. Note that “surrounding the outer periphery” means surrounding more than half of the outer periphery of the wall surface 326. The outer shape of the wall surface 326, the outer shape of the opening side surface 370, and the outer shape of the opening OP are similar, and the outer periphery of the wall surface 326 is larger than the outer periphery of the opening side surface 370 and the outer periphery of the opening OP.

  The opposing wall surface portion 372 has a concave shape when viewed from the outside of the ink tank 30 by the wall surface 326 and the outer peripheral wall portion 325. Specifically, the opposing wall surface portion 372 has a concave shape when viewed from the side opposite to the liquid storage chamber 340 (Y-axis negative direction side) with the opposing wall surface portion 372 interposed therebetween. A plurality of holes 325 a are formed in the outer peripheral wall 325. In this embodiment, the number of holes 325a corresponds to the number of protrusions 324 formed. That is, seven holes 325 a are formed in the outer peripheral wall 325. When the tank unit 50 is formed by stacking a plurality of ink tanks 30, the protrusions 324 of one ink tank 30 are fitted into the holes 325 a of the other adjacent ink tanks 30, so that the adjacent ink tanks 30 are united. Since the tank body 32 can be somewhat elastically deformed by an external force, it is possible to disassemble the two or more ink tanks 30 that are assembled and integrated by releasing the fitting between the protrusion 324 and the hole 325a. Here, the protrusion 324 and the hole 325a constitute a fitting unit 328 (FIG. 4).

  When the tank unit 50 is formed, the first film 34 of one ink tank 30 enters the recess 327 of the opposing wall surface 372 of another adjacent ink tank 30. In other words, the outer periphery of the first film 34 of one ink tank 30 is surrounded by the outer peripheral wall 325. Here, “surrounded” means that more than half of the outer periphery of the first film 34 is surrounded. Thereby, possibility that the 1st film 34 will be reduced can be reduced, and possibility that the ink of the liquid storage chamber 340 will leak outside can be reduced.

A-3. Tank unit configuration:
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the tank unit 50. In FIG. 5, the top case 54 and the bottom case are not shown. Further, when the ink tanks 30 are distinguished from each other and used, the reference numerals 30p, 30q, 30r, and 30s are used.

  The plurality of ink tanks 30 are arranged in a line. Specifically, the plurality of ink tanks 30 are arranged in a row in a direction (Y-axis direction) in which the opening side surface 370 and the opposing wall surface portion 372 face each other. When arranging a plurality of ink tanks 30, the protrusions 324 of one ink tank 30 are fitted into the holes 325 a of other adjacent ink tanks 30. Further, the opening side surface 370 side of one ink tank 30 is disposed so as to enter the recess 327 of the opposing wall surface portion 372 of another adjacent ink tank 30, and the first film 34 of one ink tank 30 is another ink tank. It is protected by 30 opposing wall surface portions 372.

  The first film 34 of the ink tank 30p located at one end of the ink tank 30 arranged in a row is not covered with the other ink tanks 30q, 30r, 30s. However, the opening side surface 370 of the ink tank 30 p is covered by the first side case 56. Thereby, the first film 34 of the ink tank 30p is protected. Here, the ink tank 30p corresponds to the “exposed liquid storage container” described in the means for solving the problem.

  Further, the plug member 302 that blocks the liquid injection port 304 of one ink tank 30 and the plug member 302 that blocks the liquid injection port 304 of another adjacent ink tank 30 are connected by a connecting member 303. That is, the two plug members 302 are integrally formed so as not to be separated by the connecting member 303. Even when the plug member 302 (also referred to as “target plug member 302”) is removed from the liquid injection port 304 when ink is injected (supplemented) into a certain ink tank 30, the target plug member 302 may be adjacent to another ink tank. 30 plug members 302 (also referred to as “adjacent plug members 302”). Here, since the adjacent plug member 302 is attached to the liquid inlet 304 of the other ink tank 30, the target plug member 302 is positioned in the vicinity of the adjacent plug member 302. Therefore, the user can reduce the possibility of losing the removed plug member 302.

  FIG. 6 is an external perspective view of the tank unit 50. In FIG. 6, the top case 54 and the bottom case are not shown. As shown in FIG. 6, the protrusion 324 of another ink tank 30 adjacent to the hole 325a of one ink tank 30 is fitted.

  Thus, in the above embodiment, each ink tank 30 forms an internal space such as the liquid storage chamber 340 by affixing the first film 34 to one side surface of the tank body 32 having one side surface opened. Therefore, compared to the case where a hard lid member is vibration welded to the tank body 32, the internal space can be easily formed while ensuring the airtightness inside the ink tank 30. Further, it is possible to reduce the possibility that impurities such as scraps from the tank body 32 are mixed into the ink tank 30. Further, since the first film 34 is protected by being covered with the tank body 32 of the adjacent ink tank 30, the possibility that the first film 34 is broken and the ink leaks from the inside can be reduced. Also, the size of the ink tanks in the stacking direction (arrangement direction) can be made compact compared to the case where hard members are vibration welded to form an ink tank. Thereby, the tank unit 50 in which the plurality of ink tanks 30 are stacked can be reduced in size.

  In addition, the two or more ink tanks 30 can be easily assembled and integrated by the protrusion 324 and the hole 325a, and the possibility that the integrated ink tanks 30 are separated can be reduced. In addition, two or more liquid containers that are integrated can be easily disassembled. Therefore, the tank unit 50 can easily change the number of ink tanks 30 arranged according to the number and specifications of ink colors used in the printer 12.

B. Variations:
In addition, elements other than the elements described in the independent claims of the claims in the constituent elements in the above-described embodiments are additional elements and can be omitted as appropriate. Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described examples and embodiments, and can be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the following modifications are possible.

B-1. First modification:
In the above-described embodiment, the opposing wall surface portion 372 includes the outer peripheral wall portion 325 (FIG. 4), but may not be provided. That is, when two or more ink tanks 30 are disposed, the opposing wall surface portion 372 may have a shape that can cover the surface of the first film 34 of the adjacent ink tank 30. Even in this case, similarly to the above embodiment, the first film 34 of one ink tank 30 can be protected by covering it with the opposing wall surface portion 372 (specifically, the wall surface 326) of another ink tank 30 adjacent thereto. .

B-2. Second modification:
In the above embodiment, the ink tank 30 has the fitting unit 328 provided with the protrusion 324 and the hole 325a, but it can be omitted. Even in this case, similarly to the above embodiment, the first film 34 of one ink tank 30 can be protected by being covered with the opposing wall surface portion 372 of another ink tank 30 adjacent thereto.

B-3. Third modification:
In the above embodiment, the ink tank 30 and the tank unit 50 used for the printer 12 as the liquid container have been described as examples. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a color material ejecting head such as a liquid crystal display is provided. Device, device with electrode material (conductive paste) jet head used for electrode formation such as organic EL display, surface emitting display (FED), etc., device with bio organic matter jet head used for biochip manufacturing, precision pipette As an apparatus equipped with a sample ejection head, a liquid storage container capable of supplying liquid to the liquid ejection apparatus from the outside of the liquid ejection apparatus such as a textile printing apparatus or a microdispenser, and a tank unit in which two or more liquid storage containers are arranged The present invention is applicable. When a liquid container is used in the various liquid ejecting apparatuses described above, a liquid (coloring material, conductive paste, bioorganic matter, etc.) corresponding to the type of liquid ejected by the various liquid ejecting apparatuses is placed inside the liquid container. Can be accommodated. The present invention can also be applied to a liquid ejecting system including various liquid ejecting apparatuses and a tank unit used for the various liquid ejecting apparatuses.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Liquid ejection system 10 ... Case 12 ... Printer 13 ... Paper feeding part 14 ... Paper discharge part 16 ... Carriage 16a ... Ink supply needle 17 ... Recording head 20 ... Sub tank 20Bk ... Sub tank 20Ma ... Sub tank 20Cn ... Sub tank 20Yw ... Sub tank 24 ... hose (tube)
30 ... Liquid container (ink tank)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 32 ... Tank main body 34 ... 1st film 50 ... Tank unit 54 ... Top surface case 56 ... 1st side case 58 ... 2nd side case 202 ... Liquid receiving part 204 ... Ink storage chamber 206 ... Filter 208 ... Ink flow path 302 ... Plug member 303 ... Connecting member 304 ... Liquid inlet 306 ... Liquid outlet 317 ... Atmospheric inlet 318 ... Atmospheric opening 322 ... Second film 324 ... Projection 325 ... Outer peripheral wall 325a ... Hole 326 ... Wall surface 327: Recess 328: Fitting unit 330 ... Air storage chamber 340 ... Liquid storage chamber 350 ... Communication portion 362 ... Rib 370 ... Opening side 372 ... Opposite wall surface portion G ... Air (bubbles)
OP ... Opening sf ... Horizontal plane

Claims (6)

A tank unit for supplying liquid to the liquid ejecting apparatus from the outside of the liquid ejecting apparatus,
Two or more liquid storage containers arranged in a row ;
A first side case ,
Each of the liquid containers is
A liquid storage chamber for storing the liquid formed by a concave container body having one side opened and a film closing the opening;
The container body is
An opposing wall surface portion facing the film across the liquid storage chamber, and having an opposing wall surface portion having a wall surface larger than the opening;
The two or more liquid storage containers are arranged so that the film of the one liquid storage container is covered by the opposing wall surface portion of the other adjacent liquid storage container ;
An exposed liquid storage container that is the liquid storage container in which the film is not covered by the opposing wall surface portion of the other liquid storage container is disposed at one end of the one row,
The first side case is a tank unit arranged to cover the film of the exposed liquid storage container .   The tank unit according to claim 1,
  Each of the liquid storage containers further includes
    A fitting unit for attaching and detaching between the adjacent liquid storage containers,
  The fitting unit is
    A protrusion,
    A tank unit including the hole into which the protrusion of the adjacent liquid container is fitted. The tank unit according to claim 1 or 2,
  Each of the liquid storage containers further includes
  A liquid inlet for injecting liquid into the liquid storage chamber;
  A plug member for closing the liquid inlet, the plug member attached to the liquid inlet detachably,
  The tank unit, wherein the plug member of one of the liquid storage containers and the plug member of another adjacent liquid storage container are connected by a connection member. The tank unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
  A top case,
  A bottom case,
  A second side case disposed on the opposite side of the first side case across the two or more liquid storage containers, and
  The tank unit, wherein the two or more liquid storage containers are arranged in an internal space formed by the top case, the first side case, the second side case, and the bottom case. A liquid ejection system,
  The tank unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
  A liquid ejecting apparatus having a head for ejecting the liquid onto an object;
  A liquid ejecting system comprising: a circulation pipe that connects the tank unit and the liquid ejecting apparatus and causes the liquid ejecting apparatus to circulate the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber. The liquid ejection system according to claim 5,
  The liquid ejecting apparatus is a printer;
  The liquid ejecting system, wherein the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber is ink.

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