Patent ID: 9266341
Filing Date: 2016-02-23
CPC Classification: B41J

Claim Text:
1. A liquid tank holding mechanism for detachably holding a liquid tank to a main body portion, comprising a biasing member, a cover and a lever, wherein: the biasing member biases the liquid tank in a disengaging direction with the liquid tank mounted; the lever includes a lock adapted to hold the liquid tank at a predetermined position by getting engaged with the liquid tank, a biasing portion adapted to bias the lock so as to get engaged with the liquid tank, a shaft configured to intersect in a disengaging direction of the liquid tank, and a retainer and is attached to the cover pivotally around the shaft; the cover includes an opening through which the liquid tank is detachably attached, a first bearing portion and a second bearing portion adapted to accept the shaft of the lever, and a retainer catch; the first bearing portion and the second bearing portion movably receive the shaft in a mounting direction or the disengaging direction of the liquid tank in a bearing region formed by the first bearing portion and the second bearing portion, and the bearing portion and/or a root of the bearing portion have flexibility and deform so as to expand spacing between the first bearing portion and the second bearing portion, thereby allowing the shaft to be attached; the retainer catch is configured to abut the retainer to stop movement of the shaft in the disengaging direction of the liquid tank in the bearing region; and when the retainer abuts the retainer catch, a center of the shaft is placed so as to be closer to the bearing region than is the shortest line linking a tip of the first bearing portion and a tip of the second bearing portion.