Container of consumable supplies for a printer and printer utilizing the container

A container for containing consumable supplies for the use of an ink jet printer includes an ink containing portion for containing an ink, and an ink communication member for causing ink communication by piercing the ink containing portion when the container is attached to the printer. Before the container is attached to the printer, the ink containing portion can contain the ink sealingly and independently of the outside. As a result, ink leakage during distribution of the container can be prevented and the ink containing portion having, e.g., a bag-like shape, can be produced by a simple process, for sealingly containing the ink.

This application is based on Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2001-081641 and 2001-081642 both filed Mar. 21, 2001, the contents of which are incorporated hereinto by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a container for consumable supplies of a printer, and a printer utilizing the container.

2. Description of the Related Art

The recent spread of digital cameras has resulted in increasing needs for printing photographed images without the intervention of a personal computer. Known apparatus formed by integrating a camera and a printer include Polaroid® cameras.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One possible approach to achieve functions similar to those of such Polaroid cameras with a digital camera is to configure a printer-built-in camera by integrating a digital camera for photographing an image with a printer for printing the photographed image. With such a printer-built-in camera, a photographed image can be printed any time without using any other apparatus.

In the case of a printer which must be compact and light-weight, e.g., a printer integrated with a digital camera, a printer consumable container for containing printing media, ink and so on as printer consumable supplies is used. The size of the printer may be increased when the printer consumable container is always attached, and it is therefore desirable to attach the container to the printer as occasions demand. When such a container is used, the container may be removed except during a printing operation to improve the operability of the printer or the camera.

It is a purpose of the invention to provide a container for consumable supplies of a printer suitable for use with a printer utilizing inks, and a printer.

In a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container of consumable supplies for a printer, the container being attachable to a printer for printing on a printing medium by using an inkjet head for ejecting ink, the container having an ink containing portion for hermetically containing ink to be supplied to the inkjet head and the container comprising:

a ink supply connecting portion connected to an ink receiving portion of the printer as a result of the attaching operation, for allowing the ink contained in the ink containing portion to be supplied to the ink receiving portion of the printer; and

an ink communication member entering the ink containing portion as a result of the attaching operation for communicating ink from the ink containing portion to the ink supply connecting portion.

Here, the ink communication member may have a hollow needle stuck into the ink containing portion, and the container may further comprise a member which integrally holds the hollow needle and the ink supply connecting portion and which is displaced in the sticking direction at least in over a distance sufficient to cause the hollow needle to be stuck into the ink containing portion as a result of the attaching operation, thereby establishing the ink communication, and a member for holding the displacing member in the position to which the displacing member is displaced.

The ink containing portion may be in the form of a bag formed by folding a sheet body and by sealing three sides thereof and wherein the hollow needle is stuck into the folded portion that is not sealed, and the container may further comprise a member for supporting the folded portion that is not sealed, for preventing the folded portion from being flattened to make it possible to keep it in a curved state.

At least one of a printing medium to be printed by the inkjet head and a waste ink absorption body for collecting waste ink discharged from the inkjet head may be further contained.

The ink supply connecting portion and the ink communication member may be provided on an integral coupling member for coupling with the ink receiving portion, the coupling member being movable as a result of the attaching operation, and the ink communication member being stuck into the ink containing portion as a result of the movement.

The container may further comprise a support body for supporting the ink containing portion, and wherein each of the support body and the coupling member may have a member for preventing them from being coupled before the container is attached to the printer and a member for preventing them from being decoupled and disengaged from each other after the attachment.

In a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container of consumable supplies for a printer, the container being attachable to a printer for printing on a printing medium by using an inkjet head for ejecting ink, the container containing a printing medium to be supplied to the printer, and the container comprising:

a printing medium supply port at least a part of which has a gap dimension smaller than the thickness of one sheet of the contained printing medium to be supplied; and

means for engaging with a member provided on the printer at the time of the attachment to expand the gap at the printing medium supply port, thereby allowing the printing medium to be supplied.

Here, the expansion may take place as a result of the engagement such that at least a part of the printing medium supply port has a gap dimension smaller than the thickness of two sheets of the printing medium.

The means may have members which are provided on both sides of the gap at the printing medium supply port and which are displaceable in the direction of expanding the gap when engaged with corresponding members on the printer.

The container may further comprise at least one of an ink supply connecting section for containing ink to be supplied to the inkjet head and for allowing the contained ink to be supplied to the printer at the time of the attachment and a waste ink absorption body for collecting waste ink discharged from the inkjet head.

In a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container of consumable supplies for a printer, the container being attachable to a printer for printing on a printing medium by using an inkjet head for ejecting ink, the container containing a printing medium to be supplied to the printer, an ink container containing ink supplied to the inkjet head and a waste ink absorption body for collecting waste ink discharged from the inkjet head, and the container comprising:

a first member for forming an outer housing of the container; and

a second member for forming the outer housing of the container,

wherein the waste ink absorption body, a first sheet-like member, the printing medium, a second sheet-like member and an elastic member capable of exerting a pressing force from the second sheet-like member toward the first sheet-like member are stacked in the same order and contained in a containing space formed by the combination of the first member and the second member, and wherein the ink container is disposed on the waste ink absorption body.

Here, the container may further comprise an introducing portion for introducing ink discharged from the printer at the time of the attachment and a receiving portion to which a printing medium feeding unit provided on the printer is coupled at the time of the attachment, and wherein the receiving portion and the introducing portion may be provided away from each other, and wherein an ink supply connecting portion for containing ink to be supplied to the inkjet head and for allowing the contained ink to be supplied to the printer at the time of the attachment may be provided between the receiving portion and the introducing portion.

The first sheet-like member on which the printing medium is provided in an overlapping relationship may have an open portion for allowing a printing medium feeding unit provided at the printer to contact the printing medium at the time of the attachment, and wherein the first sheet-like member smoothly supplies the printing medium to the printer according to an operation of the printing medium feeding unit, the first sheet-like member being formed of a material having a small friction coefficient or a material processed to achieve a low friction coefficient.

The second sheet-like member provided such that it sandwiches the printing medium in combination with the sheet-like member may exert the pressing force of the elastic member toward the printing medium feeding unit.

The container may further comprise an introducing portion for introducing ink discharged from the printer at the time of the attachment, and wherein the printing medium containing portion may be spaced from the introducing portion and the waste ink absorption body by the first sheet-like member.

The first member may have an opening -for allowing the printing medium feeding unit to enter in association with the open portion of the first sheet-like member and the first and second members may be joined by coupling an engaging portion provided on one of the members with an engaged portion provided on the other.

The first and second members may be joined by applying an adhesive seal between parts of them in addition to the coupling of the engaging portion and the engaged portion.

The container may be assembled by:

containing the introducing portion, the holding portion, the ink containing portion and the ink supply connecting portion in the first member;

providing the sheet-like member;

placing a printing medium on top of the sheet-like member; and

joining the second member to the first member.

Here, the container may be reproduced by replacing or replenishing at least one of the elements between the first member and the second member.

The container may be reproduced by separating the first member and the second member to perform the replacement or replenishment and joining the first member and the second member after the replacement or replenishment.

The first member may have an opening for allowing coupling of a printing medium feeding unit provided at the printer at the time of the attachment, and the second member may have an opening which is provided in a part thereof in a face-to-face relationship with the opening of the first member with the contained printing medium interposed therebetween and which is for allowing coupling of a printing medium urging unit for exerting an urging force to the printing medium toward the printing medium feeding unit through the elastic member at the time of the attachment.

The container may further comprise an opening/closing member for allowing coupling of the printing medium feeding unit by opening the opening of the first accepting portion according to the attachment.

In a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer to which a container of consumable supplies for containing a printing medium is attachable and for printing by using an inkjet head for ejecting ink to the printing medium fed from the container, the printer comprising:

a printing medium feeding unit coupled with the contained printing medium through an opening on the container at the time of the attachment to perform the feeding; and

an outlet portion for discharging ink to the container of consumable supplies at the time of the attachment,

wherein the printing medium feeding unit and the outlet portion are provided away from each other, and wherein the container contains ink to be supplied to the inkjet head, and further comprising an ink supply receiving portion coupled with an ink supply connecting portion of the container for allowing the contained ink to be supplied at the time of the attachment, the ink supply receiving portion being provided between the printing medium feeding unit and the outlet portion.

Here, the container may have an ink containing section for containing inks with a plurality of colors to be supplied to the inkjet head and a plurality of ink supply connecting portions for allowing the inks with a plurality of colors contained in the ink containing section to be supplied at the time of the attachment; a plurality of the ink supply receiving portions associated with the plurality of ink supply connecting portions may be provided between the printing medium feeding unit and the outlet portion; and the outlet portion and the ink supply receiving portions may be integrally held.

In a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer to which a container of consumable supplies for containing a printing medium is attachable and for printing by using an inkjet head for ejecting ink to the printing medium supplied from the container, comprising a member for engaging with means provided on the container at the time of the attachment to expand a gap at a printing medium supply port of the container, thereby allowing the printing medium to be supplied, and wherein at least a part of the printing medium supply port has a gap dimension smaller than the thickness of one sheet of the contained printing medium to be supplied and wherein the member performs the expansion as a result of the engagement with the means such that at least a part of the printing medium supply port has a gap dimension smaller than the thickness of two sheets of the printing medium.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described by referring to the accompanying drawings.

In the present specification, “printing” (also referred to as “recording” in some occasions) means not only a condition of forming significant information such as characters and drawings, but also a condition of forming images, designs, patterns and the like on printing media widely or a condition of processing the printing media, regardless of significance or lack thereof or of forming an image in such manner as to be visually perceived by a human.

Further, the “printing medium” means not only a paper used in a conventional printing apparatus but also everything capable of accepting inks, such as fabrics, plastic films, metal plates, glasses, ceramics, wood and leathers, and in the following, will be also represented by a “sheet” or simply by “paper”.

Further, in the present specification, a “camera” indicates an apparatus or device that optically photographs an image and converts the photographed image into electrical signals, and in the following explanation, is also referred to as a “photographing section”.

Still further, an “ink” (also referred to as “liquid” in some occasions) should be interpreted in a broad sense like the definition of “printing” above and thus the ink, by being applied on the printing media, shall mean a liquid to be used for forming images, designs, patterns and the like, processing the printing medium or processing inks (for example, coagulation or encapsulation of coloring materials in the inks to be applied to the printing media).

One embodiment of a head to which the present invention is advantageously employed is the embodiment in which thermal energy generated by an electrothermal transducer is utilized to cause film boiling in the liquid resulting in a formation of bubbles.

Firstly, a basic structure of a device according to the present invention will be explained in view ofFIGS. 1to4. The device explained in the present embodiment is constituted as information processing equipment comprising a photographing section for optically photographing an image and then converting the photographed image into electric signals (hereinafter, also referred to as a “camera section”) and an image recording section for recording an image on the basis of the thus obtained electric signals (hereinafter, also referred to as a “printer section”). Hereinafter, the information processing equipment in the present embodiment will be explained using the term “printer-built-in camera”.

In a main body A001, there is incorporated a printer section (recording apparatus section) B100at the backside of a camera section A100in an integral manner. The printer section B100records an image by using inks and printing media which are supplied from a medium pack (a container of consumable supplies for a printer) C100. In the present structure, as apparent fromFIG. 4illustrating the main body A001viewed from the backside with an outer package removed, the medium pack C100is inserted at the right-hand side of the main body A001in FIG.4and the printer section B100is arranged at the left-hand side of the main body A001in FIG.4. In the case of performing a recording by the printer section B100, the main body A001can be placed facing a liquid crystal display section A105up and a lens A101down. In this recording position, a recording head B305of the printer section B100, which will be described below, is made to be positioned to eject inks in the downward direction. The recording position can be made to be the same position as that of the photographing condition by the camera section A100and thus is not limited to the recording position as mentioned above. However, in view of a stability of the recording operation, the recording position capable of ejecting the inks in the downward direction is preferred.

In the following will be explanations of the basic mechanical structure according to the present embodiment under the headings1“Camera Section”,2“Medium Pack” and3“Printer Section”, and of the basic structure of the signal processing under the heading4“Control System”.

1: Camera Section

The camera section A100, which basically constitutes a conventional digital camera, constitutes the printer-built-in digital camera having an appearance inFIGS. 1to3by being integrally incorporated into the main body A001together with a printer section B100described below. InFIGS. 1to3, A101denotes a lens; A102denotes a viewfinder; A102adenotes a window of the viewfinder; A103denotes a flash; A104denotes a shutter release button; and A105denotes a liquid crystal display section (outer display section). The camera section A100, as described below, performs a processing of data photographed by a CCD, a recording of the images to a compact flash memory card (CF card) A107, a display of the images and a transmission of various kinds of data with the printer section B100. A109denotes a discharge part for discharging a printing medium C104on which the photographed image is recorded. A108, as shown inFIG. 5, is a battery as a power source for the camera section A100and the printer section B100.

2: Medium Pack

The medium pack C100can be attached to and detached from the main body A001of the apparatus. In the present embodiment, the medium pack C100is attached to the main body A001as shown inFIG. 1by being inserted into an inserting portion A002(seeFIG. 3) of the main body A001in the direction indicated by the arrow F1. The inserting portion A002is opened when the medium pack C100is attached and is closed as shown inFIG. 3when it is pulled out in the direction indicated by the arrow F2. The medium pack C100is constituted by an ink containing portion, a printing medium containing portion, a waste ink containing portion, and so on provided between a pack main body C101and a cover C102.FIG. 5is a perspective view of the medium pack C100taken from the side of the cover C102(front side);FIG. 6is a perspective view of the medium pack C100taken from the side of the pack main body C101(back side);FIG. 7is an exploded perspective view of the medium pack C100; andFIG. 8is a plan view of the pack main body C101.

2-1: Ink Containing Section

Ink pack containing section S1for containing ink packs C130are formed in the pack main body C101. In the present embodiment, the ink pack containing section S1is formed with three ink pack containing portions S1-Y, S1-M, and S1-C by partitioning it with ribs C101A and C101B for containing three ink packs C130-Y, C130-M and C130-C in which inks in yellow (Y), magenta (M) and cyan (C) are separately reserved. The ink packs C130-Y, C130-M and C130-C may be integrally formed, and partitions to be described later are not required in this case. When the ink packs C130-Y, C130-M and C130-C are formed as separate bodies, they are positioned in the ink pack containing portions S1-Y, S1-M and S1-C by the ribs C101A and C101B such that they are not misaligned with each other.

The ink packs C130(ink packs C130-Y, C130-M and C130-C) are held by an ink pack holder C131. In the present embodiment, the ink packs C130are formed like bags using films having a capability of recovering from pin holes in order to seal inks therein, as shown inFIGS. 10A and 10B. As shown in these figures, an outer surface of a folded portion C130A of the same is bonded or welded to a curved surface C131A of the holder131. The curved surface C131A guides the folded portions C130A of the ink packs C130such that they are not flattened to maintain them in a curved form. Each of the ink packs C130is formed like a bag by folding a sheet material at the portion130A and then by sealing it at three sides thereof through bonding or welding, excepting the folded portions130A. The holder C131is formed with openings C131B where the folded portions C130A of the ink packs C130are exposed on the left side of the holder as shown inFIGS. 10A and 10B. Further, the holder C131is formed with coupling latches C131C, C131C to allow it to be coupled with an ink pack joint C132to be described later. Regarding the positions where the coupling latches C131C, C131C are formed, they may be formed in positions in the right and left sides the holder C131close to the center of the same as shown inFIGS. 7,10A and10B, and they may alternatively be formed in positions in the right and left sides of the holder C131close to the ends of the same as shown inFIGS. 9A and 9B. Thus, the holder C131holding the ink pack C130is positioned in a containing section S2of the pack main body C101(see FIG.7).

Denoted C132is an ink pack joint having a substantially T-shaped planar configuration which is contained in the pack main body C101such that it can slide in the direction indicated by the arrow F2. Specifically, one end C132-1of the joint C132and another end C132-2of the same are contained in containing sections S3and S4of the pack main body C101such that they can slide in the directions indicated by the arrows F1and F2, respectively. A containing section S5for containing a waste ink absorption body to be described later is formed under a central portion C132-3of the joint C132. Three hollow needles C133are provided at the end C132-1in an opposing relationship with the three openings C131B of the holder C131. The needles C133communicate with ink supply ports P1, P2and P3at the end C132-2through ink passages L1, L2and L3. A waste ink introduction port P4formed at the end C132-2communicates with a waste ink discharge port P5formed on a side of the central portion C132-3through an ink passage L4. A rubber plug C134is fitted in each of the ports P1, P2, P3and P4to allow insertion and removal of needles B502C, B502M, B502Y and B503of the apparatus main body A001to be described later. When the medium pack C100is attached to the apparatus main body A001, the needles B502C, B502M, B502Y and B503enter the pack main body C101through an opening C101H formed on the pack main body C101. When the needles B502C, B502M, B502Y, and B503are removed, elastic restoring properties of the rubber plugs C134automatically close the holes formed by the needles B502C, B502M, B502Y and B503. In the case that the joint C132is provided with a structure in which a plurality of members located in upper and lower positions inFIG. 7are assembled with each other, grooves extending along the ink passages L1, L2, L3and L4may be formed on the lower member and the upper member may be assembled on the lower member to form the ink passages L1, L2, L3and L4inside the joint C132.

As will be described later, the coupling latches C131C, C131C of the holder C131engage with the joint C132when the joint C132moves in the direction indicated by the arrow F2to approach the holder C131. When the coupling latches C131C, C131C are formed in positions close to the center of the holder C131as shown inFIGS. 7 and 11, the latches engage with edges of openings C132A and, when the coupling latches C131C, C131C are formed in positions close to the ends of the holder C131as shown inFIGS. 9A and 9B, the latches engage with both ends of the joint C132.

When the medium pack C100with the ink containing section having such a construction described above has not been used or when it has never been attached to the apparatus main body A001, the joint C132is in an uncoupled state in which it is separated from the holder C131as shown inFIG. 9A, and the needles C133on the joint C132are off the ink packs C130as shown in FIG.10A. When the medium pack C100has not been attached yet as thus described, the ends of the coupling latches C131C, C131C are in contact with the joint C132to prevent the joint C132and the holder C131from being coupled. Therefore, the coupling latches C131C, C131C function as members for interrupting linkage between the joint C132and ink packs C130before the medium pack C100is attached.

When such an unused medium pack C100is attached to the apparatus main body A001in the direction indicated by the arrow F1, the needles B502C, B502M, B502Y and B503on the apparatus main body A001cause a relative movement of the joint C132in the direction indicated by the arrow F2while being stuck into the rubber plugs C134in the ports P1, P2, P3and P4, which causes the needles C133on the joint C132to be stuck into the folded portions C130A of the ink packs C130. When the medium pack C100is completely attached as shown inFIG. 9B, the joint C132is coupled with the holder C131by the coupling latches C131C; the needles B502C, B502M, B502Y and B503on the apparatus main body A001penetrate through the rubber plugs C134in the ports P1, P2, P3and P4to be in communication with the ink passages L1, L2, L3and L4; and the needles C133on the joint C132are put in communication with the interior of the ink packs C130as shown in FIG.10B. After the medium pack C100is thus attached, the coupling latches C131C, C131C function as engaging members for engaging the joint C132and ink packs C130to prevent them from being decoupled.

As a result, the ink packs C130-Y, C130M and C130-C are connected to ink supply passages to be described later in the apparatus main body A001through the ink passages L1, L2and L3, which allows inks to be supplied. Since the ink packs are constituted by films having a capability of recovering from pin holes, no ink leaks from the regions pierced by the needles. The waste ink discharge port P5is connected to a waste ink discharge passage to be described later in the apparatus main body A001through the ink passage L4to discharge waste ink discharged through the waste ink discharge passage on to waste ink absorption bodies C141to be described later. The waste ink discharged through the waste ink discharge passage is a relatively large amount of waste ink that is discharged into a cap as a result of a suction recovery operation or a preliminary ejecting operation of a recording head as will be described later, the waste ink being discharged using a pump.

When the medium pack C100thus attached is removed from the apparatus main body A001in the direction indicated by the arrow F2, the needles B502C, B502M, B502Y and B503on the apparatus main body A001come out the rubber plugs C134in the ports P1, P2, P3and P4. At this time, the rubber plugs C134automatically close the ports P1, P2, P3and P4because of their elastic restoring properties. The coupling latches C131C keep the holder C131and joint C132in the coupled state, and the needles C133on the joint C132remain inserted in the ink packs C130. That is, the coupling latches C131C keep the holder C131and joint C132in the coupled state after they are once coupled.

Thus, the needles C133on the joint C132are inserted into the ink packs C130only when the medium pack C100is first attached to the apparatus main body A001and are thereafter kept in the inserted state. In the case of an unused medium pack C100which has never been attached to the apparatus main body A001, the needles C133on the joint C132are not inserted in the ink pack C130, and the ink packs C130completely seal inks only by themselves. This is advantageous in view of the distribution of the medium pack C100and the manufacture of the ink packs C130.

Specifically, when an unused medium pack C100is distributed, since the needles C133are not inserted in the ink packs C130, inks can be reliably sealed by the ink packs C130alone without being adversely affected by the ambient temperature such as the temperature during distribution. Further, since no ink enters the ink passages L1, L2and L3when the medium pack C100is thus distributed, it is possible to thoroughly eliminate a problem that can occur when the ink passages L1, L2and L3are formed of a synthetic resin material, i.e., the problem of evaporation of ink components through the synthetic resin material. Further, since inks can be sealed by the ink packs C130alone, the ink packs C130can be manufactured easily at a low cost by charging inks in the material of the ink packs C130while forming it into bags. Since the needles C133are stuck in the longitudinal direction of the ink packs C130at the folded portions C130A of the ink packs C130secured to the holder C131, the needles C133can be sufficiently inserted into the ink packs C130. In this connection, when the needles C133are stuck into the ink packs C130at the top surface or bottom surface thereof inFIGS. 10A and 10Bfrom above and below in the same figures, it is difficult to maintain a sufficient amount of insertion of the needles C133because the thickness of the ink packs C130is small in the vertical direction.

Referring to the material to form the ink packs C130, a material having a multi-layer structure is employed such that it tightly contacts the circumferential surfaces of the needles C133when the needles C133are inserted as shown inFIG. 10Bto achieve a sufficient sealing effect. A specific example of such a material is a structure having four layers constituted by specialty nylon of 27 μm, PVDC (polyvinylidene chloride) of 3 μm, specialty polyethylene of 50 μm and normal polyethylene of 20 μm. Another specific example is a structure having four layers constituted by specialty nylon of 27 μm, aluminum foil of 7 μm, specialty polyethylene of 50 μm and normal polyethylene of 20 μm. Still another example is a material having the same quality as that of a product named “Cartridge Pack” (trade name) sold by Daiwa Gravure K. K. into which a dispenser can be directly inserted. While the aluminum foil layer is used to prevent evaporation of ink that is contained, the invention is not limited to aluminum foil layers, and various types of layers having the effect of preventing ink evaporation including a layer having aluminum deposited thereon and a silica-coated layer may be used as layers having such characteristics.

2-2: Waste Ink Containing Section

Waste ink absorption bodies C141are contained in the containing section S5. In the present embodiment, two upper and lower waste ink absorption bodies C141-1and C141-2are contained in an overlapping relationship. The waste ink absorption bodies C141(absorption bodies C141-1and C141-2) are formed with slits C141A in which positioning projections C101C, C101D and C101E formed on the pack main body C101are fitted. The absorption bodies C141are also formed with grooves C141B in which a wall C101F formed on the pack main body C101is fitted. A gap C101G is formed as shown inFIG. 11between a circumferential wall C101X of the pack main body C101and the wall C101F, and the containing section S5is divided into a large containing section S5-1and a small containing section S5-2with the gap C101G interposed therebetween. Therefore, the absorption bodies C141are divided into a first absorbing region C141-L which is located on the side of the large containing section S5-1and which absorbs a relatively great amount of waste ink and a second absorbing region C141-S which is located on the side of the small containing section S5-2and which absorbs a relatively small amount of waste ink, a narrow portion C141C associated with the gap C101G being interposed between them.

The waste ink discharge port P5faces the large containing section S5-1as shown in FIG.11. Therefore, a relatively great amount of waste ink discharged from the waste ink discharge port P5is reliably absorbed and held by the first absorbing regions C141-L of the absorption bodies C141. When the holder C131and joint C132are coupled by the coupling latches C131C, the waste ink discharge port P5is positioned substantially in the middle of the large containing section S5-1or substantially in the middle of the first absorbing regions C141-L of the absorption bodies C141, as shown in FIG.11. As a result, the first absorbing regions C141-L efficiently and reliably absorb and hold a relatively great amount of waste ink.

The small containing section S5-2communicates with the opening C101H formed on the pack main body C101. When the medium pack C100is inserted in the apparatus main body A001in the direction indicated by the arrow F1, an ink absorption body B506at the apparatus main body A001to be described later enters the small containing section S5-2through the opening C101H to be inserted into the second absorbing regions C141-S of the absorption bodies C141.FIGS. 12to15are illustrations for primarily explaining the positional relationship between the ink absorption body B506and the absorption bodies C141. The joint C132in the pack main body C101is omitted in those figures, andFIG. 15further omits the pack main body C101. When the medium pack C100is inserted in the apparatus main body A001, the ink absorption body B506is inserted in the second absorbing regions C141-S of the absorption bodies C141as shown in FIG.15.

As will be detailed later, ink ejected from the recording head to positions out of a printing medium C150are introduced to the ink absorption body B506of the apparatus main body A001due to capillarity. The amount of the ink ejected to positions out of the printing medium C150is relatively small, and the relatively small amount of ink is introduced to the ink absorption body B506as waste ink. The waste ink introduced to the ink absorption body B506is absorbed and held by the second absorbing regions C141-S due to capillarity when the ink absorption body B506is inserted in the second absorbing regions C141-S of the absorption bodies C141at the medium pack C100. Thus, the relatively small amount of waste ink introduced to the ink absorption body B506is absorbed and held by the second absorbing regions C141-S of the absorption bodies C141.

The ink absorption body B506is formed of a relatively hard porous material, and the absorption bodies C141are formed of a relatively soft porous material. Therefore, when they are put in contact, only the contacting parts of the absorption bodies C141at the medium pack C100as a consumable supply are greatly deformed, and there is small deterioration of the ink absorption body B506at the apparatus main body A001. As a result, when the medium pack C100as a consumable supply is repeatedly attached to the apparatus main body A001many times, a good state of connection can be always maintained between the ink absorption body B506and the absorption bodies C141. Further, such compression and deformation of the contacting parts of the absorption bodies C141results in a proper capillary force which allows ink to come out the ink absorption body B506in a favorable manner.

It is advantageous to divide the absorption bodies C141into the first absorbing region C141-L and the second absorbing region C141-S with the wall C141B in preventing waste ink from leaking out from an opening C101J. Specifically, when waste ink in the entire absorption bodies C141starts concentrating and moving toward the opening C101J, the waste ink is hindered by the wall C101F from moving and is forced to detour the wall C101F. By causing the waste ink to thus detour the wall C101F, it is possible to avoid a concentrative movement of the waste ink in the entire absorption bodies C141toward the opening C101J, thereby preventing the waste ink from leaking out from the opening C101J. In the present embodiment, since a relatively great amount of waste ink is absorbed and held by the first absorbing region C141-L, it is possible to effectively prevent the concentrative movement of the relatively great amount of waste ink toward the opening C101J. Further, since the second absorbing region C141-S absorbs and holds only a small amount of waste ink introduced from the ink absorption body B506at the apparatus main body A001by a capillary force, the waste ink can be prevented from leaking out in the vicinity of the opening C101J to reliably hold the same.

2-3: Printing Medium Containing Portion

As shown inFIG. 7, a medium slide sheet C151for covering the containing sections S1, S2, S3, S4and S5from above is fitted and positioned in the pack main body C101. Printing media C150are stored on the slide sheet C151. Specifically, a plurality of (e.g.,20) printing media C150in the form of sheets are placed on the slide sheet C151, and a medium press sheet C152is further placed on the same. A relatively hard medium press plate C153is attached to the press sheet C152. A medium positioning spring C154is elastically interposed between the press sheet C152and the cover C102. The spring C154is attached to the pack main body C101by elastically engaging both ends C154A and C154B thereof with the circumferential wall C101X of the pack main body C101in predetermined positions in the plane of the wall. Legs C154C, C154D, C154E and C154F of the spring C154urge the press sheet C152downward as viewed inFIG. 7. Aclaw C102A which can be elastically engaged with a hole C101K on the circumferential wall C101X of the pack main body C101is formed at one end C102-1of the cover C102. Another end C102-2of the cover C102is attached to the pack main body C101with a seal C103as shown inFIGS. 5 and 6.

On the circumferential wall C101X of the pack main body C101, there is formed an opening C101L for transporting the printing media C150stored on the slide sheet C151one by one in the direction indicated by the arrow A (see FIG.5). The printing medium C150is ejected by a pick-up roller B201and a press plate202at the apparatus main body A001as will be described later. When the medium pack C100is attached to the apparatus main body A001, the pick-up roller B201can enter the pack main body C101through an opening C101M formed on the pack main body C101to be pressed against the lowermost one of the printing media C150piled up on the slide sheet C151through a cut-out C151A on the slide sheet C151. As shown inFIGS. 5,6and7, a shutter C155is mounted at the opening C101M such that it can be opened and closed in the directions indicated by the arrows F1and F2, and the shutter C155is always urged by a spring C156in the closing direction indicated by the arrow F1. The shutter C155normally closes the opening C101M as shown inFIG. 6 and, when the medium pack C100is attached to the apparatus main body A001, it is opened in the direction indicated by the arrow F2to allow the pick-up roller B201to enter. When the medium pack C100is attached to the apparatus main body A001, the press plate B202can enter the pack main body C101through cut-outs C101N and C102B formed on the pack main body C101and the cover C102to be pressed against the press plate C153of the press sheet C152.

Thus, by attaching the medium pack C100to the apparatus main body A001, the printing media C150in the medium pack C100are set in a standby position in which they can be sandwiched between the pick-up roller B201and the press plate202. When an ASF trigger to be described later is released in this state, the printing media are sandwiched by those members, and the pick-up roller B201rotates in a predetermined transport direction to transport the lowermost one of the printing media C150on the slide sheet C151in the direction indicated by the arrow A through the opening C101L. At this time, since the lowermost printing medium C150slides on the slide sheet C151to be transported, the printing medium C150can be smoothly transported by making the top surface of the slide sheet C151smoother for the printing medium C150. The slide sheet C151preferably has properties that allow the printing medium C150to be transported favorably as described above. Specifically, this may be achieved by forming the sheet using a material having a low friction coefficient or by processing the sheet such that it has a low friction coefficient on a surface thereof in contact with the printing medium C150. Referring to examples of such processing, measures such as a fluorinating process or an embossing process on the sheet may be taken. In order to improve transportability, it is advantageous to take a measure against static electricity that can occur between the slide sheet C151and the printing medium C150.

Since the opening constituted by the cut-outs C101N and C102B and the opening C101M are formed in positions in an opposing relationship with each other, the printing media C150can be sandwiched between the pick-up roller B201and the press plate B202. By sandwiching the printing media C150between the pick-up roller B201and the press plate202, an optimum transporting force can be imparted from the pick-up roller B201to the printing media C150to transport the printing media C150with reliability. In the present embodiment, since the press plate B202is smaller than the pick-up roller B201as will be described later, the opening constituted by the cut-outs C101N and C102B is formed smaller than the opening C101M. By forming the opening constituted by the cut-outs C101N and C102B with such a small size, the rigidity of the medium pack C100is improved accordingly. In the present embodiment, since the shutter C155is provided at the relatively large opening C101M to always close the opening C101M when the medium pack C100is not attached to the apparatus main body A001, it is possible to prevent foreign substances from entering through the relatively large opening C101M.

Since the spring C154urges the printing media C150through the press sheet C152, all parts of the lowermost one of the printing media C150are properly pressed against the slide sheet C151. Since the press plate B202is pressed against the relatively hard press plate C153, the forward ends of the printing media C150located close to the opening C101L are pressed relatively stronger to improve the reliability of the operation of transporting the printing medium C150. The leg C154C of the spring C154that is formed in a relatively large size gives a relatively stronger press on a part of the press sheet C152opposite to the part pressed by the press plate202with its relatively great urging force. As a result, the forward ends of the printing media C150located close to the opening C101L are more uniformly pressed to perform the operation of transporting the printing media C150with higher reliability. Thus, the printing media C150are sandwiched between the slide sheet C151and the press sheet C152and are transported one by one starting with the lowermost one.

Since the slide sheet C151covers the containing sections S1, S2, S3, S4and S5from above in the medium pack C100, the risk of contact between ink and the printing media C150is avoided. In particular, by covering the containing section S5, contact between any waste ink in the same and the printing media C150is avoided. Since waste ink which has leaked out from the containing section S5must flow by way of the outer periphery of the slide sheet C151to contact the printing media C150, any contact between the waste ink and the printing media C150is consequently avoided. Volatile components of waste ink generated at the containing section S5exhaust from the outer periphery of the slide sheet C151through the mating surface between the pack main body C101and the cover C102, for example. Thus, the slide sheet C151not only serves the function of maintaining slidability of the printing media C150but also functions as a cover for the waste ink containing section S5.

2-4: Positions and Configurations of Openings

Since the medium pack C100is formed with the two openings C101H and C101J, waste ink from two waste ink passages in the apparatus main body A001can be efficiently collected into the medium pack C100as described above. Specifically, a relatively large amount of waste ink discharged as a result of a suction recovery process and a preliminary ejecting process of the recording head is discharged by a pump in the apparatus main body A001to the first absorbing regions C141-L of the absorption bodies C141having a relatively large capacity through the needles B502C, B502M, B502Y and B503and the joint C132extending into the opening C101H, the waste ink being reliably absorbed and held by the first absorbing regions C141-L. A relatively small amount of waste ink ejected to positions out of the printing medium C150is absorbed and held by the second absorbing regions C141-S of the absorption bodies C141having a relatively small capacity through the absorption body B506extending into the opening C101J due to capillarity.

Since the openings C101H and C101J are formed on the forward end of the medium pack C100, the two waste ink passages in the apparatus main body A001are connected to the medium pack C100only by inserting the medium pack C100into the apparatus main body A001in the direction indicated by the arrow F1.

The opening C101M into which the pick-up roller B201enters and the opening C101J for collecting waste ink are formed in positions away from each other with the opening C101H interposed between them. This makes it possible to prevent waste ink from flowing from the opening C101J to the opening C101M, thereby preventing the waste ink from smearing the printing media C150located in the vicinity of the opening C101M.

Since the joint C132located inside the opening C101H is formed with the ink supply ports P1, P2and P3and the waste ink introduction port P4and, in addition, the ink passages L1, L2, L3and L4in communication with them, each of the four ink passages L1, L2, L3and L4are reliably connected to the apparatus main body A001with the single joint C132. Inside the opening C101H, the ports P1, P2, P3and P4are arranged in this order in the direction of departing from the opening C101M. That is, the waste ink introduction port P4is further from the opening C101M than the ink supply ports P1, P2and P3are. Therefore, in the event that waste ink should be deposited in the waste ink introduction port P4, it is possible to prevent the waste ink from flowing up to the opening C101M, thereby preventing the waste ink from smearing the printing media C150located in the vicinity of the opening C101M.

2-5: Other Configurations

The medium pack C100is equipped with an EEPROM to be described later, for storing identification data such as the types and remaining quantities of the ink contained in the medium pack C100and the printing media C150. In the present embodiment, the EEPROM is provided in the pack main body C101that is located at the bottom of the containing section S5-2. A connector C161for the EEPROM is provided on the bottom of the pack main body C101in the vicinity of the opening C101J for collecting waste ink, as shown in FIG.6. When the medium pack C101is attached to the apparatus main body A001, the connector C161is connected to a connector on the apparatus main body A001which is not shown.

The connector C161can be used to detect leakage of waste ink because it is located in the vicinity of the opening C101J for collecting waste ink. Specifically, in the event that waste ink which has leaked out from the opening C101J should flow up to the position of the connector C161to cause a connection failure between the connector C161and the connector at the apparatus main body A001, the leakage of waste ink is detected by detecting the connection failure. For example, it is possible to detect a connection failure because of the presence of waste ink between contacts of the connector C161and the connector at the apparatus main body A001, an electrical short-circuit caused by waste ink deposited between a plurality of contacts of the connector C161or an electrical short-circuit caused by waste ink deposited between a plurality of contacts of the connector at the apparatus main body A001, and the leakage of waste ink can be detected based on the result of the detection.

At the opening C101L for transporting the printing medium, there may be provided a gate portion C162which disallows two or more printing media C150to pass simultaneously and allows them to pass one by one. The gate portion C162limits the width of the opening C101to a size corresponding to the thickness of one printing medium C150. Such a gate portion C162may be provided such that it covers the entire opening C101L in the longitudinal direction thereof or such that it covers part(s) of the opening, e.g., a central part in the longitudinal direction thereof or parts on both sides thereof. In the present embodiment, since the pack main body C101having the opening C101L is obtained by injection-molding a resin material, it is strongly desired to limit the width of the opening C101L accurately while taking into account a strain of the resin material, etc.

FIGS. 16A and 16BandFIGS. 17A and 17Billustrate an example of a configuration for accurately limiting the width of the opening C101L of the pack main body C101that is obtained by injection-molding a resin material as thus described. Those figures schematically show only the forward end section of the pack main body C101.FIGS. 16A and 16Billustrate the forward end section when the medium pack C100is attached to the apparatus main body A001, whileFIGS. 17A and 17Billustrate the forward end section when the medium pack C100is not attached to the apparatus main body A001.

In those figures, denoted C162is a gate portion which is formed integrally with an upper edge part of the opening C101L in the middle thereof and which limits the width W of the opening C101L to a size to allow only one printing medium C150to pass. In the present embodiment, the gate portion C162is formed with a slight leftward shift from the center of the opening C101L such that it is located close to a transporting datum of the printing medium which is formed on the left-hand side ofFIG. 16A, taking into account of the use of various sizes of printing media. Guide holes C163A and C163B and a slit C164are formed on the pack main body C101. When the medium pack C100is attached to the apparatus main body A001in the direction indicated by the arrow F1, guide pins GP1and GP2located at the apparatus main body A001enter the guide holes C163A and C163B in a relative manner, as shown in FIG.16B. Therefore, the interval between the guide holes C163A and C163B is forcibly equalized to the interval between the guide pins GP1and GP2with the pack main body C100deformed elastically. Consequently, the gate portion C162accurately limits the width W of the opening C101L to a size to allow one printing-medium C150to pass. The slit C164facilitates deformation of the pack main body C100and absorbs the amount of deformation. At least the part of the pack main body C100where the opening C101L is formed may be a panel obtained by injection-molding a resin material.

In this example, the gate portion C162closes the opening C101L as shown inFIGS. 17A and 17Bto disallow a printing medium C150to pass when the medium pack C100is not attached to the apparatus main body A001.

Thus, the gate portion C162in this example not only has a gate function to limit the width of the opening C101L to a size to allow one printing medium C150to pass but also functions as a stopper for preventing the printing media C150from coming out the medium pack C100accidentally. The latter stopper function may be provided by a gate portion which is separate from the gate portion C162. In this case, the gate portion may close the opening C101L when the medium pack C100is not attached to the apparatus main body A001and may expand the width of the opening C101L to at least a size to allow one printing medium C150to pass by being displaced by guide pins at the apparatus main body A001when the medium pack C100is attached to the apparatus main body A001.

While projections as guide pins are provided on the apparatus main body and guide holes as recesses are provided on the medium pack in the examples inFIGS. 16A,16B,17A and17B, such engaging members may have any configuration as long as they can expand the gap at the opening C101L when engaged. For example, a recess may be provided on the apparatus main body, and a projection that is displaced under the guidance of the recess may be provided on the medium pack.

2-6: Method of Assembly

To assemble the medium pack C100, the absorption bodies C141and the joint C132are sequentially put in the pack main body C101from above. The joint C132is placed in a position where it is not coupled with the holder C131as shown in FIG.9A. Almost simultaneously, the combination of the ink packs C130and the holder C131(seeFIG. 7) is put in the pack main body C101from above. Thereafter, the slide sheet C151, a predetermined quantity of printing media C150, the press sheet C152and the positioning spring C154are sequentially put in the pack main body C101from above. Then, the cover C102is fitted to the opening at the top of the pack main body C101, and the claw C102A is engaged with the hole C101K. The claw C102A is temporarily elastically deformed by pressing the cover C102downward and is elastically restored in a position where it faces the hole C101K to be engaged with the hole C101K. Thereafter, the seal C103is applied between the cover C102and the pack main body C101. Thus, elements to be contained in the pack main body C101can be sequentially put in the pack main body C101from above with favorable operability and, similarly, the cover C102can be easily attached from above.

Components such as the shutter C155, the spring C156, the connector C161and the EEPROM are attached to the pack main body C101before at least the cover C102is attached.

2-7: Ease of Recycling

When a medium pack C100is used until the printing media C150or ink as consumable supplies therein run out, the used medium pack C100can be collected and recycled.

First, the cover C102is removed from the used medium pack C100thus collected. Since the cover C102is not directly welded or bonded to the pack main body C101, it can be easily removed upward from the pack main body C101by peeling off the seal C103and disengaging the claw C102A and the hole C101K. Thereafter, the elements in the pack main body C101can be sequentially removed upward in an order that is the reverse of the order of assembly of the medium pack C100described above. In doing so, the holder C131and the joint C132may be disengaged after taking them out upward in the coupled state as shown in FIG.9B.

Then, the medium pack C100is assembled in the order described above after replacing the absorption bodies C141and the ink pack C130with new ones, replenishing the printing media C150or replacing components such as the holder C131and joint C132with new ones, as occasions demand. At this time, sufficient mounting strength of the cover C102can be maintained by replacing the seal C103with a new one.

The elements in the pack main body C101are not welded to the pack main body C101, and this is advantageous in improving the operability of assembly of the medium pack and the ease of recycling of the same and in facilitating the evaporation of ink absorbed by the absorption bodies C141to maintain the waste ink absorbing function of the absorption bodies C141. Since volatile components in waste ink are guided by the slide sheet C151to the circumferential wall C101X of the pack main body C101to be exhausted, it is possible to prevent the printing media C150from being adversely affected by the same.

When a medium pack C100is used until the ink therein as a consumable supply runs out or nearly runs out, the ink can be replenished without disassembling the medium pack C100. Specifically, there is prepared an ink replenisher in the form of an injector capable of injecting ink reserved therein from the tip of an injection needle. The tip of the injection needle is stuck into the rubber plugs134in the ink supply ports P1, P2or P3through the opening C101K of the medium pack C100to inject the ink into the ink pack C130-C, C130-M or C130-Y through the ink passage L1, L2or L3from the ink replenisher. By preparing ink replenishers containing inks in cyan (C), yellow (Y) and magenta (M) separately, the inks in the ink packs C130-C, C130-M and C130-Y can be selectively replenished.

The ink packs C130-C, C130-M and C130-Y can be directly replenished with inks by sticking the tips of the injection needles of the ink replenishers described above into the ink packs C130-C, C130-M and C130-Y after disassembling the medium pack C100. In this case, the holes formed in the ink packs C130-C, C130-M and C130-Y when they are stuck with the injection needles must be closed after the injection needles are pulled out. For example, possible approaches to this problem are to use a material having a property of automatically closing such holes to mold the ink pack C130-C, C130-M and C130-Y and to close such holes using seals, valves and the like.

3: Printer Section

In the present embodiment, a so-called serial type printer section (or printer main body) B100is employed in which inkjet type recording heads are used and in which a photographed image or the like is printed on a printing medium by repeatedly scanning the recording heads on the printing medium and then transporting the printing medium in a direction substantially orthogonal to the scanning direction a predetermined distance.

In the printer main body of the present embodiment, ink supply from the ink packs in a medium pack C100attached thereto to the recording heads mounted on the carriage is performed using a method in which the ink supply passages and the recording heads are in an unconnected state at least during recording and in which an ink supply enabled state is established to supply inks by connecting the ink supply passages and the recording heads at appropriate timing (hereinafter referred to as a “pit-in method” for convenience). That is, a sub-tank for reserving or storing a very small amount of ink is mounted on the carriage. When the carriage moves to reach an ink supplying position, a supply passage is formed between the sub-tank and an ink pack in the medium pack C100through a joint portion provided in the ink supplying position, whereby ink is supplied into the sub-tank. A pump is also provided to introduce the ink from the ink pack by generating a negative pressure in the sub-tank when the ink is supplied to the sub-tank.

FIG. 18is a perspective view of the printer main body B100taken from the side of a medium pack C100attaching section of the same, andFIG. 19is a perspective view of the main body taken from the side opposite to the attaching section.FIG. 19omits a top surface of a chassis serving as a structural member, the carriage and a mechanism for moving the same, a roller for transporting the printing medium, and so on.FIG. 20is a lateral sectional view of the main body B100with the medium pack attaching section located on the left side.

As shown in those figures, the printer main body B100has a thin configuration which is substantially rectangular and which is shorter in height than its lengthwise and breadthwise dimensions. A chassis B101constitutes a structural member of the printer main body B100and defines the outline of the rectangle. Specifically, the chassis B101is assembled such that it covers substantially all of the six sides forming the rectangle except for the two sides shown in FIG.18. The opening surrounded by sides of the rectangle in the directions of the breadth and height thereof shown inFIG. 18is an opening for attaching the medium pack C100. The relatively large plane surrounded by lengthwise and breadthwise sides similarly shown inFIG. 18is covered by the chassis B101in a part thereof, and the uncovered part has a width substantially equal to the width of a carriage B301mounted with the recording head and extends over a moving range of the carriage B301.

Elements that make up the printer main body B100are fixed or rotatably supported by the chassis B101to form mechanisms in the printer main body. Specifically, the printer main body B100of the present embodiment generally has a paper-feed and transport mechanism, a carriage moving mechanism, an ink supply and recovery mechanism and a pack connection mechanism located in the rectangle formed by the chassis B101.

Referring to the paper-feed and transport mechanism, as apparent from a schematic general construction shown inFIG. 20, a pick-up roller B201and a press plate B202for pressing printing medium against the roller with an adequate pressure are disposed at the left end in the figure where the medium pack C100is attached. The pick-up roller B201is configured to be able to rotate in a predetermined angular range by being rotatably supported by roller arms B203which are in turn rotatably supported by an ASF connecting shaft B204. Similarly, the press plate B202is also rotatably configured, which allows the roller B201and the press plate B202to enter the attached medium pack C100to thereby sandwich the printing media directly (strictly speaking, the press sheet C152intervenes between the press plate and the media). As will be described later, the pick-up roller B201is rotated by a driving force of an LF motor (not shown) transmitted through a PF roller B205to be described later, the roller arms B203and a gear train provided on the ASF connecting shaft B204, while the printing media are pressed by the press plate B202against the roller with an adequate pressing force to pick up the printing media one by one and feed the printing medium into the printer main body B100.

As shown inFIG. 18, the pick-up roller B201has a longitudinal length that is smaller than the width of the printing media in the medium pack C100(see FIG.7), and it is provided in the vicinity of an end of the opening for attaching the medium pack C100. The width of the press plate B202is smaller than the width of the pick-up roller B201although not shown inFIG. 18, and it therefore presses the printing media against only a part of the pick-up roller B201. Thus, the paper feed mechanism of this printer engages with only a part of a printing medium to be fed to feed the same.

As further paper-feed and transport mechanisms, as shown inFIG. 20, a combination of a PF roller B205and a pinch roller B206and a combination of a PF roller B207and a pinch roller B208are provided in respective positions sandwiching a moving range of the carriage B301(the moving direction of which is in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the figure) downstream of the pick-up roller B201and so on (on the right of the same in the figure) in the paper feed direction. The PF rollers B205and B207are driven for rotation by an LF motor which is provided in a position that is in a substantially diagonal relationship with the part of the printer main body where the paper feed mechanism including the pick-up roller is provided and a gear train which is provided on a lateral surface of the chassis at the end of the chassis that is opposite to the end where the paper feed mechanism is provided with respect to the opening, for transmitting the driving force of the LF motor. Thus, in association with a scan of the recording head mounted on the carriage B301, a printing medium is transported a predetermined amount by the combination of the PF roller B205and the pinch roller B206and the combination of the PF roller B207and the pinch roller B208respectively provided at upstream and downstream sides of the moving range of the carriage B301in the transporting direction of the printing medium. When this operation is repeated to complete printing, the paper is ejected out of the printer main body B100or out of the apparatus main body A001of the camera. In the printing medium transport passage, as shown inFIGS. 18 and 20, a platen B306is disposed under the moving range of the carriage B301. As a result, a printing medium under transportation is slidingly supported by the platen B306on its surface opposite to a surface to be printed, and this ensures the flatness of the printing medium.

While the PF roller B205on the upstream side and the above-mentioned press plate B202are supported by the same shaft, the press plate B202is rotated using a frictional force of an arm spring as will be described later in order to adjust the pressing force adequately. The roller arm B203supporting the pick-up roller B201is similarly rotated using a frictional force of a roller spring (not shown) according to the rotation of an ASF connecting shaft (not shown) supporting the same, which makes it possible to apply an adequate pressing force to the printing medium or paper similarly to the press plate while the paper is fed.

The carriage moving mechanism is a mechanism for driving a lead screw B302and the like shown inFIG. 18to move the carriage B301.

The lead screw B302is provided such that it extends along the entire breadthwise sides of the rectangle constituting the printer main body or in the longitudinal direction of the main body, while a guide shaft B303for the carriage B301(seeFIG. 20) is similarly provided in parallel with the lead screw B302. A carriage motor (or CR motor which is not shown) for generating a driving force for rotating the lead screw B302is provided on the downstream side of the printing medium transportation that is the right side of FIG.20.

The carriage B301can be moved along the guide shaft B303when a screw pin (not shown) provided thereon engages with a spiral groove formed on the circumference of the lead screw B302and the lead screw B302is rotated by the driving force of the carriage motor.

The carriage B301is provided with ink chambers B304Y, B304M and B304C as the sub-tanks for respective types of ink, i.e., yellow (Y), magenta (M) and cyan (C) used for printing. As described above, each of the ink chambers has a capacity with which a very small amount of ink only sufficient to print one printing medium can be contained. It is therefore necessary to replenish the inks from the ink packs of the medium pack C100at predetermined intervals. Recording heads B305Y, B305M and B305C associated with the respective types of ink are provided under those ink chambers. The recording heads are arranged in a scanning direction thereof, that is, the direction perpendicular to the plane ofFIG. 20, and a plurality of ink ejecting ports (hereinafter also called nozzles) are disposed on each of the recording heads in a direction substantially orthogonal to the scanning direction. In each of the recording heads, a liquid passage is formed in communication with each of the nozzles, and an electrothermal transducer and electrode wiring and the like for supplying an electrical signal to the same are provided corresponding to the liquid passage. As a result, the recording head can generate bubbles in ink in the liquid passages utilizing thermal energy generated by the electrothermal transducer and to eject the ink from the respective nozzles using the pressure of the bubbles. As the ink is thus ejected, a capillary force primarily causes ink to be supplied to each liquid passage from the ink chamber through a common liquid chamber with which the liquid passages are communicated commonly in the respective recording head.

The carriage B301having the above-described construction is moved in accordance with various modes of the present printer. Specifically, an operation in each mode is performed when the lead screw B302rotates clockwise or counterclockwise or in both directions by a predetermined amount on a basis of the home position of the carriage. For example, during a printing operation, when the lead screw B302rotates clockwise and counterclockwise, the carriage B301reciprocates in a printing area having a predetermined range, which makes it possible to scan the recording heads B305Y, B305M and B305C mounted on the carriage B301across the printing medium. During a wiping movement that is a movement of a recording head accompanied by the action of wiping the surface of the recording head where the nozzles are disposed with a predetermined member, a wiper (not shown) is engaged with the surface of the recording head where the nozzles are disposed to perform wiping while the carriage B301reciprocates within a predetermined range in the vicinity of its home position. Further, during the above pit-in operation for replenishing each ink chamber of a recording head with ink, the carriage B301moves to a joint member B401disposed in the vicinity of the home position as shown inFIG. 19as a result of a predetermined rotation of the lead screw B302. Consequently, ink replenishing needles (not shown) for respective inks provided on the carriage are inserted into joints B402Y, B402M and B402C for the respective inks at the joint member B401and, similarly, an air suction hole (not shown) provided on the carriage B301is connected to an air suction cap B403provided on the joint member B401as a result of the series of carriage movements. Thus, ink is supplied to each of the ink chambers B304Y, B304M and B304C in the carriage B301by an operation of a pump (not shown). In the position where the joint member B401is connected, the surface of each recording head where the nozzles are disposed is in a position in a face-to-face relationship with the cap B405shown inFIG. 19, and the cap B405can be elevated to cover the surface. Such capping makes it possible to suppress evaporation of an ink solvent and the like through the nozzles when the printer does not perform the printing operation. In the capping state, a suction recovery process can be performed using the pump to discharge ink whose viscosity may have increased from a liquid passage through the respective nozzle. Further, by moving the carriage B301to the position of the cap B405at predetermined timing as a result of a predetermined rotation of the lead screw B302, the preliminary ejection operation by ejecting ink from each of the recording heads into the cap in this position can be performed.

As shown inFIG. 18, one end of a flexible substrate B307is secured to a part of the carriage B301. This makes it possible to exchange print signals and so on between a control portion configured in the form of a substrate in the present printer and the respective recording heads. In the present embodiment, the flexible substrate B307is formed with a hole in the form of a partial cut-out in the middle of a part of the substrate that is attached to the carriage B301, and an encoder sensor constituted by a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element is provided on the back side of the fixing part of the carriage. A scale having detection marks at equal intervals, which is to be used for the encoder, extends on the backside of a panel which constitutes the top of the chassis B101when the printer main body B100is in the attitude shown in FIG.18. As a result, the encoder sensor can optically detect the detection marks on the scale through the hole as the carriage B301moves. Ink is ejected from each of the recording heads at timing that is based on encoder signals obtained through the detection as the recording heads are scanned, which makes it possible to form ink dots in predetermined positions on a printing medium sequentially.

The ink supply and recovery mechanism is a mechanism for performing ink replenishment of each of the ink chambers of the carriage B301through the joint member B401and for suction recovery, the mechanism primarily relating to a pump for generating a negative pressure for conveying ink for such purposes.

As shown inFIGS. 19 and 20, a pump B408is provided substantially in the middle of the end section of the printer main body B100opposite to the medium pack C100attaching section. As shown inFIG. 20, a piston sliding in the pump B408has an elliptical cross sectional shape. Accordingly, a cylinder to serve as a case member for the same also has an elliptical cross sectional shape.

A lead screw B410separate from the lead screw B302for the carriage is provided such that it extends in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the pump B408and in a range substantially covering the entire printer main body B100in the longitudinal direction thereof. The lead screw B410is formed with two spiral grooves B410awhich cross each other for causing the cylinder of the pump B408and the wiper to operate and for causing an ASF trigger to operate to feed the printing medium in the medium pack and one spiral groove B410bfor causing the cap B405and the joint member B401to operate.

As a member making up the pump B408, there is provided a pump driving arm B409connected with the piston through a piston shaft. The pump driving arm B409has a portion extending in parallel with the lead screw B410, and a part of this portion is engaged with the spiral grooves B410aon the lead screw B410to allow the pump driving arm and hence the piston to move to cause a pumping operation. This movement is guided by a guide shaft B413engaged with a part of the pump driving arm B409.

The pumping operation of the pump B410causes the operation of replenishing each ink chamber of the carriage B301with ink by sucking air from each ink chamber to generate a negative pressure therein and the operation of sucking air from the cap B405capping a recording head to generate a negative pressure therein and sucking waste ink consequently. The waste ink discharged as a result of the suction flows through pipes in the piston shaft and the pump driving arm B409to a waste ink communication tube B411and a needle B503held by an ink needle holder B501, and it is finally introduced to the ink absorption bodies provided in the attached medium pack C100. The movement of the pump driving arm B409in engagement with the spiral grooves B410aalso enables the operation of the wiper and the operation of the ASF trigger for feeding the printing medium from the medium pack C100.

A part of a switching slider B412is engaged with the other spiral groove B410bon the lead screw B410, which allows the cap B405to be moved up and down through a cap lever arm B414.

A pack connecting mechanism is a mechanism other than the mechanism relating to paper feed, and it relates to the connection of the medium pack. Specifically, it primarily relates to supply of ink from the medium pack C100and introduction of ink discharged from the printer main body into the medium pack C100.

As shown inFIG. 18, at the opening of the printer main body B100for attaching the medium pack C100, there is provided elements to be engaged with elements of the medium pack C100when it is attached.

In addition to the pick-up roller B201and the press plate B202(not shown inFIG. 18) for feeding printing medium as described above, there is provided the ink supply needles B502C, B502M and B502Y for introducing inks from the ink packs for the respective ink colors in the medium pack C100to the respective ink chambers on the carriage B301. Adjacent to the supply needles, there is provided the needle B503for waste ink for introducing waste ink discharged into the cap as a result of the suction recovery process and the preliminary ejection process of the recording heads to the ink absorption bodies in the medium pack C100. As previously described, those needles penetrate and engage with the respective rubber plugs134in the ports P1through P4of the joint C132in the medium pack C100when the medium pack is attached.

As shown inFIG. 19, the ink supply needles B502C, B502M and B502Y communicate with the respective joints B402C, B402M and B402Y of the joint member B401through passages constituted by grooves formed in the needle holder B501for holding the needles and in a member integral with the same. Similarly, the needle B503for waste ink communicates with a predetermined passage in the pump driving arm B409of the pump B408through a passage constituted by a groove formed in the holder B501and the waste ink communication tube B411.

Each of the needles is covered by a needle cap B504when the medium pack is not attached. Specifically, the cap B504is urged ahead each needle by a compression spring B505provided at the needle when the pack is not attached, and the tip of each needle is thus covered by the cap B505when the pack is not attached. When the pack is attached, as a result of the pack attaching operation, the cap B504is moved toward this side of each needle against the urging force of the compression spring B505, which causes the tip of the needle to be exposed and inserted into the joint in the pack.

Further, a connector B507is disposed in the above opening. The connector B507is connected with the connector C161of the EEPROM provided in the medium pack C100to allow the control portion of the printer main body to write and read the EEPROM.

As shown inFIG. 19, the ink absorption body B506is provided between the needles and the connector (FIG. 18shows a state in which the absorption body is removed). The ink absorption body B506is connected to a part of an ink absorption body B508which is spread over the substantially entire bottom surface of the platen B306(see FIG.20). When the medium pack C100is attached, the ink absorption body B506enters the opening C101L of the medium pack to contact the ink absorption bodies therein. This makes it possible to absorb a part of ink ejected from the recording heads during printing with the absorption body B508and to introduce the absorbed ink to the ink absorption bodies in the medium pack C100through the absorption body B506. In the present embodiment, ink discharged as a result of the suction recovery process or preliminary ejection process in the printer main body B100is received by the cap B405and introduced to the ink absorption bodies in the medium pack through the needles B503for waste ink as described above. Further, in the present embodiment, an image or the like is printed without leaving any margin on each side of the rectangular printing medium during printing. Therefore, ink is substantially ejected also to the outside of the printing medium beyond those sides, and the ink is received by the ink absorption body B508. As the contained amount increases, the absorbed ink moves to the ink absorption body B506to be finally introduced to the ink absorption bodies in the medium pack.

The ink absorption body B506provided at the section connected with the medium pack is constituted by a sintered porous body made of a material harder than the other ink absorption bodies. It is therefore possible to suppress wear of the ink absorption body B506as a result of the operation of attaching the medium pack C100and/or resultant contact between the ink absorption bodies.

A description will now be made on detailed constructions of the paper-feed and transport mechanism, the carriage movement mechanism, the ink supply and recovery mechanism, and the pack connection mechanism of the printer main body B100which have been schematically described above.

3.1: Paper-feed and Transport Mechanism

The paper-feed and transport mechanism in the present embodiment will now be described in more detail with reference toFIGS. 18to28A-28C.

The paper-feed and transport mechanism in the present embodiment has a paper-feed system mechanism for introducing printing media from the medium pack C100into the printer main body B100one by one and a transport system mechanism for transporting the printing medium introduced by the paper-feed system mechanism to a paper ejecting port defined by the printer main body B100and outer casing materials through a recording area.

Transport System Mechanism

The transport system mechanism will be described. The transport system mechanism includes a driving force transmission mechanism for the combination of the PF roller B205and the pinch roller B206provided on the upstream side in the transporting direction of the printing medium as described above and the combination of the PF roller B207and the pinch roller B208provided downstream of the same.

The PF rollers B205and B207are rotatably supported by bearing portions protruding from the chassis B101at rotating shaft portions B211and B212provided on end sides thereof. The pinch rollers B206and B208are rotatably supported by predetermined bearing members and are normally urged by springs which are not shown such that they can be pressed against the PF rollers B205and B207. A construction is employed in which the bearing portions of the rotating shaft portions B211and B212are provided inwardly of both of the left and right lateral surfaces of the chassis B101to minimize outward protrusion of the rotating shaft portions B211and B212from the chassis. A structure is employed here in which protrusion of the rotating shaft portions B211and B212from a right side plate B101aof the chassis B101is avoided, and the structure makes it possible to avoid any interference with the rotating shaft portions even when a plate-like outer casing material is fixed on the outer surface of the right side plate B101a, which contributes to reduction of the size of the apparatus as a whole.

The PF rollers B205and B207are constituted by high friction members. The PF rollers are formed in a cylindrical configuration, and the pinch rollers B206and B208are formed with disc-shaped abutting portions on both ends thereof. A driving force from a single driving source (LF motor) is transmitted to the PF rollers B205and B207by a driving force transmission mechanism as shown inFIGS. 25to27.

As shown inFIG. 25, the driving force transmission mechanism is constituted by a gear train which sequentially transmits a rotary driving force from the LF motor B210provided on the left side plate B101bof the chassis B101in the vicinity of the backside (paper ejecting side) of the chassis to the paper introducing side of the chassis B101. The gear train constituting the driving force transmission mechanism is comprised of a transport system gear train and a paper feed system gear train to be described later. The transport system gear train is constituted by a gear train comprising six gears in total including a motor gear B213provided on the rotating shaft of the motor and a PF roller gear B218secured to the rotating shaft B211of the upstream PF roller B205.

The gears B213through B218constituting the transport system gear train are attached to the outer surface of the left side plate B101bthrough rotating shafts. The rotating shafts supporting the gears B214through B218are provided substantially in a row along a straight line in parallel with the transporting direction of printing medium. This minimizes the space for attaching the gears in the vertical direction and contributes to reduction of the thickness of the chassis B101(the height of the same in the vertical direction in FIG.22). Referring to the figure, the gears B214and B215are intermediate gears secured to the same shaft; denoted B216is a carry-out gear secured to the rotating shaft B212of the downstream PF roller B207disposed at the downstream side in the transporting direction of the printing medium; denoted B217is an intermediate gear; and denoted B218is a paper feed gear secured to the rotating shaft B211of the upstream PF roller B205.

With the transport system mechanism having the above-described construction, when the LF motor B210rotates clockwise, the driving force is sequentially transmitted from the motor gear B213to the gears B214, B215, B216, B217and B218provided substantially in a row, and the downstream PF roller B207and the upstream PF roller B205rotate in a forward rotating direction x1according to the rotation of the carry-out gear B216and the paper feed gear B218, respectively. The rotating operation of the PF rollers B205and B207takes place intermittently corresponding to the movement of the carriage to intermittently transport one printing medium fed by the paper feed system to be described later in the normal transporting direction x1.

Paper Feed System Mechanism As shown inFIGS. 21to28A-28C, the paper feed system mechanism is provided in the vicinity of the opening located on the upstream side of the chassis B101in the transporting direction. As previously described, each of the press plate B202and the pick-up roller B201swings to sandwich the medium pack C100attached to the printer main body B100. The printing media are pulled out one by one as a result of the rotation of the pick-up roller B201. That is, the paper feed system mechanism is comprised of the press plate B202, a swinging mechanism for the same, the pick-up roller B201and a swinging mechanism and a rotating mechanism for the same.

The pick-up roller B201is secured to the ASF connecting shaft B204that is rotatably supported by a bearing arranged on the chassis B101. As shown inFIG. 23, the ASF connecting shaft B204is supported in a position that is upstream of the rotating shaft B211of the upstream PF roller B205and that is diagonally below the same.

The rotating mechanism for the pick-up roller B201has the following construction. Ends of a pair of left and right roller arms B203facing each other at a predetermined interval are rotatably inserted in and supported by the ASF connecting shaft B204, and the pick-up roller B201constituted by a high friction member in a cylindrical shape is supported at the other ends of the roller arms B203such that it can be rotated by a rotating shaft B224.

The torque of the paper feed gear B218or the torque of the LF motor B210is transmitted to the pick-up roller B201through the paper feed system gear train interlocked with the paper feed gear B218of the transport system gear train. The paper feed system gear train is comprised of five gears in total including a PF roller gear B219secured to the rotating shaft B211inFIG. 25 and apick-up roller gear B223secured to the rotating shaft B215of the pick-up roller B201, i.e., gears B219, B220, B221, B222and B223. Denoted B220is an ASF large-diameter gear secured to the ASF connecting shaft B204and engaged with the PF roller gear B219. Denoted B221is an ASF small-diameter gear secured to the ASF connecting shaft B204. Denoted B222is an intermediate gear engaged with the ASF small-diameter gear B221and the pick-up roller gear B223.

The rotating mechanism having the above-described construction operates in accordance with the rotation of the LF motor B210. Specifically, when the rotating shaft B211is rotated by the transport system gear train as a result of the rotation of the LF motor B210, the PF roller gear B219rotates integrally therewith. The rotation in turn causes the pick-up roller gear B223to rotate through the ASF large-diameter gear B220, the ASF small-diameter gear B221and the intermediate gear B222. The resultant rotation causes the rotating shaft B224to rotate, and the pick-up roller B201rotates with the rotating shaft B224.

The swinging mechanism for the pick-up roller B201has the following construction.

The swinging mechanism for the pick-up roller B201in the present embodiment is configured with a small size at a low cost by making combined use of the above rotating mechanism. Therefore, the following description will omit the construction of the rotating mechanism itself and will refer to another mechanism added thereto and a construction for associating the additional mechanism with the rotating mechanism.

First, a member constituting the additional mechanism is a coupling spring B225for rotatably coupling the ASF connecting shaft B204and the roller arms B203. The coupling spring B225is constituted by a coiled spring wound around the circumference of the ASF connecting shaft B204, and one end of the same is held by one of the roller arms B203(the arm on the right side of FIG.22). A portion B225aof the coupling spring B225wound around the ASF connecting shaft B204is comprised of a plurality of coils in a spiral configuration having a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the ASF connecting shaft B204in a state in which the ASF connecting shaft B204is not inserted. Therefore, the wound portion B225anormally contacts the ASF connecting shaft B204with a pressure, and the winding direction is the direction of increasing the diameter of each of the coils of the wound portion B225awhen the ASF connecting shaft B204is rotated in the forward rotating direction (the direction x1) with the roller arms B203fixed, i.e., the direction of relaxing the ASF connecting shaft B204.

With the coupling spring B204, the roller arms B203and the ASF connecting shaft B204rotatably inserted therein can be coupled with respect to the rotating direction with predetermined torque acting thereon. Specifically, since a frictional force is generated between the ASF connecting shaft B204and the wound portion B225aof the coupling spring B225in contact therewith with a pressure, when no load is applied to the roller arms B203, the frictional force causes the coupling spring B225to rotate with the ASF connecting shaft B204, which causes the roller arm B203to which one end of the spring is held to rotate in the same direction.

When a force (load) is applied to the roller arms B203in the direction of preventing the rotation of the same, that is, the direction of increasing the diameter of the wound portion B225aof the coupling spring B225as described above, the frictional force between the wound portion B225aand the ASF connecting shaft B204decreases. When the load applied to the roller arms B203exceeds the frictional force, the ASF connecting shaft B204slidingly rotates relative to the wound portion B225aof the coupling spring B225. Therefore, in a state in which the swinging of the roller arms B203is stopped while the ASF connecting shaft B204is rotating, a rotational force (torque) in accordance with a slide frictional force generated between the wound portion225aand the ASF connecting shaft B204is always applied, the force having a substantially constant value.

Thus, the pick-up roller B201in the present embodiment rotates about the rotating shaft B224, and the roller arms B203make a swinging motion about the ASF connecting shaft B204, the LF motor B210acting as a driving source for both of those operations. The range of the swinging operation is set between an initial position (seeFIG. 25) in which the roller is spaced from the lowermost printing medium contained in the medium pack C100attached to the printer main body B100and a position for the paper feed operation in which the roller is pressed against the lowermost printing medium.

The swinging mechanism for driving the press plate B202has the following construction.

The press plate B202is comprised of a press plate supporting arm B266rotatably supported by the rotating shaft B211of the upstream PF roller B205and a coupling spring B227which allows rotatable coupling of the press plate supporting arm B226and the rotating shaft B211.

The press plate supporting arm B226is in the form of a frame that is bent and formed in the U-shape, and shaft-mount sections formed on both ends thereof are rotatably inserted in and supported by the rotating shaft B211on both sides of the PF roller B205. The press plate supporting arm B226is integrally formed with the press plate protruding upstream in the paper transporting direction, and the plate faces a central part of the pick-up roller B201. The coupling spring B227is constituted by a coiled spring wound around the circumference of the rotating shaft B211, and one end of the same is held by one of the shaft-mount sections (the section on the right side ofFIG. 23) of the press plate supporting arm B266. The coupling spring B227is formed with a wound portion B227awhich is wound around the rotating shaft B211. The wound portion B227ais comprised of a plurality of coils in a spiral configuration having a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the rotating shaft B211in a state in which the rotating shaft B211is not inserted. Therefore, the wound portion B227awound around the rotating shaft B211normally contacts the rotating shaft B211with a pressure, and the winding direction is set at the direction of increasing the diameter of each of the coils of the wound portion B227awhen the rotating shaft B211is rotated in the forward direction (the direction x1) with the press plate supporting arm B226fixed, i.e., the direction of relaxing the rotating shaft B211.

With the swinging mechanism having the above-described construction, the rotating shaft B211rotatably inserted in the press plate supporting arm B226and the press plate B202can be coupled with respect to the rotating direction with predetermined torque acting thereon. Specifically, since a frictional force is generated between the rotating shaft B211and the wound portion B227aof the coupling spring B227in contact therewith with a pressure, when no load is applied to the press plate supporting arm B226, the frictional force causes the coupling spring B227to rotate with the rotating shaft B211, which causes the press plate supporting arm B226to which one end of the spring is held to rotate in the same direction.

When a force (load) is applied to the press plate B202in the direction of preventing the rotation of the same, that is, the direction of increasing the diameter of the wound portion B227aof the coupling spring B227as described above, the frictional force between the wound portion B227aand the rotating shaft B211decreases. When the load applied to the press plate supporting arm B226exceeds the frictional force, the rotating shaft B211slidingly rotates relative to the rotating shaft B211of the coupling spring B227. Therefore, in this state of sliding rotation, the rotational force (torque) applied to the load by the press plate supporting arm B226is a rotational force (torque) in accordance with a slide frictional force generated between the wound portion B227aof the coupling spring B227and the rotating shaft B211, and the force has a substantially constant value regardless of the position of the press plate supporting arm B226.

Thus, the press plate supporting arm B226in the present embodiment swings about the rotating shaft B211, and the LF motor B210acts as a driving source for this swinging operation as for the swinging operation of the pick-up roller B201. When a holding operation performed by a stopper mechanism to be described later is not considered, the range of the swinging motion of the press plate B202is set between an initial position (seeFIG. 25) in which the press plate is spaced from the press sheet C152contained in the medium pack C100attached to the printer main body B100and the position for the paper feed operation in which the press plate is pressed against the lowermost printing medium (see FIG.27).

In the present embodiment, in order to improve the response of the paper feed operation performed by the pick-up roller B201and the press plate B202, i.e., to make it possible to start the paper feed operation quickly when it is to be started, a construction is employed in which the pick-up roller B201is kept rotating even when paper feed is not performed and in which the press plate B202and the pick-up roller B201stand by in standby positions closer to the medium pack C100than the initial position. The pick-up roller B201and the medium pack C100are held at the standby positions by the following holding mechanism.

The holding mechanism has a roller holding portion for holding the pick-up roller B201and a press plate holding portion for holding the swinging of the press plate B202. The roller holding portion is comprised of a second holding claw B229integrally protruding from the roller arm B203and a first holding claw B228provided on an ASF trigger B209to be described later which can be engaged with the second holding claw B229. The press plate holding portion is comprised of a third holding claw B230integrally protruding from the press plate supporting arm B226and a fourth holding claw B231formed on the ASF trigger B209which can be engaged with the third holding claw B230. The first and fourth holding claws integrally protrude from the ASF trigger B209slidably provided on the bottom of the chassis B101. The ASF trigger B209is formed with two slots B209ainto which guide pins B101P protruding from the chassis B101are inserted, and the ASF trigger B209can move in both of directions a and b within the range of the slots B209a(see FIG.21). The ASF trigger B209is normally urged in the direction b by an urging force of an urging spring B103band, in its initial position reached by the maximum movement in the direction b (see FIG.22), the first holding claw B228and the third holding claw B230protruding from the ASF trigger B209are in positions in which they can be engaged with the second holding claw B229and the fourth holding claw B231, respectively.

When the first holding claw B228and the second holding claw B229are in the held state, the roller arms B203are held in a holding position (seeFIG. 26) between the initial position and the paper feed position and are prevented from moving further toward the paper feed position. When the third holding claw B230and the fourth holding claw B231are in the held state, the press plate B202is held in a holding position between the initial position and the paper feed position and is prevented from moving further toward the paper feed position.

Operations of the paper-feed and transport mechanism in the present embodiment having the above-described construction will now be described.

When the medium pack C100is attached to the printer main body B100, the shutter portion is engaged with the printer main body B100to be put in an open state, and the lowermost printing medium among the printing media contained in the medium pack C100is thus exposed. In the initial phase when no recording operation is performed with the medium pack C100thus attached, the ASF trigger B209has been urged by the urging force of the urging spring B209bin the direction b and is held in the rightmost position. In the initial phase, the press plate B202is kept furthest from the uppermost printing medium or the press sheet C102in the medium pack (see FIG.25), and the pick-up roller B201is kept furthest from the lowermost printing medium in the medium pack (see FIG.25). Then, the switching lead screw B410provided in the supply and recovering system mechanism rotates, and a pump slider B441to be described later moves a predetermined distance in the direction a according to the rotation, the pump slider B441contacting the ASF trigger B209consequently. When the pump slider B441thereafter continues moving in the direction a, the ASF trigger B209is pushed by the pump slider B441to move in the direction a against the urging force of the urging spring B209bas shown in FIG.21.

Since the LF motor B210is concurrently driven counterclockwise, the rotating shaft B211rotates in the direction x1(the direction in which the printing medium is carried) with the upstream PF roller B205, and the ASF connecting shaft B204is also rotated through the PF roller gear B219and the ASF large-diameter gear B220. As a result, the press plate B202swings along with the rotating shaft B211due to the intervention of the coupling spring B227, and the roller arms B203also swing along with the ASF connecting shaft B204due to the intervention of the coupling spring B225. However, since the ASF trigger B209is in the initial position immediately after the driving of the LF motor B210is started, the first holding claw B228and the third holding claw B230are respectively held by the second holding claw B229and the fourth holding claw B231in this state, and the press plate B202and the pick-up roller B201are held in the standby position and the initial position, respectively (see FIGS.26and28A). In such a state in which the holding claws are held by each other, a reduction occurs in both of the frictional force between the wound portion B227aof the coupling spring B227and the rotating shaft B211and the frictional force between the wound portion B225aof the coupling spring B225and the ASF connecting shaft B204, which causes each of the rotating shaft B211and the ASF connecting shaft B204to slidingly rotate. Therefore, the pick-up roller B201is rotated along with the rotating shaft B224by the paper feed system gear train.

When the ASF trigger B209moves in the direction a as a result of the movement of the pump slider B441, the third holding claw B230and the fourth holding claw B231are disengaged, and the press plate supporting arm B226swingingly moves around the rotating shaft B211because of the slide frictional force between the coupling spring B227and the rotating shaft B211. Thus, the press plate B202is inserted into the opening for the pressing portion formed on the medium pack C100to press the uppermost printing medium contained therein via the press sheet C102. As a result, the lowermost printing medium is pressed against the inner bottom of the medium pack C100with an adequate pressing force and is thus prevented from rising (see FIG.28B).

When the ASF trigger B209moves further in the direction a, the first holding claw B228and the second holding claw B229are also disengaged, and the roller arms B203swingingly move around the ASF connecting shaft B204. As a result, the pick-up roller B201contacts the bottom surface of the lowermost printing medium in the medium pack C100through the opening of the medium pack C100. At this time, a pressing force F1applied to the printing media by the press plate B202is set greater than a pressing force F2applied by the pick-up roller B201(see FIG.28B), and this eliminates the problem in that the printing media are pushed up when the pick-up roller B201contacts the printing media. In the present embodiment, the force applied to the printing media by the press plate B202or pick-up roller B201is generated by the frictional force generated between the coupling spring B225and the ASF connecting shaft B204and the frictional force generated between the coupling spring B227and the rotating shaft B211. Therefore, a stable pressure can be always applied to the printing medium regardless of the quantity or thickness of the printing media contained in the medium pack C100, which makes it possible to feed the printing media reliably, one by one.

The position of the leading end of a printing medium fed from the medium pack C100can be detected with a paper end detection sensor (PE sensor) which is not shown, and the rotation of the LF motor B210is stopped when the leading end protrudes downstream in the transporting direction X1′ (seeFIG. 27) from the position of the pick-up roller B201by a predetermined amount. When the LF motor B210is thereafter rotated clockwise and, in conjunction with this, both of the press plate B202and the pick-up roller B201return to the initial positions in which they are spaced from the medium pack C100. The returning to the initial positions can be performed by causing a reverse rotation of the LF motor B210as indicated by the arrow x2until the press plate supporting arm B226and the roller arms B203are held by predetermined stoppers for setting the initial positions, and the rotation of the LF motor B210is stopped when they return to the initial positions.

As a result of the reverse rotation of the LF motor B210, the printing medium fed from the medium pack C100is transported in reverse (transported in the direction x2′). The feeding amount of the printing media during paper feeding is preset such that a printing medium exists between the PF roller B205and the pinch roller B206even when reverse transportation occurs.

The reason is that when the feeding amount is small, the printing medium comes out from the gap between the PF roller B205and the pinch roller B206as a result of the reverse operation to disable a subsequent transport operation.

When the pump motor B104further rotates to move the pump slider B441up to the edge of the switching lead screw B410, since the switching lead screw B410has cross-type lead grooves, the pump slider B441changes the moving direction to move to its initial position. As a result, the ASF trigger B209is moved by the urging force of the urging spring B209bin the direction b shown inFIG. 21to return to the initial position where the engagement can be established between the holding claws B228and B229and between the holding claws B230and B231. Thereafter, a recording operation is performed in accordance with the scanning of the carriage B301. At this time, since the roller arms B203and the press plate supporting arm B226are both prevented from swinging by the engagement between the first holding claw B228and the second holding claw B229and the engagement between the third holding claw B230and the fourth holding claw B231, the paper feed operation is not performed by the pick-up roller B201.

In the above description, the press plate B202and the pick-up roller B201are held in the standby positions with the holding mechanism, and the press plate B202and the pick-up roller B201are pressed against the medium pack C100in that order when the ASF trigger B209is driven. However, it is also possible to press the pick-up roller B201and the press plate B202against the recording media simultaneously or to set the order of pressing in reverse. Instead of holding the pick-up roller B201and the press plate B202in intermediate positions such as the standby positions described above, the pick-up roller B201may be moved from a predetermined initial position to the pressing position without stopping it at the standby position in accordance with a feed start command or the like, and the invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

3.2: Carriage Movement Mechanism

Since the carriage B301in the present embodiment carries the ink chambers capable of containing only a small amount of ink sufficient for about one sheet of paper, there is a need for replenishing ink from the medium pack C100frequently, and the capability of performing the replenishing operation adequately is an important factor in performing a recording operation.

A coupling mechanism as shown inFIGS. 29to35C is used as a structure to allow ink to be reliably supplied and received without leakage during an ink replenishing operation.

The illustrated coupling mechanism includes the joint member B401provided in the vicinity of a home position of the carriage B301, the hollow ink replenishing needles B301Y, B301M and B301C (seeFIGS. 30,31and36) protruding from sides of the respective ink chambers B304Y, B304M and B304C, and an air suction hole B301H (see FIGS.36and38). On a side of the joint member B401, the joints B402Y, B402M and B402C into which the ink replenishing needles B301Y, B301M and B301C of the carriage B301can be inserted while maintaining a sealed state are formed in association with the respective ink replenishing needles B301Y, B301M and B301C. The joints B402Y, B402M and B402C form one end of the communication passages in communication with the ink packs C130in the medium pack C100attached to the printer main body B100. A replenishing operation can be performed by inserting the ink replenishing needles B301Y, B301M and B301C into the joints, operating a recovery system mechanism to be described later to elevate the cap B405to cover the ejecting surfaces of the recording heads305Y,305M and305C with the air suction hole B301H kept in the sealed state, and thereafter driving the pump motor B104in the absorbing direction to generate a negative pressure in the air suction hole B301H, thereby putting the interior of the ink chambers of the carriage B301under the negative pressure through the porous film.

A description will now be made with reference toFIGS. 29to35C on the operation of connecting the ink replenishing needles B301with the joint member B401and the operation of sealing the air suction cap B403and the air suction hole301H.

FIG. 29shows a state before the carriage B301returns to the home position. In this state, the switching slider B412is located furthest from the joints B402Y, B402M and B402C, and a removing lever B404is in a rotatable state at this time. When the carriage B301moves toward the home position in this state, as shown inFIGS. 30 and 31, the three ink replenishing needles B301Y, B301M and B301C first reach the respective joints B402Y, B402M and B402C, and the ink replenishing needles B301Y, B301M and B301C are thereafter inserted into the joints B402Y, B402M and B402C (seeFIG. 32) by moving in the same direction further (leftward in the figure). In such a phase when the insertion of the ink replenishing needles B301Y, B301M and B301C has just been started, the surface formed with the air suction hole B301H has not contacted the air suction cap B403yet, and a gap therefore exists. When the ink replenishing needles B301Y, B301M and B301C are thereafter inserted into the joints B402Y, B402M and B402C further, the surface formed with the air suction hole B301H comes into contact with the air suction cap B403, and a further movement of the carriage B301causes the air suction cap B403to tightly contact with the region surrounding the air suction hole B301H while being flexed, whereby the air suction hole B402H and the air suction cap B403are connected in an air-tight state.

Thus, in the present embodiment, the three ink replenishing needles B301Y, B301M and B301C and the joints B402Y, B402M and B402C are connected first, and the air suction hole B402H and the air suction cap B403are thereafter connected. Since there is a time difference between the connecting operations, the load required for the connection can be distributed-between the operations unlike that for connecting operations performed simultaneously, which makes it possible to perform both connecting operations sufficiently without providing the CR motor B310with great driving torque. In addition, in the present embodiment, since a greater load is required to connect the ink replenishing needles B301Y, B301M and B301C and the joints B402Y, B402M and B402C, the ink replenishing needles B301Y, B301M and B301C and the joints B402Y, B402M and B402C are first connected in a state in which a sufficient force of inertia of the carriage B301can be obtained, and the connection between the air suction hole B402H and the air suction cap B403that can be completed with relatively small torque is thereafter performed. However, load distribution can be advantageously achieved unlike simultaneous connecting operations also by connecting the air suction cap B403and the air suction hole B402H first and by connecting the ink replenishing needles B301Y, B301M and B301C and the joints B402Y, B402M and B402C thereafter.

In the present embodiment, the air suction cap B403is constituted by a member having elasticity such as rubber, and it also functions as a cushioning member for receiving the force of inertia of the carriage B301during a movement by taking advantage of the elastic force, which makes it possible to prevent damage on the carriage B301.

When the ink replenishing needles B301Y, B301M and B301C are removed from the joints B402Y, B402M and B402C after the ink chambers carried by the carriage B301are completely replenished with inks, there is resistance which applies a great load to the CR motor B310. In order to reduce the load associated with the starting of the CR motor B310, the present embodiment is configured so as to utilize the driving force of the pump motor B104.

Specifically, when the carriage B301is started, the pump motor B104for driving a recovery system to be described later drives the switching slider B412for a movement toward the home position of the carriage B301(rightward inFIGS. 35Ato35C). A lower end of the removing lever B404which is mounted through a shaft substantially in the middle thereof (seeFIGS. 34 and 35Ato35C) is located in the moving path of the switching slider B412. When a contact portion B412aof the switching slider B412contacts the lower end, the removing lever B404rotates counterclockwise in the figures about the shaft-mount portion in the middle thereof, and an upper end of the lever moves leftward inFIGS. 35Ato35C. As a result, the upper end of the removing lever B404contacts an end face of the carriage B301(see FIG.35B). When the removing lever B404further rotates counterclockwise as a result of a further movement of the switching slider B412to the right side of the figure, the upper end of the lever B404presses the carriage B301such that it causes the ink replenishing needles B301Y, B301M and B301C to move in the direction of removing them from the joints B402Y, B402M and B402C (to the left side). The pressing force is added to the driving force applied from the CR motor B310to the carriage B301. This allows the carriage B301to be started smoothly and allows the ink replenishing needles B301Y, B301M and B301C to be reliably removed from the joints B402Y, B402M and B402C. Therefore, the present embodiment eliminates the need for increasing the size of the CR motor B310and therefore makes it possible to avoid any increase in the cost and installation space of the same.

In the present embodiment, a combination of an encoder sensor connected to a flexible substrate and a scale is used as a detection unit for detecting the moving position of the carriage B301.

FIG. 36specifically shows the unit for detecting the position of the carriage B301.

An encoder sensor B309has a light-emitting portion B312and a light-receiving portion B311provided side by side with respective light-emitting surface and light-receiving surface facing upward, and it is secured to a side of the carriage B301. One end of a flexible substrate B307is secured to a top surface of the encoder sensor B309and is electrically connected to the light-emitting portion B312and the light-receiving portion B311. The substrate is formed with a hole B307ain a position thereon facing the light-emitting surface and light-receiving surface of the encoder sensor B309. Light emitted by the light-emitting portion B312of the encoder sensor B309is directed to a scale B308provided above the same through the hole B307a, and light reflected by the scale B308is received by the light-receiving portion B311through the hole B307a. Since light-reflecting portions and non-reflecting portions are intermittently formed on the scale B308, signals in the form of pulses are intermittently transmitted from the encoder sensor B309moving with the carriage B301. Therefore, the moving position of the carriage B301can be detected by counting the signals in the form of pulses at a control system. A count starting position for the carriage B301may be set in various ways. In this case, a CR sensor B313is provided as shown inFIGS. 36 and 38; the home position of the carriage B301is detected by the CR sensor B313; and the home position is used as a count starting position for one scan of the carriage B301.

The flexible substrate B307is formed such that it is flexed in a U-shaped configuration as shown inFIG. 38as the carriage B301moves, and the present embodiment is similar to a normal printer in this point. In a normal printer, however, a space S between an upper portion B307A and a lower portion B307B of a flexible substrate B307flexed in a U-shaped configuration has been regarded as a space in which no member can be provided because a bent portion307C of the flexible substrate B307moves in the space S along with the carriage B301. That is, the space S between the upper portion B307A and the lower portion B307B of the flexible substrate B307has not been used at all for a member other than the flexible substrate B307. On the contrary, in the present embodiment, since there is provided the encoder sensor B309which moves with the carriage B301and the bent portion B307C of the flexible substrate B307, there is no interference with the bent portion B307C of the flexible substrate B307. Since the present embodiment thus makes it possible to utilize a space that has been regarded unusable effectively to install the encoder sensor B309which is relatively large, the installation space can be significantly smaller than that of a normal recording apparatus.

In addition, in the present embodiment, in order to configure the printer main body B100with a low profile, the top surface of the carriage B301is set slightly lower than the top surface of the chassis B101, which provides a configuration in which even when a plate-like outer casing material is secured on the top surface of the chassis B101, it forms substantially no gap with the carriage B301. Thus, it is very much advantageous in achieving such a low profile to employ a configuration and structure in which the encoder sensor B309does not protrude above the carriage B301.

3.3: Ink Supply and Recovery Mechanism

In cylinder pump B408, which is a main component of such a pump unit, in the present embodiment, as shown inFIG. 20, a piston B421slidably moving in the cylinder B431of the pump has an elliptical cross section. Accordingly, the cross section of the cylinder B431, which is also used as an external case of the cylinder pump B408, is also nearly elliptical.

Because the cross section of the piston of the pump is elliptical, when the pump is disposed in the printer, its height can be suppressed, which contributes to a reduced height of the entire printer. For example, as compared with the case of using a piston with a circular cross section of the same height in the disposed state, the elliptical cross section can provide a greater cross sectional area of the cylinder, which provides a shorter stroke, thereby providing a smaller size in the pump height and longitudinal direction. As described above, when the installation space of the pump in the printer has a room to some extent in the longitudinal direction of the ellipse, or when suppression of the printer height is preferential from the design, as in the present embodiment, it is effective that the cross sectional shape of the piston is made elliptical, and accordingly the cross sectional shape of the cylinder is made elliptical.

In particular, as in the present embodiment, in the case of the printer integral with a camera, it is effective because the printer height is limited. Specifically, as shown inFIG. 20, the printer section B100, from the requirement of integrally assembling with a camera, has a substantially rectangular cross section. On the other hand, the cylinder pump B408and its drive mechanism and the like are substantially required to be disposed in the lower half of the printer section B100, that is, in the lower side of the transportation path of the printing medium. Therefore, the elliptical cross sectional shape in the present embodiment is preferable because the height of the cylinder pump B408is a height to be under the side of the transportation path and the cross sectional area inside the cylinder is ensured to obtain an effective suction force with a limited stroke.

Further, when considering gas-tightness of the piston to the cylinder, the elliptical shape is advantageous for applying a uniform pressure to the inner surface of the cylinder as compared to, for example, one which includes a straight part in the cross sectional shape.

As can be seen from the above description, the cross sectional shape of the piston is not necessarily required to be elliptical. A flattened shape with a suppressed height of one side can provide the above desired function. Preferably it is one which does not include a straight part in the shape in view of sealing with the cylinder.

The cylinder pump B408, as will be described later, according to a predetermined rotation of the lead screw B410, is a generation source of pressure for ink supply to respective ink chambers B304Y, B304M and B304C on the carriage B301and ink suction through the suction cap B405.FIG. 39is a diagram showing internal structure of the cylinder pump B408for this purpose.

As shown inFIG. 39, the cylinder pump B408, as main elements, comprises a cylinder main body B431, a piston B421and a piston shaft B422. The cylinder main body B431, as described above, also comprises a case as an outer shape of the cylinder pump B408, which is fixed to the printer. On the other hand, the piston shaft B422is connected with a pump driving arm B409whereby the piston B421can move in the cylinder B431according to the rotation of the lead screw B410.

The piston B421is engaged with the inner wall of the cylinder main body B431through an O-ring provided at its end. This makes the parts (air suction chamber and ink suction chamber) partitioned by the piston B421of the cylinder inside B431anon-communicational with each other and slidable with the inner wall.

The piston shaft B422has a valve B422A formed at its one end, and has a hollow part B422B extending in the axial direction. The valve B422A, according to the movement of the piston shaft B422, can move freely in the inner space formed inside the piston B421. According to this movement, when the sealing part formed of a flexible material such as rubber closely contacts with the inner upper surface B421aof the inner space so as to surround the opening of the hollow part B422B above the valve B422A, the hollow part B422B of the piston shaft B422and the cylinder inside B431a(ink suction chamber) can be made non-communicational with each other and air-tight. On the other hand, when the valve B422A contacts against the inner lower surface B421bof the inner space, the hollow part B422B of the piston shaft B422and the cylinder inside (ink suction chamber)531aare communicational through a groove (not shown) formed on the lower surface of the valve B422A.

At the upper end (left side in the figure) of the cylinder B431, an air introduction opening B432is formed. The air introduction opening B432communicates with the air suction cap B403of the joint member B401shown inFIG. 19, whereby at the time when ink is supplied from the medium pack C100to respective ink chamber of the carriage B301, air suction can be performed. Further, at the upper end of the cylinder main body B431, a pressure adjusting valve mechanism B425is provided. The pressure adjusting valve enables adjustment of a pressing force by its spring. When the negative pressure of the cylinder interior (air suction chamber) B431abetween the cylinder main body B431and the piston B421becomes a magnitude corresponding to the adjusted pressing force (when the pressure decreases to the corresponding value), the valve opens and, as a result, the negative pressure is adjusted to a constant value. By this operation, the above air suction can be performed at a consistent negative pressure.

On the other hand, at the lower end (right side in figure) of the cylinder B431, a sealing member B424is provided. The sealing member B424enables making the cylinder interior B431ainto an air-tight state to the outside and is slidable with the piston shaft B422B while keeping the same air-tightness. The sealing member B424is provided with an ink introduction opening B423, which communicates with the cap B405shown in FIG.19. This makes it possible to introduce waste ink sucked through the cap B405to the interior of the cylinder (ink suction chamber) B431a. In this communication passage, a check valve (not shown) is provided, whereby ink from the suction cap B405is passed and, to the contrary, ink flow discharged from the cylinder interior (ink suction chamber) B431acan be blocked.

With the above construction, when ink is supplied from the respective ink pack in the medium pack C100to respective ink reserving section of the sub-tank B400on the carriage B301, by predetermined rotation of the lead screw B410, the piston B421moves downward (in the direction of arrow B in FIG.39), so as to generate a negative pressure in the cylinder interior B431a(air suction chamber). By this negative pressure, air is sucked from the respective ink reserving section of the sub-tank B400on the carriage B301communicating with the cylinder inside (air suction chamber) B431athrough the suction joint B302and the like, thereby making the inside of the respective ink reserving section negative pressure and introducing ink from the respective ink pack to the respective ink reserving section. At this time, only air passes through the above porous film B402, and ink passage is blocked. When the introduced ink reaches the porous film, further suction is not performed due to a pressure balance or the like.

During the downward movement of the piston B421in the cylinder main body B431, waste ink sucked through the suction cap B405in the previous process to the cylinder interior (ink suction chamber) B431aonce flows to the upper side of the valve B422A through a groove formed on the lower surface of the valve B422A, and then discharged through the hollow part B422B of the piston shaft B422. The discharged waste ink is passed through the inside passage and the like of the pump driving arm B409, and finally to the waste ink absorption body C107in the medium pack C100.

On the other hand, in the suction recovery operation, by predetermined rotation of the lead screw B410, the piston B421moves up in the direction of arrow A inFIG. 39in the cylinder. By this operation, a negative pressure is generated in the cylinder interior (ink suction chamber) B431a, so that the inside of the suction cap B405connecting with it and covering the face on which the nozzles or ink ejection openings are arranged of the recording head can be made negative pressure. By this negative pressure, ink discharged through the nozzles can be conducted to the cylinder interior (ink suction chamber) B431a. At this time, as described above, the valve B422A of the piston shaft B422closely contacts with the upper surface of the inner space of the piston, and the cylinder interior B431aand the hollow part B422B of the piston shaft B422are in the air-tight state with each other, thus maintaining air-tightness.

During the upward movement of the piston B421, simultaneously, air above the piston (air in the air suction chamber) is discharged towards the suction joint B302through the air introduction opening. At this time, since the suction joint B302is released from connection with the carriage B301, a case is prevented that the discharged air reaches the respective ink reserving section of the sub-tank B400on the carriage and pressures the recording head from the inside.

With the above described construction of the cylinder pump B408, unlike the conventional pump, since the hollow part B422B of the piston shaft B422is used as an ink discharge passage, it is not necessary to provide a switching valve in the cylinder as seen in the conventional pump used in suction recovery processing. Therefore, a piston stroke for position adjustment of the valve with the piston is needless to be considered, and as a result thereof, the piston stroke can be reduced. Further, since the pressure adjusting mechanism is provided outside the cylinder, in the production of the pump, the assembly or incorporation process can be easily performed.

The lead screw B410, as described above, has a function of power transmission of various operations and setting of timing, including ink supply operation from the medium pack C100to the ink reserving section on the carriage B301or suction recovery operation through the suction cap B405. The lead screw B410, as shown inFIG. 19, has two spiral grooves B410aand a single spiral groove B410bformed with a predetermined distance from the former grooves. The spiral grooves B410aare engaged with part of the pump slider B441to move the pump driving arm B409. On the other hand, the spiral groove B410bis engaged with part of the switching slider B412, thereby moving the switching slider B412.

Operations performed by the movement of the pump slider B441, as described above, are ink supply to the ink reserving section, suction recovery and wiping. On the other hand, operations performed by the movement of the switching slider B412are capping operation of the suction cap B405to the recording head and releasing operation of the joint member B401and the carriage B301.

FIG. 40Ais a diagram for explaining the relationship between the lead screw B410and a driving force transmission mechanism of pump motor B104for generating a driving force for rotating the same and the above various operations by the lead screw B410. In this figure, the conveying motor B210for supply of printing medium and transmission mechanism thereof are also shown.FIG. 40Bis a diagram for explaining the movement of the carriage B301driven by the carriage motor (CR motor) B310through the lead screw B410. On the present printer main body, the CR motor B310shown inFIG. 40Bis arranged on the left side of the pump B408inFIG. 40A, and the structure shown inFIG. 40Bis arranged above the structure shown inFIG. 40A(see FIG.20).

In the following, with reference to the operation positions of the driving arm B409and operation position of the switching slider B412shown in FIG.40A and FIGS.41to43,44A to44C and45A to45C, power transmission and setting of timing of various operations by the lead screw B410will be described.

FIG. 41shows the positions of the pump slider B441and the switching slider B412when the wiper and the suction cap B405are at the ascended positions. At this time, the pump slider B441is positioned at the left end relative to the spiral groove B410aof the lead screw B410, and by movement to this left end, a wiper pressure part B441aof the pump slider B441is moved. The wiper pressure part B441a, by its movement, as shown inFIG. 42, pushes up part of a plate spring-formed receiving part B442bof a wiper base B442which supports its end part B442aby a predetermined member. By this operation, the wiper B443rises. At the same time, a releasing valve arm B441bconnecting at the tip of a wiper pressure part441apushes a releasing lever B444a, as shown inFIG. 45C, to drive the releasing lever B444aand a releasing valve plate B444bcooperating with this lever, and to move atmosphere communication valves B445(FIGS. 44B and 44C) to atmosphere communication positions. Further, by the movement to the left end, the above-described suction recovery processing can also be performed.

At this moment, the other switching slider B412is at the right end relative to the spiral groove B410bof the lead screw B410, whereby the cap lever arm B414is at the position where the suction cap B405(not shown) is moved up (cap close; capping state). That is, the switching slider B412is partly connected to the cap lever arm B414, by the movement to the right of the switching slider B412, the cap lever arm B414is rotated, and the part B414athereof can be moved up the position where the suction cap B405is moved up.

FIG. 43is a diagram showing the state of other positions relative to the respective spiral grooves of the pump slider B441and the switching slider B412shown inFIGS. 41 and 42. The figures show the state when the pump slider B441is at the right end relative to the spiral groove B410aand the switching slider B412is in the middle of the spiral groove B410b.

At this time, the wiper pressure part B441ais at the retreated position from the pushed-up position of the wiper base B442, whereby the wiper B443is at the retreated position from the movement range of the carriage B301. Further, when the joint member B401is in the state connected with respective needles on the carriage, by the movement to the right end, ink supply to the ink reserving sections by the above pit-in can be performed. Further, at this time, the releasing valve arm B441bof the pump slider B441is in the state shown inFIG. 45A, and the atmosphere communication valve B445of the suction cap B405is in a valve-close state as shown in FIG.44C.

On the other hand, by moving the switching slider B412to the left, the cap lever arm B414is rotated, whereby its part B414ais pressed down and the suction cap B405can be made open state.

As described above, the state described with reference toFIGS. 41to43,44A to44C and45A to45C is a basic example of the positions of the pump driving arm and the switching slider according to the rotation of the lead screw B410. That is, by the clockwise rotation or counterclockwise rotation of the lead screw B410, the spiral grooves B410aand the spiral groove B410b, and by appropriately determining the formation ranges or lengths thereof and the densities of the spiral grooves, various processings using the pump motor B104are made possible. For example, in the above description, though upward movement of the suction cap B405and rising of the wiper C106are performed simultaneously, only the wiper rising can be performed.

3.4: Pack Connection Mechanism

The ink supply needles B502C, B502M and B502Y and the needle B503for waste ink of the pack connection mechanism are integrally held by the ink needle holder B501. As a result, the needles are integrally connected to the ink pack joint C132when the medium pack is attached. In this configuration, in particular, a force that acts when the joint C132is slid to establish connection can be concentrated on the sliding operation. On the contrary, if the needle in each color is held separately, the force is dispersed, and this may result in a situation in which the sliding operation cannot be adequately performed.

4: Control System

4-1: Construction of Control System

FIG. 46is a block diagram generally showing the camera section A100and the printer section B100.

In the camera section A100, reference numeral101denotes a CCD as an image element; reference numeral102denotes a microphone for inputting voice; reference numeral103denotes an ASIC (Application Specific IC) for performing various processing; reference numeral104denotes a first memory for temporarily storing an image data and the like; reference numeral105denotes a CF (compact flash) card (corresponding to the CF card A107) for recording the photographed image; reference numeral106denotes an LCD (corresponding to the liquid crystal display section A105) which displays the photographed image or a replayed image; and reference numeral120denotes a first CPU for controlling the camera section A100.

In the printer section B100, reference numeral210denotes an interface between the camera section A100and the printer section B100; reference numeral201denotes an image processing section (including a binary processing section for binarizing an image); reference numeral202denotes a second memory to be used in performing the image processing; reference numeral203denotes a band memory controlling section; reference numeral204denotes a band memory; reference numeral205denotes a mask memory; reference numeral206denotes a head controlling section; reference numeral207denotes a recording head (corresponding to the recording head B305); reference numeral208denotes an encoder (corresponding to the encoder detecting element B309); reference numeral209denotes an encoder counter; reference numeral220denotes a second CPU for controlling the printer section B100; reference numeral221denotes motor drivers; reference numeral222denotes motors (corresponding to the pump motor, LF motor and carriage motor); reference numeral223denotes sensors (including the CR sensor B313); reference numeral224denotes the EEPROM contained in the medium pack C100; reference numeral230denotes a voice encoder section and reference numeral250denotes a power source section for supplying electric power to the entire device (corresponding to the battery A108).

FIG. 47is a schematic diagram showing a signal processing in the camera section A100. In a photographing mode, an image photographed by the CCD101through a lens107is signal-processed (CCD signal processing) by ASIC103and then is converted to YUV intensity with two-color-different signal. Further, the photographed image is resized to a predetermined resolution and recorded on a CF card105using a compression method by JPEG, for example. Also, a voice is inputted through a microphone102and stored in the CF card105through the ASIC103. A recording of the voice can be performed in such a manner as recording at the same time of photographing, or after photographing, so-called after-recording. In a replay mode, the JPEG image is read out from the CF card105, extended by the JPEG through the ASIC103and further resized to be a resolution for displaying, thereby being displayed on the LCD106.

FIG. 48is a schematic diagram showing a signal processing performed in the printer section B100.

An image replayed on the camera section A100, that is the image being read out from the CF card105, is extended by the JPEG through ASIC103as shown inFIG. 47to resize a resolution to a suitable size for printing. Then, the resized image data (YUV signal), through an interface section210, is transferred to the printer section B100. As shown inFIG. 48, the printer section B100performs an image processing of an image data transferred from the camera section A100by an image processing section201, thereby performing a conversion of the image data to a RGB signal, an input γ correction in accordance with the features of a camera, a color correction and a color conversion using a look up table (LUT), and a conversion to a binarized signal for printing. When performing the binarizing processing, in order to perform an error diffusion (ED), a second memory202is utilized as an error memory. In the case of the present embodiment, though a binarizing processing section in the image processing section201performs the error diffusion processing, another processing may be performed such as a binarizing processing using a dither pattern. The binarized printing data is stored temporarily in the band memory204by a band memory controlling section203. An encoder pulse from the encoder208enters into the encoder counter209of the printer section B100every time the carriage B301carrying the recording head207and the encoder208moves a certain distance. Then, in sync with this encoder pulse, printing data is read out from the band memory204and the mask memory205, and, based on thus obtained printing data, the head controlling section206controls the recording head207to perform a recording.

A band memory shown inFIG. 48is explained as below.

A plurality of nozzles in the recording head207, for example, is formed in array so as to achieve a density of 1200 dpi (dots/inch). For recording the image by using such recording head207, upon performing one scanning by the carriage, it is preferred to previously prepare a recording data (a recording data corresponding to one scanning) corresponding to the number of nozzles in the sub-scanning direction (hereinafter, also referred to as a “column (Y direction)”) and a recording data corresponding to the recording area in the scanning direction (hereinafter, also referred to as a “row (X direction)”, respectively. The recording data is created in the image processing section201and then is temporary stored in the band memory204by the band memory controlling section203. After the recording data corresponding to one scan is stored in the band memory204, the carriage is scanned in the main scanning direction. In so doing, an encoder pulse inputted by the encoder208is counted by the encoder counter209and, in accordance with this encoder pulse, a recording data is read out from the band memory204. Then, on the basis of the image data, ink droplets are ejected from the recording head207. In the case that a bidirectional recording system wherein an image is recorded upon outward scanning and homeward scanning (outward recording and homeward recording) of the recording head207is employed, the image data is read out from the band memory204depending on the scanning direction of the recording head207. For example, an address of the image data read out from the band memory204is increased sequentially when the outward recording is performed, while an address read out from the band memory204is decreased sequentially when the homeward scanning is performed.

In a practical sense, a writing of an image data (C, M and Y) created by the image processing section201into the band memory204and a subsequent preparation of the image data corresponding to one band enable a scanning of the recording head207. Then, the image data is read out from the band memory204subsequent to a scan of the recording head207, so that the recording head207records the image on the basis of the image data. While in the recording operation, an image data to be recorded next is created at the image processing section201and thus created image data is written into an area of the band memory204corresponding to a recording position.

As has been stated above, the band memory controlling is carried out in such manner that a writing operation in which recording data (C, M, Y) created by the image processing section201is written into the band memory204and a reading operation for transferring the recording data (C, M, Y) to the head controlling section206in accordance with a scanning movement of the carriage are changed over.

A mask memory controlling inFIG. 48is explained as below.

This mask memory controlling is required when a multi-pass recording system is employed. In using the multi-pass recording system, the recording image corresponding to one line which has a width corresponding to a length of the nozzle array of the recording head207is divided to a plurality of scanning operations of the recording head207to record. That is, the conveying amount of the printing medium to be intermittently carried to the sub-scanning direction is made to be 1/N of a length of the nozzle array. For example, when N=2, a recording image corresponding to one line is divided into two scans to record (two-pass recording), and when N=4, a recording image corresponding to one line is divided into four scans to record (four-pass recording). In similar fashion, when N=8, it becomes eight-pass recording, and when N=16, it becomes sixteen-pass recording. Therefore, the recording image corresponding to one line will be completed by a plurality of scans of the recording head207.

Practically, a mask data for assigning the image data to a plurality of scans of the recording head207is stored in the mask memory205, and then based on a conjunction (AND) data between the mask data and the image data, the recording head207ejects inks to record the image.

Also, inFIG. 48, voice data stored in the CF card105, like the image data, is transferred to the printer section B100through an interface210by the ASIC102. The voice data transferred to the printer section B100is encoded at the voice encoder230and then recorded with the image to be printed as code data. When there is no necessity to input voice data into a printing image, or when printing an image without a voice data, of course, the encoded voice data is not printed but only the image is printed.

In the present embodiment, the present invention has been explained as a printer-built-in camera integral with a camera section A100and printer section B100. However, it would be possible to make each of the camera section A100and the printer section B100a separate device and to form in a similar manner as a structure in which those devices are connected to each other by the interface210to realize a similar function.

4-2: Summary of Operations

Operations of the above embodiment performed by the control system shown inFIGS. 46to48will now be described with reference toFIGS. 49 and 50.

FIG. 49shows an example of a processing procedure performed when the power supply is turned on. At step S2, it is judged whether the power supply of the apparatus has been turned on by an operation of the operator on the power supply switch. If yes, the process proceeds to step S3and, if not, the standby state continues.

At step S3, it is judged whether the medium pack C100has been loaded in the inserting portion A002by the operator. If yes, the process proceeds to step S4and, if not, the standby state continues until it is loaded. At this time, a display process may be performed to prompt the loading of the medium pack.

When the medium pack C100is attached, the needles B502C, B502M, B502Y and B503of the apparatus main body enter the rubber plugs C134of the pack as a result of the attaching operation, thereby forming ink passages to the apparatus main body and a waste ink passage to the pack. The ink absorption body B506made of a relatively hard porous material at the apparatus main body contacts the absorption bodies C141made of a relatively soft porous material at the pack while compressing and deforming the same. When unused pack is attached, the joint C132moves as a result of the attaching operation to cause the needles133to be stuck into the ink packs C130, which allows ink supply for the first time.

As a result of the attaching operation, the guide pins GP1and GP2of the apparatus main body enter the guide holes C163A and C163B on the pack, which expands the width of the opening C101L to allow one printing medium to pass. Further, this makes it possible to sandwich the printing media contained in the pack with the pick-up roller B201and the press plate B202.

Electrical connections associated with the EEPROM224and so on are established as a result of the attaching operation. For example, when ink leaks from the opening C101J for collecting waste ink, the electrical connections enable a process of detecting or reporting the ink leakage by detecting electrical abnormality at the apparatus main body. Such detection may be performed at appropriate timing through a process of interrupting a program of the control system, and the occurrence of ink leakage may be displayed on the LCD106. Alternatively, an electrical circuit may be separately configured to turn on a lamp when shorting occurs regardless of the program of the control system.

At step S4, mode judgment is performed to judge which of the photographing mode and the printing mode is set. If the photographing mode is set, operations as a digital camera are performed. Specifically, setting operations of various conditions required for the exposing operation such as determination of an exposure control value, determination of range finding information, and determination whether to turn on a flash or stroboscopic tube, and a series of exposing operations including driving of the lens for focusing, shutter speed control, control of the numerical aperture of the lens stop, and if necessary, turning on of the flash tube. While the procedure can branch to the photographing mode and the printing mode after the insertion of the medium pack is detected, a process may be added to proceed to the photographing mode forcibly in consideration to cases in which the apparatus of the embodiment is used as a camera only on the assumption that printing will not be performed.

When the printing mode is set, a process as described below is performed. One can assume here that the printing mode is set when a user selects an image photographed in the photographing mode or an image stored in the CF card105and operates the print button to print the same.

FIG. 50shows an example of a processing procedure in the printing mode.

When the procedure is activated, an ink replenishing process is performed at step S10. The ink replenishing process includes an operation of setting the piston in a predetermined position in the cylinder of the pump B408to exert a suction force to the ink chambers B304(pump initializing; step S11), an operation of retracting the cap lever arm B414and the removing lever B404before coupling the needles and air suction ports of the recording heads and the joints (B402Y, B402M and B402C) and the air suction cap B403of the apparatus, respectively (retraction of the cap arm lever; step S12), an operation of setting the carriage B301in a predetermined position spaced from the coupling position (carriage position initialization; step S13), an operation of coupling the needles and air suction ports of the recording heads and the joints and air suction cap of the apparatus with the carriage B301kept at a sufficient and stable speed (joint coupling; step S14), and an operation of introducing ink sufficient for one printing medium by operating the pump B408to exert a suction force in the ink chambers B304(ink replenishing operation; step S15). Referring to the coupling of the joints, the needles of the recording heads are first coupled with the joints.

When the ink replenishing operation is completed, a process is performed to withdraw the carriage B301from the position for coupling the joints (joint removal; step S20). This process is performed by driving the carriage motor to move the carriage B301from the coupling position to the home position and, at this time, the withdrawal is made smooth by the driving force of the pump B408that is transmitted through the cap arm lever to cause the removing lever B404to urge the carriage B408toward the home position.

Next, a recovery process is performed at step S30. The recovery process includes an operation of connecting the cap B405with the surfaces of the heads formed with the ejecting ports (cap closing) and forcibly discharging ink by operating the pump to sucking the interior of the cap (suction recovery; step S31), an operation of moving the cap B405away from the surfaces formed with the ejecting ports (cap opening; step S32) and an operation of projecting the wiper and moving the carriage to wipe the surfaces formed with the ejecting holes with the wiper (wiping; step S33).

A paper feed process is performed at step S40. The paper feed process includes an operation of releasing the ASF trigger B209to sandwich the printing media contained in the pack with the pick-up roller B201and the press plate202(step S41), an operation of feeding a printing medium to the apparatus main-body by the rotation of the paper feed roller (step S42), an operation of causing the pick-up roller B201and the press plate202to move again to the positions to standby for sandwiching with the ASF trigger B209as the paper feeding is started (step S43) and a setting operation for setting the leading end of the printing medium in the printing position (step S44).

After the above-described processes are completed, a printing process is performed based on image data (step S50). Specifically, an operation of forming a specified image is performed while performing the scanning of the recording heads and the transportation of the printing medium alternately, and the printing medium is thereafter ejected out of the apparatus.

After the printing process, a finishing operation is performed at step S60. The finishing process includes an operation of projecting the wiper and moving the carriage B301to wipe the surfaces formed with the ejecting holes with the wiper (wiping; step S61), an operation of retracting the wiper thereafter (step S62) and an operation of connecting the cap B405with the surfaces of the heads formed with the ejecting holes (cap closing; step S63).

As described above, the container of consumable supplies for a printer is equipped with a plurality of introducing portions for introducing ink discharged from the printer, and it is therefore possible to adequately introduce and receive ink discharged from various parts of the printer in accordance with the discharged amount and the mode of discharge.

The container of consumable supplies for a printer is equipped with the introducing portion for introducing ink discharged from the printer and a storage unit such as an EEPROM located in the vicinity of the introducing portion; it is therefore possible to detect leakage of ink utilizing the fact that ink which has leaked from the introducing portion enters an electrical connecting portion between the storage unit and the printer.

In the container of consumable supplies for a printer, the introducing portion for introducing ink discharged from the printer and a receiving portion for allowing connection of a printing medium feeding unit of the printer are spaced from each other. This makes it possible to prevent a printing medium from being smeared with ink which has leaked from the introducing portions.

The container of consumable supplies for a printer is equipped with an absorption body capable of absorbing ink introduced through the plurality of introducing portions, and an infiltration passage of the ink is detoured between parts of the absorption body associated with the plurality of introducing portions. This makes it possible to hold waste ink discharged from recording heads and absorbed by the absorption body as a result of a recovery operation such that it is unlikely to leak out.

The container of consumable supplies for a printer is equipped with a sheet-like member for supplying printing medium smoothly, and this makes it possible to supply the printing medium to the printer reliably.

The container of consumable supplies for a printer is equipped with the receiving portion for allowing connection of the printing medium feeding unit of the printer and a receiving portion for allowing connecting of a printing medium urging unit of the printer, and the receiving portions are put in a face-to-face relationship with the printing media in the container interposed between them. Thus, the printing medium is reliably supplied to the printer using the printing medium feeding unit and the printing medium urging unit.

The container of consumable supplies for a printer is equipped with an ink containing portion for containing ink and an ink communication member which is stuck into the ink containing portion to establish ink communication, which allows the ink containing portion to seal and contain ink independently of the outside before the container is attached to the printer. As a result, leakage of ink is prevented during distribution of the container, and the ink containing portion which is in the form of a bag or the like for sealing and containing ink independently can be easily manufactured and assembled.

The container of consumable supplies for a printer is equipped with a receiving portion for allowing connection of the printing medium feeding unit of the printer, a plurality of ink supply connecting portions capable of supplying inks in a plurality of colors contained in containers, and an introducing portion for introducing ink discharged from the printer which are arranged in the same order. This makes it possible to prevent a printing medium from being smeared with ink which has leaked from the introducing portion. Further, the plurality of the ink supply connecting portions and the introducing portion for introducing ink discharged from the printer are integrated to facilitate mounting.

The container of consumable supplies for a printer is equipped with a printing medium supply port for supplying printing media contained in a container to the printer one by one, and the gap at the printing medium supply port is adjusted to a prescribed size when the container is attached to the printer. This makes it possible to limit the gap at the printing medium supply port to optimum dimensions when the container is attached to the printer without any particular improvement in the dimensional accuracy of the gap at the printing medium supply port at the time of manufacture of the container.