Recording apparatus

A recording apparatus includes a recording head configured to discharge an ink onto paper for recording, a case accommodating at least the recording head, a reading device openable and closable between an open position and a closed position, a liquid container having a liquid storage chamber for storing the ink to be supplied to the recording head and an injection port enabling the ink to be injected from the outside to the inside of the liquid storage chamber, a blocking member configured to block the injection port by coming into contact with the injection port, and a cover provided such that the cover can be opened or closed between an open position where the injection port is exposed and a closed position where the injection port is not exposed. The blocking member is mounted on the cover.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a recording apparatus, for example, an ink jet type printer.

2. Related Art

In the related art, there are known ink jet printers (recording apparatuses) equipped with a recording head that discharges ink, which is an example of a liquid, onto paper, which is an example medium, for recording. Among these printers, some printers include ink tanks (liquid containers) that store inks to be supplied to a recording head. For example, JP-A-2012-20495 describes a printer that includes an ink tank into which an ink can be injected through a liquid injection port provided on the ink tank.

The ink tank provided in the printer described in JP-A-2012-20495 has a plug member (blocking member) that blocks the liquid injection port to reduce leakage of the ink stored in the ink tank from the liquid injection port. In another generally known printer, an openable cover that covers a liquid injection port on which a plug member for blocking the liquid injection port is mounted so as to reduce the risk of dropping-off of the plug member due to the increase in internal pressure in the ink tank, an impact from the outside, or the like. In such a structure including the cover for covering the liquid injection port in addition to the plug member for blocking the liquid injection port, however, it is laborious to inject the ink because the cover has to be opened and then the plug member has to be removed from the liquid injection port to inject the ink into the ink tank.

SUMMARY

An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that there is provided a recording apparatus that enables a user to inject a liquid into a liquid container without being laborious and also a blocking member for blocking an injection port provided to the liquid container for storing the liquid and a cover that covers the injection port.

Hereinafter, apparatuses for solving the aforementioned problem and their working effects will be described. A recording apparatus for solving the aforementioned problem includes a recording head configured to discharge a liquid onto a medium for recording, a casing accommodating at least the recording head, an opening and closing member openable and closable between an open position where the inside of the casing is exposed and a closed position where the inside of the casing is not exposed, at least one liquid container having a liquid storage chamber for storing the liquid to be supplied to the recording head and an injection port enabling the liquid to be injected from the outside to the inside of the liquid storage chamber, at least one blocking member configured to block the injection port by coming into contact with the injection port, and a cover provided such that the cover can be opened or closed between an open position where the injection port is exposed and a closed position where the injection port is not exposed. The number of the liquid containers is two or more and the number of the blocking members corresponds to the number of the injection ports in the liquid containers, and the blocking members are mounted on the cover.

With this structure, the contact operation and the separation operation of the blocking members for blocking the injection ports to the injection ports are performed in conjunction with the opening and closing operations of the cover that covers the injection ports of the liquid containers. That is, the blocking members can be separated from the injection ports when a user opens the cover, and consequently, the user is able to inject the liquids into the liquid storage chambers by only opening the cover. Consequently, the liquids can be injected into the liquid containers without being laborious while the blocking members for blocking the injection ports provided on the liquid containers that store the liquids and the cover that covers the injection ports are provided. The plurality of blocking members that block the plurality of injection ports respectively can be separated from the injection ports in a single operation by opening the cover. Consequently, the time and labor for injecting the liquids into the plurality of liquid containers can be reduced.

A recording apparatus for solving the aforementioned problem includes a recording head configured to discharge a liquid onto a medium for recording, a casing accommodating at least the recording head, an opening and closing member openable and closable between an open position where the inside of the casing is exposed and a closed position where the inside of the casing is not exposed, at least one liquid container having a liquid storage chamber for storing the liquid to be supplied to the recording head and an injection port enabling the liquid to be injected from the outside to the inside of the liquid storage chamber, a blocking member configured to block the injection port by coming into contact with the injection port, and a cover provided such that the cover can be opened or closed between an open position where the injection port is exposed and a closed position where the injection port is not exposed. The number of liquid containers is two or more, and the blocking member is mounted on the cover to block the plurality of injection ports in the plurality of liquid containers.

With this structure, the contact operation and the separation operation of the blocking member for blocking the injection ports to the injection ports are performed in conjunction with the opening and closing operations of the cover that covers the injection ports of the liquid containers. That is, the blocking member can be separated from the injection ports when a user opens the cover, and consequently, the user is able to inject the liquids into the liquid storage chambers by only opening the cover. Consequently, the liquids can be injected into the liquid containers without being laborious while the blocking member for blocking the injection ports provided on the liquid containers that store the liquids and the cover that covers the injection ports are provided. The one blocking member that blocks the plurality of injection ports can be separated from the injection ports in a single operation by opening the cover. Consequently, the time and labor for injecting the liquids into the plurality of liquid containers can be reduced.

In the above-described recording apparatus, it is preferable that the blocking members are detachably mounted to the cover.

With this structure, the blocking member can be replaced as needed, for example, if the blocking member has deteriorated.

In the above-described recording apparatus, it is preferable that the blocking member be larger than the injection port and that the blocking member be composed of an elastically deformable elastic member.

With this structure, the blocking member is larger than the injection port of the liquid container, and the blocking member is capable of coming into contact in an elastically deformable manner with the injection port of the liquid container. Consequently, the sealing capability of the blocking member can be increased and the injection port can be appropriately blocked.

In the above-described recording apparatus, it is preferable that the casing further accommodate at least a portion of the liquid containers and that the cover be rotatably provided with respect to the casing. With this structure, the cover can be more readily opened or closed compared with, for example, a structure in which a cover is opened or closed by sliding the cover.

In the above-described recording apparatus, it is preferable that an engaging portion be provided in one of the cover and the casing and that a portion to be engaged, which can be engaged with the engaging portion, be provided in the other one, and that the engaging portion engage the portion to be engaged when the cover is positioned in the closed position.

With this structure, the risk of the cover readily opening in response to an impact or vibrations can be reduced by the engagement of the engaging portion with the portion to be engaged. In the above-described recording apparatus, it is preferable that the casing have a discharge port from which the medium on which recording has been performed with the recording head in the casing is to be discharged to the outside of the casing and that the liquid containers be disposed at a location corresponding to a side at which the discharge port is provided in the casing and a corner in the casing.

With this structure, the space in the casing can be efficiently used and the liquid can be readily injected into the liquid container disposed in the casing.

In the above-described recording apparatus, it is preferable that the casing include an operation section to be used to operate the recording apparatus and that the liquid containers be disposed at a location corresponding to the side at which the operation section is provided in the casing and a corner in the casing.

With this structure, the space in the casing can be efficiently used and the liquid can be readily injected into the liquid container disposed in the casing.

In the above-described recording apparatus, it is preferable that the casing include a viewing section through which the amounts of the liquids stored in the liquid storage chambers in the liquid containers can be viewed.

With this structure, the amounts of the liquids remaining in the liquid storage chambers can be checked through the viewing section, and the liquids can be injected into the liquid containers at an appropriate time.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a multifunction peripheral that includes an ink jet type printer, which is an example of a recording apparatus, will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown inFIG. 1, a multifunction peripheral11includes a recording device12that performs recording onto paper P, which is an example medium, and a reading device13that reads an image. The recording device12includes a rectangular parallelepiped case (casing)15that is provided, on a surface, with an operation section14for users to operate the multifunction peripheral11. A reading device13is disposed on the case15in the vertical Z direction. A hinge section16is provided on the back surface side of the multifunction peripheral11that is opposite to the front surface side on which the operation section14is provided in the multifunction peripheral11. The recording device12and the reading device13are connected with each other by the hinge section16. The operation section14includes, for example, a power button, an operation button, and the like to cause the multifunction peripheral11to perform various operations such as a recording operation with the recording device12, a reading operation with the reading device13, and the like.

A discharge port17is provided on the front surface of the case15where the operation section14is provided, and below the operation section14. From the discharge port17, the paper P on which recording has been performed by the recording device12, is discharged. A discharge tray18that can be pulled toward the front of the recording device12is provided under the discharge port17. A feed port (not shown) that is used to feed the paper P into the case15is provided on the back surface of the case15. The paper P fed from the feed port into the case15is subjected to recording in the case15, discharged from the discharge port17, and placed onto the discharge tray18. That is, the direction from the back surface toward the front surface of the recording device12is a transport Y direction of the paper P.

A viewing section19is provided on the front surface of the case15at a position (right side inFIG. 1) adjacent to the discharge port17such that a portion of the inside of the case15can be viewed by making a portion of the exterior of the case15from a transparent material, for example, glass or plastic. Liquid containers30that store ink, which is an example of a liquid, are provided at positions users can view from the outside through the viewing section19, that is, positions within the case15and close to the front surface and an end portion (right end inFIG. 1) of the recording device12. The plurality of liquid containers30(in this embodiment, two liquid containers30) are arranged adjacently such that the long sides are in contact with each other in the lengthwise direction (lateral direction inFIG. 1) of the recording device12. That is, the liquid containers30are accommodated in the case15. Specifically, in the case15, the liquid containers30are disposed on the front surface side of the case15where the operation section14and the discharge port17are provided, and at a corner of the rectangular parallelepiped case15.

The liquid container30has a box shape and is used as a so-called ink tank that stores an ink to be used by the recording device12for recording to the paper P. The liquid container30is composed of a transparent or translucent resin through which the amount of the remaining stored ink can be viewed. An upper limit value31that indicates an upper limit value of the ink that the liquid container30can contain is marked on the front surface of the liquid container30that is opposite the viewing section19in the case15. In the multifunction peripheral11, the upper limit value31can be viewed from the outside of the case15through the viewing section19.

As shown inFIG. 2, the reading device13can be rotated around the hinge section16with respect to the recording device12and can be opened or closed between two positions; an open position where the inside (i.e., the inside of the recording device12) of the case15is exposed and a closed position where the inside of the case15is not exposed. In other words, the reading device13functions as an opening and closing member that is opened or closed with respect to the case15. A link section20that supports the reading device13with respect to the recording device12is provided between the recording device12and the reading device13at a position close to an end portion (left side inFIG. 1) of the side opposite to the side where the liquid containers30are disposed in the lengthwise direction of the multifunction peripheral11and on the front surface side of the multifunction peripheral11. The link section20holds the reading device13that is at the open position in an orientation inclined toward the recording device12. In the multifunction peripheral11according to the embodiment, the link section20is linked to the reading device13such that the link section20rises as the reading device13is lifted.

A recording section40that performs recording toward the paper P is provided in the case15. The recording section40includes a carriage42that is provided such that the carriage42can reciprocate along a guide shaft41that extends in scanning X direction intersecting the transport Y direction of the paper P, and a recording head43that is mounted on a lower surface of the carriage42, the recording head43discharging ink onto the paper P that faces the carriage42. That is, the recording device12performs recording of characters, images, and the like onto the transported paper P by moving the carriage42in the scanning directions X and discharging the ink with the recording head43. The scanning X direction that intersects the transport Y direction corresponds to the lengthwise direction of the multifunction peripheral11.

A supply tube32in which an ink flows is connected to the recording section40. While one end of the supply tube32that extends into the case15is connected to the recording section40, the other end is connected to the liquid container30. That is, the recording section40and the liquid container30are connected via the supply tube32, and through the supply tube32, the ink stored in the liquid container30is supplied to the recording section40. Each supply tube32is connected to each corresponding liquid container30, however, for the sake of simplicity, only one supply tube32is shown.

As shown inFIG. 2andFIG. 3, the liquid container30disposed in the case15includes a liquid storage chamber33that stores an ink, and an injection port34that extends upward from the liquid storage chamber33in the vertical Z direction. The injection port34opens on an upper part of the liquid container30and communicates with the outside and inside (i.e., the liquid storage chamber33) of the liquid container30. That is, the liquid container30is configured such that an ink can be injected into the liquid storage chamber33via the injection port34. The liquid container30is provided at a position where the injection port34can be exposed from the case15of the recording device12. A plurality of plate-like rib members35are provided in the liquid storage chamber33. The ink stored in the liquid storage chamber33is supplied to the recording section40via the supply tube32by flowing along the rib members35, and thereby, the ink is agitated and ink stagnation in the liquid storage chamber33can be reduced.

A cover50that covers the injection ports34from above is provided at a position above the liquid containers30and opposite the injection ports34. A top view of the recording device12illustrates that the cover50can be opened or closed at two positions; an open position (seeFIG. 10) where the injection ports34of the liquid containers30are exposed and a closed position (seeFIGS. 2 and 3) where the injection ports34are not exposed.

The cover50has an exterior surface51that is a part of the exterior of the recording device12and is flush with the front surface of the case15when the cover50is positioned in the closed position. Blocking members52that make contact with and block the injection ports34are mounted to a surface of the cover50that faces the injection ports34when the cover50is in the closed position. That is, the surface of the cover50that faces the injection ports34inFIG. 3is a mounting surface53on which the blocking members52are mounted. The blocking member52is mounted on a protrusion54that protrudes downward from the mounting surface53. That is, the blocking member52is disposed between the cover50and the injection port34in the state the cover50is positioned in the closed position.

As shown inFIGS. 2, 4, and 5, a back surface of the box-shaped cover50opposite to the exterior surface51is open. A plurality of blocking members52that are mounted on the mounting surface53of the cover50may be provided to correspond to the number of liquid containers30accommodated in the case15(in this embodiment, two blocking members52are provided). In other words, a plurality of blocking members52corresponding to the number of the injection ports34provided for the liquid containers30is provided to the cover50, and one blocking member52blocks each corresponding injection port34. A plurality of protrusions54that protrude from the mounting surface53may be provided to correspond to the plurality of blocking members52(in this embodiment, two protrusions54are provided). The protrusion54has a cylindrical shape.

The blocking member52that is mounted on each corresponding protrusion54has a substantially hemispherical dome shape and is composed of an elastic member (for example, an elastomer such as a rubber) that can be elastically deformed (seeFIG. 3). The blocking members52are detachably mounted on the protrusions54.

A finger hook portion55for a user to place a finger on the portion is formed as a cutout on the surface opposite to the mounting surface53on which the blocking members52are mounted in the cover50. In other words, the surface on which the finger hook portion55is formed in the cover50serves as a finger hook formed surface56, and the finger hook portion55is formed at a central portion in the scanning X direction and close to the opening of the cover50on the finger hook formed surface56. The finger hook formed surface56has an inclined surface that is inclined from the finger hook portion55toward the exterior surface51.

As shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, in the scanning X directions, engaging portions57that protrude from the cover50toward one side and the other side respectively in the scanning X directions are formed at both ends of the cover50that has the finger hook portion55between the ends. The engaging portions57protrude, on both side surfaces of the cover50that has the finger hook formed surface56therebetween in the scanning X direction, from the positions opposite to the exterior surface51of the cover50and close to the finger hook formed surface56.

In addition, on both side surfaces of the cover50, a cylindrical shaft58that extends in the scanning X direction is provided at a diagonal position of the engaging portions57, that is, at a position close to the exterior surface51and close to the mounting surface53of the cover50.

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 6, a circular through hole, which serves as a bearing21for the shaft58, is formed in the case15at a position corresponding to the shaft58in the cover50, that is, at a position close to the front surface and an end portion (right end inFIG. 2) of the recording device12. The bearing21rotatably supports the shaft58such that the cover50can be rotatably supported about the shaft58with respect to the case15. In other words, the position of the cover50is changed from the closed position to the open position by rotating the cover50toward the front side of the multifunction peripheral11(seeFIG. 9andFIG. 10). A spiral spring59is provided around the shaft58of the cover50. The cover50is always urged by the spiral spring59in the direction from the open position toward the closed position.

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 7, a portion to be engaged22is formed such that the portion22extends from the case15toward the cover50at a position corresponding to the engaging portion57in the cover50, that is, at a position close to the front surface and an end portion (right end inFIG. 2) of the recording device12. The portion to be engaged22engages with the engaging portion57provided to the cover50in the vertical Z direction when the cover50is at the closed position. In other words, when the engaging portion57engages the portion to be engaged22, the positional change of the cover50that is in the closed position toward the open position is restricted.

Now, the operation of the multifunction peripheral11that has the above-described structure, specifically, the operation of the cover50that covers the injection ports34of the liquid containers30provided in the recording device12will be described. As shown inFIG. 8, the reading device13is configured such that the reading device13can be rotated with respect to the recording device12with the hinge section16to provide access to the inside of the case15for users, for example, to clear a paper jam or to perform maintenance in the recording device12. Consequently, if it is not necessary to access the inside of the recording device12, the reading device13is positioned at the closed position. The reading device13at the closed position comes into contact with the finger hook formed surface56of the cover50, which is positioned at the closed position to cover the injection ports34of the liquid containers30, from above and presses the cover50downward in the vertical Z direction. In conjunction with the downward pressing of the cover50, the blocking members52mounted on the mounting surface53of the cover50are also pressed downward. That is, the reading device13that is positioned at the closed position presses, through the cover50, the blocking members52provided on the cover50with respect to the injection ports34.

The blocking members52, which are composed of an elastic member that can be elastically deformed, are pressed against the injection ports34and come in close contact with the injection ports34to block the injection ports34with the increased sealing capability against the injection ports34. As shown inFIG. 6, the cover50is urged to press the blocking members52toward the injection ports34with the spiral spring59provided around the shaft58, and thereby the sealing capability of the blocking members52against the injection ports34can be further increased. Moreover, as shown inFIG. 7, in the cover50that is positioned at the closed position, the engaging portion57engages with the portion to be engaged22. Consequently, when the reading device13is positioned at the open position, the risk of unexpected change of the position of the cover50from its closed position to open position due to an impact from the outside can be reduced. That is, the blocked state of the injection ports34by the blocking members52can be maintained. The blocking of the injection ports34by the blocking members52reduces drying of the inks stored within the liquid storage chambers33in the liquid containers30, leakage of the inks from the injection ports34, mixing of dust into the liquid storage chambers33, and the like.

As shown inFIG. 3, the reading device13that is positioned at the closed position is moved to the open position to expose the inside of the case15if it is necessary to access the inside of the case15, for example, to clear a paper jam or to perform maintenance of the recording device12. Similarly, the reading device13is moved to the open position to inject an ink into the liquid container30.

As shown inFIG. 9andFIG. 10, to inject an ink into the liquid storage chamber33of the liquid container30, the reading device13is positioned at the open position and the cover50that has been positioned at the closed position is moved to the open position. To move the cover50to the open position, a user places a finger on the finger hook portion55and pulls the finger hook portion55toward the front side of the recording device12to rotate the cover50about the shaft58(bearing21) to expose the injection ports34of the liquid containers30. When the cover50is at the closed position, the engaging portion57engages with the portion to be engaged22, and if the cover50is pulled toward the front side of the recording device12with a predetermined force or more, the engaging portion57runs on the portion to be engaged22and thereby the engaging state between the engaging portion57and the portion to be engaged22is released.

In response to the movement of the cover50to the open position, the blocking members52that have been in contact with the injection ports34are separated from the injection ports34and the injection ports34are opened. That is, by the only single operation of opening the cover50, both the cover50that covers the injection ports34of the liquid containers30and the blocking members52that block the injection ports34are separated from the injection ports34and the injection ports34are opened, and thereby the inks can be injected into the liquid storage chambers33.

When the ink injection into the liquid containers30is completed, it is preferable to block the injection ports34with the blocking members52and cover the blocked injection ports34with the cover50to reduce drying of the inks and mixing of airborne dust into the inks in the liquid storage chambers33via the injection ports34. The blocking members52that can block the injection ports34are mounted on the cover50, and consequently, if a user tries to make the blocking members52come into contact with the injection ports34to block the injection ports34, the cover50is moved from the open position to the closed position in conjunction with the movement. That is, by the only single operation of closing the cover50, the cover50covers the injection ports34and the blocking members52come into contact with the injection ports34, and thereby the injection ports34are blocked. Consequently, in the recording device12provided in the multifunction peripheral11, the injection ports34can be opened or blocked in conjunction with the opening or closing operation of the cover50that covers the injection ports34of the liquid containers30.

According to the above-described embodiment, the following advantages can be achieved.

(1) The contact operation or the separation operation of the blocking members52for blocking the injection ports34are performed to the injection ports34in conjunction with the opening or closing operations of the cover50that covers the injection ports34of the liquid containers30. That is, the blocking members52can be separated from the injection ports34when a user opens the cover50, and consequently, the user is able to inject the inks into the liquid storage chambers33by only opening the cover50. Consequently, liquids can be injected into the liquid containers30without being laborious while the blocking members52for blocking the injection ports34provided on the liquid containers30that store the liquids and the cover50that covers the injection port34are provided.

(2) The blocking members52that are mounted on the mounting surface53of the cover50are detachable, and the blocking member52can be replaced as needed, for example, if the blocking member52has deteriorated.

(3) The blocking members52are capable of coming into contact in an elastically deformable manner with the injection ports34of the liquid containers30, and thereby the sealing capability of the blocking members52can be increased and the injection ports34can be appropriately blocked.

(4) The plurality of blocking members52that block the plurality of injection ports34respectively can be separated from the injection ports34in a single operation by opening the cover50, and thereby time and labor for injecting liquids into the plurality of liquid containers30can be reduced.

(5) The cover50can be more readily opened or closed by rotating the cover50about the shaft58compared with, for example, a structure in which a cover is opened or closed by sliding the cover.

(6) The risk of the cover50readily opening in response to an impact or vibrations can be reduced by the engagement of the engaging portion57with the portion to be engaged22.

(7) The amounts of inks remaining in the liquid storage chambers33can be checked through the viewing section19and the inks can be injected into the liquid containers30at an appropriate time.

(8) The sealing capability of the blocking members52to the injection ports34can be further increased by the spiral spring59.

(9) The upper limit of the ink the liquid storage chamber33can contain can be checked with the upper limit value31marked on the liquid container30. Consequently, the ink can be prevented from overflowing from the injection port34due to excessive ink injection when the ink is injected into the liquid storage chamber33via the injection port34.

(10) The liquid container30is disposed on the front surface side of the case15and at an end portion (inFIG. 1, the right end) in the scanning X direction in the rectangular parallelepiped case15. Consequently, the space in the case15can be efficiently used and the ink can be readily injected into the liquid container30.

The above-described embodiment may be modified as described below.

As shown inFIG. 11, in the above-described embodiment, the cover50may be opened or closed by rotating the cover50from the closed position where the blocking member52comes into contact with the injection port34toward the back surface of the recording device12about the shaft58.

As shown inFIG. 12, in the above-described embodiment, the cover50may be slid upward and downward along the bearing21that is long in the vertical Z direction in the case15such that the position of the cover50can be changed between the open position and the closed position.

As shown inFIG. 13, in the above-described embodiment, the injection port34provided to the liquid container30may be extended in a diagonally forward direction with respect to the recording device12. The cover50may have a plate-like shape, and is not limited to the cover50that has a specific shape.

As shown inFIG. 14, in the above-described embodiment, the blocking members52that are mounted on the cover50may be one blocking member52that can block a plurality of injection ports34. For example, one blocking member52that is long in the scanning X direction may be provided to block the plurality of injection ports34. With this structure, one blocking member52that blocks the plurality of injection ports34together can be simultaneously separated from all injection ports by opening the cover50, and thereby time and labor for injecting inks into the plurality of liquid containers30can be reduced.

As shown inFIG. 15, in the above-described embodiment, a plurality of covers50corresponding to the number of liquid containers30may be provided. Since one blocking member52can be mounted to one cover50, the injection port34of the liquid container30that requires ink injection can be exclusively opened and thereby, for example, drying of the inks and mixing of dust into the inks stored in the other liquid containers30that do not require ink injection can be reduced.

As shown inFIG. 16, in the above-described embodiment, the liquid container30may be accommodated in a liquid container holder70provided separately from the recording device12. The liquid container30accommodated in the liquid container holder70is connected to the supply tube32that extends through the recording device12.

In the above-described embodiment, the blocking members52may be plug members that are inserted into the injection ports34to block the injection ports34respectively.

In the above-described embodiment, the position of the cover50may be changed between the open position and the closed position by detachably providing the cover50with respect to the case15.

In the above-described embodiment, the cover50may be rotatably provided by providing the shaft58in the case15and providing the bearing21in the cover50.

In the above-described embodiment, the number of the liquid containers30provided in the recording device12is not limited to two, and alternatively, one or three or more liquid containers30may be provided. Furthermore, the number of the blocking members52provided on the cover50is not limited to two, and alternatively, one or three or more blocking members52may be provided.

In the above-described embodiment, the material used for the liquid containers30is not limited to the resin. The liquid container30may be made of a material that enables users at least to view the amounts of inks stored in the liquid storage chambers33in the liquid containers30so that the users can check the amounts of inks through the viewing section19.

In the above-described embodiment, the opening and closing member that is opened or closed such that the inside of the case15can be exposed is not limited to the reading device13that can read an image, and alternatively, a simple cover member may be used.

In the above-described embodiment, a part of the liquid containers30may be accommodated in the case15.

In the above-described embodiment, the recording section40is not limited to the serial head type in which the recording section40moves in the scanning X directions with respect to the paper P, and alternatively, a line head type in which the recording section40that is long in the scanning X directions is provided may be employed.

In the above-described embodiment, the recording device12may be a fluid ejection apparatus that ejects or discharges a fluid (for example, liquids, liquid materials containing particles of a functional material dispersed or mixed in a liquid, and fluid materials such as gels) other than inks for recording. For example, the recording device12may be a liquid material ejecting apparatus that ejects a liquid material containing a dispersed or dissolved material such as an electrode material or a color material (pixel material) used for manufacturing liquid crystal displays, electroluminescence (EL) displays, or field emission displays (FEDs) for recording. Alternatively, the recording device12may be a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects a fluid material such as a gel (for example, a physical gel). The present invention may be applied to any one of the fluid ejecting apparatuses. In this specification, “fluid” implies a concept that does not include fluids that consist of only gas, and the fluid includes, for example, liquids (including inorganic solvents, organic solvents, solutions, liquid resins, liquid metals (metallic melts), and the like), liquid materials, and fluid materials.

The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-166987, filed Aug. 26, 2015 is expressly incorporated by reference herein.