Installing fluid container in fluid ejection device

A fluid ejection device ejecting a fluid, the fluid ejection device includes: a fluid ejection unit; a fluid container; a delivery needle; and a guard cover. The fluid ejection unit ejects a fluid onto an ejection target. The fluid container includes a container portion and a withdrawal portion. The container portion contains a fluid for ejection, and the withdrawal portion allows withdrawal of the fluid contained in the container portion. The delivery needle sticks through the withdrawal portion to provide a flow passage which communicates with the fluid ejection unit. The guard cover projects over the delivery needle to prevent the withdrawal portion from approaching the delivery needle from a direction intersecting a center axis of the delivery needle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the priority based on Japanese Patent Applications No. 2007-162216 filed on Jun. 20, 2007 and No. 2008-134304 filed on May 22, 2008, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a fluid ejection device for ejecting a fluid, and particularly to a structure by which fluid-containing packs containing fluid for ejection are positioned within the fluid ejection device.

2. Related Art

Printers of ink jet format, which eject drops of ink onto thin sheets of a recording medium such as paper or plastic in order to record text or images thereon, are a representative type of fluid ejection device. Other types of fluid ejection devices include those adapted for use in display production systems employed in the production of liquid crystal displays, plasma displays, organic EL (Electro Luminescence) displays, field emission displays (FED), and the like, and used for ejecting various types of liquid materials to form coloring material, electrodes, etc. in the pixel regions or electrode regions.

A typical fluid ejection device is equipped with a carriage on which rides an ejection head for ejecting fluid onto an ejection target; the location for fluid ejection onto the ejection target is adjusted by moving either the carriage or the recording medium, or both. Where a fluid ejection device employs a system in which a container portion containing fluid for ejection is positioned apart from the carriage (known as an off-carriage system) it will be possible to reduce the load associated with driving the carriage. Patent Citation JP 2005-47258 A discloses such a printer of off-carriage type in which an ink cartridge containing ink packs is inserted into the printer unit.

SUMMARY

However, in the past, sufficient consideration was not given to a design able to accommodate fluid containers of larger capacity. For example, there were problems such as the difficulty of ensuring sufficient space within the unit between the fluid containers and other structures; and damage to other structures inside the unit due to operator error when installing the fluid container within the unit.

In view of the issues discussed above, it is an object of the invention to provide a fluid ejection device able to accommodate larger capacity fluid containers.

An advantage of some aspects of the invention is intended to address this issue at least in part, and can be reduced to practice as described below.

A fluid ejection device according to an aspect of the invention is a fluid ejection device ejecting a fluid, the fluid ejection device includes: a fluid ejection unit; a fluid container; a delivery needle; and a guard cover. The fluid ejection unit ejects a fluid onto an ejection target. The fluid container includes a container portion and a withdrawal portion. The container portion contains a fluid for ejection, and the withdrawal portion allows withdrawal of the fluid contained in the container portion. The delivery needle sticks through the withdrawal portion to provide a flow passage which communicates with the fluid ejection unit. The guard cover projects over the delivery needle to prevent the withdrawal portion from approaching the delivery needle from a direction intersecting a center axis of the delivery needle. According to the above-mentioned fluid ejection device, since the guard cover is disposed projecting out so as to cover the delivery needle, it is possible to prevent accidental damage to the delivery needle during securing of the fluid container to the container case.

A method of manufacturing according to an aspect of the invention is a method of manufacturing a fluid ejection device including a fluid ejection unit that ejects a fluid onto an ejection target, a delivery needle that provides a flow passage which communicates with the fluid ejection unit, and a guard cover that projects over the delivery needle, the method comprising: providing a fluid container that includes a container portion and a withdrawal portion, wherein the container portion contains a fluid for ejection, and the withdrawal portion allows withdrawal of the fluid contained in the container portion; and sliding the fluid container from a direction approximately aligned with a center axis of the delivery needle, toward a locking position where the delivery needle sticks through the withdrawal portion away from the guard cover. According to the above-mentioned method, since the guard cover is disposed projecting so as to cover the delivery needle, it is possible to prevent accidental damage to the delivery needle during securing of the fluid container to the container case.

The invention is not limited to being embodied as a fluid ejection device, and may be reduced to practice as a method for manufacture thereof, or other mode having a structure for accommodating fluid-containing packs. The invention should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth hereinabove, and naturally various modifications such as the following may be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention.

These and other objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A better understanding of the constitution and advantages of the invention set forth above will be provided through the following description of the invention embodied in a fluid ejection device. In the embodiment, a printer of ink-jet type will be described as an example representative of a picture recording device, as one embodiment of a fluid ejection device.

FIG. 1is an illustration depicting in simplified form the design of a printer10. The printer10is a printer of ink-jet type which records text and images by ejecting ink drops onto a recording medium, namely, printer paper900. The printer10includes a main chassis unit20which houses a printing mechanism section50constituting the fluid ejecting portion for ejecting ink drops onto the printer paper900; the main chassis unit20houses a paper feed tray12for loading into the interior of the main chassis unit20the printer paper900which is to be supplied to the printing mechanism section50, as well as a paper output tray14for guiding out from the main chassis unit20the printer paper90which has been discharged from the printing mechanism section50. The specifics of the design of the printing mechanism section50will be discussed later.

Also housed in the main chassis unit20is a controller section40for controlling the various parts of the printer10. In the embodiment, the controller section40includes ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits) furnished with hardware such as a central processing unit (CPU), read only memory (ROM), and random access memory (RAM). Software for accomplishing the various functions of the printer10is installed in the controller section40.

On the upper face of the main chassis unit20is installed an upper chassis unit30which constitutes the container case for accommodating a plurality of ink packs310which constitute the container portions respectively containing liquid inks of different colors. The upper chassis unit30is pivotably attached to the main chassis unit20so as to open and close about a rotation shaft350.

In the embodiment, the ink packs310take the form of flat bag portions of generally rectangular shape made of pliable sheeting and having generally elliptical cross section; a pack aperture60serving as the withdrawal opening from which ink may be withdrawn is provided on one of the short sides. The specific design of the pack aperture60will be discussed later. In the embodiment, the plurality of ink packs310are held stacked on an incline with one long side thereof upraised. In the embodiment, the upper chassis unit30accommodates four ink packs310for individual inks of the four colors black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. In an alternative embodiment, in a printer adapted to carry out printing with light cyan and light magenta in addition to these four colors for a total of six colors, the upper chassis unit30could be designed to accommodate six ink packs310for individual inks of six colors including the additional light cyan and light magenta.

The upper chassis unit30which constitutes the ink delivery unit for the printing mechanism section50has an ink delivery section330which connects to the ink packs310so as to enable ink to be dispensed from them. A delivery tube340which defines a fluid passage allowing the ink dispensed from the ink packs310to flow down to the printing mechanism section50connects with the ink delivery section330. The delivery tube340can be fabricated of material having gas barrier properties, for example, a thermoplastic elastomer such as an olefin or styrene.

FIG. 2is a sectional view depicting in simplified form the configuration of the printer10with the upper chassis unit30closed.FIG. 3is a sectional view depicting in simplified form the configuration of the printer10with the upper chassis unit30open.FIG. 4is a top view showing the interior of the upper chassis unit30. The upper chassis unit30has a lower housing360which constitutes the inside lower face of the upper chassis unit30; and an upper housing370which constitutes the inside top wall of the upper chassis unit30. Inside the lower housing360are disposed a plurality of holder guides362constituted in sections of the inside lower face defined by the lower housing360, and extending approximately parallel to the rotation shaft350and spaced at approximately equal intervals apart from one another. As shown inFIG. 3, in the embodiment, the upper part of the printing mechanism section50housed within the main chassis unit20will lie exposed by opening the upper chassis unit30.

As shown inFIG. 2, a plurality of holders380on which the ink packs310rest are provided as liquid containers within the upper chassis unit30. The holders380have inclined panels381which are inclined with respect to the holder guides362. The ink packs310are arranged resting against the upper faces of the inclined panels381of the holders380, with one side face of the flat bag which makes up the ink pack310in contact therewith. In the embodiment, the ink packs310are attached with double-sided tape on at least a portion of the face thereof contacting the inclined panel381of the holder380. In the lower section of the inclined panel381of the holder380there is formed a base section382which is fittable within the holder guide362. After the base section382has been fitted into the holder guide362, the holder380will be secured fastened to the lower housing360by fastening screws388,389which constitute the fastening components. The plurality of holders380are positioned in a row staggered along the inside lower face of the lower housing360, with the inclined panel381of one holder380overlapping the top of the ink pack310which rests on another holder situated adjacently in the direction of incline of the inclined panels381. As depicted inFIGS. 2 and 3, the inclined panels381of the holders380are inclined with respect to the holder guides362of the lower housing360, by an angle of incline θh enabling them to remain in contact with the ink packs310from below in the direction of gravity as the upper chassis unit30moves from the closed position to the open position. In the embodiment, the allowable rotation angle θc for opening and closing of the upper chassis unit30about the rotation shaft350is approximately 45 degrees, whereas the angle of incline θh of the inclined panels381with respect to the holder guides362is approximately 40 degrees.

As shown inFIG. 2, on the back face of the inclined panel381of each holder380is pendently disposed a back face reinforcing rib384having a tabular contour which extends along the ink pack310resting on the adjacent holder380. On the inside lower face of the lower housing360is disposed a holder reinforcing rib364of tabular contours which rises up to meet the bottom of the inclined panel381of the holder380situated at the end in the direction of incline of the inclined panels381in the row of holders380. In the embodiment, the upper part of the holder reinforcing rib364abuts the back face of the inclined panel381of this holder380. On the inside top wall of the upper chassis unit30is pendently disposed an end portion reinforcing rib374having a tabular contour which extends towards the upside of the ink pack310resting on the holder380situated at the end opposite from the direction of incline of the inclined panels381in the row of holders380. On the inside top wall of the upper chassis unit30is also pendently disposed a medial reinforcing rib of tabular contours which extends along the upside of the ink pack310resting on the holder380, along a zone sandwiched between two of the holders380. Also disposed on the inside top wall of the upper chassis unit30is a mating portion373which mates with the upper edge portion383of the inclined panel381of a holder380.

As shown inFIG. 4, the ink delivery section330has a guard cover332disposed covering the upside of the connector portions with the pack apertures60of the ink packs310. The guard cover332has openings333to permit insertion of a tool for tightening fastening screws388which fasten the holders380to the lower housing360.

FIG. 5is an illustration depicting fastening of holders380carrying ink packs310within the upper chassis unit30. In each of the holders380, a through hole386adapted for passage and engagement of a fastening screw388is formed at a location adjacent to the pack aperture60of the ink pack310, and a through hole387adapted for passage and engagement of a fastening screw388is formed at a location adjacent to the opposite end from the pack aperture60of the ink pack310. In the lower housing of the upper chassis unit30, at fastening locations where the holders380carrying the ink packs310are to be fastened, there are formed screw holes368for threadably engaging the fastening screws388passed through the through holes386of the holders380, as well as screw holes369for threadably engaging the fastening screws389passed through the through holes387of the holders380.

During the process of fastening the holders380carrying the ink packs310in the interior of the upper chassis unit30, first, the base portion382of the holder360carrying the ink pack310is fitted from above into one of the holder guides362of the lower housing360. Then, the holder380is slid along the holder guide towards a delivery needle321until the delivery needle321is threaded through the aperture of the ink pack310. The holder380is then fastened to the lower housing360with the fastening screws388,389.

FIG. 6is an illustration depicting an ink pack310prior to connection with the ink delivery section330, viewed in A-A cross section inFIG. 4.FIG. 7is an illustration depicting an ink pack310connected with the ink delivery section330, viewed in A-A cross section inFIG. 4. The delivery needles320, each of which has a hollow flow passage322communicating with the delivery tube340, are provided to the ink delivery section330. A first end of the delivery needle320has a tip324of tapered shape. A delivery channel326which communicates with the hollow flow passage322is formed in the tip324of the delivery needle320. The delivery channel326is formed from the tip of the delivery needle320to a side wall321which extends generally along the center axis of the delivery needle320. As shown inFIG. 7, the delivery channel326of the delivery needle320is defined by a vertical face326awhich extends generally along the center axis of the delivery needle320, and a lateral face326bwhich intersects the center axis of the delivery needle320. In the embodiment, the delivery channel326of the delivery needle320is formed with a cross shape (“+ (plus)” shape) having its intersection point at the center axis of the delivery needle320. In the embodiment, the delivery needle320is a resin component which has been integrally molded with the ink delivery section330using a mold.

The pack aperture60provided to each of the ink packs310is provided with a delivery aperture portion610having formed therein a delivery aperture612which communicates with the interior of the ink pack310. A cylindrical gasket640having a through hole642which mates intimately with the delivery needle320threaded through the delivery aperture612is disposed at the inlet of the delivery aperture612. The gasket640installed in the delivery aperture612is forced into the delivery aperture612by a cap620which fits onto the delivery aperture portion610.

A valve body630having a sealing face634that intimately attaches to the gasket640is housed within the delivery aperture612. The valve body630housed within the delivery aperture612is urged towards the gasket640from the interior of the delivery aperture612by a coil spring650which constitutes a resilient member, and seals off the through hole642of the gasket640. The valve body630is provided with a plurality of guides638disposed contacting the inside wall of the delivery aperture612generally along the center axis of the delivery aperture612; between the plurality of guides638are defined offset faces636which are offset from the inside face of the delivery aperture612. A mating face632adapted to mate with the tip324of the delivery needle320is formed on the valve body630on the side thereof which abuts the gasket640.

As shown inFIG. 7, when the delivery needle320is threaded through the through-hole642of the gasket640, with the tip324of the delivery needle320mated with the mating face632of the valve body630, the valve body630will be pushed inward towards the ink pack310within the delivery aperture612. During this process, since the delivery channel326of the delivery needle320has been formed so as to extend from the tip324to the side wall321and beyond the mating face632of the valve body630, the channel will now communicate with the delivery aperture612. The interior of the ink pack310will thereby be placed in communication with the hollow flow passage322of the delivery needle320, via the offset faces636of the valve body630and the delivery channel326of the delivery needle320.

FIG. 8is an illustration depicting a configuration of the printing mechanism section50of the printer10. The printing mechanism section50has a platen530of rectangular shape disposed in a printing area where ejection of ink drops onto the printer paper900will be carried out. The printer paper900is transported over the platen530by a paper feed mechanism (not shown). The printing mechanism section50also has a carriage80which is connected to the delivery tube340and which carries an ejection head810. The carriage80is moveably supported in the lengthwise direction of the platen530along a guide rod520, and is driven via a timing belt512by a carriage motor510which constitutes the carriage driving section. The carriage80thereby undergoes reciprocating motion in the lengthwise direction over the platen530. In the interior of the main chassis unit20, a home position where the carriage80waits in standby is provided in a nonprinting area away to one side of the printing area where the platen530is located. A maintenance mechanism section70for maintenance of the carriage80is disposed at this home position.

FIG. 9is a flowchart depicting a method of manufacturing the printer10. When installing the ink packs310in the printer10, first, the ink-filled ink packs310are positioned on the inclined panels381of the holders380(Step S110). The holders380carrying the ink packs310are then fitted into the holder guides362of the lower housing360, and the holders380are fastened to the lower housing360with the fastening screws388,389so that the plurality of holders380are arranged on the lower housing360(Step S120). Subsequently, the lower housing in which the plurality of holders380have been arranged is sealed with the upper housing370, whereby the plurality of ink packs310are housed in the interior of the main chassis unit30(Step S130).

According to the printer10of the embodiment described above, since the guard cover332is disposed projecting out over the delivery needle321, it is possible to prevent accidental damage to the delivery needle321when the holder380carrying the ink pack310is secured to the lower housing360. Additionally, by working through the openings333provided in the guard cover332the fastening screws388can be passed through the through holes386of the holders380and fastened into the screw holes386of the lower housing360, and thus while preventing accidental damage to the delivery needle321when the holder380carrying the ink pack310is secured to the lower housing360, the holder380can be secured to the lower housing360in the vicinity of connection between the delivery needle321and the pack aperture60.

Moreover, because by opening the upper chassis unit30it is possible to access parts of the main chassis unit20which are normally covered by the upper chassis unit30, the degree of freedom in positioning of the ink packs310can be improved. Moreover, because the upper chassis unit30is pivotably attached to the main chassis unit20allowing the top part of the printing mechanism section50to be opened or closed, the upper chassis unit30which houses the ink packs310can be utilized as the cover for the printing mechanism section50; and by opening the upper chassis unit30it will be possible to easily perform maintenance on the printing mechanism section50housed within the main chassis unit20.

Moreover, because the individual ink packs310respectively rest on the inclined panels381of the holders380, the plurality of ink packs310can be stacked and accommodated efficiently, while preventing the weight of ink packs310from bearing on neighboring ink packs310. Additionally, because the ink packs310are retained from below as the upper chassis unit30moves from the closed state to the open state, the ink packs310can be prevented from pushing with excessive force against neighboring holders380due to gravity.

Furthermore, by disposing the holder reinforcing rib364on the lower housing360, the holder380can be reinforced with respect to force acting in the direction of incline of the inclined panels381. Moreover, by disposing the end portion reinforcing rib374on the upper housing370, it will be possible to avoid excessive deformation of the ink pack310carried on the holder380which is situated at the end opposite the direction of incline of the inclined panels381. Additionally, by disposing the medial reinforcing rib376on the upper housing370, it will be possible to avoid excessive deformation at the upside of an ink pack310unsupported by the back face of the inclined panel381of the adjacent holder. Furthermore, because the upper edge portion383of the inclined panel381of the holder380mates with the mating portion373disposed on the upper housing370, it is possible to prevent the holder380from experiencing excessive deformation.

The foregoing description of the invention based on certain preferred embodiments should not be construed as limiting of the invention, and various modifications will of course be possible without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the upper chassis unit30need not be pivotably attached to the main chassis unit20, and the upper chassis unit30may instead by slidably attached to the main chassis unit20. With this design, the ink packs310can be housed in a more stable condition within the upper chassis unit30.

Another possible orientation of the holders380on the lower housing360is that depicted inFIG. 10wherein the holders380are arranged generally along the direction of the axis of the rotation shaft350. According to the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 10, because the individual ink packs310held in the upper chassis unit30are maintained at generally identical height as the upper chassis unit30moves from the closed state to the open state, generally identical pressure head can be maintained in the inks contained in the individual ink packs310. The ejection quality of the ink ejected from the ejection head810can be improved thereby. Alternatively, the holders380may be positioned with the direction of incline of the inclined panels381oriented towards the rotation shaft350as depicted inFIG. 11. According to the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 11, with the upper chassis unit30in the opened state the ink packs310rest in a more stable condition on the inclined panels381of the holders380, as compared with the arrangement of the holders380depicted inFIGS. 2 and 3in which the inclined panels381incline in the direction opposite from the rotation shaft350.

In the embodiment discussed previously, the guard cover332projects out so as to cover the entire delivery needle321; however, the guard cover could be provided with an opening at a location corresponding to the delivery needle321.

FIG. 12andFIG. 13illustrate the process of threading the pack aperture60of an ink pack310onto a delivery needle321in Alternative Embodiment 2. In Alternative Embodiment 2, a guard cover332ais disposed projecting from the ink delivery portion330so as to cover the delivery needles321, thereby preventing the pack aperture60from approaching any of the delivery needles321from a direction intersecting the center axis of the delivery needle321. As shown inFIG. 12, openings335awhich are narrower in width than the pack aperture60and which open approximately along the center axes of the delivery needles321are formed in the guard cover332a. In Alternative Embodiment 2, the openings335aare formed with notched shape opening towards the side for threading the pack aperture60onto the delivery needle321. In Alternative Embodiment 2, when the pack aperture60of an ink pack310carried in a holder380ais being threaded onto a delivery needle321, while verifying the location of the delivery needle321through the opening335ain the guard cover332aas depicted inFIG. 12, the pack aperture60is positioned facing the delivery needle321from a location away from the guard cover332aas depicted inFIG. 13. In Alternative Embodiment 2, the openings335ain the guard cover332aare of rectangular notch shape, but notches of triangular shape or semicircular shape for example would be acceptable as well, as long as the shape is one which permits verification of the location of the delivery needle321.

According to the printer10of Alternative Embodiment 2 described above, the location of the delivery needle321can be verified through the opening335ain the guard cover332a, while the guard cover332aprevents the ink pack310carried in the holder380afrom hitting the side of the delivery needle321, and it will accordingly be possible to prevent damage to the delivery needle321caused by the pack aperture60being threaded onto the delivery needle321while misaligned with the center axis of the delivery needle321.

In the preceding Alternative Embodiment 2, the openings335ain the guard cover332aare formed with notch shape, but the openings in the guard cover could instead be formed with window shape.

FIG. 14illustrates the process of threading the pack aperture60of an ink pack310onto a delivery needle321in Alternative Embodiment 3. In Alternative Embodiment 3, a guard cover332bis disposed projecting from the ink delivery portion330so as to cover the delivery needles321, thereby preventing the pack aperture60from approaching any of the delivery needles321from a direction intersecting the center axis of the delivery needle321. As shown inFIG. 14, openings335bwhich are narrower in width than the pack aperture60and which open approximately along the center axes of the delivery needles321are formed in the guard cover332b. In Alternative Embodiment 3, the openings335bare formed with window shape which is closed off towards the side for threading the pack aperture60onto the delivery needle321. In Alternative Embodiment 3, when the pack aperture60of an ink pack310carried in a holder380bis being threaded onto a delivery needle321, while verifying the location of the delivery needle321through the opening335bin the guard cover332bas depicted inFIG. 14, the pack aperture60is positioned facing the delivery needle321from a location away from the guard cover332b. In Alternative Embodiment 3, the openings335bin the guard cover332bare of rectangular window shape, but windows of triangular shape or elliptical shape for example would be acceptable as well, as would be a slit, as long as the shape is one allowing verification of the location of the delivery needle321.

According to the printer10of Alternative Embodiment 3 described above, the location of the delivery needle321can be verified through the opening335bin the guard cover332b, while the guard cover332bprevents the ink pack310carried in the holder380bfrom hitting the side of the delivery needle321, and it is accordingly possible to prevent damage to the delivery needle321caused by the pack aperture60being threaded onto the delivery needle321while misaligned with the center axis of the delivery needle321.

The embodiment discussed above was constituted such that damage to the delivery needle321is prevented by the guard cover332, while the guide638guides the pack aperture60in the direction of threading onto the delivery needle321; however, it would be possible for the guard cover to be endowed both with the function of preventing damage to the delivery needle321and the function of guiding the pack aperture60.

FIG. 15is a side view primarily showing a guard cover332cin Alternative Embodiment 4.FIG. 16is a sectional view primarily showing the contours of the guard cover332cin cross section B-B ofFIG. 15. In Alternative Embodiment 4, the guard cover332cis disposed so as to be mateable with the pack aperture60and to cover the delivery needle321, and is adapted both to prevent the pack aperture60from approaching any of the delivery needles321from a direction intersecting the center axis of the delivery needle321, while guiding the pack aperture60in a direction approximately aligned with the center axis of the delivery needle321, towards the locking position with the pack aperture60threaded onto the delivery needle321. In Alternative Embodiment 4, since the pack aperture60can be guided onto the delivery needle321by the guard cover332c, the guide638will not be required; however, it would be acceptable to provide both the guard cover332cand the guide638.

As shown inFIG. 16, in Alternative Embodiment 4 the guard cover332chas a shape resembling a round tube split in half in the axial direction and adapted to internally touch the outside edge of the pack aperture60. The guard cover332cmay have any shape provided that it is mateable with the pack aperture60, and may be modified appropriately depending on the outside edge shape of the pack aperture60.

FIG. 17andFIG. 18are sectional views primarily showing a guard cover in modification examples of Alternative Embodiment 4. The guard cover332dshown inFIG. 17is a modification of the guard cover332cshown inFIG. 16, having a “U” shaped cross section produced by extending the circumferential ends in tangential directions. The guard cover332eshown inFIG. 18has a shape resembling a square tube with four faces, from which the face situated below the pack aperture60has been removed.

According to Alternative Embodiment 4 discussed above, the pack aperture60can be guided to the locking location by the guard cover332cwhile the guard cover332cprevents the ink pack310carried in the holder380bfrom hitting the side of the delivery needle321, and it is accordingly possible to prevent damage to the delivery needle321caused by the pack aperture60being threaded onto the delivery needle321while misaligned with the center axis of the delivery needle321.

While the embodiment discussed previously relates to a printer in which the fluid containers carried on the holders380aare ink packs310, the fluid containers are not limited to ink packs310carried on the on the holders380a, and may instead be ink cartridges700which contain ink.FIG. 19is an illustration depicting threading of the withdrawal opening760of an ink cartridge700onto a delivery needle321in Alternative Embodiment 5. In Alternative Embodiment 5, as in the embodiment discussed previously, the ink cartridge700will be positioned with the withdrawal opening760facing the delivery needle321from a location away from the guard cover332, and the withdrawal opening760will then be threaded onto the delivery needle321.

The fluid targeted by the fluid ejection device of the invention is not limited to liquids such as the ink mentioned above, and various fluids such as metal pastes, powders, or liquid crystals may be targeted as well. The ink-jet recording device equipped with an ink-jet recording head for picture recording purposes like that described above is but one representative example of an fluid ejection device; the invention is not limited to recording devices of ink-jet type, and has potential implementation in printers or other picture recording devices; in coloring matter ejection devices employed in manufacture of color filters for liquid crystal displays and the like; in electrode material devices employed in formation of electrodes in organic EL (Electro Luminescence) displays or FED (Field Emission Displays); in liquid ejection devices for ejection of liquids containing bioorganic substances used in biochip manufacture; or in specimen ejection devices for precision pipette applications.

According to the aspect of the invention, the guard cover may include an opening portion that opens approximately along the center axis of the delivery needle in width narrower than the withdrawal portion. According to the above-mentioned fluid ejection device, the location of the delivery needle can be verified through the opening portion in the guard cover while the fluid container is prevented by the guard cover from hitting the side of the delivery needle, making it possible to prevent damage to the delivery needle caused by the withdrawal portion being threaded onto the delivery needle while misaligned with the center axis of the delivery needle.

According to the aspect of the invention, the guard cover may project over the delivery needle and mateably with the withdrawal portion, to prevent the withdrawal portion from approaching the delivery needle from a direction intersecting a center axis of the delivery needle, as well as to guide the withdrawal portion in a direction approximately aligned with the center axis of the delivery needle toward a locking position where the delivery needle sticks through the withdrawal portion. According to the above-mentioned fluid ejection device, as the fluid container is prevented by the guard cover from hitting the side of the delivery needle, the withdrawal portion can be guided to the locking position by the guard cover, making it possible to prevent damage to the delivery needle caused by the delivery needle passing through the withdrawal portion in a condition with the latter out of alignment with the center axis of the delivery needle.

According to the aspect of the invention, The fluid ejection device may further comprises a guide that mates with the fluid container at a location away from the guard cover, and then guides the withdrawal portion in a direction approximately aligned with the center axis of the delivery needle, toward a locking position where the delivery needle sticks through the withdrawal portion. According to the above-mentioned fluid ejection device, as the fluid container is prevented by the guard cover from hitting the side of the delivery needle, the withdrawal portion can be guided to the locking position by the guard cover, making it possible to prevent damage to the delivery needle caused by the delivery needle passing through the withdrawal portion in a condition with the latter out of alignment with the center axis of the delivery needle.