Patent Publication Number: US-2023132769-A1

Title: Tank and liquid droplet jetting apparatus connected to the same

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/175,902, filed Feb. 15, 2021, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/895,215, filed Jun. 8, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/376,384, filed Apr. 5, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/105,070, filed Aug. 20, 2018, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/726,787, filed Oct. 6, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/276,049 filed on Sep. 26, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/735,864 filed on Jun. 10, 2015, all of which further claim priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-121856 filed on Jun. 12, 2014 the disclosures of all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a tank configured to supply a liquid to liquid consuming section, and a liquid droplet jetting apparatus including the tank. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Conventionally, there is known an ink-jet printer, etc., as an example of a liquid consuming apparatus provided with a liquid consuming section configured to consume a liquid stored in a liquid storage chamber. For example, there is known an ink-jet printer provided with an ink tank which stores an ink, and a liquid jetting section which jets the ink supplied from the ink tank via a liquid delivery (lead-out) section. Further, the ink tank is configured such that the liquid can be replenished (refilled) to the ink tank from an inlet provided on the upper surface of a liquid container. 
     In the ink tank described above, the liquid lead-out section is arranged at a position over (on the upper side of) the bottom surface of the ink tank. Accordingly, in a case that the liquid level of the ink becomes lower than the position of the liquid lead-out section, there is such a possibility that air might enter into and mix with an ink flow channel extending from the ink tank and arriving at the liquid jetting section. It is difficult, however, to make a user recognize that the ink needs to be replenished or refilled in a state that the ink is still stored in the space between the liquid lead-out section and the bottom surface of the ink tank. 
     The present teaching has been made in view of the above-described circumstances; an object of the present teaching is to provide a tank which can be replenished with a liquid via an inlet, wherein any entering and mixing of the air with and into the liquid outflowed via an outlet port is suppressed. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect of the present teaching, there is provided a tank configured to store a liquid which is to be supplied to a liquid consuming section. The tank includes: a wall defining a liquid storage chamber configured to store the liquid, the wall including: an upper wall defining an upper end of the liquid storage chamber, a lower wall defining a lower end of the liquid storage chamber, and an erected wall which is provided between the upper wall and the lower wall and through which the liquid inside the liquid storage chamber is visible from outside of the tank; 
     an inlet which penetrates through the upper wall or the erected wall and via which the liquid is flowed into the liquid storage chamber; and 
     an outlet via which the liquid is allowed to flow out from the liquid storage chamber, 
     wherein the lower wall includes an upper stage wall making contact with the erected wall; a lower stage wall located at a position separated and away from the erected wall and below the upper stage wall; and 
     the outlet is disposed below the upper stage wall. The lower wall may further include a connecting wall connecting the upper and lower stage walls. 
     According to the above configuration, the situation that the liquid level of the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber is lowered as low as the position of the upper stage wall can be utilized to cause an user, who is visually observing the inside of the liquid storage chamber through the erected wall, to recognize the necessity for replenishing the liquid. Further, although the liquid is still stored in a space surrounded by the lower stage wall and the connecting wall, the outlet is disposed in this space. This makes it possible to suppress any mixing and entering of the air into the liquid which is flowed out via the outlet. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1 A  and  FIG.  1 B  are external perspective views of a multi-function peripheral  10 , wherein  FIG.  1 A  depicts a state that a cover  70  is closed, and  FIG.  1 B  depicts a state that the cover  70  is open. 
         FIG.  2    is a vertical cross-sectional view schematically depicting the internal structure of a printer unit  11 . 
         FIG.  3    is a plan view depicting the arrangement of a carriage  23  and an ink tank  100 . 
         FIG.  4    is a front perspective view of the ink tank  100 . 
         FIG.  5    is a rear perspective view of the ink tank  100 . 
         FIG.  6    is a cross-sectional view along a line VI-VI in  FIG.  4   . 
         FIG.  7    is a cross-sectional perspective view along a line VII-VII in  FIG.  4   . 
         FIG.  8    is right side view of the ink tank  100 . 
         FIG.  9 A  is a cross-sectional view along a line IXA-IXA in  FIG.  8   , and  FIG.  9 B  is a cross-sectional view along a line IXB-IXB in  FIG.  8   . 
         FIG.  10    is a cross-sectional view of an ink chamber  111 B as viewed at a position of an inlet  112 B. 
         FIGS.  11 A and  11 B  are views illustrating the positional relationship between a partition wall  135 B and an upper limit indicating line  138 , wherein  FIG.  11 A  is a front view of the ink tank  100  at a position of the ink chamber  111 B, and  FIG.  11 B  is a perspective view of the longitudinal cross-section of the ink chamber  111 B. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     An embodiment of the present teaching will be described below. Note that, however, the embodiment described below is merely an example of the present teaching; it goes without saying that it is possible to make any appropriate changes in the embodiment of the present teaching without departing from the gist and scope of the present teaching. In the following description, upward and downward are each a component of an up-down direction  7  and are opposite to each other; leftward and rightward are each a component of a left-right direction  9  and are opposite to each other; and frontward and rearward are each a component of a front-rear direction  8  and are opposite to each other. Further, in the embodiment, the up-down direction  7  corresponds to the vertical direction, and each of the front-rear direction  8  and the left-right direction  9  corresponds to the horizontal direction. 
     Furthermore, the up-down direction  7  is defined with a state that a multi-function peripheral  10  is usably installed or a posture in which the multi-function peripheral  10  is usably installed, as the reference. Note that the state that the multi-function periphery  10  is usably installed as depicted in  FIG.  1 A  will be referred to as a “usable state”. Moreover, the posture in which the multi-function peripheral  10  is usably installed as depicted in  FIG.  1 A  will be referred to as a “usable posture”. Further, the front-rear direction  8  is defined such that a side on which an opening  13  of the multi-function peripheral  10  is provided is designated as the frontward side (front surface or front side), and the left-right direction  9  is defined as viewing the multi-function peripheral  10  from the frontward side (front surface). The front-rear direction  8  is an example of a first direction, and the left-right direction  9  is an example of a second direction. 
     &lt;Overall Configuration of Multi-function Peripheral  10 &gt; 
     As depicted in  FIGS.  1 A and  1 B , the multi-function peripheral  10  is formed to have a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The multi-function peripheral  10  includes, at a lower portion of the casing of the multi-function peripheral  10 , a printer unit  11  which records an image onto a paper  12  (see  FIG.  2   ) by an ink-jet recording method. As depicted in  FIG.  2   , the printer unit  11  includes a feeding section  15 , a feeding tray  20 , a discharge tray  21 , a conveyance roller section  54 , a recording section  24 , a discharge roller section  55 , a platen  42 , and an ink tank  100  (an example of a tank). Further, the multi-function peripheral  10  has various functions such as a facsimile function and a print function. The multi-function peripheral  10  is an example of a liquid discharge apparatus or a liquid consuming apparatus. 
     &lt;Feeding Tray  20 , Discharge Tray  21 &gt; 
     As depicted in  FIGS.  1 A and  1 B , the feeding tray  20  is inserted into and removed from the multi-function peripheral  10  by a user, in the front-rear direction  8  through the opening  13 . The opening  13  is formed in a central portion in the left-right direction  9  of the front surface of the multi-function peripheral  10 . The feeding tray  20  is capable of supporting a plurality of sheets of the paper  12  that are stacked in the feeding tray  20 . The discharge tray  21  is arranged at a position at the upper side of the feeding tray  20 , and is inserted or removed together with the feeding tray  20 . The discharge tray  21  supports the paper  12  discharged through a space between the recording section  24  and the platen  42  by the discharge roller section  55 . 
     &lt;Feeding Section  15 &gt; 
     The feeding section  15  feeds the paper  12  supported by the feeding tray  20  to a conveyance route  65 . As depicted in  FIG.  2   , the feeding section  15  includes a feeding roller  25 , a feeding arm  26 , and a shaft  27 . The feeding roller  25  is rotatably supported by the feeding arm  26  at a front end thereof. The feeding roller  25  rotates in a direction for causing the paper  12  to be conveyed in a conveyance direction  16  when a conveyance motor (not depicted in the drawings) is reversely rotated. In the following description, the rotations of the feeding roller  25 , a conveyance roller  60 , and a discharge roller  62  in the direction for causing the paper  12  to be conveyed in the conveyance direction  16  are each referred to as “normal rotation”. The feeding arm  26  is pivotably supported by the shaft  27  supported by the frame of the printer unit  11 . A bias is applied to the feeding arm  26  by an elastic force of a spring or by the self-weight of the feeding arm  26  such that the feeding arm  26  is pivoted and urged toward the feeding tray  20 . 
     &lt;Conveyance Route  65 &gt; 
     As depicted in  FIG.  2   , in the interior of the printer unit  11 , a space is defined by an outer guide member  18  and an inner guide member  19  which are arranged to face with each other with a predetermined gap intervened therebetween. This space constructs a portion of a conveyance route  65 . The conveyance route  65  is a route or path that is extended from a rear-end portion of the feeding tray  20  toward the rear side of the printer unit  11 . Further, the conveyance route  65  makes a U-turn while being extended from the lower side to the upper side, at the rear side of the printer unit  11 ; and then the conveyance route  65  reaches the discharge tray  21  via a space between the recording section  24  and the platen  42 . As depicted in  FIGS.  2  and  3   , a portion of the conveyance route  65  between the conveyance roller section  54  and the discharge roller section  55  is provided at a substantially central portion in the left-right direction  9  of the multi-function peripheral  10 , and is extended in the front-rear direction  8 . Note that in  FIG.  2   , the conveyance direction  16  of the paper  12  in the conveyance route  65  is indicated by an arrow of a dashed-dotted line. 
     &lt;Conveyance Roller Section  54 &gt; 
     As depicted in  FIG.  2   , the conveyance roller section  54  is arranged at the upstream side of the recording head  24  in the conveyance direction  16 . The conveyance roller section  54  includes the conveyance roller  60  and a pinch roller  61  which are facing each other. The conveyance roller  60  is driven by a conveyance motor. The pinch roller  61  rotates following the rotation of the conveyance roller  60 . The paper  12  is conveyed in the conveyance direction  16  by being pinched between the conveyance roller  60  and the pinch roller  61  which are rotated positively by the normal rotation of the conveyance motor. 
     &lt;Discharge Roller Section  55 &gt; 
     As depicted in  FIG.  2   , the discharge roller section  55  is arranged at the downstream side of the recording head  24  in the conveyance direction  16 . The discharge roller section  55  includes the discharge roller  62  and a spur  63  which are facing each other. The discharge roller  62  is driven by the conveyance motor. The spur  63  rotates following the rotation of the discharge roller  62 . The paper  12  is conveyed in the conveyance direction  16  by being pinched between the discharge roller  62  and the spur  63  which are rotated positively by the normal rotation of the conveyance motor. 
     &lt;Recording Section  24 &gt; 
     As depicted in  FIG.  2   , the recording section  24  is arranged between the conveyance roller section  54  and the discharge roller section  55  in the conveyance direction  16 . Further, the platen  42  and the recording section  24  are arranged to face each other in the up-down direction  7 , while sandwiching the conveyance route  65  therebetween. Namely, the recording section  24  is arranged at a position at which the recording section  24  is located above the conveyance route  65  in the up-down direction  7  and at which the recording section  24  faces the conveyance route  65 . The recording section  24  includes a carriage  23  and a recording head  39  (an example of a head or a liquid consuming section). 
     As depicted in  FIG.  3   , the carriage  23  is supported by guide rails  43  and  44  which are extended respectively in the left-right direction  9 , at positions separated respectively in the front-rear direction  8 . The guide rails  43  and  44  are supported by the frame of the printer unit  11 . The carriage  23  is connected to a known belt mechanism disposed on the guide rail  44 . The belt mechanism is driven by a carriage motor (not depicted in the drawings). Namely, the carriage  23  connected to the belt mechanism reciprocates in the left-right direction  9  by being driven by the carriage motor. As depicted by alternate long and short dash lines in  FIG.  3   , the range of movement of the carriage  23  spans beyond the left and right end sides of the conveyance route  65  in the left-right direction  9 . 
     Further, an ink tube  32  which connects the ink tank  100  and the recording head  39  and a flexible flat cable  33  which electrically connects the recording head  39  and a control circuit board having a controller (not depicted in the drawings) mounted thereon are extended from the carriage  23 . The ink tube  32  supplies an ink stored in the ink tank  100  to the recording head  39 . More specifically, four ink tubes  32 B,  32 M,  32 C, and  32 Y via which inks of respective colors (which are, for example, black, magenta, cyan, and yellow colors) are distributed are extended from the ink tank  100 , and are connected to the carriage  23  in a bundled form. In the following description, these four ink tubes  32 B,  32 M,  32 C, and  32 Y will be collectively referred to as “ink tube(s)  32 ” in some cases. The flexible flat cable  33  transmits a control signal outputted from the controller to the recording head  39 . 
     As depicted in  FIG.  2   , the recording head  39  is installed on the carriage  23 . A plurality of nozzles  40  is formed in the lower surface of the recording head  39 . End portions (tip portions) of the nozzles  40  are exposed from the lower surface of the recording head  39  and from the lower surface of the carriage  23  on which the recording head  39  is installed. In the following description, the surface through which the end portions of the nozzles  40  are exposed will be referred to as a “nozzle surface” in some cases. The recording head  39  jets or discharges the ink as fine ink droplets (minute ink droplets) through the nozzles  40 . In a process of movement of the carriage  23 , the recording head  39  jets the ink droplets toward the paper  12  supported by the platen  42 . Accordingly, an image, etc. is recorded on the paper  12 . 
     &lt;Platen  42 &gt; 
     As depicted in  FIGS.  2  and  3   , the platen  42  is arranged between the conveyance roller section  54  and the discharge roller section  55  in the conveyance direction  16 . The platen  42  is arranged so as to face the recording section  24  in the up-down direction  7 , and supports the paper  12 , conveyed by the conveyance roller section  54 , from therebelow. 
     &lt;Ink Tank  100 &gt; 
     As depicted in  FIGS.  1 A and  1 B , the ink tank  100  is accommodated in the multi-function peripheral  10 . The ink tank  100  is fixed to the multi-function peripheral  10  such that the ink tank  100  cannot be easily removed from the multi-function peripheral  10 . More specifically, the ink tank  100  is accommodated in the inside of the multi-function peripheral  10  through an opening  22  formed in the front surface of the casing of the multi-function peripheral  10 , at the right end of the front surface in the left-right direction  9 . The opening  22  is adjacent to the opening  13  in the left-right direction  9 . Note that, however, the front surface (a portion of a base wall  101 A and a portion of an inclined wall  101 B which will be described later on) of the ink tank  100  is located in front of (ahead of) the opening  22  in the front-rear direction  8  (more specifically, located in front of a portion of the front wall of the casing defining the opening  22 ). 
     Further, the multi-function peripheral  10  is provided with a box-shaped cover  70  capable of covering the front surface, of the ink tank  100 , located in front of the opening  22 . The cover  70  is pivotable between a cover position at which the cover  70  covers the opening  22  and the front surface of the ink tank  100  (see  FIG.  1 A ), and an exposure position at which the cover  70  allows the opening  22  and the front surface of the ink tank  100  to be exposed to the outside of the multi-function peripheral  10  at which the cover  70  does not cover the opening  22  and the front surface of the ink tank  100  (see  FIG.  1 B ). The cover  70  in this embodiment is supported by the casing of the multi-function peripheral  10  to be pivotable about a pivot shaft extended in the left-right direction  9  at a lower end portion in the up-down direction  7 . 
     As depicted in  FIGS.  4  and  5   , the ink tank  100  has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The ink tank  100  has a front wall  101 , a right wall  102 , a left wall  103 , an upper wall  104 , and a lower wall  105 . On the other hand, the rear surface of the ink tank  100  is released or uncovered. Further, by fixing a film  106  by welding to rear-end surfaces of the right wall  102 , the left wall  103 , the upper wall  104  and the lower wall  105 , the rear surface of the ink tank  100  is sealed. Namely, the film  106  forms the rear wall of the ink tank  100 . The ink tank  100  having the above-described configuration is formed or shaped as an integrated part or component by, for example, performing injection-molding with a resin material. For example, the inner shape or profile of the ink tank  100  (to be described later on) is defined by an unillustrated mold (metal mold) which is pulled out in the rearward direction from the open or uncovered rear surface of the ink tank  100 . 
     The upper wall  104  defines or demarcates the upper end of an ink chamber  111  in the up-down direction  7 . The front wall  101 , the right wall  102  and the left wall  103  each as an example of the erected wall are provided upstandingly between the upper wall  104  and the lower wall  105  in a direction crossing the upper and lower walls  104  and  105 . Further, each of the walls  101  to  105  has at least light transmittance or translucency to such an extent that the ink inside the ink chamber  111  is visible (visually observable or recognizable) from the outside of the ink tank  100 . The front wall  101  which defines the front end of the ink chamber  111  (an example of an end of the ink chamber  111  in the first direction) is constructed of a base wall  101 A extending from the lower wall  105  substantially in the up-down direction  7  and an inclined wall  101 B which is connected or continued to the upper end of the base wall  101 A and which is inclined relative to the up-down direction  7  and the front-rear direction  8 . The inclined wall  101 B is inclined rearward relative to the base wall  101 A. Further, the front wall  101  has a lower limit indicating line  141  and information signs  139  and  142  which are formed on the front wall  101 . 
     An upper limit indicating line  138  is a line for instructing, to an user, a position to be defined as the upper limit of the liquid level of the ink to be charged into the ink chamber  111  via an inlet  112 . The upper limit indicating line  138  is extended substantially linearly along the left-right direction  9 . Note that in this specification, in a case that “. . . extends/extend in a certain direction”, there is no limitation to such a state of being completely matching with the certain direction, but a difference to some extent is allowable. The information sign  139  is a sign for informing the purpose of the upper limit indicating line  138 . The information sign  139  of the embodiment is an equilateral triangle wherein one of the apexes is oriented upward in the vertical direction. Note that, however, the specific shape of the information sign  139  is not limited to this. For example, wordings such as “Full”, “100”, etc., may be used in such a manner that the user can understand that the upper limit indicating line  138  informs a position to be designated as the upper limit of the liquid level of the ink. 
     The lower limit indicating line  141  is a line for instructing, to the user, a position to be defined as the lower limit of the liquid level of the ink to be stored in the ink chamber  111 . The lower limit indicating line  141  is extended substantially linearly along the left-right direction  9 . The information sign  142  is a sign for informing the purpose of the lower limit indicating line  141 . The information sign  142  of the embodiment is an equilateral triangle wherein one of the apexes is oriented downward in the vertical direction. Note that, however, the specific shape of the information sign  142  is not limited to this. For example, wordings such as “Empty”, “0 (zero)”, etc., may be used in such a manner that the user can understand that the lower limit indicating line  141  informs a position to be maintained as the lower limit of the liquid level of the ink to be charged in the ink chamber  111 . 
     The lower wall  105  defines the lower end of the ink chamber  111  in the up-down direction  7 . As depicted in  FIG.  7   , the lower wall  105  is constructed of an upper stage wall  145 , a lower stage wall  146  and a connecting wall  147 . The upper stage wall  145  makes contact with the inner surface of the front wall  101  (more specifically, the inner surface of the base wall  101 A). The lower stage wall  146  makes contact with the inner surface of the film  106 . The lower stage wall  146  is located at a position below the upper stage wall  145  and rearward of the upper stage wall  145 . Namely, the lower stage wall  146  is arranged at a position separated and away from the base wall  101 A. The connecting wall  147  connects the upper stage wall  145  and the lower stage wall  146  between the upper and lower stage walls  145 ,  146  in the front-rear direction  8 . Specifically, the upper end of the connecting wall  147  is connected to the rear end of the upper stage wall  145  and the lower end of the connecting wall  147  is connected to the front end of the lower stage wall  146 . 
     A base end portion  148 B of an upper stage wall  145 B extends along the left-right direction  9  in the entire area of an ink chamber  111 B (to be described below). Further, the upper stage wall  145 B extends in the horizontal direction from the base end portion  148 B, namely, extends in a direction orthogonal to the base wall  101 A of the front wall  101 . Further, the base end portion  148 B can be visible from the outside of the ink tank  100  through the front wall  101  having the light transmittance or translucency. Furthermore, the base end portion  148 B of the embodiment functions as the lower limit indicating line  141 . Namely, in the embodiment, the position of the base end portion  148 B and the position of the lower limit indicating line  141  in the up-down direction  7  coincide with each other. On the other hand, the information sign  142  is drawn on the outer surface of the front wall  101 . Here, the term “the information sign  142  is drawn” or “draw the information sign  142 ” includes, for example, printing the information sign  142  on the outer surface of the front wall  101 , adhering a tape, etc. which serves as the information sign  142  onto the outer surface of the front wall  101 , and the like. 
     &lt;Ink Chamber  111 &gt; 
     As depicted in  FIG.  5   , a plurality of partition walls  107 ,  108  and  109  which define or demarcate the internal space of the ink tank  100  is provided in the interior of the ink tank  100 . Each of the partition walls  107 ,  108  and  109  is extended in the up-down direction  7  and the front-rear direction  8 , and is connected to the front wall  101 , the upper wall  104 , the lower wall  105  and the film  106 . Further, the partition walls  107 ,  108  and  109  are disposed to be separated and away from one another in the left-right direction  9 . As a result, the internal space of the ink tank  100  is partitioned into four ink chambers  111 B,  111 M,  111 C and  111 Y that are adjacent in the left-right direction  9 . The ink chamber  111  is an example of a liquid storage chamber for storing ink to be jetted through the nozzles  40 . The right wall  102  is an example of a side wall defining the right end of the ink chamber  111 B, and the left wall  103  is an example of a side wall defining the left end of the ink chamber  111 Y. 
     The ink chamber  111 B is a space demarcated by the front wall  101 , the right wall  102 , the upper wall  104 , the lower wall  105 , the film  106  and the partition wall  107 . The ink chamber  111 M is a space demarcated by the front wall  101 , the upper wall  104 , the lower wall  105 , the film  106  and the partition walls  107  and  108 . The ink chamber  111 C is a space demarcated by the front wall  101 , the upper wall  104 , the lower wall  105 , the film  106  and the partition walls  108  and  109 . The ink chamber  111 Y is a space demarcated by the front wall  101 , the left wall  103 , the upper wall  104 , the lower wall  105 , the film  106  and the partition wall  109 . 
     In the following description, the ink chambers  111 B,  111 M,  111 C, and  111 Y are collectively referred to as “ink chamber(s)  111 ” in some cases. Further, reference numerals having different alphabetic suffixes (B, M, C, and Y) are assigned to four components provided while corresponding to the ink chambers  111 B,  111 M,  111 C and  111 Y, respectively; in a case that these components are collectively referred to, then these components are assigned with a reference numeral(s) while omitting the respective alphabetic suffixes, in some cases. 
     Inks of different colors are stored in the ink chambers  111 , respectively. Specifically, black ink is stored in the ink chamber  111 B, cyan ink is stored in the ink chamber  111 C, magenta ink is stored in the ink chamber  111 M, and yellow ink is stored in the ink chamber  111 Y. Each of the color inks is an example of a liquid. However, the number of ink chambers  111  and the colors of the inks are not restricted to the number and the colors in the above-described example. The ink chambers  111  are arranged along the left-right direction  9 . Further, among the four ink chambers  111 B,  111 M,  111 C and  111 Y, the ink chamber  111 B is arranged at the rightmost side and the ink chamber  111 Y is arranged at the leftmost side. Furthermore, the ink chamber  111 B has a volume larger than the any other ink chambers  111 M,  111 C and  111 Y. 
     &lt;Inlet  112 &gt; 
     The inclined wall  101 B of the ink tank  100  is provided with inlets  112 B,  112 M,  112 C, and  112 Y (hereinafter, collectively referred to as “inlet(s)  112 ”) for allowing the inks to flow into the ink chambers  111 , respectively. The inlet  112  penetrates through the inclined wall  101 B in a direction of the thickness of the inclined wall  101 B, and makes the corresponding ink chamber  111  communicate with the outside of the ink tank  100 . The inner surface of the inclined wall  101 B faces the ink chamber  111 , and the outer surface of the inclined wall  101 B faces the outside of the ink tank  100 . The inclined wall  101 B is inclined such that the outer surface thereof is located at a position above the inner surface of the inclined wall  101 B. Consequently, the inlet  112  allows the ink chamber  111  and the outside of the ink tank  100  to directly communicate with each other. Namely, between the inlet  112  and the ink chamber  111 , there is no channel which is bent or curved and which has a cross-sectional area smaller than the cross-sectional area of the inlet  112 . Further, it is allowable that the inlet  112  is formed in the upper wall  104 , rather than in the inclined wall  101 B. 
     The inclined wall  101 B and the inlet  112  provided on the inclined wall  101 B are exposed to the outside of the multi-function peripheral  10  when the cover  70  is positioned at the exposure position as depicted in  FIG.  1 B . Further, the inlet  112  is formed on the inclined wall  101 B to be in front of the opening  22 . In the present embodiment, the posture of the ink tank  100  when the ink is refilled into the ink chamber  111  through the inlet  112  (refilling posture) coincides with the posture of the ink tank  100  when the multi-function peripheral  10  is in the usable posture. Namely, when the multi-function peripheral  10  is in the usable posture, the ink is refilled into the ink chamber  111  through the inlet  112 . 
     The ink tank  100  has caps  113 B,  113 M,  113 C and  113 Y (hereinafter collectively referred to as “cap(s)  113 ”) that are detachably attached with respect to the inlets  112 . As depicted in  FIG.  1 A , the cap  113  attached to the inlet  112  blocks or closes the inlet  112  by making a tight contact with the periphery of the inlet  112 . On the other hand, as depicted in  FIG.  1 B , in a case that the cap  113  is removed from the inlet  112 , the inlet  112  is open or released. The cap  113  is attached to and removed or detached from the inlet  112  in a state that the cover  70  is located at the exposed position. Further, by removing the cap  113  from the inlet  112 , the ink can be refilled into the ink chamber  111  via the inlet  112 . 
     Further, as depicted in  FIG.  1 A , the cover  70  has an opening penetrating through a central portion of the cover  70  in the thickness direction thereof. Furthermore, the upper limit indicating line  138 , the lower limit indicating line  141  and the information signs  139 ,  142  disposed on the front wall  101  of the ink tank  100  are exposed to be visible from the outside of the multi-function peripheral  10  via the opening of the cover  70  located at the cover position. 
     &lt;Ink Outflow Channel  114 &gt; 
     Ink outflow channels  114 B,  114 M,  114 C and  114 Y (hereinafter collectively referred to as “ink outflow channel(s)  114 ”; an example of a liquid outflow channel) are connected to the ink chambers  111 , respectively, as depicted in  FIGS.  6  to  9 B . The ink outflow channel  114  is a channel that allows the ink stored in the corresponding ink chamber  111  to flow out from the ink tank  100 . The ink outflow channel  114  in the embodiment is a channel extending from the corresponding ink chamber  111  and arriving up to the right side surface of the ink tank  100  (namely, the outer surface of the right wall  102 ). Further, an opening  115  (to be described below) is an example of an outlet (outflow port) allowing the ink to outflow from the ink chamber  111 . 
     As depicted in  FIG.  7   , the ink outflow channel  114 Y communicates with the ink chamber  111 Y through an opening  115 Y provided near the lower end of the partition wall  109  which demarcates the right surface of the ink chamber  111 Y. The opening  115 Y is formed in the partition wall  109  at a location surrounded by the lower stage wall  146 Y and the connecting wall  147 Y (more specifically, at a location below the upper stage wall  145 Y and between the connecting walls  147 Y and  147 C in the front-rear direction  8 ). Further, as depicted in  FIG.  8   , the ink outflow channel  114 Y reaches the right side surface of the ink tank  100  through an opening  116 Y provided on the right wall  102 . More specifically, as depicted in  FIG.  9 A , the ink outflow channel  114 Y is formed to extend rightward along the left-right direction  9  from the opening  115 Y at a location in front of the ink chambers  111 B,  111 M and  111 C, and reaches the opening  116 Y penetrating through the right wall  102  (namely, reaches the right side surface of the ink tank  100 ). 
     As depicted in  FIG.  7   , the ink outflow channel  114 C communicates with the ink chamber  111 C through an opening  115 C provided near the lower end of the partition wall  108  which demarcates the right surface of the ink chamber  111 C. The opening  115 C is formed in the partition wall  108  at a location surrounded by the lower stage wall  146 C and the connecting wall  147 C (more specifically, at a location below the upper stage wall  145 C and between the connecting walls  147 C and  147 M in the front-rear direction  8 ). Further, as depicted in  FIG.  8   , the ink outflow channel  114 C reaches the right side surface of the ink tank  100  through an opening  116 C provided on the right wall  102 . More specifically, as depicted in  FIG.  9 A , the ink outflow channel  114 C is formed to extend rightward along the left-right direction  9  from the opening  115 C at a location in front of the ink chambers  111 B and  111 M, and reaches the opening  116 C penetrating through the right wall  102 . 
     As depicted in  FIG.  7   , the ink outflow channel  114 M communicates with the ink chamber  111 M through an opening  115 M provided near the lower end of the partition wall  107  which demarcates the right surface of the ink chamber  111 M. The opening  115 M is formed in the partition wall  107  at a location surrounded by the lower stage wall  146 M and the connecting wall  147 M (more specifically, at a location below the upper stage wall  145 M and between the connecting walls  147 M and  147 B in the front-rear direction  8 ). Further, as depicted in  FIG.  8   , the ink outflow channel  114 M reaches the right side surface of the ink tank  100  through an opening  116 M provided on the right wall  102 . More specifically, as depicted in  FIG.  9 A , the ink outflow channel  114 M is formed to extend rightward along the left-right direction  9  from the opening  115 M at a location in front of the ink chamber  111 B, and reaches the opening  116 M penetrating through the right wall  102 . 
     As depicted in  FIG.  7   , the ink outflow channel  114 B communicates with the ink chamber  111 B through an opening  115 B provided near the boundary between the right wall  102  and the lower wall  105  which demarcate the right surface and the bottom surface, respectively, of the ink chamber  111 B. The opening  115 B is formed in the connecting wall  147 B at a location surrounded by the lower stage wall  146 B and the connecting wall  147 B (more specifically, at a location below the upper stage wall  145 B and behind the connecting wall  147 B). A partition wall  110  crossing the inflow direction in which the ink is allowed to inflow into the opening  115 B (namely, downward in the up-down direction  7 ) is provided at a position above the opening  115 B. Further, as depicted in  FIG.  8   , the ink outflow channel  114 B reaches the right side surface of the ink tank  100  through an opening  116 B provided on the right wall  102 . 
     As depicted in  FIG.  6   , the ink outflow channel  114 B is formed to extend frontward from the opening  115 B along the front-rear direction  8 , and reaches the opening  116 B through the right wall  102  at a position in front of the ink outflow channels  114 M,  114 C and  114 Y. Further, the ink outflow channel  114 B extended in the front-rear direction  8  crosses the ink outflow channels  114 M,  114 C, and  114 Y extended in the left-right direction  9 . More specifically, the ink outflow channel  114 B is extended frontward at a position below the ink outflow channels  114 M,  114 C and  114 Y extended in the left-right direction  9 . 
     Note that as depicted in  FIG.  7   , a connecting wall  147  included in the connecting walls  147  and located closer to the left side than the other connecting walls  147  is positioned at the front side. Namely, the connecting wall  147 Y is positioned in front of the connecting walls  147 B,  147 M and  147 C. The connecting wall  147 C is positioned in front of the connecting walls  147 B and  147 M. The connecting wall  147 M is positioned in front of the connecting wall  147 B. Further, the ink outflow channel  114 Y is disposed in a space surrounded by the upper stage walls  145 B,  145 M and  145 C and the connecting walls  147 B,  147 M and  147 C (namely, in the space below the upper stage walls  145 B,  145 M and  145 C, in front of the connecting walls  147 B,  147 M and  147 C and behind the connecting wall  147 Y). The ink outflow channel  114 C is disposed in a space surrounded by the upper stage walls  145 B and  145 M and the connecting walls  147 B and  147 M (namely, in the space below the upper stage wall  145 B and  145 M, in front of the connecting walls  147 B and  147 M and behind the connecting wall  147 C). The ink outflow channel  114 M is disposed in a space surrounded by the upper stage wall  145 B and the connecting wall  147 B (namely, in the space below the upper stage wall  145 B, in front of the connecting wall  147 B and behind the connecting wall  147 M). 
     &lt;Ink Lead-out Channel  117 , Return Channel  119 &gt; 
     As depicted in  FIG.  8   , ink lead-out channels  117 B,  117 M,  117 C and  117 Y are provided on the right side surface of the ink tank  100 . One ends of the ink lead-out channels  117 B,  117 M,  117 C and  117 Y are connected respectively to the ink outflow channels  114 B,  114 M,  114 C, and  114 Y corresponding thereto each at a position at which one of the openings  116 B,  116 M,  116 C and  116 Y is located; and the other ends of the ink lead-out channels  117 B,  117 M,  117 C and  117 Y are connected respectively to connecting sections  118 B,  118 M,  118 C, and  118 Y. The four ink tubes  32 B,  32 M,  32 C and  32 Y corresponding to inks of the four colors respectively are connected to the connecting sections  118  each provided to project from the upper wall  104  of the ink tank  100  (see  FIG.  3   ). Namely, the ink lead-out channels  117  are each a channel that guides the ink outflowed from the ink chamber  111  through the ink outflow channel  114  corresponding thereto to the recording head  39  through one of the ink tubes  32  connected to the connecting section  118  corresponding thereto. The volumes of the ink lead-out channels  117 B,  117 M,  117 C and  117 Y are substantially same with one another, and the volumes of the ink tubes  32 B,  32 M,  32 C and  32 Y are substantially same with one another. 
     Further, as depicted in  FIGS.  8  and  9 B , the right side surface of the ink tank  100  is provided with return channels  119 B,  119 M,  119 C and  119 Y. One ends of the return channels  119 B,  119 M,  119 C and  119 Y are connected to the ink outflow channels  114 B,  114 M,  114 C and  114 Y respectively, at positions of the openings  116 B,  116 M,  116 C and  116 Y; and the other ends of the return channels  119 B,  119 M,  119 C and  119 Y communicate with the ink chambers  111  corresponding thereto through openings  120 B,  120 M,  120 C and  120 Y, respectively. Note that the openings  116  and  120  are provided at different positions in the up-down direction  7 . More specifically, the openings  120  are provided each at a position above the opening  116  corresponding thereto in the up-down direction  7 . 
     As depicted in  FIG.  8   , the right wall  102  of the ink tank  100  is provided with a plurality of projected walls  121 A to  121 I (hereinafter referred to collectively as a “projected wall(s)  121 ” in some cases). The projected wall  121  is projected rightward (toward the right side) from the outer surface of the right wall  102  (right side surface), and is extended along the outer surface of the right wall  102 . Further, a film  122  (see  FIG.  5   ) is attached by welding to the right side end portions of the projected walls  121 . The single (common) film  122  is welded to the projected walls  121 A to  121 I of the present embodiment. The ink lead-out channels  117  and the return channels  119  define spaces demarcated by the adjacent projected walls  121 A to  121 H and by the film  122 . 
     The projected walls  121 A and  121 B which demarcate the ink lead-out channel  117 B are extended rearward from a position at which the projected walls  121 A and  121 B sandwich the opening  116 B therebetween, and are further extended upward and reach an upper end portion of the ink tank  100 . The projected walls  121 C and  121 D which demarcate the ink lead-out channel  117 Y, the projected walls  121 E and  121 F which demarcate the ink lead-out channel  117 C, and the projected walls  121 G and  121 H which demarcate the ink lead-out channel  117 M are extended downward from positions at each of which the projected walls  121 C and  121 D, the projected walls  121 E and  121 F or the projected walls  121 G and  121 H sandwich one of the opening  116 Y,  116 C and  116 M corresponding thereto, and are further extended upward at the rear side of the openings  116 Y,  116 C and  116 M respectively and reach the upper end portion of the ink tank  100 . Namely, the ink lead-out channels  117 Y,  117 C and  117 M are connected to the ink outflow channels  114 Y,  114 C and  114 M corresponding thereto, respectively, each at a lower portion of one of the openings  116 Y,  116 C and  116 M. The lower portion of each of the openings  116 Y,  116 C, and  116 M means a portion lower than (below) the central portion in the up-down direction  7  of each of the openings  116 Y,  116 C and  116 M. Furthermore, each of the ink lead-out channels  117  is connected to one of the connecting sections  118  corresponding thereto via a space (omitted in the drawings) extended in the up-down direction  7  and the left-right direction  9  in the interior of the ink tank  100 . 
     The projected walls  121 A and  121 B which demarcate the return channel  119 B, the projected walls  121 B and  121 C which demarcate the return channel  119 Y, the projected walls  121 D and  121 E which demarcate the return channel  119 C, and the projected walls  121 F and  121 G which demarcate the return channel  119 M are extended upward from the positions at each of which the projected walls  121 A and  121 B, the projected walls  121 B and  121 C, the projected walls  121 D and  121 E or the projected walls  121 F and  121 G sandwich one of the openings  116  corresponding thereto. Namely, the return channel  119  is connected to the corresponding ink outflow channel  114  at an upper portion of the opening  116 . The upper portion of the opening  116  means a portion higher than or above the central portion in the up-down direction  7  of the opening  116 . Further, as depicted in  FIG.  9 B , each of the return channels  119  is extended toward the left side in the left-right direction  9  in the interior of the ink tank  100 , and communicates with the corresponding ink chamber  111  through the opening  120 . 
     &lt;Additional Ink Chamber  123 &gt; 
     Further, as depicted in  FIG.  8   , the right side surface of the ink tank  100  is provided with an additional ink chamber  123 . The additional ink chamber  123  is a space which is demarcated by the projected walls  121 H and  121 I continued in the peripheral direction of the ink tank  100 , and by the film  122 . The additional ink chamber  123  communicates with the ink chamber  111 B via through holes  123 A and  123 B penetrating through the right wall  102 . The through hole  123 B is provided at a position above the through hole  123 A in the up-down direction  7 . The additional ink chamber  123  is provided with a portion to be detected (detection-target portion)  124  formed in the additional ink chamber  123  by allowing a portion, of the projected wall  121 I, which demarcates the lower end of the additional ink chamber  123  to surround the front side, the rear side and the lower side of the through hole  123 A. 
     &lt;Optical Sensor  125 &gt; 
     As depicted in  FIGS.  4  and  8   , the multi-function peripheral  10  includes an optical sensor  125  having a light emitting unit  125 A and a light receiving unit  125 B facing each other in the front-rear direction  8  in a state that the light emitting unit  125 A and the light receiving unit  125 B sandwich the detection-target portion  124  therebetween. The light emitting unit  125 A outputs a light that is transmissive through the projected wall  121 I, but not transmissive through the black ink (for example, a visible light, an infrared light, etc.) toward the light receiving unit  125 B. The light receiving unit  125 B outputs, to a controller, a high-level signal in response to having received light outputted from the light emitting unit  125 A. The high-level signal means a “signal having a signal level not less than a threshold value”. On the other hand, the light receiving unit  125 B outputs, to the controller, a low-level signal in response to not having received any light. The low-level signal means a “signal having a signal level less than a threshold value”. Note that the threshold value of the high-level signal and the threshold value of the low-level signal may be the same. Alternatively, the threshold value of the high-level signal may be set to be higher than the threshold value of the low-level signal. 
     &lt;Atmosphere Communicating Channel  126 &gt; 
     As depicted in  FIG.  5   , atmosphere communicating channels  126 B,  126 M,  126 C and  126 Y (hereinafter collectively referred to as “atmosphere communicating channel(s)  126 ”) are connected to the ink chambers  111 , respectively. The atmosphere communicating channel  126  allows the ink chamber  111  corresponding thereto to communicate with the atmosphere. More specifically, the atmosphere communicating channel  126  communicates with the corresponding ink chamber  111  through a notch  127 , and communicates with the outside of the ink tank  100  through an opening  132 . The atmosphere communicating channel  126  is a channel passing through the internal space (not depicted in the drawings) of the ink tank  100  and reaching the opening  132  via the notch  127 . Further, the atmosphere communicating channel  126  allows the air to inflow and outflow between the ink chamber  111  and the outside of the ink tank  100 . 
     &lt;Partition Wall  135 &gt; 
     As depicted in  FIG.  6    and  FIG.  9 B , the interior of each of the ink chambers  111  is provided with partition walls  135 B,  135 M,  135 C or  135 Y (hereinafter collectively referred to as “partition wall(s)  135 ”) spreading (spanning) in the front-rear direction  8  and the left-right direction  9 . The partition wall  135 B is connected to the front wall  101 , the right wall  102 , the film  106  and the partition wall  107 . The partition wall  135 M is connected to the front wall  101 , the film  106  and the partition walls  107  and  108 . The partition wall  135 C is connected to the front wall  101 , the film  106  and the partition walls  108  and  109 . The partition wall  135 Y is connected to the front wall  101 , the left wall  103 , the film  106  and the partition wall  109 . The partition wall  135  divides a part of the corresponding ink chamber  111  in the up-down direction  7 . Namely, the partition wall  135  is separated and away from the upper wall  104  and the lower wall  105 , and there is a space on the upper side and the lower side in the vertical direction  7  of the partition wall  135 . Since the shapes of the partition walls  135 B,  135 M,  135 C and  135 Y are substantially same, a detailed explanation will be given below regarding the partition wall  135 B with reference to  FIGS.  6  and  10   . 
     As depicted in  FIG.  6   , the partition wall  135 B is formed to extend from the inner surface of the front wall  101 , at a position below the inlet  112 , in a direction crossing the front wall  101  (namely, to extend rearward in the front-rear direction  8 ). The partition wall  135 B makes contact with the front wall  101  at the boundary between the base wall  101 A and the inclined wall  101 B. In this embodiment, the position of the upper end of the partition wall  135 B and the position of the boundary between the base wall  101 A and the inclined wall  101 B in the up-down direction  7  coincide with each other. Although the partition wall  135 B of the embodiment is formed to extend substantially in the horizontal direction, the orientation of the partition wall  135 B is not limited to this. For example, the partition wall  135  may be inclined downward and rearward in the front-rear direction  8 . 
     Further, as depicted in  FIG.  10   , the partition wall  135 B is provided with an opening  137 B formed therein to allow the spaces above and below the partition wall  135 B in the ink chamber  111 B to communicate with each other. The area of the opening  137 B (in the example of  FIG.  10   , the width of the opening in the left-right direction  9 ) progressively increases as separating farther away from the front wall  101  (namely, the area of the opening  137 B increases progressively rearward in the front-rear direction  8 ). Furthermore, the shape of the opening  137 B is symmetrical relative to the direction separating away from the front wall  101  along the partition wall  135 B. The shape of the opening  137 B in this embodiment is an isosceles triangle of which vertical apex is oriented frontward. Namely, the partition wall  135 B has such a shape that the length in the front-rear direction  8  of the central portion in the left-right direction  9  of the partition wall  135 B is relatively short, and the length in the front-rear direction  8  of the both end portions in the left-right direction  9  of the partition wall  135 B is relatively long. 
     As indicated by broken lines in  FIG.  11 A , a base end portion  136 B extends in the entire area of the ink chamber  111 B along the left-right direction  9 . Further, the base end portion  136 B is visible (visually observable), transmitting through the front wall  101 , from the outside of the ink tank  100 . Further, the base end portion  136 B of the embodiment functions as the upper limit indicating line  138 . Namely, in the embodiment, the position of the base end portion  136 B and the position of the upper limit indicating line  138  in the up-down direction  7  coincide with each other. On the other hand, the information sign  139  is drawn on the outer surface of the front wall  101 . A method for drawing the information sign  139  on the outer surface of the front wall  101  may be, for example, same as the method for drawing the information sign  142 . 
     In the ink tank  100  of the embodiment, the thickness of the base end portion  136 B in the up-down direction  7  is relatively thin at the central portion in the left-right direction  9 , and is relatively thick at the both end portions in the left-right direction  9 . Namely, the partition wall  135 B, which is formed by the injection molding, has such a configuration that the thickness in the up-down direction  7  is made to be thin at the central portion in the left-right direction  9  at which the length in the front-rear direction  8  is small, and that the thickness in the up-down direction  7  is made to be thick at the both end portions in the left-right direction  9  at which the length in the front-rear direction  8  is long. 
     Further, in the ink tank  100  of the embodiment, as depicted in  FIG.  11 B , a groove  140  extending along the left-right direction  9  is formed on the outer surface of the front wall  101  at a portion or location corresponding to the base end portion  136 B. Namely, the thickness in the front-rear direction  8  of the front wall  101  at the location formed with the partition wall  135 B is made to be thinner than other portion of the front wall  101  different from the location formed with the partition wall  135 B. The groove  140  may be, for example, a sink mark (molding sink) of a resin generated on the outer surface of the front wall  101 , at a location corresponding to the partition wall  135 B, during the injection molding. 
     According to the embodiment as described above, it is possible to make an user, who is visually observing the inside of the ink chamber  111  through the front wall  101 , to recognize the necessity for replenishing the ink, by means of the liquid level of the ink stored in the ink chamber  111  which has lowered as low as the position of the lower limit indicating line  141  (namely, the position of the upper stage wall  145 ). Note that although the ink is still stored in the space surrounded by the lower stage wall  146  and the connecting wall  147 , the opening  115  is provided in this space. Therefore, even in a case that the ink is discharged by the recording head  39  in a state that the liquid level of the ink has lowered to the position of the lower limit indicating line  141 , it is possible to suppress any entering and mixing of the air into the ink allowed to flow out to the ink outflow channel  114  via the opening  115 . 
     Further, according to the embodiment as described above, since it is possible to make the user to recognize the necessity for refilling the ink to each of the ink chambers  111 , there is no need to provide any remaining amount sensor, which detects the ink remaining amount, to each of the ink chambers  111 . The above-described embodiment is provided only with the additional ink chamber  123  and the optical sensor  125  for the purpose of detecting the ink remaining amount of the ink chamber  111 B storing the black ink of which consumption amount is greatest among the inks of different colors. Furthermore, it is also allowable to perform, by a non-illustrated controller, counting of the ink amount for each of the color inks discharged by the recording head  39 , and to notify the user that the remaining ink amount of a certain ink among the color inks is small under a condition that the count value for the certain ink has exceeded a threshold value. By doing so, it is possible to urge the user to confirm the ink remaining amount. 
     Further, the ink tank  100  in the above-described embodiment is formed by pulling, in the rearward direction, the mold which arranges the lower stage wall  146  located behind the upper stage wall  145  at the position below the upper stage wall  145  and which defines the inner profile (internal shape) of the ink tank  100  (namely, the shape of the upper surface of the lower wall  105 ). As a result, the structure of the mold for shaping the ink tank  100  can be simplified. Furthermore, by forming the ink outflow channel  114  in the space surrounded by the upper stage wall  145  and the connecting wall  147 , the space around the ink tank  100  can be effectively utilized. As a result, it is possible to allow the ink chamber  111  to have a large volume without increasing the size of the ink tank  100 , or to reduce the size of the ink tank  100  without decreasing the size of the ink chamber  111 . 
     Moreover, the embodiment has been explained by way of an example wherein the base end portion  148 , of the upper stage wall  145 , which can be visually observable from the outside of the ink tank  100  through the front wall  101  having the light transmittance or translucency, is used as the lower limit indicating line  141 . With this, there is no need to provide an independent step for forming the lower limit indicating line  141 , thereby making it possible to simplify the production process of the ink tank  100 . The method for forming the lower limit indicating line  141 , however, is not limited to the above example. It is also allowable, for example, to draw the lower limit indicating line  141  on the outer surface of the front wall  101 . It is sufficient that the position of the lower limit indicating line  141  to be formed on the front wall  101  is located to be same with the position of the lower end of the upper stage wall  145 , or located above the lower end of the upper stage wall  145  in the vertical direction. The method for drawing the lower limit indicating line  141  on the outer surface of the front wall  101  may be, for example, common to that for providing the information signs  139  and  142 . 
     Further, the base wall  101 A may be divided (segmented) into first and second areas which are adjacent in the up-down direction  7 . The first area located below the second area includes the lower limit indicating line  141 . The second area located above the first area has a light transmittance higher than that of the first area. The specific method for making the light transmittance be different between the first and second areas is not specifically limited. There are conceived, however, such a method for making the thickness of the base wall  101 A in the second area be thinner than that in the first area, a method for making the surface roughness of the outer surface of the base wall  101 A in the first area to be coarser than that in the second area, etc. With this, the ink stored in the space surrounded by the lower stage wall  146  and the connecting wall  147  can made to be difficult to see for the user through the front wall  101 . 
     Furthermore, according to the embodiment, the ink chamber  111  is partitioned or divided in the up-down direction  7  by the partition wall  135 . Accordingly, even in a case that the liquid level inside the ink chamber  111  is raised in a state that any air bubbles are generated inside the ink chamber  111 , it is possible to suppress any overflow of the air bubbles from the inlet  112 . Moreover, by forming the upper limit indicating line  138  and the information sign  139  on the front wall  101  exposed to the outside of the multi-function peripheral  10 , it is possible to easily make the user recognize the position of the liquid level at which any air bubbles might outflow from the inlet  112 . Note that the method for forming the upper limit indicating line  138  is not limited to the above example. It is allowable, for example, to draw the upper limit indicating line  138  on the outer surface of the front wall  101 . It is sufficient that the position of the upper limit indicating line  138  to be formed on the front wall  101  overlaps with the base end portion  136  in the up-down direction  7 , and is located to be same with the position of the upper end of the base end portion  136 , or located below the upper end of the base end portion  136  in the vertical direction  7 . Note that in  FIG.  1 A , the upper limit indicating line  138  and the information sign  139  may be concealed by the cover  70 . Further, the partition wall  135  can be omitted. 
     Furthermore, in the above embodiment, although the explanation has been given about the ink as an example of the liquid, the present teaching is not restricted to this. Namely, instead of the ink, the liquid may be a pretreatment liquid which is to be discharged onto a recording paper before jetting an ink at the time of printing, or may be water, etc. which is to be sprayed in the vicinity of the nozzles  40  of the recording head  39  for preventing drying of the nozzles  40  of the recording head  39 .