Patent Publication Number: US-2005134636-A1

Title: Ink-jet recording device and control method thereof

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to an ink-jet recording device and to a control method thereof, and relates in particular to an effective technique used for controlling the removal of an ink supply member within which ink used for recording is retained, to an effective technique used for the attachment of a waste ink reservoir in which waste ink is stored, and to an effective technique used for controlling the removal of a waste ink reservoir wherein waste ink is retained.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      While taking into account the use in living rooms of ink-jet recording devices, a thin and stackable printer has been proposed for which both the detachment of an ink cartridge (ink supply member) and the supply and discharge of recording sheets (recording media) are performed from the front of the device.  
      A ink-jet recording device in the related art will now be described.  FIG. 40  is a perspective view of the exterior of the ink-jet recording device.  FIG. 41  is a schematic perspective view of the internal structure of the ink-jet recording device.  FIG. 42  is an exterior perspective view of the ink-jet recording device in  FIG. 40  wherein a paper discharge tray has been pulled out.  FIG. 43  is an exterior perspective view of the ink-jet recording device in  FIG. 40  wherein a paper supply tray has been removed.  FIG. 44  is an exterior perspective view of the ink-jet recording device in  FIG. 40  wherein the front cover has been opened.  
      As shown in  FIG. 40 , in the ink-jet recording device, a paper supply tray (medium supply member)  110  is located at a lower position at the front face of the device, and a paper discharge tray (medium discharge member)  111  is located at an upper position.  
      As shown in  FIG. 41 , inside the device a carriage  119 , wherein a recording head and ink cartridges (ink supply members)  112  are mounted, is supported by a carriage shaft  120  to allow the carriage to reciprocate in the main scanning direction. A pickup roller (not shown) for the individual feeding of recording sheets  138  from the paper supply tray  110  to a lower path which is a part of a paper transporting path; a feed roller  124  for inverting a recording sheet  138  which is transported along the lower path, and guiding the sheet  138  to an upper path which is also a part of the paper transporting path; a transporting roller  125  for transporting the recording sheet  138  along the paper transporting path; and a discharge roller  126  for discharging the recording sheet  138  to the paper discharge tray  111  after recording has been completed, are sequentially located in the direction in which the recording sheet  138  is transported.  
      In the ink-jet recording device, a recording sheet  138  extracted from the paper supply tray  110  loaded into the front face of the device is supplied to the lower path, internally inverted, and then guided to the upper path. As the recording sheet  138  passes along the upper path, printing is performed thereon, and then, as shown in  FIG. 42 , the recording sheet  138  is discharged into the paper discharge tray  111  which has been pulled out at the front face of the device.  
      As shown in  FIG. 43 , when the paper supply tray  110  is removed, an opening  139  is obtained at the bottom of the device that facilitates the removal from the lower path of a jammed recording sheet  138 . As shown in  FIG. 44 , by opening a front cover  140 , the carriage  119  is exposed, and the ink cartridges  112 , which are mounted in the carriage  119 , can be easily exchanged.  
      Example techniques for a thin printer are as follows.  
      Disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No.2001-219620 is a thin, stackable printer including: abase chassis assembly having a box shape with a channel member sandwiched between an upper path and a lower path to support, from the bottom, a sheet medium that is moved along the internal path of the printer; and a removable medium cassette assembly, slidably attached along the lower path, for holding the sheets that are individually supplied as input media and that are discharged from the printer as output media, wherein the channel member has a centrally arranged medium access cutout member that is wide enough and long enough to permit a user to access a sheet medium, which is supported by the channel member, when the medium cassette assembly is removed from the lower path.  
      Also disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-191613 is a thin printer including: a base chassis assembly having an upper path with a satisfactory height, width and depth to allow a sheet medium to be held securely while being moved along a transporting path, and a lower path with a satisfactory height, width and depth to allow a medium cassette which includes an input tray and an output tray to be stored slidably; and a channel member attached between the upper path and the lower path for helping to define a part of the path extending from the input tray to the output tray of the printer, wherein the channel member is constructed with multiple openings, the sizes of which are adequate to permit the easy removal of a jammed medium from the defined portion of the medium path.  
      Further, disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-213019 is a thin, stackable printer including a base assembly having a housing and a base plate and having a height, width and depth that are substantially suitable for a stackable home center electronic apparatus, wherein the base assembly has a bottom opening, centrally formed, having a height, width and depth that is substantially adequate for the slidable storage of a thin medium cassette constituted by an input tray and an output tray, and wherein the base assembly has a thin recording bar for the easy ejection of ink onto a sheet medium that is transported from the input tray to the output tray.  
      However, the ink-jet recording device has the following problems.  
      That is, since the ink cartridges  212  and the carriage  219  thereof are positioned so that the ink cartridges  212  must be attached/detached to/from the front of the device, and since the paper discharge tray  211  to which a recording sheet  238  is discharged after recording must be extended out beyond the front face of the device so that it is positioned forward of the main body, this configuration imposes limitations on the usability and the size of the device.  
      Further, since the front cover  240  must be opened to exchange the ink cartridge  212 , greater simplification of the exchange process is required.  
      In addition, since the ink cartridge  212  is mounted on the carriage  219 , as the volume of the cartridge  212  is increased, the size of the carriage  219  must likewise be increased, and this will prevent an improvement in the recording speed.  
      In order to resolve these problems, an ink cartridge loading unit (ink supply member loading unit), in addition to the paper supply tray  210  and the paper discharge tray  211 , should be provided at the front of the device for the detachable mounting of the ink cartridge  212 . With the direct external access afforded by this configuration, the exchange of used and new ink cartridges  212  will be more convenient. And as a result, ink cartridge replacement will be easier to perform.  
      However, the thus arranged ink-jet recording device has the following problems.  
      While an ink cartridge can be easily attached/detached to/from the front face of the device, the ink cartridge may erroneously be removed, which in this case may produce the following defective results.  
      First, when an ink cartridge is removed during a period such as a recording period, while ink is flowing from the ink cartridge to the recording head, air bubbles will enter the ink flow path at the location whereat the ink cartridge and the main body of the device are connected, and an ink ejection malfunction may thereafter occur at the recording head.  
      Even when an ink cartridge is not removed from the main body while ink is flowing, air bubbles, even though in a smaller amount, may still enter the ink flow path and the ink cartridge at the connection between the main body and the ink cartridge. Thus, when the ink cartridge is again loaded into the main body, a pump must be used to discharge an amount of ink, enough to eliminate the adverse effects produced by the air bubbles, through the nozzles of the recording head. Further, additional time is also required for this discharging operation.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It is, therefore, one objective of the present invention to provide an ink-jet recording device and a control method thereof that can prevent the entry into an ink flow path of air bubbles when a detachable ink supply member is externally removed.  
      Further, one objective of the present invention to provide an ink-jet recording apparatus for which the size of a waste ink reservoir is reduced.  
      Still further, one objective of the present invention to provide an ink-jet recording device that can prevent the leakage of ink inside the device when a detachable waste ink reservoir is externally removed.  
      According to a first aspect of the present invention, an ink-jet recording device includes: a medium feeding unit, arranged inward of a predetermined face of a main body, for feeding a recording medium; a medium ejection unit, arranged inward of the same face as the medium loading unit, for ejecting the recording medium after recording; an ink supply member loading unit, arranged inward of the same face as the medium loading unit, for detachably loading an ink supply member wherein ink used for recording is retained; and a removal inhibition unit for disabling removal of the ink supply member during a removal inhibited period for the ink supply member, thereby being able to prevent the entry into an ink flow path of air bubbles when a detachable ink supply member is externally removed.  
      According to a second aspect of the present invention, an ink-jet recording device includes: a medium feeding unit, arranged inward of a predetermined face of a main body, for feeding a recording medium; a medium ejection unit, arranged inward of the same face as the medium loading unit, for ejecting the recording medium after recording; an ink supply member loading unit, arranged inward of the same face as the medium loading unit, for detachably loading an ink supply member wherein ink used for recording is retained; an operation detector for detecting the start of an ink supply member removal operation; and a removal controller for, when during the removal inhibited period the operation detector has detected the start of the ink supply member removal operation, shifting the ink-jet recording device to the recording standby state to enable the removal of the ink supply member, thereby being able to prevent the entry into an ink flow path of air bubbles when a detachable ink supply member is externally removed.  
      According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, an ink-jet recording device includes: a medium feeding unit, arranged inward of a predetermined face of a main body, for feeding a recording medium; a medium ejection unit, arranged inward of the same face as the medium loading unit, for ejecting the recording medium after recording; an ink supply member loading unit, arranged inward of the same face as the medium loading unit, for detachably loading an ink supply member wherein ink used for recording is retained; a removal detector for detecting removal of the ink supply member; and a removal controller for, when during the removal inhibited period the removal detector detects that the ink supply member has been removed, shifting the ink-jet recording device to the recording standby state, thereby being able to prevent the entry into an ink flow path of air bubbles when a detachable ink supply member is externally removed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the exterior of an ink-jet recording device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the internal structure of the ink-jet recording device in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the internal structure of the ink-jet recording device in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 4  is an explanatory diagram showing the ink-jet recording device in  FIG. 1  wherein a control mechanism has removed an ink cartridge;  
       FIG. 5  is an explanatory diagram showing the ink-jet recording device in  FIG. 1  wherein the control mechanism is loading an ink cartridge;  
       FIGS. 6A  to  6 C are explanatory diagrams showing the ink-jet recording device in  FIG. 1  wherein the control mechanism has loaded the ink cartridge;  
       FIG. 7  is an explanatory diagram showing the ink-jet recording device in  FIG. 1  wherein the control mechanism disables removal of an ink cartridge;  
       FIG. 8  is an explanatory diagram showing the ink-jet recording device in  FIG. 1  wherein the control mechanism enables removal of an ink cartridge;  
       FIG. 9  is an explanatory diagram showing an ink-jet recording device according to a second embodiment of the present invention wherein a control mechanism disables removal of an ink cartridge;  
       FIG. 10  is an explanatory diagram showing the ink-jet recording device according to the second embodiment of the present invention wherein the control mechanism enables removal of an ink cartridge;  
       FIGS. 11A and 11B  are explanatory diagrams showing an ink-jet recording device according to a third embodiment of the present invention wherein a control mechanism detects the start of an ink cartridge removal operation;  
       FIG. 12  is an explanatory diagram showing an ink-jet recording device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention wherein a control mechanism has removed an ink cartridge;  
       FIG. 13  is an explanatory diagram showing the ink-jet recording device according to the fourth embodiment of the invention wherein the control mechanism has loaded the ink cartridge;  
       FIG. 14  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the internal structure of a general ink-jet recording device;  
       FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the exterior of an ink-jet recording device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the internal structure of the ink-jet recording device in  FIG. 15 ;  
       FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the waste ink reservoir in the ink-jet recording device in  FIG. 15 ;  
       FIG. 18  is an exploded perspective view of the internal structure of the waste ink reservoir in  FIG. 17 ;  
       FIG. 19  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of part of the waste ink reservoir in  FIG. 17 ;  
       FIG. 20  is a perspective view of the exterior of a first modification of the ink-jet recording device for the fifth embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 21  is a perspective view of the exterior of a second modification of the ink-jet recording device for the fifth embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 22  is a perspective view of the ink-jet recording device in  FIG. 21  wherein a waste ink container is removed by opening a cover;  
       FIG. 23  is a perspective view of the structure of the waste ink reservoir of an ink-jet recording device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 24  is an exploded perspective view of the waste ink reservoir in  FIG. 23 ;  
       FIG. 25  is a perspective view of the structure of the waste ink reservoir of an ink-jet recording device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 26  is an exploded perspective view of the waste ink reservoir in  FIG. 25 ;  
       FIG. 27  is a perspective view of the structure of the waste ink container of an ink-jet recording device according to a eighth embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 28  is an exploded perspective view of the waste ink container in  FIG. 27 ;  
       FIG. 29  is an explanatory diagram, showing the ink-jet recording device according to a ninth embodiment of the invention, wherein a control mechanism has removed the waste ink reservoir;  
       FIG. 30  is an explanatory diagram, showing the ink-jet recording device according to the ninth embodiment, wherein the control mechanism is loading the waste ink reservoir;  
       FIG. 31  is an explanatory diagram, showing the ink-jet recording device according to the ninth embodiment, wherein the control mechanism has loaded the waste ink reservoir;  
       FIG. 32  is an explanatory diagram, showing the ink-jet recording device according to the ninth embodiment, wherein the control mechanism prevents the removal of the waste ink reservoir;  
       FIG. 33  is an explanatory diagram, showing the ink-jet recording device according to the ninth embodiment, wherein the control mechanism enables the removal of the waste ink reservoir;  
       FIG. 11  is an explanatory diagram, showing an ink-jet recording device according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention, wherein a control mechanism prevents the removal of a waste ink reservoir;  
       FIG. 12  is an explanatory diagram, showing the ink-jet recording device according to the tenth embodiment of the present invention, wherein the control mechanism enables the removal of the waste ink reservoir;  
       FIG. 13  is an explanatory diagram, showing the ink-jet recording device according to the tenth embodiment of the present invention, wherein the control mechanism has projected the waste ink reservoir;  
       FIG. 14  is an explanatory diagram, showing an ink-jet recording device according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention, wherein a control mechanism detects the start of the removal of a waste ink reservoir;  
       FIG. 15  is an explanatory diagram, showing an ink-jet recording device according to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention, wherein a control mechanism has removed the waste ink reservoir;  
       FIG. 16  is an explanatory diagram, showing the ink-jet recording device according to the twelfth embodiment of the present invention, wherein the control mechanism has loaded the waste ink reservoir;  
       FIG. 40  is a perspective view of the exterior of an ink-jet recording device in the related art;  
       FIG. 41  is a schematic perspective view of the internal structure of the ink-jet recording device in  FIG. 14 ;  
       FIG. 42  is an exterior perspective view of the ink-jet recording device in  FIG. 14  wherein a paper discharge tray has been pulled out;  
       FIG. 43  is an exterior perspective view of the ink-jet recording device in  FIG. 14  wherein a paper supply tray has been removed; and  
       FIG. 44  is an exterior perspective view of the ink-jet recording device in  FIG. 14  wherein a front cover has been opened. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      The embodiments of the present invention will now be described while referring to FIGS.  1  to  39 . The same reference numerals are used throughout to indicate corresponding components, and no explanation will be given for the like configurations.  
     Embodiment 1  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the exterior of an ink-jet recording device according to a first embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the internal structure of the ink-jet recording device in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is a side view of the internal structure of the ink-jet recording device in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 4  is an explanatory diagram, showing a control mechanism provide for the ink-jet recording device in  FIG. 1 , wherein an ink cartridge has been removed.  FIG. 5  is an explanatory diagram, showing the control mechanism of the ink-jet recording device in  FIG. 1 , wherein the loading of the ink cartridge is being performed.  FIG. 6  is an explanatory diagram, showing the control mechanism of the ink-jet recording device in  FIG. 1 , wherein the ink cartridge has been loaded.  FIG. 7  is an explanatory diagram, showing the control mechanism of the ink-jet recording device in  FIG. 1 , wherein removal of the ink cartridge has been disabled.  FIG. 8  is an explanatory diagram, showing the control mechanism of the ink-jet recording device in  FIG. 8 , wherein the removal of the ink cartridge has been enabled.  
      As shown in  FIG. 1 , the ink-jet recording device of this embodiment includes: a paper supply tray (medium supply member)  10  provided at substantially the center of a front face  14   a  of a main body  14  in a heightwise direction A for supplying a recording sheet (recording medium) P; a paper discharge tray (medium discharge member)  11 , onto which the recording sheet P is discharged after recording; multiple ink cartridge loading units (ink supply member loading units)  13 , into which multiple (four, in this embodiment, for the colors black, cyan, magenta and yellow) ink cartridges (ink supply members)  12  are detachably loaded, all of these components are provided toward the inside of the main body  14 .  
      It is preferable that the paper supply tray  10 , the paper discharge tray  11 , the ink cartridges  12  and the ink cartridge loading units  13  are mounted substantially in the same direction because this affords the greatest reduction in the thickness of the main body  14 . It is especially preferable that these members are mounted substantially vertically (almost parallel to a plane defined by the height wise direction A and the widthwise direction B) because this arrangement provides the greatest effects for the reduction in the thickness of the main body  14 . For mounting the members in the same direction, the angles formed by individual members need only be ±10° or smaller. Similarly, for mounting the members Vertically, the angles formed by the individual members need only be ±10° or smaller, relative to the vertical direction.  
      The ink cartridge loading units  13  include, for the respective ink cartridges  12 , an opening  13   a  formed in the front face  14   a  of the main body  14 , a space  13   b  defined inside the main body  14 , and a connector (not shown) for connecting the ink cartridge  12  to the main body  14  by using liquid.  
      The spaces  13   b  in which the ink cartridges  12  are inserted are arranged in the widthwise direction of the main body  14 , and the shapes of the inserted ink cartridges  12  have a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape having the longer edges in the order in the depthwise direction C, the widthwise direction B and the heightwise direction A. With this configuration, the size of the main body  14  in the heightwise direction is reduced, and as a result, the overall height of the device is reduced. Therefore, the strength of side walls  14   c  of the main body  14 , which becomes a problem when objects are mounted on a top face  14   b  of the main body  14 , can be increased, so that the permitted load value of the main body  14  can be increased and the space can be more effectively employed. Further, since the size of the ink cartridge  12  in the vertical direction can be reduced, back pressure fluctuation, which is caused by the shifting of the surface level of ink as its volume is being reduced, can be minimized, and a stable ink supply system can be implemented.  
      In this embodiment, the ink cartridge loading units  13  define the individual spaces  13   b  for the respective ink cartridges  12 . Multiple (e.g., two or four) ink cartridges may be held in one space  13   b . In this embodiment, all the (four) ink cartridges  12  are arranged in the widthwise direction B; however, the ink cartridges  12  may be formed so that their size is greater in the heightwise direction A and they are narrower in the widthwise direction B, and a plurality (e.g., each two or all four) of ink cartridges  12  may be stacked in the heightwise direction A.  
      Through direct external access of the main body  14 , a user can remove an ink cartridge  12  from the main body  14 , and can attach a new ink cartridge  12  to complete an exchange of ink cartridges  12 .  
      In this embodiment, black, cyan, magenta and yellow inks are retained in the ink cartridges  12 . To improve the image quality, cartridges for what is generally called photoink, such as light cyan, light magenta and dark yellow, may be further provided. In this case, in accordance with the number of ink colors to be used, six or seven spaces  13   b  are provided for the individual cartridges  12 . Further, in accordance with the amount of ink to be consumed, the ink cartridge for black ink may be larger than the ink cartridges for other colors, or color ink cartridges may be provided as a single cartridge unit.  
      Operating switches (operating system)  15  for operating the ink-jet recording device are arranged on the side portion  14   aa  of the front face  14   a  where the ink cartridge loading units  13  are formed. Instead of being located on the front face  14   a  where the ink cartridge loading units  13  are arranged, the operating switches  15  may be formed on another face so long as the face is exposed and faces in the same direction as the front face  14   a . That is, the operating switches  15  may be located anywhere so long as a user can operate them from the front.  
      When the operating switches  15  are arranged on the front face  14   a  of the main body  14  in this manner, a user friendly ink-jet recording device can be provided that a user can operate more easily than one for which the operating switches  15  are arranged on the top face  14   b  or the side face  14   c . Further, an object can be placed on the top face  14   b  or near the side faces  14   c , i.e., the peripheral space surrounding the main body can be employed more effectively.  
      In  FIG. 1 , the front face  14   a  is perpendicular to the plane defined in the directions A and C, and the side portions  14   aa  are also perpendicular. However, this angle need not be a right angle, and may be smaller (inclined greatly away from the user). Further, the individual faces need not be flat, and may be complicatedly curved. When the front face  14   a  is inclined relative to the perpendicular direction, the size of the front face  14   a  can be increased, and accordingly, the sizes of the operating switches  15  and the number provided on the front face  14   a  can be increased. Thus, the usability of the device can be improved. In this embodiment, only the operating switches  15  for the operating system are shown; however, a display device, such as a liquid crystal display or an LED, or a touch panel, or an insertion slot for a semiconductor memory may also be provided. The connectors for connecting the PC and the STB may also be provided on the front face  14   a ; however, it is preferable, for appearances sake, that the connectors be provided on a rear face  14   h  because connection cords will be hidden from the user.  
      In substantially the same direction, the recording medium is fed from (or supplied to) the paper supply tray  10 , the recording medium after recording is discharged from (or discharged to) the paper discharge tray  11 , and an ink cartridge  12  is ejected from (or loaded into) the ink cartridge loading unit  13 . Incidentally, “Substantially the same direction” means that the main components of the vectors representing the input or output direction are the same. In this embodiment, even when some vector components are present in the heightwise direction A and the widthwise direction B, the main component is in the depthwise direction C.  
      With this configuration, for maintenance, a user&#39;s access of the device is performed in only one direction, and a very usable ink-jet recording device can be provided. Especially since the cover formed over multiple faces (e.g., the front face  14   a  and the top face  14   b ) of the device need not be opened to exchange ink cartridges, superior maintenance can be ensured, and before exchanging ink cartridges, less arranging of objects around the periphery (especially on the top face) of the device is required.  
      In this embodiment, the trays are employed to mount the recording media. However, a cassette, detachable from the main body of the device, may be employed. Further, when a slot for a semiconductor memory is provided, the detachment direction is preferably the same as that described above.  
      In the configuration of the ink-jet recording device manipulated in a direction from a specific plane (the front face  14   a ), shown especially in  FIG. 2 , it is preferable that, viewed from the specific plane (the front face  14   a ), the members used for operations or for maintenance, such as the paper supply tray  10 , the paper discharge tray  11 , the ink cartridges  12 , the ink cartridge loading units  13  and the operating switches  15 , are arranged on a front portion  14   f  of the main body  14 . It is also preferable that mechanisms for transporting a recording medium, for a recording head and for a carriage and, where required, for a carriage driving system for serial recording, are arranged in a rear portion  14   g . With this configuration, the thickness of the main body  14  can be greatly reduced, and a user can easily supplement the ink or the recording media (the supplementation of ink is especially easier). As a result, an ink-jet recording device can be provided for which superior maintenance is ensured. Further, the front portion  14   f  and the rear portion  14   g  need not be strictly defined by partitions, and may partially coexist within the main body  14 .  
      In this embodiment, the paper supply tray  10 , the paper discharge tray  11  and the ink cartridge loading units  13  are arranged so they can be accessed from the front face  14   a . According to the invention, however, these components need only be arranged so they can be accessed from the same face of the main body  14 , and need not always be provided on the front face  14   a.    
      It is preferable that the top face  14   b  of the main body  14  is as flat as possible because documents or files can then be easily displayed on the top face  14   b . While taking into account the stacking of electronic products, such as an audio deck and a video deck, that are frequently seen in living rooms, it is preferable that the portions (generally the four corners of the main body) corresponding to the legs of these products have substantially the same height because the products can then be stacked stably. In this case, so long as the four corners are at the same height, the other portions need not have the same height. The shape shown in  FIG. 1 , or another structure for which projections are formed only at the four corners may be employed. Further, it is preferable that greater reinforcement is provided for weight bearing portions, which can support multiple stacked devices, than for other portions. It is also preferable that the reinforced portions are identified for a user, because the breaking of the main body  14  due to incorrect use can then be prevented. To identify the reinforced positions, either marks may be provided on the main body  14 , or written instructions may be included in manuals.  
      As for the positional relationship of the ink cartridges  12  (the ink cartridge loading units  13 ), the paper ink tray and the paper discharge tray  11 , the ink cartridges  12 , the paper supply tray  10  and the paper discharge tray  11  are stacked in the named order in the heightwise direction A.  
      As described above, since the ink cartridge loading units  13  are provided below the paper supply tray  10 , the smearing of ink on a new recording sheet P can be prevented when ink cartridges  12  are exchanged. Further, since the ink cartridge loading units  13  are provided below the paper discharge tray  11 , the smearing of ink on a recording sheet P after recording can be prevented when the ink cartridges  12  are exchanged. Further, since the paper supply tray  10  is provided under the paper discharge tray  11 , the recording sheet P can be consistently transported, with the recording face up, even when it is inverted by feed rollers  24 . Therefore, the smearing of the recording face can be suppressed and the recording of data can be promptly confirmed. Furthermore, with this configuration, the ink cartridges  12  can be exchanged without them having to be passed over the paper supply tray  10  and the paper discharge tray  11 . Thus, an ink-jet recording device  12  can be provided for which there is very little possibility that ink will be smeared on the recording sheets P, either before and after recording, and for which maintenance can be easily performed.  
      Since the ink cartridges  12  (inserted into the openings  13   a  of the ink cartridge loading units  13 ), a face  10   a  of the paper supply tray  10  near the front face  14   a  and an opening  11   a  of the paper discharge tray  11  are arranged on the same plane, a user can easily perform a maintenance operation, such as the supplementation and extraction of recording media and the exchange of the ink cartridges  12 .  
      The arrangement on the same plane is the range within which a user can easily perform a maintenance operation. More specifically, so long as the trays  10  and  11  and the ink cartridges  12  are within a range (about three to four cm or smaller, though in individual cases this may differ) wherein a user can use his or her fingers to manipulate parts during a maintenance operation, the operation can be satisfactorily performed, even when another apparatus, such as an audio deck or a video deck, is mounted on the main body  14  of the device.  
      In addition, since most of the components, such as the operating switches  15 , required for an operation performed by a user are arranged near the surface (or more specifically, on the same plane) of the main body and near the front face  14   a , a more usable ink-jet recording device can be provided with which space can be employed more effectively.  
      In this embodiment, ink cartridges  12  containing yellow, magenta, cyan and black ink are loaded, and eject buttons (switching portions)  115 , provided beside the ink cartridges  12 , are used to extract the ink cartridges  12  so that they project outward and can be removed from the ink cartridge loading unit  13 .  
      Above the ink cartridges  12 , LEDs (notification devices)  16  are provided that turn green when the ink cartridges  12  are loaded in the ink cartridge loading units  13 , and that turn red when the ink cartridges  12  are not loaded. The notification devices need not be the LEDs  16 , and may notify the user of either the state where the ink cartridges  12  are loaded, or the state where they are not loaded. In addition, for controlling the ink-jet recording device, instead of a notification device being provided for the ink-jet recording device, one may be provided for the monitor of an apparatus, such as a personal computer or a remote controller.  
      In this embodiment, the paper supply tray  10 , the paper discharge tray  11  and the ink cartridge loading units  13  are so arranged that they can be accessed from the front face  14   a  of the device. However, these components need not always be arranged so they can be accessed from the front face  14   a , but may instead be arranged so that all of them can be accessed from another face of the main body  14 .  
      As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a carriage  19 , wherein a recording head  18  is provided to which ink from the ink cartridge  12  is supplied through a tube  17 , is supported by a carriage shaft  20  and is reciprocally driven, in the main direction, by a carriage motor  21 . As will be described later while referring to  FIG. 4 , the carriage  19  is fixed to a belt  23  that is pulled around a pair of pulleys  22 , and when the rotational force of the carriage motor  21  is transmitted to one of the pulleys  22 , the belt  23  is rotated and the carriage  19  is driven reciprocally. In addition, a pickup roller (not shown) for individually feeding the recording sheets from the paper supply tray  10  to the lower path, which is part of a sheet transporting path; the feed rollers  24 , for inverting the recording sheet on the lower path and guiding the inverted sheet to the upper path, which is another part of the sheet transporting path; a transporting roller  25  for transporting the recording sheet along the sheet transporting path; and a discharge roller  26  for discharging the recording sheet, after recording, to the paper discharge tray  11  are arranged in the named order in the direction in which the recording sheet is transported.  
      The tube  17 , together with a cable along which a head drive signal is transmitted from a drive signal generator to the recording head  18 , is located so that the transporting of the recording sheet and the movement of the carriage  19  are not interfered with.  
      In this ink-jet recording device, a recording sheet, individually fed to the lower path from the paper supply tray  10  loaded at the front face  14   a , is inverted by the feed rollers  24  located at the rear portion of the device, the inverted recording sheet is then guided to the upper path and is printed on a platen while being passed along the upper path, and the resultant recording sheet is discharged to the paper discharge tray  11 . After recording, the recording sheet is removed by directly accessing the paper discharge tray  11  from the front face  14   a.    
      It is not appropriate for the ink cartridge  12  to be removed during a period (removal inhibited period) in which air bubbles would enter the ink flow path as the ink cartridge  12  is being removed from the ink cartridge loading unit  13 , such as during the performance of a recording operation or a head function recovery operation (an operation for removing from the recording head  18  residual ink, dust or air bubbles and for recovering the ink ejection function, such as an operation during which a pump is used to suck ink from the nozzles of the recording head  18  and to clean the recording head  18 , or an operation during which viscous ink attached near around the nozzles of the recording head  18  is forcibly ejected and ink having appropriate viscosity is introduced into the nozzles). When air bubbles have entered the ink flow path from the portion whereat the ink cartridge  12  is coupled with the main body  14 , an ink ejection malfunction will occur at the recording head  18 , and in order to resume normal ink ejection, the air bubbles must be removed by ejecting a predetermined amount of ink through the nozzles of the recording head  18 .  
      The removal inhibited period is not limited to the recording period and the head function recovery period, other periods may also be included. That is, the removal inhibited period is a period during which air bubbles may enter the ink flow path by removing the ink cartridge  12 . The removal inhibited period includes not only a period, such as a recording period, wherein ink flows from the ink cartridge  12  to the recording head  18 , but also a period wherein, although there is no ink flow, air bubbles enter the ink flow path when the ink cartridge  12  is removed from the main body  14 . The removal inhibited period does not always include all periods wherein air bubbles enter the ink flow path when the ink cartridge  12  is removed, but it includes at least one of these periods. Therefore, the removal inhibited period may be either a recording period or a head function recovery period.  
      As shown in FIGS.  4  to  8 , the ink-jet recording device of this embodiment further includes a controller (removal inhibition unit)  27  for disabling the removal of the ink cartridge  12  during a removal inhibited period. The controller  27  prevents air bubbles from entering the ink flow path due to the removal of the ink cartridge  12 , which can be directly unmounted, externally.  
      As shown in FIGS.  4  to  8 , the ink-jet recording device further includes: holding hooks (holding members)  28  for engaging the side faces of mounted ink cartridges  12  and holding the ink cartridges  12  in the ink cartridge loading units  13 ; eject buttons  115  for displacing the holding hooks  28  and disengaging the holding hooks  28  from the ink cartridges  21 , and for enabling the removal of the ink cartridges  12  from the ink cartridge loading unit  13  by projecting the ink cartridges  12 ; detection switches  29  for detecting the loading of ink cartridges  12  in the ink cartridge loading units  13 ; and cartridge connectors  30  for connecting the tubes  17  of the main body  14  to the ink cartridges  12  and for enabling the introduction into the tubes  17  of ink from the ink cartridges  12 .  
      The ink-jet recording device further includes: a lock shaft  33 , which is rotated by a motor  32  and to which lock levers (removal prevention device)  31 , corresponding to the holding hooks  28 , are attached. As the lock shaft  33  is rotated, the lock levers  31  are displaced between a first position and a second position. At the first position, the displacement range of the holding hooks  28  is limited to prevent the ink cartridge  12  from being projected by an eject button  115 , and at the second position, the displacement range of the holding hooks  28  is reserved to allow the ink cartridge  12  to be projected by the ejection button  115 .  
      The controller  27  rotates the lock shaft  33  through a driver, and maintains the lock levers  31  at the first position during a removal inhibited period, or at the second position during a period other than the removal inhibited period.  
      The operation of the thus arranged ink-jet recording device will now be described.  
      As shown in  FIG. 4 , the controller  27  rotates the lock shaft  33  to displace the lock levers  31  to the second position, and an ink cartridge  12  is inserted into the ink cartridge loading unit  13  in the main body  14 . Then, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the holding hook  28 , which is urged clockwise by a spring (not shown), is rotated counterclockwise. Then, when the ink cartridge  12  has been inserted until it is coupled with the cartridge connector  30 , the holding hook  28  is fitted into a groove formed in the side face of the ink cartridge  12  to maintain the coupling of the ink cartridge  12  and the cartridge connector  30 . As a result, ink in the ink cartridge  12  can be supplied through the tube  17  to the recording head  18  ( FIG. 6A ).  
      Thereafter, during a removal inhibited period, such as a recording period or a head function recovery period, as the lock shaft  33  is rotated by the motor  32 , controlled by the controller  27 , the lock lever  31  provided on the lock shaft  33  is displaced from the second position in  FIG. 6B  to the first position in  FIG. 6C . As shown in  FIG. 7 , since at the first position the range available for displacing the holding hook  28  is limited by the lock lever  31 , the ink cartridge  12  can not be projected, even when the eject button  115  is manipulated. That is, at the first position in  FIG. 6C , a lever  28   a  of the holding hook  28  abuts on the lock lever  31  and as a result, displacement of the holding hook  28  is inhibited.  
      During a period other than a removal inhibited period, since the lock shaft  33  is rotated by the controller  27  and the lock lever  31  is displaced to the second position, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the range available is adequate and the holding hook  28  can be displaced. Therefore, the holding hook  28  can be rotated counterclockwise by depressing the eject button  115 , and disengaged from the side face of the ink cartridge  12 . Then, the ink cartridge  12  can be projected and removed.  
      As described above, according to the present invention, in the ink-jet recording device wherein the ink cartridge  12  can be accessed easily even during operation (e.g., the ink cartridge  12  can be accessed without opening the cover, which opens toward the internal area of the device wherein the carriage is moved), the controller  27  disables removal of the ink cartridge  12  during a removal inhibited period. Therefore, air bubbles can be prevented from entering the ink flow path due to the removal of the ink cartridge which can be directly detachable, externally.  
     Embodiment 2  
       FIG. 9  is an explanatory diagram, showing an ink-jet recording device according to a second embodiment of the invention, wherein a control mechanism disables removal of an ink cartridge.  FIG. 10  is an explanatory diagram, showing the ink-jet recording device according to the second embodiment of the invention, wherein the control mechanism allows the removal of the ink cartridge.  
      It should be noted that for the second to fourth embodiments, the exterior and the internal configuration of the ink-jet recording device are substantially the same as those shown in FIGS.  1  to  3  for the first embodiment.  
      In this embodiment, a controller  27  is provided that disables removal of ink cartridges  12  during a removal inhibited period, and prevents air bubbles from entering ink flow paths due to the removal of the ink cartridges  12 , which can be directly detachable, externally.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the ink-jet recording device includes: actuators (holding member driving units)  34  for rotating holding hooks  28  between an engagement position and a disengagement position for the ink cartridges  12 ; and eject buttons  215  for, when the actuators  34  rotate the holding hooks  28  to the disengagement position, projecting the ink cartridges  12  from ink cartridge loading units  13  so that they can be removed. Further, the controller  27  is further provided that, during a removal inhibited period, inhibits the use of the eject buttons  215  for driving the actuators  34 , and that, during a period other than a removal inhibited period, allows the use of the eject buttons  215 .  
      The operation of the thus arranged ink-jet recording device will now be described.  
      When an ink cartridge  12  is inserted into an ink cartridge loading unit  13 , the ink cartridge  12  is connected to a cartridge connector  30 , and the holding hook  28  urged clockwise by a spring (not shown) is fitted into a groove formed in the side face of the ink cartridge  12 . Thus, the ink cartridge  12  connection can be maintained ( FIG. 9 ).  
      Thereafter, during a removal inhibited period, such as a recording period or a head function recovery period, even when an eject button  215  is depressed, the controller  27  prevents the driving of an actuator  34 , so that the ink cartridge  12  is not projected.  
      Further, during a period other than a removal inhibited period, as shown in  FIG. 10 , when the eject button  215  is depressed, the controller  27  which has detected a period other than a removal inhibited period, drives the actuator  34 , then the holding hook  28  is rotated counterclockwise and is disengaged from the groove in the side face of the ink cartridge  12 . The ink cartridge  12  can then be projected and removed. A spring (not shown) may be used to project the ink cartridge  12 , or instead, a handle may be provided that a user can employ to remove the ink cartridge  12 .  
      As described above, according to this embodiment, since the controller  27  disables removal of an ink cartridge  12  during a removal inhibited period, air bubbles can be prevented from entering an ink flow path due to the removal of the ink cartridge  12 , which can be directly unmounted, externally.  
     Embodiment 3  
       FIGS. 11A and 11B  are explanatory diagrams, showing an ink-jet recording device according to a third embodiment of the present invention, wherein a control mechanism detects the start of an ink cartridge removal operation.  FIG. 11A  shows the state wherein the ink cartridge removal operation has not yet started.  FIG. 11B  shows the state wherein the ink cartridge removal operation has started. To simplify the illustration, a control system is shown only in  FIG. 11B .  
      As shown in  FIGS. 11A and 11B , a door  35 , provided for the front face of an ink cartridge loading unit  13 , can be opened or closed when an ink cartridge  12  has been inserted into the ink cartridge loading unit  13 .  
      An operation detector  36  is also provided that detects the opening or closing of the door  35 , and determines whether the removal of the ink cartridge  12  should be started when the door  35  is opened.  
      Further, a controller (removal controller)  37  is also provided. Thus, during a removal inhibited period, the operation detector  36  determines that removal of the ink cartridge  12  has started, i.e., detects the opening of the door  35 , the controller  37  shifts the ink-jet recording device to the recording standby state, and allows the removal of the ink cartridge  12 .  
      According to the ink-jet recording device of the embodiment, during a removal inhibited period, the door  35  is opened to exchange the ink cartridge  12  ( FIG. 1B ), this opening is detected by the operation detector  36 . Then, the controller  37  immediately terminates a recording operation or a head function recovery operation and shifts the ink-jet recording device to the recording standby state.  
      Therefore, even when the ink cartridge  12  is removed during a removal inhibited period, the entry of air bubbles into an ink flow path is prevented, and the adverse affect of the removal of the ink cartridge  12  on the function of the recording head  18  can be minimized. Further, when the opening of the door is detected, instead of terminating a recording operation or a head function recovery operation, the holding hook  28  used in the first and second embodiment may be employed to engage the ink cartridge  12  and prevent its removal.  
     Embodiment 4  
       FIG. 12  is an explanatory diagram, showing an ink-jet recording device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, wherein an ink cartridge is removed by a control mechanism.  FIG. 13  is an explanatory diagram, showing an ink-jet recording device according to the fourth embodiment, wherein the ink cartridge is loaded by the control mechanism.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , in the ink-jet recording device of the fourth embodiment, an ink cartridge loading unit  13  internally includes: a detection switch (removal detector)  29  for detecting the removal of an ink cartridge  12 ; and a controller  37  for shifting the ink-jet recording device to the recording standby state when the detection switch  29  detects the removal of the ink cartridge  12  during a removal inhibited period.  
      With this configuration, when the ink cartridge  12  is removed during a removal inhibited period, the detection switch  29  detects the removal, and thereafter, the controller  37  immediately terminates a recording operation or a head function recovery operation and shifts the ink-jet recording device to the recording standby state.  
      Therefore, even when an ink cartridge  12  is removed during a removal inhibited period, the entry of air bubbles into an ink flow path is prevented, and the adverse affect of the removal of the ink cartridge  12  on the function of the recording head  18  can be minimized.  
      According to the first to the fourth embodiments, the eject buttons  115 ,  215  are employed as switching units. However, any other switching unit can be employed so long as the ink cartridge  12  can be removed, and an eject button provided for a remote controller, or a command issued to a driver installed in a personal computer may be employed as a switching unit.  
      When ink cartridges  12  containing multiple colors are loaded, the controller  37  can individually disable or enable removal of each of them.  
     Embodiment 5  
      In the subsequent embodiments (Embodiments 5 to 12), the explanation regarding the removal inhibition unit as described in the foregoing embodiments is not omitted in the specification and the drawings, however, the removal inhibition unit may be applied to the subsequent embodiments.  
      An image quality as high as that provided by silver halide photography is demanded of an ink-jet printer, and for this, the maintaining and recovery of the function of a recording head is important. Maintaining or recovering the function of a recording head is performed by discharging the ink remaining in the recording head, and a waste ink reservoir, for storing discharged ink, must be internally provided for a device.  
      An ink-jet recording device with a waste ink reservoir will now be described.  FIG. 14  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the internal structure of the ink-jet recording device.  
      As shown in  FIG. 14 , the ink-jet recording device includes: a carriage  219  which has a recording head  218  to which ink is supplied and which is supported by a carriage shaft  220  and is reciprocally moved in the main direction; a supply roller  224  for transporting individual recording sheets from a paper supply tray  210 ; a discharge roller  226  for discharging a recording sheet on which data has been recorded by the recording head  218 ; and a waste ink reservoir  251 , wherein ink removed from the recording head  218  is stored.  
      At a recording standby position of the recording head  218 , a cap  252  for covering the recording head  218  is so arranged it can be brought into contact with and separated from the recording head  218 . One end of a waste ink transportation tube  253   a  is connected to the cap  252 , and the other end of the waste ink transportation tube  253   a  is connected to a pump  254 . When suction is applied to the interior of the recording head by the pump  254 , bubbles and residual ink are sucked out of and removed from the ink flow path under negative pressure. Further, since the pump  254  communicates with the waste ink reservoir  251  via a waste ink transportation tube  253   b , the waste ink removed by the pump  254  passes through the waste ink transportation tubes  253   a  and  253   b  and is stored in the waste ink reservoir  251 .  
      When an ejection failure occurs in the ink-jet recording device due to the blocking of the ink flow path by air bubbles or by the clogging of nozzles, to recover the recording function, the recording head  215  is closed by the cap  252 , suction is applied by the pump  254  and ink is sucked out through the nozzles of the recording head  218  under negative pressure.  
      The ink that is sucked out is waste ink, and passes through the waste ink transportation tubes  253   a  and  253   b  to the waste ink reservoir  251 .  
      Next the fifth embodiment of the invention will be explained with reference to FIGS.  15  to  22 .  
       FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the exterior of an ink-jet recording device according to a fifth embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the internal structure of the ink-jet recording device in  FIG. 15 .  FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a waste ink reservoir for the ink-jet recording device in  FIG. 15 .  FIG. 18  is an exploded perspective view of the internal structure of the waste ink reservoir in  FIG. 17 .  FIG. 19  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of one part of the waste ink reservoir in  FIG. 17 . As shown in  FIG. 15 , the ink-jet recording device in this embodiment includes: a paper discharge tray (medium discharge member)  311  to which recording sheets (recording media) are discharged after recording; a paper supply tray (medium supplying member)  310  from which recording sheets are supplied; ink cartridges (ink supply members)  312 , which are replaceably loaded into ink cartridge loading units (ink supply member loading units)  313 , and in which ink used for recording is contained; and a waste ink reservoir (waste ink retaining unit)  351 , in which waste ink removed from a recording head is retained, all of which are located at a front face  314   a  of a main body  314  from above to below in the heightwise direction A of the device, and are extended inward in the main body  314 .  
      Since the waste ink reservoir  351  and the ink cartridge loading units  313  are provided under the paper supply tray  310 , new recording sheets can be prevented from being smeared by ink during the exchange of the ink cartridge  312  and the waste ink reservoir  351 . Further, since the ink cartridge loading unit  313  and the waste ink reservoir  351  are also provided under the paper discharge tray  311 , after recording, the recording sheets can also be prevented from being smeared by ink during the exchange of the ink cartridges  312  and the waste ink reservoir  351 . In addition, since the paper supply tray  310  is located under the paper discharge tray  311 , the recording face of the recording sheet that is inverted by a paper feed roller  324  is directed upward, so that the smearing of the recording face can be prevented and the recorded contents can be immediately confirmed. Moreover, with this configuration, the ink cartridges  312  can be exchanged without being passed over the paper supply tray  310  and the paper discharge tray  311 . Therefore, an ink-jet recording device can be provided, for which the probability is less that recording sheets, before and after recording, will be smeared by ink and for which maintenance is easy.  
      An eject button (switching unit)  315 , with which the waste ink reservoir  351  is projected from a waste ink reservoir loading unit  350  for removal, and an LED (notification unit)  316 , which turns green when the waste ink reservoir  351  is loaded into the waste ink reservoir loading unit  350 , and which turns red when the waste ink reservoir  351  is not loaded, are attached beside the waste ink reservoir  351 . The LED  316  is located above, on the side or at the front of the ink cartridge  312  or the waste ink reservoir  351 . The notification unit need not be the LED  316 , and only the state wherein the ink cartridge  312  or the waste ink reservoir  351  is loaded or the state wherein the ink cartridge  312  or the waste ink reservoir  351  is not loaded need be reported. In addition, for controlling the ink-jet recording device, the notification unit may not be provided for the ink-jet recording device, but may instead be displayed on the monitor of an apparatus, such as a personal computer or a remote controller.  
      According to the ink-jet recording device, the waste ink reservoir  351  or the ink cartridge  312  can be removed by external access and replaced with new one.  
      Openings  313   a  (not shown) in the ink cartridge loading units  313 , the face of the paper supply tray  310  near the front face  314   a , the opening of the paper discharge tray  311  and the front face of the waste ink reservoir  351  are on the same plane, and a user can easily perform the required maintenance, such as the replenishment and the extraction of recording media, and the loading and unloading of the ink cartridges  312  and the waste ink reservoir  351 .  
      When these faces are on the same plane, a user, within this range, can easily perform the required maintenance. More specifically, so long as the trays  310  and  311  and the reservoir  351  are located in the depthwise direction C within a range (±5 cm or less, though there are individual differences) wherein they can be manipulated by the user&#39;s fingers, the maintenance can be satisfactorily performed even when another apparatus, such as an audio deck or a video deck, is mounted on the main body  314 .  
      In addition, since most of members, such as the operating switch  315 , that are manipulated by a user are located near the front face  314   a  (or on the same plane) of the main body  314 , a more usable ink-jet recording device can be implemented, wherein the available space is efficiently used. For the ink-jet recording device, a waste ink reservoir can be removed through the external access and can be replaced.  
      It is preferable that the direction (and/or the mounting face) in which the paper supply tray  310 , the paper discharge tray  311 , the ink cartridges  312 , the ink cartridge loading units  313  and the waste ink reservoir  351  are mounted in the main body  314  be substantially parallel to the same face, because then, the thickness of the main body  314  can be reduced. It is especially preferable that the direction is substantially vertically (almost parallel to the plane defied by the heightwise direction A and the widthwise direction B), or the mounting face is substantially horizontally (almost parallel to the plane defined by the widthwise direction B and the depthwise direction C) because then, the thickness of the main body  314  can most effectively be reduced. In this case, the mounting direction (face) can be almost parallel to the same plane so long as the angle formed by the individual members is ±10° at the maximum, the mounting direction face can be substantially parallel so long as the angle formed by the members in the vertical direction is ±10° or less, and the mounting faces can be substantially parallel so long as the angle formed by the members in the horizontal direction is ±10° or less.  
      The ink cartridge loading units  313  include, for the individual ink cartridges  312 , connectors (not shown) along which openings formed in the front face  314   a  of the main body  314 , the space defined inside the main body  314 , and the ink cartridges  312  communicate with the main body  314  by using fluid.  
      The spaces into which the ink cartridges  312  are loaded are arranged in the widthwise direction B, and the shape of the ink cartridge  312  to be loaded is an almost rectangular parallelepiped that is elongated in the order in the heightwise direction A, the widthwise direction B and the depthwise direction C. With this structure, the length of the main body  314  in the heightwise direction A is shorter, and the height of the overall device is lowered. Therefore, the strength of a side wall  314   c  of the main body  314 , which presents a problem when an object is mounted on an upper face  314   b  of the main body  314 , can be increased, as can the permissible load that can be imposed on the main body  314 , and accordingly, the effective use of the available space can be improved. Further, since the size of the ink cartridge  312  in the vertical direction can also be reduced, backpressure fluctuation, which occurs due to the shifting of the surface level of the ink as it is reduced, can be minimized, and a stable ink supply can be implemented.  
      In this embodiment, the ink cartridge loading units  313  define spaces for the individual ink cartridges  312 ; however, multiple (e.g., two or four) ink cartridges may be loaded in one space. Further, in this embodiment, all (four) of the ink cartridges  312  are arranged in the widthwise direction B; however, the ink cartridges  312  may be shaped taller in the heightwise direction A and narrower in the widthwise direction B, and multiple units may be stacked in the heightwise direction A (e.g., every two or all four).  
      The user can remove the ink cartridge  312  through external, direct access of the main body  314 , and load a new ink cartridge  312 . The exchange of the ink cartridge  312  can be performed in this manner.  
      Furthermore, as described in this embodiment, the ink cartridges  312  and the waste ink reservoir  351  can be detached from the same front face  314   a  in the same direction. Therefore, while conventionally the ink cartridges can not be exchanged unless the cover provided for the main body is opened wide above the height of the main body and the waste ink reservoir (waste ink absorption member) can not be exchanged at all, in this embodiment the ink cartridges  312  and the waste ink reservoir  351  can be easily exchanged through external, direct access. Therefore, the performing maintenance for the ink-jet recording device can be greatly simplified, the size of the ink absorption member, which conventionally is large, can be reduced, as can the size of the ink-jet recording device. Further, since the ink cartridges  312  and the waste ink reservoir  351  can be inserted or removed in the same direction, maintenance for the ink-jet recording device can be simplified. Therefore, a small and usable ink-jet recording device can be provided.  
      In this embodiment, the ink cartridges  312 , containing black, cyan, magenta and yellow inks, are loaded. In addition, ink cartridges filled with so-called photoink, such as light cyan, light magenta and dark yellow, may be provided to increase the image quality. In this case, six or seven spaces are defined for the ink cartridges  312 , depending on the number of ink colors used. In addition, in accordance with the amount of ink to be used, a black ink cartridge may be larger than the others, or color ink cartridges may be integrally formed as a single unit.  
      The operating switch (operating member)  315 , arranged on a side portion  314   aa  of the front face  314   a , is manipulated to operate the ink-jet recording device. The operating switch  315  may not be arranged on the same plane as the front face  314   a , but on another plane provided in the same direction as the front face  314   a.    
      Since the operating switch  315  is arranged on the front face  314   a  of the main body  314 , a user-friendly device can be provided, that permits a user to manipulate the operating switch more easily than when it is arranged on the upper face  314   b  or a side face  314   c , and objects can be placed on the upper face  314   b  or adjacent to the side faces  314   c . That is, this configuration is preferable because the peripheral space, around the main body  314  can be used more efficiently.  
      The normal line of the front face  314   a  is perpendicular to the plane defined by the directions A and B, and the front face  314   a , the upper face  314   b  and the side faces  314   c  are also shown as being perpendicular. However, the angle formed by the front face  314   a  need not always be a right angle, and may be smaller (it may be sharply inclined away from the user), and the individual portions of the front face  314   a  need not always be flat, but may be complicatedly curved. When the front face  314   a  is inclined relative to the perpendicular direction of the normal line, the size of the front face  314   a  can be increased, and the size and the number of the operating switches  315  provided on the front face  314   a  can be increased. Therefore, the usability of the device can be improved. In this embodiment, only the operating switch  315  is shown as an operating member; however, a display unit, such as a liquid crystal display device or an LED, or a touch panel, may be provided, or a slot for inserting a semiconductor memory. A connector for connecting a PC or an STB may also be provided on the front face  314   a . It is especially preferable, for appearances sake, that a connector that is constantly employed be provided on a rear face  314   h , because then a connection cable can be hidden from a user.  
      In substantially the same direction, the recording media are removed from (or fed to) the paper supply tray  310 ; the recording media, after recording, are removed from (or discharged to) the paper discharge tray  311 ; the ink cartridges  312  are unloaded from (or loaded into) the ink cartridge loading units  313 ; and the waste ink reservoir  351  is unloaded from (or loaded into) the main body  314 . Substantially the same direction means that the main components of the vectors representing the input or output direction are the same, and in this case, it also means that the main component is the depthwise direction C, even when there are some vector components present in the heightwise direction A and the widthwise direction B.  
      With this configuration, the user can perform all accesses for maintenance of the device in one direction, and an ink-jet recording device having superior usability can be implemented. Especially, unlike the conventional case, a cover extended over multiple faces (e.g., the front face  314   a  and the upper face  314   b ) of the device need not be opened to exchange the ink cartridges  312  and the waste reservoir  351 , so that the maintenance is very superior and so that less arrangement of objects around the periphery of the device (especially on the upper face) is required when the ink cartridges  312  and the waste ink reservoir  351  are replaced.  
      In this embodiment, the trays are employed where the recording media are stacked. However, cassettes detachable from the main body may be employed. When a slot for inserting a semiconductor memory is provided, it is preferable that the semiconductor memory is loaded in the same direction as described above.  
      Further, in this embodiment, the paper supply tray  310 , the paper discharge tray  311 , the ink cartridges  312  and the waste ink reservoir  351  are so arranged that they can be accessed from the front face  314   a  of the main body  314 . However, these components need only be arranged so they can be accessed from a specific face, and some beneficial effects can be realized even when not all the components are arranged on the front face  314   a.    
      In addition, the paper supply tray  310 , the paper discharge gray  311 , the ink cartridges  312  and the waste ink reservoir  351  may also be arranged on different faces.  
      It is preferable that the upper face  314   b  of the main body  314  is as flat as possible because documents or files can be easily displayed on the upper face  314   b . Further, it is preferable that, generally, the portions (usually the four corners of the main body  314 ) of the device that correspond to the legs of the products is formed at the same height, because electric products, such as an audio deck and a video deck, that tend to be part of the equipment found in a living room, can then be stacked stably. In this case, so long as the portions at the four corners are substantially at the same height, the other portions need not be at the same height, and either the shape shown in  FIG. 15 , or a structure having projections only at the four corners may be employed. In addition, it is preferable that the portions whereon another apparatus will be stacked is reinforced more than the other portions so that multiple apparatuses can be held thereon. At this time, it is preferable that a user is able to identify the reinforced positions because the main body  314  will not be broken by the incorrect stacking of apparatuses. In this case, the reinforced positions may be identified by marking them, or by describing them in manuals.  
      As shown in  FIG. 16 , a recording head  318 , to which ink is supplied from the ink cartridges  312  through tubes  317 , is provided for a carriage  319 , and the carriage  319  is supported by a carriage shaft  320  and is reciprocally moved by a carriage motor  321  in the main scanning direction, the carriage  319  is fixed to a belt that is put around a pair of pulleys, and as a rotation force provided by the carriage motor is transmitted to one of the pulleys, the belt is rotated and the carriage reciprocates.  
      A pickup roller (not shown) for individually recording sheets from the paper supply tray  310  to a lower path that is a part of a paper transporting path, the supply roller  324  for inverting the recording sheet along the lower path and guiding the inverted sheet to an upper path which is another part of the sheet transporting path, a feed roller  325  for transporting the recording sheet along the paper transporting path, and discharge rollers  326  for discharging the recording sheet to the paper discharge tray  11  after recording, are arranged in the named order in the direction in which the recording sheet is fed.  
      The tubes  317  are so arranged, together with a cable along which a head drive signal is transmitted from a drive signal generator to the recording head  318 , that they do not interfere with the transporting of the recording sheet and the movement of the carriage  319 .  
      A cap  352 , for covering the recording head  318 , is located at the recording standby position for the recording head and can be brought in contact with or separated from the recording head  318 . One end of waste an ink transportation tube  353   a  is connected to the cap  352  and the other end is connected to a pump  354 , and when suction is applied to the interior of the recording head  318  by the pump  354 , air bubbles or residual ink are removed from the ink supply path under negative pressure.  
      The pump  354  communicates with the waste ink reservoir  351  via a waste ink transportation tube  353   b , and waste ink removed by the pump  354  passes through the waste ink transportation tubes  353   a  and  353   b  and is retained in the waste ink reservoir  351 .  
      According to the thus arranged ink-jet recording device, a recording sheet is individually fed from the paper supply tray  310 , loaded from the front face  314   a , to the lower path and is inverted by the supply roller  324  arranged at the rear of the device, and is guided to the upper path. While the recording sheet passes along the upper path, the printing of the recording sheet is performed on a platen, and the sheet after recorded is discharged to the paper discharge tray  311 . Then, the recording sheet can be removed by directly accessing the paper discharge tray  311  from the front face  314   a.    
      In this ink-jet recording device, when an ejection failure occurs due to air bubbles retained along the ink supply path or the clogging of nozzles, the recording head  318  is covered by the cap  352  in order to recover the recording function, and under negative pressure, ink is sucked through the nozzles of the recording head  318  by the pump  354 .  
      The ink is then transmitted as waste ink through the waste ink transportation tubes  353   a  and  353   b  to the waste ink reservoir  351 . When the waste ink reservoir  351  is filled, the waste ink reservoir  351  is removed from a waste ink reservoir loading unit  352  and a new one is loaded.  
      As shown in FIGS.  17  to  19 , the waste ink reservoir  351  includes a waste ink absorption member  355 , such as a felt or macromolecular absorption member; a case  356 , wherein the waste ink absorption member  355  is accommodated and wherein a waste ink introduction port  356   a  and an air release port  356   b  are formed; and a cover  357  for covering the case  356  and enclosing the waste ink absorption member  355 .  
      As described above, according to this embodiment, since the waste ink reservoir  351  is replaceably loaded inward of the front face  314   a  of the main body  314 , both the capacity and the size of the waste ink reservoir  351  can be reduced.  
      Further, since the waste ink reservoir  351  can be removed from the front face  314   a  of the main body  314 , the waste ink reservoir  351  can be easily changed without moving an ink-jet recording device on which other apparatuses are stacked.  
      Furthermore, since the waste ink reservoir  351  can be removed from the front face  314   a  of the main body  314 , the efficiency of the exchange operation can be improved and the processing period can be reduced.  
      As shown in  FIG. 20 , the waste ink reservoir  351  may be constituted by a waste ink absorption member  355  and a case  356  in which the waste ink absorption member  355  is placed, except for the cover  357  ( FIG. 18 ), and may be exchanged by pulling out the case  356 . In this case, the waste ink absorption member  355  for absorbing the waste ink serves as the waste ink reservoir.  
      When the waste ink absorption member  355  is directly exchanged, the hands or clothes of the user may be smeared by ink. Therefore, it is preferable that the waste ink absorption member  355  be placed in the case  356  while still enclosed within a wrapping material, such as a sheet material, that prevents the permeation of ink.  
      Furthermore, as shown in  FIGS. 21 and 22 , an open/closed cover  321  for covering the waste ink reservoir  351  and the ink cartridges  312  that have been inserted, may be attached to the front face  314   a  of the main body  314  wherein the waste ink reservoir  351  is loaded. The cover  321  is so formed that it does not exceed the height of the main body  314 , regardless of whether it is open or closed (or partially open). With this configuration, the cover  321  can be comparatively freely opened or closed, regardless of state of peripheral objects (how objects, such as documents, books and AV devices, are arranged) Thus, an ink-jet recording device having superior usability is implemented. While especially taking into account the stacking of the apparatus with a general AV device supported by legs, the size of the cover  321 , open or closed, may exceed the height of the main body  314  by the length of the legs.  
      In this case, the cover  321  is provided in common for the ink cartridges  312  and the waste ink reservoir  351 . However, a cover  321  may be provided separately.  
      In addition to the cover  321 , a control member having a different structure than the cover can be employed, so long as it limits access to the ink cartridge  312  or the waste container  351 . The control member need not completely hide the ink cartridge  312  or the waste ink reservoir.  
     Embodiment 6  
       FIG. 23  is a perspective view of the structure of a waste ink reservoir in an ink-jet recording device according to a sixth embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 24  is an exploded perspective view of the structure in  FIG. 23 . It should be noted that in the embodiments 6 to 9, the schematic configuration of the ink-jet recording device is the same as that for the fifth embodiment.  
      In this embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 23 , a waste ink reservoir  351  is integrally formed with an ink cartridge (ink supply member)  312  in which ink used for recording is contained, and the assembly of the waste ink reservoir  351  and the ink cartridge  312  is replaceably loaded into a front face  314   a  of a main body  314 .  
      As shown in detail in  FIG. 24 , the waste ink reservoir  351  includes: a waste ink absorption member  355 ; a case  356 , into which the waste ink absorption member  355  is placed, having a waste ink introduction port  356   a  and an air release port  356   b ; a cover  323  for covering the case  356  and enclosing the waste ink absorption member  355  and for holding ink containers  322 ; and a cover  327  for covering the ink container  322 .  
      An ink container  322  is non-refillable and is disposed of when the ink is exhausted. And the capacity of the waste ink container  351  is adequate for storing the waste ink that has been generated by the time an ink container  322  is emptied. The ink container  322  may be replaced.  
      According to this embodiment, when the waste ink reservoir  351  and the ink cartridges  312  are integrally formed, the waste ink reservoir  351  can be exchanged at the same time as the ink cartridges  312  are replaced. Therefore, the volume of the waste ink container  351  and the size of the ink-jet recording device can be reduced.  
      Further, since the waste ink container  351  and the ink cartridges  312  are integrally formed, both of them can be exchanged at the same time, the operation is simplified.  
      In addition, since the waste ink reservoir  351  and the ink cartridges  312  can be exchanged at the front face  314   a  of the main body  314 , the efficiency of the exchange operation is improved and the length of the processing period is reduced.  
     Embodiment 7  
       FIG. 25  is a perspective view of the structure of a waste ink reservoir in an ink-jet recording device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 26  is an exploded perspective view of the structure in  FIG. 25 .  
      In this embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 25 , a waste ink reservoir  351  is integrally formed with a paper supply tray (medium supplying member)  310 , in which data recording sheets P are stored, and the assembled waste ink reservoir  351  and paper supply tray  310  are replaceably loaded to the front face of a main body.  
      Specifically, as shown in detail in  FIG. 26 , the waste ink reservoir  351  includes: a waste ink absorption member  355 ; a case  356  in which the waste ink absorption member  355  is placed, and which has a waste ink introduction port  356   a  and an air release port  356   b ; a cover  329  which provides a surface on which recording sheets P are accumulated and which covers the case  356  enclosing the waste ink absorption member  355 ; and a cover  330  which covers the top recording sheet P except for the portion thereof that is picked up when the sheet is fed.  
      The replenishment of the recording sheets P on the paper supply tray is disabled and the paper supply tray  310  is disposed of when the supply of recording sheets P is exhausted. And the capacity of the waste ink reservoir  351  is adequate for storing the waste ink that has been generated by the time the supply of recording sheets P is exhausted. It should be noted that the recording sheets P on the paper supply tray  310  may be replenished, and that it is preferable that, even when the replenishment of the recording sheets P has been disabled by a user, the resupply of the recording sheets P be performed by a maker, because recycling the tray is efficient. As a result, an ecologically friendly ink-jet recording device can be provided.  
      As described in this embodiment, when the waste ink reservoir  351  is integrally formed with the paper supply tray  310 , both of them can be exchanged at the same time. As a result, the volume of the waste ink container  351  and the size of the device can be reduced.  
      Furthermore, since the waste ink reservoir  351  and the paper supply tray  310  can be exchanged at the front face  314   a  of the main body  314 , the efficiency of the exchange operation can be improved and the processing period can be reduced.  
     Embodiment 8  
       FIG. 27  is a perspective view of the structure of a waste ink reservoir in an ink-jet recording device according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 28  is an exploded perspective view of the structure in  FIG. 27 .  
      According to this embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 27 , a waste ink reservoir  351  is integrally formed with a paper supply tray (medium supply member)  310  and ink cartridges (ink supply members)  312 , and this assembly is replaceably loaded at a front face  314   a  of a main body  314 .  
      Specifically, as shown in detail in  FIG. 28 , the waste ink reservoir  351  includes a waste ink absorption member  355 ; a case  356  in which the waste ink absorption member  355  is placed and which has a waste ink introduction port  356   a  and an air releasing port  356   b ; a cover  329  which provides a surface on which recording sheets P are accumulated and which covers the case  356  enclosing the waste ink absorption member  355 ; a cover  331 , which covers the top recording sheet P except for the portion thereof that is picked up when the sheet is fed and which holds ink containers  322 ; and a cover  327  which covers the ink container  322 .  
      Further, the refilling of the ink containers  322  and the replenishment of the recording sheets P on the paper supply tray  310  are disabled, and the container  322  and the tray  310  are disposed of when the supply of ink and recording sheets P is exhausted. The capacity of the waste ink reservoir  351  is adequate for storing the waste ink produced by the time the ink in the ink containers  322  or the supply of recording sheets P on the paper tray  310  is exhausted. It should be noted, however, that the ink container  322  may be refilled and the paper tray  310  may be resupplied with recording sheets P.  
      As described in this embodiment, when the waste ink container  351  is integrally formed with the paper supply tray  310  and the ink cartridges  312 , all of them can be exchanged at the same time. Therefore, the volume of the waste ink reservoir  351  and the size of the device can be reduced.  
      In addition, since the waste ink reservoir  351  is integrally formed with the paper supply tray  310  and the ink cartridges  312  and all of them can be exchanged at the same time, the operation is simplified.  
      Furthermore, since the exchange of the waste ink reservoir  351 , the paper supply tray  310  and the ink cartridges  312  is performed at the front face  314   a  of the main body  314 , the efficiency of the exchange operation is improved and the processing time is reduced.  
     Embodiment 9  
      A ninth embodiment of the invention will be explained with reference to FIGS.  29  to  33 .  
       FIG. 29  is an explanatory diagram, showing the ink-jet recording device according to ninth embodiment of the invention, wherein a control mechanism has removed the waste ink reservoir.  FIG. 30  is an explanatory diagram, showing the ink-jet recording device according to the ninth embodiment of the invention, wherein the control mechanism is loading the waste ink reservoir.  FIG. 31  is an explanatory diagram, showing the ink-jet recording device according to the ninth embodiment, wherein the control mechanism has loaded the waste ink reservoir.  FIG. 32  is an explanatory diagram, showing the ink-jet recording device according to the ninth embodiment, wherein the control mechanism disables the removal of the waste ink reservoir.  FIG. 33  is an explanatory diagram, showing the ink-jet recording device according to the ninth embodiment, wherein the control mechanism enables the removal of the waste ink reservoir.  
      It is not appropriate for the waste ink reservoir  351  is removed in a period during which ink is flowing from the recording head  318  to the waste ink reservoir  351 , such as a period during a recording standby operation (an operation during which, when the ink cartridge  312  is mounted on the recording head  318  the first time, the pump  354  sucks ink from the recording head  318  in order to load ink into the recording head  318 ), or a period for a head function recovery operation (an operation during which the pump  354  removes residual ink or dust from the recording head  318  to recover the ink ejection function, e.g., the operation wherein the pump  354  sucks ink through the nozzles of the recording head  318  under negative pressure, and removes residual ink to clean the recording head), i.e., in a period (a removal inhibited period) during which waste ink removed from the recording head  318  would leak inside the device by removing the waste ink reservoir  351  from the waste ink reservoir loading unit  350 .  
      The removal inhibited period is not limited to the recording standby period and the head function recovery period, but also includes a period other than these. That is, the removal inhibited period is a period during which, since ink is flowing from the reading head  318  to the waste ink reservoir  351 , the waste ink may leak inside the device due to the removal of the waste ink reservoir  351 . Further, the removal inhibited period does not include all the periods during which removal of the waste ink reservoir may cause waste ink to leak inside the device, and need only include at least one of these periods. Therefore, the removal inhibited period may be either the recording standby period or the head function recovery period.  
      As shown in FIGS.  29  to  33  for the ink-jet recording device of this embodiment, a controller  327  (removal inhibition unit)  327  is provided to disable the removal of the waste ink reservoir  351  during a removal inhibited period. With this controller  327 , the waste ink is prevented from leaking inside the device when the waste ink reservoir  351  is detached externally through direct access.  
      As shown in FIGS.  6  to  10 , the ink-jet recording device includes: a holding hook (holding member)  328  which engages the side of the waste ink reservoir  351  loaded in the waste ink reservoir loading unit  350  and holds the waste ink reservoir  351 ; the eject button  315  which displaces the holding hook  328  and disengages the holding hook  328  from the waste ink reservoir  351  so that the waste ink reservoir  351  is projected from the waste ink reservoir loading unit  350  and can be removed; and a detection switch  329  which detects the loading of the waste ink reservoir  351  into the waste ink reservoir loading unit  350 .  
      Furthermore, in the ink-jet recording device, a lock lever (removal prevention member)  331  corresponding to the holding hook  328  is fitted around a lock shaft  333  that is rotated by a motor  332 . As the lock shaft  333  is rotated, the lock lever  331  is displaced between a first position and a second position. At the first position, the displaceable range of the holding hook  328  is limited to prevent the projection of the waste ink reservoir  351  by the eject button  315 , and at a second position, the displaceable range of the holding hook  328  is reserved to allow the projection of the waste ink reservoir  351  by the eject button  315 .  
      Furthermore, when the controller rotates the lock shaft  333  through a driver, during a removal inhibited period the controller  327  holds the lock lever  331  at the first position, or during another period, holds the lock lever  331  at the second position.  
      The operation of the thus arranged ink-jet recording device will now be described.  
      The lock shaft  333  is rotated by the controller  327  until the lock lever  331  is displaced to the second position, and as shown in  FIG. 29 , the waste ink reservoir  351  is inserted into the waste ink reservoir loading unit  350  provided for the main body  314 . Then, as shown in  FIG. 30 , the holding hook  328 , which is urged clockwise by a spring (not shown), is pivoted counterclockwise. And as shown  FIG. 31 , when the waste ink reservoir  351  is pushed into the waste ink reservoir loading unit  350  until it engages the waste ink transportation tube  353   b , the holding hook  328  is fitted into the groove formed in the side of the waste ink reservoir  351  and securely holds the waste ink reservoir  351 .  
      Thereafter, during a removal inhibited period, such as a recording standby period or a head function recovery period, the lock lever  331  fitted around the lock shaft  333  is displaced from the second position in  FIG. 31  to the first position in  FIG. 32  as the lock shaft  333  is rotated by the motor  332  under the control of the controller  327 . Since at the first position the displaceable range of the holding hook  328  is limited by the lock lever  331 , the waste ink reservoir  351  con not be projected even by manipulating the eject button  315 .  
      In a period other than a removal inhibited period, the lock shaft  333  is rotated by the controller  327  and the lock lever  331  is displaced to the second position, so that the displaceable range required for the rotation of the holding hook  328  is obtained as shown in  FIG. 33 . Therefore, the holding hook  328  is rotated counterclockwise by depressing the eject button  315  and is disengaged from the groove formed in the side of the waste ink reservoir  351 , and as a result, the waste ink reservoir  351  is projected and can be removed.  
      According to this embodiment, during the removal inhibited period, the removal of the waste ink reservoir  351  is disabled by the controller  327 . Therefore, ink can be prevented from leaking inside the device when the waste ink reservoir  351  is externally detached through direct access.  
     Embodiment 10  
       FIG. 34  is an explanatory diagram, showing an ink-jet recording device according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention, wherein a control mechanism disables the removal of a waste ink reservoir.  FIG. 35  is an explanatory diagram, showing the ink-jet recording device according to the tenth embodiment, wherein the control mechanism enables the removal of the waste ink reservoir.  FIG. 36  is an explanatory diagram, showing the ink-jet recording device according to the tenth embodiment, wherein the waste ink reservoir has been projected by the control mechanism.  
      In each of the embodiments 10 to 12, the exterior and the internal configuration of the ink-jet recording device are substantially the same as those in the ninth embodiment.  
      In this embodiment, a controller  327  is provided that disables the removal of a waste ink reservoir  351  during the removal inhibited period, and prevents ink from leaking inside the device due to the removal of the waste ink reservoir  351 , which can be externally detached through direct access.  
      That is, as shown in FIGS.  34  to  36 , the ink-jet recording device includes: an actuator (holding member driving unit)  334  for displacing a holding hook  328  between an engagement position for engaging the waste ink reservoir  351  and a disengagement position; an eject button  315  which allows the actuator  334  to displace the holding hook  328  to the disengagement position, thereby permitting the waste ink reservoir  351  to be projected and removed from a waste ink reservoir loading unit  350 ; and the controller  327 , which inhibits the driving of the actuator  334  by the eject button  315  during a removal inhibited period, and permits the actuator  334  to be driven during another period.  
      The operation of the thus arranged ink-jet recording device will now be described.  
      When the waste ink reservoir  351  is inserted into the waste ink reservoir loading unit  350 , the holding hook  328 , urged clockwise by a spring (not shown), is fitted into the groove formed in the side of the waste ink reservoir  351 , and the engagement of the waste ink reservoir  351  is maintained ( FIG. 34 ).  
      Thereafter, during a removal inhibited period, such as a recording standby period or a head function recovery period, the controller  327  inhibits the driving of the actuator, even by the depression of the eject button  315 . Therefore, the waste ink reservoir  351  is not projected.  
      During a period other than a removal inhibited period, as shown in  FIG. 35 , upon the depression of the eject button  315 , the controller detects that it is not in a removal inhibited period and drives the actuator  334 . Then, the holding hook  328  is rotated counterclockwise and is disengaged from the groove formed in the side of the waste ink reservoir  351 . Thus, as shown  FIG. 36 , the waste ink reservoir  351  is projected and can be removed.  
      As described above, according to the present invention, since during a removal inhibited period, the controller  327  prevents the removal of the waste ink reservoir  351 , ink can be prevented from leaking inside the device due to the removal of the waste ink reservoir  351 , which can be directly detached through external access.  
     Embodiment 11  
       FIGS. 37A and 37B  are explanatory diagrams showing an ink-jet recording device according to a eleventh embodiment of the present invention, wherein a control mechanism detects the start of the removal of a waste ink reservoir. In FIG.  37 A, the removal of the waste ink reservoir has not yet started, and in  FIG. 37B , the removal of the waste ink reservoir has started. To simplify the drawings, a control system is shown only in  FIG. 37B .  
      As shown in  FIGS. 37A and 37B , a door  335  provided at the front face of the waste ink reservoir  350  can be opened and closed while a waste ink reservoir  351  is loaded into a waste ink reservoir loading unit  350 .  
      Further, an operation detector  336  is provided for detecting the opening or closing of the door  345 , and for determining whether the removal of the waste ink reservoir  351  has started when the door  335  is opened.  
      In addition, a controller (removal control unit)  337  is provided that, when the operation detector  336  detects that the removal of the waste ink reservoir  351  has started during a removal inhibited period for the waste ink reservoir  351 , i.e., the opening or closing of the door  335  is detected, moves the device to the recording standby state, and can remove the waste ink reservoir  351 .  
      According to the ink-jet recording device, when the door  335  is opened to exchange the waste ink reservoir  351  during a removal inhibited period ( FIG. 37B ), the operation is detected by the operation detector  336 . Thereafter, the controller  337  quickly terminates a recording operation or a head function recovery operation, and shifts the device to the recording standby state.  
      Therefore, when the waste ink reservoir  351  is removed during the removal inhibited period, the leakage of ink inside the device can be prevented.  
      The door  335  may cover the waste ink reservoir  351  and the ink cartridge  312 . In this case, the door  335  is formed so that it fits the height of the main body  314 , regardless of whether it is fully or partially opened, or closed. With this configuration, the door  335  can be comparatively freely opened and closed regardless of the peripheral state (how objects, such as documents, books and AV decks are disposed), and a usable ink-jet recording device can be implemented. Especially since an AV deck usually has legs, while taking the stacking of this deck into account, the size of the cover  335  that is opened or closed may exceed the height of the main body by the length of the legs.  
      In addition to the door  335 , a lid for covering the ink cartridge  312  may be provided.  
      Further, a control member other than the door  335  can be employed so long as it can prevent the accessing of the ink cartridge  312  or the waste ink reservoir  351 . Furthermore, the control member need not completely hide the ink cartridge  312  or the waste ink reservoir  351 .  
     Embodiment 12  
       FIG. 38  is an explanatory diagram, showing an ink-jet recording device according to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention, wherein a control mechanism has removed a waste ink reservoir.  FIG. 39  is an explanatory diagram, showing the ink-jet recording device according to the twelfth embodiment of the present invention, wherein the control mechanism has loaded the waste ink reservoir.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 38 and 39 , the ink-jet recording device of this embodiment includes: a detection switch (removal detector)  329  for detecting the removal of a waste ink reservoir  351 ; and a controller  337  for shifting the device to the recording standby state when a detection switch  329  detects the removal of the waste ink reservoir  351  during a removal inhibited period.  
      With this configuration, when the waste ink reservoir  351  is removed during a removal inhibited period, the detection switch  329  detects this removal. Thereafter, the controller  337  immediately terminates a recording operation or a head function recovery operation, and shifts the device to the recording standby state.  
      Therefore, when the waste ink reservoir  351  is removed during the removal inhibited period the leakage of ink inside the device can be prevented.  
      According to the ninth to twelfth embodiments of the present invention, the eject button  315  is used as the switching unit; however, any switching unit can be employed so long as it permits the removal of the waste ink reservoir  351 . For example, an eject button on a remote controller or a command provided for a driver installed in a personal computer may be used as a switching unit.  
      As described above, according to the present invention, since a removal inhibition unit disables removal of an ink supply member during a removal inhibited period, or since a removal unit shifts an ink-jet recording device to a recording standby state when an ink supply unit is removed, air bubbles can be prevented from entering an ink flow path due to the removal of an ink supply member that can be directly detachable, externally.  
      Further, according to the present invention, since the waste ink reservoir is replaceably loaded inward of a predetermined face of the main body, the volume of the waste ink container and the size of the device can be reduced.  
      When the waste ink container and ink supply member assembly can be replaceably loaded, the volume of the waste ink reservoir and the size of the device can be reduced. Further, since the waste ink reservoir and the ink supply member can both be exchanged at the same time, the operation is simplified.  
      When the waste ink reservoir and the medium supply member assembly can be replaceably loaded, the volume of the waste ink reservoir and the size of the device can be reduced. Further, since the waste ink reservoir and the medium supply member can be exchanged at the same time, the operation is simplified.  
      When the replenishment of the recording media and the refilling of ink supply members are disabled, the waste ink container, the medium supply member and the ink supply member are all exchanged at the same time. Therefore, the volume of the ink container and the size of the device can be reduced.  
      Still further, according to the present invention, during a removal inhibited period, the removal inhibition unit prevents the removal of the ink supply member, or the removal control unit shifts the device to the recording standby state. Therefore, in effect, ink can be prevented from leaking inside the device due to the removal of the waste ink storage unit, which can be detached externally through direct access.